Scrap Happy: Bluegingerdoll headscarves

Ree-Sewn: Blue polka dot headscarf

Ree-Sewn: Red floral headscarf

This was the fastest make ever. I made one headscarf up in this pretty blue polka dot remnant, and one in this floral print fabric left over from a duvet cover. That double duvet has also made:

The Rome dress (pre-blog)

Holiday beach bag

The Flowers for Jane dress

An apron for my Aunty Sandra's birthday three or four years ago

And there's still more left. I love this print.

The pattern is bluegingerdoll's free headscarf pattern. It's great and as I said, SO QUICK. I actually made these scarves aaaaages ago but just hadn't got around to photographing them on my head yet - oops! I'm enjoying them in this hot weather!

The blue one I made first, and it is a little bit short, so I can only tie one knot in it. Luckily it feels pretty secure. Unless I whip my head around a lot, which I will endeavour not to do, it stays put quite happily.

I don't know why I didn't think to measure my head first. I do have quite a large head. Memories come flooding back of a dance show when I was a kid. The tears because there were no hats that would fit my head. Miss Wilkinson saying quite matter-of-factly, "It must fit you. This is the same size the eighteen year olds are wearing." Painful. I can't remember what we did about the hat actually. Perhaps we jammed it on, perhaps it perched on top. Perhaps we cut it at the back. I don't know. The point is, I've always had a larger than average head and I still don't think to measure it before making a headscarf. Ha! 

Anyway I added a bit of length to my second attempt, and it's great and all, but I still can't double knot this lovely floral number. It's the curse of the big head (and the larger curse of not learning from my mistake and actually measuring). 

If you want a lightning fast project, get yourself this pattern and away you go. If you too are blessed with a big head, do measure first!

These little loves are a great way of hiding slightly greasy hair, or making a jeans and t shirt outfit look "done". 

I love this as a scrap using project, too. I'm trying to think of more ways to use up my scraps. What do you do with yours? 

Over and out!

The Late Dress

Hello! Long time no post, eh? I finally finished this, my latest version of the Emery dress, last night.

The Late dress (Christine Haynes Emery)

It sat for weeks waiting to be hemmed and for the sleeves to be hemmed. And before that it sat for weeks waiting for the sleeves to be set in. It's silly, but the reason I kept putting off finishing it because I was petulant. I was practically sulking about the dress like a kid. Told you it was silly.

You see, in my quest for perfect fit, I did yet more alterations following the Queue dress. Mainly in that I reversed my huge scoop out of the armscyes, and took some excess out of the centre front, plus took the centre back in slightly. Turns out I over adjusted and it's a bit tight across the bust. I was so grumpy when I discovered this. I had measured and measured again, done ANOTHER muslin... and somehow it still didn't fit how it should. I went with it though, because sometimes I'm a lazy seamstress and can't be bothered to start again.

The consolation is that this is super cheap polycotton, not an expensive or precious fabric.

The collar

What with the fabric and colour choice, plus my decision to make the collared version, and the skirt with little box pleats, I started to get the feeling that I looked like I worked in a 1950s Laundromat. Or was wearing a school uniform or something. It felt a little utilitarian. Nothing wrong with that, it just didn't look as glam or effortlessly cool as I had imagined it would. Ah well.

Me pleats

But then something strange happened. I finished it, put it on, and liked it! Really, really liked it! I wore it today to do lovely Sunday today things like go to the library, cook a nice lunch, play with the cat, do a bit of sewing and go to the pub in the evening. Oh, and we booked our wedding reception! Eep!

All day I loved wearing my dress. To start with I was a bit paranoid about the school-uniformy-ness and kept surprising myself by catching my reflection and thinking "ah, nice dress!.

I'm glad I fell in love with it in the end, and even gladder that I finished it rather than binned it before it was done (I have a "no UFO" rule, and I'm determined never to go back to having a massive box full of unfinished stuff!).

I'm already out of my sewing slump though, and I'm onto the next project. Watch this space!

Final Me-Made May Post & Round-up

Thursday 29th May

Dress: me-made, the Queue dress
Leggings: H&M
Belt: vintage
Cardigan: TK Maxx

The last me-made outfit of May. I enjoyed wearing this and got lots of compliments on the fit. Hooray!

I'm so glad I took part in Me-Made May. Despite having a very small handmade wardrobe (for the moment), it really gave me an insight into which of my me-made clothes work best, and what I need more of. Here are my reflections.

