The dress that didn't go that well

Scroll down for english, please!

Em Outubro fará dois anos que a minha sobrinha casou. Na altura, mostrei-vos tanto o fato à homenzinho que fiz para o S., como o vestido da G. e deixei no ar a promessa de vos mostrar o meu vestido também. A família toda a combinar uns com os outros. No entanto porém, os dias, meses, foram passando e nunca cheguei a partilhar aqui convosco o dito vestido que fiz para mim. É tão mais fácil fotografar as peças dos miúdos. As minhas ficam muitas vezes para trás. Há uns dias tirei-o do armário e lá o fotografei como deve de ser.

In October it will be two years from my niece's wedding. Back then I showed you the little man's suit I made for S., as well as the dress I made for G. and the promise of showing you my own dress as soon as possible. All the family was matching. Despite though, the days, motnhs went through and for one or many reasons I never got around to share mine. It is so much easier to photograph the kids clothes. My own clothes are left behind so often. A few days ago I took the dress out of the wardrobe and photographed it at last. 

Para começar, como disse no post em que mostrei o vestido da G. - e uma vez que o tecido usado foi o mesmo - repito-me. O cinzento foi sobras do tecido usado para as minhas calças de grávida (aqui) e o tecido floral, foi-me dado pela minha sogra. O forro branco, que usei tanto para a parte de cima, como a de baixo, veio de uma cortina branca acetinada que me foi dada pela minha irmã.

To start, as I said in the post I made for G.'s dress - since I used the same fabric for both - I repeat myself. The grey fabric was left from the maternity pants I made myself (here), and the floral fabric was given to me by my MIL. The white lining came from an old satin-like curtain my sister gave me, I used it either on the top and bottom of the dress. 

Este vestido não ficou perfeito, apesar de ter sido bastante gabado na cerimónia, para meu espanto. Já não recordo o molde usado, creio que foi um de alguma Burda, ou outra qualquer das minhas revistas. Na altura amamentava e por isso tive que o alterar, de forma a conseguir fazê-lo com comodismo. Optei então por abrir toda a frente, e colocar molas (metálicas e cosidas à mão no caso) para fechar. Na foto abaixo, mostro três delas abertas, mas tinha mais, abria mesmo até à cintura, quase. Foi a primeira vez que costurei várias linhas com o elástico na bobine para franzir o vestido e acho foi isso que não correu tão bem, já que a frente não ficou muito direitinha. Infelizmente já não tive tempo de fazer outro vestido para o casamento, assim que depois de muitas lágrimas tive que improvisar. Andei mesmo desiludida com este vestido e prestes a sair e ir comprar um já feito, ainda fui, mas não encontrei nada (compatível com a amamentação e tal) nos tons e o resto da família já estava tratada. Usei uma fita vermelha de cetim em laço, na cintura, disfarçou o que ficou torto e ainda deu um toque diferente ao vestido.

This dress is not perfect, althoug people really liked it at the ceremony to my surprise. I can't remember what pattern I used anymore, probably one from Burda or any other of my pattern magazines. Back then I was still breast feeding, so I needed to hack it in order to allow me a comfortable feeding. I chose to open the entire front, and add snaps to close (handsewn metallic ones in this case). In the photo below, you can see three of them, but I actauuly added about 5, almost all the way to the waistline. It was the first time I tried sewing rows of gathering with an elastic bobbin, and believe it was what caused it to not work so well, making the front look a bit askew. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to make another dress in time for the wedding so after many tears I had to improvise. I was really disillusioned with it, and even considered buying a RTW, I actually did search for one, but I couldn't find anything (breast feeding friendly and all) in the shades I wanted and the rest of the family were all set already. I used a red satin ribbon in the waist, it kinda covered the askew in it, and added a little touch too. 

