I must admit I felt quite excited as I riffled through the entries using my high-tech lottery determination system to single one out…!
Thankyou to all those who participated and left a nice comment, you are all awesome, and so kind!
Shannon, I will pop over to leave a comment on your blog about arranging to send you your prize.
I’m feeling veeeeery brave, putting a picture of myself up here, in my bathers! Last year I was way too shy to do this. Please note I’ve modestly veiled my face, so no one can recognise me… (lol)
So I’ve made this year’s bathers for myself, the first project from the fabrics I bought in Melbourne from the Fabric store, on Brunswick Street. If you can you read the printing in the selvedge of the fabric, below, you can see it reads “Zimmerman”. Well, this is quite a classy Australian swimwear brand and I was pretty chuffed to see end-of-roll bolts of their fabrics stacked up at the back of The Fabric Store. I haven’t seen the Zimmerman range for this season yet, but I am curious to see what they’ve made out of this very fabric! I made a tankini, altering the one swimwear pattern I have to do this. I just drafted the body skirt part and added it on to the bottom of the bikini top at front, and redrafted the back piece accordingly. I had initially cut these body pieces quite long because they are self-drafted and I always allow myself plenty of extra fabric in case of problems; and at first I was planning for the ivory waistband of the bottoms to be on view when I was wearing them. But then decided I like the look of the top long and pulled down over the bottoms; so this feature is now hidden. I cut up an old bra to use for cups inside the bodice.
I didn’t set out to make the bathers “retro” in appearance (a word I’m getting a bit bored with in the sewing world, but not as bad as “vintage”) but they have turned out quite… old-fashioned. There. “Old-fashioned” is a less overused and therefore much more preferable term. I’m going with old-fashioned…
And, just because everybody loves a photo blooper I’ve included one below for your amusement, taken accidentally while I was setting up.
Details:
Bathers; McCalls 2772, with some modifications, navy blue with ivory polka-dot swimwear fabric
Hat; Country Road
As soon as I saw it I loved this chain and tassel accessory made by the enormously creative and beautiful Maegan, who in turn was inspired by a Blugirl original, and I wanted to have a go at making my own… Maegan made hers as a lariat, which would be a much more versatile accessory; but I made mine as a fixed necklace. This is because I knew in my lifestyle a lariat would probably end up either tripping me up, strangling me, or slipping off entirely without my noticing…
so I bought 2 packs of 1m (40 inches) of gold chain and two black upholstery tassels, medium size. I already had some 10mm jump rings and a necklace hook and loop. If you are at all into making your own accessories like this it is very handy to also have some pliers and a wire cutter small enough to work with these little fiddly bits.
The chains I bought conveniently had jumps rings attached to each end already, so I just used one of these to join them together to make one long 2m (80inches) chain.
Arrange the chain to your satisfaction. I went with three loops around the neck and left the ends hanging down in uneven lengths.
At the back of the neck, find the three links that are as close to centre back as possible and string a bit of scrap yarn through them all. Tie this in a loose knot.
Laying the chain down on a flat surface, cut through these three centre back links using wire cutters.
Loop the two jump rings through all three chains, and add the hook and loop closure.
Prise open the last ring on each chain end and thread onto it the top loop of the tassel, close the ring securely.
Use a wool needle to pull the top loop of the tassel back through the “top-knot” and out into the middle of the fringe-y bits, to hide it inside.
It can be worn with the ends hanging down loose or loosely tied up which is less swing-ey and sway-ey when you walk about as briskly as I do. But I think I like it hanging loose better. What do you think?
Details:
Top; Tempt
Shorts; Burda 7723, with slight modifications
Beaded thongs (flipflops); some little shop in South Africa
Ha!
The last time I wore this for my blog and I was writing a description, I was about to segue into rhapsodies about how useful a garment it was when it occurred to me I hadn’t done a 6-way post in a while and this would be a good candidate…
I actually love doing these; shopping in my own closet is fun when I have the time, and it certainly brings to light some garments and combinations that hadn’t occurred to me before and breathes a new lease of life into some “lurkers” that haven’t been worn in a while.
