THE ELEENA DRESS BY COFFE AND THREAD

Today I’ve got a beautiful dress to show you: The Eleena Dress!

This is actually the first dress I’ve sewn for Teresa for quite some time as she isn’t much into dresses anymore. And you know what? She is in love with it. She might even go back to liking dresses again just because of her new Eleena…

PATTERN: The Eleena Dress by Coffee and Thread. This is such a cute little vintage dress! I love it! This kind of dresses were very popular in the sixties and I even got an old pattern – sent all the way from New Zealand by my friend Constança - for a very similar design. But vintage patterns come in one size only, so I am glad Olga decided to launch the Eleena Dress so I can make it in every single size I need! Plus, the Eleena has some really nice sleeve options – flutter sleeves, short sleeves and long sleeves – and that makes it perfect for every season. There is also an option for a pretty collar and a contrasting central panel that will allow you to play with fabric. The dress is quite a-line shaped so it swings beautifully. I think that little detail was actually the one that made me want to sew it for my kids…

 

 

 

Since I had already seen so many amazing versions of the “original” dress (check #eleenadress on IG to be amazed), I’ve decided to play a little bit with the pattern and make something slightly different… I started with the collarless long sleeved version with continuous front panel and then hacked it a little bit: I’ve cut the skirt into two pieces and used a bright yellow contrasting piece of fabric for the bottom part, replaced the back invisible zipper for a big and long exposed zipper and the lining for a little neck facing (because my chambray is quite stiff and I thought the lining might make the top part of the dress too bulky), I’ve lengthen the sleeve a couple of inches (about 5cm) to properly accommodate Teresa’s very long arms and shorted the overall length again about a couple of inches as I like my kids dresses to be quite short.

FABRIC: Denim chambray and solid yellow cotton, both from my local shops (chambray from Feira dos Tecidos and Solid Yellow from Park dos Tecidos). I´ve got this thing for color blocking… I just love these simple designs in nice bright contrasting colors! But in Portugal, especially in winter time, kids wear mostly dark colors and sometimes – especially when I look at school or birthday photos – I feel like my daughters look  a little bit like aliens… I just hope they will not be traumatized adults because I make their clothes! But I am almost sure they will only wear black in their teens!

Don't forget to check out the other creations on the tour:

February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While She was Sleeping

 

The Eleena dress is on sale for only $7 until March 7th and you can get it here! 

 

Olga has also put together a great giveaway were you can win Coffee and Thread two patterns and one yard of Sara Jane fabric.Try your luck on the Rafflecopter!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

DEAR PRUDENCE BY SEW PONY

Today I am really happy to be part of the Dear Prudence Pattern Tour! Dear Prudence is the latest pattern designed by my good friend Suz and, like all other Sew Pony patterns, it is absolutely gorgeous!

PATTERN: Dear Prudence by Sew Pony.  Are you into unique and special designs with a touch of vintage style and some cool technics that might challenge you just a bit? Then this is a pattern for you! The ultra-complete instructions will guide you through out the all process and you might learn a couple of things while sewing your Dear Prudence.

What have I learned? I am happy to tell you that this pattern made me face an old fear of mine: shrinking shirring! It was actually my first time shrinking shirring with elastic thread and, though my shrinking shirring is far from perfect yet, I think it is quite acceptable for a beginner... I hope I can master this technic really fast as I love it and want to use it more often. (Thank you Suz for helping me  distinguish shrinking from shirring!)

 

For Teresa’s dress, I chose the cap sleeve option and I have only changed three things to the original design: 1. Instead of 9cm of shrinking lines, I have sewn only about 5cm because, as I told you before, I was afraid of shrinking! 2. I’ve hemmed the dress with piping because somehow I messed with the dress length and didn’t have enough fabric to make a regular double folded hem… 3. I added a belt. I don’t really know why I did it (because I do like the dress the way it is) but it just felt right! Maybe it was because I was using a solid color fabric. Anyway, I think the belt looks nice and Teresa and she likes it too.

Teresa was the one picking the hat for this photo shoot. She is starting to like to take photos! Should I be happy about it or not?... I really don't know if I am happy about it...

