style – Page 2 – Stacey Stitch

Craftsy: Sew Retro – The Gertie Bombshell Dress So Far

Published on May 22, 2014 by Stacey Stitch4 Comments

I thought I’d give a little update on my Sewing for Vegas Sew Retro bombshell dress and my experience of using Craftsy for the first time.

I signed up for this course with a little trepidation, boning? yikes! But you never get anywhere unless you push yourself do you? And in some respects I have all too easily become used to doing what I can do and sticking with the “safe” stuff.

So first things first:

When I found out about craftsy I thought it would be marvellous for me. As you may know I am dyslexic, so looking at instructions in the written word are usually quite confusing.

Add with that mild dyspraxia and you have a whole heap of confusion when it comes to things such as left and right.

I learn so well when people show me physically how to do something rather than from reading instructions, hence the idea of video classes which I can access at any point seemed perfect.

So sign up I did.

I downloaded the course materials and pattern (easy enough) ensuring that the test square was the right size and then ordered everything I needed to make up the dress (apart from the boning – you really need to measure your bodice pieces for that).

I decided on a cerise medium weight cotton for the main fabric with the lining in a lightweight light blue and white polka dot.

I cracked on with making up the pattern.

Now, I know this should have been easy and it was up to a certain point but honestly, being told that it’s “fun, like doing a puzzle” doesn’t actually make it any more fun and less fiddly.

Oh, and if you’re like me and don’t have a table big enough, prepare for some backache.

This was however soothed by watching the amazingly trashy cultness of Showgirls while I was doing it.

Next up was marking the pattern pieces on calico for the toile of the bodice.

When I first discovered that the pattern had no seam allowance I was struck by a little bit of fear, I completely didn’t understand how beneficial this actually would be and how easy it would make the whole process. Thread tracing is a new one on me but I feel like it’s something that might change my sewing life!

After a short time I had my cups made and decided it was time to leave it for the night.

The next day I began stitching the rest of the pieces together. It took me about 40 minutes of not understanding why the cups weren’t fitting into the bodice sections before I realised I’d sewn them on the wrong way round (dylexia-dyspraxia strikes again!). Once they were un-picked and re-sewn I had a bodice which looked pretty fantastic.

I just made a few adjustments to the height of the cups (these would make me blush in their original form, and I’m not shy by any means) which Gertie talks you through every step of the way, There’s also a section on a full bust adjustment, which I didn’t use but I did watch and it was very thorough. It will be a great reference if I make something for someone in the future who is bustier than me.

I added a little height to the back of the bodice too, in line with the height I’d added to the cups and then I graded this down towards the closure section where the zip will be inserted.

After this I made the changes to my pattern pieces to incorporate the extra material and I cut more calico for the interlining, marked it up and used these pieces as a pattern for the main bodice material, which I then cut and tacked together.

Then I made up the bodice as instructed, step by step, including inserting a bit of padding to the cups and a few other tailoring techniques as shown (I don’t want to give everything away).

This where I’m up to, an almost complete bodice. I am so happy with how it looks.

My thoughts on the class and on craftsy:

I am really loving doing something new and more challenging with guidance from others who have completed the course and from the instructor. I would definitely recommend this type of learning to anyone who is talking up sewing. The instructions are clear and concise and it is invaluable to be able to see in motion what you can only read about in other respects. The little tailoring and hand sewing techniques and finishes and shared experiences from Gertie are well worth signing up for, never mind the fact you’ll have a gorgeous dress at the end of it.

I fully intend to carry on doing more craftsy courses after I have finished this one. What I have learned so far is so much more than I thought I would, and it’s great to find out little tips and tricks so that if (like me) you’re learning as you go, and on your own, you find speedier and more accurate ways to make garments.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME

8 DAYS TO GO AND EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

If you liked this blog please vote for me in the NVAs as I’ve been nominated under the Best Vintage Fashion/Lifestyle Blog category. Voting is open throughout May and it’s a simple click to select Stacey Stitch and then enter your email address to confirm the vote (you wont be spammed). Clicking on the photo or links above should take you straight to the website.

I need to be in the top 3 and I’m currently in 4th place. Only the top 3 go through to the judges panel. Help a fellow vintage sewing enthusiast out?

It’ll only take a few minutes of your time if you have it spare! Thank you!

Tank Tops (also known as my topsy-turvy brain thinks it’s Winter)

Published on May 20, 2014 by Stacey Stitch6 Comments

I went a little tank top crazy last week and bought four, and along with a brown dagger collared shirt, they cost me the grand total of £11. Bargain, thought I.

