First dress made with sewing machine

           The top part was from a Jaeger silk skirt, and the brown part is from another long skirt. Made them together into a dress. Because i forgot shoulders are more wider than waist, and cut it wrong,  it is actually very difficult to put it on, and when i finally put it on,  i can hardly remove it. To save that trouble, i will wear it as long as possible every time i put it on.

sewing set-ups

This is the first sewing machine i got in 2009, from a friend couple, as a home decoration, since there was one part missed and could not be able to work. Even though, I just love its vintage look, and have put in on my desk for 2 years.

Got this one last saturday for free at the local sewing store, where i go to buy fabric and so on. This is the exactly same mode as the the black one i already have, but still works. Lovely. The guy at the store told me Husqvarna is the most dependable swedish make for sewing machine. This mode was firstly made in 1930s, good mechanic design with completely metal, which has offered a durable quality. After my bf showed me how to use it, i have started to make clothes with it since monday.

A white wooden box from second hand store became my sewing case. 

                                           Asian style finger protectors from friends.

Take a long dress in windy days

 

                                                          

    

                                                            Photo by Josefin

2hand skirt, 2hand chiffon blouse, Hm tank top, 2hand bad, Gina sunglass, SF shoes

From Good Lady Suit to One Shoulder Dress

Got this suit from my bf's relative, she made it herself when she was younger. I like its silk texture and peaceful color, also the flat cut of collar is pretty elegant. But again, it is just not my size. Thought I can wear the skirt as a tube dress, that is what I usually do with skirts from vintage store in Sweden. But I do got enough tube dresses, some of which have not been put on yet. It is time to try some thing new.

During the past few months, I have been fancying an one shoulder dress all the time, not too formal, not too sexy, just need to be elegant with a bit casual laziness. Especially after I saw the movie Bröllopsfotografen, the Astrid girl always shows up in one shoulder design, either top or dress. I truly love her elegant and chic style. Inspired by Astrid, I first tried to renew the top shirt from the suit in to an one shoulder top, but could not think of any nice way to make the bottom. Then I moved to the idea to make a one shoulder dress.

Took the waist of the skirt around my ribs, to make it into high waist line look. Cut off one shoulder and change the length of the bottom part of the top, to make it easier to connect with the waist. Used the cut-off fabric to make some decoration, so as to cover the messy stitches at the back.

A little white dress, the reason why I started sewing

When a friend of mine told me she is going to get married soon, the first idea came to me is that I can make a vail headband for her as a gift. Later on she asked on twitter where to buy a cheap dress for a very very simple ceremony, then I wondered maybe I can try to sew a little white dress.

I bought a white summer dress from Gina 2 years ago. It was a straight cut dress, with cutton fabric on top and laces at bottom. There were thin spaghetti straps across shoulder, which can also be tied to some circle ring at the waist. It was nice summer atmosphere but really weird design. Did not remember why i bought it, since the cut and design is a truly disaster on my body. I put it on once and then gave up. So it has been hidden in my wardrobe for quite a while.

Since my friend's wedding is going to be a simple one with only 4 guests, no church or formal ball, but just going to register at the office, a proper long grown is too much. I found my old white dress 2 weeks ago and though it might be a base to start making the wedding dress. I cut off the spaghetti straps, sewed an elastic band around top line, put another wide elastic band around the waist and made the waist line 10cm higher than before. Added a layer of vail between the laces and underskirt, the vail can not be seen from outside, but it has make the dress more puffy and round, especially from behind. I also bought some white ribbon roses and sewed it along the breast line, to make body look more feminine curvy. At last, tied a wide white ribbon around waist and made a bow knot at the back.

I made the denning backless top and the beige linen top first, to get some practice with sewing. Then started to work on this dress. It went very tough with the elastic band. Part of the stitches are horrible. Later I found a new way to handle that, i sewed the elastic band into a circle first, then measured my waist, put a pillow in a blanket to make it exactly the same size as my waist, then put the dress and elastic band circle around the pillow, and sewed them together. I also used the same way to sew the elastic band on the beige linen dress later on, it worked better due to previous experience. I still don't know the right way to sew elastic band, wonder how does it work with a sewing machine?

