One of the things I enjoy most about sewing for myself is being able to finish a garment the way I like. No short cuts (unless I feel like it…) which leaves me with a beautifully finished dress that I could never afford to buy due to the hours put in with hand stitching.

My most recent make includes one of my now favourite finishing techniques; using bias binding to finish seams and replace facings. I’ve always been a lover of French seams. Their neatness makes a dress look just as lovely on the inside and outside, and my recent discovery of using bias binding as a finishing technique has me finishing 90% of my seams in a non-overlocked way. Yes, it’s time consuming. But so worth it! One edge is stitched on with the machine, then depending where it is located, flat stitched as well (usually where replacing a facing, i.e. neck or arm holes). The other edge is slip-stitched, which creates a finish that not only looks good but is nice and soft against the skin.

This dress is made with fabric picked up from the trunk show of A Piece of Cloth, which is run by Jen who sells amazing vintage fabrics and quilts. When I’m using vintage fabrics, I often feel obligated to use more traditional methods of sewing, although that does not stop me from using the overlocker for the first step of my French seams! The pattern of the dress is the Anna from the girls at By Hand London. I love this dress. This is it’s 6th incarnation. I really need to have a go at another one soon…. I’m thinking the Cambie from Sewaholic. Does anyone else get obsessed with the same pattern?

So that’s my dress. It’s hand-made, ethical, fits perfectly and enjoyed a day out at Sorrento with the family.

Until next time, curtsey to you.

Pips xxx

PS… There will be another Anna next week. It’s been a long time in the making, and is for a rather special event. It involves crosses, a veil, lace boots, makeup (shocking!) and a little Pipsie attitude. Adelaide, be prepared!

Panda Wine Print

Circles on Flowers

The beginnings of the quilts

Stamps and Stamped

Random Panda Wine

pear me up

One of the things I’ve enjoyed as B1 and B2 have grown older, is the opportunity to attend some crafty classes in Melbourne. Yes, with the help of the internet/Youtube/brain-power I could probably work out many of these things myself, however I enjoy being taught, I love meeting new people (once I get over my social awkwardness) and what better way to spend a Saturday/Sunday than with like minded people making pretty things and drinking cups of tea.

I recently attending a block printing course run by the lovely Leslie at Maze and Vale in Kensington. I’d actually signed up to do it last year but was unable to attend due to being bed ridden, and she kindly rescheduled me into the February class held a week or two ago.

I’ve participated in several screen printing courses in Melbourne (with the gorgeous girls at Harvest Textiles), and had been intrigued by the different printing that could be achieved using block printing, like being able to carve out detail within the print, which is harder to achieve with a silk screen and stencil.

I always have a project idea in mind when signing up for these types of classes, and this time I wanted to start the design of two quilts for some up and coming baby girls due in the next month or two. The teaching component didn’t take very long. A block, some carving tools. Design and carve away! That left plenty of time for playing with design and printing, with a little chatter thrown in as well. The thing I most enjoyed was not having to rush through the learning and then the process and then feeling as though I had to “make”. There was ample time for play, and no need to move quickly. Plus it was meant to be 40 degrees and we were inside a warehouse, so…..

I have a deep love of linen, having only discovered the luxury (and cost!!!) of italian linen sheeting recently,and enjoy printing on the various linens I collect whenever I’m out fabric hunting. The scraps from previous projects is perfect for the quilts as I have odd bits and pieces of varying colours and textures that should all come together nicely. I had some shapes in mind, everyone needs a good pear and also a cloud, and had a very relaxed time playing with colours and shapes.

So this is the beginning of the quilts. I’ll print some more fabrics in the next few weeks and start piecing it together. I’m thinking it’s going to be a fairly organic/rustic (read: haphazard) piecing of fabric, however the overall effect with hopefully be one of soft colours on lovely fabric for two very special little girls.

There are also plans for fancying up the underpants of the gentlemen in the house, however that is a story for another day…

If you are interested, Leslie also blogs over at www.lesliekeating.com and is offering more classes in the future.

Until next time, curtsey to you!

Pips xxx

Today, for my first post, I present to you my homework from a course I’m currently studying online at Blog with Pip.  My homework was a “take stock” list which can be seen below. It’s also a little reflection on where this journey of blogging, dress making, tea drinking, and all round craftiness will drift, with purpose!

• Making : a dress for the NIN concert in March
• Cooking : chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies
• Drinking : tea, lots of tea
• Reading: new blogs and trashy sci-fi
• Wanting: more energy
• Looking: at my new mac book
• Playing: UNO
• Deciding: what to write for my first blog
• Wishing: that Lost Girl would start again
• Enjoying: my family doing homework
• Waiting: for the home loan to be finalised
• Liking: my geraniums in the front garden
• Wondering: why every day is pants off day at home
• Loving: my new mac book
• Pondering: the benefit of a pedicure
• Considering: a new hair colour
• Watching: Dexter season 1
• Hoping: for world peace…
• Marvelling: at kids learning
• Needing: nothing!
• Smelling: bush fire smoke
• Wearing: pants, the non conformist in the house
• Following: the bloggess
• Noticing: the cool breeze
• Knowing: i’m heading in the right direction
• Thinking: I’ve got awesome friends
• Feeling: tired
• Admiring: my fellow bloggers
• Sorting: fabric
• Buying: nothing after having got the Mac!
• Getting: a hair piece, from Etsy, in the mail!
• Bookmarking: not much
• Disliking: the current state of Australian politics
• Opening: my parents mail
• Giggling: at bad taxidermy
• Feeling: still tired
• Snacking: on passionfruit curd
• Coveting: new shoes
• Helping: myself to new technology

Thanks for dropping by! In the next few weeks I will be focusing on some crafty goodness that I’ve been up to, including some print making and some dresses that are on the cutting table.

Until next time, curtsey to you.

Pips xxx