November 2018 - Handmade by Carolyn

ochre challenge

28/11/2018 11:39 am \ 40 Comments \ Carolyn

So I loooooooove the colour ochre, and I adoooooooore linen too, not to mention that I’m a complete and utter sucker for a clothing/dressmaking challenge of practically any description…. so when the Fabric Store announced their ochre challenge I was just like, well point me to the sign-up page!!!

The idea; you buy some of their ochre linen, or ochre merino – yes, yes, I know, you always have to buy something! but I love the Fabric Store anyway, and for the previously mentioned reasons I’m A-ok with buying a bit of ochre linen. Then you have to make something with it. Obviously 😉

I’ve had this idea floating around in my head for a dress with overlays and all random odd angles and “bits” so I drew a few sketches and got playing with some of the very large pieces of paper I seem to always have lying around nowadays since I started designing patterns. And made a pattern. And here it is, in fabric form!

It has a gently A-line shape, pockets , overlays both front and back, seams all hidden inside, and asymmetry EVERYWHERE. There was a bit of technical head scratching about laying the pieces down on my 2m of fabric, and then getting the seams inside and hidden, especially because of the overlays; and getting the “bits” to sit how I wanted them to, but I think it all came together in the end just exactly how I wanted it to. I’m actually pretty thrilled to be honest! because it’s quite fun and flirty, the colour is YUUUUM! and I think it’ll be really nice for a casual day dress in summer. I might even make this into a pattern, if there’s interest? Please do let me know!!

So, I’m pretty sure I NEVER pull this pose in real life and yet I’ve noticed that somehow I’m compelled to do it for blog poses on a frequent and regular basis?? #weird

Details:

Dress; my own design, made from 2m of ochre linen from the Fabric Store
Shoes; made by me, at the Shoe Camaraderie workshop, details here

Posted in: fashion, sewing \ Tagged: dress, own design

poppy dress

26/11/2018 10:44 pm \ 11 Comments \ Carolyn

I’ve made this new dress #surprise! This beautiful poppy printed silk chiffon was a birthday present from my lovely thoughtful Mum… we were browsing together in Fabulous Fabrics and oohing and aahing over it, and she suddenly announced “I’d like to get that for you for your birthday!” And she even chose the pattern I was to use, which is of course Vogue 1351, anyone who has read this blog for even a short amount of time will know how much I LOVE this Donna Karan pattern since I’ve used it a few times. Actually four times before, to be exact; here, here, here and here. To my mind its silhouette has a perfect simplicity, or should that be that it is simply perfect? Either or!

The poppy chiffon is very delicate and sheer. The background is actually pure white, however I chose to line my dress with a off-white polyacetate lining fabric. I chose the off-white over pure white, because it was noticeable softer, the overall effect of the pure white was surprisingly harsh. I’m not really at my best in pure, pure white, even though I love it; a softer ivory-white is a lot better for me.

invisible zip in left side seam; this is always my preferred zip placement!

I’ve worn it several times already, the first time on Remembrance Day, when Mum, Dad, Craig and I went to visit the RSL poppy tribute at Kings Park. I chose to wear it a) because of Remembrance Day, of course! and b) because Mum and Dad were staying with us and I wanted to show them the lovely birthday present they had given to me!

Wait, the poppy tribute? Well, this year, 61,513 hand-knitted and crocheted poppies were made and “planted” by RSL volunteers, one poppy for each Australian lost at WW1. Seeing them and walking through the exhibit; the sheer number of them, was such a very sobering, very humbling and very moving experience. Speaking, um “craft-ily”, as it were; so much care and love and thought had obviously gone in to each and every poppy too, some had buttons, that we read were often included for their significance to the family in some way, like from a uniform or something. The exhibit was only on for four days, so we felt very fortunate we thought about it and went, and I was also very pleased to hear that the exhibit will be returning again in future years.

