Cocoon Dress for ladies

**I am not a native speaker, but I try my best to translate my blog posts into English. The original Dutch version can be found here **

A few months ago, I bought this beautiful Marimekko-style fabric from Mieke's stash. Usually I don't buy fabrics without a clear goal, but I just couldn't resist this one. When I saw the Cocoon Dress pattern by Groovybaby and mama, I knew it would make a perfect match with the sweater fabric.

The pattern comes in sizes 2yo to 12yo and can be bought here. Only a few hours after ordering, the pattern arrived in my mailbox! Since the fit of the dress is quite loose, I didn't have to make a lot of changes for my ladies version. I started from the biggest size, lengthened it and added two little darts. I also altered the sleeves based on her suggestions.

Here in Belgium, university students have two exam periods a year: one in January and one in June. My sewing speed has slowed down a little this month since I was mostly studying, but I found some time for this easy and fast project. Sewing this dress takes less than two hours!

My usual studying outfit consists out of a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. Not very stylish, I admit. However, this dress is so comfortable that I love to wear it while studying, yet it is decent enough for everyday use.

The perfect dress to add some color to a rainy day!

Fabric: bought from Sisko by Mieke
Pattern: Cocoon Dress by Groovybaby and mama (gifted to me by super friendly Trine!), with modifications
Shoes: HIP  @Hippeschoentjes
Knitted cardigan: Boozy cardigan @CKS (AW15/16)
Scarve: Anne Kurris (AW15/16)
Umbrella: Flying Tiger

Little black dress revisited

** Uitgebreide Nederlandstalige versie hier **

On New Year's Eve, I wore this new dress in fabrics I received from the Belgian fabric shop Liesellove. She is having a huge sale right now, check it out!

The pattern was completely self drafted. I designed it together with my best friend Jan. Ready for a little journey around the details?

The front bodice has an asymmetric neckline and consists out of two fabrics: a plain black Ponte di Roma and a printed linen by Echino.

I added a black leather waistband which is asymmetrical as well.

The skirt is a tulip skirt with two box pleats.

The sleeves are just normal short sleeves to which I added a special 'touch' by cutting out two triangles in the front- and the back side. The sleeve on the left is completely black, the sleeve on the right is made up of two different halves (one in black, one printed) to make the print continue.



The back side of the dress is fully black. It consists out of two crescent shaped side panels and closes with two little black buttons. No zipper needed!



The back side of the skirt is the same as the front side. With the pleats, I wanted to create the illusion of a curvy shape.

Sadly, the illusion doesn't work from the side view ;-) Inspired by the Cocoon Dress, I lenghtened the back of the skirt and shortened it in the front.

Combined with the handbag I received from Khadetjes, I was ready for the party!

I wish you all the best for 2016!

Black fabric: Punta di Roma - Liesellove

Waistband fabric: black skai leather - Liesellove

Printed fabric: cotton-linen-blend Black and Natural Geometric Triangles and Birds by Echino (Kokka) - Liesellove

Buttons: Veritas

Pattern: self drafted

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

*Uitgebreidere Nederlandstalige versie hier*

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)

*Nederlandstalig? Klik hier*

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

**Uitgebreide Nederlandstalige versie hier**

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