Na altura eu não recebi logo as minhas fotos, a fotografa era uma amiga da noiva, foi o primeiro casamento que fez, e ficámos super desiludidos com as fotos quando as recebemos. Não tirámos fotos no exterior porque choveu nesse dia, e as de interior ficaram muito "caseiras", muitas delas nem centradas estavam. Não tenho nenhuma de corpo inteiro, em que se veja o vestido por completo. Ou tenho o S. ao colo, ou tenho um xaile por cima, a tapar-me toda porque estava fresco... Sobra-me uma foto, em que apareço eu e o V. com os noivos no fim da cerimónia porque fomos padrinhos, se assim não fosse, creio que nem uma decente teria... Nas fotos que tirei em casa, já não tenho a faixa vermelha, já a usei para outra coisa qualquer, nem sei dela, dá para ver perfeitamente o defeito de que falei. E quando as tirei nem reparei que ali no lado esquerdo parece fazer umas pregas estranhas. Não me orgulho deste vestido, mas tão pouco me envergonho dele, por isso partilho-o hoje. Nem sempre as coisas correm tão bem quanto esperado, mas o importante é avançar. Nunca se esqueçam disso, nem tudo tem de ser perfeito na vida.

We didn't get the wedding photos soon after, the photographer who did the job was a friend's of the bride and it was the first wedding she did. We were really disappointed at the photos when we got them. No outside photos were taken because it rained that day, and the ones inside, looked so "homemade", many of them aren't even centered. I don't have a single full body photo. I either am holding S., or am covered in a shawl because it got cold... I have one photo left, with my V. and the bride and groom because we were her godparents, otherwise, I don't think I'd have any at all... In the photos I took at home, the ribbon is not on anymore. I know I used it for something else already, don't even know where it is, so it is plain to see the imperfection of the dress. And only when I took these photos I noticed those weird folds on the left side. I am not proud of this dress, but I am not ashamed of it either, that's why I am sharing it today. Things don't always go as we wished them to, but we keep on, that's what matters. Never forget that not everything has to be perfect in life. 

Pinterest Challenge |Pin 3 & 4|

First of all! It's my daughter's 3rd birthday today!!! How exciting is that?!

Last Sunday I missed my weekly Pinterest Challenge post. And nope, I didn't have any other pin crossed from the 5 I picked. I've been postponing most things. I had a lot of plans for the past weekend but my little girl got ill, and I've been trying to keep her fever low until last Tuesday, when her meds finally started to sort some effects and she was feeling good again. It was after that, that I got to make another thing I had planned to do from the challenge. 

- Pin #3 - 

One of my pins were the Savoury Flapjacks . I didn't follow that recipe though, I made cereal and nuts bars instead which was closer to what I had in mind. I used this recipe, well sort of, because I didn't follow it too closely. One thing I've learnt while searching for recipes, was that making bars are the easiest on earth, and you are so free to add what you like best. I just think mine turned out a little too sweet, next time I surely won't use the honey, or less at least.

Because my recipe turned out quite different, I will share it with you. 

I have used:

120 gr sanded sugar (because I didn't have brown sugar)

200 gr mix of different nuts

200 gr oatmeal

200 gr mix of different seeds

150 gr butter

60 gr wheat flour

honey (I just threw what I thougth to be enough)

Mix everything together. Put it in a form, with a foil sheet, tamping and smoothing with a spoon. Put it in the woven at 200º for about half hour. Take it out, allow to cool for 40 minutes and take it to the fridge for about 4-5 hours. it is ready to cut into small bars. 

- pin #4 - 

Another pin I crossed this week, was adapting one of my own tops into a Nursing Top. This was an easy one. Only took me a few minutes. I could have done it before, really, I just felt a little lazy for this one because I am not nursing yet and this could wait anyway. Especially when there are so many other things to focus on. But, I chose it for the June Challenge and I kept my mind settled to finish all my pins in time, so here you are. 

I know, I know! There's one pin left and today's the last Sunday of the month, which means I didn't quite make it, right? Well.... yes, that's right. I missed one item from my list, which I will add to next months challenge. I will try not to push too hard on myself in July, so for now, that's the only pin I plan to get done. 

Nursing Nightgown

So, here's something I've never made before. A nursing nightgown. And there's always a special feeling attached to accomplishing a garment we've never tried before, isn't it? 

