CHALLENGE NUMBER TWO: PART TWO

So this is my attempt at the DIY turban that mahaila designed here. Challenge completed. Pretty successful, I think! Now trust me when I say if I can do this, anybody can. I don't have much patience and the longest I have been in front of a sewing machine is with mahaila by my side the whole time. For this challenge, with mahaila in Germany, it was just me. This is how it started out.........

Email communications:
Mahaila: I was JUST looking at some photos of turbans, do you want the headband version?
Kaye: Yeh I reckon the headband version. R u going to keep the one u make or do I get both? Hehehehe
Mahaila: i can send you what ever I make, but you need to make one too. It's pretty simple stuff. I haven't made it yet, but it won't be difficult. 

Well mahaila over-estimated my sewing knowledge. The good news is that I learnt a few things along the way:

1. The machine won't sew without the bobbin....... 
2. I now know how to re-fill the bobbin in a modern sewing machine
3. The RIGHT side of fabric means the side that you want showing.... mahaila is going to roll her eyes when she reads this, but I thought she meant "right" as in left and right (trust me, I'm not a dumb-ass, just a little ditsy at times)
4. When mahaila said to fold it, she meant LENGTH WAYS. On my first attempt, I folded it into some stupid little tube and sewed the top then had to unpick it and start again.
5. Measurements should be EXACT. After making my first one that didn't fit on my head, I decided to measure it properly. 

As mahaila previously mentioned, I wanted a turban made of velvet because I liked the fit and look of this one so much. So I went to the nearest op-shop and bought this little number for $4. I though I might use the skirt in an outfit and use the top for the turban.

I think you could make this out of a jersey or a stretch wool if velvet isn't your thing. And get creative! You could embellish the front (like on this Sportsgirl turban), or you could change the smaller section to a bow.

Email communications:

Mahaila: did you want a bow?

Kaye: I don't want a bow on it because, as much as I like my black one, I get called "cute" alot when i wear it and one of my girlfriends told me she "just wanted to cuddle me and play with me". So I'd like one without a bow this time.

We hope you guys have fun creating your own unique turban... and the cash you save by doing it yourself!! Please let us know if you give it a crack and send us pictures  :)

waiting for a train

(Top: Your Eyes Lie. Jeans: Supre. Shoes: ShoeBox. Bag: Jim Thompson. Rings: eBay and Fashionology)

Robert and I had dinner at Jus Burgers in Leederville last night. Delicious gourmet burgers with real onion rings. So bloody good. 

This nebula top was an impulse buy from Asos... I wasn't sure how much wear I would get out of it (seeing as I'm not usually one for digital prints as I find they can 'swamp' me) but now I'm convinced I'll be wearing it throughout the summer. It gives that extra kick of grunge to an outfit. 

P.S. My half of Challenge Number 2 is coming up........... I'm taking a crack at the DIY turban/headband that mahaila created a couple of posts ago.... let's see how successful I am. Because let's be honest, if I can do it, anybody can. 

sun science

The arrival of the Princess Polly dress that I posted here. Now I just have to wait for the weather to heat up...

CHALLENGE NUMBER 2 ......How to make a turban / headband

 

OK, so this is challenge number 2.... perhaps a little later then initially planned. Our first challenge involved kaye creating an outfit around a top made by myself. This time kaye must sew a turban type head piece for herself using the DIY instructions below. 

We encourage anybody to have a go at making this piece... experienced sewer or not.... If you don't not have access to a sewing machine, hand sewing is also an good option (I used to sew by hand A LOT before I got my sewing machine. I still find myself reverting back to hand sewing at times). For information on sewing techniques (both with and without the machine) go to the Burdastyle learning section of the website.... otherwise youtube can be helpful. 

I must worn you that I definitely do not pretend to be an expert... so perhaps these dimensions/techniques won't work for you.But as you can see by the photos, it did fit my head.

What do you need?

* FABRIC - suitable for a headband. Kaye had previously mentioned that velvet is a good option as it is more likely to stay on your head. Though velvet can be difficult to work with (info sewing with velvet). You also need to consider the grain of the fabric. You need to make sure that the fabric has some stretch in it so that it can fit on your head. Test your fabric by finding the lengthwise grain (more information on grains here)

We need 2 rectangle shaped pieces of fabric measuring
Bigger section  - 22 inches (58.5 cm) x 10 inches (25.5 cm)
Perhaps measure your head first then use this measurement add 2 cms (on every side... this is the seam allowance).
Smaller section -  3.5 inches (9 cm) x 4.5 inches  (11.4 cm)
* Needle
* Thread
* Enthusiasm! Creativity (make one with a badge at the front instead or a bow!)

 1. I chose to buy a velvet top from a second hand store, Alexander Platz (Humana) 

2. Cut out the large rectangle (includes the 1 cm seam allowance)

3. Fold the right sides of your fabrics together and pin the top section (leave a 1 cm seam allowance... as shown in the photo). 

