A to Z 2011 - D is for Dressmaking

For the D photos I have chosen 'dressmaking' as my theme. Inspired by Angela's post about flea market finds, I thought I would share these photos of bits I have treasured of a similar theme. I have quite a collection of old dressmaking patterns and other needlework treasures mostly passed down from my mother, but others purchased from charity shops etc.

A selection of old needlework tools ....

... threads and needles etc. 

Pearl and other old buttons in a jar. 

Old lace pieces. 

New and old knitting needles. 

Clear buttons. 

New and old ribbons, briade and lace. 

Knitted cupcake pin cushion.

A selection of some of the older dressmaking patterns 

Paperwork from an old sewing machine. 

Then there are all the lovely scrapbook papers I have treasured for scrapping about these and similar goodies as well as hand made items.

K and Co.

Basic Grey

Cosmo Cricket

Prima

Here is a layout I made several years ago showing a dress my mother made herself. I scanned the drawing from the front of the pattern packet. The dress was red and white gingham.

Thanks for looking.

Lynn x

2011 Log: Alphabet, Buckingham Palace, Cupcakes, Dressmaking

Dress Up 2011 - January

I came across this challenge on UKScrappers and followed the link to Angela's Blog - Sew Loquacious, to learn more. The challenge is to make a mini dress each month. Each dress will be "themed" around an artist or artistic movement. The dresses can be made from any material(s) and can be any size you prefer. There are NO rules, but for those interested in a "template" for a dress, there are a few examples on Angela's blog.

The theme For January's Dress is ...Impressionism


Angela explains: "Impressionism, French Impressionnisme, developed mostly in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Impressionist painting comprises the work produced between about 1867 and 1886 by a group of artists who shared a set of related approaches and techniques. The impressionist style of painting is characterized mostly on the general impression produced by a scene or object and the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light.
The principal Impressionist painters were Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Morisot, Guillamin, and Bazille. Degas and Cezanne also painted in an Impressionist style for a time in the early 1870s. Edouard Manet adopted the Impressionist approach about 1873."

I picked Monet (these images are from Google) for my inspiration).

 I made a dressmakers dummy template and made up a dummy with flesh card fro the body, this was cut out and inked, then stitching detail added with a brown pen. I used aluminum tape to cut out a stand. Then with several shades of green and purple alcohol inks (thanks to Anita for lending me hers), I added a pattern to another piece of aluminum tape. From this I cut a bodice shape for my dress. I pulled apart a floral hair decoration purchased from Primark and used the petals to make a skirt. Where the skirt joins the bodice I added a string of purple seed beads.  

Thanks for this challenge Angela. I intend to use these little creations on cards or layouts - so watch this space!