MMM - 3

Day 3!

Today I was on another trip out of the office - hence the lovely location for photos!  This is actually inside a hotel in Lethbridge, Alberta (hey, I've got to eat!), there are trees, water features, oh, and a piano!

The pics are a little out of focus (oops!) but you get the gist :)  Thanks Cory!!

Today I am mostly wearing a Sorbetto top, my orange Ponte cardigan . . . . . and hand-knitted socks!  My grey denims are rather old RTW pair complete with a few muddy bits from walking the dogs in the morning!  I have to say that reviewing these photos really makes me realize that I can be a little lackadaisical and need to pay more attention before walking out the door!  

Here are the details on todays 3 items:

5. Sock Bunny Sorbetto top - more details here
6. Ikat Winter Collection Ponte Cardigan - McCalls 4466 (again!)  I did 'redo' the front binding.  The one that was on originally did not sit very well, so I cut it off and added a smaller, more professional looking binding that I am very pleased with!
7. Hand knitted socks using my own pattern - here is a clearer photo.

So there we go, 7 different items so far!

One Pattern Many Looks - Sorbetto

See, one sew-a-long completed - now it is time for another!!  I am entering the Pattern Review 'One Pattern Many Looks' contest.  This runs for the month of January and is pretty straightforward:

The goal of this contest is to take one view of a pattern, and create multiple garments with distinct looks from that view, without needing pattern drafting skills.

I can do that!  As I mentioned here, I have wanted to make these tops for quite some time, and I was really pleased with my wearable muslin (black serger thread and all!!)

The skirt is my straight skirt version of Butterick 4877 and the orange cardigan is from McCalls  4466.  Both are from my Ikat Winter Collection.

 

The PR Review is here.

I love it!  So I thought I'd cut out another one or two or seven.  Ah yes.  Seven.  And why not???  I have decided to sew these next ones with more care and precision including french seams and self-made bias binding.  I picked up a bias-binder-maker-thingy at the weekend but couldn't get the foot for my Pfaff.  The lady in the sewing shop said that it was hard to get feet for my machine as it was so old (I bought it in 2004).  Cheeky madam.  I've ordered one from Etsy so we will see how that works out.  The other option was to clean up one of my vintage Singers as I have the attachment feet for them.  And a ruffler and lots of other whizzy, whizzy feet!

I am at the stage of attaching the binding, and as this will be a lot of work for 7 tops so I thought I'd take time out and audition some buttons.  This is what I have come up with:

I like the simplicity of the off white buttons (above) but I also like the wooden ones below.

Oh yes, and these grey buttons (below) looked good too!

As did these deep burgundy ones - but I have another shirt for those!!

Three mismatch buttons looked rather funky too.  I think I will just have to make a few plain white/cream shirts to showcase all the buttons!

 

 

I'm liking these dark brown wooden buttons (above).  Plain but effective.  This fabric is a cotton/lycra shirting and there is some texture to the fabric .  It is a pain to hold a crease though so I will probably have to sew the pleat along its length to hold it.

I love the contrast of the black (above) with the yellow - so I think that they are a keeper.  The last one I would like to show you this evening is the polka dot fabric below, with cotton trim and the burgundy button from above.

Finally, cut out a tartan skirt using my straight skirt version of Butterick 4877, using this gorgeous tartan fabric:

I bought the fabric about 10-12 years ago from a booth at the NEC Sewing Show.  I remember it was not cheap - possibly GBP 15-20, but it is a lovely fabric.  I've no idea how much wool it contains, but I hand-washed it gently and it seems good.  I did a bit of research and I believe that it is Stewart Dress Tartan.  I plan on using a red invisible zipper - the pull tab will show but I think it will look fun.  Oh, and of course it will be lined.

So there we have it - this should keep me busy this week (I am back to work tomorrow) so my sewing time will be limited.

How about you - what do you have planned for the week?

Ikat Winter Collection - the reveal!

I am happy to say that I have now completed my 6PAC Winter Collection for the Stitchers Guild sew-a-long - and here is the proof!  Just a quick warning before you start - this is a monster post . . . !

I made two skirts - a straight one and a 4-gored one, two tops - one with a polo neck, one with a round neck and two cardigan/jackets.  So without further ado. . . I give you my

Ikat Winter Collection:

The first two items are a top and skirt that make a two piece dress.  The top is my franken Kwik Sew 3752 and the skirt is from Simplicity 4221.  The fabric is an Ikat Hiatchi Sweater Print from Fabric.com.  The skirt is lined with black Bemberg and has a lace border.  I blogged about these two items here.
 

