SHE PLAYS UP TO YOU… Clairy, a Frocktails Dress

Posted on September 3, 2013 by sewbusylizzy

Frocktails is nearly here. I’m off to Melbourne on Friday!

I had planned to post this post-Frocktails but she’s busting outta the wardrobe… she’s as bad as Jungle Anna… perhaps worse…Meet Clairy…

… She plays up to you
pouting lips
shaking hips
and flicking her hair…*

Clairy Dress - pouting lips, shaking hips...

Someone decided she couldn’t wait…

I had grand plans for Frocktails… something classy… and then Clairy just appeared. Completely unplanned… she’s a party girl… she doesn’t wait for an invite…

This is my third pattern hacked dress, and the pattern gets more hacked each time. The back is shortened, the length is shorter, it’s much tighter…

I love how this dress fits and am always amazed that just two pieces of fabric can manage to look so damn fine.

I took a couple of daytime shots – while the dress was still in progress… as I wasn’t 100% convinced the vision I woke up with was going to deliver…

Back view of the Clairy – there is a seam from the lower back to the hem, a seam across my lower back and side seams from the armholes to the hip, extending slightly below the back waist seam.

Daytime view of the Clairy – less sparkles, more detail. I hadn’t finished the armholes at this point – I just wanted to see if it looked OK. I think the answer from ELH was ‘YES…’

Just a one more shot – because Clairy needs to shake her hips, pout her lips…

One minute she’s chilling
the next she’s sweet talk dealin’
when you gonna wake up and see…*

OK you can't see the dress detail but I love the mood of this shot...

No dress detail in this shot but I love the mood as the sun sets…

Confessions…

Clairy is not immaculately finished… she’s a rough & ready gal. I am ridiculously busy at the moment with little or no spare time… it’s frustrating but this is the busiest time of the year for me. Work, kids, family, drama, dance, gym, trips away. It all happens from September until December.

Shhh.. I didn’t line it – no, I’m just wearing a slip. I know, Clairy won’t last forever – she’s here for a good time not a long time – I don’t feel bad. I scored this fabric – which is usually around the $40 a metre for $4 a metre. So this cost me about $6 to make… and I have enough fabric to make another…

I’d never sewn sequins and had been a little scared of the fabric. In the end I just chucked in a heavy duty needle, denim and used a stretch stitch… seems to have worked…

* Wondering where the inspiration for the dress came from & those lyrics? It’s Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes and their song She Plays Up To You… you must listen to this…

And then listen to Love Letter. Awesome song.

’tis all… mwah…

SEW BOSSY! with Lovely Leila

Posted on September 2, 2013 by sewbusylizzy

Oh my goodness – I have disappeared from blogland lately. I am reading blogs – really I am – but finding it near impossible to get to a computer to comment on the many blogs that do not work on my iPhone (I do everything on the run – if it’s not mobile friendly, it’s not SewBusyLizzy friendly – I’m lookin’ at you Blogger).

The Sew Bossy Initiative

I recently received a Sew Bossy pack from the very lovely Leila of Three Dresses project and the head wench (I say that will all due respect) of Twitter Fabric Chats.

Here’s what she sent me…

Sew Bossy package from Leila of Three Dresses

Do I spy the ARCHER pattern… do I spy METALLIC THREADED SILK? OMG yes! Leila has picked perfectly. I’d been thinking about a floral Archer! And I keep headbutting the desk for having not tried a Grainline Studio pattern. I think I will sew the version with the plain back as I like the boyishness of this version with the girliness of the silk floral… can’t wait…

Yes, I am completely terrified of silk and of a ‘proper’ shirt: plackets, buttons, collars and whatnot… there many be some bad language as a result (in fact I’m rather confident there will be many inventive uses of bad language through the making of this shirt – directed at the now-legendary drunk monkey) – but my Bernina shall bear it bravely as she always does… whereas you my dear lovely readers shall just read my rantings and blather minus the not-so-adorable four letter words that bear me through many a crisis…

And there is a gorgeous Vogue shirtdress as well. I’ve got a bit of a ‘thing’ for shirtdresses so I think I shall be looking for some fabric soon… I’d love this in a khaki rayon with flat metal buttons. Very safari sexy…

Vogue 8903 – shirtdress fever hits!

