Her favourite dress...

A lady came to me recently asking if I could make a twin sister of her favourite dress. The original was a monochrome polka dot number made entirely of stretch knit. Being as in love with my Brother overlocker as I am, I felt pretty ready for the task :-)

After spending a while studying her dress, tracing it and calculating, I had a pattern drafted and ready to go. My customer chose her own fabric of a sheer black lining (powernet) and a pretty purple floral pattern for the outer layer.

The fabric took some very careful pinning and cutting but stitched together beautifully with a 3-thread overlock. I was a bit worried about ruffling something that sheer and stretchy but it really didn't cause much extra pain at all. I did the hem on my overlocker too, with a roll-hem stitch which left a very neat and pleasing finish.

The wrap over style and all the gathering on the bodice section are both really flattering, I can see why it's her favourite!

Steampunking it up in Whitby

Recently I went to Whitby with some die-hard steampunk friends for the steampunk social. It's a beautiful place and there were some really outstanding outfits on show.

At first I didn't think I'd have anything to wear, but then I recalled my old Victorian pieces I made for Halloween a couple of years ago. Combined with an underbust corset from one of my burlesque outfits that's made from burgundy taffeta with black beading on the upper trim and my red satin bolero style jacket I really started to look the part.

The underskirt is a wine coloured satin with corded gathering behind the knee and a small train, and the overskirt is made from brocade with a layer of dance net at the back to form a bustle effect with the ties inside giving it shape.

I also had a black furry shrug that I'd lined with red satin and had a red satin tie for when it got colder and a matching burgundy facinator made by a friend of mine (Chapeau Carmine on Etsy). The whole look was finished with a necklace made of keys and a brown leather satchel.