Wow where did the time go?

Its that time of year again, I've been a bad blogger. I just can't seem to keep on top of it. Hey ho I'm here now and I've been up to loads. First off the sewing classes have taken off on a big way. I'm teaching all ages now and I love it. I did another patchwork cushion workshop on Saturday morning and then an apron workshop in the afternoon. I really do love teaching sewing, it's a valuable skill that should be taught in schools. It give you an amazing sence of achievement and you make some thing pretty too. Everyone seems to go away happy and enthusiastic so that's the main thing.

Patchwork cushions

Aprons

 The fabric side of the business is also doing well, I've expanded so now I have quite a few rolls and a bit of haberdashery too. My little studio looks a (very messy) shop. 

Sugar skull pin cushions 

Lots of lovely fabric

Sewing kits and FQ bundles

So if you would like some awesome fabric at a great price or you would like to learn to sew please visit my webpage. It has all of the information you need on workshops, lots of lovely photos and even a shop. It's 

www.beccibunnymakes.co.uk

Please pop by x

January dress challenge week 1

So it's January and I've started my dress challenge, I'm so rubbish at making things for myself so I've given it until the end of the month to complete it.....properly, no cutting corners! No bodjing it together at the last minute and definatly not ...just popping it in the WIPS basket never to be seen again! 

So I decided to make another pattern from the one I've purchased. There are three reasons for this,

1) I hope to make this dress many times in all different sizes for you lovely bunnies so I didn't want to cut the original pattern.

2) pattern paper rips by just looking at it! Honestly it's so damn thin, never drop any sort of liquid on it because it will dissapear before your very eyes! So I've used some nice sturdy dots and cross paper.

3) I'm often in between sizes, by making my own pattern I can add bits and tke them away making it the perfect fit for me. Although I was lucky this time, I was bang on with my measurements.

When you look at the back of a dress making envelope it may shock the hell out of you. It did me, according to simplicity I should be a UK size 20 ( not that there is anything wrong with that size) I know I'm not a 20 I'm a 16. Don't worry about it at all don't even look at the dress sizes go on the measurements and you will get a great fitting dress (hopefully). 

I like to read all of the instructions before I start.......just kidding, I don't do that but you really should it gives you a greater understanding of the pattern before you have even cut anything.

If it's a multi pattern read the instructions and I like to circle the pattern pieces in using so for example I'm making dress B so I need pattern pieces 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Ok now we can start.

I intended on taking lots of photos but me being forgetful it didn't happen so here is what I've got for you:-

My supplies

My dress pattern, a loooonnnng ruler, French curves ( not in the photo, helpful I know) a tape measure, a tracing wheel, dots and cross paper and a can of tescos own baked beans ( any can really but I love beans)

First of all I cut the relevant original pattern pieces out and put the rest away because I would only confuse myself other wise. Then All I did was weigh the pattern piece down with the can of beans and trace over all of the lines that corisponded to my measurements, in this case I made a size 18. I lined up the straight edge of the pattern piece along a line of dots and crosses on the paper, I went slowly and marked all of the lines carefully pressing down as I went so the tracing wheel pins marked the dots and cross paper underneath, mark everything! Circles, darts, notches, everything. Make sure you take your time and do it accurately because if you make a mistake on your pattern piece your finished dress will be way off.

*TOP TIP* gently iron your original pattern pieces on a low heat before you begin to make sure your measurements are bang on, I did not do this, I'm lazy it will probably serve me right when my dress is too small.

Mark your darts and pleats accurately. Once you have gone over your lines with the tracing wheel take your pen and go over them again so you can see them better. Check back to the original pattern piece from time to time to make sure you are getting all the info. I like to write the pattern number, size and any other info on my new pattern piece so for example the front bodice piece has the pattern number, the size, how many pieces I need to cut ( one lining and one outer fabric, both on the fold ) I also put any information about hem allowances and ease on to my new pattern piece because if I don't I will definatly forget and be all angry with myself for not doing it in the first place. Basically make an exact copy of the original pattern piece but in your size only.

Like this. 

Right so all of my pattern pieces are cut and I'm ready to cut my fabric. I will do it in the next few days.....promise, I'm not the authority on this by any means and there are tons of techniques but this is just the way I like to do it. It works for me. any questions feel free to message me or leave a comment.

Mwah ❤️ Bunny x

Lots of things going on but still no dress

Wow! January has been mega busy. I've had orders for all sorts including band patches, clothing and tons of hair bows. 

The one thing that surprised me was panties. I made a pair from a kit I brought from liberty's last time I was in London, I was surprised how easy they were to make and how much I lived making them. I posted a photo on my facebook page and Instagram and it went mental. Since then I think I've made about 80 pairs of panties, ranging from cute to kitsch, horror, geeky and even a bit kinky! Here are a few please excuse my big bum.

Spider-Man cotton panties with matching nipple pasties

BMovie horror panties.

Ouvert panties.

I'm running a knicker making workshop on Saturday 8th February visit the website for more details.

Another thing I have been doing is splitting the business in two. I now have beccibunnymakes.co.uk for all of the fabric, haberdashery and courses and zombunnydesigns.co.uk for all of the hair accessories, clothing and jewellery. I've been thinking about splitting it for a while now and one of my very talented friends designed me the logo for shits and giggles and I loved it so I took the step and split the business. It seems to be working real well so far so I will keep you all updated.

