Safari shirt

A week before we went on holiday at the end of May I decided I wanted another lightweight sleeved shirt to help protect my easily sunburned skin. So I pulled out my trusty self drafted shirt pattern. First made here. And then made again here.

 

It's actually missing a button at the bottom. 

(It seems I can sew a shirt, but not securely attach a button!)

A little collar to help keep the sun off. 

Simple cuffs and hem.

 Another easy wear, easy travel, shirt for my wardrobe.

A hat trick of NL6968

I'm a terrible blogger for several reasons. One of them being that I never remember to ask MH to take photos of me in the clothes I sew. After far too long thinking "Oh, we'll take photos one weekend", I've decided to just post photos of the clothes without me in them! I don't blog to splash photos of myself around, so I figure we'll all survive without them. Though I do apologise that you can't see how they fit me (you'll have to take my word for it that they do!).

Over the past year I've made three versions of New Look 6968, plus a couple of adapted versions (that I'll post about another time).

 Version 1. It is a simple shift style dress that is great for me to wear to work (I work in an office). I usually wear this one with a hot pink belt (that I forgot to use in the photos, and really, we know I'm not going to retake the photos!). I wear this dress all the time for work, it is comfortable and easy care.

 Close up of the print - 1950s style dresses.

Inside the dress (often the most interesting part for sewists!). 

The pattern didn't suggest lining it, so I didn't. Blurgh, I've discovered I don't like unlined dresses, especially if you want to wear it with tights/stockings. Also, the facing didn't sit very flat without lining to hold it down (more on that later).

 Zip. I made this before MH bought me an overlocker so I used an overcast foot to finish the seams. (Yes, MH researched and purchased the overlocker with no help from me, and he bought a great one - I'm very lucky!)

 Facing without lining. You might be able to see the sneaky stitches I used to hold the facing down.

Also, I used binding to finish the sleeves.

 This is actually the third version I made. I usually wear it with an orange belt (sorry, not remembered for these photos!). Again, I wear this all the time for work (usually every week). 

Those of you with long memories may recognise the fabric from my first ever dress. I bought a couple of metres of it at the time and shift dresses in my size only use about a metre.

 Bodice closeup. You might be able to make out the darts around the neckline.

 Back view.

 Inside view. Facing around the neck plus lining.

 Close up of front inside. I use the same pattern pieces for the lining so there are tiny tucks in place of the darts that are used for the outside.

 The second version I made (but the prettiest!). A friend bought me some fabric while she was in Cambodia. It was just enough to scrape out this dress. I centered the peacocks on the front skirt. You can see the front neck darts more clearly on this version. I wear this if MH and I go out for dinner at a nice restaurant. I don't wear a belt with this version. I also made the waist a bit tighter, so it really cinches in.

 Back view. There wasn't quite enough fabric to centre the peacocks on the back skirt or bodice, but they are close!

 Back bodice close up.

Back zip. Woohoo, the skirt lined up perfectly on either side of the zip!

Inside. I actually quite like the contrast of the purple fabric and the black lining.

Again, I apologise to those of you who like to see people wearing the clothes they make. Maybe one day MH and I will be more organised to take photos!

Another year, another quilt

A dear friend had a baby recently, so it was time for me to try another quilt. This time I went for a simple rectangle design.

The hardest part of making this was trying to find nice fabric. There was a lot of pastel blue and pink which weren't the look I wanted.  

 I finally found some cute Japanese bunny fabric to sandwich around a mix of animal prints.

 I do love the jungle print I used for the back as it is very bright and cheery.

Though I'm not sure what a zebra is doing in the jungle with a flower..!

Never say never

A couple of weekends ago the Lifeline Bookfair was on again in Canberra.  A huge second hand book sale with all proceeds to charity - how could I resist not increasing my (ever growing) stash of sewing books and patterns?!

If you can get past the dated photos the Singer sewing collection books are great sewing reference books.  Every Bookfair I find a couple more.  (Oh, and that's my little Janome).

Some retro (and a little vintage) patterns.  I hadn't planned on buying the men's safari suit, but MH and I couldn't resist its charms..!

