I went a little overboard last weekend and bought a few sewing magazines.
In Italy, there are a few popular riviste di cucito such as Burda and Modellina. MIL tells me that these are useful as apart from giving sewing ideas and tips, they also include cartamodelli (templates) that I could use for my projects.
Personally, I think that these are great and a little more convenient compared to buying the templates online, since there are a lot of newspaper kiosks in the neighbourhood.
Flipping through the magazines, there are a couple that I would love to start on.
Like this cute sun-dress. Reminds me quite a bit of the one that I have from Mango.
This top I’d definitely wear as outfits such as these are very versatile and never go out of style. Quite perfect for the upcoming spring.
I adore 60s fashion. It is one of the most fashionable decade in my opinion. So this dress really called out to me. Looks really classy doesn’t it?
Sidenote : I just watched Down with love yesterday. And while the storyline was kind of meh, the outfits were just amazing! I love seeing colourful stuff.
But talking to my mum on the phone, she advised me to start with something simple, like a skirt. And so I saw this one which I quite liked. I can pair this with my nice green jacket and my nice boots and my nice bag and my nice blings.
Looks simple enough to make. From what it looks like in the picture, it consists of 4×2 separate segments which I need to sew together. I can do that.
Looking at the instructions though, it starts to get a little challenging. What on earth are all these words? Since it’s in Italian, and I’m not that fluent …I’m a little overwhelmed but never-mind. Looking at this on the positive side, it can be a sort of language practise right?
But that was nothing compared to this below. What on earth is this?! How am I supposed to read this? Where am I even supposed to start? This diagram looks much more complicated than the Advanced Mathematics that I had to learn while in Pre-Uni.
I think I need to lie down.
MY GOODNESS. What the freaking heck is that diagram. I had never seen a pattern like that before.
I am guessing it’s supposed to be read with some template, which will “hide” some of the lines and show you how to cut the fabric.. Any instructions to go along?
How come you have an extra TT at the end of your name by the way?
Cart and I managed to be able to read it in the end. There was is this lovely and kind lady at a shop who stepped in to help us. She’s a customer by the way and not a staff of the shop so I thought that she was extremely kind 🙂
You have my encouragement Marina for your first piece of work!! this article reminds me of Home Economics class in secondary school. I recall asking my mom for help to finish up an individual project 😉
Lucky you! I don’t even remember doing much sewing projects while in school. Only one top, and that was about it.
Post photos of your outfits when you are done sewing them! and good luck deciphering the diagram!!!!! My in-laws gave me a sewing machine a few years ago for Christmas….. it is still sitting in its box in the cellar 😛
Haha! Thanks! Cart and I were at a shop that sells buttons and fortunately there was a woman there who taught us how to read the cartamodello. So very kind of her! So we manage to be able to decipher them in the end. Cutting the fabric sounds easy but takes time though. Oh boy. It will take many weeks before it is finally done :p
I went to get some buttons for a baby sack I knitted and I came out with 10plastic kiddy buttons and 10euro (roughly 16$Sin) poorer (this is in Milan)! Couldn’t come out of the shop empty handed cos malu lah… but both my daughter and I were shocked at the price of a plastic button… So brace yourself for the prices of stuff which you can probably get cheaper online or from directly from Singapore.
I know what you mean Pat. It’s amazingly expensive here. Buttons shouldn’t cost that much. Sometimes I think that they are taking advantage of customers. I know it’s a mistiere and uses craftmanship and all, but still …