Tag Archives: Sienna

Self-drafted pants

27/11/2009 1:49 am \ 4 Comments \

These white linen pants I drafted from my favourite jeans (see here) and even though I’ve got my new pants pattern Burda 7944 that I really like; I still love the fit and shape of these I’m wearing today and think I will use this again.  And again.  The top of the pants is a very flattering shape as it isn’t darted or pleated, but has a separate shaped waistband that is curved to fit.  Most dressmakers will know that a flat bit of fabric however it is darted, tucked, pleated or manipulated will still not fit as well as properly curved and pieced garments.  Yes, it’s more time consuming to cut and sew, but there it is.
Whenever I’ve sewn pants with a curved waistband the fit is always superior to a straight waistband.  The trade-off is that a curved waistband uses more fabric, to a waste-phobe like me that is something to struggle with.  Alternatively you can try to dart a straight waistband to achieve the curved fit you require… problems, problems; oh, the dilemmas of achieving the perfect fit!  A common anthem for seamstresses the world over!  I guess it doesn’t ever get any easier, but the challenge is what keeps us going.  That and the satisfaction of a producing a great pair of pants – finally!  And I do love these pants.  I’ve decided to reuse the fabric from my other white linen pants posted about before, as they just don’t do it for me any more.  Another project.  Hmm.  At last reckoning I already have about six unfinished projects lurking about the place.  And yesterday I went to Fabulous fabrics and bought some more fabric.  And I also bought three new patterns the day before.  Confession time.  Hanging my head in shame.
Moving right along, I’ve had a few queries as to the absence of Sienna; well, she’s always around but doesn’t always deign to slip into the photos.  Recently she spent a day getting pampered at the beauty salon and has come home with a beautiful new ‘do.  See how stunning she looks in her photos!

Other details:
Top; Metalicus
Sandals; Neo, bought at Nine West?
Necklace; from the surf shop on Rottnest Island

 

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Favourite skirt, styled in 6 different ways

13/11/2009 2:34 am \ Leave a Comment \

Something different for today.  After my office duties I am taking my daughter out for a special treat to lunch; Fashion Friday at the Globe, so I’m wearing this dress I’ve posted about before.  Don’t want to post another picture of the same dress, so instead I’m delivering something I promised to do about a month ago, namely showing the versatility of my favourite skirt, first posted about here.
Its made of a slightly shimmery pale pink damask from my favourite skirt pattern Vogue 7303, with my own variation in the addition of three extra layers both front and back, joined onto the lining and separate from each other.  So effectively it has eight different hems.  And yes, it was extremely complex to make.  But worth it.
For today’s post I’ve styled it to be worn as a casual skirt for summer and winter, as slightly more dressy (say if I’m meeting friends during the day) winter and summer, and finally as a semi-formal skirt again for both summer and winter.  So you can see how versatile it’s been in my wardrobe!

Left; for casual summer wear, with a tank top and thongs(flipflops), and right; for casual winter wear

Below left; for nice-ish summer wear, and right; for winter wear (ie. if meeting other ladies or my husband somewhere for lunch or morning tea)
Left; worn as if for a semi-formal outdoor summer function and right; for a dressy winter function
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Major surgery

12/11/2009 1:37 am \ 7 Comments \

Today’s effort is the result of a little wardrobe surgery.  A few years ago we went to a dress-up evening and our whole table went as 50’s style swing dancers.  All the guys wore jeans, white T-shirts and leather jackets, and all the girls wore polka dot circle skirts and neckties, white T-shirts, black sandals and white bobby socks (see before photo).  All us girls had matching outfits; we went out and bought purple, lime green, orange, turquoise and blue polka dot cotton, made our skirts and the neckties from the leftovers, and mixed and matched our neckties!  It was great fun and we won a prize for the best dressed table.
So, fast forward four or five years and I still have this orange polka dot circle skirt sitting at the top of my wardrobe.  Eventually it became patently clear I was never going to wear it ever again, so what to do?  Couldn’t possibly waste all that fabric, and in my colours too! (apparently)
So here is the result.  It is Butterick 4985 with view B collar again, with the sleeves taken from New Look 6252 but cut short.  What can I say, I really like the fitted style of this blouse pattern!
Because the polka dots are really bright bright white I decided to wear it with a white skirt.  I like the way the dull grey metal fittings on the skirt match the iron ore ball necklace, and the dull silver buckles on these sandals … maybe I’m overthinking all this …  Anyhow, I feel its a nice bright colour scheme for what is shaping up to be an dull grey, overcast, drizzly day.
My daughter has a bit of a break before her next exam, so after completing my office work we’ll go out together for a bit of afternoon tea.