Then I considered the fact that:

I’m Going to Vegas soon and this is not suitable attire
It’s very nearly summer in the UK

And wondered what I was going to do with the, Ah-ha! I declared (inwardly, as I was in the middle of Manchester when I had this eureka moment), I am obviously just being super prepared for the coming winter of course.

With that thought it in mind I had rummage through my patterns and found a great 60s skirt pattern and a fantastic pattern for some flared trousers with turn ups.

So all that’s left is colours and materials to choose, any ideas anyone? I am getting stuck at brown, black and mustard and can’t seem to get my thoughts any further.

Butterick B5895: The Gertie Capris – 3 Different Ways

Published on May 5, 2014 by Stacey Stitch11 Comments

You probably all sat there thinking “c’mawn…where’s the sewing?!” lately didn’t you?

Well, I have indeed been Sewing for Vegas as I promised a few weeks back, it’s just been terrible weather here and combined with Timothy working away, and out of town visits to friends and family, I haven’t been able to get some photos until now.

So where did I start? 4 metres of stretch slub denim going for a song on ebay. Perfect, I thought, this will be a good foundation for my day wear when I’m pounding the pavement and looking at the wonders the strip has to offer.

So I got out my Gertie capri pattern and cut out the pieces (in a bigger size than my test pattern a few months ago) and got to sewing. I found the tips over at Handmade Jane’s blog on denim sewing tips a great help and before you knew it (and in a day) I had a pair of denim capris.

Following this I decided to make up another pair for shorts, because it’s an easily to chop some length off a pattern, and the day after voila! A pair of high waisted denim shorts to be roaming about in.

Then I got all cocky with myself and made the decision to adapt the pattern and make a skirt.

Now, this might not seem like a lot of bother for some readers of this blog but I have never attempted anything like this.

I made the adjustment to the front parts of the pattern, ensuring I took the seam allowance off the centre as this would be placed on the fold.

I made a few other adjustments to the back side of the legs to taper in more and made a toile with some stretch cotton, before using that toile to cut the pieces of denim for the final skirt.

I have to say I’m so happy with how it all turned out and now I have my day wear for Vegas.

I just have to find something for my top half as however liberal Vegas may be I’m sure they don’t want me flouncing about topless in the streets.

So what’s next? Well, I’ve been joining in on Gertie’s slip sew along as I have never sewn any undercrackers or used that type of slinky material.

I am also starting my Gerties Sew Retro Bombshell Dress class on Craftsy to make my birthday dress for Vegas. So much to do and only 30 days to go!

If you liked this blog please vote for me in the NVA as I’ve been nominated under the Best Vintage Fashion/Lifestyle Blog category. Voting is open throughout May and it’s a simple click to select Stacey Stitch and then enter your email address to confirm the vote. Clicking on the photo or links above should take you straight to the website. It’ll only take a few minutes of your time if you have it spare! Thank you!

I’ve been Nominated in the National Vintage Awards: Please vote for me!

Published on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by Stacey Stitch6 Comments

Super fantastic new for my little blog: I’ve been nominated under the Best Vintage Fashion/Lifestyle Blog category of the UK National Vintage Awards .

It means so much to me to be nominated, especially as at the end of this month it’ll be my blog’s first birthday (special giveaway to follow so keep your eyes peeled!). If I get shortlisted to the final it would be even better, the competition is very strong with other fantastic blogs listed, it’s going to be a very close call, so if you read my blog and you like what you see please vote for me.

Voting is open throughout May and it’s a simple click to select Stacey Stitch and then enter your email address to confirm the vote. Clicking on the photo or links above should take you straight to the website. It’ll only take a few minutes of your time if you have it spare.

Thanks to everyone who has voted so far, it really warms my heart to know that people are backing me for the NVAs and I am so happy to be representing the online sewing community.

It makes me feel like the dreams I have of sewing for a living could actually come true in the future, knowing I have the support means the world to me.

Big love and lots of thanks

Stacey xx

April Vintage Pattern Giveaway

Published on April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by Stacey Stitch9 Comments

Up for grabs this month is this vintage late 60s/early 70s spring dress featuring long bell sleeves (or short variation). It’s suitable for knits, it’s a very easy, very vogue pattern in four pieces so won’t take long to make up at all, perfect for the spring days ahead. It’s a 38 Bust.

