Juju Loves Polka Dots

Breast Amulet

I have a dog that's half pit bull, half poodle. Not much of a guard dog, but a vicious gossip.
Craig Shoemaker

I've got no shortage of things to blog about this week but as it's Monday  I'll talk belly dancing costume (tonight's my class).
I will be making my first public performance in a couple of weeks so I'm costume obsessed at the moment.
I've made my first Choli.

It's a combination of block printed African fabric and Amy Butler. (I had scraps of both and this was really just to test out the pattern).

I can actually say it looks better on me than my mannequin, she hasn't got the stuff to fill it out. Sometime I'll get a picture of me wearing it - maybe tonight.

Anyway, I'm delighted with the pattern. It fits me perfectly! It was an adaptation of the Folkwear Tribal Dance Choli. But I changed it quite a lot.

There's an amulet hanging from the centre front and two at the side slits. I copied the beaded  amulet from one of my vintage Afghani dresses.

[Speaking of breast amulets, I just got the news that I have been accepted to the Playtex MoonWalk Marathon in May. You'll be hearing more about it, no doubt.]

The final choli will be made up in this

beautiful vintage sari fabric.

The pocket continues...

No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it.
Grace Slick

What an apt quote for this February Monday morning.

Okay on with the pocket...

Assembling the pocket
1.  Make a pocket template on a piece of card. My pocket is 14cm wide x 16cm deep with rounded edges at the bottom. Make another template for the pocket lining that is 1cm taller than the pocket. Draw around your pocket template with chalk on your pocket fabric and draw around your pocket lining template on to your lining fabric. I them trim away excess fabric, leaving a rough seam allowance of 2cm. I follow the marked line when I am sewing so that seam allowance is not critical.

2.  Pin your pocket lining and pocket, right sides together and sew the top edge.

3. Turn the pocket so that the wrong sides of the pocket and lining are facing each other. The lining , being 1cm longer, should peak out the top and create a contrasting piping.
Stitch all the way around the pocket edge, following the marked guideline. Press.

4. Make a card template for the pocket backing. This should be about 9cm taller than the pocket front and slightly taper in so that it is 12cm wide across the top edge instead of 14cm.
Find a bit of fabric that looks nice behind your pocket front and mark the template on it. In the photo below, you can see another bit of appliqued fabric that has been embroidered and quilted onto muslin (the muslin is sticking out the back).
Pin and stitch the pocket front, with its lining to the pocket backing along the template lines.

5. Mark and cut a pocket back lining from the backing template.
With the right side of the lining fabric face down on the right side of the pocket and its backing, stitch all around the marked line.

6.Trim the seam allowance around the pocket (leaving the top edge for now) and clip the corners, as shown. This is where it gets tidy and begins to look like something.
7. Turn the pocket ride side out, so that your back lining is at the back, then your backing and then your pocket with its lining on the top. All the seams are concealed.
8. Now cut a strip of fabric for the waistband sash. This pocket buttons around my hips. For a longer tying one, cut a longer strip.
My waistband is 7cm wide (this includes seam allowance of 1cm)x 100cm long. Obviously the length depends on where you want it to sit and how wide your hips or waist are. Start by making it longer than you think you need, you can always cut a bit off before you finish it.
24cm in from one end, stitch the pocket to one edge of the waistband, right side together.

9.Press the seam allowance (1cm) for both long edges to the wrong side.
10.Whip stitch the long edges of the band together along seam edge. Turn in the ends and continue whip stitching. Press. Try on and decide on button placement for your size. Make a button hole in one end and sew on button on other end. Press and make it look really nice.
Voila you are done.
On Wednesday I will show you some variations including using ethnic bags/embroidery and knitted bits. See you then. Missing you already.

A pinch and a punch

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month and no punch backs.
Ancient English saying

Finally! Here is the promised pocket tutorial. I'm going to do this in two parts.
Today is the embroidered fabric for the pocket and Friday I will show the making of the pocket.
This is the lovely pocket I'll be making, displayed around my slender, photoshoped waist (well I had to have some help, since the stripes are so obviously working against me).

1. I began by constructing a pieced, appliqued, embroidered and quilted fabric that I cut my pocket and backing from. Obviously you can skip all this and just make a pocket from plain or printed fabric but let's have some fun here.
I started out with some silk duponi which had gold threads on the warp and red on the weft. This stuff looks great when frayed and slashed. I mixed this with some old pieced quilt squares. I seamed them together allowing the frayed edge of the silk to fold to the right side.