What’s Sew Bossy? It’s from The Closet Case Files (of the Bombshell Swimsuit fame) “The Sew Bossy Initiative is a great opportunity to get to know some of our long distance blog buds a little bit better. Find a sewist pal whose style you admire and send each other a complete project by mail! This can be a great pattern or stash busting activity and does not have to be cost a lot of money.” read more here!

And if you want to know what I sent Leila – check it out here… yes I truly believe that every blogger should make Vogue 1247 at least once in their sewing career. It’s got bound seams, French seams, bias pieces – and friggin’ enormous POCKETS! Come on people (cue Lleyton Hewitt come on salute) sew it now!!!! (Note to self: you are just bossing Leila not the entire sewing blog community… although it’s tempting).

I just need to recover from the Melbourne Frocktails and whatnot and then get sewing – cos that’s what bossed-about stitchers do.

And the global love doesn’t stop these gorgeous peoples. Noes.

All the way from my beloved old London town came this priceless little package from the beautiful Janene of Ooobop. Check out her latest blog post which is jam-packed with her awesome floral frocks. She’s the bomb this sheila. I’m always admiring her floral fabrics – and she sent me some blue flowers! My favourite colour no less! LOVE LOVE LOVE. And she even stamped my package with LIZZY. More LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Gorgeous blue roses from Ooobop.

This fabric is screaming something vintage or classic to me… but then I do like the turn things on their head. More patting & draping required…

I adore these packages. I get so excited and then so does everyone in my office (I fear my enthusiasm is either infectious or just swamps those that surround me – and it’s a sink or swim survival response on their behalf) – they don’t sew but they are fascinated by these packages that arrive for me from everywhere. I’m pretty sure I will convert them to be pro fabric-patters soon.

We are a pretty amazing niche in blogland… MWAH.

Sorry I keep disappearing – life has been getting in the way. Lots of trips away, social events, kids’ eisteddfods, school discos and more. Horrendous time of the year for me.

SewBusyLizzy News…

The good news is I have been madly sewing for Frocktails this Saturday – and despite all my grand intentions for a mega fancy frock, I’m made a very simple… but high impact frock (I think). It’s rather more rockstar than my usual style but I’m seriously lovin’ it. Perhaps I’m a little more rad than I thought… not possible… but clearly I enjoy a little rock ‘n’ roll every now and then – I just keep kidding myself I’ve grown out of my grunge phase… I fear it’s my shadow… It’s the So.Very.Lizzy.Dress. Yes, you will see it here soon…

Crazy Barbie Doll Dress (Vogue 8280) & Abakhan fabric giveaway

Posted on August 9, 2013 by sewbusylizzy

The £15 Pound Aussie Returns

Hi there! After the By Hand London Anna Trilogy weekend (Rose, Blue, Jungle) I dropped off the face of the earth! Thank you for the overwhelming positive feedback – you sure know how to make a girl feel good 🙂 mwah.

Today I bring you the Crazy Barbie Doll Dress, courtesy of the £15 Abakhan Challenge project. I’ve been running so behind with everything lately. I should have blogged this a couple of months ago – I’m sorry Will. Life seems to have been so out-of-control chaotic this year, I seem to be running at full pace and the finish line never gets closer…

So to atone for my blogging sins, I’ve decided to give away the piece of Abakhan fabric that I have left from this dress, it’s about 1.5m. So this dress actually only cost less than £7.50 in fabric – I’ve smashed the £15 – together we can make a £15 Challenge. BARGAIN!

