MelodyMae.co.uk » Gingham

2nd December 2017

{ Sewing } Hang On Now, Gingham In Winter?

Happy Saturday, darlings! How are we all doing? So due to preparing for something exciting at Vendula London, I’ve had some time off! I’m a workaholic at times, and having some time off has been both a blessing and a curse. The main thing, though? I finally got the time to sit at my sewing machine and make something! And here is my hot-off-the-machine gingham 50s skirt!

I bring up my love for gingham on a weekly basis. My rule is Gingham in Summer, Tartan in Winter. But hey, I’m throwing my usual rules to the wall recently with some pencil skirts so why not gingham?! I’ve been idolising Brigitte Bardot a little bit, and this photo has had me all sorts of swooning. So hell, a few meters of my favourite 1inch gingham from Rolls and Rems in Holloway and a day at my sewing machine and I have my new favourite skirt!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, this skirt might look familiar. That’s because it’s the same dirndl style I used for the Can I Be A Raccoon Dog skirt, Strawberry Sundae skirt and All Hail The Gingham Queen skirt. What can I say, if I like something I’m going to have twenty versions!

These skirts are generally the easiest projects to make in the world. It’s as simple as pleating a length of fabric to a waistband and then adding a zip and pockets. This version has nothing that the others don’t, it’s fully lined in white cotton, deep pockets trimmed with ric-rac and has a centre back invisible zip.

The back isn’t my proudest moment of sewing, since it’s a bit skew-iff and sits kinda funny. I made the mistake of making it just a touch too small, oops!

The reason I love these dirndl skirts is because they’re just so easy to wear. Jumpers, cardigans, t-shirts, crop tops – they all look good with this skirt. And I’ve mentioned I’m going for a Melody-Casual sort of look these days, which means these suit me perfectly. Effortless dressing is what makes good style, right?

And finally, accessorise with Vendula London! I love this Biscuit Shop (sold out) Grab bag, the white colouring seemed a little less me than some other designs, but I use it so often! And doesn’t it just look great with gingham?

So what are your thoughts, guys? Would you like a tutorial to make your own version? Or maybe you’d like to commission your own if you don’t sew? Comment below!

Have a wonderful weekend darlings!

Scarf; Vintage | Earrings; Bow and Crossbones
Necklace; Vintage | Brooch; Luxulite
Bangles; Splendette | Top; Collectif
Skirt; Handmade | Shoes; Miss L Fire
Bag; Vendula London (Disclaimer)

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7th August 2017

{ Style } Strawberry Sundae With Florence Carousel Photography

My last post was showcasing the amazing photos Florence Carousel Photography took of me in September. I’d mentioned we managed to squeeze two shoots into one evening, and this was the first of the two. It was also my favourite. I can’t even explain just how much I absolutely adore these images.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Florence is such a talented photographer. You need to check out her main website and her other site, The Street Style Carousel to see just how wonderful she is at capturing style and beauty.

This outfit is possibly one of my absolute bests because it’s so matchymatchy and delicious.

This skirt is another dirndl that was made around the same time as the All Hail The Gingham Queen Skirt. just my favourite cotton gingham from Rolls and Rems in Holloway pleated onto a waistband. This one is lined in white cotton, has a centre-back zipper and gigantic patch pockets with ricrac trim.

It may be a simple skirt, but its effective!

Teamed with my original 60’s cross-stitch bag with strawberries and strawberry accents on my Miss L Fire Sundae shoes (from 2013) and a handmade strawberry necklace – I will happily say I’m horrendously matchy-matchy, but god, doesn’t it just WORK?

Hair Flowers: Lady Lucks Boutique
Earrings: Bow and Crossbones
Necklace: Handmade
Brooch: Luxulite
Top: Collectif
Skirt: Handmade

Bangles: Splendette and vintage
Bag: Vintage
Shoes: Miss L Fire

All photos are taken by and belong to Florence Carousel.

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2nd August 2017

{ Sewing } All Hail The Gingham Queen!

I’ve said before and I’ll say it again – I bloody love gingham. And this time, I’ve made a gingham midi skirt that I’m head over heels for!

This is the second in three items I’ve made recently in gingham, and yes, it’s exactly the same gingham from Rolls and Rems in Holloway as every other bloody gingham item on this blog.

But hell, when something works for you, it works for you, right?

Guess what idiot had her bag the wrong way around? THIS IDIOT!

I’ve got a bit of a gap in my wardrobe for skirts, which have become my favourite thing. I especially have gaps for items that dress up slightly more casual outfits. So I pleated up a length of gingham and made a skirt!

There’s so little to say about this skirt, it’s fully lined and has gigantic pockets I keep trying to fit the dog in – with a bit of tiny pompom trim across to make it a little bit more exciting than it really is. It’s a simple dirndl skirt, with three-inch box pleats instead of the traditional gathering.

It just so happens that the day I planned to shoot this skirt, the amazing Katy from Luxulite sent me the most amazing brooch and earring set – IT’S BLOODY GINGHAM. Can you think of any accessory better suited to my severe obsession than this? They’re absolutely gorgeous, and I can’t recommend Luxulite any higher than I already do.

