How I store my dress making fabric using coat hangers

So I figured I'd continue on with my little series on how I store my fabric, you can see the post here about how I store my quilting fabric.  Today I'll be talking about how I store my dress making fabric.  As you know I recently moved and I'm working out my perfect system for my new sewing room.

I knew when it came to storing my dress making fabric I wanted it stored in a way I could see it all.  Now shoved in a box where I had to dig through to see if I had a certain fabric or find what I want.  Thankfully I have a large built in wardrobe and enough clothes to fit in the wardrobe in my bedroom!

My storage system in now devised of coat hangers!  Normal standard plastic coat hangers.  Well maybe not the totally normal ones, the ones that you can hang your pants over.  I found packs of 12 for $2.50 at my local target.

I simply folded the length of the fabric until it would fit over the coat hanger and then slipped the coat hanger in as I folded it in half!  It doesn't really need step by step instructions :)  If you have any questions leave a comment or shoot me and email and I'll get back to you.

 

Super simple and easy storage for your fabric plus you can see what you have!  Plus I love opening the cupboard and seeing all the clothes that I have yet to make!

Some recent Fabric Scores

I like fabric shopping.  That's no lie.  I have enough quilting fabric to sink a battle ship but dressmaking fabric not so much.  In fact up until about 12 months ago I had no interest in sewing clothes.  They scared me.  They had curves and zips and scary terms like notches and you had to cut out patterns and actually use scissors to cut the fabric.  Being a quilter all those things scared me.  But somehow I got over it.  Something made me want to sew clothes.  And wearable ones at that. So that was what I did.

I started with a few simple things, a skirt or two, and then a top.  Then I found those indie pattern designers we all love Colette, April Rhodes, Sew Over It, By Hand London, and spent hours trawling through patterns finding ones I loved and wanted to make and buying the ones I could afford.  I'd also hit up Spotlights pattern sales when they were 3 for $10 and make the most of it.

Now I do profess to being a dedicated Spotlight shopper (I blame the nearly 5 years of working there.  I'm thinking of ideas for a post for my hints and tips for finding bargins at Spotlight. Let me know).  However I was down near Lincraft and thought I would go in and see what they had.  I was impressed.  Bargins garlore on their clearance table!  Some lycra type lining at $5/m and some navy ribbed knit down to $1.25.  Now I didn't take photos of these two partly because they are pretty boring, partly because they are in a box somewhere :).

The rest were a bit prettier.

There was this maroon knitted fabric with a metallic gold thread at $8/m.  I got 2m to turn into a knitwear jumper for those cooler Autumn days around the corner.  Just to decide on a pattern.  I'm leaning towards using the free Easy Tee pattern by It's Always Autumn.  It's a good pattern, pretty much my size plus its free!  Nothing to complain about there.

 

 

I also fell in love with this other fabric and plan on using the same pattern with it.  I'm just too scared to sew it because it is so open with the weave.  Any hints or tips would be appreciated.  It's really a black/brown colour and the sequins just make it in real life. 

 

 

 

 

I've also purchased this tribal like rayon from Spotlight with unknown plans at the moment, maybe a simple shift dress.

 

 

I also grabbed this pirouette dot tulle during the recent 30% off sale.  I have plans for a cocktail dress using this to make a Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City) style skirt and a black satin bodice.

 

I also discovered Ohhh Lulu the other day and fell in love. Romantic, Feminine, Stylish.  I plan on making up a few of their patterns (funds permitting).

I grabbed this combination of stretch lace and cotton below for the Ohhh Lulu Grace Knickers and the lyrca (2 remanent pieces at $2/m) for the Abigail Swimsuit.  One day anyway :).

 

 

 

Anyway I hope to get some more sewing done over the weekend.  Or at least finish off some other things to show you.  Things should settle down after I actually move in after Easter and that should mean more sewing time :)

 

Until then,

 

Emma

A Modified Simplicity 1877

I was looking for a dress pattern with a v neck.  I know it should be easy enough to alter but I'd tried and I just couldn't get it working.  Anyway Spotlight was having a great pattern sale, 3 patterns for $10!  We've been ripped off in Australia long enough with pattern prices so I am really pleased that these sales seem to becoming a semi regular thing!

I sat and flipped through the pattern books and spied Simplicity #1877.  I liked the bodice on it and for just over $3 I thought why not.

