Fashion Shoot - Catching Up!

Well, it looks as though I may have solved my photographer issue, and now do not have to worry about relying on my Father or Mr. SDSC (fabulous photographers that they are!)  The solution?  Cashing in some of those Air Miles and turning them into a camera that I can work remotely through my iPhone,  It is a Lumix 'point and shoot' - nothing fancy, and in fact the spec is a little less than my current camera.  However, as it has a wireless thingy (hey, if this is getting too technical, let me know!!)  I have downloaded an app for my phone, and the phone acts as the remote - I can even zoom in using the phone.  Pretty freaky, right?  The only downside is that I have to hold the phone to take pic, but I am not complaining about that!  So here we go, modeled photos of the garments that I gave you close ups of here.  There are five skirts to get through (Butterick 4877), so I hope that you are sitting comfortably!

Let's start with the purple ruffle skirt made from fabric from Vogue Fabrics, and worn here with a RTW black tank, a black ponte cardigan (based on McCalls 4466.  I've made a few of these cardis but don;t seem to have blogged about this one) and shoes that I would usually wear with trousers (my heels - and I don't actually have many pairs - are at work!)

Hmmmm. The photos are not as sharp as I would like, I may need to play around with this camera.

Next is the white corduroy.  Same black tank and cardigan as above:

Want to see some color?  How about the red Butterick 5687?

I tried to get a motion pic (see above) to show you how flippy the ruffles are.  Love them!

Do I look like I'm thinking?  Working?  Checking emails?  Actually, this is me setting up the camera using the phone app.

The next skirt is one of two that I made from the same rayon/poly tweed fabric.  One is plain ans straight, the other I went a little crazy and added hip pockets . . . . . that ended up a little small because of how I finished up the waistband.  No matter though - I can still fit some lipsalve in or a $1 for my morning coffee!

The last set of photos are of the brown corduroy skirt:

I am wearing my Kwik Sew 3752 from 'Comfortable Dressing'.  I'm not too sure if I like the top with this skirt as I don't think the proportions are very flattering - I think that the top looks better with the longer skirt in the original posting.  I need to think about this combination!  Feels good though!

I have quite a few more outfits to show you that I photographed today, but I do rather think that 17 photos is enough for getting on with!

Oh, one thing that came to light as a result of these photos - I think that my right hip is higher than the left.  I know that my posture is appalling, but when I did stand up straight, the skirts did not hang straight unless I hoiked them up on the left-hand side.  Certainly something to consider for the future.

So, these form part of my Birch Tree Collection and they will be great workhorses in my wardrobe!

Singer Perfect Plus - update

I am excited to say that I have been on a bit of a roll sewing wise.  It is interesting to note (well, it is for me anyway!!) that I work better when I have a number of items cut our and ready to go.  It can take a good day or so to get lots cut out and then I can disappear into my sewing room and can work for ten minutes, three hours, whatever time I have available.  So, when I cut out Mr. SDSC's shirt, and my Chartreuse Sorbetto dress, I also cut out a couple of pairs of trousers and a top for myself.  And here are the results!

First up is a pair of grey trousers made out of suiting with a touch of lycra.  They hang really well, but are a little too heavy for the summer - they will be really warm in the winter.  I put side pockets in these and I am not that happy with them.  Pockets don't excite me like they do with others, so I will probably not put them in the next pair.

Just look at how they hang at the back (forget the dodgy pocket peeking out on the left!), I am just thrilled that they don't bunch up under my butt like my old RTW trousers do.  I used McCalls 5239 again - I love that pattern!

Hey, I hear you shout - that's a cute top . . . you know what, I have all sorts of conversations in my head, and I guess this is one of them . . . well thank-you!  I really want to make a great co-ordinated work wardrobe.  Although I work in an environment where casual clothing is acceptable, I personally like to dress up a bit and 'look the part'.  Using the information and suggestions in the Singer Perfect Plus book, I made the 'shapely shirt' out of some cotton with lovely woven thick and thin stripes.  I made a number of alterations such as a FBA, sway back and rounded back adjustment.  All in all, I am happy with this.  Seeing the photos of the back, it looks as though I can take in the excess fabric under the swayback adjustment - you can see it in the photo above where the fabric sticks out and catches the light.  I like the cute little sleeves and I love a collar on my tops as they help disguise my rounded upper back.

As with Mr. SDSC's shirt, I used my old, old, Singer Featherweight and buttonholer attachment to make the buttonholes.  Boy that is a good combination!