The next item, which I actually completed last of all is a jacket cardigan from McCalls 4466.  I changed the neckline from being a round neck to a more 'V' line as this is a casual cardigan.  The fabric is an orange ponte knit from Fabricland and I LOVE the fabric.  The cardigan had been tissue fitted during my fitting class.  There are some changes that I could have made - I have a feeling that I messed up the centre front and have more fabric in the front that I should have. Ho hum - I can fix that next time!  I am happy with how the back fits, and if I had stood up straight during the photo session you would have been able to see how it fits my round upper shoulder and swayback.  A nice casual (and yet fitted) cardigan!  It picks out the orange in the dress very well.

A little peek inside - I did not touch my serger with this!  All the seams were sewn then the edges zigzagged and pressed open.  The shoulder and centre back seams were also top-stitched open.  I hand-stitched down the seams of the sleeve near the cuffs so that they looked more professional.  It took a lot longer to sew, but I really liked the process here.

Ah yes.  My black corduroy skirt.  This is the second one that I made.  The first was blogged about here, but I really did not like how it looked so I made another!  (I will do something with the first one to make it wearable - probably by cutting off about 10" in length!)

This straight skirt is from Butterick 4877 and I first blogged about the pattern here.  This time I just lengthened the yoke to make a straight skirt, pegging the hem 1" on the side seams.  I inserted an invisible zip - I really have not master a lapped zip, and have managed without one so far!  The skirt is, of course, lined and I have to say that I feel great in it.  I love the silhouette and have cut out another two - one in brown jumbo corduroy and one in a tartan fabric (or it may be plaid - I will need to see if I can ID it!)

 

This top (same Kwik Sew pattern as above) feels great - it is a cotton/lycra mix and I really should have ironed it again before putting it on . . . . !  With the black skirt it looks OK - I probably would not wear it just like this, but with a cute scarf I think the outfit would really pop!  The only difference between this top one and the orange patterned one above is that I put a nice long polo neck to keep me snuggly warm!

Another headless shot - this means that I was pulling a face or it is out of focus!

This cardigan is my final piece, and I originally blogged about it here.  This cardigan is part of a two piece and is a Linda MacPhee pattern.  I thought that two layers of animal print was a little too much and made the plain brown top instead.

Yep, you are right - I need to adjust the lining of the black skirt as it is pulling slightly on the vent on the back of the skirt.

Here we have the brown top and orange Ikat skirt.  I really like this look as well . . .

And to finish it off - with the orange cardigan.  I think this color rather suits me and I shall have to get some more!

Here we have the begining of . . . .

Jazz hands.  Well, sort off!  It looks more like I am pushing the photographer (my father) away!  Sorry Dad - you did a grand job!

There are 9 looks here out of my 6 pieces and I already have the top that matches the brown cardigan for a couple more looks.  I am really happy with these garments - I think that I have moved on quite a lot from my K.I.S.S collection.  This is mostly down to feedback from yourselves and I really appreciate comments - so thank you!

I learned quite a few things during this collection, a lot of it from studying these photos.  I can't believe the difference between looking at photos and looking at myself in the mirror! 

1. Shorter skirts are OK
2. Longer gored skirts need to be made in very drapey fabrics
3. A shorter jacket/cardigan would probably look good too - worth trying that next time
4. I love a fitted skirt.  Elastic waistbands are great, but I really like the fitted one on the black skirt
5.  I love, love, love hand sewing.  There was not much in this - the cuffs on the orange cardigan and the lining of the black skirt, but I do like slowing down the pace and hand sewing.
6. Not everything needs to be serged!  I plan to use more couture techniques in future garments - where appropriate of course, such as french seams, Hong-Kong finishes, interlining etc. instead of whipping everything through the serger!
7. Yes, you are right.  Despite avidly watching America's Next Top Model, my posing is pretty poor - but there is a new season starting soon so I will see what I can do!!


I also think that my fitting class has helped a lot - I can't believe how fitted the orange cardigan is and how good it feels.  There will be many more of these garments - taking into account the alterations mentioned above.  I can't wait to start!

To finish off, here is my compilation photo:

PS - If you would like to see more photos, they are on Flickr, just make sure you are sitting comfortably as there are LOADS!  Apparently there is a monthly upload limit, and I exceeded it with this batch.  So soon in the month as well!

TKOB - The First Pieces

You may call it cheating, but I prefer to think of it as maximizing my time and increasing my enthusiasm levels - and so I have made the first four pieces of my Taking Care of Business SWAP 2013 (TKOB)  using some very quick and easy patterns.

First off is the two piece dress using a lovely grey Aztec print in sweater jersey from Fabric.com that I got for Christmas.  The skirt is a 4 gore pattern Simplicity 4221 that I have used here and here.  I made it a little shorter than previous incarnations and lined it with a plain black lining.

