Sunday 23 March 2014

Liberated sewing

This weekend I gave myself some much needed time off from quilt making and deadlines :) Instead I turned my hand to sewing clothes. I've always been mind-boggled by the process of dressmaking and my past attempts at it have mainly been child sized. Last year I bought a heap of Sew Liberated patterns from Backstitch and vowed I'd get a grip on dressmaking. Since then the patterns have mainly been gathering dust on my shelf. I finally bit the bullet and opened up the Esme top pattern...
...it wasn't long before I had all the pieces cut out and ready to go :) I had a large cut of Liberty, that Mum had bought me in the New Year sales last year, that was perfect!
The highlight of this pattern is it comes with a detailed step-by-step video! I honestly can't recommend it highly enough! All the gobbledygook (to me, anyway) written instructions were sidelined for the videos, and within 2 sewing sessions Jess has a new top! It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I think it's fair to say that Jess will be able to wear it out in public without people laughing at the homemade top she's wearing.
 The buttonholes were a bit squiffy but it's not too obvious now the the buttons are in place and the pattern almost matches :)
 I love the lines of this top. The sleeves are so pretty with their cuffs.
I felt particularly smug when Jess tried it on for me, (excuse the pouty teenage face, not best pleased at being roped into a photo shoot), because it fits!
Spurred on by this success I have spent this afternoon cutting out another pattern, for myself this time, but that can wait for another day :) Catch you soon x

12 comments:

  1. lovely top .. and good for you for making something for yourself .. love the fabric by the way x

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  2. This is so beautiful R! Well done! You've inspired me to keep going with my basic dressmaking skills! Jxo

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  3. Yay, it looks great, even if the recipient looks less than thrilled ;o)

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  4. wow you really have the pattern matching down the front, that could not have been easy to do. I used to make all my clothes but since the sewing bug got me in 1990 have not done so, mind you I am still wearing clothes I have had for years.

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  5. You have done a wonderful job. After many years of home dressmaking just watching the GBSewig Bee makes my blood run cold. Well done you.

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  6. Brilliant. I hope there will be pay back on Jess's part and she will get to take a photo of you modelling the next top. ;-)

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  7. Great job, look forward to seeing yours.

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  8. Cheer up Jess, your mum did great!!

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  9. A lovely top, and the teenage lip is 'uniform'! she wouldn't be dressed without it! ( LOL)

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  10. It is lovely and your hexistars are sooo gorgeous too. Now ... if your model would just smile - a teeny tiny bit! Lol! Cathy

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Lovely comments read with glee everyday.