Mysterious phone calls, Stalinist conspiracies, and Burda 7390

If you follow my Instagram, you may already know my penchant for writing letters to the editor. A topic of particular interest to me is climate change. Apparently it is of interest to others, as whenever I have a letter printed regarding climate change, I receive a phone call from a concerned stranger who is determined to correct my beliefs regarding the Great Global Warming Conspiracy.

I know this is super bright but it’s all we have right now. Also: THOSE PEACHES

The Accidental Dress – Marimekko-Inspired Simplicity 1873

Before my most recent relapse, I had been doing a bit of sewing here and there to earn money: alterations and costumes, mostly. I decided that an Etsy shop might be a better way to channel my craft*, so built up a stock of retro-style clothing made from vintage sheets. Unfortunately, I am now not well enough to keep up with the demands of an Etsy store**, so decided to claim one of the dresses for myself.

Wearing my beloved Mel flock brogues.

The Little Dress That Could – Inari Tee Dress for Jungle January

This project shouldn’t have worked.

Despite initially being excited to start the Named Inari Tee Dress for my Jungle January entry, I was convinced throughout cutting and sewing that I had made the wrong decision. The cocoon shape would not flatter my figure and the deliberate style details (unbalanced shoulder seam, raised front hem) were usually tell-tale signs of a poorly-fitted garment on me. But this is the garment that proved me wrong!

Look at that glare. Those trees, hat and sunglasses. DOES SHE LIVE IN A JUNGLE?!

Butterick 6528 – Are Pineapples Still Hot Right Now?

A year or so ago, a pineapple craze swept the Instagram sewing community. The tag, #pineapplesaresohotrightnow, accompanied creations made in a pineapple print fabric. Being typically late to the party,* I have only just made a similar pineapple print dress.

99% of the photos I took are of me staring in this direction, to avoid the hot northerly blowing dust in my face. Country Road leather loafers, from op shop, hat from KMart.

The Un-Wedding Dress – Burda 03/2016 #106

I love checking out Burdastyle.com* for their latest pattern releases, and early this year a dress from their wedding collection caught my eye: Short A-Line Dress 03/2016 #106. As lovely a wedding dress it made, I felt it would also work as a casual, 60s-inspired shift. So I dug out some vintage sheets from my collection and got to work.

My tacky-tastic Simplicity 2246

This post was brought to you by my friendly local Vinnie’s. You’ll know by now my love for op shopping, and a few weeks ago I stumbled across some fabric about which I was totally undecided. I love me some crazy prints, but felt this particular fabric might stray from the “so ugly I love it” category to “so ugly I actually hate it”. As it was a mere $2 for 4m, I bought it anyway, and decided it would make economic muslins if anything. I’m glad I did, as this is possibly my most hilarious dress yet.

Vintage Vogue 8789, or, I love op shops

G’day! Today I’ve got a particularly frothy creation to share with you. The pattern is Vogue 8789, a vintage reprint. Vogues are expensive in Australia, but V8789 is one of those patterns where both variations are so lovely and unique, that it seems better value for money than shelling out the same amount for one basic design. I sewed variation A, which has a bias-cut bodice and v-neckline.

Tights are Sophie by Transparenze with the waistband cut off because holy shit they are constrictive. Mel shoes, $3 from Salvos. “FUCK” ring, Ruby Pilven Ceramics.

Lindy Bop Ophelia knock-off (or why I despise drafting)

BABE.

Last time, I shared with you a few dresses I’d made for my friends. I felt this particular dress deserved a post of its own.

This dress is my pièce de résistance – a knock off the Lindy Bop Ophelia dress, drafted from New Look 6773. It was made from Spotlight poly poplin. Before you ask, I am aware that Gertie produced a pattern for Butterick (5882) which is similar in style to the Ophelia. I did consider using it, but the bust piece is so small that it looks less like a design feature and more like a pair of small birds landed on the model’s chest.

Burda / McCall’s 6696 shirt dress hack: on slopers vs blocks

Warning: contains a GIF

Any sewing aficionado not living under a rock will be aware of McCall’s 6696, their famous shirtdress pattern. Gorgeous variations abound online, and for good reason – it seems to be one of those unicorn patterns that looks good on just about anyone. Except me, of course.

But you made a shirtdress, you say! Read on.