The. Dress.

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You like?

Personally, I'm a big fan of Pippa's frock...

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Zipper Mouth Monsters are go!

Aren't they cool? These Zipper Mouth Monsters are all set and ready for their day out at the Powerhouse Museum's Craft Punk. I'll be teaching how to make these fun softies from 10.30am tomorrow. Want to come along and join us sewing?... you can book here. All materials (Tessuti of course!) will be provided.

xxx

Pattern Review - Vintage Butterick 3215

Over the long weekend, I made up this top for Miss R. The pattern is a vintage Butterick picked up from an op shop long, loooong ago. Funny how it's a size 12 but somehow managed to fit this (granted, very tall) 6 year old perfectly well.

As it turned out, the sleeve pattern pieces had been shortened but that didn't matter. The sleeves are raglan and the neckline is gathered with elastic fed through a bias casing.

R chose the fabric - Alabaster Kasa - from our most recent Japanese shipment. If the pink doesn't grab you, the print is also available in these gorgeous colourways.

I can't say it was quite as well received as the chocolate egg haul, but she loves it nonetheless.

Did you get some sewing done over the Easter long weekend?

Lx

Chanelling Chanel

Georgia made up this Chanel inspired jacket from McCalls 4792 (out of print) in our Neon Tweed from a few winters ago.



The jacket is exquisite, Georgia has painstakingly created the trim by fringing the tweed and applying it around the edge, pockets and sleeves, hand sewn on the patch pockets, and even added a chain to inside of the the jacket at the hem, a method used to weight down the jacket for a nicer fit and fall. All these finishes are methods Coco Chanel used in her stunning couture-made cropped jackets, as detailed in this lovely book - Chanel: The Couturiere At Work by Amy De La Haye and Shelley Tobin.


Georgia's jacket and pockets are lined in a magenta silk jacquard and the stunning vintage glass buttons are from Buttons Buttons Buttons at The Rocks.


I'm absolutely sure that even Madame Coco Chanel would be impressed!

Note: For other Chanel inspired commercial patterns try Vogue 7975 or McCalls 6041 and if you're quick you can still find McCalls 4972 here and here.

Sweetheart Dress for Lily

Nasrin made up this sweet tunic dress for her 8 month old grand-daughter Lily for Easter.

The bias-cut sleeveless tunic is made up in Tessuti Wool 'Winter Check'. I just love the contrast and highlight of these fun details like sweetheart shaped pockets made up in Remus Red - the pockets are backed with the wool check and bagged out and hand sewn on, the neckline and armholes are edged with this plaited trim in Red and to finish off Nasrin has added cute heart-shaped red buttons at the opening on the shoulders.


Happy Easter everyone!

Easter and Public Holiday Trading Hours

All Tessuti stores are:

CLOSED- Friday 22nd April
OPEN- Saturday 23rd April
(11am - 4.00pm)
CLOSED- Sunday 24th April
CLOSED- Monday 25th April
CLOSED- Tuesday 26th April

We re-open for business Wednesday 27th April

Wishing all our customers a Happy Easter and great long weekend... a perfect time to catch up with some sewing!
x

Sally's Retro Cherry Drops Dress

Cherry Drops is one of those fabrics that catches your eye immediately! Not only for it's lovely bold red and black retro print but also for it's base cloth. It's a really interesting woven (non stretch) with a lace-type eyelet base. The ideal weight for skirts and dresses - as seen here in Sally's own pattern - and the fabric and print is perfect for any vintage inspired pattern.

Sally, sorry it took me this long to post this!

Pucci love!

100% Silk Jersey Emilio Pucci 'Carnival Day' (sold out) from last summer's Italian shipment, looks chic and timeless in this simple shift dress made by one Tessuti Chatswood regular!



Not long now and we'll be off on our next buying trip to Europe....can't wait!!!

To avoid missing out on stunning fabrics like this, join our email list and be notified on the latest arrivals!

xxx

Feature Fabric of the Week - Tabu

No photo can possibly do justice to this gorgeous new Tabu range - silk habutae allover rosettes on a nylon tulle base. Available online in pearl and ivory, black and pearl (Melbourne) and black, ivory, electric blue, pear, hot pink and pearl (Surry Hills).

New dates for The Sew Inn @ Tessuti Melbourne

We've just released the following Melbourne Sew Inn dates for the remainder of 2011:

Saturday 9th July (with Vanessa)
Saturday 23rd July (with Vanessa)
Saturday 6th August (with Suzie)
Saturday 27th August (with Vanessa)
Saturday 17th September (with Suzie)
Saturday 22nd October (with Vanessa)
Saturday 5th November (with Suzie)
Saturday 26th November (with Vanessa)
Saturday 10th December (with Vanessa)

All bookings can be made online here.

In the meantime, check out these creations from recent Sew Inn classes...

Pattern Review - Vogue 1102

I've had many a customer in store, choosing fabrics to make up Vogue 1102, and I'd never seen it made up....'til now.


Leith kindly emailed these pics and had this to say about her dress:

So here it is! I made this dress for a friend's wedding in Sydney. The pattern is Vogue 1102 made up in a gorgeous red cotton/linen blend purchased at Tessuti Melbourne. The fabric was beautiful and easy to work with. The pattern sews the side seam very early which doesn't allow for adjustment once the skirt is attached. The only change I made was to attach the skirt sections to the bodice first and then sewing the side seam as one continuous line which allowed me to tailor it to my shape. The pattern was extremely easy to follow and only took a few nights to sew up. The most tedious part was cutting out the fabric.

Overall, a fantastic dress to sew and wear! I received comments all day about my beautiful dress.

Gorgeous. Thanks Leith.

Sound and Vision by Liz Martin

Found this great song from Liz Martin's album 'Dance a Little, Live a Little' . A great cover of David Bowie's classic, Sound and Vision.

Enjoy your weekend
xxx

Subtle details

I love the details here:
fabulous panel printed cotton (out of stock), cotton webbing fold-over tape as contrast trim, colour combination and stitching details. Simple and stylish!

Pattern Review - Vintage McCalls 2157

Here's a pretty dress for Nellie in one of our Japanese cotton prints (this design has sold out) and trimmed with our French rose pink grosgrain ribbon, made up in this 1957 vintage children's pattern McCalls 2157 . Isn't this the sweetest?

Craft Punk Weekend @ The Powerhouse Museum

The Powerhouse Museum have asked me to teach a sewing class during Craft Punk weekend. The museum is holding a whole lot of fabulous drop-in or book-in crafty workshops over the two days (April 30 /May 1st).


I'm really excited to be teaching how to make up an edgy Zippermouth Monster softie (pattern courtesy of Jodie Carleton from Ric Rac).


All materials and sewing equipment will be provided
When: Saturday April 30th
Where: The Powerhouse Museum
Time: 10.30am - 2.30pm (includes 30 minute break)
Price: $80


Know anyone (all ages are welcome) who might be interested? You can book here. Can't wait to see what cheeky little monsters we'll make up!