Kwik Sew 3667 Archives - Handmade by Carolyn

The Alessa hoodie

30/07/2013 2:50 pm \ 46 Comments \ Carolyn

… so called because Alessa of Farbenfreude gave this fabric to me in a recent giveaway… thank you so much Alessa!
It is very nice fabric, a largish piece of soft fluffy charcoal grey non-stretchy knit stuff with a diagonally printed black check pattern, and a smaller piece of raspberry red woven fabric with an almost chenille-y quality to it. They went so nicely together so I decided to combine the two in one garment.

The cat should give an idea of the scale here; there was not much fabric and I had to get creative to make the most of the small pieces. And just to clarify; that is not a whinge… I LOVE sewing challenges like this!
I made a slightly A-line tunic with plain set-in sleeves, and I cut the neckline and hoodie piece using KwikSew 3667. I’ve used this hood piece in several garments now, and this pattern was also given to me, by Mary of biblioblog a few years ago. I am so lucky to have such nice blogging friends!

Um, the hoodie looks quite different from my initial plan, which wasn’t a hoodie at all. This is a recurring phenomenon, I make plans but frequently change my mind once I get cutting. Indecisive? maybe! … but at least something will get made. And I’m very pleased with the contrasting hood and welt pockets.
Welted pockets … woot! I had just barely enough fabric for these! I used the pocket piece from Vogue 1115, and the contrasting welt is not a separate piece; to save fabric I cut the upper pocket piece with an interfaced extension at the opening, which folds back on itself to the inside becoming an integrated welt… doing this skips a seam underneath, resulting in a little less fabric bulk. I might just stick to this method from here on out!

All the raw seam allowance edges are overlocked together, and then I applied a cheat’s version of flat-felling because the fabric is quite “bouncy” and the seams didn’t press flat very satisfactorily. This involved just laying the overlocked seam allowance down to one side and top-stitching them to the garment.

Details:
Hoodie; self-drafted, with the hood piece from KwikSew 3667
Jeans; Burda 7863 modified, ivory stretch denim, details here
Boots; nylon, from Zomp shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, hoodie, Kwik Sew 3667, own design, pocket, top

Red Riding Hood

13/08/2012 5:17 am \ 23 Comments \ Carolyn

…along with requisite “wolf” hehehe.
This is the latest in my attempts to make usable things out of things not being used….
I pulled out of my bag of toss-outs this oversized cotton cardigan along with another old Tshirt tossed out by Tim. I’ve struggled with this cardigan… the cheerful warm tomato-red colour is a plus but the boxy shape and massive size has always been a problem. Since day dot, really… I bought it in 2001; my first mail order purchase whilst we were living in the US. I was a mail order newbie, and just assumed naively that a small/medium would probably be my size. When it arrived: well, it was ridiculously big!
Lesson learned! Incidentally, the lesson ultimately learned was “don’t buy mail order, ever”… but that’s a whole other story 😉

Anyhoo I did not think or know at the time how I could go about returning stuff… so it stayed. The armpits hung down below my bust level and I had to wrap it half again around my body and tie a belt over, to keep even halfway warm in it. Stylish, not. It’s basically been in the camping/washing the car and/or the dog in category since new, and then migrated to my re-fashioning bag at least a year ago.
Using my own trusty custom fit Tshirt pattern as a guide; I cut up the cardigan, re-sized the pieces and sewed it all together again: only keeping the shoulder seams of the cardigan intact, since they were already nicely re-inforced. Also I kept the neckline band and the wrist bands untouched and intact, and the lower band is also original although taken in with the side seams. When refashioning something new outa something old, it is a good idea to keep and incorporate into the finished garment as many of the factory finishes as possible; it ends up looking a lot more professional and pulled together. Plus makes it a heckuvalot easier.
I’m slightly obsessed with hoodies lately. Hood = cool, right? Right!
The red Tshirt was getting pretty fragile and the fabric was not going to hold up to anything heavy duty, but since a hood is something that just hangs there decoratively most of the time and is not “worn” very much, so I thought the fabric might hold up to the task.
Now my hood pattern from KwikSew 3667 is drafted to fit a crew neck, and my cardigan has a deep V neck. But it is pretty easy to add on an extra wedge section while cutting out, so the hood will fit onto the V neckline…

I overlocked the lower edge of my hood and simply stitched in the ditch along the outside of the cardigan.

I removed the original buttons off the cardigan (green plastic, which I never really liked either) and sewed in a matching red open-ended zip.
I did have fancy plans to sew on a few decorative pockets cut from the Tshirt also, but after a coupla attempts I had to concede defeat; the Tshirt fabric was really too fragile and they looked muchos hideous. So the cardigan remains pocket-less. 🙁
Yah, so hopefully the hood might hold up for a while yet. We shall see. To be honest, I’m still not head over heels in love with this thing, despite its cool new hood. Y’know how sometimes something just doesn’t push your buttons, even though it ticks all the right boxes? It’s “my” colour, it’s got a hood, it fits nicely (now). It’s got a hood. Did I mention the hood? Hoods are cool. I kinda love the hood.
Well, I guess I’ll look a tad more stylin’ around the campfire than I was before.
I’m counting this one a minor league win.

