daily outfit Archives - Page 6 of 70

22/10/2022 8:31 pm \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn \ Quote

I made a pretty new top… isn’t it gorgeous? It’s a slight different style that I might usually go for, and I absolutely love it! So elegantly feminine and floaty and chic.

This is the new Nicks pattern by Closet Core patterns; it comes as both a dress, a blouse, and a tunic top, which is the view I chose to make. It also comes with two different sleeve choices, a slightly puffy long sleeve, and the short sleeve. I really like the mix and matchability potential that this pattern has, I really reckon you could play about with the different bits and pieces and come with a whole tonne of different garments that could look quite distinct from each other. It’s not pictured on the pattern cover, but the blouse option does not have the buttons, nor any frill, so it stylistically looks quite different from the sweet V-neck buttoned front of the dress and tunic pictured there. I’m quite excited to try some of the different options out!

My fabric is actually the leftover ivory crepe from Kelly’s wedding dress! I had just enough to cut the tunic out, and not much more! And fortunately I still had buttons leftover from when I covered 100 for her dress too… phew boy was that a project and a half. I think I still have a little ptsd from all that. But excellent that I still have the buttons to use for other things like this!

I think I’ve pretty much decided to only make white or white-ish tops from now on actually. I’ve realised that during warm weather in particular, whenever I go to select a blouse or top from my wardrobe, I hone in on the white ones; they go so much better with all my more colourful or patterned skirts and other bottoms. Or maybe it’s just a mood I’m in at the moment. A sorta boring mood. Or maybe just in need of streamlined, uncomplicated comfort dressing, which to me means the visual peace and clarity of white tops.

This may very well be a mood that changes in the next instant, but for the time being; that’s the plan. Or maybe it’s just because the last time I sorted through my stash discovered I have a small mountain of white fabric that needs to be productively dealt with? To assuage the guilt? Either way!

I’m wearing my new top here with my Closet Core patterns Sasha trousers, still my favourite jeans. These are getting a touch sad nowadays, which in turn makes me sad. I think I should set aside a little time to make some more!

a suedette skirt

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

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!

Posted in: sewing, Uncategorized \ Tagged: Booragoon skirt, Booragoon top, Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, daily outfit, skirt

pink Yoga Girl

09/10/2022 2:50 pm \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Hello!

So I don’t often wear hot pink but I am really feeling this one! I’ve been traditionally told I should NOT wear this colour, like EVER; and what’s more I’ve always agreed, and yet… somehow… here I am. I find myself just really enjoying everything about this dress. It just feels so fun and cheerful youthful and unashamedly kitsch; all awesome things that we could do with more of in our lives, in my opinion 🙂

I made this dress a few months ago, and while it’s been a very cold winter for us here in Perth this year I have actually managed to wear it a handful of times already!

It is a Nerida Hansen print; Yoga Girl, the lilac colour way, and the pattern I adapted is also a Nerida Hansen one, the Smock Dress pattern…

Yes, it doesn’t look much like the pattern, so please allow me to explain:

the bodice is actually the same, just cut longer…
the skirt is cut correspondingly shorter; ie voila, it’s now a drop-waisted dress … these both due to a paucity of fabric
I left off the sleeve cuffs and just hemmed the sleeves as is
I cut a V-neckline and finished it with a bias cut strip; I did start out with the higher, rounded neckline of the pattern but it didn’t look so nice; thus the re-shape…
I added slanted welt pockets into the front

Simples!!

So yes, this is a very short and sweet blog post, but sometimes that is all that is necessary. If you’re reading this then I hope you’re having a great weekend!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, dress, nerida hansen, NH smock dress

pink trousers

05/10/2022 12:09 pm \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

I’ve made some new trousers…

this is the new Mitchell trousers pattern by Closet Core patterns. It has two views, view A is a pegged, cropped version and view B is an ankle length, more swishy wide-leg version. Obviously I was always going to make the wide leg swishy leg version! I love that 40s Hollywood, menswear inspired vibe… although this design was actually inspired by Joni Mitchell from the 70’s, and yes while the menswear look was definitely a thing in the 70s I think it definitely had its actual roots from trend setters like Katharine Hepburn in the 40s.

