Outfit Details: Top – Stella, Skirt – Made by Me, Purple opaques – Voodoo, Shoes – Urban Originals, Earrings – from my first boyfriend (when I was 14!), Purple Scottie dog hair clip – Sanrio shop.

I spend a lot of time and money buying fabric. Sometimes I shop with a particular project in mind, but most of the time I find a certain fabric and then get inspired to turn it into something particular. I now have a whole cupboard full of inspiration. Occasionally though, I find a fabric I love but just can’t imagine it on myself. Such was the case when I came across this beautiful pleated tulle fabric. When I rolled out this baby in all its frothy goodness, all I could think was Susie Bubble. And so it made it’s way home with me to become a little something for Susie. And why am I feeling famous? Because Susie kindly wrote this piece about her new skirt and made it a perfect part of her look.

Part of what I love about blogging is the community that develops, and the way we all get to know each others unique style and idiosyncrasies. Which is why when this fabric crossed my path I just had to spread the love.

The tulle fabric is in a soft pink and a pale minty blue that looks grey in some lights. I couldn’t make a decision between the two, so I decided to use both and make it reversible. Knowing how much Susie likes to explore the versatility of her clothing, I tried to build in features that would make this easier. So the skirt is attached to a wide basque that closes with hook and eyes. Rather than fully seaming the skirt, I attached cord on the inner layer of the pink so that it could either be left completely open, ( letting the weight of the fabric pass over itself) or be tied together protecting you from a swift breeze. I decided to add a little embellishment in the form of this dusty blue and brown tartan, tulle edged ribbon, attaching it with press studs so it can be removed and worn without.

On the mannquin here it looks quite like something out of the fairytale post I did yesterday, but with Susie’s fabulous styling it becomes edgy, grounded and fun.

In the absence of Imelda’s talented workforce of minors, I have had to learn to sew myself. And in response to a much emailed question, I have a little sewing post for you all today.

One of the questions I am often asked is about the wide leg pants I make for myself. Let me preface all this by saying that I still consider myself a sewing novice, but I always have grand plans and usually learn by my mistakes.

The pattern I have used the most and found very easy to make is by Kwik Sew, pattern no. 2990. They are a wide leg palazzo pant with a mid to high rise waist and a rear zip. The rear zip ,(and absence of pleats in the front) means that they sit flat and are a very flattering cut. I have made them in everything from loud, patterned cottons to glittery evening fabrics. They work best however, in a fabric with some elastane. I’d recommend a mid to heavy weight cotton elastane. It means you can make them quite fitted and they still have a little give. Being a wide leg pant, the more fitted they are around the butt, the better. The pattern has them fitted to about half way down the butt/ thigh and then drop from there. Which, in my opinion is wonderful because it hides a lot of sins.

If you prefer a pull on pant, I’d recommend using Kiwk Sew No. 3156 for something casual or Butterick B4807 for something with a bit more of a Jade Jagger look to it.

As for getting the right fit – and this is a lesson that has taken me quite a while to learn – I find that the measurements on the packet just don’t translate. For instance, when I make pants I usually go by the hip and waist measurement thinking that the size they give me will be correct. What happens is that they end up about 2 – 3 sizes too big! After much angst, I have now discovered that I need to find my size by using my bust measurement – even for pants. When trying to find your bust measurement, place the tape measure below the bust; in the same place you would measure the girth of your bra, and don’t include the cup. I have been told that all patterns use this method and then assume the cup size to be a B, and you have to scale up or down yourself from there. So long story short, measure your bust and stick with that sizing for pants.

Start with the right tools. Before you start get yourself a decent pair of heavy weight dress making scissors. There is nothing worse than going for cheap scissors and then having them catch and ruin your lovely fabric. Also, get a fine needled, seam ripper. Chances are if you are just starting out you are going to need it, (and a mouth full of soap) quite often. Get a couple of packets of dressmaking pins with the brightly coloured heads and a magnetic pin dish. Better than a pin cushion any day.

If you’re raring to go, but get all shaky at the thought of cutting into your $30 per meter fabric, knock up your first pair in calico. It will help you get more confidence in perfecting your zipper techniques. Then you can cut away with confidence.

If you don’t have the confidence to tackle a pair of pants first time out of the gate, I suggest you try a couple of simple DIY projects. For some wonderful ideas of useful and cheap things you can knock up in a couple of hours visit the wonderful THREADBANGER.

I picked up these gorgeous vintage patterns the other day, but sadly my list of projects is so long at present it may take me a few months to get to them. And vintage patterns are a whole new challenge that I am only just starting to explore.

If you want to know more about sewing from vintage patterns, I’d recommend checking out A Dress A Day.

Lucy in Wonderland dress – from Danger Dame.

I am dreaming in colour. It is soft and floaty, stiff and rough. It is netting and tulle and all the things that go into giving your day a little pouf. I am tackling several sewing projects all at once, in the hope that by the time I have finished all these requests, I will be the queen of the crinoline. I never started out wanting one, even when they started to appear all around me. It seems that they are just an undercurrent of the time, not yet breaking through to the mainstream, but everyone in my life has to have one. And so I am sewing.
Today I have been making a dozen little Fairy Ballerina outfits for Miss 3′s fourth birthday next Saturday. With stiff mint green netting and sparkley pink over skirts, they should be perfect for a rowdy group of princesses. Tomorrow I’ll attach the wings, or perhaps I can get them all to earn their wings on the day, (now there’s a thought).

I have also been finalising a beautiful pleated tulle skirt for a fellow blogger, and am just trying to get the colour of the waist band fabric right. I couldn’t find quite the right crushed blue satin, so my fabric is currently sitting in a bowl of thick, black coffee. Being that it is a poly satin, it is still looking a bit to perky for my liking, but we’ll see.
And of course, while out shopping for all these supplies and hanging around in the netting area of the store, I came across something that just held onto my hand for dear life and wouldn’t let go until I bought it. A cherry red net, with flocked polka dots. Oh how sweet it is! It is all I can do to save this beauty until my real work is done. She is simply begging to be bound in satin and taken out on the town, (or back to the bedroom). But until I get the serious work finished, she’ll just have to sit on the shelf watching “Lucy” re-runs until it is her turn to dance.

I love this skirt. It is so warm and swishy, I call it my “Lumberjack skirt”. It doesn’t get worn much as it is so long, and that can be difficult with kids. I could take it up (more) but then it would lose much of its shape, so high heeled boots it is.

Today was freezing again, but I decided to brave it and head to the fabric store for some supplies for my new projects. I have some gorgeous vintage patterns that are just begging to make their way into my wardrobe.

The first is a blouse from the 1940′s that I am planning to make in this soft grey, (with metallic silver squares), chiffon. I think I’ll do the long sleeved version for winter, and possibly make the sleeves even more billowy.

The other is a 1952 dress pattern, (re-issued by Butterick) that is probably a little too formal for day wear, so I decided to make it in a fun fabric, meaning I will wear it more. When I saw this fabric in the store, the spots and colour combination first caught my eye; then I noticed the little goldfish and I was sold.

So it looks like some fun jobs for this week. It may take a while to get around to completing them as the hardest thing now is to decide which one to start first!