Stylish Dress Book 2 (again)

Following on from my last post, here's another simple top modified from a dress pattern in Stylish Dress Book 2. The pattern is 'D'...


...and the fabric is our Japanese cotton Unfocused Dream.

Chopstick Bloom(ing lovely...)

As a panacea to the agony challenge that is the midway (read: hard) part of this pattern, I decided Vogue 1175 and I needed time apart and some instant sewing gratification was in order. Cue the kind of fabric that you're not exactly sure what to do with but must have. For me, that was Chopstick Bloom. Total love-at-first-fabric-sight*.


Given the fact that it's sold as a panel - and a narrow one at that - I wasn't immediately sure how I'd make it up. But with the combined summer-y forecast and the need for a quick and easy project, I eventually settled on a simple tunic top. The design is modified from pattern G in Stylish Dress Book 2.


In deciding to feature the awesome digital design on just one side of the top, I ended up buying two panels in order to get the match and desired effect. I used our cotton Mokuba grosgrain for the straps, shortened so that I could wear a strapless bra.


Because I wanted a snugger fit, I chose not to add seam allowances and took in the underarm seams by an extra 2cm. I also added an invisible zip in the left seam. If I made it again, I'd probably add bust darts but otherwise, I'm very happy with the result.

Now that the weather is warming up, I'm doing that new season thing where I look in the wardrobe and think 'geez, what did I wear last summer!?' Do you do that with the change of seasons? Cue summer sewing - my very, favourite kind...

*granted, that happens a LOT in my job...

Fabric Feature Of the Week - Aqua Kasa

Spotted this fabulous dress made up in Aqua Kasa over at Bernice's blog - Raindrops and Belly Flops!



Talent certainly runs in this family.

Special thanks to you Bernice for letting us reblog this.

Pattern Review - OOP New Look 6751

I just had to post about this dress, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly to show this great dress Libby created using OOP New Look 6751 in our 100% Japanese cotton pinwale cord Domo Grape (sold out).



It's a great pattern for those of you who prefer the high waisted dress style. Regarding the pattern, Libby says she toiled it up in calico first to make sure that the neckline didn't gape. She didn't like the look of the darts under the bust – as they were very wide they ended up quite pointy when sewn together. So when sewing the dress up in the corduroy, she eliminated the darts by gathering there instead. After making the dress up Libby was still not entirely happy as the area under the bust looked a little saggy! Intent on perfecting this pattern and having a wearable dress, Libby unpicked the bodice again (piping and all) and took some over-shaping under the old dart. It did the trick and now this altered pattern's ready to be made up again in future.



The dress neckline facing and seam under the bust is piped in lovely Mokuba piping in silver grey. This piping is also available in a range of colours.



Secondly, was to remind us that Libby turned up to work that day, in her lovely creation with mismatched boots!!!! Made even funnier, was the fact that Libby looked at herself in the mirror before leaving home and wondered if she should wear flats instead and that her son didn't notice when he gave her a lift to the station. Only realising when she sat on the train!!!!



In true gorgeous Libby style she soldiered on all day in her boots and only one customer noticed! A very funny day indeed!

Craft Punk : Bike Bespoke

It's on again this weekend, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th October at The Powerhouse Museum - 500 Harris Street Ultimo NSW!

With spring in the air and warm night breezes it’s time to pamper and preen your bicycle and take to the road.

Guaranteed to appeal to crafters, craft lovers and bike-riders alike Craft Punk: Bike BeSpoke pays tribute to the exhilaration a bike ride can offer while lowering that carbon footprint – definitely crafting for good! There will be various crafting zones, led by creative professionals and passionate bicycle enthusiasts.

Bike BeSpoke is the second of the Craft Punk quarterly craft weekends held at the Powerhouse Museum throughout the year.

For more information or for full program details, please visit the website.

Sprite A-line ponti knit dress

Georgia's back with a fab new a-line dress made up in Sprite- Ponti Knit (more stock due in Mid Nov). This fantastic stretch double knit now comes in these great new shades. Not only does it work well in jackets, skirts, pants and dresses, it also sews up like a dream.

Georgia used OOP Vogue 9237 as her block for this dress. Re pattern adjustments, the bust/back darts and back zipper were eliminated, the neckline widened and self binding used on the neckline, armhole and hem. Georgia added in a seam an inch above her waistline and added a inverted pleat above and below this seam for a little detail and extra fit. Simple!

Julia's response to winning the Tessuti Awards

Apart from the fact that it is a very funny read, Julia goes into detail on her blog, about how she went about creating her stunning dress and it clearly shows why it was undoubtedly the deserving winner!

I love this paragraph about her reaction to finding out that she was the 1st place winner:

"The excitement and happiness I feel is ridiculous. I'm almost certain that I've permanently damaged by vocal chords after screaming compulsively until my fiance starting smothering me with a pillow so that the neighbours didn't think I was being murdered (ah the irony)."

'New' Japanese pattern books just in...

Available at all Tessuti stores and here.

Pattern Book Review - Dress Style Book

Also new in store, are the latest arrivals of Japanese Pattern books, including Dress Style Book. An ideal dress pattern book to suit everyone. This pattern book offers patterns in Basic Shift, A-line, Low-Waisted, High-Waisted, Shirt, Smock and Peasant styles, with diagrams for 4 variations on these dress styles. The book includes a full scale pattern sheet plus diagrams to show how easy it is to make the various adjustments to these dress block patterns.

Lenka introduced this fantastic pattern book to me when she wore in this dress that she made up using the low-waisted dress block in Italian 100% Boiled Wool Grey Toscana. For extra comfort and warmth, Lenka lined the dress in our burnout jersey Art Scene (sold out).





This pattern book belongs in every pattern collection, you won't be disappointed!

NEW ARRIVALS - Italian summer stock

Stunning new summer fabrics have started arriving in all Tessuti stores and online here. Keep popping in as beautiful fabric will continue arriving every week.

Start planning that fabulous summer wardrobe!

Fabric Feature Of The Week - Banana Gate

Found this image of Princess Mary at a circus fair with her daughter Isabella. I instantly recognised this stylish Hugo Boss dress, we picked up this lovely panel printed silk/cotton voile on our recent fabric buying trip! This print is available in a Chocolate colourway too.



Image from Billed-Bladet