Plan B of the Roller Skate Maxi dress # July "Flip this pattern" (and handwoven plaid fabric giveaway!)

This is no.2 of the Roller Skate Pattern Flip for July's "Flip this pattern", the wonderful series hosted by FrancesSuzanne... I just can't stop. It's addicted!

Modified Roller Skate Maxi dress (Plan B)

I call this maxi dress "Plan B" because it didn't turn out as I intended. My first design didn't change the silhouette of the original version this much. I planed to make it a maxi with changing from A line skirt to half circle skirt with ruffle hem and adding front placket to the top part of the dress.

To created draped maxi skirt, I need to separate top part and skirt part and cut the skirt on bias. Along the way, I may lost my conscious somehow and attached only the body lining with the skirt part while the bodice was unattached!!!

Too lazy to get it right with seam ripper To challenged the mistake, I decided to go to plan B with the bodice unattached. Then my plan B included:

-Lengthen the bodice part with eyelet lace

-The elastic band was attached only to the bodice lining

-Adding the crochet collar instead of placket

-Pop the dress up with yellow accent

Then I got the Maxi dress which seem like the bodice separate from the dress. It's far away from my first version of Roller Skate pattern Flip. I was impressed that one pattern can make total different looks! And you will even more amazed to see how others mom flip this pattern to their own way here.

Do you like the fabrics of this dress? I made the dress from Thai traditional handwoven plaid called "Pa-kao-ma. 

Handwoven plaid cloths, Pha-kao-ma (source: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Pha-kao-ma is a basic stable piece in Thai's household. It is a multipurpose garment. Used as a towel, sarong, sash, carrying, wrapping and etc. in Thai culture from at least 900 years. 

Traditional ways to use Pha kao ma in Thai culture (Source : 1, 2)

I love the variety of Pha-kao-ma's color. I bought them every time that I've got a chance when travel to upcountry. Normally it will come in rectangle shape, with the coordinated strips at both end of the piece. Nowadays we may find both manufacturer and handwoven Pha-kao-ma but I prefer the latter. Anyway the handwoven piece is FRAY TERRIBLY!

Now to celebrated the first month of my first blog. I would like to send this Thai traditional fabric as a giveaway for anyone who might interested. If you'd like to have an experience with this handwoven Pha-kao-ma, please leave the comment to tell me how to manage such a super fray fabric without a serger. I will randomly select one suggestion at end of July and send her Pha-kao-ma to try on. (Call me Pha-kao-ma ambassador! :)

Thank you for stop by.

Upcycled : Tablecloths to a mullet skirt for party.

Apart from sewing for my sweet girl, I made outfits for myself when have a chance. Especially the upcycled project which can finished in a short period because of its already finished hem or collar is my favorite.

Upcycled mullet skirt from the tablecloth

I've got this tablecloths from nearby local flea market. At first sight, I know it would become my new skirt and I will wear it to the near come party but the idea didn't solid at that time.

This tablecloths costs me around $6

This sheer, oval shape fabric came with ruffle lace hem. The seller told me that it will perfectly charm on the rectangle or oval shape table... I don't think so, it would look better hanging on my waist. :)

With its own fancy hem. No need to have a pain at hemming around those circle/oval hem!

I designed to make it a circle skirt... but changed my mind to a mullet skirt with high and low hem. I used the tutorial from Dana Made It to calculated the waist line circle (which anyone can get a pretty circle skirt with no problem from this tutorial). I've just changed the position of the circle inside, not at the center but a bit near the one side than the other side to make asymmetric hem.

Lining skirt was the most difficult part for me to done this skirt!

You can see that this see through babe need a lining skirt. So, I have to made another circle for lining and this layer NEED to HEM around! Luckily, I've found the curved folding template from The scientific seamstress to help me finished the hem easier. It's free and awesome useful!

I made a casting for elastic because I intended to wear it to party and want to made it looks neat. The result was satisfied (from my point of view)!

Go to party with family.

I paired it with my lace top and nude belt. while my little girl worn her white tutu. I love that I can have the party outfit for less.

Any suggestion how to match the skirt with others top would be nice. I love this skirt but no idea how to wear it to get the others look.

Thank you for stop by :)

Ninja on the Roller skate for FLIP the series

I've been hooked by the fun sewing series, Flip this pattern, from talented Frances & Suzanne. And still overwhelmed with the result of June that my flip, The girlie ruffles bubble shorts got the award. Hooray!

Well, this month's pattern is the roller skate dress and tunic from Oliver & S which I've just experienced for the first time. Their pattern is marvelous! I've learn a lot on how to sew a proper way just from following the pattern instructions.

I spent lots of time day dream about how to flip it... and some ideas pop up in my mind. The pattern made me think of Ninja suit in Japanese manga which I've seen when I'm just a girl. Crazy idea???

You see the ninja girl? her name is Tsubame. I think her suit may cute for my little girl. No?

Ninja inspired roller skate tunic

And this is the result of my overload-imagination. At least it turned out cute (in my bias opinion) and I think she wear them happily. The top and bottom make her run around perfectly.

