ATELIER to naniIRO, Osaka

Sorry for the radio silence folks but we've been away in Japan living it up and the re-entry to "real life" has been a bit tough. Both Dave + I got REALLY sick with a tummy bug when we got home, I've done something to my shoulder, work is bonkers and my sewjo has totally up and left the building. All of that aside we had a GREAT time in Japan and are booked already to go back in December.

Whilst my sewjo departed before my holiday (due to a massive f**k up sewing some VERY expensive Tessuti fabric that I can't bring myself to blog about) I did want to do a small amount of fabric shopping in Japan.

I had NO idea that the ATELIER to naniIRO was in Osaka until someone told me via Instagram - the things you learn on the internet!  naniIRO has A LOT of fans out there and I do love the colourful fabrics she produces but I've never opened up my wallet before to make a purchase as it's not exactly cheap...and I'm not sure what I'd sew with this fabric.  Also, naniIRO seems to be all wovens (and you know how I feel about them) so I was just going to have a look at the Atelier, for curiosity sakes, and then move along.

You can't take photos inside naniIRO...no idea why, but them's the rules, so here is me outside with my haul!

The atelier isn't too hard to find as I found this VERY useful blog post with great directions. The shop is really cute - looks like it's straight out of Frankie magazine. The staff, who look just like the girls out of a Japanese sewing book, speak a little English so that was very helpful.The whole place is very quite as the staff go about cutting up fabric for online orders. I loved it. Dave was bored out of his socks.

After a quick look around I was about to walk out empty handed - everything was beautiful, but I wasn't sure what I'd make with any of it. Before we headed out the door I thought I'd go for a peak in a tiny room off the main room called the "naniIRO museum". In there were little precut pieces for sale; as well as swatch books of fabric from past collections...complete with a swatch book of knits. BINGO!  I wasn't sure if the fabric in the swatch book was for sale or not...but lucky for me it is!

There were only about 15 knit swatches in the book but it took me about 30 minutes to decide on what to buy (poor Dave)! In the end I went for a lovely blue-grey pattern that I thought would make a nice Mandy Boat Tee. Because I came to Japan without much spending money (!) Dave took pity on me (also it was my birthday) and bought me a lovely colourful piece that he took a liking to. At the last minute I grabbed a piece of polka-dot cotton that I thought I could make a zipper pouch out of (now I'm freaking out about sewing a zipper) and some bias binding...as I love bias binding.

The fabric is quite a bit cheaper here than in Australia...I paid about AUD$80 for 3 meters of knit fabric, the cotton and the bias binding. The fabric is VERY narrow, only 80cm, which is why I bought so much. I'm too scared to use any of this beautiful fabric though...I've ruined too much fabric in the last 18 months so all of this is going into the stash cupboard until I get my confidence back.

Sayonara sewing peeps, Mel x

Knit Gabby Dress

I think this dress is possibly one of my most favourite makes to date. AND I actually think I might wear it. Out of the house! Maybe tomorrow. I'm already contemplating if it's too casual for my workplace (which lets face it, is one of the most casual places on earth besides the beach) cos I'd like to wear this on Fridays...and Mondays maybe too.

This dress is directly, 110% inspired by (or ripped off from) a Uniqlo dress I bought over the Australia Day long weekend. I saw a women walking into the change room with it and I immediately raced out into the store to look for it as I LOVED the print so much (it's French fabric...ooh la la). I was pretty sure it would look terrible on me, but I think the shape is quite OK (confirmed by my shopping buddy and also husband at home later).

I wore my Uniqlo dress out to brunch the next day with my beloved clogs (and Marimekko) bag and I felt really...modern (which I hardly ever feel). The more I looked at the dress, over my bacon and egg roll,  the more I thought it was the same shape as Tessuit's Gabby Dress (which I've made once in a woven but it didn't work for me).  When I laid the Uniqlo dress on top of the Gabby Dress it was a perfect match. So off to Spotlight we went where I found this fun, but not too twee cotton knit that was 30% off. I wanted something with a bit of structure...not too slinky, but not too stiff either. The fabric is the same as the umbrella fabric I used for one of my Myrtles (but it wasn't slinky enough for that type of dress).

This was a VERY simple make. I didn't follow the pattern instructions as I figured it was the same as the Coco Dress which I've made four times now. The neck, sleeves and hem are all just turned under the width of the overlocking (is that too narrow - it seems the easiest?) and stitched down with a small zig zag stitch. I wasn't going to finish the hem or sleeves as I was feeling lazy, but I came to my senses eventually.

I sewed the largest size for this dress, an L.  It is pretty much sewn entirely on the overlocker so it has a very scant seam allowance, rather than what the pattern recommends for the woven version it is designed for. It is definitely more roomy than the woven version I made (good for around the back and arms) though it was too big in the body, especially from the bust down, so I ran it in a bit on each side. I also lengthen it by 10cm, which was WAY too long so I hacked off 8cm...which was too much, so next time I'll lengthen by 5cm.

Speaking of clogs...I think my pear dress looks pretty good with my clogs!

Actually, I think I'm just going to sew a wardrobe based around my clogs.

Another day, another Party Peplum Dress

I know I know, it's ANOTHER Party Peplum dress. But to be fair out of ALL the iterations I've made this is only one of two that is wearable...because it fits (sort of). Interestingly though, even though I've made about ten Party Peplum's thus far the first version made out of daisy print quilting cotton is my favourite and fits best. Odd.

I've made SO many changes to this pattern that I can't even remember what I've done anymore.

For my last version I thought I'd size down all over (from an XXL to an XL), but alas the dress, she was too small! This time I've kept the smaller size under the arms (probably a smidge smaller than an XL) and brought the bodice out to an XXL by the time it hits the waist. I've cut a smaller size for the armhole...not to make it smaller, but it make it BIGGER. I figure more armhole = fits bigger arms. I probably lowered the armhole a bit too...who can remember?  I also attempted to change the bust darts....apparently the tip of the dart isn't suppose to sit ON your nipple, but it should kinda sit under your bust (is that right?). Now the darts kinda sit to the side of my bust...like they are pointing to two googly eyes.  Anyway, moving on...

I'm not sure this dress is 100% comfortable as I'm truly not a fan of woven garments...so restrictive unlike my beloved knits. BUT I donned it the very first day it was finished to wear to a concert that was being held at the historic Old Parramatta Gaol near our house (Tex Perkins singing Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Album FYI).  I figured if I didn't wear it ASAP it might never get worn. It was hotter than the surface of the sun that night so I was pretty hot in this dress as there is A LOT of fabric...and it's probably not cotton...it's a mystery fabric from My Hung in Parramatta bought AGES ago!

I wore the dress with my brand new Funkis clogs (that I LOVE even they pain me after an hour of wear and whose purchase I totally blame on Dolly Clacket who is the Clog Queen of the Internets) and my new(ish) Marimekko clutch that I LOVE so much (I blame this purchase on Marimekko fangirl Alex). I agonized about both these purchases...but I've already used both of them SO much so for cost per wear they are practically freebies.

I think I have one more Party Peplum in me.  I want to make a version with a gathered skirt and POCKETS!