Oh it’s on the wall at last! Let’s be fair, it didn’t take a week – in fact it only took an hour of my lovely husband’s time this morning – but since I have been absent for a week you could be forgiven for thinking I have spent a whole seven days trying to work out how to use the drill. It was an unintended blogging break, brought on in part by the jet lag from the clocks going forward. I’m not good with change.
I did make something this week though, inspired by a trip to Banana Republic. They opened their first UK store at the end of March and I thought I’d go and try on some jeans. I took three pairs into the changing room, all the same size. Honestly, I felt like Goldilocks: one pair was horrendously large, another was so small I could barely fasten the button and the other pair did fit but needed to be taken up about 5 inches which would have ruined the cut. I also tried on a dress, which fit fine around the hips and waist but needed to be about 3 sizes larger on the bust.
So it struck me that the only solution would be to make something for myself, since clothing stores seem to want us all to be uniform in shape and height. I cracked open Onion 2012, and made myself a dress from some cheapo stretch cotton that I bought on ebay, finished off with a piece of grosgrain ribbon from my stash. Surprisingly, I ended up with a dress that makes me feel nice, fits, and all for under £15, and that includes the cost of the pattern.
(please excuse the photo – I don’t own a full length mirror, and the room is full of crap because we’re going to decorate it soon and therefore I can’t be bothered to tidy it up.)
I really like onion patterns – they’re simple and stylish, and even for someone like me who has no real experience at sewing clothes, they go together so easily. Lesson learned. It might take me a while before I make a pair of jeans but it feels like a step in the right direction.
13 comments ↓
That dress is awesome! This is the first time I’ve seen something someone has sewn and immediately rushed to look up the pattern. =]
So, what’s probably a silly question for you: would you say this was easier or harder to sew than the Sophia bag? I ask because I’ve never sewn clothes before, but I’m progressing through my own Weekender bag, and part of me wants to say ‘well, if you can sew this bag, you should be able to sew a dress’ but part of me is convinced I’d muck it up.
Either way – gorgeous dress. =] Much nicer than anything I’ve seen at Banana Republic lately.
It’s absolutely amazing! And how funny that you’ve used such cheap material, because my first thought on seeing it was how expensive it looks – proving it is all about the cut of a dress.
I love the idea that you might have spent an entire week putting your wonderful storage bits up…in our house that could really happen! Lucky you having one so handy with drills.
x
The dress is gorgeous. Makes me want to go out and buy even more fabric and patterns…
Wow, what a lovely dress. I am going to visit Onion as I need a dress for a couple of weddings and that looks like just the thing!
Your dress is wonderful–a beautiful silhouette! Your wall-mounted thread keeper and shelf are terrific–practical and makes a pretty display. Happy, creative week to you, Jo ((HUGS))
Wow, your dress looks fab! And I still have spool board envy – even more so now it’s in it’s new home!
:)
Oooo wowowow You’ve done a great job on that dress, I love it. I’ll have to hunt for that pattern.
You look like a million dollars (not fifteen quid!). Well done! I gave up making clothes as I can’t manage to make anything fit. Love your spool thingymajig too – very cool.
fabulous dress! I have never tried onion patterns (will have to now) the dress looks great!
Lovely dress and great shelves! I’ve never heard of Onion patterns. I’ll have to give it a look-see, based on the cuteness that is this dress. I’m always too scared to make clothes, terrified that I’ll spend all that time and money and it won’t fit. Eesh!
Anyway, I can relate to your Banana Republic story – their pants NEVER fit me.
That’s a great dress! It looks perfect on you. I’ll have to see about the onion patterns.
Oh, I want both of these – the dress and the sewing room – I have GOT to figure out a way to store my thread, this looks perfect.
[...] the frock. Julia mentioned the Onion pattern, and I believe it might do for that, although the pattern isn’t strictly for knits. [...]
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