When I first made this dress it was intended to be a light beach dress to cover up the bathers, and it spent the first few months of its life just tossed randomly into my beach bag… then one evening I put some white linen pants on underneath (those particular ones were old ones, also permanently tossed in my beach bag for a coverup on colder days) and I realised it could be quite a chic combination, if said linen pants hadn’t been so creased from being stuffed casually in the bottom of a bag, hehe… The dress migrated to a hanger in my wardrobe and has been worn for occasions of various formality since, so it is quite useful and demonstrates why everybody should have a little sundress with a pretty hemline and of a cheerful colour in their wardrobe…
For the bodice part with the halter neck I used McCalls 4453, and the skirt part I drafted myself, inspired by the hemline on some dress I had seen somewhere, in a perfume commercial? ( I think?) … It is made from sparkly red/pink polyester chiffon, and lined with pale pink lining fabric. I altered the bodice to close at the left side seam with an invisible zip.
For its original purpose; at left, it is worn as a very casual beach dress; then at right, with white linen pants on underneath it becomes quite chic enough for a semi-formal summer evening function. I wore it like this to the theatre in Melbourne, and when we met friends at a swish-o riverside restaurant in the evening also…
On slightly fresher days; at left, it is funky and fun with a fluffy cardigan and lace-up boots for casual wear; then at right worn as a tunic with jeans on underneath and high heels, it looks not-too-casual for a barbecue with friends
Even in more wintry temperatures, it can work as a top over a skirt with tights, flat boots, cardigan and scarf for everyday wear (boy, I wish I’d thought of this combination during last winter, because I love this outfit now I’ve thought of it!). And even though it’s a summery dress, with a top, tights and high heeled boots all in a solid one-colour worn underneath, at right, it’s warm enough for cooler days and looks a bit edgy and kinda mod. I could start wearing it from early spring like this, and stretch it out to cooler autumn days also, out to town or to meet friends or the husband.
Today’s photo is good for a bit of a chuckle, no?
The above is a photo taken of my husband and me at our engagement party. I know, we look like babies… this was over twenty years ago. On a fashion note; please take note of my husband’s skinny leather tie and the random chaotic nature of the print on my dress, lol… tres chic and fashionable for the late eighties, honest!!
I’m putting it up here because he is wearing a cardigan I had knitted for him at the time. It is my own design, based on a Kaffe Fasset motif. We chose the colours together (there are at least twenty different colours and yarns in it) and the cardigan shape and style are also of my design, custom fit to his size and the shape that men were wearing at the time (don’t laugh, the boxy bomber-jacket shape was the very IN thing in menswear, truly!)
If I’m truthful I’ll admit he hasn’t worn it in a while. In fact I dug it up out of a suitcase in our storage room for the detail photos below…
The design is knitted in Fair Isle style, and there are two colours in each row, although at a casual glance it looks a lot more. The design was quite clever that way… The whole cardigan is knitted in one piece, from wrist band to wrist band. After completing the body, I sewed up the two seams (which are the underarm/side seams) and picked up stitches to knit on the waistband, the front opening bands and finally the neckband. These are all in rows of striped rib.
I was (and still am) pretty pleased with the neat and tidy appearance of the inside of the jumper, so I’ve taken an inside picture to show you how carefully I wove the two colours of each row together in each and every stitch as I was knitting…
Before I went to Melbourne I had bought from Fabulous Fabrics some wonderful stretch jersey, printed to look like distressed denim, and I knew it just had to be tights…
When I made my last tights I had a few requests for a pattern on Burda style, so this time I put together a little tutorial on how to draft for yourself a leggings or tights pattern that is customised to fit you perfectly.
This project is suitable for two way stretch knits only, that is fabric that stretches BOTH crosswise and lengthwise.
