Tag Archives: Fibremood

trench coat inspired cape jacket

25/02/2024 5:08 pm \ 5 Comments \

I made this cool new little jacket/cape/abbreviated trench coat thing!  I don’t know how else to describe it really!

This is the new Delma pattern by Fibremood; it’s a very wide, yet very cropped little jacket, with trench inspired details like a gun flap at the front and storm cape at the back.  The sides are buttoned closed with arrowhead tabs, which themselves have a trench-inspired air about them too.

I added bellows pockets to the front of mine, for visual interest, and also because pockets too, of course!  These have plain, unbuttoned flaps over them.

The fabric is a bone coloured cotton drill from old old stash.  I can’t even remember buying this, that’s how long it’s been a-languishing.  I know I’ve said this before, but I have to say it again; I’m so happy to be finally liberating all these fabrics into my wardrobe!

The buttons are Billabong, harvested from off a pair of old worn cargo shorts of one of my boys.  Luckily I had enough and they were absolutely perfect in colour and style for this jacket!

I bought some new dating labels too!  These “made in 2024” are from Intensely Distracted.  I was all set to buy the same ones I’ve bought in previous years, the Kylie and the Machine “circa 20xx” ones, which I really like.  Unfortunately though, they were not releasing the colour way I wanted; the black writing on white background.  Last year I bought the white writing on black “circa 2023” and although I used them all, I have to be honest that I didn’t really like this colour way.  Anyway, I do really like these ones!

I’m wearing the jacket here with my old black corduroy jeans, made using the old Burda 7863, that I used to use a LOT back in the day!  and also my yellow clogs, made using a kit from leather needle thread.  I’ve linked to those things made previously…   Fun fact; it was about 40C when I was taking these pictures, and I was practically dying of the heat here, if you can’t tell. Phew!  In a few months though I’m sure the weather will have cooled down enough to wear this outfit for real.  I hope so because I really love it!

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black velvet hoodie jacket and matching skirt

12/10/2023 4:21 pm \ 3 Comments \

Hello!  long time no blog… I’ve been having a few technological issues.  Specifically, my lovely loyal computer started dying and then… did die *pause for a moment’s silence*  Towards the end it was impossible to do anything without everything crashing …. life was becoming terribly frustrating.  Traumatic times!  Anyway, long story short; I have a lovely new computer now! Yes, that was the short version, thank goodness for that!

Anyway, time for me to blog some of the things I’ve been making…  oh I noticed just today that my blog is just about exactly 14? years old now?  Happy bloggiversary to me!  I can hardly believe it, how time has zoomed by!

So, I made this skirt and hoodie jacket set a little while ago… this is exactly the sort of thing I love to wear during winter and I’m excited to wear it in autumn too.  The fabric is quite warm but the sleeves of the jacket are short, so I can see it being pretty good during the seasonal change too.

Patterns: the jacket is Burdastyle 10/2009, 108; a pattern I have used once before, here.  This time I fully lined the jacket, and did not put in any piping.

The skirt is the new Fibremood Marah pattern, available here.  I cut the mini version, just bit longer.  It’s a pretty cute pattern, like a jeans skirt with a front fly and slanted side pockets.  Plus the usual back patch pockets, and for good measure two extra big pockets at the side too.  These match the big patch pockets on my jacket, which is quite nice I think.

Fabrics; the mustard patterned black velvet is a fairly heavy upholstery fabric that was given to me years ago by a friend, who was cleaning out her mother-in-law’s stash.  It’s almost got thrown out multiple times, but I’ve always saved it at the last minute because it’s really not too bad. I cut the pockets and hoodie from a mustard/caramel cotton corduroy, leftovers from a pair of jeans I made years ago.  It matches the pattern on the velvet perfectly!  like it was meant to be.

I lined both pieces with a deep olive green lining fabric, from old stash.  Yes, actually both fabrics are from old old stash and even the zip was recycled.  I’m still using my supplies up as much as I can!  I haven’t bought any new fabric this year! although I might allow myself one new piece.  My friends gave me a Fabulous Fabrics voucher for my birthday and I would like to use it before the year is out.  That’s ok, because this year I have managed to get my stash right down to about a third of what it used to be.  I’m so happy about that!

Also recently; I made a new pair of Fridgetown hand warmers for my daughter-in-law Kelly.  I’d given her a pair a few years ago; when we first created the pattern, and she’s worn them threadbare!  So thrilled that she loved them so much! and she requested a new pair for her birthday.  Preferably they would go nicely with this navy and white striped hoodie that I made for her even more years ago, and that she still wears very regularly.  I happened to have a just-big-enough length of cranberry merino, leftover from this T-shirt I made for myself a few years ago and ran up the handwarmers.  It’s so nice to have family who likes to wear the things that I make for them; truly I do not take this for granted!  The Fridgetown hand warmer pattern is available here.