Best in Show

The most worn, and in fact my favourite me-made garment to date was (fanfare):

The Rock Around the Clock dress! I wore it three times, and loved wearing it. 

Worst in Show

The now-binned Ancient Mariner dress was brutally culled from my wardrobe, and I'd like to thank Me-Made May for making me so ruthless. Since I made it I have worn it simply because I made it, and although I like elements of it, I always feel horrible in it. So it has gone! 

Selfie Reflections

I think I'm in the minority here but I really didn't mind taking a picture of my outfit on my four me-made days a week. It made me style outfits more consciously, because somehow looking at a picture of your reflection is different to just looking at your reflection. I don't know why, it's odd, but for me it definitely helped.

What to Make Now?

I made sure that on my non me-made days I took note of what I wore. The RTW items that I would really like to replace in my wardrobe are:

- jersey skater dress 

- jersey cardigans of lots of varieties

- leggings

- stretch cotton summery cut-off pants in a fun print

One of my favourite outfits in terms of styling was this one right at the beginning of May:

I love this blouse, and really have been meaning to make more. This one is not much longer for this world! I can only wear it tucked in to high waisted skirts because there is a big hole in one of the seams! It was pre-overlocker and my seam allowance finishing wasn't up to the amount of love, wearing and washing this top has had. I need to make more of these.

This outfit leads me on to one of my other goals: make more separates. They're very practical and somehow more casual than dresses. I love being able to mix and match so I hope to be whipping up some separates in the near future!

And finally...

It seems I really like polka dots. More polka dot stuff coming soon!

Me-Made May Week 4

Hello! Wow, May is flying by, isn't it? I can't believe I haven't blogged any makes yet this month. I will soon! May has been a crazy month, with my dad ill and me ill. I'm much MUCH better now, and dad is getting there, so things are looking up. Plus I've been pretty busy with a variety of work stuff, so I don't seem to have much time, energy or motivation to sew!

I have, however, been planning and researching a very exciting project - my wedding dress!! Our wedding is just over a year away, and is going to be a small, intimate, home-made and completely wonderful affair. I'm excited to make my dress, but also slightly nervous. I've just discovered that I have VERY expensive taste in lace. Sigh.

Back to this week's round-up!

Sunday 25th May

Dress: me-made, the Stevie dress

Shoes: my fluffy slippers!

Today was an R&R day. And it was blooming marvellous. Me and the cat hung out, I did a bit of casual crafting, sang a bit, read my book and lazed around. 'Twas glorious.

Monday 26th May

Skirt: me-made, the Grey Matter skirt

Top: Orla Kiely for Uniqlo

Belt: vintage

Tights: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: black Topshop suede flats

Ah, Bank Holiday Monday. I loved this day, and I loved this outfit. The top is a bird print:

It was pretty chilly today, hence the wool skirt. I thought I'd put this away for the summer, but was glad to be able to wear it. I have concluded I need to make more separates, so I can mix and match a bit more.

Tuesday 27th May

Head-scarf: me-made from Bluegingerdoll pattern (yet to be blogged)
Cardigan: pale blue with white pattern, Dorothy Perkins
Jeans: red skinny jeans, Oliver Bonas

Oops. Today is kind of a fail on two counts. This is the extent of outfit shot I got today. Also, I wasn't going to count a headscarf as my one me-made item of the day. But I have to because I've run out of days this week in which to wear my self-stipulated four items a week. Oh dear Ree.

I am going to blog these Bluegingerdoll headscarves soon - I have made a couple out of scraps. You may recognise this as the fabric from my Flowers for Jane dress.

Wednesday 28th May

Dress: me-made, the Rock Around the Clock dress
Cardigan: black 3/4 length sleeves, Zara
Leggings: Topshop

Big hair day for no apparent reason! My hair is so fine, I feel it needs a little round of applause when it manages to have some volume. Well done, hair. And here's my favourite dress again! Once again it felt great to wear it. We did get some surprise rain, and my feet got soaked. Luckily I was rehearsing a show so when I got to work was changing my shoes anyway! I was so glad to get my soggy pumps off. Wet feet all day is one thing that is sure to put me in a major grump.


Another week gone! Only a few more days of May left. I really, truly wanted to finish and wear my newest dress in time for the end of May, but it ain't gonna happen now. One of the reasons I am putting off finishing the dress is that it for some reason is too small in the bust, despite having previously made a toile. I really want to get it actually finished so I can show you though.

