Early Access // This Week's Video
I'm currently working on the Cicada gown day bodice and have spent several hours today just sewing on hooks (haven't even gotten started with the eyes/bars yet...) and knowing that the Victorian project was going to dominate my time at the end of this month, I had planned on not doing a video for this week so that I could focus my time on the costuming alone...
But it turns out I'm just not great at planning a lapse into my video schedule. It just feels quite scary to do so, not putting anything out for a whole week like that! So here is a video where no groundbreaking pattern drafting happens, but where you can watch me use my patterns the way I would naturally to make a quick dress out of some fabric I picked up on sale. I am quite pleased with how this dress came out, despite it being a tiny bit big on me in the end. I hope you enjoy this project despite it being so simple!
I really need to pause this costuming situation to record our monthly podcast as well, and my hands could use the pause in all this hand sewing too! Please let me know below if you have any questions for me, or topic suggestions you would like to hear me chat about on the podcast, as I'm afraid in this somber winter of 2021 I don't have a ton of updates to share. Keeping busy with sewing is keeping me going a bit here yet again, much like last year, though I did say I wanted to try and sew less this year than the last. Sometimes busy hands are just what is needed.
I hope you are staying safe out there, lockdown is really getting to me this week, but there are sure to be brighter days and new adventures in the future ahead if we all just hold on ❤
Comments (37)
Definitely LOVE a vintage sewing machine. I have a '47 featherweight 221 and recently scooped up a 1950s Pfaff from an online estate sale and I'm head over heels with it. Was tricky to find the right bobbins for it but a machine with solid metal parts? They're practically indestructible.
P.S. I'm not usually into anime but if you can find Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san I really loved it! The episodes are really short and there aren't many of them but its a real delight!
Hi, So, I am hopeful that you filmed the tune-up and service on your senior citizen. I would love to see that. As you might possible remember I have a senior too but am new to sewing. I was told that I wouldn't need to oil it more often than once a year and the same with service, so I'm preparing to get mine to the shop for just that. I'm eager to learn new things about every aspect of sewing machine ownership so a video about that would be gratefully received. Yours, Ann
If you're looking for anime recommendations, it's hard to beat Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) and Ghost in the Shell (1995)if you haven't seen them yet. They are classics for a reason and the aesthetics are astounding. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2005) is also very good.
I do indeed like Ghost in the Shell and Stand Alone Complex! Unfortunately I cannot watch mecha anime though, just not my jam 😅 Blade Runner style androids, sure, big transformer dudes...I just can't do it. My brother is my anime test subject, he watches everything and anything, and then tells me if I will hate it because he knows my very picky taste 😂
Gorgeous as always!
Thank you Josie!
Love this! I've never enjoyed leopard print because I'm an 80s child, but I will admit you have me rethinking my views on it after seeing how lovely this looks. Denim as a fabric has always scared me, but seeing you work with it has made me a little curious. What weight should I look for? Also, you know I'm gonna recommend watching Voltron (because my icon gives that away) but if you do, stick to the first couple of seasons. The rest is terrible 😭 also, I love Natsume's Book of Friends; the music is lovely and I call it my chicken soup anime. I guess it's similar to Mushishi which I think you mentioned? Anyway, enjoy! And I might have to try Cowboy Bebop, I've not watched it 🙂
Thank you! I don't actually know much about working with denim, but denim is just a twill weave in the end, and I work with twill all the time. Mood lists this particular fabric as weighing 325 GSM, but honestly I don't really know what that means either. They said " Featuring a 25% stretch through the weft and a comfortable give through the warp, this denim provides a structural drape and crisp hand, perfect for creating your next favorite pair of skinny jeans, comfortable lightweight jackets, or skirts and dresses." so I figured it would be an okay weight for a dress, and it's on the thicker side for sure, but worked out okay. Buying fabric online is always a bit risky because you can't feel the drape or anything!
I always have what I think of as "dumb questions". Like, I honestly don't know how you manage to look so well pressed. Do you have any tips for pressing or steaming or maybe it's because the construction and fabric of your garments that make them smooth and flat? Any ironing advice would be welcome.
For a podcast question: have you ever made "menswear"? I know you've said you love the dad-style Hawaiian shirt, but I can't recall you saying you've made one yourself. (Unless you have and I'm forgetting, in which case oops.)
Thanks Katrina! I actually find sewing anything with collars and button closures fiddly and annyoing...so I always buy shirts as opposed to making them for that reason 😅
Delightful video as always! I've never understood the "animal print is a neutral" sentiment but with this print and dress I can completely understand it. It would look fabulous with bright patent red accessories in my opinion. As for anime recs, my favorite is Nana. I also enjoyed Rurouni Kenshin (though I haven't finished it) and I've started Fushigi Yugi (my best friend's favorite, it's on youtube). I can hear when your heater is on but it's not a distracting hum, I honestly probably wouldn't even notice it if you didn't mention it.
Thanks Flynn! I actually love Rurouni Kenshin, especially the ova Trust and Betrayal, but I feel icky mentioning that anymore since it was releveled the original author/manga artist is into pedophilia, he was arrested, pled guilty, and merely slapped on the wrist and still works in manga. It's pretty awful. So it was my favorite, until I read that news.