I totally get that this is fabric that will have you squealing or groaning in horror. Me? I’m of the squealing variety… wait for it…

Awesome fabric from Abakhan Fabrics

I know. All kinds of awesome. It’s a collision of plaid, paisley & floral – visual madness but it just sings to me… it’s like grandma’s rocking chair on acid.

I had planned to make an Elisalex from this fabric, it had a little more drape than I expected so I pondered what to do. Yes excessive amounts of fabric patting followed. I did so love patting this one…

Then suddenly I thought “I know Lizzy, let’s make us a sexy dress – a nice fitted one”. Note: I sometimes talk to myself like there is another person in the room – simply because I’m beginning to suspect there are two of me! – ‘normal’ Lizzy and the mad obsessive sewing Lizzy who owns a drunk monkey that does exceptionally bad topstitching some days… and when he’s not doing that he’s throwing empties at the wall and howling for popcorn… he’s a very naughty monkey but immensely entertaining… if you think I’m being delusional – it’s simply my excuse when sewing does not go as planned – it’s the drunk monkey in my sewing room taking control – never me – never…. I digress…

If you follow my blog regularly you will probably notice that I don’t wear/sew fitted dresses often, I feel very self conscious – rather like I did in my Gertie’s Littlest Wiggle Dress. I’m just awkward. Yes I know I can hang my legs out of a By Hand London Anna – not just once but twice! I can’t explain why, I know I’ve got the figure for a fitted dress but I just don’t feel like ‘me’ in them (maybe it’s the drunk monkey sniggering at me in the corner as I sew “Lizzy, oh Lizzy, people are going to ‘look’ at you in that *snigger*”). I like to think I can choose to find my legs in a maxi – but in a fitted dress – there is nowhere to hide! Perhaps it’s lack of opportunity or confidence because I’ve always been the small skinny girl and not felt I had curves to parade… fret not, I’m OK with it. In fact blogging has made me more confident about ‘me’ – me as a person (albeit a slightly loopy but actually happy person) and my appearance. This dress was more than a £15 challenge – it was a body confidence challenge!

Which sexy dress did I try? *deep breath* I chose this one… the Vogue Options 8280, the infamous Galaxy-style dress.

Vogue 8280

OK I know it’s not actually ‘out there foxy lady’ but it’s a departure in style for me. I do actually have some sexy girl dress patterns stashed… I’m just building up the confidence… be patient people… I’m still bashful when I look at them…

I’d read several reviews about the puffiness of the sleeves – and since my arms transform into toothpicks when topped with a puffball, I decided to make the sleeveless version…

Vogue 8280 – sleeveless

And since it’s a tribute to Grandma’s rocking chair on acid, I decided to pair it with a little swatch of upholstery suede I had hanging around. Perhaps not the ideal choice but it seemed fitting… and that trim on the neckline? It’s upholstery trim as well 🙂 and the belt? Op/charity shop my dears.

Vogue 8280 front view – bodice

So what do I have to say about Vogue 8280? It is all dead easy with the exception of those sleeves – or ‘flanges’ if you like fancy words. They are NASTY little fellas to stitch in – beware. Read the instructions carefully and go SLOW. The drunk monkey was in stitches (the laughing sort) watching me trying stone cold sober attach them to the bodice.

Vogue 8280

I don’t mind how this looks on me. I’m not completely in love (except with the fabric) – I wish I had made the flanges (that word makes me feeling like I’m going to flap my arms and fly away) in the rocking-chair-on-acid fabric instead of the contrast fabric. Ah, you live and learn.

Things I don’t love about the pattern:-

Only the bodice is lined: easily fixed, lining a skirt is easy.
The skirt doesn’t have a kick pleat: easily fixed, just needs some basic drafting.
The skirt could do with being pegged: easily fixed.
The flanges are not stitched down to the bodice so they flap a little when you move your arms about: easily fixed – just gotta keep the drunk monkey busy with popcorn for a bit.
I should have put in a longer zip: I never ever learn, I make this mistake ALL THE TIME. I think it’s the proportions of my waist to my shoulders & hips but I need a long zip, everything is a wiggle to get in and out of! Or perhaps I should make less fitted things?? Maybe sack dresses are me?? Maybe my bone structure IS trying to tell me something.