Hair Flowers; Lady Luck’s Boutique
Necklace; Vintage
Brooch and Earrings; Luxulite
Top; Boohoo
Bag; Vendula London
Bangles; Splendette and Vintage

27th July 2017

{ Sewing } Sunshine Through The Clouds

This yellow gingham 50s dress was the last thing I made in my last house before I moved. It gives me a little bit of an emotional attachment to it. It’s also pretty lucky that it’s my best project to date, and quickly becoming a favourite dress!

So I’ve gone a bit colour-crazy! I got myself down to Rolls and Rems to scout out my trusty 1-inch cotton gingham (you can see everything I’ve made with it under the gingham tag) in a slightly offensively bright shade of yellow.

The pattern to this dress is another variation on the No Cock Nor Tails pattern I drafted a good few years back – with the baggy nipples of the Big Ol’ Black dress rectified somewhat unsuccessfully as it’s still just a touch tight on the bust.

With a pleated dirndl skirt, it’s basically a copy of the Check, Please dress in yellow instead of red. But once I like a pattern I really do stick to it!

To keep a bit of a differentiate between the Check, Please dress and this one I added my new favourite trim in the world – POM POMS! from Frumble Fabrics onto the neckline, hem and pockets. I always find it amusing how such a small amount of trim can really make a garment pop – and I find people seem to go a little nuts for pom pom trim.

Other than the fitting issues of the failed FBA adjustment from my last version from this dress, I think this self-drafted pattern is really teaching me about my body – how my shoulders slope and why the straps don’t stay in one place, where my waist actually sits and the way thing such as belts sit on them, and how the top of my back slopes and why I always have a gape in the back of my dresses.

However, my hair looks pretty amazing though, so we can focus on that instead of fit issues, right? Thanks to my wide back, it’s so difficult to get the back of dresses to fit correctly. In the photo above it looks fine, but once I move I could probably fit a small dog in it! I love small dogs, but that’s not exactly my preferred method of doggy transport.

But I love this dress! It’ll be perfect once the sun actually decides to shine in this crappy excuse for a summer!

Hair Flowers; Lady Lucks Boutique
Necklace; Handmade
Brooch; Luxulite
Bangles; Splendette
Bag; Vendula London
Shoes; Miss L Fire

3rd July 2017

{ Sewing } Last of the Summer Gingham

Alternative title; MORE BLOODY GINGHAM. MORE BUTTERICK B5880.

Hi guys! How are we all doing? I accidentally missed a week there because I was too busy getting drunk dressed up as The Little Mermaid… Hopefully you guys have had a week quite as awesome as that?

Yes, that is what you think it is!

I made another B5880 in gingham. I’m approaching this post with general nonchalance because really? There’s nothing I can tell you about this dress that you haven’t already heard from the ONE TWO THREE FOUR versions of this dress I’ve made (there’s also one I haven’t blogged about AND another one in the making – it’s B5880 mania here!)

The main difference between this dress and the Check-Ah Check-Ow is the ric rac trim on the neckline and the pockets – and I have out-done myself pocket-wise, since these behemoths can actually hold an A4 magazine.

Other than that, this dress is practically identical. Still has the boatneck-styled neckline, the back zip and pleated dirndl. And frankly? It works for me. The blue gingham dress is still in heavy rotation now, so why not exactly the same thing in another colour?

The construction for this dress has become like second nature to me now, since I’ve made so many versions! I may or may not have sewn the ric rac skew-iff because I was still drunk when I finished it… I have cleverly hidden that from view in these photos though, of course, because no one should have to see bad ric rac placement!

Brooch: Luxulite
Bangles: Vintage and Splendette
Shoes: Miss L Fire
Bag: Vintage

29th June 2017

{ Sewing } Moody British Picnics

I’m British, and part of being a Brit is constantly being let down – especially being let down by what is supposed to be Summer.

Case in point;

Yeah.

This face is an accurate representation of a dreary day.

Anyhoo.

I MADE A THING.

I bought Butterick B5209 pattern a long-ass time ago with the idea that one day I would make a glorious 40’s style sundress with it and swan about the beaches being a perfect summers-day princess. Instead I used it to further my long-term goals on becoming a picnic basket with this cutesy gingham-and-fruit-print cotton. And stand in a park on a grey day.

As usual, I never make anything in the way the original pattern intends. I swapped out the gathered skirt the pattern calls for with the same skirt from my Swirl dress, since I liked the way it fell on me so much.

Straying from my usual construction, I didn’t line this dress at all. I finished the seams with my overlocker, and the neckline, hem and arms with bias tape and a catch stitch.

The dress is wonderful but there was some fit issues along the way with this pattern.
I made the dress up in a size 20, straight from the pattern with little adjustment. As with all patterns, I did my usual pinch-out in the top of the bodice to limit my usual gape. Apart from this disaster of a bust!

