me made 2020 – Sew Do It Emma

Circa 2020 Me-Mades!

Published on December 31, 2020January 1, 2021 by Emma_CiarroccaLeave a comment

Hello there!

I did a poll back over on Instagram whether or not you would like to see all my makes that I did in 2020 over here, in a blog post.

Well, the answer was a huge “yes, Please!”, so here goes.

Also if you don’t know I’ve recently started doing my YouTube channel again (yay!) and I’ve uploaded a video with some of my favourite makes from this year! So if you can, please check it out and let me know what your favourite make is (either here in the comments or in the youtube video comments).

I’ve listed the makes in no particular order.

Myosotis Dress – Deer & Doe
A lady McElroy cotton lawn
Made size 22 as standard pattern

Matilda Wrap Dress {Tester) – Untitled Thoughts
Viscose Jersey Fabric from The Croft Mill
Graded from 22 bodice to 28 skirts

Jarrah by Megan Neilson
Sweater Knit from Fabric Godmother
Graded from 22 to 28 (for hips)

The Sunday Tee {Tester} – Friday Pattern Co
Cotton Jersey from Sew Studio Fife
Graded out towards hips

Sudley Dress #3 – Megan Neilson
Linen Viscose from Sister Mintaka
No adjustments

Nora Sweater – Tilly and the Buttons
Fabric from unknown
Graded out towards hips

Sagebrush Top {Tester} – Friday Pattern Company
Fabric from Frugal Fabrics
Graded out for hips

Opal Trousers {Tester} – Megan Neilson Patterns
Cut straight size 28, no other adjustments.
Viscose Fabric from Lamazi Fabrics

Blackwood Cardigan #1 – Helen’s Closet
Cut size Straight 18, no more Adjustments
Cotton Jersey Fabric from Material Girl Laura

Moneta Dress – Colette/ Seamwork
Cut Bodice – XL, Skirt – 3XL
Cotton Jersey from Material Girl Laura

Plum Dress {Tester} – Cocowawa Crafts
Cut Size 8 & 9
Fabric gifted from Pigeon Wishes

Alice Top – Seamwork
Graded from 20 to 28 to allow from for hips
Viscose Jersey from Fabric Focus

Sagebrush #2 – Friday Pattern Company
Linen-Viscose Fabric received in return for a blog post for Sewcial Studio, Tamsworth

Opal Trousers #2 – Megan Neilson Patterns
Viscose received from Material Girl Laura in return for a blog post.

West Cliff Dress – Friday Pattern Company Bodice XL, Skirt graded from XL at waist to 3XL at hips. Viscose Jersey from Lamazi Fabrics

Nora – Tilly and the Buttons
TATB Cotton Jersey from Sew Studio Fife

Heidi Dress {Tester} – AK Patterns
Viscose Twill from Sew Studio Fife
Bodice cut 22, Skirt cut 28

Toaster Sweater – Sew House Seven
Graded XL outwards to fit hips.
Fabric from Sew Studio Fife

Wildergown – Friday Pattern Company
Valentine Viscose received from The Rag Shop in return for a blog post.
Cut XL for bodice, 2XL for Skirt

Moneta Dress – Colette / Seamwork
Ponte Roma grey stripes received in return for a blog post from Minerva.
No Sleeves. Used a piece of grey jersey from stash to line it. Lengthened Skirt to maxi length.

Jarrah Sweater – Megan Neilson Patterns
Graded from 22-28
Sweater Fabric

Oliver – Seamwork
Graded out at Hips
Fabric from Pin & Sew

Hinterland Dress – Sew Liberated
Cut Bodice 22 – Skirt 24
Fabric from Material Girl Laura.
Cotton/Polyester Shirting

Sagebrush Top #3 – Friday Pattern Company
Atelier Brunette Viscose from Lamazi Fabrics

Alice Top – Seamwork
Cotton Jersey from Fabric Focus

Blackwood Cardigan – Helen’s Closet
Ribbed Knit from 1st for Fabrics

Adrienne Blouse #2 – Friday Pattern Company
Viscose Jersey (Lady McElroy)

Hughes Dress {Tester} ~ Friday Pattern Company
Fabric bought in Toulouse, France. Cupro Viscose blend.

Jarrah #3 – Megan Neilson Patterns
View C, Graded from 22 to 28
See You At Six Sweater Knit and Matching Cuffing from Lamazi Fabrics

Moneta Dress – Colette/ Seamwork pattern
Ponte Roma

Arlo Track Jacket {Tester} – Friday Pattern Company Fleece Jersey from Harvey Jacobs

Elodie Wrap Dress – Closet Core Patterns Made with Viscose received from Minerva in return for a blog post.

