Sneak Peek!

I just thought i would share with you what has been happening at the Bluegingerdoll headquarters of late...... 

 Although it has been a little bit quiet  with news of the release of the pattern, here on the blog ... i have been feverishly working away on it.... I am currently in the midst of preparing for a photo shoot this coming Monday for the pattern  look book   and  have been busy, maybe slightly frantic...   sewing  the final pattern samples, organizing the styling.. oh and trying to figure when it will be somewhat of a sunny day!

 

But  i  am really excited about the upcoming  shoot, the location is stunning  and  just finally getting closer to the release of the pattern design, because you gals  are going to love it!!!!

  

But till then folks,  here are is a little sneak peek of  what i have been working on:

 

So stay tuned for the end result of the photo shoot  and news of the release of the Bluegingerdoll pattern ! 

Yay!

Happy sewing!

x

Giveaway time & Easter !

 

 

Remember the mental health giveaway i contributed to recently?

 

a-black-dog-great-cause-and-vintage

 

Well it is officially up and running and ready for you to enter !

 

Check  out the link below and all the other  awesome vintage giveaways you could win:

 

http://www.norafinds.com

 

Giveaway ends Friday 19th April

 

So go ahead and enter, not only could you win some cool vintage stuff, but you will helping to raise awareness for mental health.

 

 

Happy Easter everyone!

 

 

Abby

 

x

 

 

Hilarious! but the bunny is kinda scary....

 

 



Lapped zipper tutorial

 I thought i would share with you a technique that i use quite regularly on all my garment creations, a lapped zipper, and also step into tutorial land... so please be kind!

Inserting a lapped zipper was the first way, i learnt to install a zipper, another cool technique from my mum! Thanks Mum :)

 I have dabbled with invisible zippers, but i keep coming back to lapped zippers, mainly just for that classic finishing touch on a garment... and they are just beautiful .. i think!

And also they are also used in majority of vintage patterns i would say.
So give them a spin for a true vintage garment, and after reading this tutorial you will find they are easy to install as well!

 If you don't know what a lapped zipper, well here is the definition of it:

 A finished lapped  zipper has an overlap on the left side of the opening that covers the zipper completely from view. .....Easy peasy!

So here we go, here is what you will need: 

A zipper foot for your sewing machine & normal dress zipper.

Step 1. Sew the seam up to the zipper opening.

Step 2.  On the both left & right sides of the zipper opening, turn the seam allowance under 5/8” and press.

3. Starting on the left side, pin your zipper in place, 3/4'' below neck seam. Make sure the  zipper teeth are just next to the fabric’s fold. Pin through the zipper tape as well.

Step 4. Install the zipper foot on your machine and start stitching the zipper in place, stitching right on the fold and close to the zipper teeth edge.

Check it out, 1^st row of stitching complete!

Step 5. Close the zipper and pin the right side of the opening in place so that its fold just matches the line of stitching you made in step 4, and covers the zipper from view . Again pinning through the fabric and through the zipper tape.

6. Open the zipper up, and start stitching, following your pin line.

7. When you get to the bottom, close the zipper and pivot to stitch horizontally across the base of the zipper. I always back stitch a little, just to secure that beauty in place!

 Check out this awesomeness!

See how the lapped fold covers the zipper?! Cool!



Just an example of what it will look like when folded down  along the neckline.

 Snip off the leftover zip on the inside of the dress, below your stitch line, of course!

Whats your favourite sewing technique?

 I hope you give lapped Zippers a go and also add them to your sewing repertoire! Cause their ace!

Abby

x

.

Back in the day....

 I have been rummaging through my chaotic sewing room lately and on these rummaging missions, i rediscovered some really cool vintage sewing items that i have been given from my Mum and stuff i have brought along my trails..... I thought i might just share them with you:



I picked this  magazine up on a road trip, in an old antique store ( which was actually a massive warehouse in the middle of nowhere) - unlucky though - none of the patterns were included, but it is so much fun to read - can you imagine having these types of magazines now? Not only are they awesome sewing mags, but they are beautiful, such care taken in the design and illustrations....Check out some of the ads, they are  good for a laugh!

Enjoy!

 

I had curly hair as a little one - a red headed Shirley temple - i wonder if Mum used this?

Gee thank Jack Davey, so thoughtful..

 Not sure i would want to put that stuff on my teeth....

I would have totally went to this course!



This is my fav - Nerve tablets - hahahahhahaha the kids are fun now - what vodka and Valium not cool anymore?

Not only a chocolate ad - but look in the left corner - instructions for women, on how they could improve themselves & their  lives by making chocolate... hang on... that does make sense! ha



I love this ad - so chic, I definitely don't look like that sewing :)



Measuring ruler on the side.. Awesome!

This was my Nana's, Mum gave them to me not long ago..

I'm not going to use them at all, just a keepsake of my Nan

Check out the packaging quality, so pretty..

Again the inside packaging is so pretty but still so practical..



 



 Pretty..

What cool vintage sewing stuff have you picked up? Or had passed down from family members?

 Have a rad week!

 

Abby

x





My new Bernina 1008....

 

I have a new love in my life.... My new Bernina 1008!

 

It got delivered late last week, and all long weekend i have been testing it out.... I am in love!

 

This isn't my first sewing machine, i have been 'trying' to sew on my little basic machine for quite sometime, and it has done its job.... but i  really needed to start stepping up with the big guys, and get myself a new machine. I had been searching around for a while for a machine that was:

 

 1 - Within my budget

 2 - Would  be easy to use, and  just plain  awesome

3- Last a long time, this is a big investment for me

4 - Not give me any crappy mechanical issues on a regular basis

 

And majority of all reviews i have read, this beauty was a clear winner!

 

And it  is a total dream to use,   it just does what it is meant to do - no fancy schmancy stuff on it  that looks  cool, and  you promise yourself:

 'Oh yeah that would be sooo awesome i will totally make something with that amazing button'

but never do.....

 

It is a total workhorse, built so solidly ... once i sat it down, it was staying put!

You just cant beat good quality.

 

I  now have the most  perfect button holes with the easy to use  6- step button hole, it is so easy to use! It also  takes any fabric you give it and sews it perfectly  each time, considering it doesn't have an adjustable presser foot pressure.... it so cool!

 

 

 

 

 

This machine also opens up a whole other world of presser feet, which i am about to go nuts on and buy them all!  I have been looking around at the Bernina  presser feet available and its like  my  version of heaven! I have already started talking.. no rambling.. about them to people... from the look on their faces... i think i turning into a bit of sewing geek!

 

 

You gals got any advice on some awesome presser feet? Do you own a Bernina 1008?What was your first machine,?! When did you find the/your perfect sewing machine?

 

I'm off to search the net for presser feet, and possibly have a mind explosion about all the possibilities!

 

Abby

x