I Want Candy!

With so much to tell yesterday, I didn't get a chance to mention my new dress!

The plan was to draw people to my stall by wearing something eye-catching so I set about making something from the 'Atomic' print quilting material I'd picked up a few weeks ago. It certainly does grab your attention. Now, what to sew?

1940s Mail Order pattern for House/Day dress

For some reason, I've always referred to this pattern as the 'baseball dress' - I imagine the fabric is red & white candy stripes. It was very simple to put together, I only really glanced at the instructions and it was finished in a weekend. It did take me a bit to figure out the bodice piece though - it's only one piece and a very odd shape.

I've also managed to conquer my button hole phobia - I now just sew a couple of test ones on a scrap of fabric until I get the feel of it, then make them in my garment. I also use an air-erasable pen and mark the size of the hole of the back of the fabric, just in case it stains.

 I've been looking for a dress I can wear all day, everyday and I think I've found it!

The print is a bit crazy but I think the white collar tabs and inset belt break it up, giving it a bit more balance. I'm also really lovin' the buttons! When I first put them with the fabric, they reminded me of boiled lollies - exactly what I was looking for.

The only additions I need to make are adding a couple of press-studs; one to keep the front cross-over closed and one to stop the skirt flying open. On the positive side: at least you can see my beautifully bias bound hem.

 

What do you think? Gumballs? Jawbreakers? Or perhaps billiard balls?

No matter what they are, I love 'em!

-Tamara

Too Cool for Skool

This Sunday was Kustom Lane Gallery's first 'Market for the Cool' for the year - and my first time as a stall-holder. After my last market at Thread Den I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another, but this one sounded a little more like my kinda thing so I thought I'd give it a go.

Kustom Lane Gallery, 6 Luton Lane, Hawthorn.

The 'Market for the Cool' is a vintage & collectables swap-meet, held four times a year at Kustom Lane Gallery in Hawthorn. I'd never even been to the market before Sunday so I had no idea what to expect. 

There were some weird and wonderfully kitsch things on offer...

The 'Strom-Bot' was very popular,
 but I don't think anyone took him home.

How about these recycled books from Made By Matt (.com.au)? I love 'em!

Their website should be live by the end of the week so be sure to check back later.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of other rockabilly events on this weekend which meant numbers were down, but there was a really relaxed atmosphere and everyone was very friendly. And, when it came time to pack up, I didn't even have to think twice about booking a stall for the next market.

Market for the Cool
Sunday, 14th April
 8am - 12 noon

That's roughly five weeks away so be sure to mark it in your diaries!!

-Tamara

Neat as a Pin

You may remember I was struggling with the short sleeve version of my 'Spitfire Women' blouse last month. The sleeves are supposed to set in, but after re-sewing them three times, they were still too puffy. I was at my wits end!

Thankfully, a couple of kind readers suggested I try pin-easing and while it is time consuming, the results are well worth the effort.



I forgot to take some photos of the pinning process - it required a fair bit of concentration and once I got the hang of it I didn't want to stop.

The first sleeve went in perfectly...

Stitching slowly so as not to sew over too many pins meant it took three times longer to insert the sleeve and by the time I'd finished the right one I was getting tired. Wanting to just get the thing finished, I wasn't as generous with the pins on second sleeve as I should have been and paid the consequences.

There are also a couple of puckers in the back of the sleeve but I can live with those - plus there's no way I'm unpickin' these suckers now they're in!

Thanks again for your help!

- Tamara