I already had two nursing friendly nightgowns to add to the maternity bag I have to carry to the hospital, but I thought a third would be pretty good. Besides, I know I'll spend my baby's first week, pretty much wearing nightgowns only. So, it was worth giving it a try and make myself a new one. 

And all I spent on it was 1,45€ (elastic and "clips" - don't really know the proper name for them). I was able to re-use what I already had once again. I used a baggy nightgown that I got in that huge pile of clothes I just blogged about a few days ago. The print was awesone, and it was made of a 100% cotton knit, so it was perfect for what I wanted. 

I didn't use a pattern. One of the other nightgowns I said I already had, was used to help me cut the new pieces. I sort of drafted the pattern for the chest part though, because I wanted it to work just right. I used 2,5cm wide elastic as bias and it worked just great. I had the elastic in my stash, but since I used pretty much the whole thing, I bought some more to replace it, if I hadn't it wouldn't cost 1,45€ but 0,50€ only. That's a good thing! 

The straps are a little darker than the elastic because they were reused from an old bra I wasn't using anymore. And, the two other changes I made, was adding a pleat in the front to allow for the belly... we all know it doesn't just dissapear after a baby is delivered, right?! 

And, I shortened it a bit, doing a new hem.I would keep the original one, I liked it, but there was a hole close to the hem, and I was forced to cut it a bit. It wasn't much though and it still is a modest gown I can wear in public (read: hospital). So, it is already packed in my bag and waiting for the day this little boy decides it's time to meet the world outside. 

WIP: maternity

I thought I wouldn't be sewing anymore for myself. Not until after I gave birth to mister S. but here I am currently finishing another garment for mommy. And this is a very handy one... any guesses? I just need to buy some little supplies to have it ready. I think I'll be able to finish this today! Yey! I'm excited!

Challenge Create: Adult Edition |week 4|

This is it, the fourth and last week of Challenge Create. It has been great but I have struggled this last week.

The theme was “Destash”, and well, that is exactly what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years, so this should have been an easy week. But I’ll be honest! It wasn’t! So many things went wrong. My pregnant body is getting bigger and bigger and all the sewing I’ve been doing lately, all the hours up late (not only because of Challenge Create but all of the other challenges I decided to step up to), it all has started to weight and I felt so tired (Braxton Hicks all the time too), so for a couple of days I didn’t do anything. I just couldn’t. Then on Wednesday I had visits for lunch, and some family came over for Easter and my sewing time was so limited. But I made it!

 I really thought I wouldn’t be able to have an outfit done for this week’s entry. I even considered giving up on the pieces I was making and start all over with something quite simple. But, even though I finished it so close to the deadline, even though I had just a little time to shoot the photos, |the weather went crazy and rained like crazy, we had to shoot inside again|, even though my thread was almost finished before I sewn every seam, even though I had to deal with a tantrum kid in one day and a sick one the next (same kid, yeah!) taking all my sewing time away, even though I went to bed at 1 a.m. I am glad I’ve gone with the first project.

Well, it wasn't really my first idea. I dreamed about making a matching outfit for the hubby and myself (and maybe the girl in our lives), but of course, at some point I realised that wouldn't be possible. So, before picking any patterns, I went looking at my fabric stash. Not long ago I've been organizing it, it made my life easier to have everything lined up. I picked this very light grey cotton. It's not in the stash for a long time, contrary to most of my stuff (because I've been trying to use what I have instead of buying any new ones). I bought it already in 2014, and I am sure if it wasn't for this challenge it would just sit there for a much longer time. 

I decided to make a pair of trousers with it. What?! Yeah! I just went a little crazy here. It was the only piece of clothing I said I wouldn't be making because I already had two maternity pants and didn't need a third pair. But this would allow me to use a lot of the fabric, and it fits a more classic look, and who knows when I'll need it? I know I don't have that much time to use it, but this is a very fresh fabric and I'll surely appreciate it when the weather finally warms up for good. I used a regular women's trousers pattern from Burda, it has two pleats on the front and two on the back and side pockets. It original had a high waist but of course I had to adjust that to maternity wear. I've cut it on the front and attached a knit band that goes all over my belly. To make this, I used an old shirt, and an elastic on the top of the band so it will fit until the end of the pregnancy. 

