Crazy pattern sale on Vogue, Butterick & McCall's

Look what I got in my email:

Even though I'm used to buy these patterns for this kind of price at JoAnn and HobbyLobby, that's the first time the official web site of these brand have an offer like that! Plus, it's all the brand together! At $1.88 and $3.88, that's a steal!
That's just so cool, I had to tell you all.
But be fast, it's only until tomorrow!

Good shopping y'all.

Buttercup Bags - Free pattern

It's been a while since I've first been lurking at this free online bag pattern.

For sure, you know I'm speaking about the unique, the gorgeous, the famous,...

Buttercup Bag, Made By Rae

You knew, didn't you?

My sister wedding was a perfect excuse to make my first one.
I used a brown polyester satin (from JoAnn, the same I used for my dress sash) for the outside, and a brown cotton for lining (from a bedskirt I'm not using).
These fabrics are way too thin to make a bag, but I though it could work for a one-day use. I think it looks good enough if you pay attention on how your are putting stuff inside (otherwise it's just bumps and holes!)

You can see plenty of wrinkles because I've been using them so much! They need a good ironing!

I did the second one as soon as I went back to US to have a bright summer bag instead of my boring (I love it, though), classic black handbag.
I choose 2 matching yellowish-green quilting fat quarters at JoAnn. Yes, JoAnn again! I always loved all the choice for quilting fabrics and was happy to have a project with that!
This bright handbag is probably the only "crazy touch" in my wardrobe! I've been using it since I made it. I added a white piping to break the all-green look.
I've also used a heavyweight fusible interfacing which I fused on the lining fabric.
It was an inspired advice from QueenOfDiy. It makes the bag stand nicely.
She also explains how to make a zipper closure, and show how to make a cellphone pocket:

QueenOfDiy

The only thing I would change?
The cheap closure I put. I should have bought magnetic buttons or zipper closure.

Here, a picture of the lining fabric with pocket (I did the pocket as I wanted too, without following the pattern)

I won't let you wait any longer, so there it is, the free (under the condition of not selling it) pattern!
Click on the picture


And a link to the THE Buttercup Bags Flick-r gallery.


I already plan to make a winter one, but I still have to choose among 3 really nice fabrics I bought to this purpose... unless I do an autumn one!

McCall 4460 dress

As promised, I'm gonna give you more details about the dress I was wearing for my sister's wedding.
It's the McCall's 4460 pattern, view B without shoulder strap.

I wanted a photo shot with the photograph on the wedding day to have nice pics of the dress to show you. But I was so busy on this day I totally forget.
So I just have the pictures I made for the Pattern Review contest (excepted for the one you've already seen two posts before, about the wedding day).

I used a beige Dupioni silk from fabric.com and brown netting and polyester satin from JoAnn. Plus lining (polyester China silk) and underlining (organza).
I'm a little ashamed to tell you I bought Polyester fabric from JoAnn to go with silk for my sister of the bride dress (I'm blushing right now!). But I feel more confident with cheap fabrics (I was anxious to start cutting the silk!) and it makes more sens for me if I can't find nice rtw dresses for less than what I've done...
JoAnn is also the closest fabric store and you can see what you're buying (in comparison with online shops)
Maybe I'll use more natural fabrics when I will feel more confident about my sewing skills... maybe not!
Nevertheless I think my dress looks nice and maybe also expensive (?).

Here is the back view, which would have looked way better with an invisible zipper. Actually, the zipper used is an invisible one, but not knowing how to sew it on, I've sewed it as a regular one :-/

And a close up of the princess seamed bodice. I'm proud of it because I spent so much time trying to make it fit properly!

If I had to redo it, I would:

- Use the piece of pattern I had to draw for the bodice instead of the one given (See my Pattern Review comment for that)

- Sew the invisible zipper as an invisible one. I'm now able to do so, thanks to the so nice and talented Re Becca (go to see her blog and all her pattern reviews on PR). That's so easier and nicer to make it this way than what I did! I still have to practice the bottom part, but thank you so much Becca!

- Use a cotton fabric to line the dress instead of the polyester china silk I used. Polyester was such a bad choice for this close fitting bodice to be wear in a hot summer day...


If you want more informations and pics about this pattern, go check my review on PR:

Pattern Review

Snow White Costume, self drafted

In France we're used to costume more or less weirdly the bride-to-be and to make her do fun and crazy stuff for her bachelorette party. It's usually around a theme.
Since KiKou (my sister who is sewing with me on [Kikuyu]) has always been a big fan of all Disney's cartoons, I made a Snow White costume for her:

Isn't she a nice princess?

To make it, I used:
- a big old blue shirt (thanks dad!)
- some red fabric leftover
- some white lace trim
- a big polyester satin yellow/gold (I would say 3m (3.1/4 yard) but I'm not sure).
- a model to try on the costume-to-be: Thanks to my mom and youngest sister! (yes, all the family had to contribute for the bride-to-be gift!)

I bought a black wig and added a red ribbon.
I'm happy with the finish and love the top part which was easy to make and fits greatly due to the cotton knit shirt used!

Oh... And one last thing: Do NOT forget the prince charming to wake up your princess!