I unearthed from Le Stash a long length of beige linen with blue pin stripes; originally bought from the Fabric store during one of our very earliest trips to Melbourne! I’m pretty sure I’ve had this for approximately ten years! SOOOOO happy to have this finally gainfully employed into a (I think) rather gorgeous new addition to my wardrobe!

Soon after buying it I suddenly felt the tastefully bland colour totally uninspiring, and just could not for the life of me work out why I’d bought it in the first place. But of course, an unexciting colour is never a problem when you can dye it… and it’s quite a thick, substantial kind of linen, really beautiful quality; so I hung onto it, confident it would find its purpose one day. And it finally has!

I washed the beige fabric with a length of very very intensely red cotton corduroy. This worked a charm straight off the bat and I got a length of beautiful blush pink linen which I absolutely love… hurrah! I’m aware this colour could fade over time, but fortunately it’ll be easy to keep it up with a light wash of pink dye every now and then 🙂 The buttons were from Spotlight, once upon a time… and the zip I used is a bit bright but it’s not like you can really see it. Both from stash.

The Mitchell design has two buttoned welt pockets at the back and deep, slanted front hip pockets peeping out from under deep front pleats, side ties to nip in the waist, and a waist facing as opposed to a waistband. This does give a lovely sleek and smooth silhouette at the back of the waist, which is very nice, I think! I couldn’t find the correct size of D-rings at Spotlight, so had to settle for a smaller set. I folded in the ties to fit as neatly as I could and I don’t mind the slightly squeezed in resulting look here, but am thinking if I ever do spot the right size I’ll probably by them and switch these out. Or not. As I said, I do kinda like this look!

Very happy with my back welt pockets! My stripes even match up perfectly, which is a pretty happy thing! And yes, I admit I pinned each and every stripe to get that perfect match 😉

this colour closest to the true colour…

The Mitchell design has you cutting the pockets from lining fabric, and you add facings and patches so that you can only see self-fabric peeping out from when the pockets open up; but I opted instead to cut all pocket pieces from the self fabric in the first place. It might make things a little bulkier but it’s a lot simpler and I don’t mind having the small amount of extra thickness; though this does depend a lot on the kind of fabric you’ve chosen… I guess if you have chosen a wool crepe of something then you’d definitely want to go the extra effort of doing the pockets as outlined in the instructions.

Of course they are exceptionally comfortable to wear. In fact I really enjoyed wearing them all day; and the fact is that I’m not usually very comfortable in trousers or jeans. I mean, I wear them, but mostly think I look terrible in them so tend to go for a skirt or dress by default. At this time of year though, I’m heartily sick of all my winter skirts, and yet it’s too cold for summer dresses yet, and so I find myself reaching for trousers/jeans instead. You know, just for a bit of variety. I’m a person who craves variety, particularly in my wardrobe.. oh really Carolyn? whatever gives you that idea?! *laughing at myself*…

Anyway, love of trousers amounts to a seasonal thing, for me. The exceptional quality of this beautiful linen, combined with a truly chic design means I’m sure I’m going to enjoy wearing this a lot over this season, as well as well into summer!

In all my pictures, I’m wearing them with my white Booragoon top, available as a pattern here, and first blogged here… I am wearing this all the time at the moment. It’s the perfect basic!

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: Closet Core patterns, daily outfit, Mitchell trousers, trousers

some snuggly corduroy goodness…

16/09/2022 3:09 pm \ 5 Comments \ Carolyn

I’ve made a few new things!

I was sent a length of lovely snuggly corduroy from Minerva; it is soft, quite lightweight, fluid and drapey and a little fluffy, and of course the most gorgeous and delicious shade of burnt orange/terracotta imaginable! this very stuff, in fact…

Soooo happy with my pocket-elicious new ensemble! hmmm, why the new (non)word, you might ask? Well, because there are SO many pockets on my newest outfit that it’s borderline ridiculous… AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

Patterns; I really love the practicality, utilitarian urban vibe of Waffle Patterns and have bought quite a few… now I can shift a few more off my list of “want to makes” and into the list of “yay finally made!” namely the Arare hoodie and the Anzu skirt.