Vogue 8280 – back view

Things I do like…

I do like how this design has the potential to broaden the shoulders, particularly with the sleeves (just need to figure out how to minimise the puff). It reminds me of the effect of the Elisalotte back – which makes my shoulders look like an Olympic swimmer!
It makes my waist look smaller which in turn increases the appearance of other… lady lumps…
Once you figure out those ‘flanges’ it’s a easy sew.

AND THE CRAZY BARBIE DOLL?

So why have I called it the Crazy Barbie Doll Dress? Well the fabric is definitely slightly mad I think you will agree.

Vogue 8280 – Crazy Barbie Doll

“LOOK DAD!!! Mum looks like a Barbie Doll !!!” is what my youngest daughter shrieked out when I walked down the stairs in this dress. I asked her why (given I’m currently a brunette and not very tall – nothing Barbie doll about me). “Well because you look skinny and your boobs stick out”.

OK thanks for the clarification my darling child – I shall not feel self conscious at all when I wear this…

MORE ABOUT THE FABRIC

Ok the fabric is from Abakhan Fabrics. Remember they sent me that massive box of ‘stuff’ to give away at the Epic Bloggers’ Meet-up organised by the gorgeous Rachel of the House of Pinheiro.

I know. Huge right? This box came up above my waist!

If you went to the Epic London Bloggers’ Meet-up in April, you probably went home with something from Abakhan Fabrics (huge thank you to Will) – and a huge thank you to all the lovely girls who helped me get all of that stuff to Goldhawk Road!!

I have about 1.5m left, enough for a sheath dress, a cropped jacket, a waistcoat – lots of options. I’m crazy about this fabric but I think the love must be shared… it’s 50% polyester, 50% cotton. It doesn’t press crisply – so keep that in mind when choosing your pattern.If I was to keep this, it would become a By Hand London Victoria blazer (with a contrast lapel) or a Charlotte skirt with the hem frill. However I’m handing its fate over to you!

So if you would like to be in the draw – leave a comment and let me know.

Fret not if you don’t win – you can pick this fabric up from the Abakhan Fabrics website for just £1.33 a metre now! Go on, I know you want to *nudge nudge wink wink*…

I think I need to sew some more fitted dresses.

And tell that drunk monkey to SHUT UP.

Fabric: Floral Printed Check Jaquard Brown 145cm
Pattern: Vogue 8280

To win the fabric: just comment below, letting me know you would like to try some of this crazy fabric (you can just comment about anything and let you know you don’t want the fabric – I’m nice like that). Open internationally and closing on August 18, 6pm (my time, Sydney Australia). Winner has three days to respond, otherwise a redraw will take place.

Can you hear that drunk monkey laughing or is it just me??

Welcome to the jungle… my third By Hand London dress… she’s a very sexy girl…

Posted on July 28, 2013 by sewbusylizzy

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Welcome to the Jungle… one of my all time fave songs (forgive me, it’s a generational thing that I just can’t shake). That song screams in my head when I look at this dress…

Welcome to the jungle we take it day by day
If you want it you’re gonna bleed but it’s the price to pay
And you’re a very sexy girl that’s very hard to please
You can taste the bright lights but you won’t get there for free
In the jungle welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
Ooh, I want to hear you scream *

Jungle Anna – when a good pattern goes wild…

My third Anna. I told you they were all very different didn’t I?

I honestly was hanging out to post this tomorrow – I fear I am clogging up your blog readers… but I can’t resist!! Jungle Anna was not to be contained in the draft blog post pile! She’s a wild one.

