Getting back on the Janome

I think my knees need botox

It's amazing the things that you miss when they're no longer around.

I'm so used to having everything all set up and at my fingertips ready to go when the sewing inspiration hits. With a simple little flick of the on/off switch, off I go.....

So when Tinniegirl came to break me out on Saturday morning, the first stop (before even making it home) was Spotty.

I'd whipped up this second version of the Too Cute Tunic Dress from Pip's book Sew La Tea Do, before I disappeared for a week.
I just didn't have the fabric colour that I wanted to make the bias binding for the trim, so it was left to linger on the ironing board for an entire week.

A quick stop to buy some pre-made binding, and an hour of sewing it into place, and I have another finished dress!

The fabric for this one is actually an old single doona cover that I picked up at the oppy on a little spree with Tinniegirl a couple of years ago.

I'd already used half of the doona cover to make an apron for Sharon, so there was still half left. I carefully cut the pieces to ensure that the decorative print was around the bottom of the dress. Unfortunately, there wasn't quite enough of it, so I've had to splice in a couple of smaller pieces at the side. I'm just pretending that they're a design feature.

I can't wait to wear this one - it'll be really versatile as I can wear it over pants and leggings for winter!

Oh, and check out my new shoes that I bought while I was on holidays - I now have grey ones just like my red ones.

Too Cute Tunic Dress

 

I've been itching to make myself a dress for the longest time, and when I bought Pip's Sew La Tea Do book, I instantly fell in love with the Too Cute Tunic Dress.

Unfortunately, I didn't choose the most appropriate fabric colour for my white pasty Irish skin tone. Check out the flourescent white legs!

I made the M/L size with the full length arm so it's a really nice and comfy fit, even for lounging around on the couch. The only change that I made was to lower the front neckline a bit to allow for my ample cleavage.

As a little extra embellishment, I added a ribbon along the seam where the bodice meets the skirt. I would have preferred green, but I only had pink in the stash, so pink it was!

But my very favourite bit...... POCKETS! I love pockets - pockets are essential for me.

Of course now I have so many ideas for different fabric combinations - plain bottom, printed bodice. A shorter version for a tunic top... the possibilites are endless.

Oh, and by the way - Happy New Year!