Request time: free lolita patterns

I've had quite a few requests by email recently. Mainly these have been for free patterns. I'm against violating copyright so I've been looking for open source or creative commons.

Anyway here are a couple of things I've found that could be adapted for lolita:

1. A blouse - JJ's 6009 blouse
This blouse pattern can be downloaded from Burdastyle and printed out at home. You'll probably need to sign up for an account if you don't have one already but it really only takes a minute or two.

If you want to add a collar - theres this how to by ceregana, I've not tried it myself, but theres some good reviews on the site.

2. Underbust JSK - snipsniptutes underbust pinafore
Here is an easy way to make an underbust style jumpskirt. To lolita-ify it I'd suggest making the panel that is 160 cm more like 260 - 300 cm. You could make that piece into 3 sections if your fabric isn't that long.

Hope these are useful!

Drafting patterns: changing darts to princess seams

Although I have now got a blouse pattern with princess seams to use as a base, I thought it would be useful to find out how to draft one anyway. Especially since I said I would finally start trying to draft my own stuff... (I will do this... I know I always put it off every time!)

So I found this really good tutorial on Burdastyle:
Changing darts to princess seams

It actually makes it look really easy and now I feel kind silly for complaining about my pattern. mope.

Update on blouse pattern 6732

Remember when I was talking about that blouse pattern New Look 6732? Well I started cutting out some of the pieces this week for blouse E, the one with the short sleeves.
I found that it turned out to be really long and that I would probably need to cut a good 5 or 6 inches off the bottom. I also found that there are two sets of darts to form the shape of the blouse. Including a set which has points at each end. (There are some tips for these here.) I really prefer princess seams, they are meant to be harder to sew - but I have way more trouble getting darts to lie correctly.
So I've decided that I am finally going to start work on drafting my own patterns.

GLS Desktop

I got a new toy this week. A little 10inch netbook. So I decided to make a quick desktop image for it. The resolution is 1024x600.
Its made from one of the photos I took when I was first making the header for Gothic Lolita Sewing. I think its quite cute!

Making Macarons - attempt 1

So I had a go at making some Macarons. After a bit of research I decided on a recipe from Serious Eats, and these are the results.

I'm not sure they're quite there yet. The tops turned out a bit domed and cracked and the ruffley bit around the bottom isn't very defined. I think maybe the oven was too hot? There seems to be a lot of factors which can affect how they turn out, like how dry the egg whites are. I tried the method where you microwave the eggs for 10sec instead of leaving them out all night. Maybe I'll try aged eggs next time.
.
Anyway, I think they are not too bad for a first attempt. They taste nice - slightly chewy and very very sweet, but I'm not sure what they're meant to taste like so I can't really make a comparison!

...speaking of baking

There seems to be a thing with the 'lolita community' and Macarons. Now I've heard of Macaroons - as in coconut macaroons, but never really the french Macaroon. Anyway, they do look pretty so I thought I'd look up a recipe. They are mainly made from meringue and ground almonds with different flavours and colours added to the macaroon and the cream in the middle. I might give it a try.




pic from www.cookboutic.fr

Baking and cupcakes and things

I'm in a bit of a baking phase at the moment, I watched all together waaay too many episodes of Ace of Cakes and got Rachel Allen's Bake book for christmas and now I now I think I'm some kind of master. So here are a couple of nice cupcakey blogs I've been looking at:

Pokedot Cupcakes
Cupcake Blog
Crumbs and Doilies blog

Also I was briefly in London over Christmas and I went past Candy Cakes (sorry the picture is a bit dark I took it with my phone) and it looked super delicious but I didn't have time to go in! I'd like to go to London and try out some of these little shops that are popping up all over.
It would be nice to do a UK review like the one in the English GLB vol.4.

Commercial patterns that could work for lolita

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas, I was definately ready for a holiday! Santa did bring me a couple of nice patterns this year which I am looking forward to making a start on.

The first one is this blouse collection
New Look 6732 - I've put up the line art image as I think it gives a better idea of the shapes. But I think that blouse E could be a good base for a lolita blouse. I might add a bit of a ruffle around the collar to extend it a little.

The second pattern is this little jacket - New Look 6564
This could look quite smart with a classic co-ordinate. I think pattern F might work well with a pirate/military look. Plus you get a cute camisole pattern too.
I've not tried making it yet so I'm not sure what kind of alterations it might need.

Now this is one that I don't own myself but I thought might be useful for some one
Simplicity 4282
The photos on the front of the envelope are kinda hideous but I think some of the shapes could be useful if you wanted to do an apron or something more like a bustle over-skirt.
With a bit of creative thinking I bet you could make something like an apron that you could wear over a plain dress to jazz it up a bit and maybe keep a bit warmer in winter?

Merry Christmas!

I've been really busy these last couple of weeks doing Christmas-y things and getting things done at work.

I've been doing a bit of sewing but mainly for presents so I can't show you just in case the recipients see! I made something for my Lolita Secret Santa gift - I hope that it gets there before Christmas day. I've also made some Christmas tree decorations for a friend of mine - I hope she likes them.

No time to make a Christmas dress again this year! I should really remember to start sooner next year.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and a great New Year.

New interesting links

I'm adding a some links to the lists today including Sucrerie Magazine - an online Lolita mag which is very nicely presented. In the shopping section Tokyo Alice - a second hand lolita shop and the Sassy Fun sock shop. And a general sewing and fabric site sew mama sew. All worth a visit if you've not seen them before.