Something you have to try!!

Making your own dress is probably one of the most satisfying things you can do, (and also one of the most frustrating!!). Once you have picked your fabric and your pattern you then have to decipher the instructions, measured yourself (always tricky) and cut out all the pattern pieces... then it is time to pin and tuck and pleat and iron until you have your perfect dress. 

I would recommend to give it go. Even if your hem is a bit wonky, or buttons aren't perfectly spaced out that's fine because YOU made it!! It always feels amazing when someone asks 'oh where did you get that dress, it is lovely' and you can reply with great pride 'I made it!!'.

So next time you see a pattern you like, give it a go!! Even if it takes agggess, just do it! You won't regret it!

I have included these pictures I took whilst putting together one of my dresses! Hope you like it and feel inspired to create something yourself!

If you have any questions or requests feel free to comment or contact me on here. Or you can check out my Facebook page or my twitter!!

Thanks for reading!!

Lots of Love

x x x 

Cute Puppy Jumper December 2012

When trying to think of Christmas gifts this year I was inspired by what my sister has been trying to find for a while now. She has searched all over the internet (and beyond probably) for a jumper, or a knitting pattern with a picture of a Yorkshire Terrier on, as she has the cutest pair going.

So I made her one for Christmas this year!! This was the result and the pup who inspired it, Toby, how CUTE!!

So I just used a picture that I found of Toby looking super cute and still!! It is a good picture as it is mainly big shapes which are easy to sew.

First I cut out a shape in a pale brown fabric, which resembled the shape of Toby's head, but simplified. I then pinned it to a jumper that I bought in the men's section in Primark, the sturdier the fabric the better. I used the same colour thread to satin stitch around the shape. This was done using a zig-zag stitch on the machine, but you could do it by hand, it would just take longer. It's a technique called appliqué, easy to do but looks really effective.

Next I cut the shape of Toby's beard in a darker brown fabric and again used satin stitch to attach it to the jumper.

Then sewed a nose shape using chain stitch and filled it in using chain stitch again. I used the same method for the eyes and the mouth, but used black thread.

I think it looked rather cute, and it could be done for anything really, as long as the shapes are kept simple enough.

If you are interested in anything that I have done, or would like me to sew something for you then just message me on here or contact me on my Facebook page or Twitter!!

Personalised Presents- Dec 2012

Christmas is coming!! It's so close now! But what do you get the person who has everything?! Well their very own personalised present! It doesn't have to be just for Christmas, it is a perfect idea for pretty much any occasion. It is also good for those who are trying to save the pennies.



Something hand made or hand personalised is so lovely to receive and great to make and completely original! Something that is really simple but really effective is just sewing someone's name onto an item, whether it be a t shirt, a teddy bear, a bookmark or what i've been doing recently make up bags.


So I used a plain black, quite sturdy make up or toiletries bag. It is from Sainsbury's I think (this was for my sister's friend so my sister provided the bag). Really plain, so a great blank canvas. So firstly I drew on lightly the name that I wanted to add (this is obviously for Danielle's birthday!!). I then chain stitched over the outline that I had made. I used a really pale lilac as it stands out well against the black.

Then after that it is completely personal preference. I added flowers and leaves to make it girly, but you can basically add anything. The flowers are just long and short stitches using one colour of thread for the outer petal and another for the centre petals. The stems are vine stitch and the centre of the flowers are french knots.

I have done a few more of these personal presents but can't reveal any names as I don't want to ruin any of the surprises before the big day!! But I'll add some pictures of the decoration on them.

Hope you've got a few ideas, or if you want to get in touch about getting some items personalised by myself check out my Facebook or Twitter or message me on here!!

Merry Christmas!! 

DIY Studded Leather Jacket - October 2012

Studs are still EVERYWHERE, and leather is a key piece this autumn/winter, so a studded leather jacket is completely on trend (as well as looking pretty cool!!).

So of course it will cost you a fair bit of money to find the perfect jacket stud combo. Or you could do what I did and use a jacket you already had and adding whatever shape or size stud that you desire. By using as many studs as you want (mine are from eBay for a few pounds) you can update your jacket for autumn/winter in very little time and for a fraction of the cost.

It is really simple to do, just requires a bit of patience. Best thing about this jacket, no one else will have it, it's completely unique to you!!

You could add the studs on the shoulders, cuffs, collar, just about anywhere really. 

