sew happy!

I have just finished a top and just had to tell you all; I made this!

(Just don't look too closely at the neck - wonky cover stitching - and ignore the creases, I wanted to show you striaght away, so no time to iron!)

Everyone who follows this blog knows that I love to craft beautiful things with my hands, and that I am trying to eschew fast fashion. You may also recall from one of my very first posts that I have been trying to teach myself to dressmake. I can sew (just about!) but the things I sew are ususally knitted garments which I sew by hand, or little mixed media creatures, which have even more character when wonky! To be honest, I struggle with the sewing machine - straight lines are just not me. However, miracle of miracles, I have finished my first sewing project! Unfortunately it is not the dress I had started way back in my first post, but one that I started a few weeks ago after I was deeply inspired by the wonderful projects by verypurpleperson, especially this dress.

I wisely decided to start with something much simpler, even though I desperately want a white dress like hers.

That is where this very simple t-shirt came in, which I made from a folded over, shaped rectangle of jersey with a slit for your head. I wanted to do it properly, as I think most of my failures come from rushing into projects, so I drew out my own pattern on spot and cross paper and pinned it to the fabric, instead of just guessing where I needed to cut, like I have done in the past! I cover stitched the hems at the college where I work after realising I had access to so many fabulous resources that I was not using, and was amazed that I could control such a big, industrial, beautiful machine.

I finished it off on my lovely sewing machine, which so far has seen very little action. That will change now I hope! I have bought Burda sewing magazine as I thought winging it on the pattern front may have just been a lucky first try, and I have been enjoying looking at some of the creations on the burdastyle website, where I found apurpleperson's blog.

Crossed fingers and toes, I am now hoping to make loads more of my own clothes, to support my new crafting ethos, to save money and to ensure I have some original, interesting pieces in my wardrobe, and not just mass produced fashion. I think I will try a Liberty print summer dress next, as I am inspired by all their collaborations with big designers. You never know, it might be ready for next summer...!