Feeling better, and feeling inspired

I'm feeling so much better this week and having spent some time looking around blogland, and looking at the new Autumn / Winter patterns, I came across this dress from McCalls

McCalls 6395

Although my first love isn't knit fabric, I do enjoy working with double knit which this pattern will be perfect for.

So I've hunted down some double knit in Chocolate Brown, Navy, Red and Cerise.  I'm thinking of making the Muse Dress http://reveleigh.blogspot.com/2011/01/butterick-5522-done.html again in red with cerise inserts (colour blocking?!) and would like to make view B above in Navy with red zips and trim, although I will need to lengthen it - 40+ knees and all that!

I'm will work on the coat this weekend as its turned very chilly and had me reaching for the de-icer and scraper yesterday morning!

Have a lovely weekend all

New Look 6922 - I must be MAD!

Also entitled - "are you mad?  Trousers AND knit in one go?!?!"

I REALLY won't be beaten.  Do I win a medal for persistence?  Okay, so I'm almost there with knit, thanks to Betty, so I though I should tackle trousers next.

I have made plenty of trousers in my time but as my body shape has changed, they give me the jitters.  I have mentioned by huge generous thighs in the past and that's where I struggle, that and a big bottom., a sway back and a round tummy.

So I found the most simple pattern I could and made sure they were styled with wide legs (no skinnies for this girl!).  New Look 6922 looked just the job and anyway, I like the cardigan too.

I won't reveal what size I cut, lets just say I had to sit down once I referred to the pattern sizing chart!   I tissue fit it and noted where there were problems.  I used "Fast Fit" again and made the following adjustments:

added 2cm to back inner leg (to enlarge the bottom area)
added 2cm to the enlarge the bottom (did I mention I have a big bottom?)
reduced the tummy by 2cm - ha, ha, a tummy tuck!!
I forgot to do a sway back in my haste
I didn't need to adjust the length as I knew I would be wearing these with my summer wedges which are around 3" high.

I wasn't quite sure where they would end up sitting around the hip/waist area because there is no waist noted on the paper pattern so I decided to cut out a waistband.  I quite like the idea of an elasticated waistband rather than a turned over top with elastic threaded through - not sure why, just one of those personal things.
When I was making them up I ended up taking in around 1" from the waist grading down to the hip.

I used the same grey double knit as Simplicity 2424.  They took me about an hour and a half from start to finish and do you know what?  do you?  THEY FIT!! 

Here are a couple of rubbish photos to prove it!

I know they are high waisted, but that's where I wanted them to be.  I want to be able to bend over and not show anything I shouldn't!  Not too shabby are they?

I have worn them for a couple of afternoons at home and have noticed that the front crotch is a little too low.  Does that mean I have to shorten the front crotch length again - a bigger tummy tuck for the next pair?  I also  need to tighten the elastic by around an inch, but that's not a big job.

I now have a lovely outfit with Simplicity 2424 and Butterick 5147 - It'll come up in MMJ!

No time for sewing this week before we set sail for the emerald isle - too much to organise and extra shifts at work.  So if I don't post before we go, I'll catch up with you all when I get back.

Have a good week.

Simplicity 2424 - another go at knit!

I can't let it beat me, I just can't!  So here we go again...  This time with a double knit, which I find easier to work with. 

I made the red cardigan

Before Betty came to the rescue, I used Jennifer to make this, and boy did we struggle.  She really does not like knit.  Skipped stitches, blah, blah, blah.  Thank goodness this was a simple cardigan to make so we got through it in the end!

I cut a size 14, made a small sway back adjustment and added my usual 1" to the sleeve upper arm.  I didn't worry about doing any other alterations - it's a cardigan for goodness sake!  I did use some stay tape at the shoulder, but other than that it's just front, back, band and sleeves. 

It was super easy to make and looks great with Butterick 5147!

Watch this space - there's more to come.  I set myself a goal yesterday, and have almost succeeded!

Happy Monday everyone!

Butterick 5497

Also entitled:  "My eyes, my eyes".....  Please someone remind me that small stripes make your eyes go funny.

