Tag Archives: Booragoon Top

tie dyed lingerie, and bikkies

10/02/2024 1:26 pm \ Leave a Comment \

Hello!  I’m back with a few new things…

I had a length of raspberry cotton jersey that’s lovely quality and I wanted to make a new set of lingerie with it, but I somehow felt it boring just as it was… what do do of course but make it less boring.  I decided to try my hand at some tie-dyeing…

 

I cut the right amount of fabric to cut a Watson set of bra plus two pairs of knickers. btw, ages ago I made the undies pattern pieces full size, and added the crotch piece to the front piece to include it, as shown above.  This had made the pattern far better suited to me, and far easier to cut out and construct.  I hog-tied it securely before boiling it up in a pot of navy blue dye.  Definitely not boring now… in fact I’m so pleased with the pretty shapes that resulted.  I forgot to lay down the back band in the above picture but remembered to check I had enough for this too before cutting!

 

I’m happy to report nothing new at all was bought for this set… I still have enough elastic left in my stash for maybe one or two new sets of lingerie before I’ll need to buy more, and I have lately been recycling even the hook and eye closures; although I’m aware that happy state of affairs cannot last forever!  However for now it’s very satisfying to be able to make something new and pretty and functional using just what I have.

We’ve had a few birthdays in the family recently, and one little activity I did recently was to make chocolate biscuits with 3yr old Theo for his party.  This was of course a delightful way to spend time!  Cassie had pre-made the chocolate biscuit dough, and I helped him to roll it out and cut shapes.  A few days later I whipped up a batch of icing with him, and supervised the icing and decoration.  He pretty much did all this by himself.

He happened to be wearing the T-shirt I made for him late last year, so I took a quick picture of him assiduously cleaning the icing bowl… so cute and funny.  I’ve never seen a bowl/plate cleaned out so thoroughly as that icing bowl!

Also, I made this green Meelup skirt and pink Booragoon top last year for my niece Tiffany, but she was a little unwell at the time when we were taking pictures for our Meelup skirt listing.  We finally managed to get together for our photoshoot just recently, and here she is.  Doesn’t she look lovely?!  It gives both Cassie and I such joy to have family members and friends modelling our creations!

  

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an assortment of sewn things

11/12/2023 4:50 pm \ 6 Comments \

hello!  Once again I am presenting an odd assortment of disparate things made recently…

Items 1 and 2; two completely identical new Booragoon tops.  Both from a pink cotton jersey from stash, originally Spotlight from ages ago.  I’m wearing one above with my newly dyed Closet Clore patterns Mitchell trousers… the trousers used to be a paler pink and I felt like a colour change though I fear I overdid it a bit!  never mind…  the other pink Booragoon has gone to my niece T.  It really suits her!

Love this cute and yet chic little pattern!  I know it’s mine and I shouldn’t be too self-congratulatory, but I really really love it so I just have to gush occasionally.  I’ll stop now.

Items 3, 4 and 5, or should I just call this item 3?  I’m never quite sure…

anyway, I made a new set of one Watson bra plus two pairs of matching undies.  I used some of the leftover pink cotton jersey, from those aforementioned pink tops, and some striped jersey, that I’ve had for a long long time (actually made this striped shirt from it). And whipped up a mixed fabrics set… actually I want to make more things like this at the moment, mixing up different fabrics.

Fronts and back of the knickers are contrasting, the strap elastic, rings and sliders, and hook and eye closure are all recycled from an old bra.  The other elastics are all from the stash, by which I mean they’ve not been used before even if they’re not actually new.  A free set!  Yay!

Items 6 and 7 (or 4 and 5?). some matching clothes for Cassie’s two; T and G…  Oh, I’ve just realised I haven’t introduced my newest grandson here yet… I did over on instagram but this is his first appearance here…Cassie had baby Gilbert a few weeks ago, and here he is!

Isn’t he sweet!  This is the first thing I’ve made for him and I made a matching T-shirt for his older brother too.

I’m quite sad that this next one has zero hanger appeal, or should I say floor appeal, and even on the body it doesn’t look particularly chic; which is pity because the fabric is absolutely beautiful.

Mum wove this length of beautiful lilac/blue fabric with her own two hands many years ago, and had partially made a dress or tunic or something out of it.

I cut off the bottom, hemmed, and reattached the cut off portion as sleeves.  I’m wearing it as a summer dressing gown.  So that was item 8, for those keeping count, and now for number 9….

my new summer nightie!  So I really really love this and it feels so lovely to wear!  I used a short length of silk from Le Stash, originally from (I think) Tessuti fabrics of Melbourne, from years ago.  With some clever pattern placement I managed to cut a Closet Core Simone slip.  I French seamed the side seams, and was very careful to match stripes all around.  It feels incredibly luxe!  Why have I never made silk sleepwear before?!

