Another 3 Bite the Dust!

Sorbetto's that is.  And really, here are two as I gave you a sneak peak of #5, but nonetheless, here are Sorbetto's #5, #6 and #7 . . . . .

#5 SockBunny

This is made from a super soft cream fabric that I blogged about here - I hadn't taken any proper photos though, so here they are:

#6 - Candy Stripes Sorbetto

This fabric is cotton with a little lycra.  It also has a finish like seersucker.  Very nice!  Due to the stretch I thought that I might have a problem with the bias binding, so I chose a co-ordinating fat quarter with I think is rather cute!

#7 Lilac Sorbetto

I have this fabric since 2000.  I distinctly remember buying from a bolt end fabric shop in Walsall (UK).  It is 100% cotton and is slightly thicker than shirting as it is actually sheeting.  I bought some to make a duvet cover and matching pillow case - that never happened, but it keep smiling at me from my stash, beckoning me to stitch it up into some loveliness.  So I did.  I thought that the fabric would be too thick for the bias binding, but I pressed the heck out if it and it looks just great!

 

So there you go - 7 Sorbetto's for the One Pattern Many Looks contest.

And here is my final compilation photo courtesy of Picasa Collage:

I love all the different fabrics and these tops will be fabulous for the summer.  I think my favorite is the blue polka-dot version with the cute buttons, but as with your own children and dogs - I love them all!!!!  I will certainly make some more - some plain colored ones will go down a treat.  I will also use the pattern, along with my straight skirt (that featured heavily in all these photos!), morphed together to to make a dress for the RTW Designer Knockoff contest that I blogged about.  My PatternReview review is here.

Phew, well now that these are completed, I am going to finish off my tartan skirt, and then I think I need to make a couple of cardigans to work into my 2013 SWAP!  No rest for the wicked!

Sorbettos 2, 3 & 4

I am happy to say that I completed another three Sorbetto tops, and I couldn't be any happier with them!

I did make a few changes this time round - french seams for one, and I also finished the binding as per the designers instructions by sewing it onto the wrong side first and then pressing it over and sewing it down onto the right side.  Not only do you get to see the lovely bias binding but it somehow eliminates the slight gaping around the neckline that I have on the first version.

So, without any further ado, I present you with the Pansy Sorbetto:

I absolutely love the colors of this fabric.  It is so cheery and summery!  I saw the fabric on the cutting table at my local fabric store and couldn't resist . . . I brought the rest of the bolt (there were only two or three metres left).  I can't believe that by pure serendipity one of the lilac pansies ended up situated 'slap, bang' in the middle of the front pleat.  Perfect!  I will make a short pencil skirt out of the same fabric that will make an unusual two-piece suit.  This skirt is my black corduroy skirt (from my last post) and I have re-stitched the lining so that it did not pull on the main fabric.

Next up is my Dotty Sorbetto:

 

The Broderie Anglais trim is from my stash.  It is cotton and is from my Aunt who was in Hong Kong for a number of years as my Uncle was with the RAF and was stationed out there.  She brought me some trims back, and this is one of them.  Thanks Maggie xx

For this version I actually sewed the front pleat down, catching the trim in the seam.  The buttons are a burgundy color (I am not sure where I rescued them from) and look really cute.  This fabric is cotton with a little stretch.  It is a little thicker than the others that I made and so the bias binding was not so crisp.  I think if I make more out of thicker fabric then I will use some other cotton for the binding.  I need to make more pencil skirts . . . . .

And finally for today, the Yellow & Black Sorbetto:

Again, the three buttons, and this top is cute, cute, cute!  Although these tops will mainly be worn during the summer, they will also work under cardigans and jackets throughout the winter and Spring.

I have three others cut out and they will most likely need contrast bias-binding due to the nature of the fabric (a bit thicker and also stretchy).

So this is my sewing for last week - how have you all been doing?

Edit:  Well, I had some issues with the first photos that I posted, and I have updated most of them on this post . . . . call me vain?  Sure, but I happy with these!!