Apologies for the headless shot but I was taking photos using the timer on the camera and my facial expressions are a little disturbing!!

Both of the tops are pullovers with polo necks - well, it is winter time and I wanted to try another neck treatment - I am pleased with how the neckline looks.  Here I have used my franken top TNT based upon Kwik Sew 3752.  One of the tops is in the same grey Aztec sweater print as the skirt and makes my 2 piece dress, the other is made from some brown cotton/lycra fabric that I have used before in red, white and black to make similar tops (sorry, no photo just yet!)  The other skirt is a new pattern for me (Butterick 4877) - the first time that I have tried it.  I used a grey poly fabric.  I am not too sure of the composition but it one that I inherited from my mother's sewing room and feels great against the skin and drapes well.  This has a fitted waist so I put an invisible zip in the back centre seam and lined it all with a plain black lining again. It also has a flounce and I love flounces!  Both skirts have 1" lace added to the lining as it makes me feel special when I am wearing them!

I am a little disappointed with the look of this skirt - I L.O.V.E flounces, but I think that in this case it really cuts the skirt in half and is unflattering.  I will need to think a little more about this - as it is one of Mum's fabrics, I am annoyed at my poor pattern choice.  On the positive side I have used the top half of this pattern to make a fitted straight skirt, and ran one up today in black corduroy - it fits a treat.  So much so that I will be swapping out the long black corduroy skirt from my Ikat Winter Collection 6PAC and replacing it with this new version.  Photos to follow!

I think that my next pattern to tackle in this collection will be the Sorbetto tops.  Once I have mastered the fit, I can cut a few out and get them sewn up.  I am thinking off entering the 'One Pattern, Many Looks' competition on Pattern Review (I know it has been done before, but it would be such a great opportunity).

So, how are you getting along with your New Year sewing?

Taking Care of Business

I am happy to say that I am busy making the most of a few days off work.  I having been planning, cutting out, and am about to put needle to fabric - that is for tomorrow!  I needed to make one more item for my Ikat Winter Collection (previously mentioned here and here) that is part of the Winter 6PAC on Stitchers Guild.  Today I cut out a cardigan using the pattern that I fitted in my pattern fitting class.  It is from McCalls 4466.  I have made a couple of changes to the pattern - changed the neckline to a slight 'V' shape and I will add a band to make it more 'cardigan' like.  The fabric is a lovely Ponte knit in a burnt orange that I bought from Fabricland.  The fabric is a poly/rayon mix and is incredibly soft.

I have also been making plans for the 2013 SWAP on Stitchers Guild.  The rules are that one is 'to make two 4 or 5 piece collections, with a single other garment that can be worn with both capsules. 

Each collection is either 3 tops and two bottoms, or 2 tops, 1 bottom, and 1 dress, which all form a cohesive group.  The 11th garment should be a jacket or other piece that coordinates with both collections, both in style and color.

These collections can be for different occasions, or in different colorways, or simply reflect two very different styles or images. 

There will be no requirement this year to use a particular fabric or pattern choice, no fussy print matching or need to master any new skill. 

Sewing will begin December 26th, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2013.'

The main colors that I am playing with are brown, grey, mustard, red and cream.  Interesting eh?!  For each of the two collections I am planning a 2 core two-pieces (skirt & top or trousers & top) with a co-ordinating cardigan/jacket and another jacket that would work with each mini collection.  So, in total there will be 4 bottoms (skirts/trousers), 4 tops (short sleeved polo necks/shells) and three cardigans/jackets.  I will be using some new patterns - making shorter skirts and attempting to fit trousers, my shell tops will probably be based upon Sorbetto by Collette Patterns, and I am looking forward to trying Vogue 8146 or McCalls 5763 for the final jacket.

This is the first collection of fabrics and from the left I pan to make a 2 piece dress with the grey Aztec print (Christmas pressie fabric!), a solid grey skirt with a fitted yoke and circular flounce, a Sorbetto top with the grey floral and a jacket with the mustard solid (which really needs a good press!):

And here is the fabric for the second collection.  From the left is a brown jersey to make a top.  I also have some poly/rayon jersey in the same color so will make at least one more top and maybe a jersey wrap skirt, (I've just realized that I have missed a patterned brown fabric for another potential Sorbetto.  Oops.  I guess that will just have to stay as a surprise!), some brown corduroy for (hopefully) a pair of trousers, and an cream textured fabric for a cardigan/unstructured jacket.

And here is the collection (less the above mentioned brown patterned fabric!) with some red Ponte knit (a super soft poly/rayon mix) that will be used for another cardigan/unstructured jacket that will work across the whole collection.

