Gubbermint frock

My frock inspired by the new Gubbermint! (I used this pattern, view 6 and added little sleeves)

Here's the story:

1. It's mostly red, which is the colour they use on election night for Labor

2. It has a small amount of blue in it, because that's the colour they use for the Liberals on election night. The blue is very pale though, as some of the Liberals were that night.

3. Some of the blossoms are green, to acknowledge the work the Greens' preferences did in changing the gubbermint, especially in the seat of Bennelong.

4. It is an Asian inspired design, in the hope the new gubbermint will re-engage with Asia, and because Kev signed the Kyoto treaty. Also, Kev's son-in-law is from Hong Kong originally. Oh, and of course, Kev can speak Chinese!

5. Um, that's it, but I like lists of 5 better than lists of 4.

...we interrupt this gubbermint transmission...

...with an unrelated fabric update. Thanks to Kitty EE (Evil Enabler) I picked this up from the post office this morning:

It's a sort of mid-weight canvassy fabric. How fab would it look on a wing chair? However I still love the leopard fur my wingish chair is covered in, so that won't happen.

An ottoman? A jacket? Cushions? I have 5 yards... Hand included for scale.

Here's a gratuitous shot of one of my new chandeliers:

Ladies, start your engines!

The start of the Livebird Gubbermint frock challenge! Updates over the weekend!

Fat Halter

Moggy will testify that I have been planning on making a 'fat halter' for quite some time. Today I finally did it, from this pattern. I had the Anne Adams sundress out and just about ready to place on the fabric, but I felt the need for something saucier. You can't fight the sauce. Go with the sauce.

I admit I debated with myself whether to add the rick rack. Then I came to my senses. There is no frock which is not enhanced by rick rack. Even wedding dresses. Just you wait, next year rick rack will be all over the bridal magazines.

(The rick rack also goes around the outside edge of the halter, however the halter's fatness makes it bunch up so it's not visible in the photo)

Peer group pressure

OK, so I actually made this frock weeks ago (just before Pavilion) and didn't post it. Hopefully I shall now redeem myself.

It's made with some fabric from the Fifties Fair (I thought it was Rayon, but the chap who I am currently learning pattern cutting from says polyester /ramie). It has a nice swoosh anyway. I adapted good old sweetie to get a more forties look (inspired by the Ashley dress from Trashy Diva). I ended up having to put some elastic at the shoulders or else they dropped.

It's super comfy - I shall make more!

Petal

That's her name. This is another version of blue spotty, put together from two patterns. This fabric is a bit heavier than the spot though, so I knew I didn't want the skirt to be quite as full. So I folded in some width on the pattern pieces. Only thing is, I went a bit too far with my folding and managed to shear a couple of inches off the hips. Grrr. So I did teeny seam allowances, but it is still mighty tight over my hips. I guess if I get annoyed wearing her, I have enough fabric to make another skirt, so she is on probation for now. Durn beginner's luck strikes again.

She's purty though.

Tracing tip

I have picked up a lot of sewing tips from in-progress photos on other people's sewing blogs, even if they weren't intended to be educational. Just seeing how someone pins a pattern piece can be enlightening. I very rarely post 'in progress' shots myself, mainly because I am an impatient sew-er, and I don't want to stop until the frock is finished.
So tonight I have started my next frock, and while tracing the pattern I thought to myself: "I have a sewing tip people may be interested in!"
I use my extensive snow dome collection for weighting my patterns when I trace them out.
Snow domes! Is there anything they can't do?

Appy hanniversary!

...right back at you. So many frocks and frock accompaniments, with Furnishing Diversions. Here's to another year of stash-raiding, stash-building, and stuff!

Happy anniversary!

Well, Moggy, it's been one year and many frocks, even more patterns and quite a bit of fabric!
I shall celebrate with a Greek salad! Party on!

(I believe this Frida Kahlo fabric was the first fabric that to me opened up the wonders of online fabric shopping and ebay. London, 2004, remember? I still haven't bought any)

New Look? Result!

Good old New Look 6557! You are so easy to sew, such a nice shape, so very pipeable and bindable.

We salute you!

(Frock in Pavilion, piped around neckline and armholes and binding around hem)

Simplicity 2959

A new favourite frock! This is simplicity 2959, in vintage fabric from the fifties fair. It's an easy pattern, and I am very pleased with her. It took about an hour of folding, refolding and gritting of teeth to fit the pattern pieces on 2 metres of fabric, but by shortening the skirt I got there. It has a quarter inch hem as a result, with the help of some bias binding.
Moggy's suggestion of a self fabric belt was a winner, to stop the skirt pleats poufing too much. Luckily I just happened to have a green belt buckle lying about the place.

I never promised you a rose garden

Hang on, yes I did!

Roses arrived today.
Rest easy, Kitty, the roses are only about 6cm wide. Mother pronounced it suitable evocative of the era, although not quite muted enough - give it time, I say.

Now to think about what to make!