If you’d like to enter comment on this blogbelow

Visit my facebook page like and comment on the post related to this blog:

or visit my twitter and retweet the giveaway tweet:

If you do all three you’ll get three entries.

I’ll pick a winner on 30th April.

Good luck!

Mad Men: Series 7 Episode 1 – Style File

Published on April 21, 2014April 21, 2014 by Stacey StitchLeave a comment

Mad Men kicked off in the UK on Wed and I wasn’t disappointed, great opening episode to the final series and I honestly have no clue where it’s going to end for some of my favourite characters but I am sure it’s not going to be the happy ending we’d all love for some of the biggest, and most flawed, of the Mad Men cast.

On a brighter note (and to avoid any spoilers for those who haven’t watched it) here are some of my favourite outfits for Wednesday night’s show.

Dawn:

Joan:

Joan & Clara:

Joan:

Margaret:

Megan:

Neve Campbell’s Cameo appearance:

Peggy:

Peggy & Shirley:

Peggy:

Shirley:

I absolutely LOVE Dawn’s dress and jacket combo and as always I am drooling over Joan (and her massive bell sleeves). Best of all I have a few patterns that are carbon copies or easily adaptable to make a few of the above outfits of my own. Two days is too long to wait for episode 2!

Mad Men Inspiration

Published on April 15, 2014 by Stacey Stitch12 Comments

The final season on Mad Men is almost upon us, the UK air date is tomorrow and I’m equally excited and sad, it’s bittersweet to know it won’t be gracing our screens after these final few episodes play out.

To say Mad Men has been a great influence on the patterns I pick and fabrics I choose would be an understatement. I have always loved vintage fashions but being a (now retired) burlesque performer meant that I was more inclined to dress 50s/rockabilly than anything else. After a while it lost its appeal, dressing up in that way for a second job meant that it felt more like putting a uniform on than wearing 50s fashions for fun.

So when I discovered Mad Men, and devoured the first three seasons in a matter of weeks, I found something I loved much more than the Jessica Rabbit style 50s attire that a lot of burlesque performers wear the late 50s/early 60s look that I adore; classy enough for work, sassy enough for a night out.

I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise when I say Joan is my absolute favourite style wise; whenever I look at a pattern I often think WWJD? I like the use of block bold colours that they use in her wardrobe with little feminine touches along the way to soften the structured almost armour like shapes of her clothing.

So where to start when you’re thinking about creating a Mad Man inspired outfit? Gathering images is the best way to start. I set up a pinterest board a while ago where I collect Mad Men stills or Mad Men inspired images which I like the look of.

I then source vintage patterns from Etsy, Ebay and various other online places checking them against the images to see if they can be adapted and styled into an outfit from the stills, or I find patterns that are of a similar ilk to the show’s costuming and I find material that fits in with the period and put something together that even if it wasn’t actually on the show it certainly could be.

Some of the Mad Men inspired garments I have made are listed in my previous posts, but here are a few snapshots:

This is my most recent and my own take on Joanie’s green blouse:

So put your feet up, tune into Sky Atlantic and enjoy the feast for your eyes that is the final season of Mad Men, and remember, even thought it may be finishing your sewing adventures are not! I can’t wait to see what gorgeous garments there are to drool over.

March Vintage Pattern Giveaway

Published on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014 by Stacey Stitch5 Comments

This month the pattern I’m giving away it this beautiful early 50s blouse, 34bust, McCalls 3088.

To enter please comment below, visit my facebook page like and comment on the post related to this blog:

or visit my twitter and retweet the giveaway tweet.

I’ll pick a winner next Friday, 4th April.

Good luck folks!

The Wardrobe Architect: Weeks 8 & 9

Published on March 21, 2014 by Stacey StitchLeave a comment

Again I have missed a week, so I’m playing catch up a little.

I have had a reasonable excuse, though I’ve been going through a hefty HR process with work for nearly two years and had my final meeting on Monday so I have spent the last few weeks focussing on non-sewing matters (and boy, oh boy – how I have missed this!). So please cross your fingers and toes for me.

Week 8: Hair, Make-Up & Beauty

Hair

As a bit of a coincidence I’d also had my hair cut that weekend, into a bob. I am currently in the process of growing out the red hair I’ve had for years now, mainly due to the fact that there’s a whole rainbow of colours out there and I have had a hankering to dye my hair royal blue for some time. Even through my hair grows very quickly this has still become a pain in the proverbial.

