Friday 31 January 2014

Planning and reflecting


Thanks for all your well wishes, I'm still out of action with a very nasty sprained ankle, so I haven't been able to do any sewing.  I have been doing a lot of planning and reflecting though.

The silk below is sitting waiting to be made into a top and I'm planning some basics to go with it.  These pants need to be replaced and I have a black pencil skirt cut and ready to be sewn up.  I also need some more casual tees and I'm thinking about using Tessuti's Lola tee.  I've also got a piece of hot pink cotton/linen which is just begging to be made into a pair of shorts and I think I'm going to give it a try, even if it's quite different to what I normally wear.


On to the reflection.  

I'm at the end of my first month of the RTW fast and so far I'm really enjoying it.  I thought January would be really hard with all the sales, but it has just made me want to sew more.  I'm really interested to see if this continues for the rest of the year, maybe 2014 will be really productive :) 

Strangely I haven't bought much fabric this month either.  Generally when I can't clothes shop and I can't sew, I shop online.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this!  There is, of course, a beautiful piece of silk on the Tessuti website which is very loudly calling my name... I think it's time to go and have another look.  I hope you're sewing up a storm.

Friday 24 January 2014

The best laid plans...

So this Australia Day long weekend I was planning to sew up a storm.


Now, not so much!  That ankle is nearly twice its normal size.  Hopefully I can work the presser foot with my left foot.  I hope you're all having better luck than me :)

Friday 10 January 2014

Casual - StyleArc and Tessuti

 I love summer, but you wouldn't know it from the clothes in my wardrobe.


When I cleaned it out the other day I realised my summer wardrobe, both work and casual, is severely lacking.  I didn't own a single white t-shirt.  To make things a little bit more interesting I thought I'd try StyleArc's Rowe's tunic which I've loved since I first saw it.


It's an easy pattern with some nice design lines.  The instructions for the v-neck would be a bit sparse for a beginner, but otherwise it's a really simple make.  This is a straight size 12 with no changes and I'm pretty happy with the outcome.  The neckband seam is just slightly off at the front which is a bit annoying, but this was really just a test made up in some leftovers so I'm not too fussed.  I'll be making this one again in a fabric with more drape.


Melbourne had a bit of a cool spell recently so I decided to try Tessuti's Mandy Boat Neck Tee too (bonus - it's free) in their lime line fabric.  This is a great pattern and I really like the way the neckline is finished.  This is a one sized pattern and I made it up without any changes, but the arms feel just a little too tight.  It's wearable but if I make it again (and I probably will) I'd use a stretchier fabric or a 1/4 seam allowance.


I had a bit of a moment earlier today and wasn't going to post these items - I just felt like they were too basic or too boring to blog.  I kind of feel like I should blog about amazing items or pieces with tricky construction techniques (and if I could take a good photo that would help too).  In the end I decided I was being silly.  This is me.  This is what I wear.  This is my little corner of the internet and I'm going to blog what ever makes me feel happy :)

Thursday 2 January 2014

Fasting and goals



Happy New Year to you all.

This year I am joining in Goodbye Valentino's RTW fast.


In 2014 I won't be purchasing any RTW clothing.  I've been debating whether or not to sign up since I first saw the invitation and I've decided that sometimes you just need to jump and work out the details later!  I kept trying to work out why I wanted to do it and the answer came to me when I was getting dressed for work.  I couldn't find anything to wear (yes, yes I know, we all say that as we stand in front of a full wardrobe).  In all honesty I have kept so many clothes that I don't wear because they don't fit me/aren't my style that it's a real struggle when I get dressed.  I end up donating a lot of what I buy.  I need more clothes that fit me.  So today I'm sorting through everything that doesn't fit or feel good, donating it and then writing a big sewing list!!

My sewing goals for 2014 are pretty simple.  

  1. Be realistic.  I work a full time job and have three kids who each play a whole lot of sport.  I don't have many spare hours to sew.  I shouldn't expect the same type of output as someone who sews for a living!! (Comparison is the thief of joy, right?!)
  2. Use the lingerie kits.  I now have five beautiful lingerie kits, another two on the way and several patterns in my stash and I haven't sewn one bra.  I will remedy that this year.
  3. Sew BWOF #105 9/2008.  It has been on my 'to sew' list since it came out.  I have the fabric and the buttons, and I even started it in 2012 but stopped when I realised it was way too big.  Time to get it done.
  4. Make a versatile, really warm winter coat.  With all the kids sport there is going to be plenty of weekends and nights spent outdoors and I'm not going to shiver because I don't have a warm coat.  I have the fabric, I have the pattern. 
  5. Get off the couch and into the sewing room.  There are too many times when I flop on the couch at the end of a long day and blog surf.  Then I complain to Wade that I have no time to sew.  I need to use my time better.
That's it.  Short and simple but I'm sure it won't be easy, especially number 5.  Do you make resolutions/goals?  If you do, how do you keep on track?