Simplicity 2258 (sneak preview), Eason's new craft section, Tilly's Dominique skirt

The Simplicity 2258 is what I've chosen to make at my 10-week sewing course. Today I made facings! I had no idea what they were till I made one on the pocket of my skirt (you can read about them here), and it turned out so well. I had to trim and clip the seam allowances too which was a new technique to me but very easy and it works so well to form the curve. BHL describe the process clearly including the whys.

Look at that beautiful curve

I am based in Dublin and recently popped into Eason's to check out the new craft section. There's a fairly big section for icing/cake decorating, and they have a reasonable selection of sewing kit bits, although I can't vouch for the quality. I picked up these two, which are the main brand offered.

Prepared to make bias binding for a future Sorbetto

The only fabric they have is some quilting fat quarter bundles.

PS what do you think of Tilly's newly released pattern the Dominique skirts? My initial thoughts are yuck! They are not flattering. The short one has no shape and the long one seems frumpy to me. Seems a step down from her previous patterns, and rather disappointing. I'll see what everyone out there produces from the pattern but I don't think it's one I'll be tempted to buy. (I have the Love at First Stitch book which I love - such a lovely presented book - and have traced one half of a Margot pyjama bottom leg so there'll be more to come on that soon).

First dressmaking item (and it's wearable)

I stocked up on some cheap practise fabric (aka duvet covers and pillowcases from charity shops) and decided the easiest piece of clothing to make would be a circle skirt.

I didn't use the helpful By Hand London circle skirt app (calculator), just because I wanted a different length, but followed another of Annika Victoria's tutorials. I love her just-get-in-there-and-have-a-go attitude, you can do it! She's good at mentioning how to fix mistakes too (useful). Watch her half circle skirt and circle skirt dress tutorials to see the making of the skirts in action (pause so you can figure out the calculations!), and the first shows you three different ways to hem so pick your favourite. However, I consulted  By Hand London on this and chose their #1 method, which was easy peasy but needed patience as the hem of a full circle skirt is very very long (will try a half circle next time).

Tadaaaaaaaa...........

My first clothing make. Love how the skirt lies. The fabric is not bad for an old duvet cover!

The only thing to watch out for with the blog directions in the birdeemag is that she forgot to say make the slit for the zipper shorter (to take into account joining on the waistband), but that's explained in the comments at the end. (I cut it too long but it was easily sewed up again).

And the back........

My first zipper insert, Annika's method was really straight forward to follow.

I 'designed' the skirt to sit low down on my hips, but this looked silly once it was made so I took it in an inch either side on the waistband to sit higher up (following tips from Annika and just using a straight stitch). My waistband ended up an inch shorter than designed too (due to drawing wonky lines + wonky cutting) so the skirt is shorter than intended, but still ok. 

Look I'm wearing a secondhand duvet cover!

It's great for twirling too (just watch out on a windy day).

Foray into sewing

Yey, it's very exciting. I had a cold, spent the day in bed gorging on sewing videos and blogs (inspired by my best friend's own sewing escapades), and suddenly I've signed up to a 10-week dressmaking course and own my own Brother (secondhand - nice find on gumtree). It's a XQ3700. Choosing a new machine is not easy for the beginner but the with the adjustable stitch length and width (necessities) and nice needle threader and top loading bobbin (luxuries), as well as a gizillion stitches I figured I couldn't go too wrong. The one-step button whole thing should be useful once I figure that out (down the line).

Bit of help setting up my machine from Tilly and the Buttons

 I got started on the basics and something very easy following a excellent tutorial from Annika Victoria

Bow taking shape (one nice corner, hehe)

Bit wonky (ok, alot), but I don't care - I made something!

 I'm a sewist now :)