Practice makes perfect
Hello everyone!
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend. I didn’t get much time for sewing this week but I tried my best. Mostly I was practice sewing! I have so many items queued up to make.
During the week I meddled with a Sureau and a Macaron muslin. Then this weekend I worked on the muslin for the bodice of a ball gown! You can see my adjusted second muslin below.
I’m using a vogue pattern that I won from Dottie Doodle’s 12 in 12 pattern giveaway. It has a sweetheart neckline and boned bodice, with a full skirt. I’m going to be such a ballerina!! I have coral polka dot tulle and matching underlining. I don’t need the dress until mid-December but I’d rather start dabbling with it now so I don’t run out of time.
I was rather sad I couldn’t sew anything for Halloween but I had no parties and no time for making a costume. I was very much in love with Cherry Blossom Girl’s homage to Tim Burton. And was in awe of the EPIC Lobster Costume by PS I Made This. But hey! There is always next year for the chance of a party and an excuse to dress ludicrously.
Finally I’ll just say tomorrow looks exciting as I’m making a little trip to Lidl. I only hope they don’t sell out! I recently came into a little inheritance from my Grandmother and the request was that I use it on something that makes me happy. I’m putting most of it in my new house fund but I’ve managed to convince myself that £150 is an acceptable treat for something that will make me very happy.
Now I just need to decide what to do with my clapped out Singer Babylock (“Sergei” the serger). He’s at least 10 years old… probably 20 years old(!) and though he’s well serviced and does the job, he’s like the Granddaddy of overlockers — Crotchety and grumbling every step of the way. Maybe I can find him a new home with someone else happy for a “starter serger”.
I’ll be back during the week to show you a cute new top that was super fast to make. As long as I can get enough sunlight to take photos of it, that is!
Discover more from Almond Rock
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The bodice looks gorgeous-can’t wait to see the dress!
All thanks to you! I’m really excited to see it all finished up. Though I probably won’t be amping up the 80s vibe like the cover girls 😉
You are going to look so gorgeous in that dress! I hope you’re lucky at Lidl!
I was lucky!! Yaaaay!! Fingers crossed the ball gown comes off as I have planned in my head though 🙂
It looks like it going to be a lovely dress, by the time you’ve finished the toiles and finally transform your fashion fabric. Can’t wait to see the final result!!
Were you successful at Lidl with the Singer overlocker? I’ve found that for those kind of promotions, particularly the London branches you need to get there a minimum of 30 mins before opening time, to secure your place in the queue and when it opens you make a mad dash down the aisles to the item!!! (yep that’s a a North-West London mentality, but it works for the area I live in) – otherwise it sells out within an hour of the store opening. Having said that, up North, they might be more laid back and relaxed about such matters – I recall doing the same thing for another Lidl promotion at the Durham branch. I was really surprised to find that just myself, my friend and another customer was waiting, so when the store opened, it was possible to casually stroll in.
Ahah yes I was successful! I was panicking a bit yesterday morning I have to say. We were supposed to go around 4:30 pm to get one but then I “made” my boyfriend go out on his lunchbreak at work to get me one. It was the last in store! But I know someone else who waited until today and the store he went to had three left in stock. Guess it’s all about where the hot pockets of sewists are that might descend on that branch heehhee 🙂
Wow! This dress is going to be amazing! I can’t wait to see it! And congrats on the new overlocker– I hope you two have many happy years together! 🙂
heehee thanks! We’re getting on famously already. I think I’ve found a new home for my old babylock too so all okay on the guilt front too! Now back to ballgown making…
Looks great Amy! And very excited about your serger..! I am yet to buy one too..:) Might go down to Lidl too this week…exciting times. x
Wahhoooo! I’m very excited too! I think now’s the time for you to get one as well (peer pressure!). x
I bought one;) yee haa…never used one before so I guess im in for a treat:) Enjoy yours! x
Wow, you are fitting so many muslins. I am amazed. I am too lazy at the moment to make muslins, but I know I should. And seeing your lovely fitted bodice, I definitively should convince myself to do it. But then, I am sewing jersey at the moment and I don’t think you actually have to fit that?! I hope you got your new serger!
haha I don’t blame you, when I make them and they fit well enough I think “chuh! was that worth it?!” but then I’ve had some disasters with lovely fabric ruined by not doing muslins so I’m acting with caution lately. Aaah jersey though, you can get away with plenty with jersey cos it’s magic! 😉
The ballgown toile is looking good, reckon the real thing will be amazing. I decided not to get the overlocker in the end, I just can’t justify clogging up the lounge with more sewing equipment when my sewing has slowed down. Maybe next year… The kitties in the pumpkin are so cute!
Awww thanks! I hope it turns out ok. I think you’re fine to hold off on buying one this time around and wait until the next deal (deals seem to come around regularly at Lidl and on Amazon). And oh my gosh those kittens are amazing aren’t they. Soooo cute I could squeal!
Oh my goodness, you’re going to look amazing in that dress…it was made for you! Can’t wait to see it finished ;o) Really glad you got yourself a new overlocker too…have fun!!!
heeehee thanks Marie, let’s hope it turns out as good as I’m hoping in my head! I’m loving the new overlocker, though I feel rather sad for my poor babylock which I’ve shoved in a cupboard. Oh dear!
Hi Amy, did you manage to get your new serger?
I have never had an overlocker and think it may be a useful thing to have (not sure Hubbie would agree) but not sure the amount of sewing I’m managing to do would warrant vast sums of money!! Are they worth it?
What’s the occasion for the lovely new ball dress?
I did get it! If it helps, I got my secondhand well used singer babylock about a year and a half ago. It massively helped with making my garments look more professional and survive longer in the washing machine! Stopping to overlock my edges didn’t really add that much time to the process either. I decided to upgrade because I had already proven to myself that I would use the serger a lot – and partially because I feared my babylock was on its last legs. Also, because my babylock was only three thread it couldn’t make a strong enough stitch that would allow me to sew knit garments entirely on it. This is something I’m keen to try on my new serger as it’s a four thread and sews a seam + overlocks it at the same time. I think if you’re not getting on the sewing machine every week it might not be worth it. Just my thoughts though!
PS. I’m off to a charity Christmas ball with a load of glitter and celebrities as a result of my Boyfriend’s work connections. It’s going to be amazing!
Wow, that dress is going to be amazing! Can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
Thank you! I can’t wait to crack on with it properly!
Good luck with your plans! Looks like this is going to be a very special dress!
This looks gorgeous. I love the pattern, excited to see how it turns out.
[…] made SIX muslins – two for the Vogue ballerina dress, one Anna dress, a self drafted scallop neck dress and two Lonsdale dresses. I finally settled on […]