I did think about getting a picture of my dress at the exhibit, but once we got there I felt that would be disrespectful. I mean, while the poppies themselves were beautiful and spectacular and a visual treat to behold, of course I realised how very wrong it would be to treat them like a photo backdrop to my dress. Though a few ladies passing by did comment that my dress was “perfect for the day” which was very nice.

I did take a picture of Mum and Dad though…

I next wore the dress just recently, we had a gorgeously warm, but windy! weekend and we went for a lovely long afternoon walk at the beach, and I grabbed the opportunity to take some pictures… does Clara look incredibly wet and sandy in this picture? Well, that’s because she is!! I was wondering if she was going to jump up on me, or shake sopping sand all over me with one of those doggy full-body shakes.

Actually caught her partway through one said full-body shake below… and thank goodness she’s waaaaaaaay way over there! Normally she’ll come right up to you before letting loose, and I’m telling you, this is one ultra-fluffy hairy doggy, and she can carry a heckuvva lot of water and sand in that there gorgeous coat of hers!

plus bonus random bird! hey birdie!

Aaaaand there’s my husband, being very polite and keeping well out of the way while I take my pictures, ahem. Well, that’s what he’s supposed to be doing!! Man!

Fun fact; in this picture he’s wearing this blue jumper, that I made for him last Christmas. You have to scroll riiiiiiiiiight to the end of the post to find it though, I just checked and it’s a MONSTER post with about a million items in it. Well, that’s what it felt like, when I was making them I mean. Ha!

Details:

Dress; Vogue 1351, poppy print silk hiffon
Red cardi, in beach pics; my own design variation on the Nettie bodysuit, but Closet Case patterns, details here
Sandals; Zomp, from Zomp boutique

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Clara, Craig, Dad, daily outfit, dress, Mum, Vogue 1351

the Kimberley doll pattern

13/11/2018 9:32 pm \ 9 Comments \ Carolyn

For anyone who liked my dolls and maybe wished to make one for themselves…Cassie and I have made a pattern!

The Kimberley doll pattern is available to buy in our shop right now, just in time for Christmas making! You can get it as an instantly downloadable pdf and there are also a limited number of paper patterns. This is the same pattern I developed to make my recent seasonal set of four; the Mses Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn … I enjoyed making them all so much! and am so happy they’ve been liked so much too 🙂

Included is the rag doll pattern, naturally; and her full wardrobe… I know when I was a kiddy the most enjoyable thing about playing with my dolls was dressing them in a variety of clothes; the more the better! and my favourite dolls all had lots and lots of clothes which I delighted in changing out regularly. This is why I strived to give the Kimberley doll plenty of outfit options! All pieces included in the seasonal girls’ sets are here; the “winter” turtleneck tunic dress and a pair of jersey leggings, and the knitting pattern for her chevron-patterned beanie with pompom; a twirly summer wrap dress, lace knickers, and raglan sleeved mini dress, which so far I have chosen to make in stretch sequinned fabric as a cocktail dress for “my” girls. Additional patterns included are for her zippered duffle bag, and also for the dust bag that is designed to hold her and all her belongings when she is not being played with.

I also include instructions for giving the doll a full head of yarn hair and an embroidered face. The example I used for the pattern is basically the same face that I have given all my dolls, but I would like to point out that how you do the face for your own doll is a very personal decision and you can, and should! use your own artistic license and go with whatever takes your fancy! Something interesting I’ve found is that the smallest, tiniest variations; a slant to a mouth, wider-set eyes, offset or asymmetrical eyebrows, can affect a facial expression quite a lot. And hair! that’s a whole other story too… 🙂

Some of the technical deets:

The Kimberley doll stands 43cm (17″) high. Most of her clothes can actually be made from scraps and small bits and pieces of fabric, but following is a complete list of requirements should you buying new:

The Kimberley doll is named for the Kimberley region of Western Australia, following our theme of naming our patterns after places in Western Australia. Well, we already had “Perth” and so decided this would be a nice theme to keep up and we have so many beautiful places here in Western Australia that are obviously very dear to our hearts. Though we were partly influenced by the thought it would be nice to have a girl’s name for a doll pattern too, so very fortunately we do have one girl’s name in the state! The colours of the Kimberley rocks are what I was going for in the background colour of the pattern cover. I was pretty thrilled when Cassie recognised this straight away without my having to explain it, hehe…

It’s so weird; for many years I never suspected I would have become interested in making dolls, it’s not “serious” like making clothing for yourself or anyone else for that matter, and for a long time I’ve been quite serious about my sewing and devoting myself to making a full and proper wardrobe. But well, doll-making has been such a nice diversion, just something purely whimsical, you know? I hope it gives a little bit of frivolous enjoyment to others too!