At the moment I’m styling out the two tone and covering my greys with a close to natural brown which eventually washes out and the red shows through (as a side note my husband constantly tells me to grow out the grey, I think he thinks I’ve got some kid of awesome Rouge streak going on, when in fact I’ve been salt and pepper since I was 22).

So off went a big chunk and here I am with a short bob and a side swept fringe, because I like to sport a beehive much of the time and I also like to pin curl it if I was a more glam style for an evening out.

I don’t know if it’s a mix of getting that little but older and not wanting to be all Susan Kennedy (neighbour’s fans from the 80s will know what I’m taking about) but long hair is not for me any longer. I had years of the cyclical grow it long, get frustrated, cut it short, wish I hadn’t, grow it long etc. I am happily settled with a bob now and since losing weight I think it suits me much more.

Make Up

I’m an everyday make up gal. On a rare Sunday I’ll be make-up free “to give my skin a break” or more like “I know I’m not leaving the house and all I want to do is slob about in my pjs, watch films and eat popcorn and chocolate” also referred to as PMT.

My weekday workface:

foundation, concealer, powder, blusher, eyebrow mascara, mascara.

Weekend day:

the same as the above with a winged/cat eye eyeliner going on.

Going out/special occasion:

the above plus eye-shadow, highlighting powder on the cheekbones and brow bones, lipstick (of course ensuring the rules of eyes or lips are already in place).

Being an English Rose I have found it very difficult to find a foundation that’s perfect for me, but after years of finding things too dark I found Maybelline 24H Super Stay in Light Beige and it made me so ridiculously happy I could have cried, and we have been firm friends ever since. I stick with No7 translucent pressed power and No7 classic concealer (which they have stopped doing now, so I’m going to have to so in store and do their match made thing, has anyone done this?).

As far as colours go with eye-shadow, I love them ALL. Nothing puts me off and I’ll try anything, I particularly like deep red and purple shades at the moment. With lipstick I’m not so adventurous, I still with reds usually but recently my make-up artist friend did me up for a shoot and she put an orangey tone on my lips and I loved it so I am trying to think outside the box a little.

Beauty

I have become a Lush addict. I don’t have much beauty stuff that isn’t from Lush.

I usually have on the go in a month:

Soap for my body and face (I alternate which one I use each time but I love Honey I Washed the Kids)
Buffy bar and a sugar scrub
A bath bomb and a bubble bar
A couple of toner tabs
A fresh face mask
Body Lotion (Sympathy for the Skin currently – smells like banana custard)

The reason I decided to buy most of my beauty products from Lush is because I agree with their values and I have been really off put by rubbing anything massively chemically into my skin (and now approaching my mid-30s I really think it’s important to nourish it as much as possible with goodness). They may be a little more expensive than other products out there but I really do think you’re paying for quality.

While my regime in the morning is quick (shower, soap, body lotion) once a week I’ll run a hot bath add a bomb or bubble bar, whack a face mask on and stick some sci-fi on the laptop to watch while I relax. I think it’s very important to have a little time for yourself, especially if, like me, you’re super busy at work and can’t sit still when you’re at home.

Week 9: The Capsule Wardrobe

Can I make all of the things? Stick with all of the silhouettes I created in earlier weeks?

I have a plan with sewing for Vegas where am promising myself that I will make things that can be mixed and matched, especially for day wear. Does this count as a holiday capsule wardrobe?

Maybe I can’t focus on anything past Vegas at the moment (which I’m not complaining about at all, honest!).

Taking into consideration my previous silhouettes, I think setting myself goals on a few core items to make (when I get back from Vegas) might be the best idea, so on that note:

A line skirts; with maybe a large box pleat at the front on one
Shirts; I really like how my green shirt turned out and I can make it with or without the sleeves which would be perfect for all season wear
Pair of black trousers
Tailored jackets
A couple of knee length dresses
I may even get the knitting machine out and make a couple of jumpers or cardigans that I can mix or match.

I think the colour issue will be interesting as I tend to go for strong block colours, so we’ll see where this leads, I must remember to take the mix and match into consideration and not get carried away! I am certainly going to spend some time riffling through my pattern boxes this weekend and seeing what I can dig up that fits in.

Butterick 2475: all Sewn Up

Published on March 1, 2014March 21, 2014 by Stacey Stitch11 Comments

You may remember my post from January where I said I’d be getting on with the start of this Joanie inspired outfit by starting with the green pussybow blouse. It appears to have taken me an inordinate amount of time to complete. I have (in my defence) been quite busy with other things though; the prep for two interviews in two weeks for jobs I didn’t get (unfortunately), babysitting for our lovely friends’ adorable six month old and visits from old friends; it’s all meant that I haven’t been able to crack on as I would have liked to.

