Sewing my birthday dress

First thing's first: yesterday I ordered something that I can't afford. I have assured myself it is an investment.
It is an overlocker and it arrived this morning.
Pretty daunting machine, right? After flicking through the manual I despaired, but actually all the threading is colour coded and apart from that it is very similar to a sewing machine. Apart from a cool knife which eats off the edge of the fabric, sliding it neatly into a tray. Nice.

Anyway, the first thing I did was overlock the side seams of my 1920s dress. After a discouraging false start, I had the silver sheath done, so once I sealed the seams I had to add the fringing. Goodness, how tedious. In order to make it easier to work with I bound clumps of the fringe in sellotape, which was useful but took a long time to add and remove. Then I had to pin then sew rows of it. There are nine in total. It took ages but it is now finished! I will post pictures of it with me inside which will be taken at my 1920s birthday party on Friday.









MB

Street Style

I was stylish, I was on the street.
I got photographed for a street style blog!

Look

I am the third picture.
Pretty exciting.

MB

Party Dress

Gleefully ignoring the to-do list I described yesterday, today I drafted the pattern for the dress I am going to wear at my birthday party. When having a lovely time with my friend Hannah on Oxford Street, I tried on a black dress covered in fringing and with a new fringe of my own I looked so 20s that I decided I ought to have that as the theme of my birthday (8th March) party. I have booked a venue and lovely Dan has downloaded heaps of jazz dance tunes so now all that is required is an awesome outfit.
I have the pattern now - very easy as 20s fashion was all about straight down dresses and boyish shapes so no fiddly contouring - and just need some material. I will go to the fabric shop tomorrow and pick some up as well as reams of fringing! I much prefer bright colours to black, but I guess my choice will be limited by the selesction of fringing. When Chris comes back from Germany and I can use his camera again I will post pictures of the work-in-progress or (hopefully!) the finished dress.
I am v excited.

MB

Project List

Recently I have been thinking that I really want to get into patchwork. I have always loved beautiful quilts and reckon it's time I made my own. However, I am being tough with myself. I have a pile of projects that need finishing (or starting!), which are mostly for other people. The rule is this: I am not allowed to borrow the quilting book I found in the library and get started until I have completed the other sewing projects. To aid me in this endeavour, I have published the list: you can see it on the right here. If the whole world can see what I am supposed to be doing, this will pressure me into doing it. This is the plan, anyway.

There are two things I need to do for dearest Mama. The first is a cushion for her chair in the kitchen in this green spotty fabric (right). It looks like Cath Kidston but I don't think it is. She also gave me some tablecloths to turn into cushion covers (left). These won't take long at all I feel foolish for putting it off.

I have already made one curtain for my flatmate Chris, but shamefully his window has remained only half covered for some time now. I took him to the shop so he could select his own fabric and he opted for this delightful elephant pattern (the picture of which I can't seem to get the right way round).As a Christmas present to my sister, I took her to choose some fabric so I could make her something for her newly-decorated room. She wants a cushion cover made in this purple silky satin with ribbon and button embellishments. I still have to get the buttons (with her approval).

I have some knitting projects as well, but they don't count towards the patchwork challenge. I will include photos of them in a later post.
Now, to begin!

MB

A Note about Drumbour

I have a Drumbour. A neighbour who drums. I have never seen him (or her) but my housemate and I feel we know him well.

He practices the drums every day with admirable persistence. Those of my chums who profess to know about such things tell me his skills are less than admirable. An expletive was used. I, however, appreciate his enthusiasm and determination and the fact that we can be as loud as we wish because our only shared wall houses a drum kit.

Here's to you, Drumbour. Drum on.

MB

Jeffrey Lewis

Last night I went to see Jeffrey Lewis supported by the awesome Peggy Sue at Komedia in Brighton.
I got onto the concessions list at the last minute and as none of my friends had the money or spontaneous inclination to go, I went by myself. Actually, I didn't really have the money either but I didn't want to miss a chance to see JL as I don't know when he will be in the UK again. And it was alright. The by-my-selfness I mean, not the music, which was brilliant.
I have seen Peggy Sue before, but love them more each time. They make me wish I was in a band and singing loudly on a stage. My favourite songs are Once We Were Strangers and their cover of Missy Elliott's All N My Grill.
Jeffrey Lewis started his set with the amazing If You Shoot the Head You Kill The Ghoul which was so suddenly loud and frantic and punk I wished they played it about seven more times. I had expected him to be quite acoustic folky, but it was a really raucous set for the most part. There was a few quieter moments, and Jeffrey sang a couple without the band (including Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror) and an odd but phenomenal interlude where he gave a 'miniature lecture on the comicbook Watchmen'. He had some incredibly detailed geeky insight onto a subtle recurring symbol in the book which was actually very interesting and then cracked straight on with the music.
It was great, and I am so glad I went, even seule.

MB

First post!

I opened my Etsy shop today! I am very excited and can't wait for my first sale. Although I only have 4 items listed at the moment. I don't like to pick teams but I think this guy might be my favourite:
If you haven't discovered Etsy yet, go and do it now! It is an amazing website where you can buy extraordinary handmade items and is a lovely community to belong to. Start with my shop.

I was thrilled to discover that someone has already 'hearted' me. Thankyou Charlie and Lindsay at FabricSupplies!

In other news, I really should do some homework. I take an evening course in pattern cutting and I am just beginning to make the garment for my assessment project. I will post my designs and progress right here on my lovely new blog.

MB