I Bought UNICORN SHOES!!!

Oh yes I did!!!

But of course I had nothing to wear them with...   They are far too decorative to wear with patterns, and I don't have a lot of plains...  So I put my thinking cap on and headed to Spotlight, and came back with this:

Some candy pink cotton, a zipper, and some gold lame bias tape

My idea was to make a bodice with a deep, rounded V, and attach a peter pan style collar.  The bias will be piping around the edge of the collar, and around the waist.  The skirt would be full-ish and pleated.

So I set about drafting up a pattern and cutting fabric:

The bodice is based on a blouse pattern that I've used a thousand times before, and that I know fits like a glove.  I just changed the neckline and drew up the pieces for the collar based on the new neckline.  Easy.

Piping around the collar was going to be the challenging bit, so I sewed the collar pieces together so I had two top collar pieces, and two under collar pieces.  Then I carefully made up the lame piping (cause that stuff is shifty as hell!) and pinned it to the top collar piece so it was 5/8" from the edge:

Looks like way too far in doesn't it!

But its not honest!

Anyway, I pinned the under collar piece to the top collar piece, and stitched around where the piping was, then I clipped and trimmed the seam allowance and turned it through and ironed it.

And I forgot to take a photo...

But here they are attached to the bodice!

Isn't it pretty!  And I was really happy with how neat the piping was!!

I also made some bias from the same fabric, and used it to finish the armholes:

And that was the bodice finished!  And it was time to pleat the skirt... ugh.  Sometimes I can't decide if gathering or pleating is worse....  anyway!

I've found a new DVD series for to recommend!  It was recommended to me by Sara from Lillies & Remains, and its fabulous!  Dancing on the Edge is a British TV drama about an all black jazz band in London in the early 1930s.  Brilliantly written and acted, with great sets and costuming.  A must see in my book for those of you that like this kind of thing.

Anyway, I got the skirt all pleated and sewn to the dress, and promptly forgot to take a photo of it on my headless helper.

Sigh!

Good thing I had an opportunity to wear it the other day!

And oh yeah!  I had 10"+ cut off my hair!  I know I mentioned it on Facebook, but I'm pretty sure I forgot to say anything on my blog.  I love it - and I haven't regretted it once!  And since these photos were taken, I've got a better handle on setting it, so it looks much better.

Gratuitous Shoe Photo!!!

Aren't they completely mental!!!

So yeah - this was a pretty quick sew all things considered!  I pushed to get it finished so I could wear it to a friend's birthday party, but it rained that day, and there was noooooo way these shoes were going out in the rain.

So does anyone else have an Irregular Choice shoe addiction???  I have six or seven pairs, but they keep bringing out new ones that I want....

Beccie
xxx