Velvet Bows

I received my chambray fabric in the post yesterday morning, after unintentionally starting a debate with the grumps at FabricLand who denied ever having stocking any... The internet rarely talks back though, happily, so all was well and I ordered some from eBay.

I've been wanting to try this out ever since my post on enviable chambray designs here. I haven't finished it yet, but in the fear that I'll make it worse trying to finish it off, and that this is the zenith of its attractiveness (combined with the fact that I'm terribly impatient), I'm posting it now.

I haven't quite decided what to do with it yet either. I've been tempted to put some more velvet ribbon around the neckline at the front and back, and also to put some around the edge of the armholes, which are a bit on the untidy side at present. It's a bit of a departure from Elizabeth Lau, but this version is a bit more my kind of thing (i.e. it's a bit more Mad Men). I think I'd quite like to make a version in black with a light blue velvet ribbon, and maybe one in white seersucker...

Anyway, untidy though it may be, I'm quite proud of it (especially the zip!) as a first try. Hopefully I won't ruin it, and it will be wearable. If it is, you'll see a picture of me in it – if you don't, don't ask!

Materials

I thought, seeing as I mentioned it in my last post, that I would show off some of the cheap-cheap-cheap vintage material I picked up in the closing down material shop. As a whole the patterns have proved controversial! None of it was any more than £1.50 a metre though, and the older it was, the more the shop assistant discounted it.

The material above is a kind of olive green colour, which I'm not sure you can see from the picture. I bought about a million metres of it, so I'm going to have to think of some good things to make with it. As my good friend John pointed out, it is a little bit 1980s Air Asia, but I think it has a bit of a 1940s feel to it, so think I might try and think about a low backed dress, which I think will suit it quite well. Otherwise, some tops with interesting necklines perhaps. I'm always terrified to start though, in case I ruin the material with some mistake or other.

The stripey material was originally a bit of a whim with a chance of pyjamas, but actually I think it might make a nice high waisted skirt for the summer. I'm not so concerned about wasting it, as it isn't in the best condition, so I think that is most likely to happen!

In other news today, Bristol has become a wild media circus in preparation for the Sky News Leaders Debate tonight. I have never seen so many helicopters. It's what I imagine living in Washington or some such place is like. It's quite exciting really. I went down to the Arnolfini after an impromptu burger and fries picnic with Ben to see what was going on, but all I saw were some well-armed policemen and a police boat.

My first dress block and the first day of spring

Naughtily, instead of doing work I'm actually supposed to be doing, I made my first dress block. I had already drawn the pattern from my bodice and skirt blocks earlier on in the week, but hadn't made it up yet. It's not the best picture, and the darts need ironing out, but I'm rather pleased with it. Looking forward to adapting the dress block pattern to some other styles - princess line next I think.

In other news, today spring has arrived in Bristol! Also instead of doing the work I'm supposed to be doing, I went for a walk in the sunshine – and it was actually warm. I guess that means that its time to unzip the big plastic thing I've been keeping my summer clothes in all winter in the hope that I'll feel like I've been shopping when I open it... Or perhaps it's time to make an actual dress rather than just playing with blocks!