Tag Archives: Fabulous Fabrics

Pattern Magic; page 50

25/06/2010 1:19 am \ 23 Comments \

I skipped ahead a few patterns to get to this jumper because I totally wanted to wear it this winter!!
This is of course drafted from Pattern Magic. by Nakamichi Tomoko.
This is an amazing top pattern for two reasons; firstly it is cut completely in one piece, and secondly the pattern is drawn all wonky and skewiff, which creates this amazingly interesting twist in the body of the top when you are wearing it.  I love it!
I made two versions of this top, the first is pictured on Bessie below, made out of quite thin mauve-y grey jersey.  This was made up exactly to the pattern and while I don’t have big arms by any means these sleeves are skin-tight on me.  This isn’t going to stop me from wearing it as the weather warms up around here, but just a warning note to others wanting to make up this top…
The second version, that I am wearing today, is out of a lovely thick warm charcoal marle knit.  I widened the sleeves by about 1.5cm and they are much more comfortable…  Because the fabric is a little thicker the twists don’t show up as dramatically on the body of the top, but with the weather as cold as it is in Perth right now that extra fabric thickness is very welcome!  I think it might have been about 3C this morning when I was taking these photos here, brrrr!

Details:
Top; from Pattern Magic, by Nakamichi Tomoko, charcoal knit
Jeans; Soon
Boots; Mina Martini, from Marie Claire shoes

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Black high-waist straight-leg jeans

23/06/2010 4:10 am \ 15 Comments \

I’ve made some new jeans!  
After being inspired by some of the beautiful examples of other people out there making their own jeans, and the success of my own khaki stretch gabardine jeans I decided to give this a go.  These new ones are made from black denim with only a little stretch in them.  When I first bought this fabric I thought it had more stretch than it actually did, but now they are finished I’m glad they are not too stretchy, as they are more like real jeans in my opinion.  So, even though the pattern envelope says “stretch fabrics only”, I would use this advice as a guide only in fabric selection.  Mine turned out alright.  I think so, anyway!
I used Burda 7863 again, and the only variation to the pattern I did this time was to add a zip placket, as seen in the photo below, to protect my tender tummy skin from those sharp (and in winter, cold!) zipper teeth.  Also, I did originally have pocket flaps over the pockets as per the pattern, but removed these as I thought they looked a little “home-made” and not very trendy.  The remaining half of the press stud is still there in the pocket, but I kind of like the look of this.  If I get enthusiastic I might even add some sort of embroidered pocket decoration in the future…  I also made the belt loops a little wider, to accommodate my black belt, but as the waist is so nice and high and because I went to the effort of fitting the waistband to my waist size, I probably won’t even be wearing a belt with these jeans.  The pockets are lined with scraps of leftover patchwork fabric that I had used to line my autumn trench coat, and the topstitching throughout is a single row of long stitch in a deep ruby red; because I had some of this colour leftover from my Rosetta ballgown.
So I’m pretty happy with my new skinny leg jeans!  They are a lot warmer than my khaki stretch ones, so will be great for those coooold winter mornings!

Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863, black denim
Top; Metalicus
Cardigan; Country Road
Scarf; Sportsgirl
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

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Except the boots…

21/06/2010 5:27 am \ 5 Comments \

Today my outfit is completely handmade by me!!  Doesn’t happen with extreme frequency, especially during winter when jumpers and cardigans are in constant appearance, so feeling pretty pleased with this outfit!  And my socks are knitted by me too, although they’re clearly not visible here…!  I really like the mix of blues and khaki combination, muted but strong; a colour scheme I really wanted to wear this winter.
Sigh, one of the factors causing me angst at the moment is whether or not to join up to Wardrobe Refashion again.   I’ve noticed that it is not going to cost us to join up, which is a good thing.  But I keep coming across new Metalicus tops in yummy colours which when I spy them am immediately convinced will fill a gaping hole in my wardrobe…   But do I really need new tops?  No.  Want?  Er, well, yes…. (shamefaced)  Yesterday I got out a woolen Tshirt from winter last year and it had big holes in it, a victim of silverfish (sad face)…  so some new tops should be on my to-get list.  And I have a big craving for some Metalicus.  It’s like a drug.  I must resist.
As well, in the West last weekend Rob Broadfield in his restaurant review penned a particularly scathing (and kinda nasty) comment on a certain type of woman who hails from the western suburbs (which I don’t) and who wears Metalicus (er, guilty).  My friend D once described the type as a latte-drinking, western suburbs airhead.  I think I’m safe on the latte issue, the western suburbs issue, and the airhead issue.  But I am failing on the Metalicus front…  And I definitely do NOT want to be lumped into that, or any, category of women.  I like to think I have my own style and am different from the herd.  (As we all do!)  So teetering here, on the whole Wardrobe Refashion issue…  
I did some more sewing over the weekend and have some new things to show you, but much better suited to a chillier day than today!
Today’s random picture below; cute droplets of water on my benchtop, must be a “sign”, no?

Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
T-shirt; refashioned from husband’s old T-shirt here
Cardigan; refashioned from husband’s old jumper here
Scarf; refashioned from husband’s old tank here
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

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Tobacco wool sheath

16/06/2010 4:49 am \ 6 Comments \

I made this tobacco wool-mix dress using Burda 8511, with fitting modifications about two years ago.  The modifications were namely creating two long and deep front darts, deepening and lengthening the back darts, and bringing in the side seams.
I think this is a great sheath pattern, obviously as I’ve used it four times already (to see the other versions I’ve made click on the Burda 8511 in the labels below), but it does suffer from being a bit shapeless.  Every time I’ve made it I’ve modified it quite a lot, just to get some shape into the thing.  I guess though this is why we buy these paper patterns or attend workshops to make up our own slopers or whatever; so we can get a basic workable shape to start us off, with which we can then play with from thereon.  Add our own exciting details as the whim strikes us.  The joys of dressmaking, no?
I made this for a winter dress, so the top half of the bodice is self-lined, with bemsilk lining the rest of the dress; super warm…  This way I’m wearing it today is the way I was customarily wearing it two years ago and I think maybe it’s time to dress it up a little differently?  Yeah well, we were all into pinafore dresses back then but perhaps it’s time for a new interpretation?  I’m not sure if I look “hot”, or just “not”.  Thus the long shot above, as I have a sneaking suspicion this tree is a much nicer aesthetic prospect than me in this outfit…
To be honest, lately in the dressing department I’m feeling very mojo-less and need something to boost me out of this flatness.  Any styling suggestions, anyone?
This morning my husband and I went out to breakfast together, which was real nice.  We don’t do this sort of thing very often…  It was quite cold then, but now I’m roasting as I’m looking out at bright blue skies again, and had to smear on the old sunblock before I went out for my walk later.  btw, how do you like my random picture for the day?  Pelicans are usually such somnolent birds, so I was lucky to catch this one wheeling away from the shore on his ungainly take-off; his huge wings flap flap flapping ponderously to get his big heavy body off over the water…  He was a beautiful sight.

Details:
Dress; Burda 8511, with some modifications, brown wool mix
Skivvy;  Metalicus
Tights; Kolotex, David Jones
Boots; Sempre di, from Zomp shoes
Belt; Emu leather
Bag; Gucci

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Splitting up a suit, 2

14/06/2010 6:07 am \ 8 Comments \

Here finally is the jacket from the suit I made a few years ago (see here and here)… made from free fabric and using Simplicity 4698 … again.  Yes, I do re-use patterns a lot, glad you noticed!
We had some very welcome rain last night.  Welcome because it’s been so dry lately, and whilst I rejoice in endlessly sunny days with open arms and no complaints we do need the rain so much too…  No doubt by the end of winter I will be complaining nonstop about wet weather but for now we are happy.  Looking back over my blog I can see it last rained on 21st May… and it is supposed to be winter!  Actually it’s been quite handy having this little daily snapshot here to remind me of each day’s doings and yes, the weather too.  My gosh, I can hardly believe I’m stooping to talking about the weather, so stiff, but in a fashion blog it is an immediate and relevant factor in one’s apparel choices for that day, so consideration of the weather is quite appropriate so here we go; rain this morning, but fine the rest of the day and not too cold.  I’m as warm as toast in this get-up here and happy to have found a way to put on this white elephant of a suit jacket, so all is well…  My friend A paid me a compliment on the jacket this morning (without knowing I’d made it, bonus points!) so perhaps it deserves more airings?
Today’s random picture below; seen on my walk this morning

