Tag Archives: Vogue

Patience is not one of my virtues

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I am so NOT patient. Never have been. Never will be.

Colette Sewing Handbook

Colette Sewing Handbook - a journey plan

I’m the type of person that decides to do something and does it.So it’s been rather frustrating waiting for The Colette Sewing Handbook to arrive via airmail from Amazon. I ordered it – then was told they did not have it in stock. Then they emailed and said that they were not sure if they could obtain a copy and did I still want to wait? So I did – even though it was killing me. Then the book finally arrived (via canoe I believe)… with no patterns. So now I am waiting for the publisher to post them to me. Alas.

Lesson learnt – shoulda have spent the extra money and ordered it from Colette directly. Oh well, I have purchased five patterns from them already. And at least I got to hang onto the beautiful book and read and prepare for the arrival of the patterns!

I ordered it from Amazon as I stumbled across the book there – looking for something else, saw the cover, was intrigued, and then became so inspired reading the comments, I promptly decided to take up sewing again. So I bought it. It seems like a great structured way to polish some old skills and learn some new ones. I am slightly terrified of learning how to actually fit a pattern properly but the ELH (ever lovin’ hubby) is buying me a dress form to help. Hooray!

I’m so glad I did find this book as I have discovered a whole new world in blogland via the Colette flikr groups and profiles which lead me to more blogs – it’s been inspiring and also provide me with a virtual community as NONE of my friends sew. NONE.

So I decided to blog, perhaps someone will read it. Perhaps not. But I need to have some sort of conversation and this seemed a good place to start.

So I await The Colette Sewing Handbook and I dream of a black meringue, floral pastille, lacy sheer taffy (don’t think anyone has done this). I am waiting for a liquorice and truffle vision…

In the meantime, I’m torn between stitching another delightful Vogue 1247 (I think this is going to be an addiction), Lisette Itinerary dress (although I’m searching for a perfect Japanese print to contrast with a lovely navy linen I have waiting), a muslin for the Lisette Traveler Dress in view C (all in one fabric with a decent belt) or take something that looks a tad tricky but interesting Vogue 1220.

Oh and I will take some pictures of my other completed projects over the next week or so!

The Tardis Skirt

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Vogue 1247

Singing in the Rain

Well I have been busy… very busy…I’ve been stitchin’ up a storm and have several dresses and skirts to show for it. However rather than just flood the blog right now I will blog about them over time… plus it gives me time to possibly take some respectable pictures! As interesting as my lounge room wall is, and as professional as the fuzzy photos taken by my girls on the iPhone – I think I can do better.

So first up is the skirt I have nicknamed THE TARDIS. What can I say but – I LOVE THIS SKIRT.

Hello Vogue 1247. Verdict: Sew Cute.

OK the photo is not great but the weather is not helping. Believe it or not I live in Port Macquarie, which the CSIRO once said had the best climate in Australia (they might have said it years and years ago but us locals are still clinging to that). It’s been raining forever. Well not forever, but it feels like that.

I love everything about this skirt. It looks so simple but it’s like the Tardis.

I was a massive Dr Who fan as a kid. It was perhaps the one thing that inspired me to chomp my way through mashed potato (a pet hate) and whiz through the drying up. I was terrified of Davros but that’s another post… I love this skirt as much as I loved Dr Who as a kid – and that’s saying something!

Why is this skirt The Tardis? Well it’s blue. It looks like a simple, practical, functional object… but it’s actually whiz-bang cool inside. And it’s transported me to another universe of joy and satisfaction (happy hand clapping).

It has enormous pockets! TWO enormous pockets! psssst…. I lined them with sew-cute polka dot fabric.

And it has the most adorable finishes, all hidden inside but I think that just adds to the satisfaction… it’s mine… all mine… evil chuckle. It’s my little secret (and now yours – no pressure).

If you don’t believe me – check out the hem below… and that’s just the Hong Kong finish and there is so much more on Flickr…

The entire world should own a skirt like this. It’s just too good not to own. Trust me. Although there are plenty of posts on Pattern Review about this skirt, including this one by the talented and inspiring Carolyn, I think I will contribute another. It’s just too good not to blather on about endlessly.

I know there are a billions things I could have done better, should have spent more time. Coulda, shoulda, didn’t. I was so ‘loved up’ with this project I just had to have the finished product asap. And I’m sure I will make it again at some point so perfection can wait ’til then. This was all about satisfaction.

I have not sewn clothing since I was 18… and that was errrr…. a while ago. I was lucky enough to have a Mum who is an amazing craftsperson. My Mum made me everything when I was a kid. Everything and oh how I longed for a ‘shop bought’ dress when I was a little tacker (ha that’s funny!). While I might not have appreciated it then, I love her for it now. She taught me how to sew, knit and more – and she is teaching my daughters! I’d love to think I could be as good as her one day but she’s super fastidious. Me not so much, I’m more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal. Despite our stitching differences, it’s rather nice to sit with my Mum and hand stitch over a cuppa tea (although she’s probably secretly fretting about my imperfect stitch length).

So I’m back at stitching after a prolonged hiatus and this skirt was such a rewarding project to kick-start a new sewing binge. It might have tipped me over the edge into addiction… (lots of happy hand clapping)

The Tardis Skirt - Vogue 1247

Need to stop sewing…

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and get myself organised!

Thought I was tricky sitting up late last night setting up my blog (now I am just tired and very cranky). So I logged on today and sighed. There is so much to do….

  1. Organise the widgets.
  2. Clean up the sidebar.
  3. Set up a decent theme.
  4. Write some generic pages.
  5. Take pictures while I sew.
  6. Stop getting my little girls to take pictures of the things I make on my iPhone.
  7. Take decent pictures.
  8. Starting commenting on other blogs.
  9. Start posting my projects into forums, Pattern Review and whatnot.
  10. Make a more comprehensive thoughtful list…

However I am finding time to sew… whenever I can!! So far I’ve stitched two Colette Sorbetto tops (just to get my back into the swing of sewing!), one Colette Crepe Dress, one Vogue 1151 and one Vogue 1236 (love love love this pattern). Yes, in just two weeks.

And I confess I have started a fabric stash. I am also accumulating patterns… and there are so many more I want… they are just SOOOOO expensive in Australia!

Yes, yes, pictures soon (please refer item 6 in list above).