Monday, August 3, 2015

Oh Cara!

It has been a few weeks since I have made anything due to visitors (it was lovely taking them around Calgary and up to the mountains though - so no complaints!) and it was great having time to settle in my sewing room this weekend and get some sewing done.  I had a pair of Phoebe trousers and a Sorbetto top already cut out (sorry Ruth, I do love your Bamtams though and may have to give them a try soon!) - they have patiently been waiting their time to get sewn - in light blue linen/rayon and I also wanted to try the new Tina Givens pattern - Cara.  And this is what I made:

Off White Cara & Blue Phoebe Trousers


It is hard to see in these photos, but the Cara slip has two front and two back pieces so the slip is bisected horizontally between the waist and hip.


(this is the closest that I could get to a line drawing - this is taken from the instructions)

There are four points (two front and two back) and a pocket that is in the front horizontal seam.  I chose to have in-seam pockets in the side-seams and edged the neck, arm and hems with 1.5" raw edged bias binding folded in half.


I found the neckline to be a bit higher than the Jaqueline and the shoulders to be wider, giving more coverage.  I liked that!  This top is pretty wide as it flares out from the underarm.  I think for future versions I may tame this a little.


It does, of course, work really well as a layer and can be seen above with my blue Phoebe trousers (another of the five items made this weekend) and my altered Phoebe jacket (which I have just noticed that I haven't posted about as yet) . . . . not to mention a TG inspired necklace made out of Lapis Lazuli chips.


Finally with this top, the finishing touch was to add a label out of some printed linen, with my label on top.  This is the inside view, and I love it!

White Cara

With this version I chose to add some of the details from the Cara trousers - a pleated triangle insert and triangular patch pockets.


Another label - call me narcissistic, I don't mind!!  The printed fabric is from some Ikea pillowcases.  We buy the 'on sale' bedding and use it to cover the duvets that form the bedding for our greyhounds.  The pillows don't get used, so they were perfect for the labels!


You can just about make out the triangle on front - there is a better pic with the blue top!  Another great, basic slip that will work with lots of trousers and jackets.

Blue Cara


You can see the volume with this version - as much as I love it, I don't think that it looks so good without a jacket.  In seam pockets again, I prefer them to the triangle ones on the white version.


And I ran out of binding.  I thought about hunting around for some leftover blue fabric, finding the diagonal and cutting a strip . . . . and then I saw some pattern binding already cut . . . . so I used that!  I don't think that it looks too shabby!  You can see how I attach the binding - a three stitch zigzag.  It has held up pretty well on other garments - so far!


Here is the back view and the patch that is on the right side of the fabric, with my label being on the wrong side.


Looks pretty good with a jacket (I am trying to get away from the scrubs look - not sure if I am succeeding!)


Here you can see the attached triangle.  There is one centre front and one centre back.  A little funky!

Blue Sorbetto



Nothing much to say about the blue Sorbetto.  It is blue.  And makes a nice alternative to longer slips.


I have quite a few so I mix them in with my Phoebe trousers and jackets!


Finally, I wanted to show the new necklace that I made using some cultured pearls and a key . . . .!


Phew, lot of photos - hope I didn't loose you part way through!  Although we are in the middle of a gloriously hot summer, I think I may have to turn my thoughts to Autumn,  How about you - are you still sewing Summer?

15 comments :

  1. I love how these patterns work well together layered! so gotta make some! love the blues!

    Helen

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  2. I love these patterns and have only just discovered them through your blog. The trousers do seem wide though and I wondered if you have made narrower ones and whether they work with the look or if the trousers in this picture are the only ones which balance the whole look? Such fab clothes and I love your colour choices. Sally

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  3. Far from narcissistic, I think you should consider placing your labels on the outside of some of the garments; it's too interesting of a detail to hide.

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  4. I love what you've made, especially that floral coat! I ordered paper patterns from TG's website 7 weeks ago, and they never arrived, so I don't have any makes to compare... It' is great to see that she has made the armscyes a reasonable size. If I do decide to make one of her designs in the future, I'll look for one of her newer patterns.

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  5. What a lovely ramble through pretty things! Love the white Cara and the blue & white Phoebe jacket. I'm addicted to loose... I agree the blue Cara looks more voluminous than the white one (my favorite).

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  6. What lovely mix and match pieces.. Love the blue jacket. so pretty..

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  7. The Cara is one of the patterns I bought. I didn't know it was bisected or that it had pockets...I like that. I haven't started any of mine yet...I hope they turn out half as pretty as yours!!! This is fun, so thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Love the attached triangle on the blue Cara.

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  8. I love your embellishments- garment ephemera- lovely!

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  9. Love all your tg clothes, and I also think your label should go on outside. I'm still waiting on patterns ordered in june for july 1st ship date, as stated on tg site when I renewed my club membership......... maybe .... someday...........is anyone else having trouble?????

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  10. Hi Lorraine, I saw your post published on CSC this morning and was very flattered that you credited me with drawing your attention to lagenlook. All your creations look fabulous on you! I was interested to read your comment that you long for a bit more "structure" in some lagenlook designs - I hope you'll take a look at the pdf patterns I publish at boho-banjo-art-to-wear.myshopify.com. I have 2 more patterns to be published in the next month, one I recently blogged about - the Scarlett tunic and jacket and another that I haven't revealed yet. My blog is at www.pearlredmoon.com. Also please consider subscribing to my free newsletter for creative sewing ideas and free patterns

    It was so nice to read your post and see your fab garments this morning as last night my beloved garden was devastated by a hail storm with ice chunks as big as tennis balls...my trees have been denuded and the garden beds mulched...:( I'll have to lock myself in the studio with sewing machine for a few weeks until it recovers!

    happily in stitches
    Pearl Moon,
    Murrurundi, Australia

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  11. I am so conflicted. I both hate and love the lagenlook. I'm loving your details and totally digging all the fresh looking linen and the pure comfiness. But part of me is convinced I will look like a bag lady with all that layering. Argh, so conflicted.

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  12. I think I am about your size and was wondering about sizing on the Phoebe. My TG pattern goes to 16 and am usually a 22 in the big 4. Did you need to do much altering on the size of Phoebe tops? I have been waiting on making Phoebe due to my chesty size.

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    1. I altered the shoulder and neckline to get the pattern to fit me better. I have sloping shoulders and a curve in my upper back and a I find that if I don't make adjustments then garments tend to drag backwards and end up throttling me. I started with a blouse pattern that was fitted to me - proper placement of bust dart, opening up the back centre seam to account for my upper back, changing the slope on the shoulders etc, and from that a I made a shell top (I used the free Sorbetto pattern by Collete) transferred my changes onto that, and from those two patterns I adjust all the tops that a I make.

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