Kew Dress {Tester} – Nina Lee London Made with Dashwood Ravishing Rayon from Lamazi Fabrics

Nita Wrap Skirt {Tester} – Sew DIY Patterns
Fabric is a non-stretch denim from a Fabric Swap!

Little Me Made Tree Baubles with Kylie and the Machine Labels.

New Year, New Dress, Just made it in time!
It’s a West Cliff Dress by Friday Pattern Company. Viscose Jersey from Lamazi Fabrics.
Bodice CUT at XXL. Skirt is XXL at waist but then graded out at hips to 4X.

Well, there we have it … over 30 me-mades this year. A lot of Testers and I’m starting to dabble a bit more in separates. I’m super chuffed at what I’ve sewn up. Some were WIPs and some spontaneous but nevertheless I love them all.

In 2021, I hope to make more Trousers, skirts and other separates. I’m going back to planning my make nine this year, which I fine tuned with plans that will hopefully help push me and expand my me made wardrobe.

Talking of which, I will be posting something on here and on YouTube regarding my make nine plans … watch this space!

Valentine Wildergown (a collaboration with The Rag Shop).

Published on August 21, 2020August 18, 2020 by Emma_Ciarrocca9 Comments

It all started when I saw By Hand London’s sample of the Jessica Skirt in this Valentine Red and Pink viscose … it was love at first sight!

I thought the chances of sourcing it would be second to none but what’s the harm asking? The worst answer would be no or sorry we’ve ran out, so with that in mind I did some digging! You guess it, long story short I found some at The Rag Shop via pigeonwishes shop.

Yay! So I contacted Steph at The Rag Shop to let her know that I was doing a blog post on the viscose and she kindly gave one meter in return for the blog post (I already purchase two metres) so having that extra meter allowed me to play about with more options.

The Wildergown by Friday Pattern company has been on my sewing list for ages, I just love the fluidity of the dress. The Valentine Viscose and the wildergown dress would be a beautiful match!

I choose the xl according to the finished measurements but I could’ve gone up an extra size on the skirt but I might come back to that as I’ve still got some fabric left. Obviously, I was going to go on the full-on gown – I think it would have been be rude not too!

Ok, for adjustments I shortend the bodice because I’m only 5’3″ and my torso isn’t long at all. I went for even layers in the skirt but on hindsight, shouldve keep the top tier longer and the bottom tier shorter – but nevermind.

Sewing with the viscose was a dream. I didn’t find it too slippery to work with either. I did use a light weight needle just to be sure it didn’t punture the fabric whilst sewing it. I’ve been reading that even using a microtex needle can sometimes still lead to tiny fractures in the fabric (in some makes more than others) which is quite nerving wracking after you’ve made that investment.

Before I started putting the pieces together I overlocked all the edges to stop them fraying. Of course, I could always try french seams to finish the seams but let’s be frank here, 1. I’ve not got the patience to do that and 2. I’ve still not got the patience.

I really wanted to try and pattern match some of the lines of the grids and this worked out better than expected even with the gathering. For gathering I used lots of pins … LOTS of them and I tend to use the Prym glass headed pins now, just my preference.

I’m still sitting on the fence if I should add waist ties just to give a bit of shape and I may shorten the bottom tier to be just below the knee. I think it’s all to do with my height but I may leave the length as it is if the waist ties help. I’ve heard that Julie Uzor has a great tutorial on her Instagram for rouleau loops via theminisewist (but I’ve yet to find it).

However I’m slowly falling in love with the dress as when I first tried it on, I was like “what have I done?”. For me it’s a bold change with the grid lines, because I’m short and rather curvy I think it accentuates certain features. But everytime I’ve tried it on I’m feeling more confident.

To add to the love of this wildergown I am loving the drama of the neckline. The pull tie that gathers the neck and gives the shape is such a simple yet clever design feature.

For the finishing touches I added one of Paige Joanna’s “Cute as a Daisy’ labels which I bought last week and thought it was quite a cute match!

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and Happy Sewing!

Emma x

Fabricsabbatical 2020

Published on May 2, 2020May 2, 2020 by Emma_CiarroccaLeave a comment

Already into a month of lockdown and I’ve been buying fabric left right and centre from little independent fabric businesses across the UK.

It’s good that I’m buying though but seriously I have no more space. I keep trying to tell myself this, but now it has to happen!

