Oscar de la Ackerman?

Well, this is a little disappointing . . . I muslin-ed a semi-fitted shift dress that fit perfectly on top . . . . . . and then hung like a sack over the rest of me.  This was for the pattern that I was going to use for the PR RTW Knockoff (a fabulous Oscar de la Renta design).  I had visions of sewing dozens of gorgeous Carolyn type dresses - smart, professional, comfortable etc.,etc.,etc., and instead I just look like a cylinder on legs.  And it is not as though I can take in darts or use more shaping as I actually look like a cylinder on legs in reality.  Oh well, plan B.

Would you believe that the fabric in each of these fabrics is the same - just goes to show how some patterns mess around with your cameras!!

Anyhow, I love the fabric/lace combination soooo much that I am thinking of mixing my designers and making a Haider Ackerman duster:

I think!  With a black column underneath, I think it will look pretty swish.  But maybe I will change my mind in the time it takes me to prep the fabric and get it cut out!

Voting has now begun for the PR contest One Pattern Many Looks - so why don't you drop in and vote, there are some fabulous garments . . . and if you feel my offerings are worthy, a vote would be appreciated!!

SockBunny Sorbetto . . . . . . . . and Giveaway Winner!

I only managed to finish off one more Sorbetto this week (stinking cold and packing up the house to move) for the PatternReview 'One Pattern Many Looks' contest.  By the time the top was finished, it was too late to model and photograph it, but I managed a cheeky 'straight off the machine' shot - artificial lighting an' all!:

The fabric for this top is a supersoft 'something' It has some stretch and is a little thicker than other shirting/quilting cotton so I thought that I would probably have a problem using it for the bias binding so instead I used a quilting fat quarter that I had floating around,  The colors are very pretty and immediately reminded me of some buttons that I received in a Secret Santa that I took part in on Ravelry.  This is what the generous SockBunny sent me:

I used three of the buttons that she sent me - the top one on the Sorbetto is the large green one that you can see above.  The color is a bit off on the photo of the actual top.  It so happened that these buttons were a perfect match for my fat quarter, hence choosing it for my binding.  I am really pleased with this top, it will go perfectly with my Ikat Winter Collection Cardigan and is very fresh and 'zingy'!!  I love it!  Incidentally, the yarn was specially dyed for me by SockBunny after I mentioned that I loved beach colors - blue/green sea, sand etc.  And this is what she called it:

 

Ah, she knows me well!  The yarn will make some gorgeous socks!

~ 0 ~

So, without further ado, I have a winner for my 'Sandra Betzina why buy one pattern when you can buy a duplicate' giveaway . . . .

Congratulations Scenic Route - drop me an email (see the link on my profile) and the pattern will be mailed out to you early this week.  And thanks to the other participants - this has been fun, and I know that I have a number of duplicate patterns in my collection, so they will be up for grabs in the near future!

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!!

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?