Details:
Hoodie; my own design, with modified hood from KwikSew 3667, made from an oversized old cardigan and an old tshirt
Tshirt; charcoal and black striped cotton jersey, details here
Skirt; charcoal stretch jersey, details here
Scarf; details here
Tights; voodoo
Shoes; Django and Juliette, from Zomp shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: cardigan, daily outfit, hoodie, Kwik Sew 3667, own design, Sienna, Wardrobe Refashion

Army style jacket, with detachable (faux) fur-lined hood

07/07/2011 11:22 am \ 32 Comments \ Carolyn

I mentioned some time ago my new army/military style jacket; finished way back in March, well, here it is!
When we were in Tokyo I saw all ages and both sexes, everywhere, sporting big khaki army type jackets. All with military details, lots of pockets, cinched in waist belts and sometimes with fur-lined hoods, and I just fell in love with them and decided I just had to have my own. They just looked so big and comfy and cosy looking, and the girls (and boys) wearing them looked so warm not to mention so so so too-cooool-for-school; casually and bulkily stylish… I’m sure a lot of the ones I saw were real army jackets, possibly from army disposal stores or secondhand stores, but naturally with my DIY aesthetic I was always going to try to make my own… 😀
Of course what I wasn’t taking into account was that it doesn’t really get all that cold here and especially for the hoodie part of it! I expect I will wear it without the hood for most of the time… but it was still fun to have a go at making a furry hood, and it just might come in handy for some mornings, and if we ever go down to the country.

Details:

Jacket; Burdastyle 05-2010-127 with my own modifications, khaki ripstop cotton and grey marle fleece lining

Skirt; Vogue 7303, olive green corduroy, to see this little skirt styled in 6 different ways go here

Top and tights; Metalicus

Socks, handknit by me, details here

Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes

Dressmaking details; if you want to know…
I used Burdastyle 05/2010, pattern 127 as a starting point, and as usual made a few modifications to get the army-style I envisioned, but as the bones of the jacket are essentially the same I think I can dare to write a review for this pattern?? I used ripstop cotton in khaki, a wonderful fabric both tough and hardwearing and so so so perfect for an army style jacket! I have also made this and this from the exact same fabric, so I guess it is obvious I love it…! I’d better not buy any more, hmmm? The lining is a pale grey marle fleece, and the faux fur is… well, faux fur. I think from memory, it was labelled silver fox. All the materials are from Spotlight.
The modifications I made:
Lengthened the jacket by oooh, roughly 7cm? and also slightly enlarged (length-wise) and slightly lowered the lower front pockets. I chose to enlarge these because I thought the original smaller ones would not have the right proportions on the lengthened jacket…
I drafted a completely different collar, a sorta slightly curved rectangle, because I wanted more of a wide standup collar than the little fold-down one in the pattern…

My sleeves are not vented or cuffed, and have a tab with snap closure, for more of a military-looking effect.
I did not incorporate buttons and buttonholes at the front as stipulated in the pattern, but instead inserted an open-ended zip, again inspired by the styling of army jackets I’ve seen around
My jacket is fully lined, with grey fleece (for warmth, and also to enhance that bulky look an army jacket is supposed to have) as it turns out it is very warm! I did not hem the lining, but enclosed the flat raw edges inside the sleeve and lower hems of the jacket. The fleece was partly leftover from this project, I had to buy a bit more.

I added a tab at the lower edge, and another tab at the neck edge; both features I mentally noted from the army jackets I saw in Tokyo. These both have snap closure.
The self-fabric belt is interfaced with the thickest, heaviest-duty iron-on interfacing I could find, and the buckle and eyelets were from Spotlight, like everything else.

I made a detachable, (faux) fur-edged hood. For this, I used a modified version of the hood from KwikSew 3667, with the lower edge cut flatter and a bit narrower to fit in with the neckline of my jacket. It is also lined with fleece, and has buttonholes sewn in the bottom edge, which correspond with the buttons that I sewed inside the collar edge. I realise the fur-edged hood is probably kinda silly in this climate, but I think it looks kinda cool, and it just may come in useful one day?

