While two of my older sisters sat neatly with their embroidery, I spread out with sewing machine, a pile of dresses and bags of buttons and threads. (In other words, assumed the position of my 16-year-old self on the kitchen table). The one thing I forgot was a tape-measure. ..but placing buttonholes is not a problem when there are paper napkins around!
The Tulip Dress is in its final stages. See my Flickr page for a few more pics. You might also start to see some pattern testing pics popping up on a few blogs. Here it is at Matching Pegs and two versions at Thornberry. It's also here at My Black Cardigan.If you'd like to go into a draw to win a pattern for yourself, leave a comment here. I'll draw the prize when the pattern is ready to go up on the website. For a second chance at the pattern and a chance to win a yard/metre of fabric from my stash AS WELL, you can blog about it and leave another comment to tell me you've linked....
If you have any stories about improvised sewing gadgets, I'd love to hear them, too (not a rule of the giveaway.... just for fun!).
Which brings me to the monthly spend-over $50 prize. This month's prize will be ALSO be a copy of the Tulip Dress pattern - hot off the press! All invoices over $50 for the month of January will be going into the draw. So... a few chances to WIN WIN WIN!
EDITED TO ADD - Thank you - the draw is now closed!!
I would love to win this pattern. Have loved seeing it at Lara's.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an improvised sewing story, but my husband did just have to make me some 5.5mm double pointed needles by chopping up a standard pair of needles and carving points on the ends for me. Worked a treat!
What a sweet dress! My little redhead would look adorable in one! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteYou know those wooden iron things? They are perfect for pushing down the backs of magnetic snaps!
Great improv! Cute dress - are you sure you're willing to part with some of your stash?
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. Those dresses are adorable.
ReplyDeleteMy sewing improvisation comes from my brother. Growing up with a seamstress mom, he learned how to sew alongside me and my sister. So when he couldn't find any car seat covers that he liked, he decided to make his own. But they needed to be manly (even though he was hand sewing them himself), so he used washers instead of grommets hehehe. Pretty much the same thing I guess. He sewed them in securely and they looked cool and worked properly to attach the covers onto the seats. Nice!
I would love a chance to win a copy of the dress pattern. Very cute and summery!
ReplyDeleteThis dress is absolutely gorgeous. I can definitely see my 2 year old in one (or two or three) of these!
ReplyDeleteLove the little girl dress, have blogged the give away to all my cyber friends. What size will the pattern go up to?
ReplyDeleteIt looks great Nikki. Well done on the improvisation too!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really beautiful dress. I am so looking forward to the pattern being released.
ReplyDeleteYou're a very talented person Nikki - I hope you are thrilled with yourself and can find some time to enjoy your success.
Lovely pattern Nikki, Would really enjoy sewing it for my granddaughters. Good luck with the success of it!!
ReplyDeleteCute dress, Nikki!
ReplyDeleteI'm usually always improvising when it comes to most things (I think it comes from growing up on a farm), but I can't for the life of me think of a sewing improv story!
That's lovely. I'd love to try to make one for my niece.
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki - long time between posts for me - glad to see you doing really well - love the new dress pattern - would love to make one for Ella - haven't been doing much sewing lately mainly making beads
ReplyDeleteJust linked your giveaway on my blog
ReplyDeleteLovely dress!
ReplyDeleteI use pegs when sewing curtain backing, so I dont put holes in it.
I'd love to have a go at making the dress. Very sweet and would delicious on friends' little girl.
ReplyDeleteWould love to bein the running to win Nikki - and a new gadeget - had never heard of a button-hole guage!
ReplyDeleteI've often done the 'use a piece of string' measuring trick when I have left my tape measure lying around in the bottom of the girls dress-up box - yeah sure it was me that left it there!
I've blogged about your giveaway ..... www.handmade-andsewitseams.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteCount me in, please!
ReplyDeleteYour improvisation shows true ingenuity and creativity.