Details:
Jacket; Simplicity 4698, grey and black cotton
Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
Jumper; Cue
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggy’s in Dunsborough

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Retroswirly tights

12/06/2010 4:07 am \ 17 Comments \

So I made myself some tights!  What do you think?!  Pretty chuffed myself actually; self-drafted, and I did make up a paper pattern for next time although of course not all stretch fabrics are created equal and I think each fabric would have to be judged on its own stretch factor for this purpose before using a pattern…
I didn’t get enough fabric to go the whole length from toe to hip and initially was kicking myself for this frugality, but then realised that, of course! no one is going to see above hip height anyway! so not necessary to have an unbroken length of fabric all that way anyway… so made the above hip part of the tights separate to the leg part of the tights and joined them together after.  So all turned out beautifully as this meant I used the whole width of fabric and had no leftovers, yay!  As all seamstresses will agree; leftovers can be handy occasionally, but can also be a fiddly nuisance filling up one’s available fabric storage space…
The leg seam goes from little toe around the front of the toes and up the inside leg, there is a centre front and centre back seam on the above-hip portion (no side seams at all!)   Then the round-the-hipbone seam joins top to bottom, and finally the top is folded over to form a casing and 2cm wide elastic inserted.
(OK, so I’m wearing them here to show them as full length as possible, but in reality I will probably wear these with boots and longer skirts…!)
Today’s random picture below; witch’s hat with a view, seen this morning

Dress; Body & Soul, it’s so long since I bought this (approx 12 yrs ago) the label is washed white and unreadable
Tights; own design, stretch print jersey
Shoes; Nina, from David Jones

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Olive and grape

11/06/2010 5:20 am \ 4 Comments \

Hilariously I started out this morning dressing with a view to wearing my suit jacket I’ve been talking about.  But it didn’t look as good over this dress as well as I’d envisioned in my head, and a few discarded variations later and with time running out before I had to be somewhere else I settled on this outfit; without the jacket!  Nuts!  I’ll have to put a bit more thought into an outfit next time, perhaps when I’ve got more time.  Been a bit hectically busy this morning (as obvious from my weird facial expression here, sorry).
This dress is a favourite from last winter, made using Burda 7897 and out of some lovely fabric that is a mix of bamboo and cotton.  This pattern is now discontinued, and I’m not surprised.  The bodice is … funny.  I should have got a clue when the photograph on the pattern envelope depicts the model with her arm folded firmly in front of her chest, I suspect now to disguise the … funny … bodice.  Actually I love this dress, in spite of the bodice.  It’s nice and warm (because I lined it fully) and I love it’s dark olive green/grey colour.  It’s a smudgy muddy colour that goes well with so many brights and other winter shades.  I always wear it with something over the front though, hiding that “funny” bodice…
I also made the skinny self fabric belt using a buckle I picked up in an op shop.
I totally love these Metalicus tights (and am so glad I got them before the self-imposed Wardrobe Refashion shutdown on shopping!)  I’ve worn the navy ones a few times and this is the first time this winter I’ve worn these mossy olive green ones.  Love!  Actually I’ve been playing with the idea of making my own tights… got some fabric and I’ll keep you posted…
Today’s random picture below, I think this little fellow thought I might feed him, he came right up beside me!

Details:
Dress; Burda 7897, olive green bamboo/cotton
Scarf; Alta Linea, a gift
Tights; Metalicus
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

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Hot pink and khaki in the bush…

04/06/2010 10:35 am \ 9 Comments \
I knitted this mossy green scarf about eight years ago.  It was a wool kit from Ivy and Maude, composed of an eclectic range of different yarns.  Perfect for keeping the neck warm on a winter weekend away at my parent’s house in the country…
Blog innovation alert!…  Since my husband, who always sources the best gifts ever!, gave me a new camera (thus this blog…) my interest in photography has increased exponentially.  So from now on I’ve decided to put a random picture into my posts of interesting sights that catch my eye that day, to make a hopefully interesting and artistic  addition from the ever-present sewing and fashion pictures… hope you enjoy!  For today it is a picture of my parent’s and their neighbour’s letterboxes.  It tickles me how these rough and rustic boxes are just propped in a haphazard way alongside the road, looking like junk but serving a practical and vital service.
Details:
Scarf; knitted by me, various yarns from Ivy and Maude
Top and cardigan; Metalicus
Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough
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