Category Archives: Sewing

Cap Ferrat and Myosotis

06/11/2020 8:16 am \ 6 Comments \

The funny thing was; I knew I was going to like this dress because the fabric is just so utterly divine, the pattern that I was a little hmmm about…?  but I’m completely in love with the end result so all’s well that ends very very well!

So, fabric first… this is a cotton lawn from Storrs of London.  It is described as a 100% Egyptian Superfine cotton lawn, and it is, as already mentioned; DIVINE.  It has the exact same feel and hand, and gentle light crispness as Liberty… although diehard Liberty aficionados might come for me, but that’s just my honest opinion!  This particular design is Cap Ferrat, and I honestly struggled to choose just one because there are so many breathtakingly lovely colours and prints to peruse.  I absolutely have to get some more for a shirt for Craig… or maybe just another piece for myself hmmm  hehe…

The pattern, this is the popular Deer and Doe Myosotis dress, of which I’ve seen more lovely versions than I can mention!  I actually bought the pattern two years ago, and it’s taken me this long to finally get around to it, which is a little embarrassing, huh.  I dunno, I’ve just been busy. #weddings Anyway, I’ve always liked the style and thought this gorgeous print would look nice in the style.  And it does!

So like I said, I did have reservations about it though… as I shall now address.  The bust darts on this thing are FIERCE.  I think it really is intended for a far more busty lady than myself, to be honest and was quite worried I was going to end up with the dreaded deflated balloon look on my chest.  I debated whether to tone them down, perhaps to redraft the front to be a more gentle princess seam or something.  Eventually I did reduce the darts a bit but still went for the double darted style as designed, and while the front is still a wee bit flooffy on me I don’t think it’s too bad.  For a future version I will definitely tone them down even more though.

Everything else about the style I love, though.  The sleeves are super lovely, and I completely adore the gently V neckline too, and even the gathered skirts are beautifully proportioned and look very on-trend to my eyes.

It does feel quite short on me! and I even made the hem a teensy bit longer, and hemmed as narrow as I could.  Probably best to avoid touching my toes in public… but I do think the style is super cute though, so I’m happy.  Cute and flirty and fun and perfect for summer.  Everyone needs a sweet little red dress for summer!  🙂

 

Normally I find gathering to be a pain in the neck, but this crisp, very lightweight cotton took to it beautifully.  Yes, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the gathering was actually a dream.  You know how some fabrics are just a delight to work with, from the very beginning of a project to the end?  Well that’s exactly what this stuff is.  Just pure joy.  In case it wasn’t obvious, I can highly recommend!

I also whipped up a quick mask!  Haha,  I felt extremely self conscious wearing this! even though I was all by myself taking these photos, apart from Clara; see, we are extremely lucky so far here in Western Australia that our hard border closure has ensured we have no community cases of covid-19, so basically no one is wearing masks yet; but I think we’re not kidding themselves that we will never get cases here.  I think it’s inevitable, eventually.  Anyway, I do carry one of my masks around in my bag all the time, and I thought it would be fun to whip up a matching one for this dress … I’ve seen so many cute matching masks from other makers on instagram!  I lined it with red poplin, leftover from one I’d made for Craig’s Mum, and cut strips off an already partially cut-up old free Wildcats T-shirt for the straps.

So, funny story… I know it’s not obvious in my pictures here, but… did you notice my footwear?!!  SO I got dressed in the morning, in a hurry, because my days are packed solid at the moment and I just grabbed my thongs, shoved them on my feet and was off.  I took some photos of my new dress for my blog here, did some work, and then at lunchtime took myself and Clara off to the beach for our walk.  And only much later did I suddenly noticed my feet.  LOL!

Details:

Dress; Deer and Doe Myosotis, in Storrs Egyptian cotton lawn, col. Cap Ferrat
Hat; Vogue 8844, white corduroy, recycled from old jeans, details here
Mask; made using the Makers Habitat free YT pattern and tutorial here
Thongs; fipper, bought in Bali on out holiday 2 yrs ago

also, actual photo from my photo shoot today

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Tjilkamala Rockhole

21/10/2020 12:04 pm \ 14 Comments \

I’ve made up the first of my indigenous fabrics that I bought back in … June? I think, and I posted about it here… 

this stunning print is Tjilkamala Rockhole, designed by Alice Nampitjinpa; it was produced by Ikuntji Artists and I bought it through FlyingFox Fabrics

I decided upon a simple little dress with matching hat ensemble, inspired by this Marimekko outfit I’d seen many years ago…  btw I had to search and search and search to find this image!!  Note to self; always “pin” your favourite pictures!

