Ginger Mark Three

If you've been reading Tilly's blog recently, you'll know she's planning a One Week, One Pattern project from 26th March to 1st April.  The idea is simple: to celebrate those special sewing patterns that get made up again and again. How? By spending an entire week just wearing garments made from that favourite pattern.  As Tilly says, "the (mini) challenge comes in really pushing the boundaries of the pattern's versatility, finding new and creative ways of restyling similar-looking garments so it doesn't look like you're basically wearing the same outfit all week."

I love this idea and shall be jumping in whole heartedly.  It's also given me a boot up the arse to make another version of my favourite skirt pattern which I've been threatening to make for months on end.  In case you weren't paying attention to the title of this post (there's a big clue there!), I'll be wearing my Colette Patterns Ginger skirt for One Week, One Pattern.  As of today, I've now made three different versions of the skirt, which should be more than enough to get me through a whole week. Here's my latest version.

Thrillingly (for me anyway), this third version was made entirely from stash materials, yay!  For the outer skirt I used leftover wool crepe from my Swing Dress, and underlined it with a scant metre of red cotton muslin that was lurking in my linings box.   

I used a fat quarter of a 1930's style red flower print for the inside waistband and a zip that was part of my lovely bag of goodies from the Brighton sewists.  All stuff that was just lying around - I love it when that happens.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is a very easy skirt to make.  It took me barely a morning from deciding I was going to make it to pressing the final seam. The wool crepe is quite drapey and consequently, this third Ginger skirt has a completely different feel to my first two, which were made from much stiffer denim and cord (find them here and here). That's all good though as it means I can style it slightly differently. Talking of styling, do you like my lovely detachable collar?  

I made it using a scrap of white cotton and a vintage glass button and it took me barely half an hour.  I used Casey's excellent tutorial, which includes a printable pattern for the collar pieces.

So I'm now all set for the mini challenge - I'm really quite looking forward to wearing skirts every day for a week! x

The Year of the Dress

It's freezing cold here in the UK with thick snow on the ground. I've got a stinking cold and a sore throat which is making me sound like Patty and Selma from The Simpsons.  In an effort to cheer myself up and inject a bit of femininity into my testosterone-ridden house (they're all currently watching Top Gear after a session of stunt sledging), I thought I'd talk about dresses today. 

To start things off, I'd like to confidently predict that 2012 will be the year of the dress.  Not just for me personally, but for the world at large. Primarily because of the V & A's forthcoming exhibition - Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950.  

Need I say more?  Everything I love most all condensed into one exhibition.  I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm already dreaming about it…

So why do I love dresses so much?  It could be the fact that an entire outfit is sorted in one fell swoop.  Or that they're indisputably feminine.  Or perhaps because no matter how plain and simple the shape and design, one always feels just that bit more dressed up when wearing a dress.  I nod my head to all these reasons, but above all, I love dresses just because they're so pretty!  Here are a few of my favourites.... 

My all time favourite: Lauren's beautiful polka dot Ceylon dress

Julia Bobbin's gorgeous gingham Peggy dress

Scruffy Badger's flirty vintage pattern gingham dress 

Casey's breathtaking floral print Swing Dress

For me, if a dress features polka dots, gingham, an old fashioned floral print or a vintage vibe, then I'm smiling.  Thus inspired, here are my dress plans for the year.

A Peony Dress

I haven't seen a version of this dress that isn't totally gorgeous, but I think my favourite would have to be Roisin's.  

I love the floral print and the way she's styled it - especially the handbag!  I've also chosen a floral print for my version (hhmm, a rose print, surprise, surprise!)  

I'm about half way through making mine and it's looking good so far….

A Gingham Dress

I simply love blue gingham, preferably with red accents. 

Scruffy Badger and I in matching gingham, courtesy of Tilly and the Buttons

Having seen Scruffy Badger's dress in real life, I can confirm it's a stunner.  I want one…. Not sure what pattern to use though, maybe another Peony? Then I can do red piping….

A Polka Dot Dress

Maybe something simple using this McCall's "quickie" pattern?  With a matching head scarf if you're lucky.

A Classic Shirt Dress

I'd like to give this Vogue pattern a try.  

It's certainly not a quickie, more of a "longy", but isn't it a beaut?  I'm quite tempted to use this Boden dress as inspiration and make mine in linen….  

Boden Weekender dress

I could go on (and on and on and on) but that might have to be it for the moment - I don't like planning too precisely or too far ahead when it comes to sewing.  It will be interesting to see just what my final frock tally turns out to be.  How about you?  What dresses/patterns inspire you?  I'd love to know so I can steal your ideas gain further inspiration! 

I feel much better now, that little interlude definitely seems to have done the trick.  Happy Sunday everybody and keep warm! x