4. Sew straight across the top with a 1 cm seam allowance.

 5.  Turn your fabric inside out so that the right side is on the outside.

 5. Then make sure that the seam (which you just created) is facing upwards.

 6. Now we need to create the front section of the turban.

 7. Sew this smaller piece like the bigger version. 1. right sides together, 2. sew the seam 1 cm seam allowance. 3. turn the rights sides to the outside

 8.Bring the 2 ends together. You can either finish like the bigger section (e.g. sewing so that you don't see the seam). I chose to bring the edges together with a zig zag stitch. (If you don't want the small section to be so big on the finished headband sew a 1 cm seam or make take a cm or so off the initial small rectangle)

9. Now slip the small ring onto the head band. Make sure that the 2 seams on the 2 pieces are in alignment (we don't want to see any seams on the finished garment when it is on your head, so all seams need to be on the inside).

10. If you are happy with the width of the small section on the big section, you can bring the big ends together. Start by bringing the 2 seams together (so that we don't twist the garment) putting pins in with a 1 cm seam allowance. Work your way around until you are no longer able to continue (you will get to a point where you have a gap where you can not pin or sew.... we need to sew this section later).  Take out the initial pin that you put in (the one over the seam) so that you can continue further around. We want the seam section to be in the middle of where we hand sew.... this is the underside of the garment (aka the ugly seamed section... we want all of this to be in one area so that it is not visible when we wear the headband... I hope this makes sense???).

11. Now sew the pinned area with a 1 cm seam allowance. Then finish with a zig zag stitch on the end. 

  

12. Now pull the fabric to the outside, like shown here. You should have a small section left which we need to hand sew with a blind stitch. Before wearing make sure all of the seams are not visible. Pull them to the inner side.

Now you should have a new turban/headband to wear!

Let us know if you have made one. We would love to see it! Don't hesitate to ask questions. 

Good LUCK! Viel Spass!

princess polly.... spreading love, peace and happiness

Lace panelled sun dress: $220

Lace panelled tier maxi dress: $280

Road trip dress: $70

BANG! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?! I was so excited when I found this. Both of the Shakuhachi dresses are sold out (the sun dress and the maxi in both colours). So much so, that I couldn't find an image of the black maxi version online.... not that I could have ever have afforded them anyway. 

The princess polly version is nowhere near as dreamy as the original.... but hey, it's a maxi dress with lace panelled inserts.... the look is achieved. Unfortunately, the black one is sold out in my size so I went for the peach instead..... luckily princess polly only does express post.... now all I have to do is wait......

get the doppelganger here

dip and get low

(Crochet top: "borrowed" from mum's closet. Singlet top (worn underneath): random. Necklaces and knuckle ring: Fashionology. Sword ring: Noir Jewelry. Faux leather shorts: Mink Pink. Shoes: Jessica Simpson)

The weekend just gone was close to perfect. Drinks with friends at a local pub, helping a friend move into her new house while having a few too many glasses of red wine with some rad tunes (hence the title of this post), a trip over to Rottnest Island on my mate's boat with some more amazing people, and lazing on the local beach before having a delicious lunch by the shore. On top of all that, there was a small pod of whales frolicking in the water on our way over to Rottnest Island. Frolicking = tails out of the water, fins slicing through the water's surface and even some back flips. We probably shouldn't have been as close to them as we were (considering they were at least twice the size of our boat) but it was well worth it to see a whale jump out of the water right next to me. 

I wore this when I went out to The Garden (a chilled out pub in Perth) after work to meet some girlfriends for lunch. I think The Garden has a great selection of drinks (including a delicious concoction of Pimms, mint, cucumber, orange and lemonade served in a huge watering jug), but they serve super shit food.

This top is one that I claimed from mum's wardrobe back when I was at Uni. I used to wear it with jeans. It was a favourite back then, and I have just re-discovered it. I knotted it up on the sleeves and along the hem to stop it looking too kaftan-y. This summer I think I'll also be using it for a cover-up at the beach.

Is anybody else just as excited as I am about the beautiful Aussie summer ahead?? 

"the wedding dress"..... or perhaps "the dress I wear to others weddings"

This is my "other people's wedding, dress"....if that makes sense. I made it for a wedding in 2009 and recently wore it to a Brazilian/German wedding in Blankanese, Hamburg. It was a beautiful wedding where many languages, namely Portuguese, German and English could be heard through out the night. 

When developing garments, fabrics may dictate what I create or the pattern may be the primary source of inspiration. In this case it was the fabric. I saw it at a fabric store and instantly knew that I needed to create a dress! I decided to utilise the symmetrical pattern within the bodice and then use the floral pattern for the skirt section. The bodice is from the burdastyle pattern, heidi dress variation. I then folded the skirt section on the bodice. 

I am really happy with how this dress turned out. I even like the lining that I used. I don't think you can quite see the colour of the lining, but it is a light olive green and it works perfectly with the brown's and creme's. 

Photos: Michael Dooney