After made another 2 pieces of clothes, it feels like I could do it better when I look back at the white dress. But anyway, it was the reason why I started sewing. Maybe I can make another dress for my friend if she is getting married again, but hopefully not, or save the chance for her daughter's wedding.

Summer Blazer

This might be the best piece i have made so far. First because my bf told me to use iron to mark the sewing line, second his sister told me to use pin. (true, I basically know nothing about sewing.) So the stitches are much better compare with my other pieces.

still no sewing machine, have to sew all by hand

It was a white linen dress from Japanese brand MUJI. On the first day i wore it in Sweden, it got some coffee stain on the collar and the bottom. It is a pity to throw it away since it was made of very comfi organic linen. I cut off the bottom part, and spilt the front part from middle, to make the basic shape or a blazer. Then put 4 small hook links on the front edge line. Sew the blue ribbon along the collar line and front edge line, also to cover some coffee stain.

It was a linen dress

But too long for me, and the shoulder line did not fit asian body. I cut it in half, made a short top and a high waist skirt.

There use to be a long zipper from the collar to the bottom. I removed it and put a piece of orange lace at the back, otherwise it is a bit tight to put on. Also sew a bit lace on the edge of sleeves, since they were too short and made arms look huge.

For the skirt, I sewed the pink elastic band on top and 4 pink buttons in the middle as sort of decoration.

white clog sandal

New pick-up from 2hand store but they are new. Typical swedish design with white color. So easy to match with summer look. And they only cost 79kr. The only problem is they are a bit small, because they are actually children's shoes.

The beginning of sewing

Photo by Jojo, on the roof

I cut a pair of levis jeans coz it is too big for me these days. i cut it into a pair of shorty shorts, and therefore got 2 big pieces of dening fabric. Firstly i wanted to sew a vest, but i constantly cut off more than i should, and the vest became smaller and smaller, finally end up in a backless top. That's why i have to wear bikini inside. The collar was made of PU leather, from an old belt, the rest of which will be made into an bow tie.

Did not expect it took so much work to sew. I wish i could do it neat and tidy. Planning to get a good sewing machine and learning sewing properly. I skipped all the sewing class in junior school, because I concerned myself as a cool tom boy who should not learn this kind of "sisi" skills. Now I regret.

fur is the only reason i miss winter

photo by Jojo, near the farmland outside Lund, Mar 2011

Goat fur coat from my mom. orange scarf from my mom, red belt from 2hand store, red suede bag from COS, brown leather gloves from Stockholm LM.

old style beach look

At the beach near Ystad, during Easter break.

Silk scarf from 2hand store, silk tank shirt from Cos, sunglass from Gina, red plastic flats from a friend

Lolitta sunglass

I have to say this sunglass looks perfectly silly on itself, but it is a cute combination between purple rim and the blue dress. Her look reminds me Lolitta in that movie, or Mrs Lebovsky in Big Lebovsky.

beige and coral

2hand coral cardi, 2 hand white-blue belt, 2hand black leather handbag, 2 hand beige wool skirt, Stockholm LM brown leather globes, Ferragamo shoes, pearl collar from internet.

smoking girl in fur

march 2011, on the balcony of ulrikedal

orange lips

had been waiting for a bright orange lipstick this year, and finally found it in MAC, long wear collection.

a nude tone spring

photo taken by Jojo, on the way to easter dinner

Cos dress, second hand Laura Ashley shoes, second hand black leather hand bag, HM tights, pearl fake collar from internet.

have been fond of nude-beige tone ever since i was a kid. During the past 2-3 years, one good thing about nude tone being in is that no one makes fun of my "old lady taste" or "granny looking" anymore. Since im trying to get more tan every summer, a bit brownish honey colored nude tone actually goes better with my complexion.