I got it home and made a muslin, and another out of rayon, but I'm not blogging about either of them today.  I had purchased three metres of a lovely teal cotton sateen from Spotlight during one of their 40% off sales (Can you tell I shop there a lot?  Most of the girls in Sew know me my name!), with the intention of making a v neck dress with a half circle skirt, so that was what I did.

I simply used the bodice from 1877, a view A, view B has some shoulder ruffles.  I cut the skirt longer than I needed to so I could compensate for the rise at the centre of the bodice.  I think this worked quite well for it, even if it did waste some fabric.  To calculate my circle skirt I have come to rely on the By Hand London Circle Skirt Calculator App. I did have another excel document I downloaded from somewhere but last time I looked it appeared the website had been removed.

Instead of cutting the facings from the pattern I finished the neck, sleeves and skirt with premade black and white gingham bias binding also from Spotlight (sensing a pattern?  They don't pay me anything I swear!).    Anyway enough rambling, time for some photos.


I really love the contrast the binding adds to it, plus I don't need to worry about facings.

I am also fully aware that the binding on the neckline is not perfect but it's not too bad really.

Again, not prefect but pretty good.

 

I really love the volume of a half circle skirt.  Especially in a fabric with some weight like this sateen.  I really should try a quarter circle skirt next time, I find full circles too much fabric for my liking.

I don't have any photos of it on me (typical) I'll try and add some when I get the chance :)

What volume of circle skirt do you prefer?

Emma :)

Handmade Tuesday #3 - Knit Pencil Skirt

A very old make on today.  I made this super simple skirt about four or five years ago with a 'crinkle knit' from Spotlight. It's just a straight skirt, as in I cut what I needed for the waist and then straight down.  Being a knit it manages to give it a nice shape too. It's on an exposed elastic waistband and I've had multiple compliments when I've worn it which is always a lovely feeling!

 

 

Sorry about the dodgy mirror selfie!

 

Emma :)

Handmade Tuesday #2 - Dotty Rayon 1/2 Circle Skirt

I missed Handmade Tuesday last week.  To be brutally honest I just forgot.  I've forgiven myself considering I spent last Monday in bed and struggled enough getting out of bed for work Tuesday morning let alone thinking of something nice to wear :)

This week is my handmade outfit is one of my favourites, its a half circle skirt made in rayon. Rayon has to be one of my favourite fabrics ever!  Its so soft and drapey and flowy, I love it!

I like using this calculator App from By Hand London to work out my measurements, it makes life so much easier!

You'll also probably start to notice that my shirts remain the same, it's just a work uniform shirt and I haven't really branched into shirts yet!

Anyway, enjoy your Tuesday and I hope your Australia Day was well spent :)

Emma :)

Handmade Tuesday #1 - Simply Color Pencil Skirt

Towards the end of last year I started a personal challenge of wearing something handmade every Tuesday.  I'm not really sure why I settled on Tuesday but I think it started by coincidence as I wore handmade items for a few Tuesdays in a row and decided to try and make it habbit.

I started chronicling them on instagram using #handmadetuesday.  #Adventuresindressmaking and #handmadeclothing also feature on most of my garment making related posts. 

This week, for my first week back at work after a lovely three weeks of holidays I am wearing a skirt I whipped up towards the end of last week.

The skirt is made from the Dot Print from Simply Color by V and Co for Moda.  I'm fairly certain it's long out of print but you might be able to track it down somewhere still.  It is lined with Pongee Lining from Spotlight.  Not the best but it was in my stash and using it was better than having to buy something else.

I drafted a pencil skirt pattern using this tutorial from Simple Simon and Company.  I found it really helpful with clear detailed instructions.  I would also recommend checking out their Pencil Skirt Sew Along for more helpful tips and tricks

This tutorial also from Simple Simon and Company was also incredibly helpful for inserting an invisible zipper with lining.  It was my first time attempting this properly and I am incredibly pleased it worked.  I'm very proud of this.  This time last year I didn't sew clothes because the curves scared me! Not to mention Zippers!

Overall I am very happy with how it turned out! Though my favourite bit might be the selvedge hidden in the hem! In an effort to use a little fabric as possible while getting a decent length I cut the bottom of the skirt right on the selvedge and just turned it over and stitched it down. Cute and thrifty!



Emma :)