Monthly Archives: September 2010

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It’s a jungle…

06/09/2010 4:30 am \ 4 Comments \

Self Stitched September: Day 6;
Trying to zip my way through my winter options now as the weather heats up, and truthfully I’m a little roasting in this jumper here today…!
I was very inspired by the Marc Jacobs A/W 2010 looks of glamourous skirts made of luxe glittery fabrics, paired with slightly grungy oversized knits on the top… I do like unexpected contrasts in fashion as I think surprises (even in something as mundane as the clothes we choose to wear) add an element of playfulness and fun into one’s day.  And couldn’t we all do with a bit more fun and joie de vivre in our day, well, yes thankyou!  And although this skirt is not particularly super-luxe, I still enjoy the little hint of the glossy python print satin with it’s decadent 70’s nightclub air about it, a huge contrast to the staid almost un-fashionable farmyard practicality of a thick chunky knit.

Details:
Knit jumper; my own design, made from Jo Sharp Silk Road DK
Skirt; my own design variations on Vogue 7303, python print and black satin
Tights; Kolotex
Booties; Django and Juliette, from Zomp shoes

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Father’s Day on the beach

05/09/2010 5:21 am \ 7 Comments \

Self Stitched September day 5:
The weather has been absolutely glorious, so after the obligatory Father’s Day breakfast in bed, packed up the dog and the husband (not necessarily in that order!) and headed to the beach for a stroll.  I’ve mentioned before how the dog morphs into a frolicsome puppy when faced with sand and surf and after this morning we had a very tired, happy and sandy dog to hose down, ahhh, a delightful morning!
Today I’m wearing my top drafted from the Pattern Magic book (by Nakamichi Tomoko, really should get onto some more designs from that book!), made out of charcoal jersey knit.  When I first assessed my wardrobe for this Self-Stitched September I was worried I wouldn’t have enough warm garments, but if the weather continues this way I may not end up even wearing some of the warmer winter options I have in there…! which will be nice!
My shorts are made from Burda 7723, these have an old-fashioned snugly wide waistband sitting high at the natural waistline and I modified the pattern by making the legs about 5cm longer and flaring them a little more to get even more of an old-fashioned forties look to them; these are made from a thick charcoal gabardine that used to be a puff-skirt my daughter bought in Paris about three years ago (to see it go here)

Details:
Top; from Pattern Magic, by Nakamichi Tomoko, charcoal jersey knit
Shorts; Burda 7723, charcoal gabardine
Thongs (flipflops); Mountain Design
Sunnies; RayBan

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Urban Sport style

04/09/2010 5:31 am \ 5 Comments \

Self-Stitched September, day 4… 
I made this black parka a few years ago, completely inspired by the “urban sport” vibe of the Marni Spring/Summer 2007 collection, anyone remember this sort of look?  Although I copied the shape and style from the designer collection, I drafted the pattern for my version myself.  I was really taken with the slightly sporty appeal and loose comfort of this look at the time and I still think it is flattering as well as easy to wear.  I was particularly pleased with how the oversized crumpled collar turned out.
The skirt is one I’ve worn loads over last autumn… you’ve seen it many times.  It is made using Vogue 7303 again, out of a cheerful brilliant orange raw silk, seen here first.
Husband and children all out and occupied; I visited the library this morning to reserve next month’s bookclub book (Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig), then faced the Saturday morning supermarket crush.  Got three loads of washing on the line, house tidy and am feeling virtuous and accomplished; so with a clear conscience will spend a few hours now having some quality time with my sewing machine and the fabric stash …  yes!! (air fist punch)

Details:

Parka; self-drafted, black cotton drill
Skirt; Vogue 7303, orange raw silk
Leggings; Metalicus
Shoes; Perrini, had for so long I’ve forgotten where I bought them…

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Tennis, anyone?