 

And because it seems I'm a complete sucker - I saw this quilting book and thought "hmm, why not, maybe I'll make another quilt sometime soon".  (How can I have already forgotten the pain the last one put me through?!  Ah, but such joy too!)

My first quilt!

I've been sewing like a crazy lady over the past couple of months and I can finally post photos!

A very dear friend of mine recently married her wonderful man.  In my haze of happiness for her I thought it would be a wonderful thing to sew them a quilt.  I've never made a quilt before and have been sewing long enough to know that I should have modest ambitions - but still have ambitions!

So I made a queen size quilt, but in fairly large squares.

I'm quite happy with how it turned out.  I know it isn't perfect, but it was all sewn by me (with colour and pinning help from MH!), even the quilting to sandwich all the layers together (I sewed straight lines every 10cm).  I learnt a lot, including that it may be some time before I make a quilt again!  I now understand how much time, effort and money goes into making a quilt so better appreciate why hand made quilts are so expensive to buy.

I was so pressed for time getting the quilt finished before the wedding that I didn't even have the opportunity to take photos until after we left home and arrived at the our accommodation (the wedding was in beautiful Tasmania).  Please excuse the wrinkles from being stuffed into a suitcase for the flights from Canberra to Hobart!

 

 I machine stitched the binding in place.  

I used a gold beige colour to match the gold flecks that were in a lot of the fabrics.

My friend became quite emotional when I gave it to her.  I know it is because she appreciates the thought and effort that went into making the quilt, so that was really lovely.  I encouraged her to use it because I would rather it get well loved through dirt and damage than sit unseen in a cupboard (and who knows, maybe I'll make her another one one day...!).

Four Corners - Fashion Victims

Long time no speak (write?).  Sorry about that.

If you are interested in social justice issues around the production of cheap clothing you may want to watch tonight's episode of 'Four Corners', which reported on clothing manufacturing in Bangladesh.  If you don't have access to this highly respected Australian television show, you can read a bit about the story here - including some of the background research used.  'Fashion Victims' 

Tick tock

On Saturday I'm flying to Queensland for a week for work.  It's a race against the clock for me to try and find time to finish this item because it will be just right for the warmer weather up there!

Fit for a puppy...

Hurrah, MH has helped fix my photo issue!  So to celebrate, here is a cute photo for your Sunday night...

MH was taking photos of my latest toile when Tansy came seeking attention.

Packing up

I don't know about you, but when I travel I always have lots of plastic bags in my suitcase.  For my shoes, my dirty clothes, to protect delicate items, to store newly purchased souvenirs - half of the items in my suitcase end up in plastic bags.  But there comes a time in every woman's life when even her shoe bags need to grow up a bit!  What a great excuse for a bit of scrap busting sewing.

I made three different sizes (each based on the amount of leftover fabric I had!).  They are a simple sack with a length of grosgrain ribbon for a drawstring.  Easy peasy to make and they will help the inside of my suitcase look so much prettier!  If you have any travel or packing tips (sewing or non-sewing!) please share them.

Dressed up in Blue

I wore my new Blue Dress to work last week.  It was lovely to wear and I received some great compliments on it.

 

 The bodice isn't lopsided, I am..!  I've since tut-tutted to my photographer that it is his job to notice how the clothes are sitting before taking photos!  My shoulder is still a bit sloped from the operation and I think I was also subconsciously pulling the sleeve down a bit to cover the scar.  But I can assure you that the bodice itself is not lopsided!

Overall I'm pretty happy with the dress and only wish I'd finished it before the end of summer!

Next projects are the Burda jacket for MH and a self drafted tunic for me.

Talofa new fabric!

A dear friend of mine is living in Samoa for a while and she very thoughtfully posted some locally printed fabric to me.  How spoilt am I?!

The brown fabric has an Hawaiian inspired hibiscus motif.  I like how the dye hasn't soaked all the way through, giving the 'wrong' side a variegated look.  Depending on what project I end up choosing for this fabric, I could probably use either the wrong or the right side of this fabric as the 'right' side. 