Firstly you must take your measurement around the top of your leg at crotch level. This will be the widest point of your leg piece. Whatever this measurement is, double it. This is how much fabric you will need to buy. (once you have worked out your pattern you may be able to buy less for future tights projects; by flipping your pattern lengthwise on the fabric if the print allows you this flexibility)
If you’re not very experienced at fitting and/or pinning to yourself it’s a good idea to get someone you trust to help. Put on some leggings before you start, or some other skintight garment.
Lay your fabric down and cut it in half, cutting from selvedge to selvedge.
(Note that for this example the grainline will be running around my body, as opposed to up and down my body. If you want your pattern print to go the other way, then you will have to layout and cut your fabric pieces accordingly)
Take one of these and fold over one selvedge to allow for a generous amount of excess and pin this fold loosely in place. I folded over about 9cm (3.5inches) Wrap this fabric around one side of your hip, pinning the folded over edge at about waist level. Don’t aim for tight-fitting at this point, you just want the fabric to be hanging evenly down from your waist level, with the excess fold of fabric over your waist level at the top for your waist casing later. Pin the fabric to your leggings in a vertical line down the centre front (use your leggings seam as a guide). Do the same at the back. The back bit is kind of tricky, but don’t panic about super accuracy. You are aiming for as close to middle line as possible and vertical. Use a mirror to check the your pins both front and back are in as straight as vertical line as possible. Do not be super tight at this stage either, a bit loose is desirable for reasons I’ll explain later. I’ll call this part the “abdomen pinning”
Now pull in the fabric firmly around your upper leg and in at the crotch, and pin. I recommend you use a safety pin at this point for obvious reasons…
Start pulling the edges of the fabric together around your leg, and working from the top down pin together down the inner leg seam. From this point on make the fabric quite tight and check constantly in a mirror that the fabric is sitting smoothly all the way around the leg. From now on down you are aiming for close-fitting and smooth.
The heel and ankle are the trickiest bits to accomodate. I’ve got smoothest results when the fabric is pinned with a right angle turn at the inner ankle level. See in the picture, the inner leg seam is pinned down vertically to just below (about 2.5cm, or 1inch) the ankle bone, then I’ve made a right turn to start pinning down the inner side of my foot. Pin securely and tightly at these points, again aiming for tight and smooth above all else. Pin down the inner side of the foot to your big toe, then turn again and pin across the top of your toes, finishing your pinning at the fold on the outer edge of your foot.
Now unpin the “abdomen pinning” from your leggings at the top, and replace each pin carefully back in the same spot in the fabric as you separate it from the leggings you are wearing. Now carefully slide the whole thing off. Try not to lose any pins in the process. (this is why loose-fitting around the abdomen works best…)
Open up the leg, marking each pinning point with pins on both sides as accurately and as exactly as possible. Leaving about 1cm (3/8″) seam allowance cut around your pinned lines, cutting a smooth curve down and around to each crotch point. And voila, you have a leg! Take a deep breath and try not to panic as you look at your leg pattern. I know it looks shocking if you’ve never seen it flat like this! Have a cup of tea to congratulate yourself for having got this far…
If you have any reason to believe your legs are different to each other, then you should do this whole process for the other leg too. Otherwise, just lay this leg piece right sides together on the other half of fabric and cut out another leg. It’s a good idea to make a paper pattern for your customised tights at this stage too, you know, so you don’t have to go through this whole rigmarole a second time…
Pin, and sew up the inner leg seam of each leg. Either serge as I did, or use the stretch stitch specifications for your particular machine. Do from the big toe to the outer foot edge as a separate little seam.
Try each leg on; just to check. The tightest part for most is getting the heel through the ankle section of the tights… and you will probably have to adjust that inner leg seam to sit straight and true.
With right sides together, and fronts and backs together, sew the two legs together around the crotch seam. Reinforce with an extra row of machine stretch stitching.
