Fabric Friday III

So it's time for another edition of fabric Friday! anyone else excited as I am? It's amazing how this weakness of mine (I'm an unapologetic fabricaholic) has generated so much interest - my mail box is filled with unending questions about sourcing and the like so all I can say for now is hang in there, hold your horses as I've got something special coming soon. *grin*
Here are my uploads -

 

More on the other side......

Tube Top Tutorial With Fusible Bust Pad - I

 Hello you!

So for those of you who would be making wrapper blouses, skirt bLouses and the like, here's how you can apply fusible bust pads to your bust cups. If you are conversant with the nigerian blouses as seen on ladies wearing different asoebi styles, you would definitely come across blouses that make the blossom look absolutely wonderful! *clears throat*

As you can see, I've cut up by bust cups. Along with princess seams. You can go through my tube top and princess seam posts here and here

 Here, I'm using a lace fabric for ease of understanding.

You cut up your main fabric, your underlining (if you are using lace,you should have two sets of underlining as one set would be directly facing the lace and that is what people would see from the outside)

Tube Top Tutorial

Compliments of the season guys! Hope you're enjoying the holidays? Well, I can't really say that I am because I'm still working *sad face* Anyways, I'll skip all the talk and get right to the business of the day.
So today I'll be showing you how you can create a 'bust cup' for your tube dresses,tops, African wrapper blouses and so on! Note though, that you can also merge this technique with the same technique used in making Princess seams as seen here when you want to make dresses, blouses, etc.
For those of you who don't have  the slightest, of what I'm gibbering about, I'll show you a photo :-)

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you,you,you, and me!

Wishing you more blessings and joy unspeakable. Do have loads of fun today cos you deserve it. :-)

DIY Sequin Top

Hello! Thought to share my just published Bellanaija DIY article with you before rushing off to church lol!
Check it out here

Hanny Y version

My Version

Tube Top Tutorial With Fusible Bust pad - Intro

Hello you! Hope you are doing a-ok? well for me, I had quite an eventful/tiring day today but all the same let me begin the wrapper blouse tube top post shall I?

So here goes!

You'll need:

Lace fabric

Underlining

Underlining(to place directly underneath your lace)

Fabric Friday II

Hello you! It's time for another 'fabric Friday' post so here we go!

More on the other side

The Daviva Sale

Fabric Friday!

Hello you!

Today I'll be sharing some stuff off my fabric stash. I chose to call this random feature 'Fabric Friday' as I'll be sharing my fabric stash/buys on Fridays. Enjoy!

The Clipper Dress Sew Along

Happy December!

Hello!! 

*Taking out the cobwebs*

Hope you having a great weekend? It's december! that was quick wasn't it? cant believe its year end already!It has been a while and yes I do feel guilty due to the mails I've received from you guys, thanks for checking in from time to time, you are the reason why I have resolved to post more irrespective of my insanely busy schedule but never the less the blog is here to stay and not just 'stay' to get even better so watch thus space and expect much more for December and the new year! 

Happy New month and happy Sunday beautiful people!

Xoxo,

Onnari.

How To Decorate Your Space With Corn Tassels

 Hello! So I did mention some time ago about guest writing for the online magazine Bellanaija? Well here's the DIY project I put together for my last article. 

My Finished Sew Along Dress

Hey! Feels good to be back and to see the blog the way I want it to be! But honestly though, being naturally spontaneous, I just might do one or two tweaks subsequently - Lord help!

Now for previous readers of TSN, you would definitely notice the change in theme, colour,media buttons....I felt it was much needed because for one I wanted an all white background ( although retained the predominant pink colour which you now see all round the blog's pages).....all in all, I hope you like the new look!

Now on to the business of the day. quite honestly, I had to draft the intended post I was to upload and send this out because its been pending for too long and in my bid to becoming a more serious blogger lol!, I that it wise to send in the finished Sika sew along dress before doing my new posts.

In case you wondering why I didn't share the rest of the process, 'participants' on the blog weren't being very encouraging, abandoning me!  so I had to go it in my own :-(

Anyways, hope it would be better next time and meanwhile the sew along on Nairaland.com is picking up so well, would share photos with you soon. 

So here's my version of the Sika Scope Wrap Dress- I wanted a full skirt but with minimal gathers, so I added tulle to the underskirt. Hope you like!