I picked one of my favourite “simple” little shift dress patterns, the Named Inari tee dress, and Vogue 8844 for my matching hat.  These are both patterns I’ve used many times before, and I love them both.  I did my usual modification for the Inari dress by putting inseam pockets into those elegantly swooping side seams.  Oh, and I also widened the sleeve at the hem edge with a big big wedge insertion, as described here.  This adjustment enables you to lift your arms over your head without the dress riding up so much as to expose your knickers underneath.  Truth!  It does make quite a difference to the wearability of this dress, particularly in a non-stretch fabric.

For the neckline facings, I used a deep chocolate brown cotton voile, bought originally from Fabulous Fabrics.  I also cut the artist’s name and that of the print from the selvedge, and stitched them to the back facing.  I like doing this for special fabrics, and this is surely a very special fabric!

I did a search to find out which way up the print was supposed to go.  To the best of my knowledge, this is correct  🙂

I’ve made the Inari so many times before I don’t have much else to add … oh, except I did do something a bit different with the hem!

wait; what’s this?  WHERE’S THE HEM?!!

 

So the hemline for the Inari has side splits and a high/low hemline, so you can see the underside of the fabric quite clearly when you’re wearing the dress, especially when sitting down… and the wrong side of this fabric is the solid, deep chocolate brown that is the background of the print.  I decided I didn’t like the idea of seeing the print of the hem visible inside the dress and only wanted to see plain chocolate brown fabric.

 

So; to “camouflage” those hems I cut wide bias cut strips of same chocolate brown voile that I used  for the neckline facings and attached these along the fold line for the hem.  I then folded the top edge over and inside the raw edge of the hem, to hide the print and machine stitched close to the edge.  Finally, I hand stitched the hem to the dress as normal.  So yes, the full 3cm hem of the dress is there, and essentially the chocolate brown voile is acting like a “mask” over the top of it, hiding the print.  The side splits were also “masked” under bias cut strips in the same way.

All side splits and hems were hand-stitched, so as to avoid any visible stitching on the outside of the garment that would besmirch the purity of that beautiful print.

The hat: I LOVE the hat! even though if I’m realistic I know I’m probably going to get more wear out of the dress, but I still love it!  Serendipitous thing; when I dug out the pattern, I found to my great joy that past me had cut an extra brim interfacing, once upon a time. It was neatly folded up in with the pattern pieces.   I’d completely forgotten about it, but I guess the last time I’d made the pattern I must have thought I needed two.  Yay, past me!  Making the hat is simple enough… you can read my review of this terrific pattern here…  I used the same chocolate brown cotton to line it as for the inner bits of the dress.  I did put my own label in the hat!  I also put in a hanging ribbon in under the grosgrain ribbon just a small scrap from my sewing basket.  A hanging loop is not part of the pattern, and not an essential thing either, but it’s also something I think comes in very handy when you do have one in the hat.  I’m really glad of the one in my khaki hat and many times I’ve thought about putting one in my white hat.  I think I’m just going to get on and do that right now…

I bought the chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon from Spotlight.  You can see here a patched bit in the brim lining… I didn’t do this because I didn’t have enough fabric, I have plenty!  I actually have enough leftover for a little skirt sometime down the track too, but only if I was a bit devious with my cutting out here.  I decided a small patch in the brim lining was a small sacrifice to pay to leave myself enough fabric for that future skirt!

my labels are from the Dutch Label Shop…

So, obviously I’m pretty happy with my new ensemble!!  It feels super special. I love how it’s such a visually exciting and eye-catching print, but most of all I love how it’s also so completely Australian.  It’s just beautiful.  I am particularly happy and thrilled to have found places to buy indigenous fabrics, to be able to support indigenous artists, and of course I am most certainly going to purchase more in the future, once I’ve finished making up the other print I bought in June.  I already have my eye on a few more!

