Compagnie M. - contest 2015: A Parisian girl in the woods

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Normally, I do not like competitions at all. Maybe my lack of talent in almost every sport has something to do with that :) But when I heard about the Compagnie M. - contest, I immediately knew I wanted to take part!

My aim was to design a pattern for myself, mixing elements from different children's dresses by Compagnie M. I ended up with:

- Lotta's folded collar

- Ileana's raglan sleeves, which I lengthened to Louisa-length. I added some golden piping.

- For the basis of the dress, I used Louisa. I have liked the special lines ever since it was released, and used yellow satin piping to draw the attention to them.

- mustard yellow, thé real Compagnie M.-colour!

To be unique, I also added a 'With Love - by Eva'-element. I added a contrasting part to the pocket part, in beautiful handprinted fabric by Lotte Martens. The quality is amazing, just like the beauty of the golden flowers. Because they are handprinted, every panel is slightly different and therefore unique!

Ileana, Lousia, Lotta and Eva combined, look like ... this!

For the cape, I used the Ileana skirt as a basis. I changed the shoulderline using the raglansleeve-pattern piece. I cut the front piece to add armholes ...

... and the back piece to add a little more of the beautiful flowers!

I had planned a button placket and a peter pan collar, just like the original Ileana pattern has. But in the end, it turned out better with an asymmetrical closure. So, I used the fabric I had bought for the collar to make a little scarf!

I hope this entry will charm the you and the jury :) Until the 3rd of November, you can vote here by clicking the little heart in the upper right corner of the blog post. Lots of beautiful creations were uploaded, so make sure to have a look at the others! One vote per creation per computer, so you have the opportunity to vote for all of your favorites!

Fabric for dress: thin grey wool by Prada

Fabric for pleated parts in dress and cape: Nivalis katoen - handprinted by Lotte Martens - for sale at Bambiblauw and de Stoffenkamer

Fabric for dress lining: Sketch Gold - Timeless Treasures

Fabric for cape: grey wool

Fabric for scarf: white teddy fleece with golden sparkles

A fairytale dress (#tinnyreturns)

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My little friend Liv loves stories. She likes to tell them, she likes to listen to them. After the initial shyness, her mouth can't stand still anymore. When we are just the two of us, she tells me about her small and bigger worries, about playdates and favourite teachers. She observes the world in her own special way and she asks questions about the Big Story of Life. She settles herself on my lap and listens to my answers, since I am so tall I must know almost everything. 

When we are just the two of us, time stands still and this shy seven-year-old shows me glimpses of her thoughts.

A few weeks ago, I followed a workshop where I drew, designed and printed my own fabric. I created a mysterious fairytale landscape at night, and now I have used this unique fabric for a mysterious fairytale dress! I combined it with a beautiful woolen fabric from the local fabric store. Apparently, it was part of Paul Smith's AW/1516 collection. The quality is just amazing.

As you might have guessed already, I used the Tinnydress-pattern by StraightGrain. I was so lucky to be one of the testers! This dress is by far the most perfect dress I have ever sewn! Because of the heavy weight of the fabric, I chose to stitch the pleats 6cm instead of 2,5. This idea even made it to the Tinnyspiration-lookbook, an online lookbook full of extra (T)in(ny)spiration!

Sensitive Liv doesn't like her clothes to be too fitted, so I chose for size 7 again (just like I did with my Jaanu dress for her). Although I myself would prefer a more snug fit, the dress is just gorgeous on her! These cap sleeves! The colourblocked front! The pleats! I love them!

With the fabric leftovers, I sewed a skirt for Livs sister Mila. I made the pleats exactly like they are in the Tinny pattern. The heavy fabric makes them stand out in a funny way.

I took the sisters out for a photoshoot, which they both loved. Even after sunset, they didn't want to hear about returning to the house. We enjoyed ourselves for hours and hours: they played with the attributes I brought, and I played with my camera settings. A dreamworld with stories and stars, totally in style with their new clothes.

Mila and Liv. Beautiful names for princesses with beautiful long hair. Tinny. Beautiful name for a perfect dress pattern. The code TINNYTESTER20 will give you a 20% discount in the shop!

I love Tinny, and I love these girls even more (babysitters aren't allowed to have favorites, but I can't help it! These two are just too lovely!)  To the moon, and all the way back.

More Tinny-inspiration on other blogs!

An InLinkz Link-up

Raglan Sweater

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My best friend is an admirer of my sewing. Every time I make something for myself, I ask him for advice, and he is the first one to show it to. He even likes fabric shopping!

For his birthday, I made him a sweater in the softest fabric I ever felt. I bought it on a stock sale of the Belgian children's brand Strass. When I arrived at the pay desk, there was only one metre of this fabric left. I was so happy to still have a piece!

The pattern is called "Chess Sweater", and it comes from the Belgian sewing magazine La Maison Victor. It can be bought here.

Those sweaters are so quick and easy to sew! Nevertheless, Jan was very happy with his new sweater, and so was I.

Fabric: woven knit, fabric sale Strass
Pattern: Chess Sweater, La Maison Victor jan-feb 2015

Laptop sleeve for my little brother

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Tomorrow, my little brother will have his first day at the university of Leuven, where I study as well. For his birthday, he got a new laptop to be used while studying, and I made a sleeve to protect it during transportation.

The pattern comes from the Belgian sewing book Zo Geknipt 2, a beautiful book with a lovely layout and perfect explanations.  

I cut the pattern pieces in two and played a little with the right and the wrong side of the dark blue fabric. It gave a special touch, which I accentuated even more by topstitching randomly with light blue thread.

My dear brother, I wish you some beautiful years in Leuven! Find new friends, enjoy the freedom, and everything will be alright. I'm sure you will do it brilliantly. Enjoy!

Pattern: Meneer de Directeur, Zo Geknipt!2

Outer fabric: dark blue canvas

Inner fabric: Triangularity Topaz, Art Gallery

Jaanu for Liv

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Liv is my little babysitting child. She has turned seven this summer, but we have been best friends (her words!) ever since she was two. If we would live in India, I'd call her Jaanu -which is Hindi for 'sweetheart'- the girl who makes my heart smile just by looking at me.

When I heard about StraightGrain's most recent dress pattern, I immediately knew I had to sew one for Liv. Not only because it's name suits Liv perfectly, but also because I knew the fit would be lovely on her!

 

I opted for the Elena version, and secured the pleats with a hand stitched golden cross.

I chose size 7yo for the lady who is 7 in age, but who has the waist circumference of a 6-year-old and measures 129 cm (almost 60 inches). It is still a little big on her,  but this way it will fit until the end of winter!

The fabric is a cotton by FinchFabrics, a Belgian textile brand. I had the opportunity to test this beautiful robin fabric, and both Liv and I are in love. It is softer than the regular quilting cotton but still very easy to sew with. The fabric will soon be launched. Follow their Facebook page to keep posted!

We took pictures on the same spot as we did here. Look how much she has grown in just one year!

Oh, how do I love my little Jaanu!