03/09/2010 7:07 am \ 2 Comments \

Day 3 of Self Stitched September! and OK, so with honesty I’m not actually playing tennis in this ensemble…
This dress was made for last summer; my own design variations based upon New Look 6699, for more details and a full view of the dress, see here.  This dress goes by the dubious moniker of the Straitjacket dress, for the reason that I installed a much too short zip in the side seam, and so it requires some degree of crazy struggling to get it on and off.  I know, I know, get with the programme, just buy a new zip and put it in already, but really the few minutes of undignified struggling in the dressing room is a minor inconvenience compared to to the prospect of the alternative; fiddling about with the unpicking and putting in of a new invisible zip, and this one is actually perfect (if I say so myself), with all seams on the bodice, midriff and skirt lining up so perfectly I just don’t have the heart to re-do it.  Ho hum, too many other more exciting projects await to be bothered with that, so…  the Straitjacket dress is here to stay as it is… !
And because the air is still a little brisk today I slipped on my seersucker trench coat, which I made for summer two years ago using Burda 7786, first seen here.
And roll on summer!

Details:
Dress; my own design variations based on New Look 6699, two different printed and embroidered cottons
Trench coat; Burda 7786, white seersucker

Shoes; Country Road
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Smudgy colours on the beach

02/09/2010 6:07 am \ 9 Comments \

I often gravitate to the comfort of the drab families of colours like shades of olive, subdued purples, rusty browns and mustards and dirty greys, perhaps the drabber the colours the better they suit me… and yes, this favourite little skirt had to make an appearance before too long!  It wouldn’t take much going back over this blog to find me wearing this olive corduroy skirt yet again, to see how I styled it in 6 different ways see here…
The top, however is getting its first outing today.  This is the first version I made of the Pattern Magic, page 50 pattern, designed by Nakamichi Tomoko, made up in a very thin cotton jersey in a yummy drab berry or purply putty sort of a colour (I showed it first on Bessie here).  It’s been too cold up until now to wear it at all but with the spring sunshine warming up this place fast fast fast I’m not concerned today about the need to reach for the trench coat to cover up… and maybe it’s time to think of shopping for bathers soon??  daring thought…  
From a more depressing angle, the thought of that awful first sight of a pale post-winter self in a bathing suit in the harsh fluorescent light of the changing room … shudder… not looking forward to it…

Details:
Top; drafted from Pattern Magic, by Nakamichi Tomoko, grey/putty cotton jersey
Skirt; Vogue 7303, olive corduroy
Tights; Metalicus
Boots Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

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First day of Spring!

01/09/2010 4:15 am \ 6 Comments \

 


Woke up thrilled at the first day of spring, and the first day of Self-Stitched September!  Then looked hopelessly at all my handmade clothes and felt completely uninspired… blah blah blah, all horrible.   Resisted the urge to throw on a completely store bought outfit, oh, I’m such a rebel.  I wouldn’t last one second in the armed forces.  Order me to do something and I’m very likely to do the complete opposite out of sheer obstinacy…
But I’m nothing if not self disciplined, and I have committed myself to do this and I generally do snap-to and obey my own randomly self-imposed crazy rules, so managed to get dressed after all…
This is a linen shirt I made for my husband and plucked surreptitiously from his side of the wardrobe (I know, tragic no?, stealing from one’s husband so early in the month, but it is stitched by me so I figure I can include it… and I have a dearth of self-stitched shirts)  It is made using Burda 7767; with collar stand but no collar, a double welt single pocket with loop button closure, see here for the details.  I rolled the sleeves up so I can actually use my hands while wearing it today…
My skirt is based on the basic shape of Vogue 7303, my old favourite.  The fabric is handwoven by my mother, so a precious garment in my wardrobe indeed…  for a close-up of the fabric see here.
This felt like a suitably semi-smart ensemble for my day’s activities of an appointment, some office errands and office work, and a supermarket visit…

Details:
Shirt; Burda 7767, custom fit to my husband, fine white linen
Skirt; based on Vogue 7303, fabric handwoven by my mother
Belt; Morrison
Boots; di Sempre, from Zomp shoes
Bag; Gucci

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