Every time I look at this Anna I think of Anne of Pretty Grievances. I hope I’ve done her proud going OTT on animal print! I swear she is the only person on God’s green earth who could have managed to convince me to sew an animal print fabric, she’s kinda irresistible is our Anne. I’m hoping I have enough chutzpah to carry this dress off!

I know, it’s not a dress for shrinking violets…

Jungle Anna – it’s a bit of a statement piece…

While I was sewing Anna Blue, I had the idea spring into my head – a snake-skin Anna Dress, a MAXI slithery snake-skin Anna… something super slinky & sinuous… the idea defies logic as I have a very real fear of snakes…

Anna can be sweetly sexy as Anna Rose, a darling day dress as Anna Blue but can she go va-va-voom?

Jungle Anna – there’s that wild thigh slit… I finished it a little higher than Anna Roses… cos Jungle Anna is a wild girl… the only thing I don’t like about this dress is how light the fabric is on the reverse (underlining it would have ruined its slithery drape – I will just need to be ladylike and not strut quite so much…)

This time I interfaced the neck facing pieces. I wanted to see how it would sit with a firmer facing piece behind that slash neck. It does sit nicely, albeit with a tiny bit of a ripple – which I think is more about my scrawny upper body than the pattern. *sigh* when will I ever grow a proper body?… I think the interfacing has also make the slash much more of a V-neck. I actually prefer the softness of the Anna Rose’s neckline, even if it does flip out a little, although I think the severity of the V-neck suits this Anna dress. She’s not a ‘softly softly’ kinda gal. I am Jungle Anna – hear me ROAR! lol.

Jungle Anna – slash neckline (bra strap popping off the shoulder – Jungle Anna is no dainty miss…)

Yet again, another fabric from Lincraft. They have a small selection of rayons – almost all animal print though these days! I love these rayons, they have drape beautifully but have the comfort of cotton.

Once again I put in neck darts, on both the back bodice and facing pieces. They sit about two inches in – three inches long from the raw edges to the dart tip – and I also put these on the facing pieces.

Everything is French seamed with the exception of the front slit seam.

Rather than folding the fabric in half and cutting out the pieces, I cut out everything flat (except the front bodice and front neck facing). I did this to ensure the black line of the print ran up each skirt panel towards my waist. I think it makes the dress look darker, moodier and more dramatic. Yes it took much longer but I think it was worth it. With such a busy print, pattern matching wasn’t realistic however the line does run from the centre of the slash neckline to the hem – I think that’s enough!

Jungle Anna – the back view

Note I’m only 5 foot 4 – so if you are a shortie like me – you can carry off a maxi – stop thinking you can’t (Note to self: you are being bossy again).

Oh yes, and there are legs aplenty…

Jungle Anna – hanging around waiting for Tarzan… or feeling slightly concerned there might be a creepy crawly under my foot… eek…

I did a lot of hand sewing with this one. Being a rayon like Anna Rose, I invested the time to hand sew that long long slit, the facing to the shoulders and also the hem. So the dress slithers along beautifully – as it should!

Just hanging around in the jungle with my Anna.

I think this would look great teamed with a cropped, fitted, weather-beaten denim jacket. Or a fitted grungy black jacket… She’s not the prim sort – she’s my wild girl Anna.

So there you have it – the three faces of Anna… I have no doubt I will discover many more aspects of Anna – after all… we are BFFs remember… Anna Rose, Anna Blue and Jungle Anna.

I’m thinking it should be The August of Anna – why not farewell your summer in style or get ready for a sultry summer… I know you want to… heck I might even make another if you do! The By Hand London girls say there will be a sewalong soon!

Have you seen Karen of Did You Make That? she looks smashing in her maxi Anna. It’s gorgeous!

Pattern: Anna from By Hand London (Aussies can get it from Sew Squirrel)
Fabric: Rayon from Lincraft.