Check out my Facebook and Twitter for more ideas or to contact me about any bespoke pieces that I could do for you, or just with any general questions!!

x x x 

Pink pink to make the flamingos wink - Bestival 2012

With Bestival on the Isle of Wight happening this weekend I thought I'd show you what I created for a friend (and her friend) who are going. Every year there is a fancy dress theme and this year it is wildlife, so that could have been anything from and elephant to a ladybird. What my friend had in mind was flamingos, the campest and over the top animal ever, which is brilliant. So it was all about the pink, feathers, sequins etc. So what we ended up with is a Bjork style swan dress (everyone remembers THAT dress don't they?!) except as a flamingo!! How brilliant.

A H&M bright pink long sleeved body con dress was chosen for the base. I then promptly chopped the sleeves to make the neck and stuffed them and added a beak. The beak is painted and I used a little button for the eye!

And then came the hard part. I cut out HUNDREDS of different fabrics, all shades of pink, into feather shapes. This is what took the most time.....

I then sewed these shapes into strips by hand. I tried to sew them on as random as possible so not to make it look like a pattern or patchy. As you can see I've used netting, bits of the dress, left over fabric from other projects, offcuts, anything I could get my hands on that was pink!!

So I continued to hand sew all the feather shapes all over the front of the dress, with a few on the bum too. I then added loads of actual feathers too, I used a glue gun for this!! This took forever!! But deffo worth the effort!

When I finished them I thought the flamingo faces looked a bit too sad, so I added some fluttery eyelashes, and made feathery hair clips for the girls hair!!  I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out actually!! But by the time I was finished sewing all those feather shapes on I was sick of the sight of them!! They turned out quite cheap as well, as all the fabric was recycled (apart from the H&M dresses which were £9.99). The feathers cost 99p for 20 from eBay. All buttons and sequins were from my own collection (which I've built up for years!!). 

I can't wait to see how the girls will look in these costumes!! Definitely will stand out, no one else will have these one off pieces. Most people will just have them Primark animal onesies won't they!!

If you are interested in any costumes or fancy dress please feel free to contact me on here, on my Facebook Page or my Twitter.

ROAR!! A mane for Jamie's face!!

Jamie from JamiesFace fame is a lovely friend of mine, so when he asked me to make him something for his YouTube channel I said yes please straight away because, 1. I knew it would be weird (no offence Jay) and therefore fun to do, and 2. He is my friend, it would be tres rude if I said no.

So he told me for what sketch he needed it for (I'm keeping quiet so it will be a surprise!). So he basically wanted a lion's mane that he could wear, but was stretchy for his massive head (his words not mine).

I then got my thinking cap on and thought making it like a balaclava almost  would be the best approach, as it is stretchy and covers his chin and fod.

So I cut the face out of the balaclava and sewed strips of fur onto it.

I used the fur below from this eBay seller. I got half a meter, but I didn't use all of it, but better to have too much than too little in the sewing world!! 

This took agggess!! And fur is a PAIN to work with, I'm still finding big clumps of orange fur round my flat!! But once that was finally done I finished it off by adding little yellow ears!! I think it turned out brilliantly actually! So below is me wearing it after I finished it, this would be perfect for a fancy dress!

Now here is the man himself wearing it, and as you can tell he is very pleased!! Can't believe he has moved to London!! I will link the video as soon as it is uploaded!!

ROAARRR!!

So again if you want anything like this making for you (I know bestival is coming up?) you can contact me on here or via my Twitter or my Facebook.

x x x

My Most Unusual Request Yet

Most of my alterations work tends to be repairs, taking up hems, sewing buttons on etc. so when something a bit more unusual and creative comes my way I love it.

So I was asked to make a funny christening present for a little baby and was sent this picture.

 

Now this is a Japanese product which basically a duster on a baby grow, so when the baby is crawling around it can clean the floor as well!! How funny is that! So he brought me a baby grow and those microfibre cleaning mitts and I worked my magic!!

So it took me a while, as the microfibre was quite tricky to sew, but I think it turned out great!!

How cute? Yes? I thought it was a really simple and different Christening present!! It also turned out quite cheap, plus everyone who I have shown it to has thought it was hilarious so win win!!

If you want something like this you can contact me on Facebook, on Twitter or on here! 

x x x

DIY patchwork quilts

I have been making patchworks for 4 years now maybe, I just did them in my spare time (in the summer holidays usually) and they are simple and fun to do. They also make really great personal presents for people. (People are proper made up when you give them it!!) It is something you would keep forever! What I never realized is how expensive they are if you where to buy one! Hundreds of pounds!! And they are impersonal, sure they look great but £200?? I don't think so!

