To get myself back into sewing again I needed a quick project, I chose the Twig and Tale Sunny Hat. It’s been a while since I’ve sewn anything, with a new baby I’ve been quite busy. She has just started napping for longer periods of …
Versatile maternity clothing, I’m really running low on this. I’m currently shuffling through two to three dresses on rotation. Quite a few of them aren’t weather appropriate but they fit and that’s a win for me. But I definitely needed another maternity dress. Choosing a …
As you all know I love making my own patterns and adapting others. My fashion degree taught me pattern cutting and I love refreshing my skills. I still turn back to my pattern cutting reference books for help with various projects. So, when Makerist asked me to choose a pattern and take part in their pattern hack challenge I was beyond excited. Over at Makerist Instagram they are running a #makeityourschallenge. You can hack any pattern you like between the 12th July and 8th Aug and win prizes.
I chose the Bodie dress by Aware Collection. As soon as I saw it, I knew how I wanted to hack it. Being 8 months pregnant at the moment I didn’t want to take anything too complicated, not sure my brain could handle it. Also, I wanted the dress to be both maternity friendly and good to wear afterwards.
I decided I wanted to change the front from lace up to button up as it will be good for breastfeeding afterwards. Also increase the length of the dress and add more volume to the skirt. The bodice length was perfect as an empire waist works well with the bump but also suits my shape.
I started by cutting out the Bodie dress in size M and laying the front bodice onto my pattern cutting paper. Then traced round it as it would lay, edge to edge creating the V neckline of the lace up front. I drew in a new centre front and closed the V neck by just connecting the two pattern pieces at the neck without pivoting. I then added on a button stand that overlapped either side of the centre front.
For the fabric I decided to toile in this cotton voile with gold spot inlays. I thought if it went well, it could become a wearable toile. I have loads of it and I think my dad gave it to me from a film set he worked on once. As the fabric was quite see through, I decided to double up the fabric and bag out the bodice. I did this and used the burrito method to turn out the straps for a nicer finish. Then tried on the bodice to test the fit. I realised that it was a bit small across the bust so decided to add a few cm by adding a button stand.
I’ve recently moved house and I’m still in the unpacking stage, half living out of boxes. It was at this point I realised I had no idea where my white overlocker threads were. Therefore rather than sew in navy thread I decided not to bother with over locking this time.
The fabric I had chosen was quite narrow therefore I used two widths sewn together to make a tube before gathering the skirt. Due to the sheerness of the fabric I also decided to do a double layer for the skirt. The inside layer is slightly shorter to allow it to be extra flowy.
The final touches to my hacked Bodie dress were the mother of pearl buttons and buttonholes. After trying it on I think I might have made an accidental wedding/christening dress…but it really is beautiful!
I decided to take it out for a spin and an impromptu 7am beach photo shoot. Which was windy and fun, what do you think of my hack?
If you fancy adapting the Bodie dress, or just sewing it as is, then Makerist are offering 30% off from now until 8th August. Just use this link here.
As usual if you’d like a 15% discount off everything on the Makerist website just use my code ruby-rose-15.
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Thanks For reading
Ruby x
I’m back with a bump! And it’s a big one… turns out as I get bigger none of my trousers fit, who knew! My love for fitted high waisted trousers, shorts and skirts has not worked out well during pregnancy. I knew exactly what I …
Recently I was asked to be part of the pattern testing process for Anna Allen Clothing’s latest garment – the Pomona Pants. It is a versatile pattern that comes with 3 different views, shorts, wide trousers, and tapered trousers. I love Anna Allen’s patterns, they …
I thought today I would share one of my favourite and definitely most popular makes to date. This is a self-drafted dress I made in collaboration with Minerva.
This was my first make for Minerva who kindly gifted me the fabric in exchange for a blog post on their website. This is just a summary of the self-drafted dress blog and the full blog can be found here.
I am used to working with cheaper fabrics, fabrics I’ve acquired over time and bargain basement cottons. As a result the chance to work with this stunning Atelier Brunette viscose was a real treat. It feels really luxurious and drapes and flows beautifully. You can find it here on the Minerva website. Available in 3 colourways
It is debateable if viscose is a sustainable fabric, as it is made from natural fibres and is plant based, made from wood pulp, which is a renewable source. But like many fabrics it uses a lot of water and chemicals. Above all during the manufacturing process. However making your own garments on a smaller scale is always more sustainable than buying from fast fashion shops.
This dress is self-drafted loosely based off a garment I own but with many changed with sleeves added and the neckline changed. I also added a button closure and a skirt, so by the end of the drafting it was completely different.
The making of this went like a dream and the fabric sewed beautifully. For the rest of the blog head over to Minerva here
Let me know what you think in the comments below or over on teh Minerva website.
In the future I’m going to share more summaries of my Minerva projects. Comprehensive blogs will always be on the Minerva site.
Here is another Minerva summary, Striped shorts
Thanks for reading
Rx
This week I have been lucky enough to test the new Dayo Blouse pattern for Sewing Patterns by Masin. As soon as I saw the shout-out on Instagram asking for testers I jumped at the chance. She is fairly new pattern designer, but she already …
As soon as I got the pattern for the Nita Wrap Skirt I knew I wanted to make it straight away. So rather than wait to buy some fabric I dug into my stash. Over the years I have accumulated quite a large amount of …
