NIKKI-SHELL

A new beginning

I've started something new.....head over here to find out more.

Dress Me Up collar

This weekend i tried out the 'Dress Me Up' collar pattern from The Maker's Journal.  It's fantastic for using up scraps from other projects, i always have pieces that are too small to do much with yet are too big to throw away.

The collar took around an hour to sew up, quick and easy!  I used a Japanese cotton for the outer and a cotton/linen for the lining.

I also made up the Bunny Bag before Christmas for Heidi.

 

Another dress for the naughty one

Same pattern as this one in a beautiful purple/blue seersucker Japanese cotton (from Tessuti) which i've had stashed away for a while.  I had actually cut this out not long after making the last dress and it sat in the 'To Do' pile for a few months.  Less than an hour of sewing, a few snaps and it was finished in time for her to wear on a 30+ degree visit to the Melbourne Museum.

Drape Drape 3 - Top 13

I must have been nice last year because this book was in my stocking on Christmas morning!  If you read regularly you will have noticed i've made a number of garments from the other Drape Drape books.  I've been itching to get my hands on this book since hearing about it in early December.

I decided to start with Top 13.  Very simple, one pattern piece, 2 seams, a hem and some binding around the neck.

Instead of using lace as is used in the picture i chose a viscose jersey from Tessuti (i nabbed the last piece of this particular print!).

It was very quick and easy to sew. From tracing the pattern to sewing the hem took and evening (although my evening usually ends around 12 or 1am so maybe 4 or 5 hours).  I made no alterations but i did sew a strip of cotton tape into the neckline to prevent the jersey from stretching.

In almost 3 years of working together Lisa and i have only turned up to work once wearing the same garment but in different fabrics.  This time we turned up in different garments but the same fabric!

Other patterns i'd like to make from this book are:

Dress 7 (In silk/tencel?)

Skirt 10

Dress 12 (with a slightly less revealing hemline!)

Dress 3 (not sure what's going on with the models arms in this photo!)

Top 5 (without the slits in the sleeves, i don't get them!)

All Drape Drape books are available at Tessuti Fabrics.

Practical AND pretty!

I ride my bike to the station each day and i've notied how i've been discarding clothes from my outfits because they're not suitable for bike riding, in particular skirts.  A few weeks ago i got my skirt caught in the brake on my back wheel, fortunately it was the first time this has happened and i didn't hurt myself by falling off into traffic.  Once was enough though and i don't want to be unable to wear certain garments so i decided it was time to make my bike a skirt guard and a pretty one too!

So instead of sewing all weekend i was sat on my bum in front of some movies with the hubby and crocheting for the first time in yonks!  I had a few false starts with the first few rows, i kept forgetting the clusters at the beginning of the rows but i got on the right track eventually and thankfully crochet is quicker than knitting to frog and re-do.

The above photo was taken late at night on my iPhone and does not do the skirt guard justice but i'm sure you get the idea right?  I have made a little more progress since i took the photo and am almost halfway done.  I estimate another 3 or 4 movies should do the trick, then it's a case of attaching it to my bike, donning a floaty skirt and showing off my pretty bike!  Now i need just need to sort out the 'Melbourne wind v's floaty skirt' problem.

You can find the pattern here if you feel so inclined.

Nani Iro top for Esme

I think i've mentioned before that Esme has shot up recently to be almost the same height as her big sister (between you and me i think she'll be taller pretty soon).  As a result the poor girl has been short of clothes that fit well.  Kev took her to buy a few tops a little while back but i hate buying clothes when i can make them myself.  I've made a singlet which i'll not bother showing you because well, it's a singlet, we all know what they look like right?!  I've also made her some great linen harem pants which she refuses to wear (she is a very tactile person it seems) so Mia has nabbed them, although i'm yet to see her wear them too :(  

The most recent garment i've made for her which she WILL wear is this top (D) from the Nani Iro Japanese pattern book.

You may remember my version of this.  

I made it up in a linen/viscose that was leftover from this bag and my BurdaStyle Handbook project (which i'll blog about very soon).

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I changed the neckline.  The pattern piece gave a very small hole that no kids head would fit through and i didn't want to add the placket at the back so i cut the neckline wider and used a self bias binding.  I seem to have cut it a little too wide though, it keeps slipping off one shoulder.  I'll remember that for next time :)

I cut the largest size (110cm) which she obviously isn't but i measured her against the measurements on the chart and they all fit.  The top is just more fitted than in the slouchy image of it in the book.

I'm in love with this colour right now and i must say i'm pretty jealous of Esme's new top.  I think i may need one for myself!

Might as well JUMP!

For some time now i've thought about sewing a jumpsuit but it's one of those garments that could look great or really really terrible.  When i organised my pattern stash recently i came across this one...

Isn't it fab?!  The jacket i'm not so in love with :) Check out those shoulders!!  hehe.  I decided to jump right in and try it in an inexpensive black fabric to 'test the jumpsuit waters' and the fit.  This also gives me the ability to dress it up with numerous accessories and shoes.  I love the result!