Both these patterns come with a lot of variations; the Arare hoodie can be a hoodie or just have a high collar, and you can do either front welt pockets or a big kangaroo pocket with flap. I opted for the hoodie and the welt pockets, and there’s also a little sleeve pocket. That’s where I stuck my circa 2022 label 🙂

I didn’t really have enough fabric to line the hood, well not if I wanted to make the skirt too, which I most definitely did! so I used some nice, autumnal floral viscose from Mum’s stash … given to me when she cleared it out a few months ago. I really love how this looks peeping out inside the hoodie 🙂 I also used this same fabric to line the pockets. I didn’t add a cord to the hood mostly because I didn’t have the perfect coloured cord; I did put in the eyelets though, just in case that perfectly matching cord ever does show up!

I’ve had a tendency in the past to do welt pockets my own way… or a way that is a conglomeration of various big 4 patterns I’ve used over the years… the welt pockets on the Arare were a little different and took a little getting my head around. And they turned out absolutely perfect! I’m thrilled with how well they turned out.

For the skirt… I opted for the knee length, zip-fronted option, with inner slanted hip pockets. The other pocket options I went for were; the zip pocket, the “flap” pocket which comprises a bellows pocket with a partitioned off “non-flapped” section, three layered patch back pockets, and a double tool pocket. So, I just had to pause to add this up… this make for a 13 pocketed ensemble. I know right?! It’s crazy! And amazing!

Now, while I really wanted to make the skirt in this corduroy it was actually a little on the lightweight side to make a good cargo skirt. I applied lightweight fusible interfacing to every piece and this gave the perfect amount of stability to make this structured design work well. This had the slightly unfortunate side effect of make the wrong side of the fabric a jarring shade of white, obviously… now I know you don’t really see inside a skirt to notice something like this but it still bothered me. So I lined it with a dark brown lining fabric…. kinda overkill but it’s nicer like this.

One thing I should mention; I had to substantially alter the top of the back skirt piece. I’m not sure if I did something wrong at some earlier point, or whether it’s something to do with my slight sway back; but the back bulged in a very weird way before I scooped out a considerable crescent from the skirt back, before adding the yoke. And here’s a handy tip; when making any skirt at all I’ve always found it a good idea to try on for fit BEFORE you’re about to embark on any substantial seam finish and/or topstitching/flat-felling and/or overlocking raw seam allowances together. It’s SO much easier to make adjustments without having to unpick any of this! Ask me how I know! spoiler alert, I learnt the hard way…

Although it hasn’t shown up too well in any of my photos because it’s in a toning caramel colour; there is masses of topstitching in this outfit. I used up almost an entire roll of upholstery thread!

I’m rather thrilled at how very 70’s this outfit turned out! really that’s my only excuse for some of these poses…. honestly I don’t really go out of my way to make stuff that’s very obviously costume-y but am always quite chuffed when something does have an unexpectedly unusual and possibly even unfashionable flavour to it!

I shall sign off with a few pocket details…

the “flap pocket”

the “zip pocket”

and lastly but most importantly of all, my darling little grandson wanting to join in posing with me…

some snuggly spring-y merino

31/08/2022 10:46 am \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn

Last day of the month and I’m squeezing in a blog post about some other stuff that’s strolled out of the stash and onto my body during August… wait, that sounded weird. Leaving it though. I’m in that sort of mood!

I had bought some gorgeous “turmeric” merino from The Fabric Store in Melbourne during our trip over there earlier this year… when we saw Harry Potter… btw did I ever relate that story? Putting it here now for posterity:

So back in 2019 we’d bought tickets to the Melbourne production of the Harry Potter play for May 2020. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which at the time was only showing in three venues in the entire world; London, New York and Melbourne. During my trip to New York with Yoshimi I’d seen it happening there and was so excited for when Craig and I were going to see it too! We’d booked very good seats and a very nice hotel in Melbourne and it was going to be awesome… Well, we all know what happened in early 2020! (note to future me, who might have forgotten; covid) Our tickets were first rescheduled from May 2020 to November 2020. Then rescheduled again for May 2021. Then November 2021. In case future me has forgotten, Melbourne endured multiple, extremely stringent lockdowns during the pandemic; some of the strictest in the world, and also our own WA border was closed for a couple of years too.