FABRIC: White cotton from a bed sheet I bought long ago at Zara Home. This is a super soft fabric with some nice little wrinkles (I’m afraid you can´t see them on the pictures…). Nothing special but Teresa wanted a white dress so I had to make her a white dress. As I was afraid the white cotton might be slightly see-through, my Dear Prudence is fully lined with some white voile from my local shop too. All notions were found on my very big notions stash (don’t you love when that happens?!): both piping and buttons are vintage and the belt buckle was bought on my trip to Copenhagen at Hadler Tekstiler, a great haberdashery in the city center.  

I hope you liked my Dear Prudence! Now please check all other gorgeous dresses from the pattern tour and, if you feel inspired to make one – as I am sure you will!-, don’t forget to use the code PRUDENCE15 to get 15% discount on your pattern.

And for more inspiration check out my Paris Sew Social post. There you will find a quite free approach to this pattern…

DEBBIE'S BIRHDAY DRESS BY SEW PONY

Last year I’ve had the pleasure of testing Suz, from the Australian blog Sew Pony, first PDF Pattern: Debbie’s Birthday Dress, but I completely forgot to take decent photos and blog about the dress I made with the test pattern… The dress still fits Teresa and she wore it today to go to our local public library. When I saw her reading a Portuguese version of one of Marcel Marlier's books (she is actually reading not posing for the photo! she didn't even knew I was taking a photo!) I knew I had to finally show you this dress!

The Pattern: Debbie Birthday Dress by Sew Pony. What a timeless simple pattern this is! It has several options – you can check out here two different dresses I made with this pattern last summer – and it is perfect for a beginner seamstress. But, if you are more confident in making children’s clothes, this is also a great pattern to “flip” and add details.

Fabric/Notions: Main fabric is from a pillowcase I bought at my local street market for 1 Euro! It is super soft and I love the black dotted print. I’m sorry but I can’t remember where I bought the red lace...  I think it is also from my local street market but I am not sure.

We had fun during this photo shot!

 

And, at the end, Ines decided to take part too! She is wearing one of the few non handmade woven clothes she has. This dress is actually a nightgown I bought at fancy local children’s clothes shop (Anti Milk) before I knew how to sew…

The photos where taken (with my iPhone...) at one of my favorite buildings in Cascais: Santa Marta Lighthouse. Isn't it fabulous?!

After launching Debbie’s Birthday Dress, Suz has also designed a lovely shirt, The Little Betty Top (as soon as I can master knits I will have to sew this pattern!), and a gorgeous swimsuit, The Cosy Swimsuit (here is my version). Don´t forget to check out Sew Pony shop for more detailed information on these patterns!

FROM WHEN WE WERE YOUNG TO PROJECT RUN & PLAY AND KIDS CLOTHES WEEK

Hoje trago de volta a casa o vestido que fiz para a série "When We Were Young" organizada pela Suz do blog Sew Pony.
Este vestido enquadra-se na perfeição no tema desta semana do concurso Project Run and Play: Design your own Fabric; e também no tema da edição de Primavera da série Kids Clothes Week: Mini Me; por isso não podia deixar passar esta oportunidade...

Today I am bringing back home the dress I made for Sew Pony's wonderful series "When We Were Young".
You know why? Not only because I actually am very proud of my creation - it took me ages to make those bodice stripes... - but also because this dress fits to perfection this week's Project Run and Play theme: Design your own Fabric; and Kids Clothes Week spring edition theme too: Mini Me.
I could not miss this opportunity, could I?! 

Hi! I’m Marta from DoGuincho and I’m thrilled to be at Sew Pony sharing with you my “When We Were Young” project! Thank you Suz!

 Where were you born/where did you spend your childhood?
I was born in Lisbon, Portugal.  I spent my childhood in Miraflores, a suburb of Lisbon.

Who did you grow up with?
I grew up with my parents and my younger sister Ana.  

Did you have a childhood ambition?
When I was a child, I don’t think I had any of those crazy typical ambitions… I think I only wanted to be a “maker” and maybe that’s way I became an architect and then a seamstress.

What did you like doing when you were little?
I liked making things more than playing with dolls or other toys. And I loved being outside riding my bike with my friends!

Do you see any similarities between yourself and your child/children?
I definitely do! Teresa and Ines are really crafty. Teresa is only 5 (almost 6, actually) and she already knows and likes to make embroideries!

Do you live far from where you grew up?
No, it’s a short car ride from my parents home to where I live now .