  

Details:

Dress; the Inari tee dress, pattern by Named, in Tjilkamala Rockhole print cotton, designed by Alice Nampitjinpa
Hat; Vogue 8844, in Tjilkamala Rockhole print cotton, designed by Alice Nampitjinpa
Sandshoes; Trenery

location; Winjee Sam, Yallingup

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a blanca flight suit with a difference

13/10/2020 2:16 pm \ 26 Comments \

I really loved the industrial-chic vibe of the Closet Core patterns Blanca flight suit pattern as soon as it came out… loved the zippered breast pockets, the front opening zip, the front hip pockets, the er.. bottom? pockets; sorry have momentarily forgotten the technical term for those things.  Anyway…  such a plethora of fabulous topstitching possibilities!  I actually love top-stitching, it’s one of those calming zen activities that pleases my inner love for well-ordered neatness…  and just the pure and simple visual joy of looking at that evenly dotty line marching its way across cloth.  *happy sigh*

I think though, that I’ve long come to terms with the fact that I want only a limited number of trousers/pants in my wardrobe.  I have some nice ones that I enjoy wearing but the thing is that I really really love dresses and skirts the most.  And jumpsuits, I’m even more happy to have none!  But of course, how easy is it to make the Blanca pattern as a dress?  Super easy!  I didn’t take any pictures, but you just simply cut the pants pieces in a skirt shape instead.  I think I added a squidge more width to the hip area too… just in case, with a view to removing it if I needed to.  I didnt  #pearfromwayback

I also added a walking vent to the skirt back in the centre seam… It’s not really necessary for walking, I put it in mostly for visual purposes because I thought the back skirt would look a tad bland without something there.  I’m really glad I did think of it, because I think it does add a touch of interest.

Want to see something funny/annoying?  I originally cut the vent to a certain length which I thought would look visually nice.  Then I hemmed the skirt and of course the vent became too short!  So I had to carefully unpick it, and splice in a little wedge of fabric neatly to fill the gap, and redo it.  Was this easy?  NO!  Ha!  I think it looks neat enough, and since it’s hidden inside the vent away from view you can’t really see it at all.  I’m pretty happy with how almost-invisible it turned out though, even if you’re looking!

Note to self though; if you’re putting in a walking vent ad hoc, cut it way way too long to start with.  You can always cut the top down if it’s too long, and if it’s not?  This simple precaution will save you a heck of a struggle later on.

Those tabs are supposed to be down near the trouser hems in the original pattern, I put mine on the sleeves instead.  The buttons are pretty marbled ones from my stash.  Oh, fabric… I bought this rusty coloured cotton twill from Spotlight stores, fun fact: this is actually the very last piece of fabric I bought before lockdown commenced.  I bought the wine coloured zips at the same time, and I already had the ivory topstitching thread in my stash.

Look at this perfect belt buckle!!  I bought this from Closet Core patterns too… it’s the absolute perfect finishing touch.  I had to wait a whole month for it to show up, but I’m so thrilled with it!

I had a small scrap of striped linen, leftover from this Perth top I made for my sister-in-law S, which I managed to cut the lining for the front pockets.  I love this little Beetlejuice touch peeping out!

Back belt loops, back pockets.  Any excuse to indulge in a bit more top-stitching…

Who says you can’t fly in a dress?  Up up and away!!

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pretty little maternity dress

11/10/2020 6:13 pm \ Leave a Comment \

No, I’m not pregnant, obviously, but I do currently have a pregnant daughter … She is wearing the things I’ve already made for her constantly, AND I’ve also lent to her my rusty lace Cissy dress for however long she needs it – and boy do I miss it!  Even so she is in desperate need of more options.  Well, how could I not do something to help out?

I’m modelling it here though, because she and D have moved into their new, own home and she is now a half an hour’s drive away (sob)  I still can’t get used to her being so far away!!

While I was wearing it I was reminded how much I love this cute style.  The pattern is the Megan Nielsen Sudley dress, one I’ve made for myself once previously here, and once as a dress for Cassie here.  I really like the oversized, comfy skirt and three quarter sleeves, which I have gathered up with a loop of skinny elastic inserted in the casing; and the keyhole neckline with spaghetti tie is really pretty.  Otherwise, the style is quite similar actually to the aforementioned Cissy dress in many ways, with a few key design point differences of course! but the style and feel make them very much sister designs, I think.

