Betty Bottom Dollar

BBD Mask Edition 1.0 has almost completely sold out! 🖤 there's only tiny bits of some of these designs left, keep an eye on my stories to see what's still available as well as a whole bunch of new fabrics. . . . 100%cotton masks handmade to order in four sizes, info in highlights, DM to order. . . #bettybottomdollar #patternclash #handmadefacemasks #indiebiz #indieroller https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0WDBNJ93b/?igshid=hxvxncm6td5j

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink.... Leopard Print. . . . @mania_ferg_conquest looking frrresh in his BBD mask in Adult Large size 💖 all 100% cotton & washable with filter pocket, aluminium nose bridge and adjustable elastic. Info in story highlights. DM to order. . . . #bbd #pinkleopardprint #onwednesdayswewearpink #meninpink #customfacemask #babyblues #mensfacemask #mensmask #lifeincolour #pinkwednesday #ukmakers #leopardprintmask #bettybottomdollar (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQ6ucRpBrf/?igshid=1nz2949nhwzyi

#thecockettes #revolutionanyminute 

Feels like I've been overlocking scrub edges for miles! Tbf it's gonna be the only distance-covering activity I'll be involved in for a while 😂 could really do with some new podcast series whilst I'm holed up stitching in the attic - recommendations please?? . . NB. All fabric is washed at 60°c before sewing, and then all scrubs are washed again at 60°c upon completion before being distributed 💙 . . #scrubber #scrubhub #sheffield #overlocking #serger #onlythingillbedoingmilesofforawhile #distancesewing #makingppe #lockdown #uklockdown #sewcialdistancing #edgey #soedge (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_kYA4blcdv/?igshid=1ppqifsf731mr

Cutting mat snapshot from last week 💛💖💚 #sewingscrubs #patterndrafting #colourmyeveryday #colourlove #rainbowsewing #cuttingmat #sewingflatlay #patternadjustments #pinkandgreen (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_kR5T_FJ9l/?igshid=e3qyhac4l1ft

The first wave of scrubs fabric has finally arrived! I'm so proud to be able to participate in this massive voluntary effort to clothe and protect our frontline key workers in health and social care - but I'm fuming that it's had to get to this point. Our government has chipped away and underfunded our vital services so much that it's left those on the frontline underpaid, unprotected and undersupported. Communities shouldn't have to sort out the Tories' mess and pick up the pieces. The NHS is not a charity. #sewingscrubs #fortheloveofscrubs #fortheloveofthenhs #dressthenhs #keyworkers #sheffield #sheffieldscrubsup #scrubbers #whereistheppe #thenhsisnotacharity (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Sw8OeFZJx/?igshid=pvrl4cdnw4fw

Whilst I'm setting up my temporary Attic Lockdown Studio here's some eye-wateringly holographic pink joy (feat. sweeet sweeet stretch appliqué) from a recent commission to brighten your feed! 🖤 . . . #bettybottomdollar #lycralove #customleggings #pink #pinkaesthetic #spandexapplique #applique #colourmyeveryday #sewtherainbow #colourmehappy #showyourwork #makersofinstagram #etsyshopowner #etsyuk #indieroller #stretchygoodness #sewcialdistancing (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fKsqvp4_j/?igshid=4zsjf7hq8lwa

Give 'em Pumpkin to Talk About 🎃 . Chuffed to be a part of the team that created the beasties for #mcrmonsters this halloween. Be afraid, be very afraid... #mcrmonsters #designsinair #inflatables #sculpture #freelance #patterncutter #seamstress #halloween #lookup #monsters #monstermash #waroftheworlds #alieninvasion #ifyouvegotithauntit (at Manchester Piccadilly) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3_ybKcFO-g/?igshid=1fpt0dqanavo0

