A Dress for the Opera

When my husband surprised me with tickets to the opera I realized I had nothing to wear. Or maybe I was just being a woman and my closet was full but nothing looked interesting or new enough for me. So I made this dress for the event.  I liked the finished product but the fabric was a bit difficult to work with and when making the pattern I did not take into consideration that I was using a knit.  Lets just say there were lots of adjustments that had to be made.  

Dsquared Boots

So I know these are not from this season but I just think they are so cool and creative. I am a bit bummed I didn't think of this myself to be honest.

DIY Computer Bag/ Clutch

This is what you will need: a zipper (slightly longer then your computer length), leather fabric (depends on computer size but mine was 53cm.X 71cm.), lining fabric (depends on computer size but mine was 53cm.X 71cm.), foam padding (enough to wrap around your computer mine was 56cm. X 42cm.) foam padding cover fabric (depends on your computer but mine was 107cm. X 41cm.), you will also need a bit more of your lining fabric to add a pocket and two pieces of your leather fabric in the dimensions of 9cm.X7cm.

This is a good way to measure out your foam padding. You need about 3cm. extra on both sides of your computer. Along the top of your computer you don't need any extra foam.

You need to fold over your foam as if your computer was inside and then sew up both edges like this. You should now be able to slide your computer in to make sure it fits. Don't be worried if it doesn't slide in smoothly or feels too tight. The foam is not the smoothest fabric this may make it difficult to fit your computer in.

You can now trim off some of the extra foam. If your computer fits loosely in then don’t trim. Mine was a bit too tight. Make sure you don’t cut too close to your sewing line. I would leave at least 1cm. of space between the stitching line and where you cut.

Now turn you foam structure inside out.

Use your foam cover fabric. This should be s smooth thin fabric similar to what would be used for a lining. This needs to be 4cm. wider then your foam cover and 4cm. wider then double the length of you foam before it was sewn.  You will need to fold it in half and then sew up the sides of the fabric. This will create a sac. Then put your foam inside your sac you have just created.

Fold the sac back over the foam.

Sew across the raw edges of your fabric.  Do not sew completely across. Leave about 13cm. un-sewn. You will now need to pull the entire foam structure through the bit that you did not sew.  When you have pulled it completely through you will need to hand sew up the hole.

You can now push the extra fabric inside the foam structure.

Now check to see that your computer fits inside.  Ok you are half way done.

You are now going to measure out you leather fabric I made mine 13cm. wider and 7cm. taller then my completed foam cover.  Your lining will be the same size. So it is better to cut that out now as well.

I chose to have a pocket inside of my bag. To make the pocket you cut out a rectangle 3cm. wider and 6cm. taller then you want the finished pocket to be like.  Fold over 1 1/2cm on each side of your pocket fabric inward on the side of the fabric you don’t like.  Then iron.  On the top edge fold it over again in the same direction 3cm down and iron. Sew across the edge that will be the top of the pocket.

Now place it on your lining fabric where you want the pocket to be. And sew both sides and the bottom of your pocket leaving the top unsown.

You will now have to fold you leather in half and sew up the sides creating a sac just as you did with the foam.  Do the same with your lining fabric.

Pin your zipper to the side of your lining fabric that you will see when the bag is finished, as seen above. And then sew.

Do the same to the other side

Place your lining inside your leather sac. Now you will need to fold over about 1cm. of your leather fabric and sew across the strip of your zipper. Leave 2cm. un-sewn at both ends.  Do the same thing to the other side.

Last finishing details I promise.  Remember those two 9cm. X 7cm. pieces of leather you have, well we are ready for them now.  Fold it in half and then half again.

You will have a roll of leather. Now place that roll in-between your lining and leather at the end of the zipper. Sew this down.

Take the other end of this leather piece and tuck it in-between the leather and lining on the other side of the zipper.  And then sew this down as well. Do the same thing on the other end of the zipper and you are finished.

Now you can tuck you foam into you bag to use as a computer bag or take out your foam out to use as an oversized clutch.

I added some strips of fabric to the zipper to introduce another color.

Greetings!!!!!

Hello friends, I am ZESSKA! Welcome to my blog!