The fabric is this, very pretty, rayon crepe from Minerva… isn’t it lovely?  I think it’s really sweet and “granny’s wallpaper”, in a pretty old-fashioned sort of a way.

Now I have a confession, I initially cut out a different thing from this fabric, and … well it was terrible.  There’s no sugar-coating it.  I was quite depressed about it actually, had bought the pattern with great expectations and excitement, and it didn’t take long before I realised it had … issues.  I won’t name and shame it, well, not just yet! but I think I’ll give it a revisit at some point and work out a re-jig.  I already have plans.. but more on that at a future date!  I managed to cut out the Sudley pattern from the pieces, and miraculously I’m fairly confident I have enough small pieces leftover that I think I can cobble together for a thing for me too.  I just need to get around to it!!

… crazy Spiderman picture inspired by a Vogue magazine shoot…

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sockies

01/10/2020 10:04 am \ 3 Comments \


my previous batch of sockettes has been worn practically threadbare, so I indulged in a happy rummage through the prettiest of my cotton jersey scraps, followed by some samurai wielding of the rotary cutter, a spot of rapid vrrrm-ing though the machine, and voila!!   new ones!

I used the syttochprytt ballerina sock pattern which is apparently currently sold out in the shop so I’m hoping it gets restocked soon because it’s such a goodie, no seam underneath the foot and so quick and simple to make.

All my cotton jerseys are leftovers from previous projects… so apart from the skinny elastic around the top they’re basically “free”!   I love using up leftovers!!

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heaven…

17/09/2020 10:36 pm \ 6 Comments \

Heaven by name, heavenly by nature?  Well, I think it’s a pretty nice dress, at least!

🍓
this is the new Heaven dress pattern by @fibremood; an unusual design with a chic, wide trapezoidal neckline and an interesting combined sleeve/yoke arrangement that I’ve only ever seen in a few Japanese patterns before now.

I’ve learned to overlook the awfully unflatteringly “puffy” line drawings featured in all the fibre mood patterns, because the finished products are invariably not at all like that! anyway I was quite intrigued by the lines of this design…  initially, while perusing the promotional photos… see below! I did worry that the sleeve/bodice corner junction at the neckline looked like it might be a little on the tight side… however when you’re wearing it, it’s more like nicely “firm” rather than tight and I think that structure is necessary to keep the neckline in place and also from gaping open.  The dress is actually very comfortable and I really enjoyed wearing it!  I even got down on the floor and had a play with Arthur in it, and was perfectly fine!

🍓 I also feel like it turned out to be pretty cute too  🙂  I bought the lovely cotton/linen mix fabric from the upholstery section in @spotlightstores … I just fell in love with the gorgeous deeply, dusky-raspberry pink colour and HAD to have it!

🍓This dress really was a fun thing to make, very quick and easy… I like the way the elegant and unique sleeves are set off against a sleek, just slightly fitted body section.  I like the sleeves pushed up, but they do look very elegant let down to the wrists as well, I think.

sleeves down

🍓 closure is by invisible zip in the L side seam.

🍓I didn’t line it but to be honest I think it would be better lined, particularly for an “autumn” dress, which it is definitely designed to be. I might even have a go and add a lining somehow, when I get a bit more time… I will update here when I do!

another bonus; all that ugly overlocking will be covered up if I line it!

It has to be lined, a petticoat will not do.  I did try it with a few of my petticoats and they all show at that wide wide neckline.  Yes, my bra strap shows at the neckline in a few of the pictures here, which I know is such a no-no.  However I felt a bit better about this when I noticed that even the model’s bra strap shows too.  I’m in good company!

🍓 btw, I did NOT shorten mine, this the length of the pattern.  I honestly think they must have added length to the above one modelled for the magazine!  Actually, I prefer it as that little bit shorter than knee length… it feels more like an autumn-al length, if that makes sense.

Details:

Dress; the FibreMood Heaven pattern, upholstery linen mix from Spotlight
Shoes; asics, from the Foot Locker

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snowy white dress

03/09/2020 9:23 pm \ 10 Comments \

 

It’s a bit sad that this dress looks like a white-out and doesn’t photograph as “exciting” because it’s a thing that’s been on my sewing bucket list for YONKSSS, and I absolutely love it!  I think it’s elegant and beautiful and, excuse me for saying so, but I think perfect also … and I’m gonna wear this to death!!