Changes!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3966618/?claim=ddrssqrumpy">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Hello you!hope you doing great? So I just wanted to put it out there that this blog's undergoing some much needed change so please please bear with me on my absence and lack of updates and of course things would be a bit shaky for awhile, but we would be thankful for the change in the end! Bless you! And keep visiting!
Ps. The finished sew- along dress would be posted soon as the blog 'stabilises' this is because, participants were/are still more willing (if I may use that word) on the Nairaland sew along thread I opened when the Sika sew along took off. Feel free to check it out!
http://www.nairaland.com/1273492/sew-along-thread-tailors-fashion

Xoxo,

Onnari

Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #6> Preparing The Underlining For The Bodice.

Hello again! busy day it is! now this post comprises of : 

1. preparing the bodice underlining

2. shaping the bodice

Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #5 > Sewing the skirt's underlining

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great time at church? :-) now I'm uploading the underlining posts rather simultaneously i.e underlining for both the skirt and the bodice< so watch, make and reach out if you've got any questions.

Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #4> Sewing/turning out the belts

On this post, we would be making the belts for our wrap. I'll tag the inner belts '1' and the outer ones '2'. We'll need two of each, making four belts. 

Sika Scope Wrap Dress Sew - Along #3 > Sewing the bodice

Following the princess seam tutorial as seen here, cut out yours according to your body measurements.

Princess Seam Tutorial

After I got the first couple of mails regarding princess seams, I decided to post a tutorial here. But then again, I got yet another request from a dear reader on the same, and so I thought to make a 'clearer princess seam post'

The labels 'A', 'E' and 'B' stand for the Apex(nipple or highest point of the bust), Empire (that area under the bust, normally measured from the top of the shoulder to the underbust i.e. where your bra rests), and Bodice (your belly button, normally measured from your shoulder to belly button)

 The determined width would read as technical if I explain it, so I would just advice that you add about 12'' to half your bust line measurement and if you are making a dress, add to your hip measurement. If you are bigger however, feel free to add incremental inches so you don't make errors and waste your fabric.

Fold your fabric in two: measurements used here - bust(34), bodice(17 x 26), empire(27)

At the apex, measure out the 'gap' from one apex to the other. Here I used 8'' as that is my perfect fit or rather 'gap' :-) so you are seeing 4.5'' because the extra 0.5'' makes for seam allowance.

At the bodice, measure out the same 'perfect fit gap', here I used 6''. As you 

connect the dots from bodice to apex

now, I made different lines so you determine how high or low you would prefer your princess seams. Here we would make use of the lowest one (the curve with the arrows). Note that the lower the curve, the pointier the curve at the apex.

 make a 2'' mark from the bodice gap you've created

connect the dots all the way to the apex, following whichever curve you want 

cut out...

open up the pieces and join each side piece to the center piece, sew from the bottom upwards.

xoxo, 

Onnari

SSWD SEW - ALONG: SEWING THE SKIRT

I chose to cut my skirt in a semi - circle form so that it flares out prettily, although I wouldn't want my skirt to be overly gathered as i'll be using tulle as well and don't want too much volume. Feel free to add some more gathers if you prefer as it all depends on how you plan to rock yours!

Spring 2013 Trends

Hello Everyone! 

So this is one of those posts, saved somewhere on my hard drive hoping to be uploaded....I finally got around to it today thank God :-)

First trend spotted are the checker board prints (which reminds me, I got this fabric the other day and would try to post that as well as the other fabrics I got for the production of my boutique pieces)

CHECKERBOARD PRINT

DIY: How To Prepare Your Hair Extensions Before A Braids session

So you want to have your hair braided and want smooth, light, lovely braids, and most of all, 'an absence of tangles' what do you do? you boil some water and get dipping! I'll show you how:

SSWD Sew Along #1 – BODY MEASUREMENTS.

Hello everyone! Today our Sew – Along commences and I am so 

happy! I worked a few hours today, got back and rushed to begin 

posting!

So we begin by taking our body measurements.

Asides the basic measurements we come across and are more 

familiar with (as in the image above), there are a few more we 

would require in making garments, so in that regard, I’ll type out a 

list of what you’ll need to get measured  and how.

 The Basic Blocks in garment making include the bodice (torso), 

skirt(below the torso), Sleeves(arms) and  trousers, but for the 

SSWD see – along, we would only require the bodice and skirt 

because it is a sleeveless dress, and no trousers involved obviously! 

