Category Archives: Sewing Projects

TWO PROJECTS… ONE POST…

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Yes, I’m spoiling you today with pictures of two finished projects. Please excuse my hair – it’s Sunday night…

Here is my Cheap & Cheerful skirt which cost me a grand total of $2.50. It would have cost $1 if the zipper had not broken when pulling apart the old skirt.

Cheap & Cheerful Skirt, Simplicity 2451

Cheap & Cheerful Skirt, Simplicity 2451

This skirt was made with Simplicity 2451, view D, size 8. It’s a tiny bit baggy over my booty but the fabric is so busy you can’t tell. The fabric has no give in it so I think it’s best with some booty-wigglin’ room. I’m really chuffed with this skirt. I love the fabric, I love the pattern and I am sure that ELH (ever lovin’ husband) loves the price!

More pictures of Cheap & Cheerful on flickr. I know I look too thin in some. I haven’t exercised in…. errr…. months. So what happened? I gave up bread a few months ago (it seems to give me ulcers) and that’s the result! Apparently I’m healthier this size?! At least I have no more ulcers. First time in seven years!

RESCUED

This afternoon I finished off a second Vogue 1247 skirt. I don’t love it as much as my Tardis skirt made from the same pattern but it’s OK. My choice of fabric made this skirt hard work.

I found the fabric on the upholstery fabric clearance table at Spotlight and loved the look of it. Hopefully no-one will mistake me for a sofa or dinner chair. It’s a black and silver with a very small textured check pattern.

I almost gave up on it. Then I pulled it out again and decided not to give up. This happened because we have an ‘upstairs-downstairs’ house. Bedrooms upstairs and living downstairs. My sewing room is between the two girls’ rooms – I can’t sew once they are in bed however I have discovered they go to sleep a lot faster if I stay in the sewing room as they know that they can’t run between rooms and make mischief. So I make the grand sacrifice most nights and sit in the sewing room, gazing at patterns, pondering the next project and sometimes unpicking a disaster! It also gives me time to unwind and relax doing one of my favourite things – and I tend to do some of the things that seem more tedious when the machine is running and the iron is on. Everyone wins.

What went wrong with this project? The invisible zipper did not work. It went in fine but then refused to budge past the yoke seam, the fabric was just too chunky at the yoke seam area for the zipper to squeeze past. Unpicking the zipper was very difficult as the weave of the fabric meant that my thread was all but invisible. I’m proud to say I did not swear… I think I was concentrating too hard trying not to wreck the fabric.

I gave up on an invisible zipper and put in a normal dress zip. It’s not as nice as an invisible zipper but it looks just fine.

The Hong Kong finish was more difficult than it was for Tardis. I should have purchased wider bias binding as the standard width was a little narrow for the thickness of the fabric. Yes, yes I could have made bias biding but crikey I work five days a week! And this skirt needed the Hong Kong finish as it re-defines the term ‘fraying’, it was shedding threads worse than a Persian cat sheds hair in the middle of summer in Alice Springs, Australia. (please note I never exaggerate. Ever.).

I’m not mad about this skirt. I’m not a big fan of the thickness of the seams or how the hem sits (also due to the thickness of the fabric). It doesn’t press well due to the ‘nature’ of the fabric (which I would call ‘uncompromising’). I do like the texture and the weave of the fabric, so it’s a trade-off between its good points and its bad ones. It’s quirky and I like something a little off-beat to pair with a corporate jacket. Plus I can stuff my phone and work tags into the pockets and no-one will be the wiser!

I’ve called this one Rescued. Tardis is still my favourite version of this pattern, I love it to pieces and wear it to death! At least this skirt has got me out of my ‘blue rut’ – I noticed all my patterns reviews have been made in blue fabric!!

Vogue 1247 for work

Vogue 1247 – Rescued

Thank you for your comments in these early days of my little blog. Every single one brightens my day and I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, they are most appreciated – thank you!

The Battle of Hazel: Part 2

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Hazel and I are becoming wary friends at the moment.

Colette Hazel: Muslin Take 2

Colette Hazel: Muslin Take 2

This is my Colette Hazel Muslin: Take 2.Colette Hazel Muslin: Take 1 was a disaster of baggy proportions.So with much stitch ripping, pinning and tucking we now have Colette Hazel Muslin: Take 2.I think this is much better – still lots of little fiddly fitting to do but I’m much more pleased with this one.I took about an inch out of each side of the back and then angled the side seams in just a tiny bit at the top to help pull in the gape across my bust.

I also moved the straps in about half an inch on the front. They still don’t sit perfectly but they are not quite as scary.

The inside finishing on this muslin is less than spectacular. I have no intention of wearing this, it really is a muslin! I hate how you can see the pockets and the facing through the fabric. I can be picky about weird things. I want pockets but I want them to be my little secret – this probably explains my love of the Tardis Skirt.

I have not bothered with the hem – this little number is just about finally conquering a Colette pattern!