The other pair of trousers are from some black suiting that has woven black on black stripes that you cannot see in these photos, but they do look rather smart.

Again, I am really please with how they hang, and I am happy to be able to knock these out with some consistency, quickly and easily.

The same pattern (with more generous seam allowances) also made these jimmy jam trousers:

And the cute socks?  They were a 'mystery sock pattern' on Ravelry.  They have little glass beads down the side and are very soft and smooshy!

Well, having polished off that sewing, I am ready to have another cutting out marathon.  I have three lengths of linen/rayon in grey, natural and chartreuse, so I plan to cut out a 'shapely blouse' and a Sorbetto from each of the lengths.

These will be part of my 'Antipodean Adventure' collection for my trip to Australia.  The blouse and the Sorbetto can be worn on their own, or layered with the blouse acting as a lightweight jacket.  I also have fabric for three more shirts for Mr. SDSC and finally, oh yes finally, I am going to cut out my Oscar de la Renta shift dress.  The fabric has been washed (a 70/30 wool/silk houndstooth) that I planned to make for the Pattern Review RTW competition that  never made.  Here is the original version that I love so much!

So there we go, that should keep me busy for a while - what about you?

MMM - Week 3 and Plans!

The easy thing (for me anyway) is that I can wear something that I have made every day of the week.  Take right now, for instance, I am wearing MM jimmy jams and hand knitted socks.  My problem is getting photos of said clothing.  Oh well, I think that will be my challenge for next year!  I should also add that when I get home from work, I change out of work clothes and put on comfy loungy bottoms (jimmy jams) and hand knitted socks - hence all the sock photos!

I did get a Monday photo - and really I should learn to stand better in trousers as these actually hang really well.  Honest!

These trousers are based upon McCalls 5239 (if it ain't broke . . . . !) and the cardigan is based upon McCalls 4466.  I am wearing a black RTW tank underneath.  The trousers are a dark charcoal and have a cream/white pinstripe.  Great for office life!

Oh, go on then, I'll show you some more socks before I get on with my plans for the next week or so!

The rainbow ones above are one that I particularly like.  I dyed the yarn so that I would get a self striping rainbow effect and I am rather pleased with these.

I just love the yellow, pink and lilac in these - the yarn is Drops Fabel. 

Now then, back to sewing :)  I have almost completed my mustard linen trousers - I just need to hem them, then will get pics.

I also made this pair - they are cropped and made from a 'technical' fabric.  Years ago I was involved in a small business making fleece jackets and trousers for climbers and and a small section of the UK military.  My partner in the business gave me some of the fabric that was no longer required and I ended up with a few meters of this.  It is definitely polyester and is totally windproof!  If they were made by Patagonia or Berghaus they probably would have cost around $200-$300!  Mine?  Free!  Now looking at them I can see that you are thinking that these are really boring looking trousers - how do you jazz up a pair boring, sludge colored trousers? . . . . . . .

Well, you use pretty pink serging thread and fancy smancy ribbon for hemming!  Incidentally, the legs are level - it is just my photography that is somewhat wonky!! 

So really, it was a quiet week of sewing for me, I do have a bias cut 'A' line skirt cut out that I did not have chance to sew up.  And today I worked on a blouse/top pattern that I can wear without having to tuck in.  It is based upon the blouse in 'Perfect Plus' and I plan to start the wardrobe using this beautifully soft grey suiting (pants and long sleeved top) and the blue/grey striped cotton (short sleeved blouse).  I have been reading and re-reading this book and am excited to get started.  I know that a lot of people have given this book bad press because some of the styling/clothes are outdated and that the book is aimed a the Petite market (patterns can be adjusted to regular), but I love the idea and am excited to get going!

I also cut-out a skirt from this cotton/lycra jersey. 

The skirt will be my version of the Hopscotch Skirt by iCandy:

Source

I won't be sewing the 'jog' in the middle as my stripe repeat is about 12", nonetheless, I think it will make a fun skirt!

Well, that was my week - how was yours?

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!

MMM - 2

Day 2 - so far so good!!   There are two items for today.  Firstly, and for me, the most exciting item, are these trousers (or pants, if you prefer.  Me, I'm a trousers girl!)  The pattern is a McCalls 5239 and I picked up this pattern during my most recent fitting class.  I wanted to make a quick pair of trousers using a lightweight pinstripe suiting, so I cheated a little and straightened up the sides, added a bit to the waist for a 'turnover' rather than adding a waistband to make these 'pull on'.  Now that I am happy with the fit, I am going to make a few more pairs with pockets, zips, etc.  This will become my 'go to' pattern, and enters the TNT collection!  I am also thinking that some cropped trousers as well as some linen ones with a drawstring waist will be perfect for the summer.