So here’s what you’ll need to get measured: ( Stand erect and have 

someone assist you, and try to take this seriously as the success of 

your dress depends on this J

Shoulder (measure the length of your shoulder from one end of your collar bone to the next)

Armhole (measure around your armpit)

Bust (measure your breasts at the fullest/highest point)

Apex (measure the length of your shoulder to your nipple)

Empire (measure the length of your shoulder down to your under bust, as well as the circumference)

Natural waistline (measure the circumference of your waistline. This is the narrowest part of your torso and is normally about an inch or two inches above your belly button)

Bodice (measure the length of your shoulder down to your belly button, as well as the circumference)

Hips (measure at the fullest part of your hips) - we wouldn't be working with this though.

Dress length.

PS. Take your measurements as you would like the dress to sit on you i.e. do not add any allowances.

see you on the next post.

xoxo,

Onnari. 

Photo credit: www.fashion.blogorganization.com

That's Sew Patternless!

Ever thought about a DIY route to garment construction? well here you go!

SEW - ALONG SCHEDULE

So finally, a date has been fixed for our Sew - Along! Anyone as excited as I am? *dancing across the room*

The chosen date is May 18(Saturday).

Please don't feel sad if this is what you voted for,due to the email votes, blog and Nairaland.com  votes, it's obvious that this baby is our winning dress!

The dress is the Scope Wrap Dress by Sika Designs, a Uk based Ghanaian label owned by Phyllis Taylor. Their fabrics are sourced from Ghana and pieces handmade in Ghana by Ghanaian seamstress.

<<this dress was styled with a 50s inspired petticoat also by Sika Designs, but for our dress, we would attach the tulle to the underlining>>

Commenting!

Hello you! Quick post: I decided to 'disconnect' my Google Plus comments as I discovered that it was practically impossible to post a  Comment without being on google plus o if you commented via google plus prior to now, I've noted your comments nd want to say a big thnk you.

Hugs,
Onnari .....

Sew Along: Chosen Pieces

Hi all!it HAS been a minute! So the intended pieces for our sew along have been selected so I would be posting them so you look through and possibly voice type out your preferred piece. When that's been done, I'll put up the schedule and we'll get this show on the road!

Here they are:

Celebrity Inspired DIY - Rukky Sanda

So I made a pre-post a few days ago on Rukky's pearl/lace necklace here

and decided to make mine in form of a bracelet... You could also use the same procedure in making a necklace as it's just the length that varies.

PS. this is also the same procedure used in making the ankara bead necklace, you can also go through that tutorial here

YOU'LL NEED:

Lace.  (this is ombre but hey! it's what I've got! :-)

more on the other side...

Sew Along Update

So I’ve received quite a number of emails (not excluding comments 

on the blog),and it makes me happy not to mention excited to see a growing number of potential participants because honestly, i wasn’t quite sure how the whole idea would be received.

Now with this update, I intend to shed more light on the ‘what,when,how, and who’ of the Sew Along or as a reader called it, ‘The Sewathon!’ lol!

more on the other side....

DIY Style: Biola Williams

So it's been a while since we've had this feature....I  know, I know, so now i'm redeeming myself with this post and hope you would also see the beauty and inspiration as do I, in this fashionista, accessories designer and DIY Diva that is, Biola |Williams. Biola is an accessories designer/tutor and the brains behind Tribal West Accessories (feel free to visit her website here for some eye candy :-) 

her fringe earrings and purse were made by her!

more on the other side...

Celebrity DIY Inspiration: Rukky Sanda

So I was seeing the movie, 'THE SEARCH' written and produced by Nollywood actress Rukky Sanda (not the reason i'm doing the DIY i.e that she wrote and produced the movie :-)  fellow actors including: Nse Ikpe Etim, Yemi Blaq, VanVicker, Susan Peters, and spotted the neckpiece worn by Rukky. I really hearted it and thought to do a DIY on it so i quickly grabbed my camera and snatched up a photo off the TV screen lol!

more on the other side...

How To Remove Ankara Fabric Labels

Hello you!

Now you might have some ankara fabrics in your possession, and would actually like to work with them (personally though, because if you were handing it over to a seamstress, peeling the label off would be her headache not yours :-) and this tutorial would be of no use to you!), but find peeling off the labels to be quite daunting as some ankara fabrics have not-so-easy-to-remove labels phew! So is why I've put up this tutorial, to make the 'task' easier.

more on the other side 

Sew Alongs Anyone?

