Marimekko pocket pattern riot

I've always loved a pattern mix but it was this dress that inspired me, a few years ago now, to start dressmaking using a mix-and-clash of printed textiles.

The dress is the "Iloinen Takki" dress by Marimekko. Much as I admire a pocket, I love the pockets far more for their scattered pops of colour and shape than their pockety-ness.

I much prefer the child's version of the dress to the adult's. Partly because of the proportion of the pockets against the dress, but also because I'm no fan of cuteness in adult clothing and I find this a tad twee for my liking.

This was the outcome of my first textile mash-up and still remains one of my favourites of my children's dresses. There was very little of that grey leaf-print 1950s' fabric I used for the border as it was once a curtain that someone had used as a dust sheet for decorating and most of it was covered in white paint. 

If you look closely you can see a couple of pockets too – their exact positioning was the subject of much deliberation at the time!

I used a simple 1960s' pinafore pattern with facings and a back zip which I have made so many times since I'm sure could do it blindfolded! (Just as well, as the old pattern has been used so often it is now as flimsy as a cobweb.)

This was a very versatile garment – it could be worn over tights and a long-sleeved top in colder weather and as a sundress in the summer. The A-line shape made it easy to run and climb in and the simple silhouette lent itself to any weight of fabric.

Difficult choice!

Oh, all so lovely! Which one to make? The red minx dress or the green lady dress?

(Actually, I've already made my choice...)

Hello stranger!

So, it's been a long time since I posted but, you know me – I'm always busy.

Where to start. Well, upcycling furniture, sewing but mainly printing, printing and more printing.

I have lots more to show you so I will be posting more over the next few days.

There is now no craft to which I am a stranger

My first lampshade.

Fame beckoned, then it wandered off again

It's been over a month since my last post due to being manically busy with the Open House, http://www.ninebynine.org.uk/, but this evening a talk by Ameila, yes, THE Amelia, she of Amelia's Magazine, swerved as a timely reminder about the importance of the humble blog in the 21st century, so I'm back now.

What news then? Well, following an article I've had published online:

http://www.makeitandmendit.com/2011/04/19/meeting-our-sewing-queen-miami-member-carol/

Inspiration for using vintage remnant fabrics | Make it and Mend it

www.makeitandmendit.com

first thing the morning after it went live I had a call from Hampton Court Women's Institute asking me to give a talk! (Miss Anne Boleyn would like to ask...) and a few days after that a production company wanted me to talk about appearing on the telly.

Now, the telly thing sounds interesting but they dumbed it down soooooo much, not only would it have been patronising for viewers, but dull for me too. They really thought no-one out there had the capability to make so much as a cushion; I beg to differ.

So fame will have to find me in other ways. Meanwhile, I'm busy with the Open House and making cakes out of old lace and doilies. Gotta go!

One for craft fanatics. Otherwise, nothing for you here – look away now.

Last week at one of my regular markets, I unearthed this trashed 1950s blue satin dress.

I've no idea what on earth has happened to it, but the damage is akin to a cat sliding down a pair of curtains with its claws out. The front is ripped to shreds and the zip has been taken out of the back, leaving very little holding it together, but there were two glorious, sequin-encrusted, large patch pockets which I was able to get off in the nearest café using my Swiss Army knife keyring!

I'd originally thought about making a bag by sewing the two pockets together, but then decided a bit of garment customising was the order of the day. I found this heavy cotton sweatshirt dress in a sale, and not only is the sportswear-glam mix a tried and tested one, but the grey of the dress picks up the silver of the sequins and is much easier than trying to match that tricky blue.

Still sewing…

I am still in the grip of sewing mania and it's all I want to do right now. Here are a couple of new bags and a purse, the blue one is made from the last scraps of ties (the thin bits) left over from my mega-project tie pouffe.

The floral bag sold as soon as I posted it amongst some new photos on Facebook. The power of the Communication Revolution, eh?

The cat doorstop and the mice brooches were made from a Sarah Young teatowel (www.sarahyoung.co.uk).

More makery

Last week a graphic design job I'd been working on for weeks and weeks finally went to the printers and I could not wait to get sewing again.

I had been dying to get on with a project involving making a large piece of soft furnishing from ties (see pictures below). I don't normally stop on any type of project until it's finished but I've already run out of ties so, in the meantime, it's back to bags again.

The bag on the left took far longer to make than it should have: errant thread from the first hour's sewing found its way into the guts of the machine and caused no end of problems. I was quite sick of it by the time I finished except for that lovely silk scarf lining (second photo). By contrast, the bag on the right and the little purse were run up in the blink of an eye.

I still have a huge bag of scraps and leftover fabrics to work my way through so no doubt there'll be more to come over the next few days. Beats working any day!

Why make one when you could make two?

When I was kid my mother used to make most of my clothes. As she always bought too much fabric (just to be on the safe side, eh?) she never made just one thing, and I think I've absorbed that habit.

The yellow cushion was made with leftovers and still I managed to eke it out to make a little bag. I bough this 1970s print skirt at the fleamarket and with the fabric I cut off when I shortened it, I was able to make a belt and use a buckle I've been saving for years.

Peacock