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some blue things because why not

21/07/2023 9:09 pm \ 1 Comment \

First up; some navy blue suedette shorts!

I actually like wearing shorts in winter; it’s kinda the same as wearing a mini, in my opinion, and personally I think minis are absolutely great in winter.  So why not shorts in winter too?

Suedette is quite a wintery-feeling fabric too I think; this piece is actually leftover from when I made my Megan Nielsen Dove blouse, way back here.  I KNOW!  I surprise myself sometimes with my stashing capabilities.  Too silly for words.

I had just enough fabric to squeeze out the pieces for these shorts, which is awesome sauce.  The pattern is the FibreMood Dahlia shorts pattern, which is a beautifully feminine, roomy design, with a deep deep pleat at the top resulting in chic wide legs, also very deep and lovely cuffs.  These are my favourite part of the shorts actually.  It has pockets too, of course!  Oh, and lastly the waist was a little baggy on me, so I also added belt loops and made a short tie belt.  I really like how this looks on the shorts too!  You can probably see that I used a silver press stud for the shorts closure, it stands out ike a sore thumb in these pictures unfortunately; after I noticed this I went back and added another belt look over the press stud, hiding it.  Thus fixing the problem, yay.

I’m wearing them here with my ivory tee top, my handknitted hand warmers, and my black tights…

What else have I made… hmmm?  Well another maternity skirt for Cassie.  This is another Burda 7023, using navy blue cotton jersey.  I was asked in the comments where this can be bought, I’m afraid if it’s not in your local pattern store then I don’t know, sorry.  It’s kinda hard to get hold of older paper patterns nowadays, very sadly.  I think this particular pattern was from about three or four years ago.  I just gave it to her without taking a photo sorry; maybe I’ll get a photo and update here then  🙂   (later edit: Here ’tis!!)

And I finished another project, this beanie has been a veeeery long term one!  In 2018 we went to Canada and Alaska, blogged about here; and here; and I bought some yarn while there; including this ball of locally handspun and hand-dyed wool in Talkeetna, Alaska.  The label has Wild n’ Woolly on it, but they don’t seem to have an internet presence so I can’t link to them.  The colour is Berry Picking, and the design is my own, but pretty plain.  I started and unravelled it a few times, trying to get the perfect amount of head-hugging, which I think I got in the end.  It’s beautifully cosy!

I’m wearing  it here with my raspberry tee top, my raspberry Paprika Patterns Jade mini skirt, hand knit navy cardigan, navy corduroy jacket (originally made for Sam but he’s given it back to me) my yellow raincoat, black tights…

And that’s all for now!  Our new pattern is going to be ready very very soon, we’ve been working so hard on it, so please look forward to that coming soon!

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green Quilla and some small T-shirts

17/05/2023 1:07 pm \ 1 Comment \

Hello!  I’ve made some new things… actually I’m always making new things but am seriously behind on blogging them.  Bad me!

First up; a new little top for myself… this is the new Fibremood Quilla pattern, I and I love it!  It’s super cute in my opinion, very easy to make and uses a very small amount of fabric.  Is that a good thing? well pretty wonderful when you have lots of small leftover cuts that you wish to “gainfully” use up, like I am.

something I should mention: several times I have had to go back and lowered the necklines on a few of my fibremood makes, retroactively; because I’ve found them to sit quite high in general.  So this time I proactively lowered the neckline by 5cm on this and I’m glad I did! it doesn’t feel too low at all and is in fact very comfortable.   Something to bear in mind!

 

I used a raw silk hessian from Le Stash… this is leftover from when I made this green dress.

I stitched with green thread of course, but didn’t have any matching cotton for the bias binding nor green overlocking thread, so used white for both of these so there’s kind of a match-matchy situation going on with the inner seam finishes.  This is quite a pleasurable sight to my eyes.

This top has a reverse pleat going on with the front/back panels and side panels; so I thought I’d share how I do the hem in this circumstance; the pattern just has you hemming as usual, but I’ve always found you get a sharper pleat if you doit like above.  You need to snip the seam allowances at the hemline point so the hem seam allowances can wrap out the other way around the side seam allowances.  Yes, sounds like it makes no sense but it does if you’re doing this sort of hem, trust me.  Because I didn’t have matching overlocking thread, I just did a zigzag stitch to finish the raw edges in the hem allowance.

This gives you a nice, permanent fold at that point and enables the pleats to sit the way you want them too.

oh, see that cute little T-shirt Theo is wearing in the above pic? that’s the one I blogged about in my previous post.  I’m happy to say he loves wearing it as a regular T-shirt and not just for pj’s!

Also, since Arthur’s T-shirts were a tad on the small side I made him a few more… These are made from out of two of Tim’s old T-shirts and also some more of that tomato red cotton jersey that Theo’s top is made from; that I’ve been using up lately.  There will be some more things from this stuff appearing very soon, once I get around to modelling and photographing it.  It’s actually finally all gone now, hurrah! and I have moved onto other fabrics!

