The MISS AUDREY DRESS pattern is ready for Testing!

It's been a long work in progress but I'm so excited to say that my new pattern THE MISS AUDREY DRESS is ready for testing.

You can select from the pleated skirt version.....

Great dress for the Races!

or the gathered skirt version.

I had a lot of people ask me when I was going to sell the pattern to my Audrey Tea Dress and, I suppose, I gave in to popular demand.  So I created THE MISS AUDREY DRESS for you!

It's a beautiful, comfortable and very girlie dress to wear.  You can dress it up for the evening making it out of gorgeous Silk, Satin Silk, even Georgette lined with Silk or a beautiful vintage Lace.  Also, this makes a beautiful dress to wear to lunch dates and also to the office teamed with a beautiful tailored jacket.  The sky is the limit with this beautiful dress.

I created it slightly different to my Audrey Tea Dress to make it easier to fit and make.  It features:

• a panelled front bodice
• A-DD cup sizing - to give you that perfect
• lined or unlined options
• gathered or pleated skirt options
• all-in-one neck and armhole facing
• easy peasy invisible zip instructions
• in-seam pockets
• sizes 6 - 20 (UK/AUS) and 2 - 16 (US)
• intermediate sewing level

Gathered Skirt Version

Pleated Skirt Version

So I'm now wanting testers to do their stuff and make this gorgeous dress come alive!

I'm looking for intermediate sewers who can make a dress with an invisible zip and also have knowledge of lining a garment.  The instructions are very comprehensive with loads of illustrations to follow along.  What you'll get in return for your hard work is:

• a copy of the final pattern
• your photos of your finished dress on my blog to drive more traffic to your site
• to join my affiliate program (which I'm in the process of setting up) to reap the rewards for your efforts
• you'll be featured on my blog as part of the Miss Audrey Dress Blog Tour

Phew!!  So if you are interested in becoming a Tester for me please fill in the form below and I will announce the lucky ladies on Friday, 24th October.

I have 7 sizes so I'm going to pick a minimum of 7 people to test for me but I will go as high as 14 so that will be 2 per size.

Also, I will have a facebook group so we can go over the pattern step by step and help each other with process of bringing the dress to life!  And once I'm ready to launch the pattern I'll be having a Blog Tour to get the pattern out there in the sewing world!

Ok, off you go and enter your details below and I'll let all the lovely talented ladies who will be joining my testing group by email on Friday 24th October.  If you are not chosen please don't despair as I have other patterns just waiting to be tested.

Many thanks lovely ladies!

Sewing on Binding - Part 3

Now that we've sewn on 2 different bias bindings that you use for armholes, necklines and anything that has a curved edge we are now going to do a binding edge that is more just for decorative reasons.  It's a contrast binding around a hem of a dress, top, sleeve, collar etc.  If you missed out on Part 1 and 2 from the last two weeks click here:  Part 1 and Part 2.

This is how I've done the binding edges on my dress hems for  Audrey Lane dresses.  It's quick, easy and finishes the hem off just nicely.

Ok, let's get started!

Cut your binding piece the width of the fabric x 3.2cm/1 1/4" 

DON'T CUT ON THE BIAS THIS TIME.

With the right side of the binding place it onto the wrong side of your garment.  Pin and sew 6mm/1/4" in from the edge.

Turn your garment over to the right side and fold the binding in to meet the edge of the garment.  Iron the binding flat.

Fold over again and pin.  

Make sure you cover up the stitching underneath.

Stitch the binding down on the inside edge.

Here's the finished project......or you can take it one step further...

Make another row of stitching on the outside edge of the binding.  

I always do this with my sewing projects as it gives the binding a crisper finish and looks great!

And that's it EASY, PEASY...... bindings are a great way to introduce contrast and interest to your garment.

Next week we are tackling another type of binding that is great for armholes and necklines!

To CELEBRATE getting to 4000 likers I'm going to ......

give away 4 DRESSES FOR 50% OFF, 1/2 PRICE, $75.

Call me crazy!! but I'm determined to get as many of my lovely likers into my Blossom Party Dresses.  So if you don't already have one here's your chance to get one and see what everyone is raving about.

Here's how it will work:

• over 4 days -  this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday (not on Good Friday) - I'm giving away a 1/2 price dress each day.... 50% off my Full Custom option $150 (NO CONTRAST STYLE OPTION - SEE PIC ABOVE) - so that will make it $75 + $11 registered post.
• I'll put up a post on my facebook page each day saying 'WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A GORGEOUS BLOSSOM PARTY DRESS FROM 1 PUDDLE LANE FOR 1/2 PRICE?'
• you will then need to click the share button below the post and share on your page/s the come back and write YES under the post.  That way it's easy for me to see who has shared!
• you can enter only once per day.
• I will pick a winner randomly at 8pm Qld time each day and 5m Saturday.
• the winners will pick their new 1/2 price dress from the fabric album on my facebook page called '4000 LIKERS'  The fabric you choose will be made into the 'no contrast' style as shown in the pic above!
• the winner can not enter again in this giveaway.
• the 4 lucky winners will then send back photos to me of themselves wearing their gorgeous new dresses so I can use the photos as product photos on my facebook page, website and for promos!
• the celebrations will be starting tomorrow morning - 3rd April.

Good Luck everyone and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky 4 to receive a 1/2 priced Blossom Party Dress and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

I have a confession to make.....

I never liked wearing dresses! True!  Well, not that I didn't like wearing dresses it was more that I couldn't find a dress that suited me.  I always wore pants and shorts or jeans!

I've been searching for years to have a nice dress that suited me that I could wear comfortably.  The maxi dresses just didn't do it for me or suit my pear shaped body.  I felt like a tent.  Some dresses I liked in the shops were just too short for me.  I don't like my knees very much so I like my skirts and dresses just below the knee.

I had noticed the 50's style dresses in the shops and online and loved them and wondered how they would look on me.  So I made up the pattern with a pleated skirt as it is more flattering to the body with less bulk and Voila!!!! I'd found my dress and with loads of jumping around with excitement....again I think my children wondered what I was on......I made myself a few gorgeous, comfortable, flattering, feminine dresses.  And now I can't keep from wearing them.

I asked a little business group that I'm in what they thought and with loads of encouragement I decided to make and sell my Blossom Party dresses for ladies.

So if you are looking for a dress or don't think that dresses suit you ..... think again as there is something out there for everyone.  Maybe my Blossom Party dresses are right for you!

I'm so happy with my beautiful new feminine dresses!