A super easy knit top.  Easy to make and easy to wear.  I made the long sleeved version.  I cut a size 12, shortened the sleeves by 1" and shortened the length by 1.5".  I also had to grade out the hip area to a 14 at the hem.

Do you remember I have already commented "I don't do knits", well I was determined to crack it and after lots of trial and error with needles, tension, overlocker differential feed etc, I think I finally have - yey!

It's not me, it's Jennifer.  She really does not like knit fabrics.  But Betty has come to the rescue, good old Betty.  Oh, perhaps I should point out that Jennifer is my Janome 1660P and Betty is my lovely old Bernina 730.  I don't have two ladies hidden away doing all the sewing for me!

Trust me, Jennifer and I tried everything we could think of, ballpoint needles, blue tipped ballpoint needles, stretch needle, normal needles all to no avail. Ollie (the overlocker) tried and he did much better than I expected.  Bearing in mind Ollie only has 1 needle (shamefully the same one since I have purchased him over 20 years ago) and squeeks when helping me, He was a winner with this project.  BUT  you can't use the overlocker too much on this one because of the casings for the elastic at the arm and underbust points.

Anyhoo, Betty saved the day.  Here it is modeled on Vivienne for now.  I'll be wearing it over the next week so you will see it in the MMJ page shortly.

It looks much better on a real body!

Elasticated shoulders

Enjoy the rest of your day and hope the weather is as good for you as it is for us today. Bye from a sunny, warm Wiltshire....

It's a dogs' life!

McCalls M2600

Also entitled:  "I don't do knit"

What can I say?  I did NOT enjoy the sewing process on this pattern.  Nothing wrong with the pattern at all, a lovely simple dress, no great shaping just a little gathering at the neckline and wonderfully quick and easy to make up.

I cut a 10 and garded to a 14 at the hip "just in case".  I could have left the side seams as a 12 as there is plenty of room in this tent dress.  IF I make it again I will add a couple of inches to the hem too.

I used a ballpoint needle and stretch stitch on my machine.  Yes, the overlocker still has black thread in it - how lazy am I?!  

Everything came from my stash, the fabric being a recent purchase from Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics.

Here it is during construction.  Neck and sleeve bands are not finished and I won't be wearing it with a black belt - I need to purchase a cream one:

Note to self:  MUST wear correct bra as it's a bit "hello boys" with the gathering at the neckline



enough room for two in that skirt!

 And here are the shoes I purchased to go with, including new nail varnish on my troll feet:

To be honest I don't think I will make this dress again.  The gathering around the neckline doesn't suit my bust at all and makes it look even bigger.  I'm having a love/hate relationship with this dress.  I didn't enjoy sewing the fabric and it's a bit short; however it is so light and comfortable... perhaps it will get shortened to a tunic or top at a later stage?

Oh, want to know Ian's reaction to the "in progress" dress?  "Very nice darling.  You need some false tan" No Ian, I need a holiday, ha, ha!!

Because I had purchased the shoes I wanted to be able to wear them with other things and had just purchased this fabric (honestly, before "shopping from the stash" was announced!)

another stetch - I need the practice!



Coral stretch Demin.  I may make another Susan Skirt


On another note.  I'm sorry if you have left a comment recently and now can't see it.  As most of you know Blogger was down for around 24 hours and since it's back  I have noticed comments have been removed (not by me, and not because of any dodgy content!).

Have a good week all!

Next project

I've had this pattern for a number of years and made it up once to wear to work as my (then) job as a PA.  I need another smart black skirt so made a start on it today



Butterick 4859

 I will be making the plain version using a lovely fine black wool from the stash.  I could kick myself because once I started to cut it out, I remembered I wanted to use this fabric to make my shift dress with a trim idea I read in Threads magazine last year - oh well, too late now!

1.5m bought from Leeds Market about 2 years ago for £15

It's quite an easy design to put together, so no new techniques on this one.  I'll let you know how I get on in a few days.