Where do you live now and who with?
I live near Cascais, a nice fishing village just outside Lisbon, with my husband and our two daughters: Teresa and Ines.

When Suz invited me to be part of this amazing series I thought it would be super easy to chose and remake one of my childhood dresses. I couldn’t imagine how wrong I was!

My mother was great at keeping my dresses (my daughters wear lovely vintage dresses all the time) but not so great at taking photos with me actually wearing them!
Looking over my old photo albums, all I could find were fancy smoked party dresses or terrible every day clothes that I didn’t felt like remaking!
Then I came across this red and white knitted dress my mother made me...

(Here I am with my uncle, how was also my godfather)

My mother doesn’t like to sew (back in the 70’ we had a professional seamstress coming to our home once a month to sew our clothes) but she loves to knit. Since I don’t like knitting, I thought it would be nice to remake my old dress using fabric.

 I picked some plain red fabric from my local store and decided to make the stripes with white cotton ribbon. This way I could chose where I wanted the stripes to be and, at the same time, have a more textured look. For Teresa’s dress I’ve sewn 12 meters of ribbon! Can you believe it?!

As for the pattern, I´ve used Carla C’s Precious Dress. I loved the pattern and its clear and accurate instructions. (Thank you for the help, Ana Sofia!)
I’ve made two major changes for the dress to fit nicely Teresa, how is a lot older then I was when I wore the original dress. I’ve made a longer body and added a big sash at the back. But I was able to keep all the stripes!
Teresa loved her new dress! Hope you like it too!

MAD MEN . TAKE ONE DRESS SEWALONG

Em Fevereiro participei na série Take One Dress, organizada pela Victoria no seu blog As It Seams, com esta túnica que fiz para a Ines. Mas também lancei um desafio à Jenya, a participante do mês de Março: fazer um vestido inspirado pela série Mad Men, mais precisamente por este vestido da Miss Holloway.

Last February I've been visiting Victoria and her blog, As It Seams, for her wonderful series Take One Dress. I've shared with her readers this tunic I made for Ines and also set a challenge for Jenya from While She Was Sleeping, this month's contributor: make an outfit inspired by the great TV series Mad Men and this vintage dress Miss Holloway is wearing.

Gosto tanto do estilo do guarda roupa da série que não resisti a fazer um vestido Mad Men para a Teresa... Será que a Sally Draper teria um vestido assim no seu armário?

I just love Mad Men's wardrobe, so I couldn't help myself and I made a little vintage dress for Teresa. I wonder if Sally Draper would have a dress like this in her closet?!

O corte é ultra simples. Basicamente é um vestido trapézio bastante estreitinho e curtinho, ao estilo Mod.

I drafted a very simple a-line dress, quite narrow and short, like the 60' Mod dresses I love and added a nice geometrical detail to make it special.

 

O tecido foi comprado agora mas tem um toque vintage. É azul muito escuro e, embora tenha bastante elasticidade, é algo grosso. As fitas que formam as riscas são em algodão branco (com uns 7mm de largura) e foram aplicadas com ponto zigzag - tal como já fiz neste vestido e neste outro vestido também.

The fabric was bought recently but has a vintage felling that suits this project perfectly. It is dark blue and, although it is a bit stretchy, it is also quite thick. The stripes are made of simple white cotton ribbon (about 7mm wide) and were sewn to the fabric with zigzag stitch - a technic I adore and have already used on this dress and this dress.

Devo confessar que demorei mais tempo a aplicar as fitas do que a coser todo o vestido! Comecei por tentar cose-las prendendo-as apenas com alfinetes, como faço normalmente. Acabei por aplicar entretela no lado de dentro do corpo e alinhavar as fitas antes de as coser à máquina. Foi a única forma que encontrei para "estabilizar" o tecido e evitar que ele esticasse à medida que ia cosendo as fitas.
O forro foi feito com uns bocados de camisa de homem - quase poderíamos pensar que seria uma camisa do Don Draper! - e o botão das costas (igual aos que usei nesta camisa) é antigo e veio da minha caixa de botões.

