Samples...

I was wondering what to write about, as I haven't done much this last week or so, but looking through my previous posts I find I still need to look at fabric and samples. I have finally downloaded pictures of the fabrics, so now I will have a think about what I
might like to make.
These are the samples I have:
This one I probably won't do anything with. I got it as a sample for the primary school flower project, but the shop did not have enough fabric and also it was an Amy Butler fabric, quite expensive and possibly too nice for such a project:

This selection I got from Bolt of Cloth in Christchurch, when I got the fabric for my Mackenzie Frock Stars outfit:

My favourite is the pohutakawa print on linen. It is $139 a metre and I'm not sure that I could justify spending that amount on material. If I could I might make something like this. The plain olive brown linen could be a pair of summer trousers. I have a pair of Boden trousers that I love, but are sadly looking their age and wearing almost through in some places so I could make something to replace them. Alternatively, a Kasia skirt with the spotty fabric as a contrast on the hip area.

The next two both have a turquoise colour in them which I am finding myself drawn to recently:

The first is a knit that I thought I would try using for a t-shirt type top, possibly a Lydia or something a bit more drapey like the Weekender Renaissance top from Hot Patterns, which arrived in the post the other day. The second is a very wafty thin polyester which has a striking diagonal pattern that is actually a lot more colourful than the sample. For this I thought either a loose batwing top with a vest top/tank underneath or something a bit more structured like the JJ blouse. Lots of if's and maybe's. I have mental pictures of them all, then I look at Burdastyle and some of the many sewing blogs out there and get very confused.

I have never sewn with knit fabric before and am quite keen to try it out. Most of the tops that I have in my wardrobe are knits and variations on t-shirt styles. It can't be that hard - can it?? I thought that I would use my winnings from the Frock Stars Competition to buy one or another of the fabrics above - watch this space as they say!

Frock Stars

Next up was the Mackenzie Frocks Stars competition.
"Your mission is to take one of our icky old frocks & give it a new lease of life in whatever way you can! Unleash your creativity & cut it, dye it, adorn it or completely reshape it - in fact ANYTHING you can to make it gorgeous again!"

I collected a frock - not my first choice - and had a think. My frock was black brushed cotton, with with sprigs of multi coloured flowers (red, white, khaki-ish green and purple). Having been reading Marisa's blog New Dress a Day I knew that something reasonable could come out of this! It was clearly a handmade dress, and had an interesting row of buttons with loop closures. My first thought was to make a jacket to keep the interesting buttons, then came across the Nadine jacket on BurdaStyle - a plan was beginning to form...

During Husband's birthday weekend away to Christchurch, I dragged dragged him to a fabric shop I had been told about, called Bolt of Cloth. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but very quickly found a bright 'tomato-y' red fabric that would go with the red flowers on the dress. Having bought the red fabric and obtained some samples of other fabrics for possible future projects, I then had to tackle the dress. I had decided to use the Nadine pattern as a basis for my jacket, and wanted to use the red fabric as a statement. I used the collar, sleeve ruffles and and peplum from the Nadine and cut them out of the red. I cut the dress horizontally just below the last button and set about attaching the extra pieces, leaving the collar to last (this was the trickiest bit).

Having done all this I found the piece I had left was just big enough to make a skirt. I used the Burdastyle Kasia skirt for inspiration and again used the red fabric to highlight the hip yoke section.


The entries were judged on Wednesday 28th July (I think) and who knows what people thought of my creation. The Fashion Parade t00k place on Saturday evening and and I will be modelling my outfit. This is not usually 'my thing' as I am not keen on people watching me, but I will have to tell myself that people are looking at the clothes rather than me and get on with it! I forgot to take pictures of the finished clothes so will post something after the Parade.