March Meet The Maker: Tools & Materials One of my very favourite studio tools is my dressmaker’s dummy, Wanda. She’s an adjustable dressform from the 1970s and originally belonged to my mum, who was a creative and brilliant seamstress. She passed away from cancer when I was 16 and a few years later, when I’d started sewing myself, we came across her dressmaker’s dummy in the attic and I was chuffed to start using it. In 2013 I discovered the dummy was starting to show her age – the red felt material she was originally covered in had started to disintegrate and was shedding fluffy dust everywhere - so I decided to give her a makeover! I bought a glue gun, used some amazing crushed velvet leopard spandex I’d been saving for something special and with no real clue of what the ruddy hell I was doing, dismantled the dummy and went for it! A few hot glue gun burns later, Wanda (named after the almighty Wanda Jackson) was born! Wanda’s come with me wherever I’ve moved over the past few years, between both cities and countries (and is mainly ornamental now as she's a bit fragile) and she’s one of the most important things in my sewing room. My ma was the OG Leopardprint Queen so I think she’d be pretty thrilled about the style update and it’s a way to always have a bit of her and her creative spirit with me everyday when I'm making. 💖 . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #tailorsdummy #dressmakersdummy #leopardprint #mannequin #blueleopard #custom #vintagedress #vintagedressform #repurpose #history #rip #inmemory #marchmeethemaker #meetthemaker #meetthemakers #meetthemakerweek #meetthemakerchallenge #meetthemaker2019 #handsandhustle #mycreativebiz #etsyshopowner #makersmovement #makersgonnamake #heytheremaker #makersofig #photoaday (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Buq9GBDl_zG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=188lsinfswcjm

“If you drink much from a bottle marked ‘poison’ is it certain to disagree with you sooner or later.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here’s a peek of my rainbow Alice In Wonderland dresses in action 😍 The brilliant @farelightproductions got some beautiful shots from an immersive event held at @bristolmuseums which I’ll be sharing over the next few days. Each Alice was assigned a different colour for a performance that brought guests Down The Rabbit Hole and got reeeal 1970s psychedelic 💙💚💛❤🧡💜 [PS: I had to chop Red Alice's feet off due to instagram's cropping regs being a pain in the arse! 😭] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #bettybottomdollar #bristol #farelightproductions #loudicrouslou #bristolmuseum #downtherabbithole #staircase #immersive #fairytale #psychedelic #trippy #dance #choreography #technicolour #tuesdayvibes #rainbow #aliceinwonderland #costume #sewingstretch #seamstress #lycra #madhatter #lewiscarroll #queenofhearts #wonderland #wereallmadhere (at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuobZo9l82P/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10op8upstf6jd

I 💜 holographic spandex! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Close up of some patch applique detail on the custom basketball shorts I made for @x_ray_spexercise. I went for the patches to keep a punk vest look, but had the logo printed on to spandex so the patches would stretch when the shorts did and not restrict any movement of the fabric. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I got to do some alfresco backyard sewing on these as I managed to break my foot quite badly during the summer (not one of my finest moments!) and couldn't stand for weeks, let alone get to my studio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thankfully some amazing mates loaded up my machines and kit and brought my studio to me instead! So I ended up running a mini workshop out of part of our front room and back yard once I was finally able to get a hobble on 😂 . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #xrayspexercise #bristol #punkrockaerobics #altfitness #bristolfitness #custom #sewist #spandex #athleticwear #sewingwithstretch #alfresco #brokenfoot #makersgonnamake #brightideas #myfriendsareamazing #igetbywithalotofhelpfrommyfriends (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCIiX4F2Ka/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n1dti3dmadbp

I've also worked on a commission for bikini bottoms recently. Here's a shot of my cutting table during the pattern-testing phase when I was testing out the design with some scrap fabric. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've always wanted to have a bash at some swimwear (always thought it's a natural progression for spandex-based humans like me) but I'd never gotten around to it so I really enjoyed this and getting to play around with some new pattern-making. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Different projects from the usual are always a good reminder that there's aaalways still a lot to learn about your craft - for example I never knew that swimwear elastic was different from normal elastic! It's more rubbery so has better friction against the body when you're in and out of the water and therefore keeps things from sliding into or out of places they ain't supposed to be! #everydaysaschoolday . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #sewsewsew #seamstress #designprocess #learningonthejob #design #myworkspace #studio #sewingwithspandex #patterntesting #sewingswimwear #wip #cuttingboard #custom (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btwf4pelL2b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=p3phstleb3vq

