Making the most of your fabric. A quick scrap project.

 

This is a great project for everyone, who hoards all their fabric scraps like me in case that one project comes around where you can use them. This is one of those projects to literally use every last snippet.

 

I recently bought 2 packs of fat quarters at my local Fabricland (Reading branch) because I liked the patterns so much and because I'm impulsive like that (I'm not a quilter). The prints in the pack came in two different colour options each so I decided to use one print for the main cushion cover part and the other to make a bow detail. I reversed the colours on the other side. You can use bigger scrap fabric pieces instead of fat quarters for this project if you like.

 

The pattern is super simple and can be made in any size. Since I had fat quarters I wanted to make the most of the fabric and cut the following pieces.

1. The main cushion piece is 13 1/2x13 1/2" (cut 2 one in each fabric)

2. The bow part is 13 1/2"x 5 1/2" (cut 4, two in each fabric)

3. This is a bit of the scraps left for the middle bit of the bow that cinches it together (one in each print). You can make that as wide or narrow as you like or whatever your scraps leave you with. Mine was about 7"x 9" or close to that. You will also need a zip that fits your cushion size. Mine is a 9" zip.

 

 

I insert the zip before sewing up the main cushion part as I find it easiest that way. Also sew your bow pieces by putting right sides of the same print together and sew along the long edges. Turn inside out and press. Then lay both bow pieces on top of each other and place them in the center of one of the main cushion pieces (see picture above) Make sure to put down the contrasting fabric first, then the other one. Top with the other cushion piece, right sides of the cushion pieces facing each other, sandwiching the bow pieces in between.

Sew all along the sides, finish seam edges if you want, clip corners and turn inside out through the zip opening and press.

You should end up with a cushion cover with 2contrasting stripes across either side of it. Cinch each stripe in the center and secure with a few stitches.

 

Fold your center bow piece (right sides facing) and sew along the edges, leaving a bit open to turn it inside out and press. Fold the piece around the chinched middle of you bow and stitch the ends together, hiding the seam on the back side of you bow. I also stiches the loop to the main cusion in a few places to secure in in place.

 

This is where your scraps come in handy now. You can either stuff the cushion cover directly or make a separate one which can also be made from larger scraps as it doesn't matter what it looks like. It'll be hidden inside your cushion cover. I made mine just 1/2" smaller (13"x13") than the cover to make sure it's not too squished in. Fill your cushion cover and you're done. Display your cushions wherever you like and if you get bored flip them around for a little change.

 

I hope you liked this little quick project. I hate throwing scraps away and think this is a nice "recycling" idea. The cushions turn out less fluffy this way and make better display cushions than functional pillows.

Happy Easter and a little preview of the Betty Draper dress.

First of all I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Easter weekend. Good food (after weeks of giving up ... for lent) good company and fun activities.

Dave and I have occupied our time with the usual. Hiking in the countryside. It was too cold for cycling, so the outdoor kit came out. I can deal with drizzle when walking but not cycling. I also kind off pulled a muscle and had to take it easy for a bit.

I wouldn't mind living here

Countryside obstacle course...

Of course a little pub stop as usual. Check my awesome non-vintage Lycra look.

I wonder how many ghosts are haunting this place. It's gorgeous!!

We also spend some good time making fresh bread....house still smells pretty good.

And the Betty Draper dress in the making. The actual dress is finished but I don't have the right colour blue for the sash. I am making it separately so I can wear the dress with or without it. I tried the blue I had in my stash (see picture) but I am not thrilled with it. I think I need to go darker. Any opinions?

Anyways, what are you up to this Easter weekend? 

Also, the hubby and I are off to the Isle of Wight next week. Have you got any good tips on where to go, what to do and what to see? We do have a long list of activities but some advice will make it much easier to choose.

Not the Betty Draper dress yet but I am sure she'd wear this one, too.

Another sunny day, another Spring-y/Summer-y dress....

I had this tulip fabric in my stash for ages and knew I wanted to make a dress from it. I also knew it would be quite striking once transformed into said dress. But after trying it on for the first time, I was really over the moon with it.

It's nothing special really as far as the pattern goes but I think the fabric print and the colours are enough to turn heads. The bodice ties at the shoulders and a full (VERY FULL!!!) gathered skirt.

I made a red petticoat to go with this one for extra poofy Betty goodness!!!

without the poof

What do you think? Betty or not Betty?

Mad Men challenge update and inspiration

I am behind on the Mad Men challenge and probably will be for a little longer. This is not because I am not working on it but because the fabric I have chosen for my project is not available until later this month. I shall be patient.

I have had a good look around the interwebs to find the dress to copy. It's not easy with all the beautiful fashion in the series and all the wonderful characters. At first I couldn't decide which character I wanted to chose and then of course which dress???

