Green Batik Dress

I got the batik print fabric from a friend, and just after I've finished the last batik dress, our BM2600 sewing group in Facebook came up with a new challenge for October: color theme: GREEN, anything made from this color. I only got this fabric and some leftover fabric from my last "bloomer pants" project, so I was thinking to make another dress. 

I chose one pattern from one of my sewing book collections "La couture au féminin" by Jinko Matsumoto in size M.

Fold to make the pleats ..

put the bow (I need to make the bow & arms from different fabric

put both arms

... and finished!

Batik dress

I feel like sharing a tips or I could say "cheating" way to make this dress :
The book proposed using a more sheer fabrics like rayon, crepe or polyester with lining. Instead, I use cotton Batik print I got from a friend, and modified the lining into a revers facing around the neckline and make a bias tape from the same fabric around the armholes .. that way I don't need to make the complicated lining. 

Complicated for me, as I still have to figure out how to use a zip too. So I ditched the idea of using a lighter fabric and use batik print cotton .. I'm happy with this "crucial"  decision ;-D

Bloomer :)

Very comfy to wear at home .. this year autumn comes very late, it's early October and the temp still around 25C in the afternoon. We are blessed to have a prolonged summer time as the sun is shining throughout the weeks although it's still cold in the morning.

I have an excuse to make this bloomer in the early autumn! .. actually, I made this one for hubby's short in the first attempt of trying to draw pattern freehand (with an old short as a pattern) I trace his short but the fabric seemed too sheer for him that's why I turned it into a bloomer for my self ... ;-D

Skirt with doily

I was just using the leftover fabric from the "short project" for hubby (see previous post) .. I imagined it will be perfect with lace and doily on it .. and here's the result for my little one (and glad she likes it) .. 

Short for him

I know it's autumn .. but my man wants a short! he said he wants me to sew something for him too so the easiest one is to make him a short for home wear, something he could comfortably wear at home and to sleep in :-). 

So, ladies and gentlemen .. introducing my first clothing for "petits pas homme" or petits pas men's wear -- exclusively for my man! ;-D

Grunge

What is Grunge?. As you may read in Wikipedia, Grunge is a sub genre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. But what I'm trying to say here, is of course about the Grunge Style in clothing. 

Grunge clothing, commonly worn by grunge musicians consisted of thrift store items and the typical outdoor clothing (most notably flannel shirts) of the region, as well as a generally unkempt appearance. The style did not evolve out of a conscious attempt to create an appealing fashion; Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman said, "This [clothing] is cheap, it's durable, and it's kind of timeless. It also runs against the grain of the whole flashy aesthetic that existed in the 80s."

I found myself attracted to those kind of clothing unconsciously ... as I have checked flannel shirts/shirt dress quite a few .. :)

To me, it's just appealing for its comfort, durable and timeless .. oh yes, and it's gotta be cheap too (go ahead stick your tongue, throw me your disgusted look, I won't care!) ... :p

 

Bias Tape Maker

I first saw this little triangle sewing gadget from the sewing books and magazines that I have. I wonder where I could get one? .. it's from Clover and I couldn't find it in any sewing or fabric shops around Geneva .. until today! what a great coincidence! 

I've often visited Balexert and hung out there with hubby and the kids, well, mostly for the bookstore or the supermarket or the cinema which happen to be in the same place .. there's a post office too in the ground floor, and Mc. D at level one. So, it's kind of one-stop-shopping center in Geneva.

Today I feel like going there to buy some vitamin supply and some kids' underwear. Then I went around until one moment I saw this sewing shop Elna just beside Mc. D .. I can't believe my luck! hehehe ...  

I found this bias tape maker there, only one piece, and I grabbed it like I was affraid someone else will going to have it first .. silly .. but really, I felt I'm so lucky to finally found the thing that I've been searching everywhere.

Back home, I tried it and happy with the result, now I don't need to buy bias tape anymore for my sewing projects, I can use the same fabric to make the tape .. now which project I'd like to start first? .. happy weekend! :)