Try the tights on. Now is the time to adjust and tighten the abdomen area; the waist will probably be too big and loose to work as tights. Pull it in nice and as tight as you prefer at the centre front and centre back seam; pin and stitch. Using the offcuts, similarly adjust the waistline of your paper pattern, taking away this amount at the front and back of the top of the pattern.
Now it is the time to sew a waist casing for your elastic, do this in the normal way as you would for any elastic waistband. To keep the elastic straight in its casing, I always sew a line of vertical stitching over the casing with the elastic inside along the centre front seam and also at the back. Furthermore, I sew a cross at the back of the waistband, or some similar marking, so I can tell at a glance which is the back of the tights when I am pulling them on to wear.
What uuuup?!
I was planning to do something else for today, but when my son informed me last night that today was International Suit Up Day, well, how could I not? Barney is our family’s favourite character from How I Met Your Mother, and his sayings are oft quoted around our house, er and not just by me.
So I hope everybody else is suitable suited up for a business-like day, and no, I don’t think that includes tracksuits, people. C’mon. Even if you don’t wear a suit on a daily basis, and I certainly don’t, even if it’s months or perhaps years since you “suited up”, go and dig up that dusty old thing from its hanger, release it from its dry cleaner’s bag and pop it on. Just for the day, and just for fun!
My suit is looking a little dated now, and I’m thinking I need to tailor a replacement, but this project will have to go to the end of a very long list of projects I have mapped out…
As for my photo, well I’m supposed to be climbing the corporate… oh, I’m sure you get it. A metaphor pictorialised.
Just a few other updates;
My youngest son is home, safe and sound; and it is so nice to have him back with us and everything feels normal again with us all back in the house, I feel so much more relaxed when all my chicks are back in the nest…
And thankyou so much for your lovely comments yesterday for my giveaway. A few have commented and don’t want to go into the draw for the goodies; that’s totally cool too, and I understand that lots of people have a full pattern collection already and I’m just thrilled that you took the time to comment. It sounds cheesy but each and every comment gives me such a buzz and I look forward to reading my comments with huge excitement everyday… truly.
The giveaway is just something to mark the day, and my way of saying thanks to you for reading.
Jacket; Simplicity 4698, grey and black suiting cotton
Skirt; New Look 6509, grey and black suiting cotton
Top; Sexy Woman
Shoes; Misano, from Labels boutique
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Today exactly one year ago I started blogging here about my sewing, and as it turned out, some other stuff too! 🙂
To mark the occasion, I thought it might be fun to wear again today the same dress I did on my very first blog post, a quiet celebration for it being the First Dress Here, so to speak. Although of course, at the time it was only about a year old… far from the oldest thing in my wardrobe. I think my photo taking has improved a lot, what do you think?
(photo at right from my blog, 12 October 2009)
And to thank YOU, lovely readers, I decided to have a GIVE-AWAY!
I did put some thought into this: since my blog is supposed to be about sewing, knitting and looking your best; I tried to have a little of each represented… so I have selected a sewing pattern, a knitting book and a little arm bracelet to give to a loyal reader.
The sewing pattern is New Look 6317, it is multi-sized from 10-22, and is still pristine and uncut in its envelope. I think this is referred to as “factory folded” in ebay speak, but since I don’t go there hardly ever I could be wrong… It is both easy and versatile, and includes a simple straight skirt, a jumper or sweater, and a coat pattern; all very simple and uncluttered in cut and line so a pattern ripe for customising in however way you wish.
You can enter into my give away by doing the following:
1. Becoming a follower of my blog (please leave a comment here to let me know if you do, so I know you are there)
2. If you are already a follower, just by leaving a comment on this post,
3. IF you have a blog, by linking to my blog OR by mentioning this give-away on your own blog.
This give-away will be open for a week, so next Tuesday, 19th October I will randomly pick one from the comments I receive here and announce a winner…
and thankyou for reading!
Details from top:
Dress; New Look 6699, with some of my own adaptions, coffee and black lace over ivory silk
Sandals; Joanne Mercer for Micam, from Hobbs shoes
Necklace; my own design