Over and out!

Me-Made May Week 3

This week I have had lots of "repeats". I don't want that to sound negative, because it's not. I think it's a good thing. Wardrobe repeats seeming to be a bad thing are a mild version of the irritation I feel when magazines talk of celebrities "recycling outfits". Wearing a dress more than once is not recycling, it's wearing your clothes normally!

Where was I? Ah, week three.

Friday 16th May

Dress: me-made, the Flowers for Jane dress
Shoes: blue denim peep toe flats, a market stall!
Belt: vintage ('twas my Nanna's)

Today was HOT. Such a glorious day. I went for a walk in the sunshine, ran errands, worked from home and then taught in the evening. All the while smiling at the sun.

Sunday 18th May

Dress: me-made, The Lady Luck dress

Belt: vintage (again, 'twas Nanna's. She had good taste in belts, my Nanna)

Shoes: blue denim peep toe flats, a market stall

Shades: Topshop

Another beautiful day. I was at an audition workshop today so needed something appropriate and not too hot. Later on Liam & I went to look at a potential wedding reception venue. Exciting times! In other news I really like the vintage pink belt I put with my Lady Luck dress. Pity I snapped that belt later that evening. Belt-grief is setting in. 

Monday 19th May

Dress: me-made, the Rock Around the Clock dress

Shoes: black suede flats, Topshop

My dad has been really poorly, so I went up to Leeds to visit for a few days. I just threw a few things in a bag, so I ended up wearing the Rock Around the Clock dress again today. Every time I wear it I'm reminded how much I love it. 

Tuesday 20th May

Dress: me-made, the Flowers for Jane dress

Shoes: black suede flats, Topshop

Tights: good old opaques, Boots

Different back drop! Enjoying this dress again today. 

I felt good in my me-mades this week! I did think I would have finished at least 2 new garments in May by now, but everything has been so nuts with all my jobs being busy (happily so), dad being poorly and wedding planning, I have only done a little bit of sewing. I have got something very nearly finished that I can show you soon!

Over and out!

Me-Made May Week 2

Wow, two weeks gone already!

Again I managed to wear my pledged four me-mades in the week, although I don't think the outfits were as successful or stylish as last week's. One of this week's lessons has been: dress for the flipping weather, Marie! 

Friday 9th

Blouse: me-made (unblogged) from vintage skirt
Trousers: Joy
Cardigan: Topshop

This blouse is oooooold. By which I mean I made it ages ago, but actually the fabric is also old, as I made this from a skirt of my Nanna's. It was a midi length button fronted skirt - nice in theory but looked frumpy as heck on me. I liked the fabric though, so made it into a blouse. I quite like the interesting collar I put on it, although I do like to call myself the polka dot vicar when I'm wearing it.

There are major sewing errors in this blouse! I have no idea why I didn't fix the awful stitching on the photo bottom right, but I didn't. For some reason I still sort of love the blouse, despite it's faults.

These trousers, however, I do not love. I seriously need to get into sewing trousers. These ones are just ill fitting and worse for wear. I do love the colour though.

Today I had one of those crazy days where I went from job to job all day and into the night, constantly changing "hats". I wish I had actual hats to change, that would make it much more fun!

Sunday 11th

Dress: me-made, the Queue dress

Tights: Dorothy Perkins

Jumper: Joy

I'm STILL trying to shake a stupid cold and cough. I really, really wanted to wear my Queue dress though, so I put it on with tights and a not-too-well coordinated jumper. Note to self: I need more cropped jumpers and cardigans to go with waisted dresses. I actually prefer this dress with opaque tights (it's so short!). I felt a little shoddily styled today, but actually didn't care. The fine people in Tesco didn't seem to mind either, although the walk there was WINDY. Short, full skirts and sudden gusts of wind = hilarity for all. 

Monday 12th

Dress: me-made, The Ancient Mariner dress
Leggings: H&M

Well, I'm sad to say today's outfit, The Ancient Mariner dress, was not a success. I felt uncomfortable and self conscious all day. The truth is I just don't like this dress. I like the idea of it, and it should work, but for me it just doesn't. To be fair this is mostly a fit issue. It's waaaay too big, but I've already shrunk it down in the wash, and because of the shrinking the waistline is way too high up above my actual waist. And it's still baggy. 

