One project down, 341 to go!

I modified a charity shop bikini -yes I know buying charity shop swimwear might not be to everyone's taste but then buy new sweatshop items make me feel as queasy! It was indecently small, so using strips of a t-shirt and very light interfacing I made a 5cm wide band to add as ties to the bottom ad top. I basically overlocked the edges, turned them inside out and pressed the shit out of them. I then sewed them onto the bikini using a plain old straight stitch, making sure to stretch the bikini before pinning onto the straps.

Momentum

I used my rolled hem foot with great success. It did take some getting used to: the fabric needs to be directly under the foot, and its easier on a straight grain than bias.

Long time no sew!

Ooh I am such a terrible hobby seamstress! I have at least 4 projects on the go and about 9 ideas but I haven't sewn in about 2 weeks, its not going to sew itself is it?
Something that spurred me on was going to Topshop and Primark and looking at all the pretty but sweatshop clothes that I can't afford. I saw a beautfiful beige jumper, but I had to remind myself I have a similar one in red that needs dyeing. I saw some nice bikinis and then remembered I have a bikini that needs new straps. I tried on an absolutely beauiful shirt dress but had to concede that it didn't fit on the hips.

I am currently trying to stop all needless purchases (especially from chainstores with dubious ethics), but I did make two sensible purchases: a rolled hem foot for my Elna sewing machine, and finally bought a manual for my Toyota overlocker which for some reason didn't come with one.

After all that if I don't start sewing again I give up!! (not really.)

Carnivale of Couture

This week's carnivale of Couture is at the Bargain Queen and she is asking what your best ever bargain was.
Mine is probably a toss-up between my Burberry trenchcoat bought for £5.50 at a charity shop, or my Marc Jacobs 60's style flats bought for 25 squids. But really, I don't consider them to be bargains as I don't wear the coat or the shoes that often. What I really consider a bargain is my knitted blue necklace from WW2, it was made out of plastic thread to look like beads at a time when luxuries were scarce. I wear it all the time and that to me is a true bargain.

ms_moron 2.0

I've been wearing retro trainers (£1 from car boot sale), flared cords (free from friend) and retro-y t-shirts for the last 3 days. Hey its the 1998 ms_moron! Feels quite nice when everyone is wearing faded grey skinnies and chucks or ballet flats.

Anyway, as you can see from the links on the right I have been doing some research. They are all good links, but my current faves are Craftster and Vintage Sewing. Vintage Sewing has the most amazing detailed tutorials for everything including leather gloves (!) hats (I know!) and an assortment of clothes from pre-1900 to 50's. Craftster is a forum for crafty people, and browsing all afternoon I discovered the address of a fabric manufacturer who will send off a catalogue to you:

s gross
fabricsfreepost
salford m7 6bl

See how it goes.

Men's fashion, or a small list of interesting sites

My lovely boyfriend popped round my house on Saturday with a surprise copy of 'Fantastic Man' he bought. Thank you lovely boyfriend for my surprise!
I also regularly read Charlie Porter's column and as you know, visit The Sartorialist at least 3 times a day, so why the interest in men's fashion I hear you (aka me) cry?
Well I have always been interested in tailoring (English Cut is a good weblog for this), and its easier to find articles about men's suits than it is about general tailoring. Secondly, men's fashion is still quite unimportant compared to women's, and because of this seems a little more subdued and concise. Which I like.
I suppose men's fashion is still a little underground, as opposed to women's where where everyone is a fashion writer indiscriminately gushing over any old designer gubbins. I would like to see more articles about volume and structure. There is an interesting article in FM about pleats, and I get the feeling that if this article were in a women's magazine it would be "5 tulip skirts for under £500"

Rule number one...

I have broken my first rule of my 'Sewing Year Zero' code of practice by starting something before finishing the bag, I am making a special towel for my nephew-in-law. It is going to be a square towel with a little hood, his name appliquéd on the back and all trimmed with bias binding. I found some instruction for bias binding here and made it myself, pretty nifty eh?