Free Dress Pattern From V&A Museum

 Today I am sharing this dress that I made for frugal frocks on instagram, I have had this fabric for quite some time and I don't usually do that but I wasn't sure what to do with it but it just stuck around.  Anyway this challenge was to use up an existing piece and pair it with a free pattern.  We all love a free pattern, and how super is it to make a dress for free using only fabric you already have in your stash.

I found my  free pattern on the V&A website and it is for the Mary Quant Georgie dress,  The original dress is made from a stiffer fabric and has stripes but mine is very sheer and floral so a different take on this.  I found the pattern printed off nice and clear and also was colour coded for sizing which I thought was a nice touch.

As this dress is so sheer I have had to wear a slip underneath, the slip is actually orange so with the sun shining on it you can see it a little.  I may have to do another in white but for the purpose of this I just wore the one I had.

I do like the frill and I wasn't sure if I would, as ever I did not follow the instructions as that is one of my things that I never do with sewing so I cant really let you know if they were clear or not.  However I can say the sizing is accurate, I did have to jig around with the wrap over bit but then I always have to do that with a wrap.  I think it is because maybe I don't have enough to hold it out in front!

In all I think this fabric worked well with the dress, it certainly suits the style with the frills and when we have the right kind of weather I will be wearing this.

I had not used patterns from the V&A website before and there a re a few on there so if you are not familiar with it why not go and have a look.

Mostly this week I have been making purses and bags I was setting myself the challenge to list something on Etsy every day this month but when it hardly makes any difference to the very few views it is quite demoralising.  I will keep it up for the month as planned and if all else fails that is Christmas presents for some time sorted.   It is currently more an exercise in self discipline, but it would be lovely to just be home and sew.  I think a few of us feel like that right now.

This was leftover from the coat fabric from the last post, so I have been quite busy sewing and will happily do that with the music blasting away.

What have you all been up to?  I did manage to get out for a walk with friends today and that was lovely.  Seeing people in person what a treat!   Take care everyone. 

  

Coat Making

 Today I thought I would share a bit of the mystery sewing, I have made an anorak.  Now it is not water proof fabric although I do have a spray for that I have just not got around to spraying the jacket yet.  I think I will do a test piece first.  I have used the spray before on a proper outdoor coat so we will see how effective it is.  This is meant to be a spring / summer coat so hopefully not getting too wet (that is an optimist British comment!)  I did enjoy making this coat after a few initial blunders, one of them was I left the middle bit out of the hood and had it all topstitched with cord in and all, so that came out.

   The sleeves were also a bad fit in the arm hole so I unpicked those about three times and cut and faffed until I had a good fitting sleeve.   I do appreciate things like sleeves are not always going to fit first time so I will let the pattern off with that.   The pattern is again from Burda magazine this time the March issue and is style 109.

The fabric is art gallery fabrics from minerva and is a  poplin, I ordered a dusky pink lining but this hot pink one arrived.  I used it just the same and I think it works well.  

You spend so much time tracing off the patterns from the magazine I now feel I need to make another coat like this one to justify the time spent, although I don't really need one.  Anyway here are a few pictures, if you follow me on minerva.com you will have already seen it.  I am Sewing Green Lady on minerva if you want to follow me there.  You can also read more about the process there.

I must also add that I received the outer fabric as a Minerva Brand Ambassador so if you read my post on there please leave a comment I would like that.  I am not as good with the photos as many of the other makers on there, a lot of people seem to have exotic locations so thank you for bearing with me with my back garden and local park images ;)  When we can get away there may be some variation!

It is the 31st tomorrow so I will share my other make after that, did anyone else make anything for frugalfrocks?  If so let me know in the comments.

I'm off to cook the dinner now so I'll be back soon, enjoy the week. 

Mystery Sewing

 Hello I hope you are having a good week and enjoying the occasional bit of sunshine.  I got out in the greenhouse at the weekend and put a load more seeds in of various kinds, I also have some on the sunny windowsill upstairs but I am choosing not to leave them there too long as they will just get a nasty shock when they go outside!  I let them pop up and then off to the greenhouse with bubble wrap ove r, just until it warms a bit more.

I have made a decision and said if it means we can have a weekend away soon I will tolerate the porty loo in the caravan;0  up to now I said no I want the facilities open but do you know what if they say you can camp with your own facilities then we are off.

Last week I was working on a dress and i really like how it has turned out, I can't share yet though as it is going on instagram for the frugal frocks on the 31st.  I heard about this and thought what a nice idea so you all use fabric you have already no buying new for this, and then source a free print off pattern.  You all share your makes on the 31st of the month along with your source of pattern.  That way I suppose everybody gets a whole list of ideas for free pattern and some inspiration too. You have to tag in the yorkshire sew girl and frugalisama.

Here is a peek at a bit of my dress, I will share the rest after the 31st.

Ha Ha that is all I am sharing of that for now, it is really sheer material so I am wearing a slip that I already own under it, the slip is orange but there is a bit of orange in the daisy.

In bag making this week I made another retro style one...

The flower design on this bag I keep thinking is a wine glass or is that because I haven't had a glass of wine for over a month??

There are lots of flowers about in my house at the moment they are very cheery and it reminds me to have some about the place more often. 

The lovely tulips were from my friend but they have since dropped their petals.  Everything else is gradually going but I keep moving the bits that are still alive to another pot so the arrangements keep changing.

Below is a bit of card making for my husband, it is quite a big card and I drew the birds over a few days then stuck them to the tree that I made.  They are birds that we have been seeing in our garden, the 50 is cut from silver card too.  

                                  I like to draw and they are not perfect but it is at least personal.

These are the extras for my current project, I will share that soon too.  I have had the main fabric a few weeks but I have been waiting  for these bits to get on with it.  Any guesses what it will be  based on the extras??

Yes I know big cord small holes, I may need to rethink some parts of it.

Well that is all for today enjoy the rest of the week and take care.