Portia Lawrie

By Hand London, DIY, Elisalex Dress, refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2013, Thrifting, Tutorials

The Refashioners 2013 – Elisalex of By Hand – London

Is it shameful to admit that I actually really liked the mystery item that Portia sent me to refashion…? I was even lacking a good denim shirt in my life… But that’s not what this is about. I’m sure Portia didn’t sign us up to The Refashioners just to send us thrifted freebies!

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

So, slightly reluctantly, I set about envisioning this shirt as something else. First thoughts were a button down mini skirt with a bandeau top made from a sleeve – but seeing as the shirt already fit me perfectly, there wasn’t going to be nowhere near enough fabric to fit around my backside, so that wasn’t going to work at all.  With a trip to the Deep South coming up, I eventually decided to use the denim combined with some white Broderie Anglaise cotton to make myself a dress worthy of the Grand Ole Opry (any old country lovers here? No? Hmmm just me then…). 
Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk


Shamelessly I went for my own namesake pattern, the Elisalex Dress, and only just managed to squeeze out the front and back bodice pieces from the sleeves and back panel of the shirt.

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

The rest of the dress came together super easily and quickly – I’ve made about a squillion of these babies by now so you know I can do that sh*t in my sleep! – and I decided on a pretty gathered skirt as opposed to the main tulip variation. With some of the sleeve’s leftovers I made a pair of little bows which I handstitched to the shoulders. I absolutely LOVE the resulting dress – and it’s right up my street with just the right amount vintage white trash country singer! Just need to get me some cowboy boots and a matching hat…
Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk


But what about the rest of the shirt, I hear you cry! Fear not ladies, I’m definitely not one to advocate waste of any kind so you can be sure that the rest of the shirt went to very good use.

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

 I simply traced over the missing back panel and replaced it with the last of the white cotton Broderie, and hey presto! A sufficiently white trash sleeveless shirt – not quite to my taste but immediately snapped up by our very own Victoria:

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

 So there you have it folks, one denim shirt becomes one entirely new dress and one refashioned shirt (and just a tiny pile of scraps for the bin). Now all we need is a flight back to Nashville… Anyone?

Refashion Inspiration! Don't miss out on the new upcoming series of The Refashioners at www.portialawrie.co.uk

 Portia, I can’t even begin to thank you for inviting me to be a part of the second (and hopefully annual?!) Refashioners! I am beyond flattered that you thought of me and humbled to be among such prestigious company.


Elisalex of By Hand – London (and Stitch Me Softly)

Oh, my, bloomin’ word! Back of the net Elisalex! Denim and broderie…a classic combo AND two new garments from one teensy denim shirt! Actually I concur. The denim shirt was actually quite nice to start off with and I’d toyed with the idea if embellishing the front and back yokes myself. Which was another option. But my refashioning pile was large enough as it was and I knew this would be in good hands. Love the substitution of the tulip skirt of the Elisalex dress, with a simple gathered one. Totally changes the vibe of the original pattern. “Pieced” patterns like this, where the garment element (ie bodice in this case) is assembled from several smaller pattern pieces, are a great way to use small bits of fabric harvested from garments. Especially when you opt for the contrasting fabrics route as Elisalex has done here.  And you needn’t run off and buy a length of fabric to emulate the skirt section in this refashion either. Bag yourself a denim shirt from the clothing rail of your local charity shop…..then go off and peruse the linens section for some pure cotton (vintage floral??) bedlinens/vintage tablecloths…

Elisalex Dress, Inspiration, orla kiely, sewlution

Inspiration: Orla Keily Autumn 2013

Autumn 2013!!! For heavens sakes we’re barely into Spring 2013 (not that you be able to tell by the weather) and already, a post about Autumn 2013?! What can I say, except I’m sorry!! Better to do it now than in the middle of the summer right? At least we can all still appreciate a nice warm coat right now!

There is a very good reason for it though, I promise. My Sewlution for 2013 is to draft a pattern for, and sew myself, a COAT! Aaargh! The prospect scares me slightly. But feel the fear and do it anyway, that’s what I say! I’ve already begun the process of testing out a vintage dress pattern that I want to use as a base. I plan to test the fit and then adapt it (it’s coat like in the sense that it’s a wrap dress a size to big, which will hopefully allow for outerwear ease), changing details like the neckline, sleeve shape, length, adding pockets and a lining etc and came across this Orla Kiely collection

Anyhow, I’ve been browsing looking for detail inspiration, and I came across Orla Kiely’s collection. How delicious?

All images courtesy of Orla Kiely via Calivintage

I’m leaning more towards the simplicity of the mustard one above left. That neckline would allow for a chunky knit cowl to sit nicely on colder days. But all of these coats are to die for aren’t they?! What’s more, there are any number of vintage patterns out there that would easily replicate these. The red one is particularly cute too….

Off the subject of coats, this mustard print tunic is more than a bit “me”; and I REALLY like the silhouette of this navy shell top with the elbow length sleeves and cute cuff detail…

While these silhouettes are not something I’d usually wear (apart from maybe the shirt with it’s fab pleated collar), isn’t that burnt out velvet just delicious?! And the silhouette of that dress bears more than a passing resemblance to the short sleeve version of the Elizalex dress, no? Handy that they just happen to be just starting a sewalong too!

Not that I’m endorsing ripping off a design before it’s even hit the stores (cough) Merely offering up inspiration and food for thought…..!

By Hand London, Elisalex Dress, Giveaways

A Long Overdue GIVEAWAY!!!!

At every readership milestone on this blog I’ve scolded myself for not getting organised and planning a giveaway to say a simple thankyou to all the lovely peops who stop by here to read or comment on my posts. Truthfully, one of my absolute favourite things is seeing a blog comment pop into my inbox!
Another email that I was VERY pleased to find in my inbox came from Elisalex. Co-founder of By Hand – London. No doubt you will have seen versions of the Charlotte Skirt and the Elisalex Dress popping up all over the place. Well Elisalex was kind enough to send me a copy of both patterns just before Christmas. I am selfishly keeping the Charlotte Skirt pattern as I have wanted a high waisted pencil skirt for some time.
However, despite absolutely LOVING the Elisalex Dress, I had to be tough with myself and admit that the possibility of my making it any time soon is slim. Have you ever seen me wearing a dress on the pages of this blog? Case in point! Sometimes I need to be realistic with myself!

Sooooo, I decided to put my copy of the Elisalex Dress up for grabs. For sure there are LOADS of you out there who would look super gorgeous in this little number…..

***Now Closed***

All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment on this post. Just tell me something interesting. It can be whatever you want.  Tell me your favourite recipe/blog/pattern/tutorial/tips & tricks/website. ANYTHING as long as it’s interesting. (and that’s easy because I find the simplest of things ineteresting. Seriously, the looks Jason gives me sometimes when I say “ooooh, that’s really interesting!”) Basically, I get to hear loads of interesting stuff and one of you will get your hot little hands on this hot little dress pattern!
Simples!

The giveaway will close at midnight GMT on Friday 8th Feb and is open internationally. If you don’t have a blog where I can contact you, make sure to leave me your email.