alterations and repairs – thedementedfairy

April 21, 2019

Pick up the Pieces- Geodesic Sweater revisited

Geodesic sweatshirt, Blueprints for Sewing, multiple offcuts in ponte/ WAY TOO LONG remember? *shudders* I hate unpicking. Really hate it. Knit unpicking is the WORST. Ah well. I stuck a talking book on and got to it. The bottom row of triangles came off fairly easily, making a huge pile of thread snippets, then I … Continue reading Pick up the Pieces- Geodesic Sweater revisited

February 21, 2017

All the fixin’s…

…well, a couple! Last time my daughter visited [Christmas], she dumped a bag of mending on me, and you know how I feel about that! It has sat there, smirking at me, and despite numerous girdings og my loins, [not lions, they bite] I finally got to work. A bit. Just a bit. Job number … Continue reading All the fixin’s…

October 17, 2015December 10, 2015

Of Corset is! #5

Progress and cock-ups… After all that fiasco in the week, I posted one of the pics of me in the finally-fastened corset on one of the Facebook steampunk costume-making pages, to see what advice was forthcoming. Not a lot, apart from the statement that it should not flare out at the hips and bust, but … Continue reading Of Corset is! #5

September 18, 2015December 10, 2015

A New Head of Steam #1

It became clear that a few alterations to the black skirt would be needed on its first outing: the hastily pinned ‘bustling’ at the back, was obviously only a temporary measure, time just got away from me [appropriate for a time traveller…] The large quilting safety pins that the wife used to secure it were … Continue reading A New Head of Steam #1

August 9, 2015December 10, 2015

Coco-pop dress, an update

I visited the doc-daughter this weekend, and [eventually] got her to find time to try on the dress. She loves it, and was very happy [phew] BUT of course, at least one of her measurements had to be wrong didn’t it? Fortunately, it’s an easy fix- she’d taked her front bodice length measurement, as instructed, … Continue reading Coco-pop dress, an update

August 3, 2015December 10, 2015

Mindicated

Sorted! It wasn’t as much work as I’d thought either: I unpicked the zip on one side only, leaving a pin level with the waistband…moved it all down a tad, basted, re-stitched, and tweaked the hemline on one side to match t’other. A bit of hand sewing to catch down all the facings and do … Continue reading Mindicated

August 2, 2015December 10, 2015

Bottoms Up! #2

Last of the current batch: StyleArc ‘Mindi’ jeans skirt, zip front and zip patch pockets. Red stretch denim, insides finished in self made bias from Mickey Mouse brushed cotton. If I tell you that I originally bought this fabric from a market stall to make something for my son when he was about 2. [and … Continue reading Bottoms Up! #2

August 2, 2015December 10, 2015

Bottoms Up! #1

Katy & Laney tap shorts. Purple linen/viscose from MyFabrics. Facings in Tana lawn. Another weird case of measuring carefully, cutting correct size…then finding it doesn’t fit me anywhere. My belly required size 18, my hips size 8! Blimey try grading between those lol I did my best, and although I’d originally planned to bind all … Continue reading Bottoms Up! #1

June 28, 2015December 10, 2015

The Bottom Line

Hurrah! The end of the marking is [sort of] in sight! One of the papers I marked today amused me greatly- the student hadn’t managed to get much right, but had written some wry comments. Here’s my favourite:I’m very slightly ahead of schedule though, so I rewarded myself with an hour or so sewing before … Continue reading The Bottom Line