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 thought I’d do this post as a lot of people think they can’t do embroidery as they are not artistic, or can’t draw or they think they don’t have enough imagination to come with anything. So hopefully this will show you an easy way of making something individual and look really special without all the mess of drawing out patterns etc.

So this way you just take an already patterned fabric and embroider over the top. SO enhancing the pattern, but also making something really unique!

So first you will need some patterned fabric, and embroidery hoop and a needle with some coloured embroidery thread.

So I’ve chose some vintage floral fabric, as that is what i had lying around. So put the fabric into the hoop, making sure it is placed firmly and tightly so that it is easier to sew. And basically just sew over the pattern. I’ve chosen green to sew over the stems and I have used chain stitch as I love the effect it gives.

Ok so when your fabric is inside the hoop then its ready to go!! I’ll show you chain stitch, its really easy and look great as the stems of my flowers.

Step 1. Tie a knot in the end of your threaded needle and pull through to the front of the fabric, so that it is on the stem of the flower. Then push the needle back through the fabric so that one stitch is visible.

Step 2. Bring the needle back through the fabric but so that it goes through the middle of the stitch you have just made. Pull the thread through and make another stitch which goes past the end of the previous one.

Step 3. Repeat until you have reached the end of the stem. Attach thread firmly to the back of the fabric and cut the rest off.

So then for the rest of the pattern i have used long and short stitches of different colours for the petals(i think quite explanatory?), sequins that i have cut to the right shapes, and beads.

French knots, more chain stitch, lazy daisy stitch and running stitch.(shall be posting further blogs on all these stitches!!)

And then voila!! this could be put into a frame, made into cushion (as i have done  with some of mine!), put as a patch in a patch work quilt or whatever you choose to do with it! 

So there you go, a really simple way of making something look extra special.

Much love 

x x x