2. Next I added another piece of silk, with the seams on the wrong side.

3. I've added a few stips of torn silk in different colours, stitching them to the backing fabric with a straight stitch and encouraging them to fray.

Then I have pinned a piece of checked cotton with a traced flower, on to the backing fabric.

4. The flower was machine embroidered to the backing fabric with a straight stitch and then the excess fabric was cut away.

5. I machine stiched the centre circle and cut away fabric.

6. Using a piece of white card with the pocket shape cut out of it, I framed different areas of the appliqued fabric to see which I liked.

7. When I selected an area I liked I traced the pocket pattern on to the fabric and cut it out of the fabric allowing plenty of seam allowance (which will shrink in the embroidery/quilting phase). I also cut out the same size of a muslin fabric to quilt the pocket to.

8. Finally I machine and hand stitched these fabrics together, adding sequins and beads.

This last picture gives you a better idea of what the fabric looks like.

See you Friday.

String of Lights

On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights: "For indoor and outdoor use only."

 

Brad Dosland has the most beautiful pictures of belly dancers. Yes  I am still completely addicted to belly dancing and am planning the making of my first costume and wig/hair extensions.

It is also time for me to have my hair coloured, cut and re-extended so I am working on the new beaded extensions for the hairdresser to put in.
They are  in amazing antique bronze cut glass and ruby red charlottes. Much more beautiful in real life than this photo can show. Although I have bought a new tripod I really need some lights for my winter time photography.

My hair should be even more beautiful this time. I promise to get good pictures to show when the extensions are in.

This week I will finally be posting the pocket instructions. I am working on them now. Come back soon.

Felt crazy

He who dies with the most yarn and fabric is, nonetheless, dead.

I've been doing a lot of felting but not many pictures yet except for this needle felted bird, made from a drawing by my son.
We have no light at the moment and my tripod is kaput. Might get a new one today.

Have a look at Humblearts for some nice needle felted Christmas ornaments.

More felted ornaments.

Really good demonstration of needle felting.

Nice pincushions, site link from Molly Chicken.

 

Interesting site.

Highly desirable felted knitwear from Mary Davis.
Please Santa, a bobble skirt for Juju's polka dot collection!

I know it's expensive Santa, but surely with all your elves to help work those knitting machines, it's no problem.

Pocket pattern coming in the next few days.

P.S. Santa, this jacket is also wonderful!

Shoe lust

If the shoe fits-buy it in every colour.

Look my new eBay bargain Camper shoes have arrived.

I love them! They are very comfortable and have the appearance of having a heel but don't really. (My bunions can't stand any heal.)

I am so jealous of you Americans having Zappos. I want these Earth shoes which work on the same principles as MBTs.
I have a pair of MBT trainers that I am a big fan of. I only wear them for exercising but I love them and think they really do help with core muscle improvement.  There are many claims that they reduce cellulite. I'm not really sure about this because you would have to do some before and after photos (too scary).
But I am sure they have helped to improve my tummy muscles.

Phildar have some inspiring knitting patterns. Link mentioned (although not actually linked) at tutai.

Noro sweater will get modeled when there is light and someone to take a picture around.

I haven't forgotten about those of you who want Julie's book. Just very busy this week. You'll be hearing from me soon.

Matching Socks

My socks DO match. They're the same thickness.
Steven Wright

Look, now I have my own This And That.

There has been so much crafty making going on at the Polka Dot household that it's going to take me a while to get pictures of everything.

On the other hand I haven't done any painting in ages. Nor have I completed any jewelery (lots of idea-stage stuff).
I'm feeling very guilty about not buckling down to one discipline again - my whim of iron is very strong.

What do you think about a book about altered clothing? A bit of Fruits street-style observation, a bit DIY alteration how-to. I wonder if there is a market? More to the point, could I convince publishers there is a market? Any thoughts?

Raw Talent

I remember that one fateful day when Coach took me aside. I knew what was coming. "You don't have to tell me," I said. "I'm off the team, aren't I? "
" Well, " said Coach, "you never were really ON the team. You made that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your helmet is a toy space helmet. You show up at practice and then either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or you try to tackle people at inappropriate times."
It was all true what he was saying. And yet, I thought something is brewing inside the head of this Coach. He sees something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can mold. But that's when I felt the handcuffs go on.
Jack Handy

Hi again. I am revealing a photo of me undoctored. There is a strange shadow behind my left breast that makes me look larger and saggier but  I'm going to just tell you that it's not really there rather than go to all the trouble of removing it.