Details

Fabric: 1.9m Something Black (50%cotton/50% viscose) from Tessuti
Pattern: New Look 6783
Notions: 1 black button from the stash and 70cm of elastic for the waist
Other info: I made a size 10.  Other than accidentally sewing the trouser fronts and trouser backs together in a late night sewing session and having to unpick them this pattern was very easy and quick to sew.  I find the fit across the bum (always a problem!) is snug which in turn pulls the elastic waist down slightly so it peeks out from under the sash.  Next time (oh and there is going to be a next time and it will involve this fabric) i'll slash and spread the pattern to create extra room for my curvy bum.  I think i'll also shorten the legs slightly after looking at the photo.

Gotta love a bit of Van Halen!

Canvas Tote

In the week before Christmas i was rather taken with the bag of a customer (Karen) at work.  My eyes followed her around the shop trying to get a better look at it.  I've been hankering for a new big bag to carry all my crap in and Karens bag was perfect. 

Source: google.com.au via Nichola on Pinterest

 

The bag is from Baggu and is not particularly expensive ($50) but i don't have a spare $50 to splash out on a bag and why should i when i know i could make something similar at a fraction of the cost.  Some cotton canvas, scraps of cotton for the lining, some hardware from the stash and i had my own version for the grand total of $14 (materials only-just to clarify)!

DETAILS

Main Fabric- Melon Cotton Canvas (bright orange) from Tessuti Fabrics
Lining- Scraps of cotton leftover from a previous project bought from Amitie Textiles 
Hardware-Vintage buckle, snaps, d-ring, key clasp and thread from the stash. 

Other Info- I cut the pattern pieces to the rough measurements of the Baggu bag but i think maine is just slightly bigger.  I decided to line the bag for extra stability, added two separate pockets to the inside and a key strap with a clasp for easy access to my keys.

I'm very pleased with the result, it's big enough to carry everything i need (and a lot of what i don't) but i do need to be careful not to over pack it, it can get quite heavy if i do.

 

Thanks Karen! ;)

 Edit to add as a result of comments on Twitter: I made this for my own personal use, not to sell, that is something i would never do and never encourage. I made alterations to the design to suit my needs (bigger, lining, more pockets, a key strap etc).  Like i said above, the Baggu bag is fantastic and not expensive for a bag but it is too expensive for my budget (i work 4 days a week in retail and am the breadwinner, it's not hard to work out that i'm not rolling in it!).  I'm not one for encouraging people to copy others designs but to find inspiration in them.  I don't buy new if i can help it, i make my own instead, i mean if i have the skills and the materials why not?!  A lot of what i make is inspired by others, my Christmas party frock for instance, or the grey eyelet skirt i made early last year.  If there's a pattern for what i want to make i buy it but if not i make it up myself.  I'm sure i'm not the only one to do this.  And I always ALWAYS link to my inspiration.  :)

2012 is going to be fantastic!

This is the day we all reflect on the year that was, get excited about the year to come and make goals and resolutions.  2011 was a pretty good year for me, uneventful but nothing much to complain about.  I took the year to step back from excess activities and take some time out and that i did.  I worked, spent time with my family and friends and sewed...a LOT.

This is just a small portion of what i made, some of my favourites.  There are so many that i've not photographed.

Towards the end of the year i started to feel a little restless, like i need to sink my teeth into something new.  The sewing has been great but i'm feeling i'm sewing for something to do!  I enjoy every minute of it of course but do i reeeealllly need 50 dresses in my wardrobe?!

2012 is the year for me to take on a new creative challenge.  I have a few ideas, one in particular, but i won't reveal just yet.  I want to plan and research it well and take the time to do it properly.  Once i know where it's headed i'll share with you because i'll be needing your help!

I learnt a while ago that resolutions are never kept but i do like to set myself a few small goals for the year.  This year i'm going to take a photo a day on my iPhone using apps to alter the images, you can find them here.

Last year i kept a notebook where i'd jot down ideas, pin in snippets of things i like (fabric and images etc).  I've bought a new notebook to carry this on, i do love a new notebook!

Aaaaand of course i'd love to be more organised, get super fit and have more time for everything i want to do (i'm laughing as i type this) oh and while i'm being unrealistic winning Tatt's Lotto would be pretty nice too!  I seriously do need to step it up in the exercise department though, i've let that slip recently.

What about you? 

Happy New Year!  Here's to 2012 being a fantastic year for us all.xx

Funky Army Drape Dress

I've made this dress a couple of times.  I discovered it works best with a slinky jersey, the first one i made doesn't drape as nicely as the second.

When Trish passed on a remnant of Funky Army i snatched it from her hands before she could change her mind, it was the perfect length for a drape drape dress.

This is seriously the quickest and easiest dress to sew.  One pattern piece, 2 seams and the shoulders and some binding.

Instead of a t-shirt style binding like i used last time i used a fold over binding and i like it much better!

It looks great cinched in at the waist with an old leather belt.

Details

Fabric: 1.1m Funky Army viscose/elastane
Pattern: Dress 2 from Drape Drape 2
Changes: A fold over binding on the arms and neck. I lengthened the hem an inch.