I first had gold, red, green, purple and black down as Charlie's Bones from @x_ray_spexercise 's preferred colours and originally was thinking about a gold, black and leopard combo. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ...BUT then I had a rethink and twigged that the most stand-out-in-a-crowd option combined with her flame-red hair would be green and purple. Nobody's gonna be missing *this* bosslady's class at a festival. Oh no no no no. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Never really being one for subtlety or minimalism I went for not only green but a neon green tartan and not only purple but a mega reflective, holographic purple. Go brash or go home 👌 . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #xrayspexercise #bristol #punkrockaerobics #altfitness #bristolfitness #custom #spandex #athleticwear #sparkle #glitter #holographic #sewingwithstretch #contrast #colourclash #wip #alifeincolour (at Easton, Bristol) https://www.instagram.com/p/BttgQzuFmwo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=he97oui21b7o

I like researching stuff and learning new things but right now dipping my toes into the murky waters of analytics is making feel like a right Internet Nan 😂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I remember proper making fun of the idea of hashtagging stuff years ago, OH HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Not only do you need to use them so people can, y'know, actually find your work and posts in this Virtual Soup, there's also so many ruddy rules, patterns and numbers to take into account too. The more I feel like I'm learning, the more confused I get at the same time 🙈 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If anyone has any good educational resources for #theseguys and SEOs then I'm all ears! Would really appreciate it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ [at least my research colour palette is incredibly soothing, right?] . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #thematrix #research #planning #smallbusiness #learning #bristolcreatives #coloursplash #livecolourfull #neon #mybrainhurts #analytics #canyouhashtagahashtag (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtoCpYWFdJy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2m1hatvrakvr

One recent custom project I've LOVED has been working with Charlie Bones, creator of Bristol's finest punk aerobics class - @x_ray_spexercise 🔥 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She wanted an outfit that would be bold enough to stand out when teaching classes to glitter-covered crowds at festivals, whilst keeping a punk vibe and *most importantly* being comfortable, camel-toe-less and able to stand up to repeated kicking and lunging to Crass and Sham69. Right then! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After meeting up and discovering we had similar taste in music, colour and glorious sparkly tack we felt confident we were on the same aesthetic page and I started designing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'll be posting more documentation of the #wip but for now here's a lil' peek of me machine appliqué-ing a spandex logo patch on the final outfit... . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #wip #xrayspexercise #custom #costume #aerobics #spandexlife #customspandex #punk #altfitness #punkaerobics #bristol #punkasfuck #bristolcreatives #sewingspandex #festival #showyourwork #sewingwithstretch #wipwednesday #madeinbristol (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtlyTgplaEM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b0tx1zg8xizi

One recent custom project I've LOVED has been working with Charlie Bones, creator of Bristol's finest punk aerobics class - @x_ray_spexercise 🔥 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She wanted an outfit that would be bold enough to stand out when teaching classes to glitter-covered crowds at festivals, whilst keeping a punk vibe and *most importantly* being comfortable, camel-toe-less and able to stand up to repeated kicking and lunging to Crass and Sham69. Right then! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After meeting up and discovering we had similar taste in music, colour and glorious sparkly tack we felt confident we were on the same aesthetic page and I started designing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'll be posting more documentation of the #wip but for now here's a lil' peek of me machine appliqué-ing a spandex logo patch on the final outfit... . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #wip #xrayspexercise #custom #costume #aerobics #spandexlife #customspandex #punk #altfitness #punkaerobics #bristol #punkasfuck #bristolcreatives #sewingspandex #festival #showyourwork #sewingwithstretch #wipwednesday #madeinbristol (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtlyTgplaEM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qe53r5024k3o

After freaking out for a good long while about restarting my label - feeling mega overwhelmed and like I didn't even know where to start - I decided the best antidote was to buy some books, do some research and hope I found some kind of confidence-boosting motivation along the way to give me a well-needed kick up the arse. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One of those books was Show Your Work by Austin Kleon which is worth its weight in gold. Some blunt, common-sense literary advice, pep talking and a LOT of lists later, here I am. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am still not *entirely* sure what I am doing but have come to the realisation that I don't think anyone really does 100% anyway. With that in mind I'm going to (hopefully) try and stop overthinking and being all anxious about things and just... get on with it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So I'm going to be *finally* starting to share what I'm making, what I'm getting inspired by and what I'm learning along the way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Heeere goes! 😁 . . . . . #bettybottomdollar #austinkleon #quote #showyourwork #quotestoliveby #bookworm #buildingabusiness #wip #kickupthearse (at Bristol, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtjFIl9lcOm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13b2ia5dsfwth