Just some random content I would enjoy...Would love to hear you talk about/see you do: 1) Self-challenge, like you pick one sewing or crafting thing you want to challenge yourself on and take us along for the ride. Even if it's not a full project, just working on something on a little scrap or test patch. 2) Would enjoy hearing you discuss and maybe demonstrate, even on a little scrap, the positives and negatives of working with different kinds of fabric. And maybe rank them? 3) All About (Fill In The Blank). Just basically your take all about a really specific sewing topic. Like, all about zippers (vintage versus modern) or all about sleeves (vintage versus modern, different styles you like/don't like, rank them, etc.) It sounds kind of bland, but I like to hear in-depth info. on specific random sewing/crafting topics. 4) I would enjoy a video on you cleaning & oiling your machine/s, maybe while you chat. I always like to watch the cleaning/oiling machine videos (am I weird? LOL!!) 5) I would enjoy seeing you use your Bernina and demonstrating and working through some of the issues you've mentioned with it. Again, I enjoy watching the nitty-gritty of sewing machines.
Love all of your content! Enjoyed seeing you make this unplanned project!!
Thank you Mel!
Countries or locations you'd like to visit - regardless of money or covid obviously. If you have any more movie and/or tv show recommendations, as i am always on the look out for things ive never heard of or watched! Hobbies or jobs you think you would like to do but never had the chance.
Thanks Niccy! I will perhaps save these and answer them next time. But...the UK. The minute I can travel back to London safely, I want to go. I haven't been since 2012 and London is where I am happiest ❤ Also Japan, but that one is going to be very expensive so it will be a while I fear.
Hi Bianca, I've been getting more into vintage suits recently. I wonder if you would consider a suit "collections management" video and styling guide for getting the most of out the investment year round? Thanks and be well!
Thanks Jo! I have had this sort of video on my schedule before but somehow have never got it done! I want to do it eventually though, it just sucks that styling videos don't do well on the channel. I want to make more of them, but it's hard with 4 videos a month on youtube to take a hit on one because it literally effects my income over there, blehh it's annoying to even have that effect my choices, but it sucks to have a video bomb. Even youtube's behind the scenes analytic info will tell you "this video is not performing well" or "people are clicking on this video less than usual" and it's like...yes I can see that Youtube!! Grr. I want todo it, I'll try to get to it soon!
The dress looks very nice and your content is enjoyable. Thank you! With the dress and your hairstyle here, you reminded me of Veronica Lodge from the vintage Archie comics. :) I would be interested to hear you talk about what music you’d have liked to use in your videos, were there no such thing as copyright claims.
Thank you Penny! I would use so much music if I could. It's hard to even imagine being able to use music freely, like for my lookbooks it would be a dream level game changer! Being able to use music from film scores would be amazing, as well as just being able to use old big band stuff and jazz would be so nice. But alas, no such luck!! I have tried buying old more obscure records of some random small band playing cole porter and stuff to record and then try and use, but even then some stupid bot flags it...drives me a bit mad!
For just a quick sew this turned out fab and suits you so much! I should imagine it is very comfy and practical too, with it being stretch denim. I have a fifties singer 201k and it is the best thing, apart from not being able to serge/overlock. I need to save for an overlocker :/ Yes like Didac says above maybe talk about dream sewing projects and what you need to learn etc to be able to do them in future. Thanks for the fab content as usual :D
Thank you Beverley! I was very lucky in that my mom had a serger she didn't ever use, so I put it to use instead!
Which 3 schools did you attend?
I feel like I have talked about this before but perhaps not? I can't exactly remember! I attended Woodbury University (in Los Angeles) my freshman year of university, transferred to Colorado State University my 2nd year, then studied abroad during my 3rd year at both American Intercontinental University in London, and at the Chambre Syndicale De La Couture Parisienne in Paris that summer. So I studied fashion in three countries and at 4 different schools, at least for some amount of time! The classes in Paris were even in French...which I don't exactly speak, so it was a lot of observation and do as the instructor seemed to do, they were draping and patterning classes so it was no problem really.
For sewing in ends of thread I’ve bought easy-thread needles. You slit the thread through a tight gap at the top. It’s great if you haven’t left much thread- stick the needle through the fabric, slot the thread in then pull to the back. So much less frustrating
You do great content. Totally worth the monthly fee
I'd love a video about writing! But if you'd rather keep it clothing/sewing/costuming related, maybe you could talk about your dream projects that you're waiting to find a very specific fabric for, or need to learn some scary skills or techniques before you tackle them. Can't wait for the next installment in the Cicada series!
Thank you Dee! I'm not sure what I would have to say about writing, except I wish I had/made more time to do it 😩
I just bought my husband the same album!! Also, when you are serging the edges, do you disengage the knife? It didn't look like anything was being cut off. The dress came out beautifully and it looks great on you! A larger black rose cloth/velvet flower might look pretty on the dress as well. Not sure you are into that though. I wish you had a clapper...I grimace each time you use your hands. When Covid is over, you are going to have to go out every day so you can make the most of all the beautiful creations you've made! Thanks for taking us along.
Thank you Peggy! My serger actually doesn't have a knife on it, it broke back when the machine belonged to my mom and has never been replaced. I wouldn't want to trim anything off my pieces though, as it would effect the fit of my garments, so I don't mind at all. I do finally have a clapper now, a lovely viewer sent me one, but it is really quite nice and large, so I need to get a smaller palm sized one... to use instead of my palm 😅
Fun dress! I liked the way you just "whipped it up". My Singer Featherweight is from the 1950s, also. Does your light get hot? I have burned myself more than once. I got an LED replacement, but I cannot get the old one out...even with the "push and turn" maneuver.
Thank you Rob! My light gets very hot indeed! I want to change mine to an LED too but I keep forgetting to order a bulb 😅
Hi Bianca I have been totally inspired by your butterfly shadow boxes and would like to hear you talk about them and how you went about it all...I know that it is not sewing related but it is art related and I am intrigued by your art...cheers
Thanks for the question Raelene! ❤