My review of this pattern, if you’re interested…

Pattern Description:
Unstructured long-sleeved jacket; with two piece sleeves with vents and buttoned cuffs, front buttons and buttonband, epaulettes, four flapped patch pockets at the front, belt loops at waist level for the self-fabric belt and a short, buttoned collar.
Pattern Sizing:
36-44. I made a 38
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished sewing it?
In essence, yes. I made a few modifications.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes. I did some steps differently and in a different order, to accommodate my modifications…
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like everything about this pattern! The basic bones of the pattern are great; being unstructured it is therefore very easy to fit, to put together and also easy to incorporate your own alterations. The fun is in adding your own details.
Fabric Used:
Ripstop cotton, and fully lined with cotton/polyester fleece. A strip of faux fur (silver fox) to edge the hood
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Lengthened the jacket by about 7cm? and also slightly enlarged (length-wise) and slightly lowered the lower front pockets. I chose to enlarge these not because I thought they were too small but because I thought the originals would not have the right proportions once I had lengthened the jacket…
Drafted a different, slightly curved rectangular collar, because I wanted a higher standup collar than the little fold down one in the pattern
Inserted tabs with snap closure in the top and bottom of the front edges
Instead of the front buttonband and buttons, extended the front opening edges slightly so I could insert an open-ended zip
Fully lined the jacket in a polyester cotton fleece
Added a hood, also fully lined with fleece, and edged in faux fur. This has 4 buttonholes on the lower edge, and attaches to 4 buttons sewn around the neckline, inside of the collar
Left off the sleeve vent and cuffs, instead inserted tabs with snap closure inside the lower end of the sleeve seam, sewed the sleeves closed to the end and hemmed over the raw edges of the lining. The lower hem of the jacket also encloses the raw edge of the jacket lining inside
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I would definitely recommend this to others! I might sew it again, if I need another jacket like this.
Conclusion:
This pattern was one of the first to catch my eye in this magazine, and I always had a mind to make it. After visiting Tokyo, and being totally inspired by the cool cool army/military style jackets I saw worn over there, I realised this was the perfect pattern I could adapt quite easily to get that style of jacket. And I’m totally happy with how it turned out; even if the hood is not super appropriate for our climate I still love it, and am very pleased with the smart styling and warmth of the jacket even sans hood. The waist belt is a nice finishing touch, although I am very glad I lengthened the jacket as I think the belt would have looked a bit funny on the shorter length.

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burdastyle magazine 05-2010-127, coat, daily outfit, hoodie, jacket, Kwik Sew 3667, own design, pattern review

Out bush

06/11/2010 9:04 am \ 5 Comments \ Carolyn

Have had a lovely morning out bush-walking with Mum and Dad and also, nice surprise, some of Dad’s old cronies from university. Heard a lot of anecdotes, some hilarious, about some of the goings on from their old student days… such as a few of the blokes driving possibly the first private car across the Narrows Bridge just before it was opened to the public. One of the guys had a tiny car, that they managed to squeeze past the tractors that had been set up to keep everyone out, and they travelled across the new bridge in the dark hours of night… !
Also how same tiny car fitted between the undercroft pillars of Winthrop Hall, in the space that is now the University Library, so they could drive down and about underneath and weave in and out of the pillars… !
Also about the time they bundled a particularly obnoxious and thieving fellow student into someone’s car, drove him to the river and heave-ho-ed him in to teach him a lesson… he had to face his next patient looking a complete wreck and dripping wet … !
Also about the time they managed to get the car into one of the lifts, up to the fifth floor, and carry it over to and leave it on the fifth floor landing to astonish and perplex staff and other students… !
Such naughty mischievous students they were, and all now such venerable and dignified members of the community, each and every one of them!
Oh, and also have been told that (apparently) I look a lot like an evil character from the “Luther” TV series, absolutely must check this out… Am secretly glad she’s not a sappy character, I much prefer to have a dastardly and wicked alter-ego…
So this has been my garb, my surroundings, and my activity for today. And while taking the above picture I managed to rush over and grab the camera in time to catch the little fellow below…

Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863 modified slightly, greige corduroy
Hoodie; KwikSew 3667, pale grey marle fleece
Mum’s old hiking boots (because I forgot to bring my own); Diana Ferrari of Australia

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7863, jeans, Kwik Sew 3667, top

Hoodie McCloud

29/10/2010 6:43 am \ 15 Comments \ Carolyn

Don’t ask me why the silly name I’ve dubbed my new hoodie. I have no explanation myself. I surprise myself with my inner loon sometimes…
The lovely Mary had a giveaway and sent me this cute hoodie pattern, KwikSew 3667, and this is my first effort. I just used some unexciting pale grey marle fleece to try it out, but am already in love with the hoodie in this fabric, and this pattern. It was very very easy to make up. Probably took oh, about half an hour, cutting included. Yes! (air fist punch) The most difficult part was… no, I’m teasing… There was nothing difficult about this hoodie! I am definitely going to make this one up again, and again. Not that I’m going down the path of ease and comfort above all else, don’t worry. I’m never going to be that gal in the bogan tracky dacks. And while I do like to be challenged in my dressmaking, but it’s also nice to have a quick and easy project every once in a while, a soothing gel to the ego when more difficult projects are getting one down…
Thankyou so much, Mary!
I’m really liking the way style has not been sacrificed on the altar of comfort in this pattern; I think this loose and simple shape is very chic and “now” while still being evening-on-the-sofa worthy. Look at the below shots from the Dries Van Noten Fall 2010 and Celine Spring 2011 collections (and yes, I am planning this in white too as part of my white shirt challenge). I loved the Dries Van Noten look when I first saw it and will wear it like this with a silky skirt one day… But for today I am bike-riding with my friend S so the need for a bike-appropriate outfit.

Details:
Hoodie; Kwik Sew 3667 view A, grey marle fleece
Jeans; adaption of Burda 7863, rust corduroy
Sunnies; RayBan
Thongs (flipflops): Mountain Design

photos below; at left from Dries Van Noten, Fall 2010, at right from Celine, Spring 2011