As these items are all for work, I am calling this collection 'Taking Care of Business'.

So, having introduced you to my plans, I reserve the right to make changes as and when (well, I did stop off at Fabricland today and they had some FAB-U-LOUS poly/rayon stripey sweater prints and a few metres may have fallen into my basket!)

What about you?  Are you taking part in the 2013 SWAP or do you have another lists that you are working from?

Ikat Winter Collection - Orange Ikat Update

I am loving the Hiatchi sweater jersey from Fabric.com.  It is very reasonable priced (even after the Canada mailing uplift) and it sews up easily - I am not too sure how it will wear, but it appears to wash well.  Hopefully it won't pill . . . . .

For the next two garments in the Winter 6PAC contest on Stitchers Guild, I made a two piece dress using my trusty Kwik Sew 3752 and Simplicity 4221.  You wouldn't believe that I had over 500 sewing patterns in my collection would you!!!

So, without further ado - this is how they look:

I have found that the neckline on this top is rather large, so on this top and the brown one I moved the neckline in about 1" and shortened the neckband.  It looks and feels much better!

And you know what, ! am really pleased with them!  I think that the skirt length suits with this drapey fabric - more so than the black corduroy one here.  The fabric is very cheery and the jersey is soooo soft against the skin.  I lined the skirt with black bemberg lining that has no stretch (with black lace hemline trim) - I am hoping that will help prevent the 'bagging' that you can get from jersey skirts and the fabric does have 5% lycra as well - but time will tell! 

The skirt also looks good with my plain black slinky top.

And finally - thank-you hubby for taking the photos!!

I almost forgot to mention - if you were wondering about the headless shots, well those are the ones where my face was out of focus/there were too many double chins/too much background/etc, etc :o)

Ikat Winter Collection - Brown Twinset Update

Well, I have been a very busy seamstress and have made a number of lovely items for my entry into the Stitcher's Guild Winter 6PAC, or Ikat Winter Collection as I prefer to call it!

I have made 5 pieces so far - a black corduroy skirt, a brown, animal print, jersey twinset and an orange Ikat 2-piece dress.    Here are the first three garments - are you sitting comfortably?  If so, here is the fashion show (hey, I watch America's Next Top Model, I know how to pose . . . . )

The black skirt is made out of a fine wale corduroy (from my collection and it is ages old)) is is from Simplicity 4221, a 4-gore skirt   I lined it with black bemberg lining (from Fabric.com) and trimmed the hem with black lace.  

Check out the round shoulders.  My father would be appalled at my posture - sorry Dad!

For the twinset I used Hiatchi sweater jersey from Fabric.com.  The cardigan is a Linda McPhee pattern that has just three pattern pieces - the sleeves, the front bands and and 'all in one piece' that makes up the fronts and back.  The top is my adjusted Kwik Sew 3752.  I am not sure if I like this as a twinset - it seems very busy.  

Now this I think, looks much better.  I like the patterned top and the plain skirt.  I am a little bothered by the gathers in the front of the skirt - too big, or the wrong fabric?

  I think the back of the skirt fits great - no gathers.  Maybe a tad long though?

Now this is interesting.  This is another Kwik Sew 3752 that I made out of black slinky fabric (from Linda McPhee) and I think that the black 'column' with the patterned cardigan looks much better.  So, perhaps I will institute a new rule - only one animal print garment per outfit?!

So, what did I learn from this little photo shoot?  Well, it appears that my favourite skirts are rather too long.  This black one is about 35" long, but I think that I prefer length of my red and grey flirty skirts.  I have enough of the black corduroy to make a shorter straight skirt, so I will try that out with these tops and see if it is a better match.  And I think a smaller size is in order to get rid of the gathers in the front.

Secondly, I really do need to put a seam in the back of my cardigan's.  Other posters are quite correct when they say that the expanse of fabric is not very flattering.  I also need to make an adjustment for my upper back - something that I learned from my 'Fit for Real People' sewing class I attended this weekend (more of that in another post later this week).

And finally - when did I go so grey?  Like really?  I have a couple of years before hitting 50 and I think that from the back I look much older.  Sigh . . . .   My hairdresser says that it is a lovely color (I think she is just being polite), but all I can see is grey.  As I am not going to dye it (can you imagine the time that it would take and as soon as the roots start growing back I would need to dye it again) as that would eat into my sewing time - so I am just going to embrace it.  But what style to have?  I usually have very short, almost spiky hair but had thought about a Louise Brooks short bob . . .

But I wonder if would just look like a metal helmet on me.  Hmmmm.  I need to think on this.