Also see: Anna Rose | Anna Blue

PS. I promise the next thing I blog won’t be another Anna dress (it would be hilarious you have to admit) – it’s a Vogue dress (Miss 8 reckons I look like a Barbie doll!). Yes, I have been OTT SewBusyLizzy this week!

PPS I’m not sorry about bombarding you with all my Annas… it’s been fun!

PPS a big thank you to ELH who was very busy photographing dresses all day!

* Lyrics: Welcome to the Jungle by Axl Rose, Saul Hudson, Duff Rose McKagan, Izzy Stradlin & Steven Adler.

Anna Blue – a By Hand London dress. My Second Anna

Posted on July 28, 2013 by sewbusylizzy

OK here we have the midi version of Anna – not spectacular in the way Anna Rose is – but a lovely dress (for those of you scared by maxis!)

Anna Blue – a By Hand London dress. The midi version with the high neckline

This is a lovely dress – it’s the sort of dress you could wear any old day. In a plain fabric you could wear it to work (now there’s a thought… *restrains herself from starting the car and going to the fabric store asap* focus Lizzy – keep typing…).

This is a printed linen/rayon blend from Lincraft (available online!). I love linen and the very nature of this fabric meant that it was the easiest Anna to sew, I knocked it together in a few hours – and it’s still neatly finished! The darts and seams meet perfectly, the facing sits inside neatly, it’s a classic linen dream. And being a print, the creases don’t show too badly – and I think the rayon blend means it does crease that badly anyway. Linen is really lovely stuff, if you haven’t tried sewing with it – you really should (Note to self: stop being so bossy).

Anna Blue – at the rock pools

I overlocked the seams as the linen was a little bulky for French seams and the overlocked seams press flat beautifully in linen. I turned up the hem with bias binding. I handstitched the armhole and skirt hems. All in all, a lovely make. I’m sure I will wear this quite a bit in summer.

I think I want to try that slash neckline in linen… how many Annas can I make before it becomes ridiculous? You are right – it’s just not possible to make too many.

The linen sits very differently to the rayon of Anna Rose. the kimono sleeves don’t drape, they jut out more in a more structural way – which totally transforms the dress and many (non-stitchers) might struggle to accept this is from the same dress pattern. The neckline is high… I’m wondering whether to lower it ever so slightly. Not too much as I think it’s a nice design feature. In a plain colour it would look great with a chunky statement necklace…

The pleats also behave differently in linen, again a much more structural design element, than the soft pleats of rayon Anna Rose.

Anna Blue – in linen. The waist pleats are really lovely in linen.

Yes, it’s not the stellar show-stopping dress that Anna Rose is – but it’s not nice to compare sisters like that. It’s a bit like saying “She’s pretty but you know, don’t worry, you are much smarter“. For either sister, it’s a slap in the face. It’s just different dresses for different days.

Anna Blue – a beautiful summer dress.

Really love this little dress. If Colette Peony appeals to you but the fitting issues have either put you off or beaten you – this is a great option. Fitted waist, flared skirt, boat neckline.

Anna Blue – side view

I squeezed this dress out of less than 2m, I think it was about 1.8m or so. I do make the smallest size so I might be able to fit more across the width of the fabric.

Hmmmm, I think I need to remeasure the hem. Looks a little droopy at the back.

I added neck darts to the back pieces, about 2 inches in from the zipper and 3 inches deep. I also added these to the facing pieces.

ENOUGH… go buy this pattern.

Or if you have it. GO SEW IT.

And if you are still not convinced I’ll be back tomorrow with Anna 3… and she’s completely different again (some of you are very hard to impress! LOL)

Pattern: By Hand London Anna Dress. (Aussies can get it from Sew Squirrel)
Fabric: Linen from Lincraft (also from my stash!) you can buy this one online!

Also see: Anna Rose dress – my first Anna

Anna Blue by the seaside

Sew Busy Lizzy

she sews by the seashore…

Category Archives: Sewing Projects