The blue fabric is a more traditional print.  This fabric is quite stiff, so I'll have to choose the right project for it.

Isn't it lovely when friends surprise you with a gift just because they know you'll appreciate it!

Finished! Blue Dress

Wow, what a marathon!  Some of you may remember eons ago I started a Blue Dress.  A self drafted pattern for a dress that would be appropriate to wear to work in an office.  I started it just a week before my shoulder surgery last year with high hopes of finishing it within a week.  Hmm, that didn't quite happen (what an understatement!).

But at last, here it is.  Four months late, but with a very valid excuse of shoulder surgery and subsequent relapse (with accompanying talk of a possible second operation - sulk).

 The bodice ended up a little bit too long, so the dress has a slight 1980s drop waist.  

I have the perfect belt to help hide that though!

 Front view (with belt!)

I only overcast the hem, rather than a turned up hem.  I'm not sure how that will hold up in the wash so I may end up hemming it later.

 Back view, invisible zip at centre back.

Front facing.  

I put interfacing between facing and fabric, but I'm wondering if it might still be too flimsy to stay upright as the fabric is quite thin.

 Facing and lining.  The lining is a plain black cotton.  

I've made a light summer dress just in time for the weather to turn grey, cold and a bit miserable!

The skirt lining is pleated rather than gathered like the main skirt.

Facings on the back neck.

 

Overall I'm quite happy with this dress and if I don't get wear out of it before summer ends maybe I can wear it with a shirt and tights for winter?

Details

Fabric:  $12.99/m from Lincraft, Melbourne City.

Notions:  Navy blue invisible zip, navy blue thread

Pattern:  Self drafted 'Blue Dress'

Total cost:  Around $20

Did I learn anything new:  No, but I had to search my memory for how to sew the right angle when joining the facing and lining on the front bodice detail.

Would I make it again:  Yes, but I'd shorten the bodice and probably make a different skirt.

Waiting...

I'm waiting for my shoulder to improve, so my sewing is also waiting...  These couple of items are at the top of my to do list and I'm itching to get back to them (they've been waiting in this state since Australia Day). 

 So close to finishing - all I need to do is insert a zip...

The promised jacket for my husband.  A toile in pieces...  Maybe if I wait long enough they'll join themselves?!

How are your sewing/ crafting/ gardening plans going?  What are your strategies for getting back on track when your plans are interrupted?

The pleasure (and perils!) of the post

A small package arrived for me today containing...  a small haul of Vogue patterns!  A couple of weeks ago I was looking on the internet for men's coat and jacket patterns (they are few and far between and you won't see one in this post either!) when I saw that Vogue patterns was having a sale of USD3.99 per pattern.  With the strong AUD I was very easily tempted! 

Being new to sewing and also enjoying the challenge of drafting my own patterns I haven't bought very many patterns, so this purchase single handedly more than doubled my stash!  I found the sizing a bit confusing as many patterns used different size ranges.  Being quite a pear shape I had to make a couple of decisions on choosing patterns based on bust or hip measurement.  In the end I decided that when in doubt - size up! 

So here is what I ended up buying.   (By the way, postage to Australia from the USA was more than the cost of all these patterns combined but for the discount in pattern price it was still worth it).

 V8630 - A simple dress with a large fold over collar.  A 'Very Easy Vogue', though apparently not recommended for pear shapes...

 V8312 - Some pattern love for my puppy!  I've made a couple of simple coats for Tansy, but I like that this has sleeves (legs?).  She's only 3 years old, but Tansy has developed quite bad arthritis in one of her legs.  I'm hoping that a coat with legs will keep her extra cosy and help ease her arthritis pain in the winter cold.

 

 

  V8333 - What was I thinking?!  A beautiful but 'Advanced' (!) jacket pattern. 

 V2787, V1044 and V8811 - Pretty vintage dress reprints. 

I love the bodice detail in the V1044.

My favourites are the jacket V8333 and the vintage dress V1044.  Hopefully you'll see one of these here soon as a finished object - but don't hold your breath!