Dummies and online fabric retailers

Isn't she pretty? I have named her Mildred. I have the lovely Handmade Jane to thank for this latest acquisition, she posted a giveaway and I was the lucky winner. So a big thank you to Jane! I'm very much looking forward to getting stuck into the dressmaking this year and Mildred will be a huge help. Matt (other half) is rather amused and keeps teasing me about my "giant dolly" - sigh.

Oh and by the way, Jane's got another generous giveaway on her blog, so swing by before 8th January to take a look.

In sewing news, I am keen to get started on the Rooibos, but I'm having trouble finding the right fabric. Someone who works in central London shouldn't say that, but I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to sales crowds so I've been avoiding the main thoroughfares! Karen from Did You Make That has arranged a visit to Walthamstow Market in February, so I will hopefully snap up a few bargains there, but I can't possibly wait that long to get started! If any of you have recommendations for an online fabric retailer (UK) I'd love to hear them.

Cxx

To toile or not to toile?

(image taken from The Haberdashery facebook page)

Toile? Muslin? Prototype?! I'm reasonably new to dressmaking, and my approach to sewing has thus far been, shall we say, slapdash. I sewed bits and pieces on my mum's machine when I was younger, but after moving out 10 years ago I've not done much in the way of sewing until reasonably recently. For my first proper project way back in 2009 (a pre-blog dress) I did make a toile of sorts - that is to say I made it using the cheapest material I could find in John Lewis that was also wearable, because I couldn't face the idea of making something that I would never wear. The dress itself (New Look 6848) turned out reasonably well, although I never wear it, the floral material and big puffy sleeves make it look far too hippy dippy, not to mention the cheap material means it's more or less see-through! The second attempt with more expensive material actually turned out worse than the 'prototype'. I think I was over-confident second time round and rushed it.

My second dress (Simplicity 2591) would definitely have benefited from a muslin in terms of the roomy fit - I already talked about the many issues I faced in this blog post!

My third dress project is to be the Colette Rooibos pattern. I am really keen to do this one properly. I want it to be something I am proud of and can actually wear.

To all those more experienced sewers out there - what are your thoughts on making muslins? If I'm being really honest, even if I made a muslin and it didn't fit, I'm not sure I would be confident enough to alter the pattern to address the problem anyway, unless it was just a simple seam allowance or something. Plus I am lazy. And I hate waste. The thought of spending time and material making something that will just be binned really jars with me. 

Do I just need to get over it and on with it? Any advice gratefully received!

Cx

PS the image I have used in this post is from The Haberdashery's facebook page. I hope they don't mind me using it. It is a very lovely little cafe in Crouch End and I would recommend stopping there for some lovely cake and tea if you are in the area. They also do fab 'Barboot' nights once a month with lots of vintage/homemade bits and bobs to browse and buy whilst you sip your vino (or something more seasonal!)