Extras: yes, I made those jeans, using old jeans and the Closet Core Jenny pattern, previously blogged here

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a simple little frock

01/03/2023 11:15 am \ 6 Comments \

It’s been a while, but rest assured I’m still making/sewing like mad!  just that I can’t show anything at all for a little bit yet…

but I can show this! just a simple little summer dress but better than nothing eh

This pattern is the new Lennox dress from the latest fibremood collection; it’s a very simple and standard sort of a thing but the point of difference in this design is the pleated skirt as opposed to the ubiquitous gathered skirt of which we’re all becoming quite weary… or is that just me??!  If so, sorry!

It has a buttoned up front, which I can wear backwards too actually, should the whim strike.  In the pattern you’re supposed to use a snap tape, but I happened to have some pretty good buttons my stash. Actually; perfectly sized and perfectly colour-matched buttons… so rare! and so incredibly lucky!!  I added inseam side pockets and a little cuff to gather in the sleeves.  As is, the pattern has them just hanging loosely open, which I thought looked kinda unfinished.  I really love this kinda of loose cuff finish on a half-length sleeve.

My fabric is a beautiful midweight linen that I bought in Tessuti last year, during our trip to Melbourne.  One of the few pieces of fabric I bought last year!  I think possibly the last before my self-imposed ban on any and all fabric shopping.  I allowed myself a few purchases in Melbourne because it got the rather weak pass of being “souvenir shopping”, but honestly t’was a little naughty of me!  I do really love the slightly blotchy pink background colour, and the equally blotchy navy blue polka dots.  They’re slightly wonky, so pattern matching is kinda spotty; but well you know.

Ah, the good ol’ “circa 2023” label!  I really enjoyed dating my creations last year so I bought some for this year as well.  Not as many as last year, because wedding sewing has so totally dominated my life this year so far that I’m very aware my output will be considerably smaller too.  But hopefully of higher quality!

Talk soon!  I should have some VERY exciting things to share, very very soon too!

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in which I make yet another tartan thingie…

27/11/2022 8:04 pm \ 2 Comments \

Hello!  I’ve made a new.. blouse? jacket?  the more open-ended “top” would be the least controversial, I suppose!

This is the new Rhonda pattern by Fibremood… I always tend to go for the weirdest pattern in any collection because that’s just my preference in just about anything, and I was not disappointed with my choice this time either! It’s quite unique; sorta boxy giving a tres-flattering square shape to one’s torso  #imjoking and an up-and-down hemline all around.  The sleeves are wide and a little flared without being annoyingly big.  If I’m being critical I’m not super sold on the buttoned back; such a thing has a tiny whiff of “homemade” about it and maybe I would substitute a zip or even an invisible zip in a lighter fabric next time.  But, I’m ok with it for them most part.

I didn’t have matching buttons in my stash, so got some blue fabric covered ones that I’d rescued off a cardigan, many years ago, and used a sharpie to colour them in black.  Perfect!  I really like how they’re a little woolly looking, just like the fabric.

Oh, the fabric?  This was a leftover, given to be by Mum.  She’d bought it in Melbourne, during one of our girls’ trips over there; and subsequently made a pair of trousers for herself.  In true Mum fashion she had bought about 2m too much.  The wrong side is a bit fluffy, like a blanket, and this is the side I used as a right side.  The actual right side is a lot more defined and sharp looking, which is nice but I just wanted the slightly fluffy, ill-defined felted look of the wrong side.

 

I managed to get this little jacket out of it, and also a little matching skirt.  Oh, you’ve noticed I am not wearing the matching skirt?  That’s because while I used my own perfectly fitting skirt block to cut it out, I foolishly failed to add seam allowances.  And then steam-rollered through without pausing to try it on at any point, until it was completely finished.   So it turned out depressingly tiny *sob*  Fortunately it fits Cassie just fine, so she accepted it happily.  I’m quite sad because it honestly looked so cute with the matching jacket! but really; I have enough skirts planned top of that one to suit my needs.

I’ll attach a picture of Cassie wearing the skirt here when I can get one… until then!

please say hi to my darling little grandson and BooBoo … and yes, I am … just a little bit dying of heat right here.  But hey; summer is here at last, and I am NOT complaining!

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oxen

13/11/2022 9:29 pm \ Leave a Comment \

How cute is this multicoloured “oxen” print?  I saw it on Spoonflower and immediately fell in love.  I bought a little of the cotton sateen last year.  Or maybe even the year before?  Yes, it has indeed been in the stash for a while; and my pledge to use up the stash is still a work in progress!