I made my husband take this photo to illustrate some layered wearing. Today I have on two skirts and two shirts. Oh, that boob thing is really bothering me when I look at the photo.

I bought myself a load of cheap tight t-shirts and some nice vests. I don't like the way these t-shirts look on anyone on there own. I'm sick of seeing every ones tummies, bums & g-strings under too short shirts and bulges where bra straps are.  The answer is wearing another layer over these small shirts. Also more opportunity for colour.

Same with skirts. More layers means more colours and patterns.

Here is a skirt I just finished making.

It has a built in lining with a ruffle that is about 1cm longer than the crochet lace. again, more colour, more rustling layers. The skirt sits at my hips with a zip opening and darts so it doesn't add bulk to the waist area.

One last thing to show today. When I went shopping last week I fell in love with a lilac crushed velvet skirt with a crocheted mohair lace trim in an antique lace colour. I loved the look of a fluffy crocheted lace with a woven fabric. So I bought some ivory kid silk Haze and have been crocheting lace trim to add to my altered clothing.

It's not finished, just at the idea stage, but I like where it's going.

I'm back

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
Steven Wright (God bless him for giving me so many great quotes)

Did you think I might never return and reveal the secrets of my new altered clothes and my pink hair? I did. I've been sick for sooo long. However, I did get lots of knitting and little sewing project done while sitting on the sofa with my bucket.

First I must say thank you to all those who wrote in while I was sick or replied to the post before when I was fishing for compliments. I love you all and feel renewed purpose. You are out there!

Secondly if you are interested in buying Julie Arkell's book, can you let me know? I spoke to her about it and decided the easiest thing to do is for me to order a dozen from the publisher and sell them on to you if I get enough people wanting them. Must warn you though that with shipping they will come to about £30.00 to the US. Less for nearer destinations. If you express an interest, I will let you know the cost, before ordering. I'm not profiting out of this, I'm just doing it cause I'm nice and I know there are a lot of Julie admirers out there.
Sorry, she has no blog. She has no computer. She has no TV. Not a single luxury.

Okay now back to me. Your going to be hearing a lot about my clothes for the next little while. I have lost 20lbs and have renewed interest in my wardrobe. I've taken everything out and either got rid of it, put it in a basket for alterations or feel a new confidence in wearing it. It's all about layers, I reckon. I know this isn't news but I've figured out how to work them. There will be pictures.

Today's pictures are pockets. Remember the pocket Julie was wearing? Well, Marilyn and I both decided that we should never have lived without them in the first place and made loads.

Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it,
not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon round it.
Women used to wear pockets separately. For those of us who don't wear jeans, and wear a lot of skirts I think this is an excellent idea. Most store bought skirts don't have pockets and this drives me crazy.

I made some that tie at the back like an apron but I prefer this style that does up with a button at the front. It feels more secure and makes a nice hip accent.

I have some beautiful embroidered Afghan and Indian purses that I have attached strings to so I can wear them in this way.

They are also the perfect place to use up bits of embroidery like this Thai Hill tribe bit.

More tomorrow. Today I leave you with my new hair. I have added some pink and purple extensions.

I have also added some lovely beading but it is not in this picture. You'll have to come back for that if you find me and my clothes as fascinating as I do.

Gargle for all your worth

Sometimes the beauty of the world is so overwhelming, I just want to throw back my head and gargle. Just gargle and gargle, and I don't care who hears me, because I am beautiful.
Jack Handy

More show and tell.

Julie is both the queen of layers and aprons. Notice the pocket. I've made loads of those.

This next picture has nothing to do with my weekend but I'm adding it in here because of the  bubble gum pink theme. I received these lovely treats from Belle Dia on my return home after the summer. Yummy.

This next image is a partially finished pullover wrap knitted in garter stitch strips, sewn together. Julie makes rugs and tablecloths like these and she is currently working on this number. She uses tapestry wools. She plans on adding two more rows, she thinks.

This photo is the beautiful Nicki in one of her sweaters.

I think the pattern came from a French Marie Clare Idea. I love the closure. She has also sewn a little patch of the same fabric on the centre top back.

I will show you some of my creations in the next post. My juices are flowing and I've made some great things including new jewelery so stay tuned.

p.s. How come Molly Chicken gets so many comments? I'm experiencing blogger jealousy. Is this a normal symptom of blogging?