In the meantime I changed my mind on the pattern I'll be using for the Shirt Sew-Along and have opted for the recommended pattern which I bought online this morning from Leah at http://www.sewbox.co.uk/.  I have a lovely white 200 thread-count cotton ready and waiting.

We had a good night last night and I managed to nag pursuade Ian to take a photo of me in my knit dress



NOT a good picture of me, I think I was giving Ian orders on which button to press?!

 And Finally...  This is what I found when I got home - warning, if you are of a nervous disposition, look away now, I nearly died of laughter, then annoyance for my poor sheets:



Jack took himself off to bed last night.  Honestly - he had tucked himself in and everything!

That's all for now.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening.

Butterick 5522 - Done!

I'm on fire!!  I have made time to sew just for myself and here is my 4th sewn item this year:

It's a knit!!!  As you know I don't typically sew knit for clients, or myself so this is somewhat of a triumph.  The fabric came from Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics.  She was everso helpful and once I told her what colours I wanted and which pattern I would be using, she did the rest!
I cut a 12, decided to do a FBA, then changed my mind and stuck it all back together again (don't ask?!)  My bust measures 35" which is the finished bust width of the dress, so I just added 5/8" to the side seam allowances and that did the trick. The dress itself is extremely easy to put together, but those sleeves took some concentration I can tell you!



A lot of pins and a lot of snipping



worth the effort though

I didn't alter the length of the sleeves or the dress.  The sleeves because I didn't want them to be 3/4 length and I have short arms anyway.  The dress length turned out perfect for me, just below the kneecap, as have short legs I'm not very tall.

I'm going out for dinner on Saturday with a few friends so will wear this - it's navy and I have a lovely pair of navy platforms begging to be worn!

I'm training the dog to use my camera, it might be a quicker process than waiting for Ian to take pictures...

Not sure what my next project will be - I supose I should start on my purple coat but something's making me hold back on that one?

I made this dress whilst watching/listening to Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert filmed at the O2 in London

Knitted Top, Straight Skirt and Waspie

The knit top was a success!  Aren't they easy to do?  I didn't bother setting up the overlocker because I was convinced I'd never actually finish it!  I used a small stretch zigzag for seams and twin needle to hem which worked perfectly well, but would definately use the overlocker next time.  I have no photographer today, so photos to follow (probably at the weekend).

I'm sewing from the stash this month.....  Next on my to do list is a straight skirt and waspie; I'll be using the fabrics below, plus notations from the stash.  The wool is dark grey with a chalk stripe, the lining and lace are an acid green colour (didn't photgraph too well late last night) and the grosgrain ribbon ties the project together.  I'll be using a technique I haven't used for a while (Slotted Seams) and am looking forward to making this one! I'll post on the technique later tomorrow.

The skirt is a self-drafted pattern, as is the waspie.  You've seen the waspie here

 

before, but the pinstripe one won't be so elaborate.

Have a good day!



Happy New Year all!

Happy New Year to you all.  We had a great evening, we went to a wedding party in Cardiff until 9pm and then had a quick drive over to Bristol to see in the New Year with my sister and her husband.  Yesterday was spent tidying up the leftovers, watching rubbish on the tv, dog walking and reading my new sewing books - all in my comfies (sweats to overseas readers!)

So the plan for today is the v-necked top, with 3/4 sleeves.  With the exception of bra making, I have NEVER worked with knits before.  I'm not looking forward to it, but will see how it goes.  I'll class the first attempt as a working toile.  I'm using a lightweight  cotton jersey in dark lilac marl.  Wish me luck!

I have also discovered SWAP this morning here http://artisanssquare.com/sg/index.php/board,42.0.html and would love to join in Option 2, but don't want to commit myself to something I know I won't be able to complete.  I have my own "plan" for 2011 so will combine it with option 2 from January - April.  I don't know about you, but I do need to plan, otherwise my personal sewing is random and nothing co-ordinates.  I also took a look at Tim Gunn's 10 Essential to help me focus on what I'm doing.

Today I am mainly listening to Barbara Streisend "The Ultimate Collection" whilst sewing.