Our tickets were finally forwarded to March 2022 and we eventually hopped on a plane and went on what turned out to be the last weekend of the production. The play was absolutely amazing!! and we loved every minute. The play was so long that it was divided into a two parter; a matinee from 2 until 5-ish, after which you went out and got some dinner, and then an evening performance that went until quite late. SOOOO good! easily one of the most enjoyable plays we’ve ever seen, although I admit you do have to be a Harry Potter aficionado to have “got” it. Fortunately we are most definitely in that category! since Tim was the same age as Harry and back in the day we’d got the books and eagerly devoured them all.

Anyway, apologies for the digression; sewing wise I bought a little fabric during that trip! Well, I can’t go to Melbourne and NOT buy souvenir fabric! It would just feel wrong!

Item 1; I made a self-drafted cardigan… this is a design I’ve made a few times before, at the start I was using my favourite Closet Core Nettie pattern. Over the years I’ve custom fit my Nettie pattern until it is now completely unrecognisable from the original. For me, it is now an only slightly form-fitting and streamlined T-shirt and I’ve adapted it further to be a slightly looser-fitting (so you can comfortably wear it over a tee) cardigan.

I really love this style and enjoy wearing it a lot.

Item 2; a matching turmeric T-shirt… from memory, I’d requested 1.5m, and when it was rolled out there was already a cut piece a bit longer than 1.5m. I’m sorry I can’t remember exactly how much more it was now, but I said I’d buy it! And it was just enough that I managed to get a T-shirt for myself too. I love how I now have a twinset! since I am a granny now and it’s about time I started dressing the part somewhat. I love how a twinset is kinda linked with “dressing like a granny” in my head, but my particular twinset feels not too granny as to fall into “undesirably granny” territory to me. It’s OK, I know that sounds nonsensical but it makes sense to me!

In fact, I love it so much I’m thinking of making my twinset idea into a pattern… I would love to do this if I can eke out the time!

Items 3 and 4; last year I had purchased 1.5m of lovely “red clay” merino from the Fabric Store during one of their online sales. It took a bit of super careful placement but I was pretty pleased to squeeze two T-shirts from this! I kept one for myself and gave one to Cassie, because I think this colour suits her really well too.

I’m so happy with all these items and they’ve all got worn quite a lot this past month already. If you check out my ootd day blog you can see just how much. For example; this is what I am wearing today!

Other me-made items I am wearing in these pictures:

Posted in: sewing, Uncategorized \ Tagged: cardigan, daily outfit, own design, tee

bucket hats and tights and a big big bag…

27/08/2022 11:20 am \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

Oh hello! Those blue blue skies are making me so happy right now, as most of the past month has been more like this:

Oh yay, storm clouds, yes you’re making me happy too… not.

I’ve been making lots of stuff lately and the last two pics feature two of them…. two bucket hats! This is the new Bruno pattern by FibreMood. I made the green corduroy one first and it was a tad too tight on me so I’ve given it to Arthur. It fits him quite well actually! with a little room to grow, and of course he looks super adorable in it too!

The pink one was my second go at the pattern, and this one fits ME, fortunately! I used cotton canvas, leftover from this lovely pink top I made for Cassie’s work capsule wardrobe last year, and it is lined with some very pretty green polka-dot silk crepe leftover from the dress I made for Mum to wear to Cassie’s wedding a couple of years ago… the green one is lined with the same green polka-dot. I know, right… fancy linings are a bit …. fancy?! At least my hair is enjoying the proximity to such luxury.

Next up… I made a whole batch of new black tights. Not fancy at all, but these are literally the mainstay of my winter wardrobe and I was absolutely desperate for new ones!

These are made using my own custom fit pattern, and thin black super-stretch poly from Spotlight… and it’s not even new fabric, I bought a large length of this about three or maybe even four? years ago in preparation for making more tights. Then I just kept putting it off. My old tights got pretty ratty but … you know; I sure got a good innings out of those things. And now it’s also feels pretty good to get that 5m or so of black poly out of my stash!