I've been teaching every weekend so I've not had time to update the dress making but I'm hoping to get some done on Sunday afternoon I'm also hoping to pin down some dates for a dressmaking courses so check back soon. 

New year, new projects

So in the new year I'd like to do more dress making. It's something I have done and can do fairly well if I have the time to sit and read patterns etc. I'm going to kick start this new bit of my business with making something for me. 

I'm going to use this awesome Cynthia Rowley dress pattern, I'm going to make the green version of the dress ( second one down) but maybe lengthen the skirt a bit. I might also give the jacket a go if I get time.

I'm going to make it from the day of the dead lightweight cotton and fully line it in black as it is a bit thinner than the other cottons I have. I think it will also make it feel more like a party dress and add fullness to the skirt, we will see. Once I've tried it out in cotton I'd like to have a go at denim, I haven't a clue how that will turn out, probably crap but I won't know untill I try ......right? 

I will be using my trusty dressmakers book to help me if I get stuck, it's not ever let me down yet. It's an brilliant book to have on hand incase you forget how to do something, it explains linings, inter linings, zips, pockets ( oooohhh pockets, there is an idea! My dress will now have pockets!) and tons of other stuff that you can't possibly cram in to your brain. So I'd recommend it.

I'm going to start by tracing the dress size as close to my own size on to dots and cross paper, then I can adjust it accordingly to get the best fit possible. I'm going to try and remember to document it and blog my progress but you all know what I'm like. Rubbish that's what. 

Anyway I'm going to do all of this during January ready to begin teaching a dress makers course in March so if you would be interested in signing up please get in touch via my website 

www.beccibunnymakes.com

Or facebook

www.facebook.com/Beccibunnymakes

The course will start off with the basics like pockets, seams and zips. You will produce samples of each and once you are happy you will make a mock up of your intended dress (I can't decide wether to provide you all with the same pattern and sew along together or  you can bring in your own pattern).

Once you are happy with the mock dress you can move on to your real dress and hopefully get it all finished. I might even organise a night out at the end if the course where we can all wear out dresses, Whadda ya think? I love the idea, any excuse for a party.

Right so step 1 will be deciding on my size and making a pattern. I'll let you know how I get on

Bunny x x x 

Lots of lovely leopard print

Leopard print features heavily in my life. I just love it! I even use it in my product photos. 

A lot! 

Jack and Sally hair bows available on my facebook page

Our lady of Guadalupe embroidery sampler also available to order.

I wear it a lot as well

I even have it on my glasses. It's just so retro and lush, it reminds me of Betty page. Although I would never ever ever wear a real leopard, it's all faux ( like you couldn't tell anyway)

Anyone else love leopard print? 

The shop in the square

This is the shop in the square. It's located right in the center of Wolverhampton and it's well worth a visit. The whole shop is run by one very lovely manager called Charlotte and a team of dedicated volunteers and sellers. It is made up of 33(ish) local start up businesses and the stock includes candles soaps, woodwork, stationary, wire work, jewellary and of course sewn items and machine embroidery. There is even a supplies section where you can buy kits, beads, fabric and haberdashery. It's totally amazing how it fits all under one little roof. The quality of the work at is sold through the shop is amazing and because it is all handmade it is unique. I will be doing tons of my Christmas shopping here this year. I love buying and receiving handmade things. I find that I look after them more knowing the love and care that went in to each item and I get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that I have helped another artist/ crafter/ small business make a bit of money and give them confidence to carry on being creative. Not everyone appreciates handmade things but it would be awesome if we could all buy or make at least one crafted item this Christmas and the shop in the square is a good place to start! 

The shop in the square

Queens square

Wolverhampton 

(Opposite the man on the horse) 

Some hair accessories made by me and scrabble rings by Katie at the oldskooleretrokitsch boutique.

Lovely memo boards and cushions by oldskooleretrokitsch boutique, glasses cases by minty pink custard and sock monkeys by cuddles and snuggles

A bit of haberdashery by me and wood work by crafty owls creations.

Embroidery samplers and some lovely jewellary 

There is tons more including soaps, chocolates, fascinations and even stained glass! 

Visit he facebook page for info on events and special shopping evenings

www.facebook.com/shopinthesquare

The Sew Cool Sewing School

 

 

New Years Workshops

 

Saturday 11th January 2014 to Saturday 1st February 2014

 

Learn to love your machine beginners workshops.

 

Group 1:- 9.30am to 11.30am

 

Group 2:- 12.30pm to 2.30pm

 

these workshops will be run every Saturday for 4 weeks.

 

you will learn maintenance, troubleshooting, stitch types and lots of techniques to help you produce a pin cushion, a drawstring pouch, a cushion cover and applique bunting.

please visit the workshop info page for more workshops, prices and information

 

The cost of the workshop will be £60 per person for the 4 week course, that's a saving of £5 per lesson. you will also receive a cute little sewing kit to put in your drawstring pouch.

all materials, tutorial printouts and refreshments are provided and i have lots of fabrics and haberdashery to choose from.

 

if you would like to book a space on any of the workshops please email me at becci@beccibunnymakes

places are limited to 4 people per session.

 

or contact me on my facebook page

 

Becci Bunny Makes