An Emery and a Give Away...

I'm pretty sure most of the internet knows about the Emery Dress by now, right? It's Christine Hayne's latest pattern release and it's such a lovely design that really lets you get creative with finishing touches and construction techniques.

Oh, and you know it has pockets right? I think pockets will forever be the thing that seals the deal with seamstresses all over the world.

A few weeks ago I had a lovely email in my inbox from Caitlan who runs Indie Stitches. She was letting me know that she had just started stocking Christine's patterns and wanted to know if I'd like to help her celebrate by running a giveaway of the Emery Dress pattern on my blog for you guys. Well, of course I said yes (because I'm not silly you know!), so make sure you read on for your chance to win!

My Emery is made from a denim blue cotton plaid, perfect for the cooler seasons ahead - although on the day we took these photos, it was a bit less summery than I would have liked!

I did my usual grading at the bodice, from a 6 to an 8 and found that although it (would) fit perfectly, the shaping darts were about half an inch too low. Nobody else has seemed to have this problem with the pattern however and it's an easy fix. I must have had a moment when tracing the pattern and accidentally used the wrong sized darts. Duh!

Monty photobomb!

I constructed my bodice a bit differently than Christine instructs as I was using a standard vintage zip and not an invisible one. I also made my bow belt instead of using the attached bow pattern because I thought the dress would be a little more versatile sans bow.

The lining I used was left over floral fabric from my Faux Liberty Macaron. And I also kinda wish I had made floral inseam piping for the neckline after seeing it peeping out once it was sewn in. But in all honesty, I couldn't really be bothered unpicking it, so instead settled for ironing up the lining a smidge so you can just see it.

Hey, it works!

Over all, I really love my Emery - the colour, the full skirt with pockets and that lovely neckline. I think a sleeveless version is in order, no?

Now, let's get to the fun part and do a give away shall we?

To enter to win, all you need to do is pop on over to the Indie Stitches Facebook page and like it. Then come back here, let me know you've entered in the comments and you're done.

If you already like Indie Stitches on Facebook, don't worry, you can still enter too!  Just share the page with your friends on Facebook and leave me a comment letting me know you've done it.

The competition is open internationally for two weeks (entries close on Monday 3rd March) and the winner will be notified via email by Friday 7th March.

Indie Stitches also posts worldwide, so if you can't wait to win a copy of the Emery dress pattern, you can buy it here.

So, let's help Caitlan celebrate stocking Christine's patterns!! It's par-tay time guys!

xx

Jen

Tutorial: Pretty Bow Belt

Bow belts are so easy to make and can add that pretty little detail to any outfit to finish it off. They are also great for using those scraps of left over fabric you have that you aren't quite sure what to do with.

There are endless options for customising your belt as well. You don't have to make the belt from one single fabric - mix it up and have a different coloured bow and belt, or a different textured knot on the bow.

You can also just make the bow part of this tutorial and use it as a decorative feature on any number of projects from head bands, pillows and cushions, hair pieces, shoe clips...the list is never ending.

So let's get started...

1)

You will need three rectangles of fabric. I used a smaller seam allowance of half an inch but you can add a standard seam allowance of 1.5cm (or 5/8") to all of your pieces (or more or less) as you see fit.

Belt -
Length  = measure your waist and add 2 inches (or more if you fluctuate in this area quite a bit) plus your chosen seam allowance. (FYI - the belt in the image above is cut off, it runs much longer on each side!).
Width = 4inches plus your chosen seam allowance

Bow -
Length = 13.5inches + seam allowance. Width = same as the belt

Knot - 2inches x 2.5inches + seam allowance.

2) Fold all pieces in half length wise, right sides together. Lightly iron.

3) Sew the knot along the raw edges lengthwise only, leaving both ends open. Back tack both ends and trim seam allowance down. Turn rightside out.

 4) Sew the bow together along the raw edges leaving a hole in the middle. Back tack and trim corners.

5) Turn the bow right sides out one side at a time. Use something sharp to poke the corners out (I used my scissors, but be careful if you use these as sometimes they can poke a hole in your corner!)

6) Iron the bow and the knot flat. At this stage you can choose to hand sew the middle opening of the bow shut, but you don't need to as you will be hiding it in the next few steps.

 7) Fold the bow in half. Measure 2.5inches from the loose ends and sew a straight line down, remembering to back tack at each end.

8) Open your loose ends out and push the fold down as per below. Iron flat.

9) Pinch the bow together in the centre. I like to fold my bow right sides together and then fold the edges out to get a nice even crease.

10) Wrap the knot around your crease and secure at the back with a few hand stitches. Voila! You have now made your bow!

11) If you are using interfacing on your belt, apply this now. Then sew raw edges together, from one end of the belt to the other leaving a small gap (this needs to be big enough to turn your belt in the right way!). Clip corners.

12) Turn your belt in the right way and iron. Close the gap you left with a few invisible hand stitches. Tack the bow onto the belt at one end.

13) You can choose any number of different closures for your belt. I used a bar and hook because that is what I had on hand, but you can use buttons, hooks and eyes or snap fasteners. Use what ever you are comfortable with.

14) Ta da! You just made your very own bow belt.

If you make one, I'd love to see it! Let me know in the comments or send me an email - jenniferlauren.is@gmail.com

xx
Jen

Edited to add - you can use interfacing on all pieces, not just the belt, for a stiffer/crisper finish :)

Stripes and Stripes

Yay, I've finally finished another of my WIP's! I started making this dress back in January and finished it a week or so ago. It's a pattern that David gave me for Christmas 2011 and it's number 1 on my Sewing List (which I think needs updating now...).

I decided to cut the bodice on the bias so that the stripes angled down diagonally like the cover image. To stop the bodice from stretching out because of my cutting it on the bias, I underlined it with a plain white cotton which gives it some much needed stability. Unfortunately, I wouldn't have had enough fabric to also cut the skirt on the bias as well, but I quite like the contrast of the different angled stripes on the top and the bottom.

The pattern called for a bow on one of the shoulders of this dress. But since it's getting cooler here now, and cardigans will soon need to be worn with this dress, and I didn't want to look like I had a lump on my shoulder, I decided to make my own version of a bow belt instead to finish off the look.

I'll have a tutorial on how to make your very own version of this bow belt at the end of the week! They are so simple to make and are great for using up those little scraps of fabric that are left over after finishing a project (I made this one from some of the left over fabric from my black circle skirt).

I ignored the facings for the arm holes, as I usually do, and this time around also ignored the neck facing. Instead, I used black bias binding on both for a neater finish on the inside. I took photos as I did this and will have a tutorial coming up for how to do this in the next few weeks (it's so very very easy by the way!).

Speaking of tutorials, I've been busy working on lots of new content for this little old blog these past two weeks. I've really enjoyed being able to focus on all of the different crafty things I do and also have the time to photograph, write up and share some of the sewing knowledge I've built up over the years. I really hope they will be helpful for some of you either new to sewing or who are wanting ideas on new ways of getting your sewing projects finished.

xx
Jen