These are so much warmer than most RTW winter tights I’ve ever had and of course they fit me perfectly, never falling down or sagging at the crotch. They have a distinct front and back so I always stitch a contrasting zig zag at the back, for easy identification when I’m rushing to pull them on on a dark winter morning. Yes it’s a bit rough but effective!

Lastly, I also made a giant beach bag!

This thing truly is GIANT, which is great because beach towels are pretty giant too, usually. I used another newish FibreMood pattern, the Nouria; and cut up an old towel to make it, which seems a slightly cannibalistic thing to do? but I think towelling will be very practical and hopefully perfect beach-bag material. The design used up the entire towel, like it was designed on purpose to do so! which is of course awesome. I’m all for making use of every little bit of fabric, as much as I can! The handles are plain cotton canvas; also from my existing stash. Yay, for using up more stash!

My only slight regret now is that I didn’t choose a more colourful or exciting towel! but this one was there and available and no longer being used, so yay for recycling!

It’s lined with plain white poplin (yes, stash) and I added a few extra internal pockets to reduce the risk of things getting completely lost within the cavernous expanse of the bag… a biggish pocket for a book with a sectioned off bit for a pen, and a phone pocket. And it already has a huge pocket on the outside too, for frequently required sundries such as sunblock and a water bottle.

Craig’s phone is standing in for my own, which had more urgent duties to perform such as taking this picture here, hehe…

SOOOO ready for summer now!! oh and btw, I have even more recently made stuff to share here very soon. Even if I haven’t updated my blog in a while, I really have been making quite assiduously and diligently!

Posted in: sewing, Uncategorized \ Tagged: bag, bruno, Clara, daily outfit, fibremood, hat, nouria, own design, tights/leggings

a punnet of raspberries

29/05/2022 3:16 pm \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn

I recently made a whole bunch of raspberry things … three, to be precise. One of the large pieces of fabric that Mum tossed my way when she cleared out her stash was a length of raspberry stretchy stuff. three and a half metres!! I have vague memories of the particular pattern she had planned to make with this and I’m almost certain that she bought way too much, but anyway that’s a moot point. I was even with her when she bought it in Fabulous Fabrics, and remember it quite well. Mum has always been in the habit of buying too much “just in case”. Not something I’ve ever been guilty myself, of course, ahem!!

Anyway, I set to and used it all up; and usefully, I think!

Item one, a pair of leggings. I was planning to make tights, but realised the fabric didn’t really have enough stretch to be successful as tights. Even leggings is pushing it a bit, to be honest! but I love the colour and was determined to make it work. Pretty simple, and just using my self-drafted pattern, just with the feet lopped off. This picture is pretty bad, sorry, the light was not good at the time. If I get enthusiastic, I’ll take another photo in better lighting conditions. We’ll see!

Item two; a little cardigan with a built-in scarf that is an extension of the collar. I’ve made a few of these in my time; three actually and none the same. Al utilised slightly different construction techniques, and this latest, version four was yet another. I made a slight boo-boo when I attached the bottom band to the inside of the cardigan, and then slip-stitched it closed on the outside, but it’s only something you’d notice if you looked really closely. I think my hand-stitching is pretty neat nowadays, if I say so myself!

still love these labels… I’m going to need to buy more!

I really love this cardigan and already know I’m going to wear it a tonne.

Item three; a little mini skirt for winter. This is an old favourite pattern; the Paprika pattern Jade skirt. I think I make one of these every year?! This one has no zip at the back, and this time I fitted it quite carefully to myself first, removing a good two inches of width at the waistband from each side. This means I have to squeeze into it head first, but that’s ok!

I have decided a pocket is absolutely necessary for my life nowadays too… really it doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be there! and only big enough for my phone and a credit card. Because I had the Claremont pattern out already to make my yellow shopping tote, I just used the phone pocket piece from that, and attached it to the waistband inside. I know this sounds like a weird way to put a pocket in but actually it is surprisingly unobtrusive and I wore it with my phone it in all day, quite comfortably.

Very very happy with how this turned out! and I am sure this too will get worn to death this winter!

I’m also very happy with how much this has taken off my #use30 challenge! three and a half metres brings up my total to 27.5m! I only have 2.5m to go, and I already have enough things halfway done already that is going to be knocked off in no time!

HURRAYYYYYYYY!!!!!