Sunday 30 July 2017

The Alexandra Dress - Re-issued FREE pattern



 A few years ago I attempted to do some pattern drafting and grading.

I had very little knowledge but a desire to try something new. I'd drafted a pattern and decided that I would try digitising it and grading. I used Inkscape - which is free and I found it OK to use. I've since discovered a love for Adobe Illustrator and did an online course earlier this year.

I published my Alexandra dress online and it was available on the sidebar of my blog. However a blog revamp saw me remove the link and I never got around to redoing it.

I really should revisit the pattern, but the format I drafted it in isn't compatible with Ai, so I decided to leave it as is. I've recently had a couple of emails from people who wanted to sew the pattern and I just sent it to them.  Murielle recently sent me a couple of photos of the versions that she has made and is keen to make more. she has given me permission to share her images on the blog.


She has made a couple of versions for friends and I think they look stunning.


I'm aware that this pattern may not be perfect, but Murielle was happy with the drafting and found it easy to sew. You might also want to have a go - after all it's a free pattern and it's certainly something summery (although I often wear one of my versions with leggings and a cardy in winter). Get the pattern Here.

If you do have a go - tag your make #alexandradresspattern on social media.

Sunday 23 July 2017

My blog posts are like buses, non for ages...


Siouxsie Sioux make up practise
...and then this, and plans for more!
I last posted at the beginning of June and have every intention of writing at least one post a week, but life got the better of me. It's been a super busy couple of months. In fact, this year seems to have been the busiest summer term i've had in years!

It has been non stop! I was determined to make Pilates a regular thing on a tuesday eveing, but even that hasn't happened as I've had all sorts of work/ family and church commitments since the end of May and I haven't been at all. I really do need to get into shape and I think I might have to resort to my trusty fitness DVD's, I have a pilates one and a workout one, but they haven't had much use over the last couple of years.

The last 8 weeks have been full of good stuff. My hubby did some much needed work on the house at half term and me and the kids were his helpers - moving furniture etc. we still have a little bit of plaster work to tidy up, but that will get done over the holidays.


My Hubby and I went to his end of term college party in early June - it was 80's themed. He went as Morrisey and I went as Siouxsie Sioux. That was a lot of fun!




I joined the throngs of sewists up in Leeds at  Sew Up North - it was a great day and I came away with some great patterns and fabrics - and I won a prize in the raffle. I've also been running a Crafternoon once a month on a Saturday, in the school where the Church I'm part of meet. Through it I'm getting back into the crocheting!




I've also been on a school residential to a PGL centre with year 5 & 6; did the scenery for the school production, with the help of art club; written loads of risk assessments for our school trip to London next term. Had visitors over and made art; Joined in Northern Baptist College's community day at the start of July... and that is only half of it.


I have been sewing, but it's been just a few minutes at a time. I made a halter top from some fab red gingham I got at the fabric swap at sew up north. I used simplicity 1365 view c. It's not a bad piece, but I probably needed to make a couple more adjustments. I was going to include bra cups but decided against it as they didn't really fit the shape of the pattern too well. It is a very cropped top and I was concerned that as the fabric has some stretch it would roll up on the sides, so I added some plastic boning at the side seams just to help keep a smooth line - it seems to work.


A couple of months ago I drafted my own trousers as I wanted some cigarette pants. I started with a pattern from burdastyle, but the fit on me was so way out I couldn't use it. I have large hip to waist ratio (big butt) with about 13inch difference so drafting from scratch really has helped. I used the hack from Gerties sews vintage casual to make shorts. I made the inseam longer as I don't really like very short shorts these days!

I decided to make these up as a wearable muslin in brown linen - also scored from sew up north! The fit seems to be pretty good, but I need to take a small wedge of fabric out at the CB (swayback) I wanted to check my waistband draft was ok but think that is a bit to deep at 6 cm (this also adds to the sway back issue.) When I make the trousers I'll redraft to about 3/ 3.5cm waistband. I've bought some charcoal denim with a bit of stretch and the trousers are one of my next projects.
If you've drafted your own jeans is it worth putting in a back yoke? I'm going for slant front pockets and back patch pockets?
Photos of the finished items to follow!


LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...