These two photos show the alterations required for the trousers to fit me - some crotch adjustments and then some rather large tucks (1.5" per side!) to get rid of all the baggyness that I get under my 'oh so flat' butt!  According to my lovely instructor Janice, I have a particularly flat butt, but it hasn't 'dropped' yet.  Thank heavens for small mercys!!!

Today's outfit includes 2 pieces:

3.  Black pinstripe trousers - McCalls 5239
4.  Cardigan - McCalls 4466

And they are worn with a plain black tank bought before I commenced my RTW fast!  Talking of which, I have been 'fasting' for almost 7 months.  And I am not missing clothes shopping at all!

MMM - 1

May is here - and I am excited to be taking part in 'Me Made' for this month.  My pledge is I endeavour to wear a self-made garment every day for the month of May.  These garments will be either sewn or knitted by me.'

Today I was out of the office and was able to take advantage of one of my colleagues who took these pictures for me - thanks Jim!

There will be some garments that I haven't mentioned before as well as some already blogged about - and to start today, I am wearing 3 MM garments:

1. Red ponte cardigan - McCalls 4466
2. Black slinky top - Kwik Sew 3752
3. Black crepe gored skirt - Simplicity 4221

The cardigan is based upon McCalls 4466, adjusted from a fitting class that I attended, and it makes a great semi-casual top.  I think that I need to play around with the bust darts so that they stop short of the 'apex', but it works for now!  The fabric is a fabulous rayon ponte from Fabricland that I have purchased in a number of colors . . . . so expect to see some more in the near future!

The top has a hipband and is another comfy garment to wear.  It is easy to make out of jersey/sweater fabrics and features a lot in my cool temperature wardrobe -we are still waiting for spring here in the Great White North - looks like we moght be in luck later this week!!

This skirt is from a pattern that is well used - most of my summer skirts from last year used this pattern, it is a simple 4-gore pull on that is lined.  The fabric is a crepe that hangs beautifully and appears to be 'crease proof'.  Can't argue with that!  All in all I am pleased with this outfit, it works well for my workplace and is very comfortable to wear!

I also will be keeping a check of the number of MM garments that I wear - it will be interesting to see how many repeats there are . . . .

For tomorrow I have a completely new garment . . . here is a 'teaser' picture or 2) - complete with obligatory dog hairs!

So how about you - how are you doing?  Are you wearing MM clothing today?

Pattern Review Contest - RTW Designer Knockoff Contest 2013

I have sooo been looking forward to this challenge on PatternReview! I am just finishing up my Sorbettos for the 'One pattern Many Looks' contest, and my mind is flitting over designs for this one!

Here are my top three contenders:

1.  Oscar de la Renta shift dress. I have some lovely herringbone fabric (wool and silk I think).  the original is all silk.  The outline is a simple one but it would certainly be better fitted fo my 'not quite model' shape! FBA, forward shoulders, swayback, length etc. I actually saw this for sale in a local high end department store (Holt Renfrew) for CAD 2000 and I thought that it looked better on the hanger than on the model . . . . if this is the winner then I may have to sashay through the shop and see if any of the salepersons comment (prior to me being arrested for sashaysing of course!!).  I should also mention that I am totally inspired by Carolyn and the fabulous dresses that she makes!

Source

2. Haider Ackerman Jones Coat.  This really appeals to me, and having the option to mix fabrics and make a semi-fitted cardigan sounds like fun.  This is online for sale for an eye-watering CAD 4165!  For the pattern I would use my McCalls 4462 pattern fitted to me in my Fit Sew Well class from last year.  It appears to be made of cotton with 'silk trim'.  Mine is likely to be suiting of some kind.  I have not thought too much about fabrics yet - maybe even a ponte knit.  mmmm!

Source

3. YSL Dress.  how cute is this?  I love a flirty skirt, and this certainly has one!  I saw it on the www.mytheresa.com website but as it is all sold out, I cannot find a proper link or further fabric details.  I really should be more diligent - but I guess this gives me more artistic licence!  It was for sale for USD 1829.  I do have some tartan in my stash from my Mother's collection and would probably consider velvet rather than shiney stuff around the hips.  The rest?  I am not too sure yet.  As far as a pattern is concerned, it will be the same as mentioned above.  

So there we go - what do you think?  Anyone else taking part?