You can't imagine how hard it was to sew those stripes! The fabric kept on stretching while I was sewing them! It was awful! I end up adding a bit of interface to the wrong side of the bodice and I had to bast (by hand) the stripes to the main fabric before sewing them. This was the only way I was able to stabilize the fabric and make it work.
The dress' lining is made out of an old man's shirt - it could even be Don Draper's shirt, couldn't it? - and the anchor button on the back is vintage and came from my ever growing button collection (I've got these buttons in different sizes and already used the small ones on this shirt I made for Ines last summer.)

A realidade é que o facto de ser feito com tecido elástico faz com que este vestido seja super confortável e a Teresa adora-o! Mas não sei se não lhe estará um nadinha curto...

Teresa loves her new dress especially because it is made of stretchy fabric. It is so comfortable! But I don't know if it isn't just a little bit too short for her...

 

Não se esqueçam de ver o vestido Mad Men que a Jenya fez para a sua filha aqui e, se o tema vos inspira, participem no sewalong organizado pela Victoria!

Don't forget to check out Jenya's Mad Men creation here and, if you fell inspired by this tv series, feel free to sew a nice vintage outfit and share it at Take One Dress sew-along flirck group!

TAKE ONE DRESS SERIES . AS IT SEAMS

Hoje trago de volta a casa o vestido que fiz para a série Take One Dress organizada pela Victoria do blog As It Seams.
A ideia da série é super original: todos os meses uma bloger apresenta uma criação inspirada numa roupa escolhida pela bloger do mês anterior e, ao mesmo tempo, escolhe algo inspirador para a bloger do mês seguinte.
Espero que gostem da tunica que fiz para a Inês!

Today I am bringing back home the dress I made for the great series Take One Dress hosted by the lovely Victoria, the blogger behind As It Seams.
This series' idea is super original: every month a blogger presents a creation inspired by a garment chosen by the previous contributor and, at the same time, picks a nice outfit to inspire next month's participant.
I hope you like the tunic I made for Ines!

Last month Natalie, the girl being La Gang a Nat, not only made this lovely outfit for her little girl but also choose a superb vintage dress to be an inspiration for my creation.
Natalie’s dress had lots and lots of details I could use, but I decided to pick my favorites: color combination (pink/blue), big box pleats and contrasting zipper.



I’ve started by drafting my ideas on my sketch book (I knew from the start I wanted to use a lace zipper) but then a package from my friend Constanca arrived with these great vintage patterns she bought in New Zealand… One of them was just the right one for my outfit! Lucky me!

And I also already had the right fabric to make my Take One Dress outfit: a blue and white polka dot fabric from my grandmother’s stash. But this was not any polka dot fabric. Actually I had two pieces of fabric: one with “condensed” dots and another one with fewer dots per square meter. But the two of them together looked great.
As the fabric wasn’t enough to make a dress I decide to sew a tunic instead and match it with a pair of basic pink corduroy shorts (using the same self drafted pattern I've used for this denim shorts). I have to say I am in love with this outfit! It has just the right amount of vintage felling but it is also super comfortable! And now I fell like adding lace zippers to all my clothing!

Unfortunately Ines was not in the mood for a photo shot. These photos were taken under my bed sheets as this was the only way I could make her have fun while I was trying to take photos of her new clothes…

 

 

Well, choosing a dress to inspire Jenya, the great Russian/Australian blogger from While She Was Sleeping, was a lot harder than I thought. Especially because Victoria and Natalie had made such a great job choosing the previous dresses…
So I e-mailed Victoria asking her to give me some directions and she told me it could be anything! In her own words: “I don't mind what the next garment is, just as long as you think it's inspiring, it can be something you own, but I did also think it could be a historic outfit or film costume or anything really!”.
A film costume would be great, I thought. But a TV series costume would be nice too… I immediately though about Mad Men! Besides liking a lot this series, I love the vintage but modern filling of the costumes. So her it is! This is a dress for Miss Holloway (in a great illustration by Stanley Chow) but, Jenya, fell free to check out other Mad Men costumes and be inspired by them.

Já podem ver aqui o vestido que a Jenya fez para a sua filha.
Entretanto eu não resisti a fazer algo inspirado por este vestido da Miss Holloway... E, se tudo correr bem, amanhã estará aqui no blog.

You can check out here the gorgeous dress Jenya made for her daughter.
And you know what? I couldn't help myself and also made a Mad Men inspired outfit for Teresa. The dress is finished and I hope I can blog about it tomorrow. Stay tuned!