The Flying Needle - Page 2 of 3 - Blogging about my world of sewing

Everyday Skirt from Malou Paris

October 10, 2017October 7, 2017 / Melanie / 1 Comment

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My Everyday Skirt project started with a situation I am sure all of you know: I bought some fabric and had no idea what to do with it…. But it was so pretty! I picked up this black-golden fabric during a trip to Sri Lanka about two years ago. I went on a fabric shopping binge, after I discovered some fabric shops in the city of Gaul – and, more importantly, discovered how cheap Sri Lankian fabric is! (I already showed you one of my “Sri-Lankian” makes a couple of weeks back, my Purl Soho Tunic). But: At the time of the trip I wasn’t an experienced sewist, and I didn’t realized that a lot of the fabric wasn’t exactly dressmaking fabric… (more…)

Sewing for Me

Sewing a real Bavarian “Dirndl”

September 26, 2017September 24, 2017 / Melanie / 3 Comments

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Hello all!

It’s the end of September, and in Munich that means: Oktoberfest time! For those of you who don’t know: The Oktoberfest is a huge traditional beer festival that is held every September in Munich (don’t ask why it’s called Oktoberfest when it’s held in September, that’s a long story…). Anyway, Oktoberfest is one of the times where most Bavarians bring out their traditional clothes and wear their “Dirndls” (for the girls) and “Lederhosen” (for the guys). When I started sewing in the summer of 2015, I got it stuck into my head that I wanted to have a hand-made Dirndl. So I booked a course at one of our local sewing schools and embarked on the project with a meager 5 months of sewing experience… (more…)

Sewing for Me

Sorbetto and I

September 12, 2017August 28, 2017 / Melanie / 3 Comments

Hello all!

Well, what should I say. It’s not working out between Sorbetto and me. I’d even go as far as saying that it’s over. But let’s start at the beginning: I discovered the free Colette pattern for “Sorbetto” quite early in my sewing career. As probably all of you already know, the pattern comes with different views, with and without sleeves, with and without a center fold in the front. I really liked the version with the fold – it turns a rather basic top into something special, in my opinion. I downloaded Sorbetto, but never quite got round to actually sewing it. Until I saw a really cool cactus fabric in one of our local fabric stores back in May. (more…)

Sewing for Me

Purl Soho Wear Anywhere Tunic aka „Pocahontas Dress“

August 29, 2017September 1, 2017 / Melanie / 2 Comments

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Hello all!

I normally don’t like beach vacations. I prefer travelling around and sightseeing, so that’s what we normally do. Last year we travelled to Sri Lanka, and since it was VERY hot, we decided to go against the rule and squeeze in a couple of beach days. Lounging around in our cute B&B on the beach made me realize that I have a lot of practical travelling/city trip clothes, but not one piece that I can just throw over my bikini while going to the bar or restaurant. My next sewing project was set! (more…)

Sewing for Me

Maxi, Maxi Skirt!

August 15, 2017August 10, 2017 / Melanie / Leave a comment

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Hello all!

Last week I told you about my fabric shopping adventures in Vienna. In the end, I was very, very disciplined and only bought one lovely pink cotton fabric with flowers at Komolka. When I bought it, I was thinking about the pyjama pants from Tilly and the Buttons’ book “Love at First Stitch”… but the longer the fabric was laying on my table, the louder it was whispering “maxi skirt…. maxi skirt… maxi skirt…” Which is weird, because I never, ever wear maxi skirts. I am quite short, and maxi skirts make me feel like I am disappearing in the fabric. But if a fabric is so certain what it wants to be, you have to give in, don’t you? (more…)

Inspirations and adventures

Fabric Shopping in Vienna

August 8, 2017August 8, 2017 / Melanie / 3 Comments

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Hello all!

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Vienna for a long weekend, to visit family. As all my family members had to work on Friday, I had a lot of time to walk around the city on that day – and of course check out some fabric shops! Be warned: I took A LOT of pictures, so this is a looooong post. If you’re not interested in the details of all the shops, you can just skip to the end of the post to an overview and the shop addresses! (more…)

Sewing for Me

Smocking Svenja

July 25, 2017July 25, 2017 / Melanie / 4 Comments

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Hello all!

I’d like to introduce you to Svenja. I met Svenja on Pattydoo’s website when I was searching for a quick-to-sew summer dress for wovens. For years, I wore a RTW cotton summer dress from H&M when spending a day at a lake or a beach. I’m surprised the dress held up as long as it did, but this summer I finally needed a replacement… So I searched the internet for patterns for wovens because I hate the feeling of jersey on sunscreen drenched skin (and as I’m extremely light-skinned, I am always lathering on layer after layer of 50+ sunscreen :-)). Also, I wanted a pattern without fiddly closures, no zippers or buttons. In combination with woven fabric, that narrows down the field quite a lot… So I had been looking for a while when I stumbled upon Svenja! (more…)

Sewing for Me

Pink, Pink, Pink – Hot Pink Crepe Dress from Gertie Hirsch

July 11, 2017July 1, 2017 / Melanie / 3 Comments

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Hello all!

My favorite birthday present last year was Gertie Hirsch’s „Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book“: a wonderful thick and heavy ringbound book filled with beautiful dress patterns and tipps on sewing them. But let me tell you, these are no projects for the faint-hearted – the dresses are true labours of love! No quick, one-evening sews – but when we received an invitation for a winter wedding, I went straight for Gertie’s book. As the wedding was scheduled for November, I wanted to make a pattern with sleeves and settled on the Hot Pink Crepe Dress. You don’t have to make it in pink, of course, but in my opinion, nothing trumps pink – so off I went in search of the perfect fabric! (more…)

Sewing for Me

Labour of Love: My Alex Shirt Dress

June 27, 2017June 17, 2017 / Melanie / 4 Comments

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Hello all!

When Lisa from Sew Over It published her ebook „My Capsule Wardrobe: City Break” last year, I fell head over heals in love with the concept: five patterns that make up an interchangeable capsule wardrobe for a weekend city trip! I bought the book straight away, and then the usual happened: I got sidetracked with other patterns I wanted to make, and the ebook lay idle at the base of my pattern pile… until one rainy day this March during our vacation in Scotland. (more…)

Clemence Skirt from "Love at First Stitch", Tilly And The Buttons - Full View

Sewing for Me

A British „Dirndl“ skirt: Clemence

June 13, 2017June 13, 2017 / Melanie / 10 Comments

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Hello all!

Those of you following me on Instagram or on the blog here know: I am a huge fan of UK pattern designer Tilly and the Buttons. I have already shown you my two Cocos here on the blog (a dress and a sweater), and today I’ll talk about a make from Tilly’s book “Love at First Stitch”: the summer skirt Clemence! The pattern for Clemence is a self-drafted pattern. Tilly explains how to take your measurements and turn them into pattern pieces to make up the skirt. Making the pattern pieces is simple, as all of them are rectangles. The skirt is fitted at the waist by gathering the hem, no darts or other more complicated fitting techniques needed! (more…)