Hogwarts acceptance letter

My little sister has been a massive harry potter fan since she picked up the first book off my self two years ago. Whilst aimlessly searching the internet I came across this blog post about how to make Hogwarts acceptance letters and with my sisters 11th birthday being this year, it was the perfect little gift.

I made my sisters letter using tea bagged paper which I just placed in the printer as I printed off the letter. I also included a platform 9 and 3/4 ticket as a way to get to Hogwarts.

I know the seal is a bit big but I had proportion issues whilst printing it off. Oh well, it's the thought that counts right?

I hope this has inspired you!

I Know it's not sewing related but I had to share this with you because it's such a great gift idea for Harry Potter fans.

High-low skirt tutorial

I first saw these skirts in South Korea, whilst on holiday. Once home I couldn't find any I liked the look of so I decided to make my own. I took pictures along the way to show you how I made it.

• I started out with a dress that was a few sizes to large for me.

• From here I cut off the top of the dress (the part where the arm holes finished).

• Next I folded over the top of the skirt to make a waist band to insert elastic. For my elastic I measure around the part of my hips I wanted the skirt to sit and cut off that length of elastic. I didn't add any seam allowance, so as to make the elastic stretch when I'm wearing the skirt. This gives it a nice fit.

• Once the elastic was inserted I pinned on an s shaped line and cut along it. ( Just a little tip, the pins can then be moved until you have the shape you want before taking the scissors to your garment)

• Then simply hem and your high low skirt is completed.

This skirt is great for both formal occasions and informal occasions.

I hope this has inspired you!

Our modest swimming dresses!

It finally feels like summer. Yay! So my sister and I where able to wear the swimming costumes I made for us back in early spring. The basic pattern is one that I made myself but I adapted it and added in extra detail to make them look a bit more interesting and different. It was hard to work out how wide our skirts need to  allow for movement but also for them not to be to clingy when wet. In the end I got the balance right and the end results can be seen bellow.

(if you're wondering what's going on in this picture, my sister and I came up with this crazy invention, involving a skipping rope, because we don't have any slopes in our back garden and so for the water slide to work we pulled each other along with a skipping rope)

For my dress I added a little black belt, for the waist, and embellished it with a little blue flower. I felt that the material was already very bold and so didn't require any more decoration.

For my sisters costume I used a pale purple, which gave me loads of options when it came to decorating it. I used a pink pokadot material for the sash, which was sewn on when attaching the upper half to the lower half, and I used the same material for the slits at the side, to allow movement.

We both wore our black swimming costumes beneath, as I didn't make any matching bikini to go underneath the dresses. It also created an extra bit of security in case the materials became see through when wet; luckily neither did.

(As you may have noticed I don't put my face or my sisters face on the internet, hence the hearts)

I hope this inspired you!

Grey v-neck top

I had a completely free day last Thursday and so made this figure hugging grey V-neck top.

To make it I basically free styled, using my pale blue tank top as a guide for the back and front parts of the main top but for the front I copied the V-neck off one of my T-shirts. The first part was simple but the arms where more complicated. I used a pattern from my stash but it didn't quick fit so I had to adjust the pattern and for the length I pull out yet another top and used that as a guide. The sleeves are longer but I prefer rolling them up. Finally I didn't hem the garment as it was jersey and so wouldn't fray.

Making a top like this is great if like me you struggle finding clothes that fit (because the fashion industry doesn't think you can be tall and thin). This method allows you to adjust the top to be a blend of your favourite tops, so as to make it exactly right for you.

I hope this has inspired you!

comfy evening skirt

I may have mentioned before that I went with my family to South Korea but what I didn't mention is that Gwangjang market by day is a sewers heaven. I could have quite easily spent an entire day there but knew that it wouldn't be fair on my family if I did. While there I found a beautiful red fabric with black flowers on which I knew would be brilliant for a dramatic piece of clothing. When we returned home I searched the internet for an idea for what I could do with the material. I eventually decided to make a maxi evening skirt. My inspiration came from this post on my favourite sewing blog.

To create this skirt I basically followed what the original blog post suggested and used this pattern, which I had already from making this skirt, and the bottom half of my maxi dress.

I love the denim skirt pattern because it allows you to make custom fitting skirts. Also this proves that it can be used to make other styles of skirts.

Finally I added a yoga style waist band, hemmed the skirt and I was done. Unlike other evening skirts this one is super comfy due to it being made from jersey.

I hope this has inspired you!

Shout out to Dan! (You know why)