 

 

Ok, I think that’s all for now!  See you later!

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dressing like a tomato

25/05/2023 2:23 pm \ 6 Comments \

Hello!

So, I’ve alluded to this ongoing project previously; the mission to “use up a rather large length of tomato-red jersey”  I am pleased and just a little lot relieved to report a successful completion of the mission, ahem…

I originally bought this “remnant” from a Morrison seconds sale… it was very cheap… when I had the chance to check it out properly I realised it was at least 6m in length, possibly more if I’m honest.  Phew!  Just a few weeks ago I dedicated myself to remove this from Le Stash.

Item 1; a dress for Cassie… this is the Ebony pattern by Closet Core patterns.  I don’t have any pictures of her wearing it, but it skims her knees and the sleeves are elbow length.  This will be a great little dress for winter for her; worn with tights and boots, over a turtleneck, and with her denim jacket, it looks super cute!

Item 2; a little T-shirt for Theo (previously posted)

yes, he looks cute

Items 3,4 and 5; a little T-shirt for Arthur, plus the sleeves for two more (previously posted)

here he is on Mothers Day.  Cassie is wearing this dress I made last year, and Tim is wearing a hoodie I made for him yeeeeears ago.  I’m thrilled he still loves it so much!  Also, yes, the dress is still mine but I’ve lent it to Cassie for a little while because she wanted some more work-appropriate dresses and I don’t have the time to make new ones for her just yet!

 

Item 6;

a cardigan for myself… I’m in the midst of planning to make a pattern for this design this year.  I’ve made multiples for myself and it’s such a useful little thing to have!

wearing it during me-made May

Item 7:

a little top for myself.  This is our most recent pattern the Booragoon top, available in our etsy store here  #shamelessplug

Item 8;

a little winter skirt for myself.  This is the Paprika patterns Jade pattern; one I make up usually once a year.  Well, I really like it!  Again, pictured during me-made May…


there’s even a failed Item 9!  I cut out a skirt for Cassie too, but as I was pinning it together for its first seam I noticed a fault, a few holes right across a line of the grain.  By this time I was well and truly over the tomato fabric so it was with some joy that it got tossed into the bin.  No regrets!

So wow, yes that’s still a lot of tomato!!

I may or may not wear all three of my own tomato items together like this; on the one hand I really love this colour.  On the other hand…. well actually there is no other hand really.  I love the colour, so I most like will!  btw, not pictured; but the three items I made for myself each has a “circa 2023” label on it.

Now; to be honest, there is a problem with all of these new makes, well more accurately there is a problem with the fabric… I realised that it was cheap and plentiful for a reason.  The fabric is super stretchy, as in it’s stretching out quite fast and it’s clearly not going to last very long.   Like, probably not longer than this year.  Beware a bargain!  You can see in my miniskirt how the folds do not look super stable and a little stretched out already.  Oh well, just gong to enjoy it while I can  🙂

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I made a dress, a cool skirt and three tops; aka I actually used all of my 2022 labels, yay!

31/12/2022 1:11 pm \ 3 Comments \

I’ve made a few new things, thus appropriately using all my “circa 2022” labels, hurrah!  I know, I know, using up labels should NOT be a criteria for making anything, and yet.. and yet… I still felt compelled to do so.  And these are all things that I am going to be very happy wearing, so I’m ok with it all  🙂

First up!

this dress, another from my self-designed pattern that Cassie and I are working on right now.  I made this one from this dress that I wasn’t wearing any more.  I really loved the large scale check linen, but the length and sheer volume of the dress made it unwieldy if not borderline uncomfortable to wear on the beach…  which let’s face it; is a large part of my life nowadays.  I’m much happier with the fabric usage now since I am more inclined to wear it in this more streamlined iteration!  Technical deets; I had to cut many pieces on the bias and there’s a centre back seam in the back bodice, which shouldn’t be there; but I covered it up with a bias cut strip of dark chocolate cotton.  Mostly to obscure the complete lack of patten matching here, which was visually jarring to my eyes.

Second! a simple little white Booragoon top.  Actually; and Third!  I’ve just remember I made TWO simple little white Booragoon tops; one for Lainey for Christmas, which I have totally failed to photograph.  Picture this top, just in white.

 

 

btw, I didn’t put labels in things I made for others, just because you never know if people are going to get the same kick out of them that I do…   Anyway I made another white one for me too…  pictured on Cassie here.

This is Cassie’s and my Christmas post for our pattern company this year; I’m wearing my mustard Yallingup dress, Cassie is wearing her yellow Booragoon skirt and the aforementioned new little white Booragoon top.  You might be able to see it’s a tiny bit big on her, since it’s my size.