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At fist I thought Peggy as I would probably get most wear out of one of her wardrobe pieces.

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 Then I thought Joan as I looooooooooooooooooooooooove her style but unfortunately I am just not blessed with her shape. I would need major sock support to fill a Joanie.....

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I also love Trudy's wardrobe but couldn't find any good pictures online of something I wanted to make.

So in the end I picked the beautiful Betty Draper as my major inspiration.

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 I know there are many other stylish women in the series (show me one that isn't stylish) but I wanted to stick with one of the leading ladies.

I just recently started re-watching all seasons and in season one episode 2 (I believe it's episode 2) Don, Betty, Roger and his wife are out to dinner together and Betty is wearing a gorgeous white/floral print dress with a huge blue sash. I am absolutely in love with that dress and can see myself twirling around in it on Summer functions and events.

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 There are not too many pictures of it online but it's basically the one the Betty Draper doll is wearing.

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I decided to make the dress and sash out of this lovely floral print cotton and a matching blue plain cotton.

 I am also planning on making a matching petticoat to go all poof Betty style. Hopefully I get this finished in time for April. My husband and I have booked a little short trip to the Isle of Wight. It would be nice wearing Betty's dinner dress out to dinner myself.

Are there any other Betty-dress-sewing-Mad-Men-Challenge-participants?

What I've been up to lately...

It's time for a little catch up of what I have been doing since my last post. I have not been hiding. Just busy with a  variety of things.

I have been working on a bunch of special customer orders including a satin and lace halter dress to be worn to a wedding this month. I hope my customer Amy is going to have a great day twirling around in this little number (and hopefully she will let me have a picture)

I also enjoyed working on another wedding guest outfit in beautiful taupe silk dupion. 

The wedding this dress is going to be worn at is also this month. I am again hoping for an action shot very soon. There is nothing better than seeing dresses on the person they are meant for.

I also volunteered to try out Suzy's first sewing pattern, which I looooooooooooooove and really enjoyed sewing. Suzy, the feedback will be coming your way soon. Since this is Suzy's pattern and dress to reveal, I will only post a little sneak preview of the dress in progress. 

I had help from my kitty assistant seamstress friend as usual when sewing for myself. I really value her opinion, you know? ;-D

I am hooked on using lace again. Just love, love love lace. If you see my pinterest, you might think I am a little obsessed with it.

I have also been training a lot lately, preparing to run a half marathon in April and hopefully a full marathon later this year (my husband and I are currently on the waiting list on place 14 and 15 so hopefully by October we will be able to still get a place....can't believe how quickly those races fill up)

I have seen I am in good company in Bloggerland with Fleur training hard for the London marathon and Meg running an epic half marathon in cute fancy dress.

My husband Dave and I ran a 10k race just over a week ago. I ran a new personal best of 54:20 on a very hilly course. 

Any other running and sewing bloggers out there?

What I am working on this week...

It's the week before our next and final move for a while. Fortunately enough this time we have a removal company doing all the hard work for us, meaning I can squeeze in some extra sewing time for myself.

I ordered a few different fabrics last week and picked the lovely floral print crepe to work on first.

I was a bit indecisive whether to turn it into a dress or blouse but in the end the dress won.

I am planning on wearing this out for a little leaving dinner and drinks with some of our friends. Proper outfit shots will follow.

BTW, I know some of you lovely readers are crazy cat ladies like me. Does your cat also magically appear as soon as the fabric comes out? Mine can be asleep somewhere in the house all day and never be seen. As soon as I get some fabric out.................this happens:

Please note the innocent but surprised expression on her face.

The bish bash bosh New Years dress

First of all, happy new year my dear readers. I hope you all had wonderful New Years celebrations and have recovered by now. We didn't go crazy this year as we just wanted to enjoy each others company after we spent last New Years Eve apart from each other. We had a couple of friends around and took it easy. Therefore I haven't got any amazing party pictures to share.

Instead I decided to share a new dress I made.

I made this dress in December using some printed crepe fabric I had in my stash for ages. I always wanted to use the fabric but didn't really have a clue what to make from it.

When I was beading the headband I watched some Ginger Rogers movies as I had just finished reading her autobiography (I very much enjoyed it and recommend reading it) and hence got into the 1930s styles.

As most of the dresses from that time are bias cut and not an easy thing to sew, I came up with this idea for a dress with minimal sewing efforts. It's basically just straight seams and rectangular shapes. The waist is elasticated and it buttons up at the back.

I sewed on some sequin-y bead-y things for detail and bish bash bosh a new dress was made.

Add some pin curls hair and dramatic make up and off you go. I hope you enjoy!!