I was quite stupid and did not think to take some fabric out of the back skirt to reflect the change in the bodice back. I think the back of the skirt is too full. So I have a slightly puffy midriff and a much puffier bottom! I’m wondering whether this would work with more of a pencil skirt, then I would need to install a back vent so I would walk properly and not ‘mince’. I might just be making life hard for myself – because if I changed it to a pencil skirt I would insert a band at the midriff with stripes moving in different direction just for ‘fun’ and to have the skirt starting closer to my natural waist. Or maybe more of an a-line skirt?

And then it really would not be a Colette Hazel any more, would it?!

I really didn’t like the gathered skirt. I felt that the bodice was quite short and the gathers kinda ‘puffed out’ over the rest of me. So I experimented and put four pleats in the front and back of the skirt. It’s still puffy but I think it’s an improvement on the gathers. Ever Lovin’ Hubby pointed out perhaps the pleats should be pointing the other direction and that might minimise the puffiness over the stomach area. Perhaps darts?

I’m still not thrilled with the dress but I do think it would look much better in a fabric with a more drape, this cotton is a little stiff for the job. I would also prefer a slightly darker fabric as well. I have seen a nice striped shirting fabric which would work…

I’ve always just thrown patterns aside and written them off a loss if it doesn’t fit straight off the machine. However this little battle with Hazel has taught me…

  1. that is it possible to tailor sewing patterns to fit you better.
  2. unpicking things and sewing them back together is loads of fun in a very weird way.
  3. I love hand sewing at night.
  4. I have more confidence to tackle the Colette Sewing Handbook patterns now. After this little battle with Hazel, I think I can make Pastille into a very cute wearable shift and I have a lovely cotton sateen for the job!

I think I might make a skirt next rather than launch another attack on Hazel, although I do hope that this battle concludes as a successful trilogy!

I’ve very tired (three hours folding clothes for the school fete second-hand clothing stall will do that to you after five days at work). So it will be either Simplicity 2451 in view D if I’m too tired for anything more challenging or Rachel Comey’s Vogue 1170 if I think I can manage it. This is all dependent on waking up with more energy tomorrow to start tracing the patterns – unfortunately I do have to spend the day manning the second-hand clothing stall at school and packing up (and all the clothes are hideous, people donate such rubbish – or just have bad taste I guess!)…

Argh, horrid photos. I am so not a morning person… excuse some of the puckers and whatnot, I was standing very lopsided on our very steep front garden in very stupid shoes.

Colette Hazel - back (Take 2 muslin)

Colette Hazel – back (Take 2 muslin)

Colette Hazel bodice: Muslin Part 2

Colette Hazel bodice: Muslin Part 2

OPERA DILEMMA

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OPINIONS WELCOME…

I work at a cultural centre called the Glasshouse (theatre, gallery, heritage displays, visitor information centre, shop and whatnot). Yes very cool. It also provides me with a rather more relaxed approach to office wear. Some days I’m quite corporate, other days I’m a bit more ‘arty’.

Anyway I’m in the middle of organising a ‘best dressed’ competition for August when Opera Australia’s Oz Opera presents Mozart’s Don Giovanni at our place. We figure everyone loves an excuse to dress up and given the opportunity for going OTT is fairly limited, we decided to provide one.

Now I can’t win the competition but it’s a lovely excuse to sew something ‘fancy’. And it’s very important to set a good example don’t you think?

Don Giovanni is the bad boy of the opera world. He is naughty naughty naughty. And this production has been set in 1950 Italy. Sexy, stylish and decadent. So I figure it’s time to go to town in the ‘dress stakes’.

Here’s the current ‘hero’ shot for the production.

Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni

I had thought to make up this 1950s Simplicity retro pattern. The era is in keeping with Don G

Now I’m thinking I might get a bit lost in all that fabric and end up looking like a matchstick in a marquee.

So I’m thinking more along the lines of…

I like how the blouse combines with the dress and jacket! This pattern is a retro 1930s Vogue, pre-dates the setting of the production. So chic though, I think it’s gorgeous!! But would be turn me into ‘stick girl’?

or circa 1950…

but not in green – I think I would look like a slick of snot if I did not get the right green so it would have to be a different colour. I love love love how this coat is reversible!

I think this is quite simply smokin’.

The more I look at this one the more I think it might create some curves and highlight my waist – which helps the rest of the curves look curvier. It’s ‘advanced’ which is scary but I’m pretty competent handsewer so perhaps a muslin or two might pay off – and some practice sleeves. Also prefer this in one colour. Several dresses on Pattern Review have been done with contrasting sleeves but I like the simplicity of one colour with all that detail – not red though as I am sallow and red turns me yellow. Not such a good look. Perhaps if I made it a tad longer or the skirt was a little neater around the calves? Will need a wrap as August nights are cold and our foyer is vicious on a chilly night.

Love this coat but what to wear underneath?

Found this cute little coat pattern on eBay that I think I could turn into an ‘opera coat’… but again… what to wear underneath?

