My DIY Brit-Bangla Dress

One of the things I was most excited about when I visited Bangladesh in December was going to the fabric stores and I'm pleased to say they didn't disappoint. I discovered vividly coloured, bold cotton prints, the type that are no where to be found in the UK. 

The first project I've made with my fabric so far is this tunic style dress.

I also added some sleeves using pink satin that I picked up in Khushboo Textiles in Birmingham. 

I used the same fabric to create pleats in the dress to give it a more interesting shape.

The fabric was actually 'suit fabric' - a lot of Asian fashion fabrics are sold this way. You get a large rectangle of fabric with the collar shape and you cut and style it to your own preference. It also comes with material to make trousers and a separate piece for a scarf - but I've saved both of those for other projects. In fact the scarf is so pretty it actually looks more like a table runner so I'm going to use is as 'interiors fabric' instead.

Choosing which fabrics to buy was the difficult part. I was travelling with a backpack so had to keep my purchases to a minimum.

Unfortunately I'm not sure where these photos were taken, I was on a rickshaw and all of a sudden we turned onto a street lined with fabric markets and shops so I got off and explored them. It was in walking distance of the Armenian Church, near a bridge - hopefully that's enough description to help find it if you too happen to be in Dhaka and love fabric.

My new dress is a pleasure to wear, in fact I am wearing it now as I write this. I'm very proud of it, it's the most 'Asian' item of clothing I currently own but I've given it my own British twist with the shaping - best of all it's great to know no one else in the whole world has my dress! 

The other thing that makes this dress special is the fact that while I was sewing it I had a major sewing accident: I sewed through one of my nails on the sewing machine and I can confirm it was more than a ouch. My finger was out of action for four weeks - it's now got a falsie on it and is my reminder of the perils of being a seamstress. 

Batman Crafts

No.1 Knitted face mask

I love Batman. He's my favourite super hero and this week I'm feeling extremely excited as Batman Live the stage show is coming to London and not just any old part, my home town, Greenwich, so to celebrate I've scoured the web for the best Batman crafts. If only I could own all these things. Starting with with a super cute knitted Bat face mask modelled on Blythe. Actually it doesn't look too hard to make, keen knitters can easily adapt a basic hat pattern to recreate their own.

No.2 Printed dress

What a dress, and it looks like it would fit me! I would like to wear it and twirl around all day as it has a beautiful cut which would swish in the breeze.

No.3 Kicks

But which of these???? The Robin ones are very nice, if not a little 'teeny'...perhaps I am too old to own a pair?

No.4 Thong

Ha ha, not these though, I could definatly wear this!

No.5 Pendant

Hmmm and what a lovely yet simplistic pendant.

No.6 Pinboard

Like many crafters these days I am obsessed by Pinterest but that doesn't mean we should not still have a physical pin board, especially one so fabulous?

No.7 Knitted cuffs

 The classic Bat logo looks good on everything, especially gloves.

No.8 Bento

I wonder if this is what the cast members are lunching on...Batman Bento?

No. 9 Wooden table

 A beautiful handmade table - doesn't even need any colour, it's perfect as it is.

No. 10 Wall sticker

Wow...! This wall sticker makes such a difference to a white room.

Me as Bat Girl

I know..... the auditions and casting are over, but the show is touring, and this is evidence I would  make a brilliant Batgirl....I already have the outfit!!