Friday 28 April 2017

Tessuti Sydney Jacket

Have you ever looked at a pattern and thought 'that's not for me', then you see so many awesome versions you think you should give it a go?  When you finally make it up you LOVE it and wonder why you ever doubted the pattern?  Well, that's me and the Sydney jacket.


The Tessuti Patterns Sydney Jacket was hugely popular a couple of years ago.  I made one up last year (never blogged) and really liked it, but didn't use the recommended fabric (I used a double faced wool that frays) and almost immediately regretted it.  Not this time!


During the Christmas sales I bought this beautiful boiled wool from Tessuti.  I cut this out late in March but it was still warm so it sat patiently waiting in a corner of my sewing room.  I had a bit of excess energy after getting home from my daughter's netball game late one night this week and decided to start this.  Maybe two hours later and this was finished!  It's a seriously quick sew that makes a big impact.


My version is a straight medium and I've left off the pockets.  I know that I won't use them in this type of jacket and that seriously sped up how quick this was to make.  The overlapped seams aren't hard and with no hems this is such a simple, relaxing sew.


So the Sydney Jacket is totally me after all.  I'm sewing up patterns that I love but maybe thought weren't for me and I'm having fun with it!

Monday 17 April 2017

Megan Nielsen Rowan Bodysuit

I pulled out my credit card as soon as I saw the latest releases from Megan Nielsen, I loved them both and the new packaging is so pretty!


The Rowan bodysuit was also one of my planned projects for April so I'm really happy to be able to tick it off my list and best of all I really, really like it.


I'm not certain what height MN patterns are drafted for (I think it's 5'5") which is a long way short of my 6'.  I've made this in a size L and added an extra 3 inches through the body and 1.5 inches to the sleeve length.  I also blended out to the XL at the waist as I'm pretty straight up and down.


I'm not dropping my pants so you'll have to take my word for it when I say that it fits really well around the bum too, not too tight but still has good coverage.


I'm too self conscious about my stomach to wear the bodysuit as I've shown it in these pictures, in all likelihood I'll layer it up under other shirts and jumpers, but I love it.  I've used a beautifully soft merino that I purchased from Tessuti a year or two ago.

I'm so happy that I've used one of the lovely fabrics in my stash, tried a new pattern and ticked a project off my sewing list.  I feel like I'm winning at the moment!

Sunday 9 April 2017

April Sewing Plans

I've got a few days off over Easter and wanted to make the most of the extra time in my sewing room.

I have a massive wish list of things that I want to make but figured if I could focus on just a handful of items I'd be more likely to get them done!
 
So here's five things that I'm hoping to sew up over the rest of April:


First up is a new skirt for work.  It's Vogue 1170, a Rachel Comey pattern from a few years back.  It's no longer listed on Vogue's website but you can pick it up on Etsy or Ebay easily enough.  I'm planning on making it up in a beautiful Italian wool that I bought at Tessuti several years ago.  

The Birkin Flares are one of my #2017makenine picks and something that I've been wanting to make for a couple of years.  These will be a great addition to my weekend wardrobe and will likely make an appearance for casual Friday at work too.

I fell hard for this beautiful viscose poplin from Blackbird Fabrics and all I could think of was making the Grainline Archer shirt.  Also, I need tops for work so this seems like a winner.



Next up I'm planning to make Vogue 1460 in a gorgeous denim coloured merino jersey from The Fabric Store.  A warm, cosy winter work dress.

My last planned make is Megan Nielsen's Rowan body suit - colour and style as per the picture below.  I layer all my clothes in winter so I think this will be a winner.

Picture via

If I'm crazy productive my two bonus projects will be a Tessuti Sydney jacket in a gorgeous charcoal marle boiled wool and a pair of navy stretch cotton Ginger (jeans) pants.  I'm pretty excited by all these projects so I hope I can them all sewn up.

Monday 3 April 2017

Style Arc Halle Skirt

So I blinked and March was gone, this year feels like it is absolutely flying.

These days I don't have big chunks of dedicated sewing time.  I had some great suggestions in the comments about ways to use short periods of time effectively, so that's what I've been trying to do.  It's also about changing my own mind set - I've always thought I couldn't achieve much in 5 minutes so I just didn't start. Now I just get suck in and use those few minutes to sew a seam or two, change threads on the machine, get the next step sorted etc.  It has given me a little burst of energy and I love seeing what I can achieve at the end of the week.


Today's post is about two such projects.  The skirt is the Style Arc Halle skirt.  I received it as a free pattern and wasn't sure whether I really liked it or not.  Let me say that I now love it!  The asymmetric front wrap is lovely and it's not too revealing when you sit down either.


I went up a size and made this as a straight size 14 in a lovely rayon blend double knit from Spotlight.  I haven't added any length and really like where it hits on me.  The waist isn't as neat as I'd like, so I think I'll probably cut the elastic off and run the sides in a little more but other than that I wouldn't change a thing.


The top is the Tessuti Frankie dress/top.  I've been loving the look of the Closet Case Patterns Ebony tee but thought it was close enough to Frankie that I didn't need to buy another pattern.  I've made this in a medium with an extra 1 3/4 inches added to the sleeve length and 2 inches added to the top length above the waist.  I've used the most amazing fabric, it's modal or bamboo, with a beautiful weight and drape.  This is going to become a strong favourite this winter.