And I spotted this on ebay… amazing… too big (and expensive) for me but wow!

Vintage Opera Coat & Dress on ebay

waaaaay too expensive!

Are you as bamboozled as me?

Ideas anyone??

Other patterns suggestions welcome too!

Conquering the Hazel fit!

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Colette Hazel, size 0, waaay too big

Colette Hazel, size 0, waaay too big

Unlike Colette Peony – which I tossed aside in a snit – I am determined to beat Colette Hazel into submission.The day started out well. Mother’s Day – breakfast in bed, cups of tea, presents and a walk on the beach. We are only a couple of week away from winter and I wore my Stamp of Approval dress (with a white belt on loan from Miss 9) and bare feet. The kids and the dog swam. It’s odd weather, it’s been warmer the last couple of days than it was during summer!

This afternoon I trotted off to the sewing room to tackle Hazel. She bit back.

This is my muslin, my very baggy muslin. I suspected that I was going to have major fit issues as my last two outings with Colette have been very ‘confrontational’ in my little sewing room. Poor old Homer in a Muu-muu has been watching on aghast. The muslins have not made it to this blog. In fairness Crepe is not too bad, probably because it’s a wrap, but Peony is horrid.

The fabric for my Hazel muslin is a cheap cotton that was on sale at Spotlight so it was not a big investment (or loss given the result). It is pretty though and I wanted to try this dress with stripes as the bodice lends itself to stripes in a very flattering way otherwise you might as well use any old summer dress pattern…. I think it would look great… if you can get it to fit…

Colette Hazel, size 0. Hello! there is a huge gape at front

Colette Hazel, size 0. Hello! there is a huge gape at front

The zip is not an invisible one like the pattern suggests. I just used one that I rescued prior to throwing out one of my daughters’ old threadbare school uniforms. It’sjust a zip and it doesn’t impact on the fit, clearly.I acknowledge that I am a small person. I’m 5 foot 4 which is pretty average but the rest of me is slight – or perhaps better described as skinny. I’m not boasting or moaning, its just a fact of life that I am naturally built like this, I do zero exercise and don’t diet. Yes you can start throwing rocks now, I’m used to dodging them. Many kind people constantly comment on how ‘skinny’ I am, questioning my eating habits and how I look like my dog… I’ve got a whippet. Yes, I’m blessed to have so many people keep my ego in check. Anyway, moving on to more important issues like fitting clothing my seemingly sparrow’s rib cage.

I know that my frame is small but I am always very surprised at the size of Colette Patterns. This is a size 0. It’s huge.

Fit problems:-

  1. It’s gaping badly across the top of my bust – but it seems to fit nicely across my bust.
  2. It’s huge in the waist and across my back.
  3. The straps are whacko. I took them up but I think my shoulders are too narrow for the placement of the straps. I often buy the smallest size in jackets to get them to fit across my puny shoulders. The strap buckling stops if I move them further out to the edge of my shoulders – where they fall off all the time. Very stylish.
  4. I put a belt on with it as I think that, given how high the waist sits, the light gathering of the skirt just doesn’t work. It just not flattering – on me anyway.

In the past I would have just chucked it to the side and written it off as a total loss. Thanks to all the sewing blogs out there and all the sewing alongs and sewing parties I have watched on the blogging sidelines, I realise that fitting doesn’t have to seem like tackling Mt Everest (or a molehill in my case).

So here’s my Colette Hazel fitting plan…

Colette Hazel, size 0, pinned back
Colette Hazel, size 0, pinned back
  1. Take a wedge out of the bodice centre to counteract the massive gaping at the front across the top.
  2. Take about an inch out of each side of the back.
  3. Move the straps in a bit at the front or set them in straight rather than at an angle.
  4. Consider changing the skirt from gathered to pleats.
  5. The stripes need more contrast

I’ve got a little weird wacky plan bubbling away in the back of my mind for this pattern. It could be a complete failure but I want to get this pattern to work as I think the panels of the bodice could be used as a base to dress up this little dress in quite a unique way.

Before I get ahead of myself I have to conquer the fit first! Evil plans must come second.

I have been most envious of all the Me Made May 12 stitchers wearing their creations. I just didn’t feel like I could participate – even in a small way because I have so little sewn by me at this early stage. So this year I am watching… and waiting… I am proud though that yesterday I wore my beloved Tardis Skirt (Vogue 1247, how I love this skirt! I must take a better picture) and today I wore my Stamp of Approval (Simplicity 2209) dress and tomorrow I plan to wear my Four Foot Dress (Simplicity 2060). I guess it’s my Me Made May 12 blip on a radar!

In the meantime I think I have pinned the muslin into submission – does this look better??

Colette Hazel, size 0, after being pinned into submission
Colette Hazel, size 0, after being pinned into submission – pins in the front as well!
 

Back to work tomorrow for another five days in the hamster mill and this week I am thinking ‘what to make to wear to the opera’. Open to suggestions, watch out for the post in a few days! I need a new challenge…