Sew what if we are miles,cities, states, or even countries apart? Who says we cant be sewing buddies and have fun sewing together? *fingers on chin* Prior to creating this blog, people have contacted me on the subject of training sessions especially from other states, others have asked to post photos of work-in-process garments so they can follow through an after reading about Sewalongs over at  www.sewaholic.net I decided to 'pitch' the idea to you, and if you think it's cool, and you  love fabric, colour and fashion you could shoot me a mail over at thatssewnaija@gmail.com and we would fix dates, fabric, garments to be made etc and when we are done, participants would send in photos of their finished garments... Note that, we could also have online DIY meet ups or what we'd rather call, DIY - alongs lol!

Reader DIY!

How I loooooooooooove posting reader DIYs! As I previously mentioned, I get so elated when I receive mails and photos of completed projects carried out by readers, I mean just knowing that they have been inspired by this blog to channel their inner creativity and actually make something makes me want to bring even more to the blog and banish every lazy/procrastinating bone in me! *grin*

more on the other side

Pin Tuck Detailling - The Diagonal Pintuck

     Pintucks make for very fine and interesting detailing; so here's a moderately easy and quick way to create  a diagonal pintuck. Know this, you can use pintucks in beautifying  your clothes, slim fit your blouses, shirts, dresses etc, throw pillows/cushions ans lots more!

more on the other side...

Blog Feature! - Ps I Made This, Matter Of Style, A Beautiful Mess.

Hello all! So in addition to writing, DIY-ing, designing and going about my daily activities (let's not forget work of course!) I like to discover new and exciting blogs,  but seeing that this is a DIY(lifestyle/sewing blog), I'll only share such blogs that I find :-)

I'll begin with two of my favourite blogs (I have mentioned them in previous posts though).www.matterofstyle.blogspot.com

     The first is 'matter of style' by ALESSIA Di Fonsio and you can read her intensely creative blog at www.matterofstyle.blogspot.com

She manages to ever so effortlessly, recreate runway looks and fashion trends in a very pocket friendly manner! She also writes a fashion column over at Style.it

more on the other side....

Edited: How to create an elastic band

Hello there! Hope you had a well spent weekend? I know I did! First of all, i'm trying out this mobile blogging thingy so pardon me if i make any blunders ok? this would be my first mobile blogging attempt lol!hope i nail it :-)

So today I'm doing a post to help you in inserting an elastic band on that skirt/trouser/knickers  etc but before that…..

The fabric came in  a yard and forty inches (I don't do metres, I do yards J) which I got at a 'normal' fabric store! When I say normal in quote, I mean in a fabric store where tweed, suede, cotton etc are sold, and then this Ankara number was in the midst of them! This doesn't happen usually especially Inthis part of Nigeria/Africa, you only find Ankara where other Ankara/kente/adire etc fabrics are sold. I snatched it up immediately as I hadn't come across that kind of print previously.  The name of the print is 'WADATA WAX' never heard of that name! mystery print lol! I love that it's got different hues though, from blue to green, to mustard….. nowback to the 'gist' of the day… 'How we can insert or create an elastic band on our skirts eh?

Please follow the photos, and I'll be glad to help should you encounter any hiccups. 

more on the other side...

DIY: How To Make A Fabric Bead Necklace

Hello all! So this is a quick, lightning speed post  bothering on how to make an ankara bead necklace! I happen to have receive tons of requests on this and so I just had to make it/post it. However there is a little er 'twist' :-) Due to time constraint I made the necklace and documented the steps about half way through, and took a photo of a completed necklace I had previously made as I haven't completed the DIY piece even as I type! But not to worry, I chose a sample photo of Ituen Bassey's which you can look at with regards to finishing off the necklace before I make a post - post (lol!)on finishing off the necklace (you can call it a do/sew/make - along , whatever really! *grin*) together. Come to think of it, that isn't a bad idea, we should plan that, could be so much fun!

more on the other side

:

TOOLS

Beads

Sewing Thread and fabric strips, wide enough to accommodate your beads.

Sewing Needle

STEPS:

Fold your fabric strip in two,

Check for proper fit by placing your bead atop your fabric, you don't want it to be too small or too big when you are done stitching the fabric together. Then stitch together.

Now this step is optional. you may use this procedure of making an 'anchor' or just insert the beads one after the other, into the sewn fabric.

(Attach a piece of fabric to the knotted end of your sewing needle/thread. This would prevent your beads from moving.)

pass the needle through each bead, tie some thread around it, then move on to the next bead.....and the next bead, and the next bead.....and.......so on.....

this is what we would later arrive at only here, I made use of black thread as against the yellow used in this tutorial. you can also experiment with gold threads, silver threads, etc

that's all folks! do have a productive week ahead!

xoxo,

Onnari.

twitter handle: @thatssewnaija

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