Ninja jumping shot!

I have no idea what Tsubame wear inside her mini ninja suit but I'm sure that my young lady can not running with only mini and expose her underwear at the playground. So, I made her a culottes to go with that lengthen tunic.

Ninja roller skate tunic + culottes

Top : I use the roller skate in tunic length with added extra inch at the hem. Build in obi-like, first layer attached the the dress covering the elastic casting lines and second layers as a wrap around belt which stitched to the center back side of the tunic and tied at the front.

Obi-like to sentence the Ninja theme

Cullottes : From Japanese sewing pattern book  シンプル＆デサイン おんなの子服 おとこの子服  

 シンプル＆デサイン おんなの子服 おとこの子服 

The patterns inside this book are so lovely that I bought it hence I cannot read any Japanese. Just saw the images made me have a sweet dream... but trying to understand and tracing the pattern in action was such a pain.

All in Japanese langues >__<

Easy going !

I still have some more ideas to try with this pattern. It's rock! And if you see how many ideas can came up just from one pretty pattern your mind may blown away as well. Check them at francessuzanne. Don't miss it!

Fun time with homemade sidewalk paint

Every kids love messy art project or atleast my kid and her friends love messy play. So, this little art project was a big bang for them!

I found the recipe for the sidewalk paint via pinterest. The original formula was written  here but I adjusted it a bit.
My sidewalk paint formula is...
1 part cornstarch
1 part tap water
small amount of any coloring washable paint (I use tempera)
*optional : after washed all the messy paint I though next time I would add some detergent (dish washer, perhaps) to make it easier to wash.

Then we let the kids mixed it together. We provided them the cheap paint brushes from hardware store which perfect for this project.

This will super fun when you've got many little painter.



They were so absorp by the paint.



The older kids mixed the paint to create new color

From sidewalk paint to foot paint



It was tickle, I guess

After we made the third batch, the cornstrach was run out. The kids continue painted with sidewalk chalk.

I love this rainbow bridge

Then the kids helped in cleaning and this was fun too!

We still saw the fade color stain here and there but they gone after the heavy rain :)
So, I recommend to use only small amount of color and add a bit of detergent to the formula if you want to try this fun.

It was an honor!

Hooray! today I've got a very good news that...
my creation for "Flip this pattern" was win!

First moment, it was like... really?... cannot believe it. So I headed to francessuzanne blog and found this announcement . I was surprised and overwhelmed with this result. Thanks all the ladies. It was very encouraged that my first step is so much accepted.

So, Thanks talented Heidi of  Elegance and Elephants for creating this cute pattern. and thank you again, wonderful frances & suzanne for hosting this FLIP series. And all ladies who sewing along, all those creations are pretty and inspiring.

I will share the tutorial for adding ruffles to the pockets and suspenders in soon.

Now , I've day dream about how to FLIP this adorable roller skate dress in the next month. How about you?

 

Cactus pin cushion&keeper : Repurpose project

Since I bought the sewing machine. Seem like I got a need for things that never have a meaning for me before; pin cushion, for example. So I designed to make one and this one should be function as pin keeper as well. Coz I plan to carry it with me to the sewing class.
And I ended up with this

I've got the original tutorial for cactus making here :

Looks simple enough for the beginner sewer, right? Let's start!

1. Cut the felt to 6 pcs of semi-circle. I used 2 tone of green to coordinated.

2. Find empty cosmetic jar, wrap it with your fabric scraps useing glue gun to attach. Cut a long rectangle piece of felt to wrap the lid if you's like. Cut a circle same size as the top of the lid. Leave the jar and circle piece wait to grow the cactus.

3. Sew a pair of semicircle together. We would got 3 semicircle caps, trim the edge of the cap and flip them inside out.

4. Sew along the center of 3 semicircle caps. Stuff each room with polyester And sew to close the rooms.

5. Sew your cactus with the circle piece. Use glue gun to attach it to the jar lid.

6. Let the cactus bloom if you'd like. I've just cut the red felt to 2 flower shape and sticked them to cactus with my pins. How lazy ^^

There you've got it! Open lid to store the pin and use the lid as the cushion. I'm love how it turned out. Hope you like it too. :)

My flip : Girlie ruffles bubble shorts with suspenders

I've just started sewing for a while and tried to join in couple series of sewalong as posted in my Flickr. But this is  the first attempt to post it in the blog. (You may notice that this is THE FIRST post of the blog) So, I hope you enjoy it.

The 1st pattern of "Flip this pattern" ,the series hosted by talented Frances Suzanne, is lovely E&E bubble pocket shorts . It's so cute and surprisingly easy to sew. Even me, the naive sewer has no problem to finished the shorts!

And this is how I flip E&E bubble pocket shorts .

I added double layers of ruffles, eyelets and coordinate bias cut gingham to the pockets. These girlie details were add to the suspenders to up level of the sweet-girl looks too.

The shorts turned out sweet as I wish...

My little model was not in the "nice shot" mood. But I tried to pursued her with ice cream. 

Do you think it suits the girl well?

Thank you for stop by!