By the way; selling of completed handmade dolls made using this pattern is permitted provided design credit is given to Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co.

Posted in: crafty stuff, sewing \ Tagged: Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, doll, dollmaking, kimberley doll, own design

Ms Autumn

06/11/2018 10:35 pm \ 14 Comments \ Carolyn

Ciao, le belle signore!! I am soooooo happy to introduce Ms Autumn! the fourth and final doll in my little set of four seasonal girlies…

I’m rather rapt with this young lady… her colour scheme is fab – u – lous!!! and very much right up my alley. Well, I suppose since I identify as an autumn girl myself, so yeah! This rich warm collection of tomato red, gold, rusty orange, teal blue, forest green is totally one I would choose for myself… well haha, obviously I’ve chosen all the girl’s colour schemes myself, but well you know what I mean! I’ve so much enjoyed choosing all the girl’s colours to co-ordinate nicely and I thoroughly loved choosing this one too

Like her friends, Ms Autumn has a range of clothes to choose from, so she is ready and prepared for ANY situation:

a winter ensemble with leggings, a tunic dress and knitted beanie… I gave her a kangaroo pocket on her tunic! because it’s rather lovely to have a warm kangaroo pocket you can stow your hands in to keep them warm in winter…

… little lace knickers, embroidered with a tiny, rich orange-y red rosebud…

a twirly summer dress… I only had the tiniest portion of this gorgeous rusty orange/gold print, and was so glad I managed to squeeze the little dress from out of it, because I think it’s just absolutely perfect for her!

… a sequinned cocktail dress, naturally in bright sunshine-y gold! This particular fabric is a little sheer so I lined it with cream coloured jersey knit. Well, modesty is a virtue, si?

Want to hear something a bit funny… ? I think my favourite favourite thing about her entiiiiiire ensemble is actually this little necklace?!

Up until now I’ve ade the girls’ necklaces using a simple, single loop of wire. I had some gold wire for Ms Autumn, but frustratingly it was just a little too flimsy to use by itself. This stumped me for a little bit… should I use one of the other coloured wires I had? but I really had my heart set on gold. Finally I thought about making a twisted gold necklace. It took me a few attempts of painstakingly careful twisting to get the twist nice and even all the way along! but finally I had a necklace I was satisfied with. The little catch closure was little tricky, but I’m in love with how it worked out in the end! Though I thought the little necklace was pretty cute by itself, it looked just a touch spare without a pendant, so I decided at the last minute to add a gold-apricot pearl to nestle against her décolletage…

She also a zippered forest green duffle bag, which is roomy enough to store all her things, should she wish to go off for a weekend trip, or something, and need all her stuff.

… and her dust bag, in a deep raspberry shade which also goes quite nicely with all her things, imo

peekaboo!

Ms Autumn is available for purchase here in our shop right now…

My friend Meggipeg asked me recently… isn’t it hard to part with “my” girls? and yes, it’s little bit scary! but it really does make me truly happy to think they are going to homes where they can be played with; and Ms Autumn may be the last in this set, however I’m still enjoying myself so I haven’t ruled out making more? hmmm, I’ll see how I go, got so much on my plate at the mo…!

Also I guess it’s probably pretty obvious by now; all the girls, Ms’ Winter, Spring, Summer, and Ms Autumn here too, and all their wardrobes are of course made with the same patterns, one that Cassie and I have been working hard at developing as a new pattern to put in our shop! It’s going to be available very very soon… stay tuned!