The Sewn at Midnight Gala is in less than a week!

Hello, hello!

My gala outfit is finally in progress and it’s been a little journey already.

I’ve also cut most of the fabric for the decorations but have yet to neaten the edges with a rolled hem.

I’ve been waiting to get cream thread to better match the fabric but I just haven’t had the time to go out and get it. I may just have to do the edges in white. I rather do that than have frayed edges on the day. 🙃

I’m going to be at the venue the day before to get all the decorations set up, organise the goodie bags and make sure all the tables are done too.

I am very excited, but I am also feeling a little pressure. It is the biggest event BeeSilva has ever hosted and of course, I want it to go smoothly.

We have amazing sponsors for the gala who have kindly given us treats for the goodie bags, because who doesn’t like a goodie bag?? These are Prym, Higgs&Higgs, Fabric Godmother, William Gee, Bird&Blend Tea Co. Plus we have 3 grand prizes from Janome, Vlieseline and Leon’s Fabrics!

In the meantime, I visited a third venue for a retreat and again, I didn’t think it would suit what I am looking for for you.

The first one I saw seems to be very promising, so I am probably going to arrange it there. I just need to figure out dates that are suitable for all parties.

I also went for my second Parkrun on Saturday and I beat my last finishing time - I finished 50 seconds quicker than before. 🏃🏼♀️➡️🎉

I want to push myself to try and finish it in under 25 minutes (currently at 28 minutes), but it will take a little time.

Stitches of the Week

 

BeeSilva - Sewn at Midnight Gala Outfit

I can confirm I have made a start! 🎉

I realised this week that I was actually avoiding starting it for some reason. I kept on putting other projects ahead of it, but it’s crunch time now!

Last Friday at Janome I traced the base pattern I was going to use, the TATB Freya top, but when I went to reach for it to start on my dress, I couldn’t find it. I think I may have left it there.

So I decided to use another copy I had at home which was a size bigger than the one I had traced.

I altered the front to have a halter neck with some gathering and I altered the back to have a cowl.

After sewing it together, it was very big and the cowl was too low because you could see my underwear. So I cut off the seam allowance and simply raised the back piece to see how it would look higher.

It still came up too big. And I had a lot of gapping on the side under my arm because the weight of the cowl was pulling it down and there was no other seam holding it in place.

I thought of using clear elastic and when I held it to the fabric it looked like it would hold, but to keep on trying would just be taking too much of my time which we all know I don’t have a lot left before the big day.

So I tried holding up the front bodice on my back and I actually liked the look of it much more!

That’s also when I realised that I wasn’t actually using the Freya top as a starting point, I was using the Frankie T-shirt which has a lot more ease than the Freya! 🫠

I decided to scrap everything I had done and retraced the Freya. 😂

I also had no fabric left to cut another toile, so I had to unpick the seams of what I had, cut it down to the new pattern I drafted and resew it.

While the front has a full length skirt, the back doesn’t because it started as a low back cowl. 😂

But as it stands, it looks promising. 💪

Materials: Stretch sequin

Size: Started as a size 3 for bust and waist, graded to a 4 for hips.

The Drama: 3 toiles in, but it’s looking good now.

The Win: I have finally dug in!

 

BeeSilva - Roma Necessaire

I think I have made enough samples of this one now for my next workshop.

This week I worked on another exterior panel and I love it!

I put some of my ideas on my stories last week asking for some help on choosing which of them to make, and the majority of you chose an all black and oatmeal one, but I just couldn’t.

Life is too short to keep it simple or safe all the time!

So I decided to go with a pink and red check for one half and a black and oatmeal vertical stripe on the other.

And I love it! 😍

I love that you can use one pattern and turn it into so many different looking projects, and the Roma Necessaire is a great simple shape to do it with.

I am currently waiting on a date confirmation for this workshop from Janome and I will let you know when that is as soon as I know.

 

Jamie Dorfman - Lily Cardigan from Fast and Fabulous Knits book

I have made a little progress on my cardigan this weekend.

We went to see a possible venue for a retreat I am planning and we had a 3.5 hour round trip. I was able to get quite a lot done.

For the first sleeve, I added another 12 rows because it looked like it was really short. I really should have checked my gauge, but it’s too late now.

I am really banking on the blocking process where I hopefully get to stretch it out to fit.

I have just over half the second sleeve to go and then I move on to the ribbing, but I am quite busy these next couple of weeks. I am not sure if I will have any time at all to work on it.

I need to see how it goes because this might end up being my outfit for the Sewn at Midnight Gala at the rate I’m going with my actual dress. 😂

Yarn: So Crafty Aran Yarn in Plum, but looks more like burnt orange.

Size: XS. Check gauge - it really matters, mine is looking very small.

Needle Size: 5.5 mm ribbing and 6.5 mm for the main body.

The Win: I’ve nearly got my sleeves finished.

The Drama: Still looking small. 😣

 

Skill Builder of the Week

 

My experience sewing with sequin fabric this week

This week I’ve been working on my dress for the Sewn at Midnight Gala, and for the first time ever, I’ve been sewing with sequin fabric.

I was expecting it to be difficult, messy, and have some broken needles full of broken needles, but it’s been surprisingly easy with the fabric I chose.

I didn’t break or remove any of the sequins in the seam allowance before sewing. Then I wanted to see how a universal size 90 needle would work because the sequins are small.

I am happy to report that not a single needle was bent or broken!

With this, I’m not saying that you should follow these steps with every sequin fabric. Some fabrics have bigger and harder sequins which can definitely cause problems.

For these I would break the ones in the seam allowance.

I just want to pass on that you shouldn’t be intimidated by sewing sequins, they aren’t that scary.

Makers Spotlight

This week’s spotlight goes to @its.alice.irvine!

I love Alice’s style and this outfit is stunning! 😍

The combination of the prints and colours feel like they shouldn’t work, but they do! I love it!

Leopard print is definitely a neutral and with it being a small print, it works out so well paired with a large print.

Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make. I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍

 

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Workshops:

New to be added soon!

 

My Sewing Patterns:

Lisbon Organiser (NEW BAG PATTERN)
Roma Necessaire
Paphos Pouch

 

Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx