Pretty in Pink!

Tunic Top made for sister using printed cotton. Isn't she looking pretty in pink?

Yesterday was my sister's friend's b'day and she wore a new dress for that! do we need excuses to flaunt new outfits, really! no way! may be this pretty in pink outfit peps her up and brings her good cheer!

Made use of left over fabric from the Bling Saree Blouse to create ruffles at the neckline and also for the piping at sleeve hem!

Are you able to see the flower motif made using the ruffles at the left side of the neckline! wish it was more appealing! but ran out of fabric to add more texture to ruffles! somehow i like it the way it is? what's say???

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Ethnic Simple Kameez

Time for the action shot of Outfit no.2 ; she wore it today: yup 2 new outfits in as many days! lucky girl!

The kameez is pretty simple and outright ethnic, love the color and the zari (it was along the edge of the fabric)  the front is actually made of 2 pieces by joined at CF (Center Front) so that zari is meeting at CF and due to this i could also play with neck gaping that our petite bodies create whenever we have deep necklines~!  simple just tuck in more in CF seam right at the neckline point, simple no more gaping! The piping at neckline and sleeve hem have been made using leftover fabric - from my mom's saree blouse made about 3 months ago! yet another reason i can give for my never ending pile of bits and pieces of fabric! my answer to his standard query of "why don't you clear them away! ?"so how do i respond, with the truth of course, they will come in handy dear and they do, don't they! See i don't lie! he he

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Sewing Mojo is back - 2 New Outfits!

Sewing Mojo is back and how , with a BANG!

2 outfits in one day!

Things are not so honky dory at personal front, happens right, that is part of life isn't it. so it had to get back to where i belong, to my sewing sessions, since it was kind of self-imposed sabbatical, the 2 outfits do not have much of design into them, but just wanted to get back to sewing, so simple design was also fine, something is better than nothing isn't it.

Now i shall be sewing lots more, with V'day coming up, lots of gifts to sew and also my fav soap Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon will spare me a few hours, i spend on its re-runs and youtube updates, çoz after a heart breaking spoiler / promo! I do not have the courage to see my fav love birds parting ways albeit in a soap! How melodramatic, isn't it, but that's how i am and that in fact is the only soap i watch and hence have kind of attachment to it and hence the withdrawal symptoms, but i have nothing to worry, Sewing is Therapy and here i am to relieve myself!

3 cheers , Sewing Mojo is here again!

Bow at the end was a last minute addition, guess for what, to easily identify the front and back ! yes! given the print and the pattern / design for the dress, wanted to help out my sister, and ensure that she doesn't end up wearing it the wrong way!

Boring pics i know, but the outfits will look lot better in person, will post them once my sister flaunts these outfits! Action Shots Click HERE

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Kameez Draft - Tutorial

Salwar Kameez / Kurta Draft has been pending for quite sometime now, with the availability of scanner, i find it lot more easier to draft patterns by hand (yes i belong to old school of using paper, pencil, eraser & hand ofcourse to draw and prefer that to modern drawing s/w!!) , the draft is ready to be shared

Please note that this draft is for a loose fitting kameez without any darts , the tops which can be worn with Jean or leggings!

Also note that the neck depth affects the shoulder width and the deeper the neck, shoulder width should be reduced accordingly!




Please Note: The draft includes

• 1/2 inch seam allowance on shoulders
• 1 inch seam allowance on sides

Add Hem allowance as required

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Teal N Pink Salwar Kameez

My Sister's Friend had given me 2 sets of Salwar Kameez material and i had finished the cotton one some 2 weeks back remember!

Now its time for the synthetic one ( i hate sewing synthetic fabrics for their 'don't sew me tantrums'!) This material was no different and gave me enough trouble while cutting and sewing. But i am happy with the end result! I had discussed the design for this kameez with sis's friend when she gave fabric and i hope she is happy with the outfit and it matches what we envisioned!

The kameez has ruffles across bodice to give mock cross-bodice effect and also has petal sleeves.

Pictures of the Kameez

Petal Sleeves

Bottom is plain salwar with pleated waist and interfaced bottom band

Salwar (Bottom Pant)

Dupatta or the Shawl for the Salwar Kameez

Simple Chic Salwar Kameez

My Sister's Friend had given 3 Salwar suit material sometime in January. Due to hectic schedule (he he) that i had (really i had been sewing like there is no tomorrow for sometime now; though it has been only for 3 musketeers - Darling Daughter , Dear Sister & Self!!!)

At last really felt bad that i had kept her waiting for long, so decided to finish her Salwar Suits off, and finished off the Cotton set in a day (the bottom material was very less and she is quite tall, hence had to do lot of patch bits to savor the bottom at the end)

Thought of finishing off her other set as well and as fate would have it, my DD's best friend's b'day is coming up and have to sew something up really fast, so my sister's friend would have to wait a little more for her next set. Hope to make it lot of designer to make up for the last time ;) Click here to view DD's Friend's B'day Gift - A Balloon Frock

Blast from the Past - Shark Teeth Brickstone Kameez

Here is a Blast from the past, though i stitched this one for my sister sometime during 2010 ! we managed to snap it up only last week!


This was my second attempt at Shark Teeth Embellishment as can be seen in the bodice and another feature of this dress is the petal sleeves!

Sorry sis, i had to do this to protect your identity online!! hope you don't mind!

Earthy Tunic Top Kameez for Sister

I can't exactly call this kurta as is this more of A-Line Frock type. So calling this as Tunic top kind of kameez.

My Sister was supposed to go to Amsterdam the next weekend, but it got delayed until June. I had started preparing a wardrobe revamp for her during her stay in Netherlands. Hence tried bit of close neck ones. But i guess it was too close for comfort, as she leaves it unbuttonned to face the sweltering heat in chennai.

Features of the Dress are

• Princess Seam with elastic corded piping
• Embellished vent at sleeves
• Piped neckline
• Ruffled Hemline

CLICK READ MORE TO VIEW MORE PICTURES 

Lilac Kameez - In Action!

I got hold of the action shots of Lilac Kameez. Have a look ...

Lilac Kameez Set - Layered Beauty!

In the sneak peak post i had mentioned my design idea for this dress being 'Layered Look'

So have a first view of the '2' different looks one for summer and one for all seasons (ahem, winters here in chennai aren't that cold so this dress can be easily worn with the coat during the day!)

First Look-Summery breezy sleeveless kameez

Second Look - Sheer coat which adds zing to the outfit...

Action shots will do better justice to the dress and you will get to see it with the churidhaar to get the feel of the entire outfit....will post them when my sister flaunts this outfit in style!

Paisley motif silk cotton kurta

This one is for my sister. This fabric has been long in my stash and today was its day.

I gave my daughter company when she took her noon nap and guess what my sewing time got converted as sleeping time.... hmm... had a good sleep, so can't complain.

Got up and hurried her to singing class, only to know the class got cancelled...she was happy, so was I , obviously for different reasons... she had more time to play, i could squeeze in some time to sew

This kurta was made in record time of 2.5 hours from cutting to sewing. Happy with the result. Color and print are eye catchy! Fabric feels good on skin.

As of Features : Simple Kurta so simple features: 

• V Neck embellished (Front & Back); 
• 3/4 sleeve with embellished slit

Back and Sleeves

                                                

Ruffle Top

Ruffle tops have always fascinated me; but i was kind of scared by its avant-garde  look and stayed away from it.

My sister gave me Art of Manipulating fabric book and that book was an eyeopener. I would recommend every sewing enthusiast to have one. It had a chapter on Ruffles and Flounces. I tried the vertical flounce in this ruffle top. Though it is not upto 100%. I am glad with the output. Will dare to try more variations now.

The fabric was poor quality satin didn't help the cause either. Had a tough time sewing it together. The Ruffle finish always plays a part in the hang, i had to use rolled hem as it don't have serger and the edges became kind o stiff, when compared to unfinished edge. Wish i had a serger.... anyway  will try out other edge finishes and see what suits this style the best.

Hope my SIL likes it as this one is for her.

Petal Sleeve (Pleated variation)

FullView (Flare of ruffles are best seen only when worn, waiting for my SIL to pick this up)

BackView

First Ever Angrakha.....

Would you like to sew yourself an Angrakha check this Tutorial on Pattern for Angrakha and Sewing instructions for Angrakha
I had earlier posted few inspirations for my attempt on Angrakha.

This one is for my SIL. I have similar fabric and will try another type of Angrakha for my sister. Watch out.

This Ankrakha has another layer on top normal kameez.
The top covers 3/4 width and is of same length as kameez and is flared .
Trims were used to jazz up the wrap around layer and neckline.

After finishing discovered that the neckline was bit too deep, hence added the patch as a workaround, guess what it looks as if it was part of the original design, way to go...

I love it, keeping fingers crossed as to how it would look on her and as also the fit ... lets c... till then catch these snaps... action shots later....

Bodice Top Part

Are you able to identify the wrap part and the flare.. ???? 

Sleeve is 3/4 with slit pepped up with trim

VNeck - Back View

Angrakha style kameez - Design inspirations...

Planning to make an Angrakha style kameez for my SIL, since it is my first attempt, searched the net for inspirations, and these are what that held my attention, lets c how my version turns out....

In fact have made 3 angrakhas so far, one for my SIL, Sister & Self.... check them out here

If you wish make yourself an Angrakha see the TUTORIAL - Angrakha Pattern Drafting and Angrakha Sewing

Authentic Angrakha

http://utsav.cc/slkcr1667

Anarkali + Angrakha

http://utsav.cc/kcr1966c
http://utsav.cc/kma107a

Faux Angrakha

http://utsav.cc/kza100