When I figured one of the pieces, I had to start to think of something else to go with it. Again, before going into the patterns, I first went looking into the fabric stash. I had this mustard piece of fabric that I had been saving (for years) to make something special. It was the best colour to go with the grey pants, so I picked it. Then I chose the pattern to the tunic, it was from a maternity clothes Brazilian magazine. I loved the pattern, but the picture of the tunic they had kept me septic about it until I finally started doing my own.

The tunic turned to be my favourite piece from this week, and one of the top ones from the four weeks. I just love the details. I tried to follow the pattern instructions, but they were so basic that I was quite confused when I got to the button placket. I just couldn't put it together and I had to work it out on my own. It has some decorative zebra printed ribbon on the chest. It closes in the front with three wood buttons, from my stash, just like the ribbon. Another feature of the tunic, is the pleats on the front. And I can wear it while nursing too! Extra points. 

So, even though it was finished on the last minute, the photoshoot was quick and conditioned by the weather, I am pleased with my last outfit for Challenge Create. And this makes a great outfit to leave the hospital in great style, don't you think? 

the back isn't stained! It was wet from my hair!

As in the 3 previous weeks, everyday from the week there will be a contestant showing their creations. On Friday, the votes begin, so don't forget to go there and click on your favourite. If it happens to be mine, thank you very much. Our scores from all the previous weeks will be combined and the one with the highest score will be the winner of the competition. Check them all over Skirt Fixation.

Challenge Create: Adult Edition |week 3|

What a week! What a theme!

When I first knew the themes, I was very excited with them all. Then I started to feel depressed about this third week. Vintage... a hint of it... so many possibilities, so many great things I could do... if I wasn't pregnant. No matter what time from the past I'd pick to get inspired by, there were always garments I was sure I couldn't turn into maternity wear. This would be the week I'd go back to the era of the corsets. Did I ever mention how much I love them? I am pretty sure I did. But, there's no way I can fit into a corset right now. I went for a 50's inspired look after all... Just a bit... 

I tried my best to fit the look with the make up and hair, ahahaha... I have a lot of hair, and it's pretty wild, I rarely can make anything out of it on my own, so I am pretty happy with how it turned out after all. I've always, always loved the pin up look, but never believed I'd look good on it, because I'm so skinny. Being pregnant though, I'm having just a few extra weight and that makes a huge difference. I felt so good with the entire look, and I guess is shows in the photos. I had to sit for this photo, it was a request from my daughter. 

My main (vintage) focus was the skirt. I didn’t want to make a very complicated one. I wanted something with some twirl, suitable during pregnancy and after. And I was sure I wanted to use the red plaid fabric I had in my stash for years. To get this look all I did, was to sew a fabric tube, hem it, shirr the top of it and attach to a rib knit band. Skirt done!

To complete my vintage look I needed something for the top. And at 26-27 weeks long, I started thinking not so much of only flowy clothes to wear during pregnancy, but also something, I could possibly wear after, suitable for nursing too. Yes, I believe nursing is important, and having clothes that allows an easier nursing period even better. Especially, when you’re not a huge fan of button up shirts, which is where I fit. I’ve had this idea in mind for quite a while and was sure I wanted to use it during the challenge. It’s not my own idea though, I’ve seen it a couple times online. SO, what was it? Making a top, with access to nursing, by adding two openings on each side.

I drafted the top pattern out of one of my store bought shirts. The original had some puckering on the front, a circle collar and was about my waist long. For my own, I wanted the collar to be slightly squared shaped so the openings would look better. I did the openings with this technique here, and used snaps to close it. And I made it much longer, as a tunic. I like it so much I've been wearing it for two days already. 