I used it to make up this unusual pattern; the FibreMood Jill dress.  I know it looks like a fairly featureless dress pattern from the front but from the back the more unique qualities become apparent… mainly a triangular “window” underneath a long opening.  This looks cute but in reality is a bit of a bra-revealer, even though there is a joining bar that is probably intended to be at bra level.  I’ve taken to wearing it over a simple little camisole to eliminate the risk.

The skirt “looks” gathered, but is actually not; in fact there is a casing at the top of the skirt, through which you thread a length of elastic.  At each end of the elastic you attach a skinny tie, which comes out at centre back.

I enjoyed finishing the raw edges inside with pale pink muslin binding; this has been in my stash for YONKS.  An appropriately kindergarten-esque finishing touch is a garish apple-green button.  There’s actually not a skerrick of green anywhere in the print, but it has the same saturation level as the other colours so fits in quite well, I think.

Now, I have worn this dress a couple of times, including once in the Maldives even though it’s not in the “floordrobe” shot, whoops!  but actually the reason it got forgotten because it was by that time awaiting alterations in the rehabilitation ward already.  Yes, it had a few little problems which I knew had to be fixed asap if I wanted to wear it again.

A major problem was a strangling-ly high neckline.  I unpicked the white-on-white under stitching around the front part of the neckline and restitched a new scoop…  taking out a good 4cm in the process.  Re-understitched the facing and bammo!  the difference is subtle and no one would notice but the comfort level for me is stratospherically improved!

But most importantly it was a tad too short for summer wear.  Not scandalously so, but just a bit.  I’d worn it a smattering of times in winter with tights and boots…  voila below; for which the length was fine.

Compounding the problem, it was a little shortwaisted on me too.  Resulting in an almost babydoll look, which is not good on me at all.  So I cut a 20cm extension from the leftovers and stitched this underneath the skirt, at the hem stitching level.  This results in a two layered skirt look which fortunately I happen to like.  And the proportions of bodice and skirt are hugely improved, imo!  Begone, the babydoll look!

I’m gong to enjoy wearing this cute dress in summer!  And if I want the shorter length back for next winter it’s a quick and easy unpick to get the lower level back off again too.  And then maybe I can add it back on again the following summer?  Yes, hmmm maybe that sounds a little odd, but why not?  Updating the hemline to suit the season sounds like quite a good way of enhancing the wearability of my wardrobe, so maybe I should embrace this concept more often!

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the fascinating sleeves of farrah

22/09/2022 2:35 pm \ 1 Comment \

…hyperbole?  I don’t think so!

The sleeves of my newest thing are extremely cool imo… I’m really enamoured with their very unique design.  I’m always on the lookout for cool design ideas anyway, and was so excited to try this one out!

Oh yes, what pattern is this?…  the new Fibremood Farrah dress.  It calls itself a “dress” but my honest opinion is that it is far more coat-like…  I’m wearing mine over a merino tee and a corduroy skirt in my pictures here.  It is a very easy pattern to make, despite the sleeves appearing sorta avant garde.  They look interesting but end up being a pretty simple construction, which is an interesting thing in itself, I suppose!

I used a length of deep midnight blue slubby cotton that Mum had given me when she cleaned out her stash – and yes, there’s even more where that came from! –  I’m pretty sure it was originally from Fabulous Fabrics because I’ve seen it in the store.  It’s quite sturdy but soft and pliable and sews up beautifully; I’ve bought lots of this stuff in the past in different colour ways and made up loads of things.  Really really love it; in any colour way.  I’ve had to restrain myself to not buy any more during my pledge to use up my stash!  Btw, remember I made a little pledge to not buy any new fabric until I’d used up 30m of my stash?  Well, I finished that and now I’ve decided to unofficially extend my pledge to not buy any new fabric until I’ve used up the WHOLE LOT; within reason.  By that I mean; if I have to buy more, to make some desperately needed thing and have absolutely nothing that will do then I will; but as much as possible I am determined to keep going until it is ALL GONE.  I know, right?!  I wonder how long it is going to take me!  I’m excited to find out!

Anyway, fortunately I had almost the exact right amount to make up this design… almost!  I was short by about 5cm to cut out the sleeves as intended, but I just shortened the sleeves by folding a tuck in the pattern piece and ploughed ahead.  I’m very happy with the resulting bracelet sleeves so it was a very serendipitous “oh damn” moment in the end after all.

I didn’t have any buttons that suited, but did have some bright white plastic ones with a nice surface design; so with a view to (again, recurring theme) using the stash as much as possible, I dug out some royal blue spray paint from the shed (used previously for when I made these shoes) and gave them a little face-lift.  It’s not a perfect colour match by any means but I really love how they turned out!

I’m very happy with how smart and stylish this dress/coat turned out! and am really going to enjoy wearing it during our warmer months coming up.  When they do… it’s still quite cold here *sad face*  I’m desperate for summery weather!

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