Cassie gave this piece of soft ivory crepe to me for Christmas one year… quite a few years ago actually.  I feel a little terrible that it’s taken me such a long time to getting around to making it up, but I also don’t! because I really wanted its outcome to be perfect. Ok ok, to be as close to perfect as possible… and I’m so very happy with how it did turn out that at the same time that I’m relieved I waited til I was really ready.

The crepe is from Fabulous Fabrics, as is the lovely, light beige lining fabric.  It’s actually leftovers from my mother of the bride dress, for Cassie’s wedding, and beautiful quality too.

Ordinarily I wouldn’t put one of my labels into the back of a delicate dress like this, but I’m determined to use these labels as often as I can, because they’re such fun! and it gives me such a kick to see them in my clothes.

For the hem, I used this triple-stitched method, which makes a really nice, beautifully clean finish.  The only thing to be careful of, especially in a slightly “sponge-y” fabric like crepe, is to just slightly stretch the fabric as it goes through the machine… if you don’t I find the fabric bunches up just a bit, draws in the hemline.  Stretching it doesn’t give the expected lettuce leaf finish but instead gives a beautifully smooth hem.

This is my eighth thing in my #maketwelve this year, from my twelve selected designs and fabrics… hmmm what should I possibly make next?!! I wonder!

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some noice new basics…

31/08/2020 1:37 pm \ 3 Comments \

I’ve had this post sitting just as a draft for weeks now and just keep adding new tees to it but I’m rapidly coming annoyed with myself that when I wear one of them I have to write “not blogged yet” in my ootd blog.  So I’m hitting “post on this thing right now.  I know I know, so ridiculous!

A long-term goal of mine is to have a full complement of colour range in my winter tees; so every time The Fabric Store has an online sale on their merino I tend to hop on and pick up a coupla new colours.  Then that luscious new fabric just sits there in my stash for a few years.  Occasionally I admire the pretty colours and dream about how wonderful it’s going to be when it’s done.  Of course winter is nearly over, so it seems like the perfect time for me to finally get going!  Actually, it’s not such a silly plan of attack really, because it’s right about now that I become so heartily sick of my winter wardrobe that I don’t want to wear any of it, so it’s been rather nice to have a few new things to inspire me!

First up, above: a gorgeous strawberry-milkshake pink – technically Rose pink –  new Pattern Magic twist top, from the first Pattern Magic book by Tomoko Nakamichi.. I’ve made this design up several times before and have loved each and every one.  I love this one too, though I kinda wish I’d made the straight-grain sleeve just a leetle bit wider because while it’s fine while I’m wearing it it’s hard to squeeze my hand through the sleeve and pop it out the other end!  I had actually anticipated this and made it a few cm wider, but it’s still a wee bit snug.  Wearing it here with a skirt made using Vogue 1247, and a scrap of denim given to me by a friend cleaning out her stash… details here

Secondly, a  new heavily modified Nettie tee, with a collar variation that I’ve used before, and love.  Yes, it might look boring but I absolutely know this is going to get worn to death!  This is in the Vanilla colour way. which I think is my perfect white.  I made this one with the sleeve and lower hems finished with a self-band, as per this method..  worn here with my newest skirt, my sunshine-yellow Paprika Patterns Jade skirt, details here

Thirdly, another heavily modified Nettie using this stunning burnt orange merino, actually colour Paprika from the Fabric Store…Worn here with my Sabrina mini-skirt, made with a beautiful herringbone wool tweed, inherited from my grandmother’s stash, details here

Fourthly; yet another modified Nettie, made with this Avocado merino from the Fabric Store; with a slightly wider and higher collar… to be honestly I’m not totally sold on the collar, it’s maybe a scant 1cm too high and I haven’t ruled out cutting it off and shaving off that little bit!  mostly just for appearance sake, I may even be glad of the height when the weather is cold again.  We shall see, we shall see…  worn above with my blue Sasha trousers, also a Closet Core pattern, and blogged here.

Anyway, I really like how fresh my little collection of new basics is looking right now!

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