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?

Re-Fashion Contest

Ah yes, another contest.  It's not like I've no other sewing to do . . . . !  So when I saw this contest come up on Pattern Review, I knew that I had to enter.

These are the rules:

Refashion Contest
November 1, 2012 - November 15, 2012

Refashioning, reconstructing, recycling or upcycling -- whatever you call it, this is the contest for it.

Objective: Take an item or items and create a new and different garment.

Requirements: A photo of your "material" (the initial item or items) and another photo of the final garment must be included in your review. Additional pictures may also be included.

Your original items can be anything you want, but they may only be turned into garments or accessories to qualify as "new" items for this contest. The garment must be sewn. Self drafted patterns or commercial patterns may be used; they may be previously used or new.

The "original" item or items must be changed substantially to create a new garment. The item can be of the same type (dress to dress) or something entirely different (tablecloth to dress). However, the new item must be distinctly different from the original (for example, embellishments only do not qualify).
At least half of the new item must be made from reconstructed / recycled items (notions such as zippers or interfacing do not count in the total).

Examples that qualify for the contest:

Making a skirt from pants. Making a fitted top from a tunic. Making a hat from a sweater.

My plan is to cut up a pair of perfectly good corduroy trousers (oh boy, I love corduroy) into a skirt.  The reason being is that I have a flat butt and despite what I think, they have never fitted particularly well.  The excess fabric hangs under my butt looking distinctly unattractive - but the waist fits perfectly, so I think that a skirt will be just the ticket!  There are a number of fabulous suggestions/lessons on the intertubes such as here, here, and here.

Here are my 'befores:

And the back view showing the pockets.  And the small specs of white in between the middle and the right belt loops?  Well, they are the stitches that held the card label on the pants.  Embarassing.  So I have finally cut them off!

And what I did not realize until I got these out to photograph - there is a button missing on the waistband and the buttonholes need tidying up as they are unravelling.  This challenge is coming at just the right time!

 I intend making mine a straight skirt - possibly lined . . . . and the whole deconstruction/re-style will have to be completed in two weeks . . . . so the countdown begins.  November 1st is the start date.

K.I.S.S. - the reveal

Well, all the sewing is complete on my wardrobe and I am absolutely thrilled! I have already worn the patterned skirt and white top to work and received many compliments - the skirt is rather swishy and that was apparently very attractive!

Some of the photos are rather poor - I am usually photographing hand-knitted socks and shawls and I have not yet worked out my 'pose' yet.  Hubby did a good job though, but next time I will be working him harder!!

So, here we go - 

View 1 - skirt 1, top 1, jacket.  As you can see I am perfecting the 'one legged model' look!

View 2 - skirt 1, top 1.  I have had to take in the hip-band on the top as it is rather wide and it kept falling down my skirt.  It fits well now!

View 3 - skirt 1, top 2.  Hmm.  I can now see what my yoga teacher keeps telling me off about - relax those shoulders!!

View 4 - skirt 1, top 2, jacket.  I've seen the' hands on hips pose' work very well for other bloggers!!

View 5 - skirt 2, top 2.  Here I am all in black - none of the 'front' photos look very good, so here is the back.  It was interesting to see that the black really drains the color from me - it is funny what you see in photos of yourself that you do not see in the mirror.  I absolutely love the sleeves on this top - all loose and 'dolmany' in the arm then nice and snug in the wrist.  I will probably have to reduce the size of the hip-band on this top as well . . . !

View 6 - skirt 2, top 2, jacket - posing for all I'm worth!!

View 7 - skirt 1, top 2.  I think that the white top is more flattering color-wise.  Working those shades!!

View 8 - skirt 2, top1, jacket.  And the last 'look'  Eight in total - who's a thought it?!

Just one more (view 8 again) this just shows that all those hours watching 'America's Next Top Model' are clearly paying off!!

And here is my composite photo:

So, what do you think??