I once wanted to make myself a shopping bag, but had run out of boning, so I grabbed some plastic cable ties out of the garage and used those. Worked a treat!
Fiona
Ooh, I have a dark-haired, curley grand-daughter who would suit this, perfectly! My improv is similar to yours in fact, but not for sewing. It's when you have to hang something on the wall that needs two or more pins - use a piece of cardboard to mark out the holes on the item - I find it's more accurate than the tape measure!
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki...can't think of any good examples except using paper clips as knitting stitch markers........the dress pattern looks really sweet!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very lovely giveaway, thanks Nicole! sorry about the very boring comment, no more brain for tonight!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet dress! My little redhead would look adorable in one! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteWork from home India
Absolutely, i take my small back up sewing machine to my parents & simple sewing projects cut & ready to be sewing in straight lines. I have to say, i've used paper napkins as well, hilarious, i'm not weird, or maybe we both are?? Beautiful work, love Posie
ReplyDeleteHello Nikki,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the tulip dress pattern. It looks nice and simple, and I'd probably do it in a very plain fabric, say linen (or similar), with maybe some applique or grosgrain above the hem for interest.
I also like the idea of doing what seems to be - correct me if I'm wrong - a kind of bubble effect at the bottom? I also like the bias finish on the sleeves.
And I know I would especially like it if it didn't have a bodice lining! But that would be greedy... maybe?
Love Love love Tulips...and in the shape of a Dress....beautiful
ReplyDeleteI would love to win a copy and some inpsiring fabric from the stash!!
My sewing improvisation is also my motto...'creative' sewing is great sewing and even better when nobody can tell!!
Damn... I took a second bite of that cherry and have linked to your giveaway on my blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://eeloh.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/look-what-i-made/
The tulip dress looks gorgeous and I'd love to sew up some for my girls. As a 'dress maker' with no training I feel like I am constantly improvising techniques and gadets but right nthis second I can't even think of one example. It'll all come flooding back the second I press publish.
ReplyDeleteWow, lovely pattern and gorgeous use of fabric. Beautifully made as well. Would love to be able to make the same for my two granddaughters.
ReplyDeleteJust love the tulip dress pattern Nikki! I do have three boys who are well trained sewing unpickers.
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE buying new tools, but I also like improvising. For button hole spacing I use a compass with an erasable marker in the pencil slot. Works a treat :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'd love a pttern, i'm trying to get your whole collection. remeber I asked you about a boxed set? haha The girl would wear it becausr you designed it :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute dress! I like the different variations the pattern testers did. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteHow generous are you!!?? I would love this pattern to make for a few little girls I know... oh and my little girl too!!
ReplyDeletexo Steph
Oooh, I'd love to win a pattern.
ReplyDeleteI almost forget your giveaway!!!
ReplyDeleteCount with me. Despite I'm not a sewing "girl" I would try this for my two grand daughters... :)
You know I'm sure I have a story on an impromptu sewing gadget, but I can't think of one off hand. Of course, I will remember one after I send in this comment - because that's the way it always seems to work! Thanks for the chance at a giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHallo from snowy SWEDEN. What a nice summery dress!! My little granddaughters would look lovely in theese! It would be nice to win a pattern at your giveaway.But if I do not,I just HAVE to get it as soon as it is for sale.
ReplyDeleteElna Gustavsson elnagustavsson@yahoo.se
What a cute dress! Would love to win the pattern!
ReplyDeleteCan't think of any impromptu sewing gadgets just now... when I head up to my Mum's to go sewing I tend to pack everything but the kitchen sink!
Love the pattern nikki. would be great to win.
ReplyDeleteI don't really improvise when sewing - I am still so new to it I am scared to do anything that I'm not told to :)
Super pattern, reminds me of when my girls were little, still hoping for a grand daughter one day that I could make your tulip dress, heaps of improvising in my time, but can't think of one right now. I'm now on the nicolemdesigns addiction list.