Fourth!  I made a new skirt, using some Ikuntji Artists fabric, that I did purchase during this year, using the voucher that I’d won for this outfit.  The print is called “Mintjinperri”, by Kelly Dixon, which sadly seems to be no longer available.

Having said that though, I think the print is what totally makes the skirt!  Pretty amazing, huh?!  The skirt is partially lined with dark blue lining fabric.

The pattern is my own, another that I am developing right now.  I made it long, with two side splits, and the also split lining is attached to the splits at the sides.

 

Something giving me joy?  sounds a tad obsessive, but I used coffee coloured thread for most of it, including the topstitched hem, which is the only visible stitching on the thing.  A few spots had coffee coloured top-stitching on solid dark blue areas which was a little distressing, so I switched to dark navy blue for these bits.

Fifth!  I made the matching, dark navy-blue Booragoon top.  Well, I still had my pattern pieces out so just cut it out and ran it up very quickly.  I’ve already written just about anything I can think of with regards to the Booragoon, my own pattern, but just know that I’m not making it up again and again just to big note myself, but because I truly love this little pattern right now.  It’s very flattering to my figure, and because it’s sleeveless it goes nicely under cardigans in the summer too.

So that’s it!  The very last of my 2022 labels, and the very last day of the year too.  Seems fitting  🙂

I’m going to try to squeeze in a retrospective post before the VERY end of the day too, so fingers crossed!  If I did, then it’s going to be very obvious, very soon!

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featuring a top and a skirt and some other miscellaneous wearable things

20/12/2022 7:25 pm \ 1 Comment \

I’ve made a new little top and skirt, as well as a few other odds and sods …  so here’s the thing.

I bought a batch of 20x “circa 2022” labels at the beginning of the year, used these up in 6 months, and so bought a second batch of 20.  These are neeeeeeearly finished! and now I’m basically on a mission to use them all by the end of the year.  I have four or five to go… let’s see if I can make it! aieeee, it’s going to be tight!

First up! a little brown top…

this is our own Booragoon top pattern…  and like Cassie with the ones I’ve made for her, I’ve found it to be such a wonderfully comfortable and useful little top to make and wear.  I used the leftovers from this little tee I made for myself at the beginning of the year; scrummy merino from The Fabric Store, in colour Nutmeg, bought last year.

I’m wearing it above with my BamBam Pietra shorts, first blogged here.  The fabric is cotton drill from Spotlight, the shorts are made using Closet Core Pietra pattern, adapted to have no elastic waistband and a centre back zip.

next up! I made a little white skirt…

Yes, it’s kinda of mini-length, thus the tights and boots.  I think it will be a winter skirt!  This is another of my own patterns that I’m hoping to release next year some time.  The fabric is again cotton drill from Spotlight, obviously the same fabric as my BamBam shorts just in the white colour way.   Yes, I really liked it!  It also came in a dark green colour way but I figured I had bought enough already…

The skirt is fully lined and closes with a button and a hook and eye over one of the side pockets.

Here are some other little basics I’ve made recently too, to which I did not attach any labels.  Necessary things, but not really label-worthy things, unfortunately!

A simple double-layered neck warmer using the very last Nutmeg merino as my top, above.

I’ve also made a five more pairs of little sockettes, using the now sadly unobtainable syttochprytt ballerina sock pattern, adjusted as outlined here.

All the fabrics are either leftovers from other things or old T-shirts that I’ve kept for this very purpose.

A brief update: I’m going so well on my not buy any new fabric pledge!  I have to confess to feeling the desire for new fabric every now and then, but have quickly managed to overcome it.  Mostly by forcing myself to go to my stash and sort it out.  Always a great cure!  Anyway, I have plans, lots of lovely plans for the fabric I do have… aaah, so many plans, so little time!

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a suedette skirt

14/10/2022 6:00 pm \ 2 Comments \

I made another Booragoon skirt for myself; partly so I could film it and make a kinda helpful – I hope! – youtube video to illustrate some of the more difficult parts of the construction process.  I appreciate this is an advanced pattern with some tricky aspects to getting a nice sharp and clean edge to the front panel, and the way the zip is inserted is quite unique, in my experience.  SO I hope this helps some!  I will be linking to this video in the instructions too…

As the video contains quite a lot of detail shots already, this post is another short and sweet one… you’re welcome!

Please note that this skirt is a cut little longer than the pattern; and I love the more midi length of it!  And it’s deliciously swirly!

I used a very deep chocolate brown suedette that is actually beautiful quality; Mum bought it for herself from the Fabric Store in Melbourne during one of our jaunts over there and upon cleaning out her stash has now passed it onto me.