BUT here we are and finished in all it’s splendour is my blummin gorgeous 60s blouse a la Joan Harris (nee Holloway).

So where did I start? Having never made a blouse before I wasn’t entirely sure what material to go for. I decided on a trusty poly-cotton which meant the drape would be a bit stiffer than the one shown in the picture but I did want the collar to be a little stiffer, and as I wasn’t sure how this would all play out I thought not splashing the cash on fancy fabric would be the best option.

I went about cutting the pattern, fabric and interfacing out and I was quite happily thinking “less pieces, less work than a dress”. Ah, the young sewing fool inside me.

At the end of the first day I’d made the bodice and the collar. It dawned on my when I finished that I’d absolutely breezed the collar this time, I think I’ve been so caught up in worrying about the set in sleeves that I appear to have somehow mastered collars without thinking about it. Pretty good eh?!

Then it was sleeve making time. I should state, at this point, I have never made a full length sleeve, the previous ones I’ve made have been short/cap sleeves.

So this was a bit of a learning curve.

A sleeve with a cuff turns out to be very confusing when you get down to the cuff part. In the picture above are the markings to make the shirt fit to the barrel cuff. The part that I’m about to start stitching is the reinforced part which is then turned inside out and makes the opening that you then attach the cuff to.

All looks great on paper, all does not make sense once I’ve sewn it and pinned it.

It took me half an hour to figure out what it was meant to look like from the illustration on the instructions and the consequent consultation with my husband, to figure out if I was having a particularly bad case of dyslexic brain. Turns out his dyslexic brain was not computing either.

But with fiddling, and pressing, and a few minutes break away from it I had that all too common eureka sewing moment where it clicked. I finally pressed it, attached the cuff and hoped for best. It turned out pretty well and meant the second sleeve was a breeze.

Then it was on to the dreaded time.

The set in sleeve time.

The time of doom.

Now, I made a little list of goals at the beginning of the year (some have totally fallen by the wayside already) and one of these was to master set in sleeves by the end of 2014. So when I went into this part of making the blouse I did so with a new determination that I would not simply settle for “that’ll do” and I would set these sleeves in over and over until I got them perfect.

Plenty of people gave me advice (thank you everyone for all of your helpful tips and guidance) but I really owe massive thanks to Clare at www.sewdixielou.com for spurring me on when I was halfway through ripping the sleeves out for the second time (and on the verge of having a little cry) who simply said “I never use gathered way hate it. I do it by hand gently easing larger fabric pinning every 1/2″. Then when happy pin in between pins then baste by hand. Remove pins check how it looks then machine”.

Now, this may strike you as odd (but probably goes a long way to explaining more than bit about me) but I never considered for a moment that I should use any other method than gathering.

It’s what everyone had shown me; books, sewing tutorials online, pattern instructions. All gathering. It’s a rule right?

Wrong. I am learning more and more that sewing is about finding what works for you and just because people say you should do it this way, it doesn’t mean you have to do it this way.

In the end I went for a bit of both, I gathered a little and then pinned and pinned. I sewed from the inside of the sleeve ; calmly, slowly, gently and smoothed as I went. Et Voilà! A perfectly set in sleeve!

So overjoyed was I that I ran about the house and told Tim he should come and look, at which point he did and we embraced and then I did my little happy dance (literally). Then I proceeded to set the other in, with no problem at all and then made Tim come back every five minutes to look at my beautiful set in sleeves on my fantastic blouse.

Needless to say, it wore a bit thin (for him- certainly not for me) after the 50th time, saying that though he was very chuffed for me.

Next up were buttonholes and buttons, which I forgot to buy. I finally located some small-ish ones and add them to the cuffs and the front of the blouse with a pop stud opening at the top (which is covered when the collar is done up) and here we are, the finished article.

I really feel like I’ve made sewing skills progress with this blouse.

I have learnt sleeves with openings and cuffs; I have finally managed to successfully set in sleeves and I’ve made a new type of collar. Wholly happy.

Footnote:

As I have said blouse so much in this post I’ll leave you with this little clip from Bottom. I can’t think about the word blouse without thinking about Ritchie giving his famous chat up likes a whirl “my what a lovely blouse you have on”!