So I thought I would go through how I go about making one. So I have my own special one, which goes on the end of my bed. It is made up of fabric which has been a part of my life (old curtains from baby room, bed sheets, old clothes) so instead of throwing them away, I made them into something that I could look at everyday, and hopefully pass onto my own children (a long way in the future!!).

So what I first do is cut out squares of the fabric, you can choose what size squares, but I always do 12cm x 12cm. But that doesn't really matter as long as they are squares. You can use a paper template if it makes it easier. I then cut out more squares, I usually aim for a quilt of 12x12 squares, so that is 144 squares (!!) this is the most time consuming bit, but you can do it watching the telly! 

Next I machine sew the squares into strips of 12 squares, I like to alternate the squares but you don't have to, it is entirely personal preference. 

I then sew the strips together to get one huge square. If you feel like the square is too small, or needs neatening up, I sew a large border around the patchwork area of one colour. I finishes off it nicely I think, and makes it look less busy. All that is left to do is but a lining on the other side. I usually use a padded lining (already has wadding attached). This gives the blanket a bit more weight, but again it's personal preference. You can just use ordinary lining.

So attach this lining, you put the two right sides of the fabric facing together (inside out) and sew all around the edge leaving a gap of about 15cm. You then pull the fabric through so now the right sides of the fabric are now facing away from each (the right way round) you can then hand stitch the hole closed. You then can either sew an edging around the fabric, or just machine stitch an inch all around the edge to finish it off, and again this is personal preference. 

And voila! You have your very own patchwork!! And for literally a few pounds (unless you have to buy all your fabric). Nothing like the price of one from a shop, and these look much nicer because you made it with your own fair hands!!

If you fancy giving this ago, and need tips, or even if you want me to make you your very own, feel free to message me, comment, or go on my twitter or Facebook  and get in touch with me there!!

Hope this has inspired you to get the scissors out!!

x x x 

Alterations By Emily

So.... recently I've started u my own company (ish) which is basically just alterations (taking up sleeves, trousers, taking in shorts etc) repairs and custom pieces. It's been going rather well recently, so many people hide things away in there wardrobes thinking one day they get it repaired or altered and forget about them, so in a way I am rescuing clothes everywhere from a life hidden at the back of the wardrobe or even the bin!!


I also do custom pieces, patchworks (i've done so many!!), embroidered cushions, fancy dress items and even a lampshade or two!! These are the best things that I do, you can proper let your creative side run wild.

So I will be doing individual posts on specific things I've done recently, but for now I'm just going to put a few pictures of some work I've done!! Hopefully give others inspiration to do the same thing!!

Most the things I do are really easy and cheap, but require a lot of time and patience to get them done perfect, which I don't mind! And i have quite a lot of spare time at the moment to do them!!

Much love x x x

Sew sew sew ootd 19/6/12

Sooo I've started up my own alteration, repair and customisation business!! And it's going pretty good so far! Made up! Needed a bit of money until I start my phd in October so I thought it would be a useful and creative way of doing it! I've just been doing repairs and alterations at the moment, but I've got a few more in the pipeline (costumes and patchwork quilts etc.)

So as part of this business I've been going through some of the things ie made over the years so that I can put them on my Facebook and twitter and I came across a skirt I made from liberty fabric years ago, and I thought it would go perfectly with my mint here blouse from new look and my gold jumper (miserable summer weather!) so that's what I teamed it with today! Shows how you can rewear things years later!!

X x

Homemade Sequin Collar Shirt

After having a bad experience with Missguided.co.uk with a no show order and then them sending me the wrong order I decided their sequin shirt wasn't that nice anyway and decided to make my own for a fraction of the price. It was really simple to do and I think it looks amazing.


So firstly I started with a plain black shirt (but you could use any shirt you wanted). I got mine from eBay for about £2. I then ordered a bag of gold sequins for 99p also from eBay. I thought gold would contrast the black shirt perfectly! I also chose sequins of all shapes and sizes but you could use all the same shape if you wanted!!

I then used the holes on the sequins and a gold thread to sew them onto the collar of the shirt, and this did take a few hours (but saved me a lot of money).

So all in all this cost me around £2.99 compared to missguided's £25.99 (I think) so I think that is such a good saving. This is such an easy way of personalizing anything, not just shirts. Plus I think it looks great.

So I worn it quite a few times but I'm wearing later for a house party to celebrate end of exams (yey!!) with a pair of jeans I cut off into shorts, a plaited leather belt and a pair of pumps.