Can I just kick off by saying how thrilled and honoured I am to be a part of this a.ma.zing line up? And so proud to be sharing this today with my dear friend Sara and her beautiful Henry dress.

I eyed the Bedford since Erin made it for Stylo and it was love at first sight. Really, that back got my heart. I must have missed the tester call for this so, as I did for the Willow & Co tour, I messaged her to see if she was in need of another crazy portuguese sewist. And again, her response to this was having me in this wonderful tour, proudly presenting my version of the Bedford. Seriously, sewing people are the best.

Because of those dangerous curves at the back, I knew I had to use a crisp, steady fabric, so I picked up my precious hoarded flamingo linen.

And as you know, we are always learning something. The method she uses for adding the facing is so smart but requires your most steady hand and a high precision level. Don´t be intimidated, it all depends on a precise prep work on your pieces and the results do pay off for all the burnt marks.

For my second version, I had a special fabric saved for a special upcoming project, but as I was playing with the pattern pieces on top of it I realised I had just the right amount and it would give the dress that little je ne sais quoi. I´m talking obviously about the mother of all fabrics, the god among humans, the fabulous and one of a kind Nani Iro. This double gauze Sen Ritsu in blue was the most generous offer from Paula who runs Maçãs de Amor (Love Apples), a portuguese based online store which carries all of our precioussss Nani Iro, Kokka, Amy Butler, and will have some novelties soon: Cotton and Steel, Art Gallery knits and Atelier Brunette. Yes, you can stop drooling now. She had the most beautiful family shop which she closed recently and now provides us these beauties online only. So, sewing people, can I ask you to show her some love? ;)

In this version, I fully lined the facing to the front and back pieces, which required my cursing level to rise up. Ha, really, those straps are so tiny and delicate, but I had to try it. And yes, I could have fitted it a little more, but I really wanted room to grow on these.

This little girl endured the hotest photoshoot, so I can't blame her for not being in the mood. We compensated with some great wave jumping at the beach later. <3 She loves the dresses though and can easily dress them herself with just a little help for the zipper.

I am truly in love with this design and have already planned a few cool tops for the rest of Summer. You will be blown away with all the versions on this tour:

Monday, July 6: Sanae Ishida and S is for Sewing
Tuesday, July 7: Dobbins Bobbins and As it Seams
Wednesday, July 8: Made by Sara and In a Manner of Sewing
Thursday, July 9: Sewing with Kate and Mom of Marlee
Friday, July 10: Edith and Eloise and DoGuincho
Saturday, July 11: My Sweet Sunshine Studio and Brooklyn Pattern Co.

And there is a coupon code, woohoo! Get 20% on any pattern in the shop with the code: SUMMERFUN15. The code runs from 12:01 am on July 6 through 11:59 pm on July 15.

When i started sewing and just ruined fabric like a 4 year old can solve math equations, I used a lot of old clothes and upcycled them. I have always kept clothes I don´t wear/like anymore, hoping they´ll someday be part of my closet again. Magda from House of Estrela is once again hosting her Refashion Month and i´m so glad to be a part of it! So hop on over and check my upcycling project!

I´ve bought this dress at a sale about two years ago, when I still did some compulsive shopping just because the price was worth it. The dress never really fitted me well, it´s too big and baggy, and I always thought about fixing it. Well, fixing it is way harder than just cuting it up and reusing the fabric, and I knew I wanted to make something I would really wear. I decided on an Alice Top by Tessuti Patterns because of that beautiful eyelet fabric.

Regarding construction, I underlined the yoke and armhole bands with the lining fabric from the dress. This was a necessary step since the yoke is fully lined and if i didn´t underline it all the seams would be visible through the eyelets. I then needed fabric for the bottom part; I was in an upcycling spirit, went through every closet, bedsheets, but nothing matched or was enough, except a shirt from my husband, which I imediatelly grabbed without permission (don´t worry, he didn´t use it). I used the back of the shirt for the front part, cuting it accordingly to the pattern, but for the back I didn´t have enough fabric to make it equal, so I had to play with it. The two sides from the front of the shirt were cut equal as big as I could. I then curved the bottom hem at back and front to make them match lenghtwise at side seams. I didn´t want the front to be shorter than it was, so I ended up with a reversed high low: high at the back, low at the front. The back pieces were overlapped by a couple of cm, just enough so I could feel comfortable with it and assure there was no bra seeing, and let the rest of the back open. I also used the shirt sleeves to cut lining for the yoke and armholes.

By now I still had a little of the dress eyelet to upcycle, but not enough for anything for myself, so I decided to use it for my girl. I love the Purl Soho City Gym Shorts (it´s a free pattern!) and thought it would be perfect with this! I needed to be creative when placing pieces to cut because the eyelet had a direction I had to respect, but it was just about enough. As the top, I underlined all pieces with the dress lining fabric. I used a bit of leftover denim fabric for the waistband, colourful pink bias for finishings (which I beautifully stitched in the ditch if I may brag a little, thank you) and added pockets to the pattern.



So, even if that dress was not horrid, it wasn´t getting worn, but now, well... I´ve been using my Alice non stop and those shorts were a great girly addition to her closet too!

Don´t forget to come back and check all the other wonderful upcoming upcycles (say that fast 3 times)!

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Castelinhos * Threading My Way * Fairies, Bubbles and Co. * Mabey She Made it * Conversas de Hermanas * Lulu and Celeste * Made by Sara * La Folie * Climbing the Willow * HattieLu Handmade * Swoodson Says * Knot so Normal * Friends Stitched Together * Just Another Project * Sew Thrifty

Looks like Summer has finally arrived and with it comes the inevitable speeding down and cooling up. The first one is rather difficult with a couple of toddlers to whom I forgot to add a pause button while they were on the making. My bad. The second one is easier, just find some water and dive in. Not the duck pond, please. Have you realised how dives taste better as years go by? Seriously, diving in the sea, preferably, has a sweeter taste for me now than it did just a few years ago.

Well, not being able to go for a swim, light and airy clothes is what it´s all about. Though I enjoy and repeat to exhaustion good basic patterns, I also like to have some twists in my wardrobe, and Charlotte from KZJO Studio fulfills that. I have just finished testing it and you can see some of the other testers fresh versions here.

Those straps are cleverly constructed from the bias facing applied to the front neckline and that back yoke is just calling you to play with it and create your own shape. Shorten the tunic for a blousier look or lenghten it for a boho maxi dress with some lace in the straps or the yoke. Fabric is from my local shop Feira dos Tecidos and Zara used it in an overall. I can tell you that it´s been 6 months since I bought a piece of clothing for myself (ha, looks like an AA recovery line) and even somethings I like are just not worth the money. Not shoes, shoes are always a good buy. Plus, the feeling of making your own clothes is way more rewarding than some quick shop.

And yes, good question, I´m not wearing a bra (but it´s wearable with a strapless one), my boobs migrated far south but I don´t give a shit I just don´t give a shit, really. Ahhh, Summer. <3