Although this was the most fearful challenge for me so far, we got the best photoshoot after all. All the photos had something we loved and it was hard to select which ones to use. I guess having my little miss literaly telling me which poses I should be making, made it a fun family event (daddy was taking the photos). 

Quite a simple outfit this time, that works just great for me and my figure at the moment. For this photoshoot I’ve used a belt, but I can also wear it without it, works well both ways. And I totally can wear the tunic in a less formal way, with a pair of leggings. You ca see the three ways I’ve been wearing them below.

After having enough photos of my own, we finally let her join in the fun (she played the photographer as daddy was taking these photos, but she was wanting to join me too), and we got all this sweet mom and daughter shoots. How great is that?! 

Now go and vote for your favourite look HERE!

Challenge Create: Adult Edition |week 1|

So, this is the first week of Challenge Create, and if you missed it before, I am one of the 4 (5) contestants participating. I feel happy to get the chance to dedicate some time to sewing to myself, especially now, in this wonderful moment of my life, with a new baby on the way. 

The first theme is Inspired by Nature, and I assumed this challenge in two ways, and they are divided into the two pieces I created. When I first thought about Nature... Spring... I thought about poppies. They really take me back to my childhood and I remember I loved seeing them popping in when Spring arrived. Unfortunately, I almost can't find them anymore. I searched for various fields and I only found a few on some road sides. Sad! But I still used it as my inspiration and chose my fabric for the shirt/tunic with them in mind. It is a dark blue chiffon, with some sort of polka dots that are not red nor orange. 

Of course, I am sewing maternity clothes during this challenge. And I started with a tunic that I can use now, and after I give birth. It will also be okay, when the time comes, to nursing. It's long and wide enough to grow a bit more with the belly, and to give it a better shape there's some hand sewn puckering on the front top, and across the back. To finish it off and fit it to my figure, I've sewn a belt. It keeps the front close enough for decency and if I take it out it will open just enough for nursing. 

My photographer (aka husband), forgot to take close ups with the macro when we did the photoshoot, I guess the cold weather took the best of both of us. So, I had to photograph these details after I got home. 

And now that I have told you about the tunic and first inspiration road, let me tell you about the second way I looked at "nature inspired" and the shorts. 

Nature = Mother Nature = Maternity... of course! Nature is right now working its way on me and I couldn't let it pass on unmentioned. And I used this inspiration in my shorts. I first thought about making maternity pants, but I already had a pair and what I really missed in my wardrobe, now that warmer days are around the corner, are shorts. I drafted the pattern out of my existing maternity jeans, but instead of using a large belly band, I switched it in my piece for a smaller band with a wide elastic. The construction of the shorts was pretty much the same as you sew jeans,I can't precise what fabric is this that I used because it was donated to me and it's been in my stash for a while. It's not denim or chambray, but feels quite similar to it. 

To personalize my shorts, I wanted to somehow add a maternity symbol so I searched google for one. I came across an image that I absolutely adored and tried to recreate to one of my pockets, with a free hand drawing using red and black fabric markers. It's a mother, holding her baby. In the other pocket, I have stitched _ _ _ MATERNITY=love _ You can barely see it, but I know it's there and love the details. The shorts are fully topstitched, and have front pockets that we failed to detail photograph too. And since I still have a bit over 3 months to get fat, I made them a little roomy for now. 

I just love how the belt looks and how it shapes the belly. It is very comfortable and (because I have tried it right after this session) it looks great under a cardigan or a sweater. I love that I can use the pieces separatedly if I wish to, and that both pieces are still wearable after pregnancy. That is absolutely a bonus. 

The weather got so cold right when we had some time for the photos. I was freezing as we took them, so as soon as I thought we had enough, I would go running to my cardigan and getting myself into the car... And he was still photographing... ahahaha... Hence the boots (I had planned using this lovely slightly high heels in dark blue), tights and t-shirt underneath the tunic.  I couldn't risk to get a cold or something. 

I hope you like my look. And if you haven't yet, go check my fellow contestants and don't forget to vote for your favourite, if it happens to be me, I'll be happy but if I am not, don't worry, it's fine! =D Check out the works from the sew along ladies and vote too. 