Anyway, as you probably guessed by the title of this post is that as from May 1st, there will be no more buying fabrics for at least three months and maybe even longer.

Reasons for going on this fabricsabbatical:

1. I really not NEED any more fabric!

You’ve seen pictures of my 20 odd boxes bins and counting full of knits and wovens! Metres and metres of used but beautiful fabrics!

Some of the gorgeous fabrics in my stash just itching to be used!

2. I’ve managed to do three months last year as part of slow fashion season, which started in June.

Admittedly, it was hard but I stuck at it and miraculously I survived unharmed. The original idea was to get 10’ 000 people not to buy ANY clothes for three months. I did both – pat on the back for me!

3. Another destashing will be coming to the destash grid.

Soon. Once this horrid pandemic is over. Once the Royal Mail gets back on its feet. Just now it’s slow and as I keep saying there’s no point putting more pressure on it with me adding more parcels. I’ll be putting the fabrics on the destash grid and you can have a mosey, Just don’t expect me to sell it to you right there and then. Let’s keep it simple! I’ll be just posting piccies of fabrics with zero, squad all details until the destash opens, don’t freak – I’ll be notifying on stories when it is going to live! Oh @sdie_destash is where it’s happening.

4. Another reason to stop buying fabrics is to actually see what I’ve got and record it!

That’s right, I’m going to record what I’m going to keep! It’s simple, it’s not technical either. It’s in black and white on “flat white” recycled cardstock! Kudos to Anna @annatriestosew for letting me know how she did it. Why not trello? Hmm, it’s way to meh to start with such a massive stash. And I get to keep a “touch and feel” of the fabric too!

5. I won’t have a job come mid May.

My contract ends on the 13th, which is really sad as I enjoyed working with fabulous colleagues. I have to say that these 3 months which turned out to 9 nine as they kept renewing my contract, has been the best! I don’t have any bad feeling against the company especially in the current climate for their decision not to renew my contract, just a bit of anxiety for what will happen in the coming weeks, if not, months for me and my future job. I won’t be the only one in this situation.

So I’m going to have to tighten up the purse strings and I’ve got plenty of fabric to see me through many years.

Before I finish, I’m allowed haberdashery items, such as interfacing, buttons, trims and all that jazz, just not Fabric meterage!

Well, here goes … fabricsabbatical 2020!

Myosotis Dress by Deer & Doe

Published on April 13, 2020 by Emma_Ciarrocca3 Comments

Although I’ve published my photos on Instagram, I thought it would be good just to have my thoughts on the pattern and fit here for my first myosotis dress.

So before I started I check my back measurements according to the pattern piece and shortened the bodice. I think it’s a tad too short in this version but hey ho I’ll still wear it. For my next version I’ll definitely used the for bodice piece and original length. I cut the largest size and instead of 1.5cm/5/8” seam allowance I went for 1cm. The bodice fits really well.

The skirt has no real issues and was fairly straight forward although I only cut one of the lower ruffle and had to do a last minute panic of “ok where’s the remaining pieces of fabric” – which was fine. I pattern match this piece because there’s an extra seam at the back of the dress now because of this rookie mistake!

I think my favourite part of the dress is the sleeves. I’m just loving the ruffles and to me that’s something that’s surprising to me!

The fabric is a Lady McElroy Cotton “Marlie” lawn. The print is digitally printed onto the fabric. The print itself is called “Shades of Autumn – Midnight”. I bought this from The Cloth Shop by Remnant Kings, Edinburgh a good year ago for a myosotis dress and who knew it would turn out so well! I’m pleased it didn’t have too much time in the stash.

I found the collar to be a bit of a nightmare though. The instructions aren’t clear to be frank and if you follow them it leads you into a fiddle. So conferring with my sewing buddies, I’m advised to go and have a look at Professor pincushion on youtube and hey presto, the dress lives!

So there you go – my first and not last Myosotis Dress by Deer & Doe patterns. Thanks for reading and see you back here soon!

Making Kalle

Published on March 26, 2020 by Emma_CiarroccaLeave a comment

Hey all!

It’s been an age since I wrote anything on here but now that we are in lockdown for this Convid-19 I have a bit more time to make and blog!

I’m currently making a few things, one of which is the Kalle Shirt by Closet Case.

I’m doing version A, the cropped shirt in a liberty cotton lawn. This is the first time I’ve tackled a shirt!

I’ll add more pictures and information as I go but in the meantime I’ll get going and hopefully soon I can model it!

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