It seems to be a common issue in 40s style dresses with this sort of bustline – that it sits at least two inches higher than where my boobs actually start. It’s not the worst thing that could happen, but does make me feel a bit cut off at times.

Aside from all of this, I actually love this dress, I think the silhouette is really good on me, and I love how comfortable and floaty it is – and I think this new calf-length skirt I’ve been playing with is a good-un.

Dress; Butterick B5209
Brooch: Luxulite
Bangles: Vintage
Shoes: Rocket Originals
Bag: Collectif

28th June 2017

{ Sewing } Platform Closed – A Gingham Swirl Dress

So. We’ve established by now that I’m useless at sticking to deadlines, right? Right.
This gingham swirl dress was made for Sew Retro Rose’s Swirlalong… which finished in NOVEMBER.

Yes, a whole seven months after the deadline closed I’m showing you my dress! I finished this in March, actually, and was left aside for so long because it went so wrong. I’m not sure about you guys, but once things start going wrong I have to walk away. Especially before I cut the damn thing to pieces – and sometimes it just takes months to come back to it!

The pattern for this dress was McCall’s 5411 – Which Beccie (Sew Retro Rose) turned into a PDF for those joining the sewalong. I love a Swirl, and it’s one of those vintage dress styles I knew would get on well with my shape and style, so why would I not give it a go? I set off to Rolls and Rems in Holloway Road to grab my favourite gingham fabric and set down to make this up.

However there were a few issues – the bodice ended up five or so inches short, and when I lengthened the pattern back, I forgot to true up the backseam so it hit the right side seam, which caused serious gaping issues, length issues (it screwed up the back bodice so that it was suddenly 5 inches too long. Nightmare) and screwed up the whole fit of the dress.

So like the slapdash sewist I am, I hacked off the excess fabric and added in a series of buttons down the back to keep it closed without gaping. “It’s not a mistake, it’s a design element” I chanted to myself whilst rocking back and forth.

And to add to my further dismay – I somehow managed to cut the neckline so wide it shows my bra straps (which you can see above and below) which bothers me to no end.

But despite all that? This is the dress I wear most often. It’s fully lined in a lightweight cotton so it’s good for sunnier days, but with correct undergarments can easily be worn in the winter for a pop of summer memories when it’s grey and dark.

And the thing I love about this swirl dress? I look so put together regardless of how my hair looks or if I’m wearing makeup, and I love that!

Hair Flower; Lady Lucks Boutique
Necklace; Vintage
Brooch; Luxulite
Bangles; Splendette
Shoes; Miss L Fire

26th June 2017

{ Sewing } Check, Please!

You know who loves a 50s style gingham dress? THIS GIRL!

I made this dress back last year for a cousin’s wedding, and GOD DAMN do I love it. The pattern is self-drafted, which I adapted from the No Cock Nor Tails dress. The only difference between the NCNT and this dress is the addition of shaped shoulders and a pleated dirndl skirt.

I bought the fabric from Rolls and Rems in Holloway Road – and it’s literally everything you could hope for in fabric. It’s definitely not 100% cotton, but you really wouldn’t notice since it’s so soft! It’s a 1-inch gingham, perfect for the knife pleats of the skirt and it just looks much more striking than smaller checks.

Hair Flowers; Lady Lucks Boutique
Shrug&Belt; Collectif
Bag; Vintage
Shoes; Miss L Fire

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26th June 2017

{ Sewing } A Check-Ah, A Check-Ow!

I have a thing for Gingham.

I don’t know exactly why I love it so much, but there’s something about gingham that draws me into it. This cotton gingham in particular is a dream to work with – large woven check, behaves itself and although it can fray easily (as with most cotton) pinking is no problem for seam finishes.

There’s so little I can say about the making of this dress, because you’ve seen it all before. Yes, it’s that damn Butterick B5880 bodice again!

Much like the last three. damn. dresses. I used the B5880 bodice with, I have omitted the neckline notches, graded the bodice up and down and all around, added a sort-of-Kimono-sleeve – and then whacked on a box-pleated dirndl and rectangle patch pockets for good measure.

There are a couple of “new features”, if you will, though. Unlike previous B5880’s, this one features a centre back lapped zipper (explaining the fancy-ass zip picture) instead of a invisible side zip, which actually makes this dress really hard to get in and out of without help (balls.) I’ve also lowered and widened the neckline to be more of a boatneck, although I’m not to sure on it.

I also attempted a tip that came up on Twitter quite a while back about hemming – which was basically just sewing your fashion fabric and lining fabric as a normal seam and just pressing. It’s my sort of tip – the lazy girl’s way! At the very least, it gives a nice, invisible hem.

Construction-wise, you’d really think I’d have this damn bodice down perfectly – but no! This was one of those months-long projects that kept getting thrown in the bin because things weren’t working out – then I’d leave it for a month, correct it like it was no problem, and something stupid would happen and it’s back in the bin.

I’ve still not worked out the best way of fixing the bodice gape, and let’s not talk about the sleeves being weird and baggy – unless you have a suggestion of how to stop that asap.