Gift for Lia #1

Yesterday we visited our friends |first| baby girl. She was born January 26th, but we weren't able to meet her before. First because we were all ill when she was born, then because we just had this or that (or her parents did). Well, yesterday, as I said, we made it. 

We took three presents for her with us. I will share them in three different posts. The first for today, is the breastfeeding pillow. I wanted to give it to my friends for Christmas, while J. was still pregnant, I know I used mine a lot for the first pregnancy and sure will start to use it again sometime soon this time. But, I was already pregnant too, going though a messy first trimester when I could barely sew... so, only now, that the little one is born, almost for a month now, was I able to give it to them. Luckily for me, she didn't have one yet. I love this fabric and it's perfect for her because her parents are |very| beach people... 

I usually make them 2 sizes when I sell them, and I picked the big one for her, because it was also the one I prefered when it came my turn to use them (of course, since I was doing them for sell back then, I got myself both sizes). I love the fact that it can be used for so many things and not only help us feed the baby. 

Project Sewn week 3 sew along

Project Sewn has started and it's already on its third week. I had plans to sew along with every theme, but again, I was wanting more than I could eventually handle. I am happy I made it this week though, and hopefully I'm still on time to try to sew along the last week too. 

This week's theme is If the Show Fits, which means we were suppoused to grab a pair of our favourite shoes (any kind of) and sew a garment based/inspired on it. I have so many shoes that I just love... But I haven't been wearing them for a while. I've been using a pair of brown boots to exaustion lately, they fit with most of my clothes and they're so easy to put on and comfortable too. 

sorry for the blurry photos, most of my photos came wrong and I couldn't re-do them all over again. 

I was also suppoused to test MamaNene's newest pattern The Plaid Sheer Top last month, but because I was feeling ill and with the baby sickness I totally failed her and missed the test. I promised I would still make it and here it is. I used a piece of a heavy wool fabric I had left from the Winter Love Flowers outfit I made my daughter back in 2012 - I'm so terrible sad that it doesn't fit her anymore, it has been one of my favourites ever since. 

Because it's winter here, I needed something cozy and warm to keep me satisfied (once I am the most sensible person to cold weather on earth!), and that's why I chose this fabric. I didn't like that it gives the top such a hard look/touch, and that it is so hard to iron. But at least, I did something for me, crossed another fabric out of my stash (only small scraps were left) and it has space for my growing belly. Also it was such a quick sew, I might have to try a spring version with a light fabric later. 

January Refashion Month with Heather from Feather's Flights

It is also a second time for Heather, from Feather's Flights guest posting for the Refashion Month Series. She's an inspiration when it comes to refashioning and I am always surprised at the clothes she designs and sews either for her or her son. Last year, I found it so interesting how she combined all her origins to create her son's Independence day outfit. This time, she's sharing a maternity sweater refashion, which I will try for myself for sure. I'm starting to need them now! 
---
Maternity Sweater Refashion
I'm so excited to be here again! I loved making something for the series last July and can't wait to see all the great refashions this time! I wanted a cute basic maternity sweater without having to pay for a new one. I found an extra large men's sweater at the thrift store to refashion, and it's 100% wool!  It turned out better than I thought it would, and it's a great basic green that can be matched with almost anything.

Supplies
Extra large sweater
Sewing supplies

1. Put the sweater on to see how much needs to be taken it. I did the same measurement from hem to armpit and then I tapered out to the sleeve hem.
2. Because my sleeves were WAY too long I planned to fold the cuff up. When I sewed in the sleeve, I stopped at the cuff. (See the first picture.)
3. Trim and finish edges.
4. Turn the sweater right side out and sew in the sleeve cuffs. Feel free to try on the sweater to see what needs to be taken in. Trim.
5. Fold the cuff up and tack down.

I was planning on added elastic to the sides to give it more of a maternity look, but once the sides were in I realized I loved the length of the sweater. If your sweater is too long, add elastic to the side seams to shorten it and give it the cute, gathered look.