Sunday 27 February 2011

Simplicity 2603 Sleeveless top

Simplicity 2603 was really popular last year (or the year before?) for the drapey cardigan featured on the pattern cover but right from the start I loved the simple sleeveless top that was also included.  I ummed and ahhed for a while because it seemed silly to buy an expensive pattern (no 99 cent sales in Australia!) for such a simple top, but in the end I gave in because I knew it'd be perfect for work and probably be made up multiple times.

So here's my version.  I cut the medium in a white silk jersey.  It all went together really easily, I added an extra 1.5 inches to the length and slip stitched the neckband facing down rather than top stitching on the outside.  The silk feels sooo good against my skin, but I have noticed that it tends to catch very easily and this can leave a little broken thread.

There's not much else to say about this one.  It's definitely a welcome addition to my wardrobe with Me Made March starting in a couple of days.  And speaking of Me Made March you'll start seeing pictures of me actually wearing my clothes!  At the moment it is just easier to snap a quick picture of any items on Ruby, but I'll work on getting more of me wearing them.

With the turn of a season about to happen, and the crappy weather we've been having in Melbourne, I've started to think about some ideas for Autumn/Winter.  I'm planning on heading into my sewing room tonight and getting a few things cut out so that I can just pick up a project and get cracking. 

See you on Tuesday for my first Me Made March post.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Me Made March prep

Me Made March is just four days away and I thought I'd do a bit of a check of what I've got to work with seeing as my plans to make some new gear didn't happen.  So the picture below has the bulk of my 'me made' items and I'm beginning to think that I'll be the most boring participant ever!  I do work in a corporate environment though so I can't be too out there.  There's a couple of other items floating around my house and I have another top that just needs hemming so I think I'll be able to manage.


I won't post any details of items yet, that'll happen as March progresses.  I recently realised that my wardrobe is gradually shrinking as RTW items die and don't get replaced so you'll probably see some wardrobe basics in the not too distant future (or not - it seems whatever I plan never happens!).

My thoughts are with our New Zealand neighbours as they struggle through the aftermath of the recent earthquake.  It really has been a tragic and unbelievable start to the year - fires, floods and earthquakes - and only reinforces how powerful mother nature is.

Friday 11 February 2011

Simplicity 3503 Maxi dress

I think Simplicity 3503 is one of the most popular Simplicity dress patterns and has been made quite a few times around blog land so I won't say too much about it.


I love this pattern and this is the third time I've made it - although I've only ever made views D and E.  It goes together really easily and the only change I made was to lengthen the skirt by a couple of inches. 

Should probably crop my photos so that you can't see all of my stuff lying around!  I love this dress.  It's such a flattering design and the patterned fabric is a step away from my usual solid colours.

Here's a picture of the front of our garage during the recent rain storms in Melbourne.  Water was running right through our garage.  This photo was taken after my husband cut an extra drain across the driveway to help the water get away - there was so much rain the drains just couldn't handle it.  Apparently it was a 1 in 155 year event.  That's my two older girls and my Dad in the picture below.  The girls thought it was great fun.

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Me Made March

I, Robyn from Sew Love Red, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-March '11. I endeavour to wear one handmade item of clothing each day for the duration of March 2011.

I've joined Zoe's Me-Made-March 2011 challenge.  The extent of your pledge is up to you - with my relatively limited wardrobe of handmade items I'm only attempting one handmade item each day - but others are attempting all handmade including their accessories.  It's a great way to see what others are sewing and looks like a lot of fun.  I think I'm going to need to spend quite a bit of February at the sewing machine getting some new clothes made :)

Unfortunately nothing has happened on the sewing front.  We live in one of the suburbs hardest hit during Melbourne's  recent rain storms, I've never seen so much water and when it started flooding the garage I got a small insight into how those in Queensland felt.  Thankfully no lasting damage and I'm now looking forward to relaxing in my sewing room for a while.

Friday 4 February 2011

A new addition

I had big plans for this week - a whole week off work and the last week of school holidays - I was planning to take a trip to my sister's house and then spend the rest of the week doing things with the kids and sewing up some new work clothes.  It hasn't quite worked out that way - I'll spare you the details but I've had tradesmen in my house all week and haven't been able to leave. 

Thankfully we did go up the highway to visit my lovely sister.  We had a fantastic weekend and to top it off I came home with a new addition to the sewing room.


My sister recently bought a new sewing machine and so I bought her old one and it sews like an absolute dream.  While I was there we dropped into Spotlight and I came home with 4 new additions to the fabric stash, although one piece has already been sewn up so that's not really stashing is it?


I've never sewn with this knit before (it was in the dry knit area but that makes me think of athletic clothes and it's not like that) and it's patterned which is really unusual for me.  For some reason I always buy/make clothes from solid colours.  Two new to me things to broaden my horizons slightly.  That's Simplicity 3503 on the cutting table and now it just needs hemming so I should be able to post it soon.