Other details:
Skirt; Old Khaki, bought while on holiday in South Africa
Necklace; bought in Egypt
Sandals; Sportscraft, bought in David Jones

 

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Achieving a perfect fit (thanks to Bessie)

11/11/2009 4:53 am \ Leave a Comment \

I decided last night to wear this dress today, long before I remembered it was Remembrance Day.  Seemed fortuitous when I saw the RSL poppies being sold on the streets.
This dress is derived from McCalls 4453 view C, which is actually a halter neck top pattern.  However there were many things I wanted for this dress that didn’t correspond with the pattern, so I really only used the bodice fronts from the pattern and the rest was designed by me using Bessie, the dressmaker’s dummy.   The bodice is quite close fitting, with no elastication.  Also the skirt has been elongated, and altered a lot.  Actually I just typed in a whole paragraph detailing how it was altered, and reading it through I decided it was boring, so deleted it!  The result is my own vision, originally intended for a beach dress, but great for a light summer dress too.  The fabric, bought on super special from Fabulous Fabrics, is blotchy red and pink polyester chiffon, with multicoloured and silver sparkles all over.
I really like my colour scheme today, with just a touch of  black.  As a rule I don’t like black and red together as it makes me think “emo”, but I think the stone white of my cardigan makes it all OK.
My sister-in-law asked in a comment how I found the sizing of New Look patterns.  I find them to fit fine, with my usual adjustments.  Through trial and error over the years, I now manage to achieve perfect fit on my own garments pretty much every time.  I’ll summarise my procedure on sizing my own clothing just in case this helps others:

I always use as my starting point the sizing recommended on the pattern envelope.  Depending on what you are making, either the bust, waist or hip measurement will be the most important consideration.  For top and blouse patterns the bust size is crucial, for flared skirts the waist size is crucial, and for more fitted skirts and pants the waist and hip sizes are the most important measurements to consider when choosing your pattern size.
During the cutting stage I take into account my own personal body shape.  All women will have a pretty good awareness of their own shape, and will already know if they are pear-shaped, hourglass, boy shaped or petite (lucky you), round, top heavy, etc.  I myself am slightly pear-shaped.  I take a smaller size blouse or top than I do in pants or skirts.  So, when I am trialling a new pattern of a dress, I generally adjust by cutting the top to my (smaller) bust and waist measurement, then from the waist to hip taper out to the (larger) hip measurement.
To use another example, for a woman with a big bust but small hips, she may cut her tops to her larger size bust, but taper down to a smaller size going on down to the hip.
Patterns usually have the waistline marked, and the hipline is sometimes marked, you may have to work this out yourself but its generally at the widest point below the waistline.
No matter what garment I am making, I usually fit the pieces to Bessie to check during the sewing process, and/or try them on myself several times also to check if everything fits where it should.  I do the fitting for a garment before I do any seam finishing (overlocking or pinking) or ironing, as adjustments can be made quite easily during these early stages.  Once I am satisfied that the garment fits everywhere it should, and I’ve made the necessary adjustments through the addition of darts, letting out seams or whatever is required, I complete sewing the seams and finishing.

Other details:
Cardigan; Morrison
Beaded thongs (flipflops); bought at some little shop in South Africa
Poppy; for Remembrance Day

 

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Limes, oranges, and thoughts on self esteem

04/11/2009 3:49 am \ 1 Comment \

This skirt is another version of Vogue 7303, made up quite plain as a mini.  I fell in love with the fresh green lime print of this fabric and thought it would be ideal for a cool little summer skirt.  Just the colour alone is refreshing!  I matched the print of limes on the skirt with these orange slice earrings that I bought back in the 80’s which are now definitely passe as earrings, but look OK strung on a chain as a necklace.  A good way to rework some old accessories.
This skirt pattern has been such a great pattern I can’t see myself ever tiring of it.  Its most important asset is that it fits me perfectly.  The value of this cannot be over-emphasised.  And its plain enough to jazz up in ways only limited by your imagination.

Actually, setting myself this challenge of wearing something completely different every day has been very good for me, and breathed new life into many of my clothes that I have passed over in favour of a few favourites too often.  And taking my photo each day has also made me more aware of my personal grooming and image that I’m presenting to my family and friends and the world.  I’m telling you it’s not always a pretty sight, and  I’m definitely trying to smarten up my act a bit.
I firmly believe that when you make an effort to look good on the outside and you are pleased with your appearance and attire, it definitely lifts your spirits and makes you feel much better within yourself.  The result is a happier more cheery me who is more pleasant for my family and friends to spend time with!  I hope!
Plus, I’m realising I’ve made heaps of clothes that aren’t maybe quite as hideous as I sometimes think.  They just need to be “styled”, with things I already have, or can be made by me if I need to.  Half the battle in making your own clothes and loving them enough to wear them is simply to just DO IT.  Without second guessing yourself too much.  We shouldn’t just assume that shop-bought is necessarily superior.

Other details:
Cardigan & T-shirt; Country Road
Sandals; Vicenza, bought at Soletta Shoes
Necklace; earrings (origins lost in the mists of time) strung on a chain

 

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Post with no name

30/10/2009 2:31 am \ Leave a Comment \

Please don’t yawn, but this skirt is … wait for it … Vogue 7303.  Again.  I know, sorry.
I really made this one for winter, out of a lovely winter-white wool mix, with a cream bemsilk lining, but it works just as well for spring.  I centred the (invisible) zip in the back this time.   Just a simple plain stylish skirt out of beautiful fabric, that can be dressed up or down.