I included all the pics I snapped this morning purely because you can see how grumpy it makes me! Crack a smile, Ree! 

This dress has since gone in the bin. No use wasting previous wardrobe space with a dud!

Tuesday 13th

Dress: me-made, the Stevie dress
Shirt: TK Maxx
Leggings: Uniqlo

A day of teaching, writing a kid's show, doing admin and flyering. Busy. (Fun fact, every time I type flyering my phone changes it to either flying or flirting. Sadly I did neither). 

I love this dress. This is one that really does fit well and makes me feel great when I wear it. This has already been worn lots and lots since I made it.


Well, that's it! You can tell it was a busy week, I look pretty tired in all these pictures. I have a feeling the real challenge is going to start now. I am running out of me-mades, so there'll be some repeats soon. I am hoping to finish my latest dress today, so it'll be nice if I can add that to my handmade wardrobe.

I hope you're all still enjoying Me-Made May!

Me-Made May Week 1

Yes, I've decided to do my weekly updates on a Wednesday. We have, after all, now had one week of May. I pledged to wear me-mades 4 days a week in May, so here is my first week's effort.

Thursday 1st May 

Top: me-made (pre-blog)

Skirt: refashioned vintage 

Leggings: Topshop

Shoes: Topshop black suede flats

Sleepy face: tube strike 

I love this little outfit. Today I was teaching very very small children and babies, running a music class for mums and their little ones. It is so much fun. The early morning, however, was not very fun. Especially after 3 days of tube strike travel. Thankfully the strike is not on this morning or I would have had to leave even earlier! 

Back to the outfit. When I'm teaching the babies there is a lot of sitting cross legged, and crawling around on the floor. So I pretty much always wear a skirt or dress with leggings on a Thursday. This skirt was my Nanna's and was long. I just chopped a load off the hem and re-hemmed it. The top I made over a year ago from the pattern in the GBSB book and I've worn it a lot. This was pre-overlocker, and the pinked seams are sadly starting to fall apart. There's also a little hole preventing me from wearing this untucked. My sewing and fitting skills have got much better since I made this, so I want to sew another of these to replace this top when I get chance. 

In the evening I went to see the place Liam and I are getting married in! Very exciting. 

Saturday 3rd May

Dress: me-made, the Rock Around the Clock dress

Shoes: Topshop black suede flats 

Cropped jersey cardigan: New Look
Sunglasses: Topshop

I have worn this outfit a lot. I really need some more daytime flats in fun accent colours. I'd have liked to have worn some fun flats with this dress today. It was a beautiful day!! 

I had a morning of more teaching singing, a lovely lunch with my best friend, and a gig with my band - the Pink Champagne Sisters - in the evening. The gig was a Blitz party and was loads of fun. The guests at the event had all made loads of effort and dressed up in forties attire. There were some great outfits and hats!

Sunday 4th May

Dress: me-made, the Flamin' Go! dress

Shoes: Melissa heart shoes

What an awesome day. Today was the wedding ceremony and party of two of our dearest friends. They asked me to conduct the ceremony in the groom's parents' lovely garden (having already done the legal bit earlier in the week) and it was amazing. I wore the Flamin' Go! dress, and my new Melissa heels. I found these by chance in TK Maxx for £30. BARGAIN. I was, however, the only person there who hadn't heeded the "you might want to wear flats, there are a lot of mole holes" memo. But I was fine and didn't really have any trouble with the mole holes!! The dress got a lot of love. It was so amazing and emotional to do the ceremony for our dear friends. I'm so, so happy for them. 

Monday 5th May

Dress: me made, the Lady Luck dress

Cardigan: TK Maxx 

Shoes: those Topshop black suede flats again

The more I wear this dress, the more versions of the Anna pattern I want to make. It's just such a great shape for me, I must make more. 

It's getting to be nice enough weather to go bare legged, and I'm excited about this fact! That's partly why I love dresses so much. You put your dress on, slip some shoes on, and you're done. Instant outfit. 

We had stayed in a local B & B after the wedding last night. We were almost going to camp, but in the end were so glad we had a bed to climb into. It was pretty cold for camping by the evening! I felt a little bit delicate after the previous day's indulgences, but a bit of breakfast and copious amounts of tea sorted me out. 

We then headed back on the drive home for a Bank Holiday style (lazy) Monday. A glorious day. 

Well, week one was pretty easy and very successful I would say! Bring on week 2!