Odds, Ends & Best Laid Plans

The giveaway is now closed! Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner in the next few days!

September’s a bit of a funny time of year, I think; for those of us in the southern hemisphere, anyway, it’s usually around this time we have a bit of a break and a holiday, and spring has just sprung – but at the same time, it’s starting to get to the pointy end of the year (some evil person someone pointed out to me the other day that one of my exams is in less than two months)…and being Melbourne, spring has sprung in name only and outside my window right now is nothing but clouds and drizzle. And then again, the shops have all got the Christmas gear out, which I object to on principle, but secretly find very exciting because CHRISTMAS.

So similarly, today is a bit of an unusual post – rather than having a finished make or tutorial to share with you, I have a few unblogged odds and ends, and some exciting (in my view, anyways) projects 🙂

Those of you who have been following the amazing Bra-A-Week Challenge this year (hosted by Erin, and over the northern summer, Michelle), would have seen the next two makes of mine a couple of weeks ago – a bra I made for my sister’s birthday present, and a pair of Ohhh Lulu’s Alice tap pants to match some lingerie I already owned.

I made my little sister a Marlborough in a gorgeous yellow lace bra kit from Measure Twice Cut Once. The kits are hand dyed, and all the components were the same lovely rich shade of yellow. All the materials and findings were great quality, and it was really nice to work with. Most importantly, the recipient was suitably pleased with her gift, and it’s a great fit (it’s a wonder it turned out as well as it did, given I was up until 2 am the night before making it…). I worked extra hard on getting a good finish on this one; I used my usual method to line the cups with completely enclosed seams (tutorial to come soon!), and added a new step – I had enough wire channelling to cover the side seams as well, which meant every seam in the bra was hidden. And that, I am pretty pleased with.

Although I do make most of my lingerie these days (I’ve only bought one bra since the start of this year, and I used to get a new one every couple of months!), I will still occasionally splash out and buy a piece if it’s a bit special. Case in point, my two pieces from What Katie Did, the Cabaret Torsolette and Glamour Merry Widow. I couldn’t quite justify buying the matching underwear though, despite my love of sets – so I made my own coordinating underwear! I made up the Alice tap pants in some peach chiffon, and the colour is almost a perfect match. The style is actually quite practical for wearing over the suspenders, too!

The elastic came from a Merckwaerdigh elastics kit I’ve had stashed for some time, and I may make up some more pieces from the chiffon/kit combination, they go so well! Besides, you can never have too many pairs of underwear, right…especially when they match 😉

The last little thing I made recently was…an apron! A bit out of character, you might think – I’m the least utilitarian sewer I know (definitely more of an icing than cake person!). But remember when I made Butterick 5882, how I said I’d be wearing it again to a costume party? Well, when you take a blue dress, add a black headband and a little white apron…

…you get an Alice in Wonderland costume! I dressed up as Alice for a party when I was about six and never really got over it, so it was so fun to be able to relive it. And I got so many compliments on my costume, it was nice to be able to say (with a certain degree of smugness) that I’d made everything but my shoes and stockings! The pattern was a PDF one I downloaded off Etsy, which came together super nicely. Yeeeees, I probably could have come up with a little apron pattern myself, but as I was barely motivated enough to sew something as unexciting as an apron (even a costume one), I thought I’d at least spare myself that chore.

So onwards and upwards, friends! What’s in store for my upcoming sewing adventures?? Many, many plans, probably more than I can ever achieve in the time that I have for sewing, but I don’t suppose I can be called unambitious, haha. Of course, I’ve got a whole bunch of lingerie-related projects lined up – my love affair with the Boylston continues unabated, and I’m testing Ana’s new pattern, the Maya bra, so expect to see that soon! My lingerie-making stash also grows unchecked, and all these lovely fabrics are just *itching* to be turned into something wearable.

All these luscious fabrics waiting…this isn’t even including those beautiful Merckwaerdigh kits I still have tucked away…

Of course, an endless collection of underwear, whilst a noble pursuit, does not really make for practical wearing, so there are some actual clothes on the project list too. I’m tracing out the cigarette pants from Gertie Sews Vintage Casual tonight, and hope to make them up in the next couple of weeks in a lovely wool cloth given to me by my great-aunt. But of course, I need to be doing projects which aren’t at all useful and practical, so I’ve been sketching up some designs for my party dress for my 21st birthday next year!

When you can’t decide between full skirt or sheath dress…por que no los dos?

I don’t always do a proper drawing of things I’m going to make; but I like doing it when I have time, and especially if I’m playing around with a few different ideas. I think I’m currently leaning towards the design on the left, but with the over skirt shown on the right. I’m hoping I can also create the pattern from ones I already have, and draft the over skirt using maths. I’m thinking of doing it as a bit of a work-in-progress series – so stay tuned to see how that works out over the next few months!

Finally, Erin announced last week that October will be corset month for the Challenge! I for one am very keen and am already planning two corsets – one for my sister, who needs one for a costume, and one for myself – because I’ve actually figured out how to make one and have it count towards my medical degree. Exciting times. I’ve bought the Express Corset Making Course, and I’m currently poring over the patterns, reading up on construction and researching materials. Damn, but I love planning projects!

What projects are you guys planning at the moment? 🙂

Until next time,

Miss Maddy x