I tried to get Sienna to pose in the picture, but she got camera shy this time and hid bashfully behind me!  I think she’s embarrassed about her naughty barking during the night…

Please excuse my unattractive feet but I wanted to show my Revlon Blackest Black toenails.  Aren’t they cool?

 

Other details:

Camisole; Country Road
Cardigan; Diesel, bought in Rome
Necklace; Charmed I’m Sure, gift from my husband
Sandals; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes

 

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Top that doesn’t suit me?

27/10/2009 6:09 am \ 2 Comments \
Just a day working, running errands, doing chores, gardening and a bit of grocery shopping, so didn’t feel the need to dress to impress.  This top I made about two years ago, and dug it out from the top of the wardrobe just to put it in the blog.  I feel like I’m wearing some real golden oldies lately… need to move on to some new stuff tomorrow…
The top pattern is my own design, polyester net cut out and draped over Bessie (the dressmaking dummy) to fit my vision.  The front has a slightly draped, cowl-y effect, and the front piece was cut about 12cm longer in the side seams, then gathered and pleated to fit the back side seam in the bust region.  I feel this makes a nice soft pleating effect over the bust.  I was going for a slightly medieval sleeve feel with the extended bit on the end of the sleeve, with limited success as I find this flappy bit extremely annoying when I’m doing housework.  The fabric is see through, so I sewed in a soft jersey “vest” lining in the body seams.  This top was sewn entirely on the overlocker making for a very quick construction; I spent perhaps ten times as long cutting, draping and pinning onto Bessie to get just the right effect.  For an artistic effect, I have put all the seams on the outside of the garment.  Not surprisingly this makes for a very comfortable top!
Even though I feel this top has had its day and I’m ready to toss it out, its been a lovely flattering shape and design and one I plan to use again.   In different colours.
In the latest Australian Stitches was an article on finding the colours that suit you, and I spent some time studying it last night, and besieging my husband with inane questions like “is my skin ivory or beige?” and “are my eyes unusual green or are they just hazel?” before he glazed over.  Seems they are introducing a new system with new categories, with names involving Bright/Dusky, Warm/Cool and Dark/Light.  I’m still not sure what I am, but I know that this top is probably not in my colours!  I had my colours done years ago, and after a lot of pfaffing around with swathes of fabric I was pronounced to be an Autumn.  I’ve been quite happy to be an Autumn.

The jeans are favourite summer jeans, washed so often the care and fabric label is washed white!  I do remember however that they are New Zealand made, from tencel which is light and cool for summer.  The shape is so flattering I traced it out last year and made an identical pair out of white linen which has been just as good.  I might try this again this year out of a different fabric.

On right is a picture of the wounded modelling her stylish sock, which I might say she has done her darndest to strip off.  I think purple and pinky/beige are her colours, no?  Maybe a Spring?

Other details:
Jeans; Development
Thongs/flipflops; Mountain Design
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My Marni fix

26/10/2009 6:30 am \ 1 Comment \
Spring/Summer 07, Marni had a collection that struck me with lightning, fashion-wise.  I loved and could have worn simply everything in the parade.  On my budget, not to mention that Marni is unavailable in Perth, and also given that I love to sew, the only option was to try to recreate the looks myself.
The slimline black oversize sports parka over a crisp white skirt was my absolute favourite look, the one I just had to have, and one I wanted to reproduce as closely as possible.
So here is my effort, compared to the real deal.  Please excuse that the model on the right is far less attractive.
Photo above from Marni Spring/Summer 07
www.style.com, see here
On pulling it out I realised its no longer a look that I am wearing as I’ve moved on fashion-wise, but as previously expressed in this blog, Wear Everything in the Wardrobe is my new rule.  My Monday morning gals expressed surprise this morning that I was wearing black, as its not a colour I really wear much.
I remember at the time I was first wearing it I looked quite different from everyone out and about on the street, as it wasn’t a look that had hit Perth and wouldn’t yet for another 18 months when everyone was into this look all of a sudden.  We lag a bit behind the fashions here.
The skirt is Vogue 7303 view A, seen previously here, and the top is my own design.   Well, actually its really Marni’s design, slavishly copied by me, but by “my design” I meant that I didn’t use a pattern, but planned, cut and fitted the pieces to Bessie (the dressmaker’s dummy) to achieve the look I wanted.  I was particularly pleased with the high bunchy collar and felt (still do) that the finished result is easy and comfortable to wear.
I think its a very urban look, perhaps better suited to striding about the city.  A problem with the black parka, given my lifestyle, is its tendency to attract and display animal fur, with most unattractive results.
Speaking of which, a comment asked after Sienna, the furry beast lying half out of sight in my photo.  The silly-billy has cut open a pawpad on a sharp bit of fence in our yard and is hobbling about looking woebegone (poor love), so I’m walking alone for a while.  However I promise to include her again, as requested.  The camera loves her (yeah, baby! Austin Powers style), so I think she deserves a photo-shoot… yes?
Other details:
Shoes; Perrini, bought many years ago
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