I’ve used the Wenlan blouse pattern from Burdastyle to make this bib dress before and really loved the result. This time I use the pattern again to make these floral bib dresses. The fabrics are so pretty with tiny floral patterns on them, they also look and feel like Liberty fabrics. I added a few pleats on the top of the sleeves and let the raw edges shown.
In the technical drawing of the top, I saw that the sleeves are on top of the lower skirt part. I got a bit confused reading the instructions, so I just did it my way and sewed the sleeves to the bib before the bib part is attached to the skirt part. It worked! The neckline and armholes are finished with binding strips. These dresses are size 6, so they are not as fitted as my previous bib dress.
The bib part is patchworked cotton lace fabric, they were bought already stitched together like that. The fabric is very thin and transparent, but I didn’t line it because I like the transparent effect this time. These dresses are so light and flowy!
I also made two paper bag skirts with pink and grey floral fabric. The fabric has tiny white flowers embroideries all over them, giving more weight to the fabric. I think this effect is perfect for a gathered skirt like this. I used the same technique as this skirt for making them. Making paper bag skirt is so quick and easy with pretty result!
Actually I also took some pictures to make a tutorial for the side seam pockets. But the floral pattern was so distracting that the stitches couldn’t be shown. I think it will be better to use plain fabric to make a tutorial, please be patient! I’m sorry!
There is an Artist market in Yokohama next month, and I will be sharing a booth with Kayo and Chie, that is why I’m making all these summer clothes. I was going to make something with batik, but it turned out that I don’t have enough fabric. Well, actually there are some pretty vintage batik from my mom, but she only allows me to use them for myself. I hope you’re not bored with all these florals, there are still tons of them in my stash so more will be coming!
Last weekend we went to Tower Records Shibuya to buy Émilie Simon‘s newest album, The Big Machine, and watch her mini show there! She’s a French singer and composer, if you ever watched the movie La Marche de l’empereur (March of the Penguins), she’s the one who composed the original soundtrack. My husband and I love her music, so we were very excited when we heard she was coming to Tokyo. In the clip above, she was singing ‘Flowers’ from her first album, it was the song that made me become a fan in the first place.
The mini show was awesome as expected, the audience was small but very appreciative, no hysterical groupies or anything. I like it that everyone just wanted to watch and hear the music. We got in line to for the CD signing session after the show, and my husband took a picture of Sidra and me with Émilie Simon. My husband is a big fan too, but he was a bit shy, so no photograph of him with Émilie. Unfortunately Sidra was not very impressed with the music, he was like this (-.-). Well, since he enjoys Michael Jackson and Queen, Émilie Simon might be a bit too delicate for his taste.
She's so pretty!
Here’s a music video of her song ‘Dreamland’ from her newest album:
I found these pretty floral fabric when going shopping to Asakusabashi with Chie and Kayo the other day. The fabrics are cotton with embroidered border on one side. I love how comfortable the fabrics felt on my hand.
I used one of the fabric to make another try on the Tara pattern. No alteration other than making the sleeves double layered with raw edges shown. It was finished pretty quick and I made no mistake this time! The finished dress is rather lingerie-looking, I guess it’s due to the shape and embroideries. But I think it looks pretty cute. The fabric I use for my green dress has more ‘give’ than this floral fabric, maybe because it is pretty old. I use the same size for both dresses, but the floral dress ends up a bit tight. It turned out that I’m not that small! So next time I should use size 34.
I also made another dress with the other floral fabric. The ruffled collar is inspired by this ruffled top that Lia made for her daughter. I think it’s very cute so I shamelessly stole the idea from the little girl’s dress. Thank you Lia! The neckline and armholes are finished with binding strips from the same fabric, then I added rows of shirring around the waist. It also has a pair of hidden pockets on side seams.
These two beautiful ladies is Chie from VivatVeritas and Kayo from Crochetie, both of them are also Burdastyle members and both have etsy shops: Chie’s shop and Kayo’s shop. You should check them out because they make the cutest dresses and accessories!
Anyway, I just met them today in Asakusabashi, it is another district in Tokyo with large selection of craft and bead stores. Some of the stores sell wholesale so the prices are quite cheap. We had lunch in an Indian restaurant before walking around the area. Then Kayo showed us several of her favorite shops there and at the end of the day, each of us went back with something in our hands. Shopping is fun!
We took these pictures near the station, I feel so small standing beside these two ladies! Thank you for the lovely day, Chie and Kayo!
Do you recognize these bags? Yes, on the right side is my bag, and the pretty bag with rosettes is Yoshimi’s bag! They were sitting together side by side on a wooden bench inside an Indonesian restaurant in Shinjuku.
Indonesian lunch
Yoshimi and I spent a day together last Saturday, it was a bit cold and cloudy day but I was very happy to see her! We’ve met several times before to go fabric shopping, this time we just had a good time walking around Shinjuku area.
We planned to have lunch in a deli, but then Yoshimi mentioned about Indonesian restaurant and that she never had Indonesian food before. I knew one Indonesian restaurant in the area, so we changed our plan and went to Jembatan Merah (it means The Red Bridge). We had some Indonesian curries for lunch, and I was very glad that Yoshimi liked it. It was a good decision to change the plan!
Then we walked to Takashimaya building to look at some fabrics and sewing supplies in Yuzawaya, the place was very crowded because it was weekend. We also walked to Isetan department store, I went past the building very often but had never been inside it. There was a nice macrobiotic food cafe that we found in the restaurant area and we had some delicious cake sets. Mine is baked tofu cake which actually tasted the same as cheese cake, and Yoshimi had cake with nuts caramelized in it. Very delicious! We were busy chatting that we forgot to take pictures of cakes.
Shinjuku is a very big place and it can get a bit confusing if you don’t know the way. That day, we often got lost a little bit because I’m completely useless about directions although I visit there very often. My husband really knows his way around, so usually I just follow him without thinking too much about where I am, like a puppy. Very lazy. Sometimes I even pretend that I am a puppy following him. I know, I know, it’s weird.
Anyway, Yoshimi and I had a really good time that day and we talked about so many things. Not only sewing stuff! It’s kinda funny when meeting blog friends, sometimes they know things about you that real life friends don’t. And you kinda feel like knowing them because you’ve read all their posts in the blog. Well, time runs when you’re having a good time, how very true. We met in the morning and suddenly we were saying goodbye in the afternoon. Thank you for the wonderful time, Yoshimi!
One shoulder dress
Linen shorts
3 years
Couch cover
Shop update and my progress on the Burdastyle Book project
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