ReplyDeleteJust popped over here from CurlyPops - I have a nearly 4 year old girl who is in the midst of her "twirly girly dress" phase so perhaps a tulip dress or two may suit her!
ReplyDeleteAw gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteMy niece would love a dress like that!
ReplyDeleteI would love love love to be in the draw for this. I have a daughter who would look adorable in this dress, and it is my goal to getting seriously sewing this year. thanks, great blog! Beaut pattern!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway, I would love to win this pattern, and also the fabric.
ReplyDeleteFor a button spacing guide, I use my computer! I use Adobe Illustrator, I make a rectangle with the right measurements, then add as many lines as I need for buttons, and then I used the Align feature, that evenly spaces out the lines, so then I print this and use it to mark my buttons...all this takes me less then a minute.
http://chantalsews.wordpress.com/
love love love me a good giveaway...!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I am a new sewer and would love a chance to try something so cute! Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Gorgeous dress and Model... would love to be in the draw.... I've not made any clothes for a little while and not a dress... my two precious DD would love it..
ReplyDeleteHugs Dawn x x x
A Tulip Dress Pattern Giveaway, huh? I'm forgetting any lottery ticket I was thinking about purchasing and pinning my hopes on this! No pressure or anything.
ReplyDeleteCount me in for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks
I've blogged about the giveaway for a second entry and change to win a piece of fabric too.
ReplyDeletehttp://karunui.blogspot.com/2010/01/nicole-mallalieu-giveaway.html
I would have never thought about that! Such a smart girl!
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki,
ReplyDeleteWould love the chance to win your new pattern, really appreciate all your tips and thorough explanations - I am learning so many new things with each pattern! x
I would love to be in for a chance to win the pattern. In fact, I already know which fabric to use!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photo! I've blogged about the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI have thoroughly enjoyed watching you develop this pattern and all the little sneak peeks. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to try it out for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteCute dress! I think my girlfriends 3 girls would get one of those if I had a pattern. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I'd love a chance at the new pattern, it's so sweet!
ReplyDeleteHave I not entered this already??!?!
ReplyDeleteI love this pattern-just the thing for my two lovely nieces!
ReplyDeleteI have a sewing tip: never cut your pattern. Trace it onto lightweight interfacing. That way you have a strong reusuable pattern plus the original pattern untouched. Handy if you need to trace out another pattern.
I love to sew and with 4 little granddaughters I am sure this pattern would be well used.
ReplyDeleteOOOOhhh I love that pretty little dress, and your photoshoot is perfect! Would love to have a copy of your pattern and I have also blogged about it :)
ReplyDeletenotsewshabby.blogspot.com
Tara
Very sweet dress! I have used paper items to measure many times. Plus, I think everyone needs to know how long their fingers are in inches and how big their palm is, etc. It helps when you need a quick measurement and forget a tape measure/ruler.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely pattern. And I love little girls arms in dresses. Please put me in the draw.
ReplyDeleteLove, the dress and your impromtu button hole guage. Can't wait to check out the dress pattern. yeah, beautiful fabric you're offering too.
ReplyDeleteBlogged about your give away here
ReplyDeletehttp://crankystitches.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-win-free-tulip-dress-pattern.html
Would love to enter your giveaway. The dress pattern is very cute & I'm sure would look great on one of my four girls, or maybe all of them!
ReplyDeleteblogging and commenting is very new to me (dont know if it will work!) but here goes...the final dresses look great, the headless chick obviously has a great eye for designer fabric and i dont know what the sewing world would do without you. plus i think my charlie-girl would look lovely in your design!
ReplyDeleteWow what a cute as dress I would love to win the pattern. I could see my daughter owning one dress for each day of the week....Tammy
ReplyDeleteGreat idea with the napkin, I have just posted a like to your giveaway on my blog. Fingers crossed I love the pattern.
ReplyDeleteTHis dres is gorgeors.
ReplyDeleteI think my whole sewing journey is improvised :) Gorgeous dress!
ReplyDelete