Melbourne shopping

I went to Melbourne today and did a little bit of shopping in the city. Well, when I say shopping I just go to look at things. I went to the GPO which is one of my favourite (and I think underrated) places. Up the top corner of the building is the Akira shop, who is one of my favourite designers. I was there with my sister and I pointed out a dress I thought was v nice and she agreed. When we left the shop, she told me it was $1500. I looked at most of the other prices (as I always do), but did not see this one.
I have been wondering over the price of things lately. I remember doing a fashion range when I was at college and we had someone come in and talk to us about pricing. In my collection, I had some lovely printed silk, which my Mum had bought when overseas, so I guessed the price to be about $45 a metre. Also in the collection, I had some cotton voile, which I bought for $2 a metre. I asked how I would price the garments given the huge difference in fabric price and that the garments were part of the same collection. I do not think I got an answer, just a look around the room for another question.
More of this at another time.

Etsy

I have opened a shop on Etsy. The items on there are a little different to the 5trillion shop. I have other items such as jewelry, bags and clothing that I have just made one of. I did not want 5trillion to become too cluttered with this other stuff and I wanted to offer different sizes at 5trillion, not just one piece, if I did not have any more material to make more items for example. I guess it could be seen as the samples shop for 5trillion, for clothing at least anyway. The jewelry and bags are just other items I have made for fun. So check it out, if you are after a bargain.
Etsy is a great site, with lots of different artists and crafts peoples wares.
Tote designs also has a shop there.
I think I will move this item from 5trillion to the Etsy site, as I have only one of this in size 3.

Collars and new item for 5trillion

I have just been reading about collars and ease at fashion-incubator. I do not recall ever refering to ease in the under collar, we were taught to make the upper collar bigger so it could roll. I pulled out my old notes from college to check exactly what it had to say. So, if the under collar is smaller it does require ease in order to sew it together, but as it is so minimal I never thought of it that way.

Pink lace top on 5trillion.
I am in love with lace at the moment. I hear lots of people saying, ooh the 80's are back, weren't they so daggy! But I love 80's fashion, actually there are probably aspects of every era that I love. I think I love it though because this is the era I grew up in. I remember wearing lace tights, white skirt, pink top and a piece of lace in my hair to a party when I was younger and I just loved that outfit. I have many memories that include what I wore at the time or clothes in general, including Christmas shopping with mum, my pressies always included a few new outfits.

Fawlty Towers

I had a productive couple of days sewing. I made another puffy, raglan sleeve T for Kim who helped me with some photos, also made myself a puffy, raglan long sleeve T with ribbons and bows on the front. Quite pleased with the way they turned out, think I will offer it for sale on 5trillion. I bought some lovely, soft viscose knit and made what I have decided to call the 'Sybil' top, after Sybil Fawlty. 'Fawlty Towers' repeats have again made their way onto our TV (free to air) and I cannot resist but watch again when they are. I love seeing what Sybil is wearing. In this one it was, what I would describe as an Edwardian style blouse with a big bow on the front, buttoned up the back and full sleeves gathered at the extra long cuff, 2 buttons required! This teamed with a very tight pencil skirt.
Another show I love to see for what the women are wearing is 'Man About the House', though I have not seen that on TV for a long time.

P.S. I wrote this message before I put the top on the site. I'm not sure what happened, maybe I decided against it, but it is not called the Sybil top but something a little plainer; nevermind, maybe I will do another and call it the 'Sybil'.

more vintage patterns and college

I have been busy cutting out some stretch fabric for some T's, long and short sleeve. Soon to be available at my shop 5trillion. Usually if I need to cut another T-shirt in a size just a bit bigger than the one I have just done, I don't bother getting out a new pattern, I will just make it a bit wider, a bit longer and give it a little bit more room in the armholes. This always reminds me of a story from college. One of the girls I went to college with did some work experience at a place that made clothing predominately out of stretch fabric. They asked her to cut out another garment in a size bigger than she had just done. So, as per grading class, she was adding 3mm here, 3mm there, until someone asks her what she is doing. She says I am grading, they say, don't worry about that, just wack 5cm around the whole thing! Didn't we all love that story in pattern-making class when we were getting rapped over the knuckles for being 2mm out on a pattern. Of course it is important to be exact especially when using non-stretch fabric (thought I had better make that point!).
Here is a pattern I used for one of my fashion ranges at college. We all thought this was so clever without shoulder or side seams. 'A SNIP, less time, less fabric, only 2 main pieces', so it states on the cover.

Op-shop bargains

I went to the St. Kilda market this Sunday to see what they had on offer there. Unfortunately it was raining so we just drove past and did not get out of the car. The stall holders (who were there) were huddled under their umbrellas and small tents or were packing up. I will go again another time when the weather is a little nicer, though I should not say 'nicer' as the farmers and gardeners have been looking forward to some rain.
On Saturday I went to one of the local op-shops in town. As most op-shoppers know it is good to go frequently as you can be lucky to pick up a bargain. I bought this beautiful pair of gloves for just $2.50, I also bought an elbow length pair that were quite stained, I did soak them but they did not come up too well. I will give it another go. I also bought 2 more patterns. I love this one from the 80's, knickerbockers jumpsuit! I'm sure it will make a comeback soon.

Further notes on the previous pattern, it came out quite well and was pleased with it. But I had a terrible time trying to work out how to finish attaching the tie. I have lengthened the body of the top so it does not fit neatly onto the bottom of the garment anymore. I was trying to achieve a nice neat finish and do as little hand sewing as possible. In the end I had to leave an opening in the tie, near the body of the garment and pull in through. The only hand stitching required was for closing of this opening in the tie. Still to be added to 5trillion.