DIY Dress Mannequin

Hey Guys,

So recently I've started custom fitting patterns to my body shape, which can be rather hard with your own body and a mirror, since every twist and turn you make, makes it move. Anyway I've wanted a dress makers mannequin for a while now however they're rather expensive! Around £130 to be precise. So I found a tutorial online to make a duck tape one. So if some of you are you in the same predicament like me why not give it a go and make your own.

You'll need: 

• Patience.
• Enthusiasm.
• The willingness to look silly.
• An assistance who doesn't mind getting in yours and you getting in their personal space. 

You'll also need: 

• A Fitted T-shirt (the longer it is, the longer your mannequinn can be!)
• Duct Tape
• Scissors
• Kitchen Roll
• Pillow fluff
• Foam Board (1 sheet) 
• A sturdy hanger (as seen in the video below) or the base of an old lamp. 
• Material of your choice. 

Follow the video for the basics. However feel free to go off course and make your own changes and decisions. 

If you do opt for the lamp stand you'll need to use a more substantial base. To do this tape the foam board to the base of your mannequin. Once the board is secure poke a hole in the bottom and place the pole in the center. 

There you have it your own personal mannequin!

Remember if you do find having a headless duct tape mini you in your home scary at night use a glue gun to attach some fabric.

Here's my mannequin > 

Until next time folks... Keep stitching! 

Latest Make: Cat Coat

Check it out guys...

I made a cat coat for my boss' cat at work. He had to be shaved now is cold so wanted to help the little man! 

Made this in 40 mins, this is the first pattern I've drawn myself so be nice. It has an elasticated neck and tie for his waist. 

Anyway let me know what you think and as always... Keep stitching. 

Happy Easter

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Easter!

Unfortunately my fabric hasn't turned up yet so It's been a poor Easter weekend for sewing for me.

Anyways until next time... keep stitching! 

Update: Running The Marathon One Stitch At A Time.

So lately I feel like I've been running a marathon, while trying to complete the first garment for my sewing course.

Yes you may say it's only an apron however there have been set backs, for example Betsy missing stitches and my having to wait to get her fixed.

Anyway.... never mind... moaning over. Now lets get onto the good stuff....

Since I have now finished my garment (the apron) I thought I would show you some pictures of the final product. I had a lot of fun making this one especially since it was my first time in my new sewing room and using bias binding (which was very hard round the curves.)

Something I have also learnt is I am not as big as I thought I was and as you can see the apron is toooo large!

So let me know what you think (be kind there is lots of issues with it) and till my next blog.... keep stitching!

Body Types and Illusions

Right today ladies and gentle men we are going to talk about different body shapes and how to create illusions.

Before we start here is a top tip: Put your arms down by your sides and bend at the elbow see where the smallest part of your waist is from where your elbow lies and this is how you can tell if you are long or short waited.


Anyway the four main body types are:

• Triangle - This means there is not much upstairs but rather hippy.
• Inverted Triangle - Not much downstairs but rather broad shouldered.
• Rectangle - even the way down 
• Hour glass - this is your shoulders and bust being roughly the same size as your hips and your waist being about 10 inches less.

So I am an hourglass a chubby hourglass and yes, you can still be an hour glass even if you are size 16,18 or 20 it's not the size on the inside of your clothes that matters.

So since I am an hourglass I should be wearing.

• V necks since I have a larger bust.
• Capped or just above the wrist sleeves.
• Flared or boot cut trousers and jeans.
• Pencil or Aline skirts but not to long. 

All in all the main goal is to love the skin your in and REMEMBER  you don't wear anything better than a smile itself. So as always keep stitching. 

Sewing Expo

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted recently however it has been a very exciting few days. So let me get you up to date.

On Saturday ( 28th March 15) we (we being me and the mother in law) attended a sewing expo in London called;

 The Stitching Sewing & Hobbycrafts Show. 

We learnt so much and probably spent to much however I highly recommend it for all you sewers next year.

As we entered the hall the first stall we saw was a sewing clinic. Now the lady working on it, Thelma was amazing she had so many hand outs on how to make adjustments to patterns and also showed me how to adjust a pattern for a bigger busted lady like myself and her. (So their will be a blog on that for you all later.) She also recommended to books which is pictured below to help you adjust a pattern to whatever issue you may be having with it. Which funny enough the mother in law already owns so of course I am now borrowing! 

 

Next we found the pattern bar the place were I spent so much money however they were half price! Once again lots of lovely helpful handouts.

Next was mostly stalls, selling a range of beautiful items. 

So I purchased:

• Some beautiful pink butterfly embroidery scissors for cutting thread off my garments.
• Bias Binding.
• Cat Buttons.
• An Amaze Brush for removing bobbles, lint and cat hair off of clothes or furniture.
• Bobbins - 12 for £2.50 such a sewing! 
• A Bobbin holder. Which doesn't allow them to move or unravel.

Unfortunately no dress makers dummy so that looks like an internet purchase for me! 

Finally in the afternoon their was a talk (which there will be a blog for) about how to dress and create illusions with your body shape. No I won't go into too much detail in this blog however lets just say I'm loving my body more, and now I know how to dress with be feeling more confident. But please don't be deterred the blog will be for all size women after all I have some junk in my trunk and like to cover it. But after this talk I want to show the gorgeous curves I was given. 

Anyways as always till the next blog... Keep Stitching. 

Sewing Wish List

Hey everyone. As I get to the end of making my apron (blog post coming soon) I thought I'd share with you my sewing wish list for makes in the future :)

Sewing Patterns:

1. Mccall's Patterns MC7099 E5 Misses Romper and Jumpsuit

2. Butterick Pattern 5466 Semi-fitted skirt 

Material:

1. Black and pink lip fabric from eBay.

2. Blue and pink floral fabric eBay.

3. Scotty dog light blue fabric Minerva craft.

4. Black and white floral fabric Minerva craft.

5. Life ring fabric Minerva craft.

6. Balloon fabric Minerva craft.

Other:

1. Dress maker's dummie 

2. Pins

3. Tailor's chalk. 

In the comments below, please post your wish lists. I'd love to see them and until next time, keep stitching!