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follow my new tumblr wild-atrocisity.tumblr.com

i follow back

follow my new tumblr wild-atrocisity.tumblr.com

i follow back

follow my new tumblr wild-atrocisity.tumblr.com

i follow back

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i follow back

Hey!! Been meaning to do this one for a while now, but I’ve only just got the chance/found something that needed doing!! It’s perfect for when you find that perfect vintage dress but it’s a bit too long, or trousers that fit you bum amazing just not in the length (happens to me as i’m a shorty!) or even to give a maxi dress a complete new look!!

So firstly i’m using a crushed velvet skater style dress, which i think is a touch too long (plus ive shortened the sleeves, and added a lace collar).

Ok then, firstly you need to put on the dress (or put it on a mannequin) and pin exactly where you would like the new length to be.

Then pin the fabric to the wrong side of the fabric all the way around, i find this easiest by measuring how much you want to take it up by and measuring each bit you pin.

Then trim off the excess fabric all the way around leaving enough for a hem (so an 3cm to 5 cm).

Then i give the folded part a good iron so that it gets a crease in it, this makes is easier when folding over to make the hem. To make the hem just fold the fabric under until it reaches the crease and pin it in place, do this all the way around. Now no raw edges can be seen.

Again give it a good press wit the iron. If you aren’t feeling confident about the sewing, i would here i would do a tacking stitch by hand holding the seam in place, then you can take the pins out, otherwise if you a confident I would just machine stitch the hem from round here. First you have to choose the colour of your thread, so either the same shade as your fabric or a contrasting colour to make it stand out! I’ve used the same colour as the fabric.

So i used the colour on the far right! Sometimes it is easier to match it with the colour threads used on the seams. So now you are ready to get your machine out and start sewing!! For my dress i used a zig zag stitch only because my fabric is very stretchy, but normally i would use a straight running stitch. A good hint it to start at a seam as it is good to hide the back stitch used to secure the stitching!! 

Then use the guide on the machine to keep it nice and straight and take it as slow as you need!! As my machine doesn’t have a guide I just the edge of the fabric as a guide! And there you go!! with a trim of the excess threads you have successfully took up a dress. Below is a close up of the seam on the right side of the fabric!! You can hardly see it!!

And voila!! The finished dress!! But I added a lace collar to it as well (vintage lace from my nan’s dress) So I hope that has been helpful!!

much love x x x 

I changed him into an owl, better? Worse? x

Been super busy being a geek for a month, had 4 chemistry exams (proper proper solid). So i’ve been trying to recover by lying around being lazy and drinking champagne (of course!).

But now it is time to get moving. So first stop…..the wardrobe!! Finally had to guts to wade through and get rid of some things which could have a happier home somewhere else, when it comes to clothes I can be pretty ruthless, so a major chunk has gone, some to the younger sister, some to the charity shops of Crosby and some to eBay!!  ( http://bit.ly/wGvSpC ) so check them out!! 

So now there is a huge gap in the closet (which is getting restocked as we speak so don’t worry!!)

But during the exams i’ve ‘treated’ myself to THE most beautiful bag ever designed…. by the amazingly talented British designer Lulu Guinness, for years i had pined over her beautiful shop front Jenny bags and the famous lips clutch, so i took the plunge and purchased Lulu Guinness Couture Shop Jenny. I just stare at the beautiful stitching for hours on end…. just magic.

So now it’s back to the lab and some sewing (and drooling over my bag). Will be posting on patchworks soon i think!! 

much love! x x x

My sock penguin!! His name is Henry i made him the other week! Isn’t he cute?! I might make him into an owl tho.

X x x