I know, I’m so lucky, am I not?  I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to work through my augmented stash now, but am excited to find out.  Cassie, with a raised eyebrow opined that it’s (quote) extremely disciplined (unquote) of me to attempt to use up my entire stash before allowing myself to buy any more, but I’m determined to see it through.  I may have to allow myself to buy something for Sam and Lainey’s wedding, but I’ll see how I go.  I do have some nice fabric already … but mother-of-the-groom worthy?  Hmmm.

just saying… pocket

Well, that’s all for now!  Until next time!

 

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the Booragoon skirt and Booragoon top

02/07/2022 9:24 pm \ 5 Comments \

 

phew… I’m beyond exhausted, but also absolutely thrilled to announce the release of our latest two patterns… the Booragoon skirt and the Booragoon top!

So; here’s the story -yes, there’s always a story.  That’s what a blog is for, right?!

For our niece’s 21st last year, for which I made this bumblebee cake; Cassie made a self-designed skirt for herself.  It was a seriously cool skirt and brought forth many oohs and aahs and the inability to keep oneself from checking it out.  Fortunately, not only did Cassie welcome the checking out part, but also excitedly declared on the spot that we should most definitely make it a pattern.  So the horses were out of the gate and we were off!  Of course, it did not proceed as swiftly as hoped; not only did work get in the way like a great big ol’ nuisance (not like it pays the bills or anything) but Cassie also returned to work after maternity leave was over, which slowed things down a little too.

And while Cassie’s skirt was beautifully made; she had done a massive amount of hand stitching to make the zip insertion and design lines work; which I knew would have be worked on before we could even think of releasing it.

See; the top tier of the skirt has a sharp edged, right-angle panel encircling the waist; very architectural in its genesis; that incorporates the waistband and a front panel.  The front panel folds down to hide a zip closure; and the waistband has an attached, very long and skinny tie to further pull it all together.  Sounds interesting?  It is!

It took a bit of experimentation and fiddling, but I eventually worked out the zip insertion; so you could do it all by machine.

The top is one I’ve made for Cassie many times before; and we both decided the top really complemented the skirt very well; so we decided to release the patterns as a set.  But of course you can always buy them separately as well.  Actually; while I would rate the little jersey top as an Advanced Beginner level of pattern, the skirt really veers into Intermediate-Advanced level, thanks to the difficulty in mastering those nice sharp angles..  I would never tell anyone not to give it a go, however,  Honestly; if I’d been scared off by Advanced ratings in my early sewing days I reckon I never would have got anywhere!  I’m a big believer that’s it’s a good thing to push yourself.  At the same time, the skill level thing is there for a reason!

We are offering a special, release day sale on the new patterns; the Booragoon Top, the Booragoon Skirt, and the Booragoon Top & Skirt are all 20 % off for the first 5 days, starting today.  You even get a little special, and permanent discount for buying the set of patterns, as opposed to separately.

All three options re listed for sale in our Etsy store; here.

Is this a good time to mention that the skirt has a pocket?  It’s just big enough for a phone and some small things, and it’s surprisingly unobtrusive.  I’ve got my phonon my pocket for all my photos and it can’t be seen at all!

My lovely daughter-in-law Lainey agreed to model for us again; and the set I made for her is an all-in-one colour set; so it gives more of a dress vibe: for this one; I bought cotton from Spotlight for the skirt, and the cotton jersey for the top was a lucky match from Mum’s stash.

This next set is one of my earlier attempts; it was not particularly well made because I was still working out the zip at this point; but I really liked the skirt-over-a-dress look of it so saved the idea for my “real” one, above!  Cream cotton jersey inherited from Mum’s stash, brown gabardine leftover from a long-gone pair of jeans/trousers I made for myself years ago.

And this set is playing with a dress-over-a-skirt look, just for fun.  Both fabrics inherited from Mum’s stash.

All these different looks are achieved simply by different combinations of self and contrasting fabrics, and I really love this kind of versatility in a pattern!

Working on this pattern also contributed substantially to my #use30 challenge, for which I am quite grateful too, hehe.  Thanks for that, Booragoon skirt and top!

Oh, the name?  Booragoon is a local suburb here in Perth, and the location for a very popular shopping mall, which was actually both mine and Cassie’s introduction to department store shopping, for me dating back to my childhood years.  Well, for Cassie too; but I mention for me in particular just to illustrate how long the mall has been there.  It is also where my Dad had his practise for many many years; so when we went shopping we were always popping in to visit him while he was there.  So “Booragoon” just has sentimental memories for us both; being a place “to shop” if you like.  And we thought the Booragoon skirt and top was that kind of outfit that you might put on in order to sally forth for a day of genteel shopping and maybe a cup of tea and piece of cake to fortify yourself during the ordeal.  Aaah, memories!

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