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?

Christmas Saltspring

My final finished item for 2013 is a Sewaholic Saltspring dress.

I had grand plans to do a fancy Vogue dress for Christmas Day, but time was against me.  When I called into Spotlight on the 21st and saw this spotty printed rayon I knew it would be perfect for a Christmas Saltspring dress.  I did overhear one of the attendants at the cutting table remark that everyone would have finished their Christmas sewing so she couldn't understand why the shop was so busy.  Clearly everyone else was doing a last minute dash like me!

I cut a straight size 10 and cut the back on the fold, omitting the back zip.  I haven't sewn many Sewaholic patterns and couldn't decide whether I'd need to add extra length through the body.  I spent way too much time dithering over this, I checked pattern review and there were no mentions of extra length needed and in the end I decided that I add additional length to pretty much every pattern so I would for this one too.

For the record, if you're tall you might want to add length through the body.  I added an extra inch and would probably increase that to 1.5 inches next time I make this.  I also added 3 inches to the length of the skirt.  Overall a really simple enjoyable project.  I love the pockets and the clever blousing, I even love the ties although they need trimming.  This was the best photo I could find of the two of us together!

Goodbye 2013, bring on 2014!  Thank you so much for all your comments and encouragement this year, it means a lot.  I hope 2014 is a happy, healthy and successful one for you all.  Happy sewing :)

Christmas Shirt - Negroni 1014

I've been thinking about making Wade a shirt for a while, but have always put it off.  My sewing time has been too precious to sew for others!!

Then I found this check/plaid fabric and the colours just seemed like a good match for Wade.  I decided I'd start with the Colette Patterns Negroni shirt.  This is a nice pattern with good instructions and Wade loves the fit.

I used the size large and the only change I made to the pattern was to remove two inches of length from the sleeve.  I also left off the pockets and used a different method to hem the shirt.  This is my first time check/plaid matching and I used this tip from Jen at Grainline Studio and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.  I got the picture below when I asked him to raise his arms to show you the matching at the sides!

The drafting for this is wonderful.  There is very little ease in the sleeve cap and it just makes it so easy to put together.  I was running really short on time (I might have sewn the buttons and button holes on Christmas morning) so I didn't use flat felled seams for the sleeves and side seams, but I will try it next time.

I did change the way the top was hemmed.  The instructions have you fold the hem up once, fold again and then stitch.  This shirt has a front facing and I just thought that it would be bulky and messy trying to do it the way the instructions suggest.  I turned the facing to the outside (front shirt and facing are right sides together) and stitched where I wanted my finished length to be.  I then trimmed the facing to reduce bulk as shown below.

Then I turned the facing back to the inside and pressed, which gives a really neat finish to the front.  Then you finish the rest of the hem as you prefer, either overlock/serge and stitch or double fold and stitch. Hopefully this makes sense.

I'm classing this as a winner.  The fabric didn't sit in the stash for long, I really enjoyed the sewing and Wade loves the finished shirt.  Hopefully I can post my Christmas outfit tomorrow to finish the year on a sewing high.  I'm really enjoying everyone's end of year posts, but I'm not joining in because I can't seem to find the energy :)

Merry Christmas

via

Just wanted to drop in and wish you all a Merry Christmas.  I still need to put the finishing touches on a couple of Christmas outfits, wrap a few presents and make up some beds!

I hope you and your families have a great day and that there is something special under the tree for all of you.

Almost instant gratification - StyleArc Ursula

I may have a new love.  The Ursula knit pencil skirt from StyleArc is pretty awesome.

It's the perfect shape, and because it's made from ponte, it's so comfortable!  I wore this all day at work, came home changed my shoes and went out and did all the Christmas shopping.

This is almost instant gratification, with only 5 pieces it goes together really quickly. This is a size 14 with absolutely no changes - not even additional length!  Fabric bought on a Saturday, sewn on the Sunday and worn on the Monday. Can't ask for better than that.  Now I just need some tops to wear with it.

I'm on a bit of a white kick at the moment.  I have three items in various states of completion which I hope to be able to show you soon.  All these simple garments are so good for the sewing mojo.

Splattered Scout - Grainline 31002

Thanks everyone for your well wishes on my last post - I found out yesterday that I have passed all modules!

I feel so much more relaxed and I'm really enjoying time in my sewing room.  I've even managed to sew three (basic) items, the first one being the Scout tee from Grainline Studios.

I think everyone else has said everything there is to say about this top - mine's a size 12 with an extra inch in length through the body.  I even cut into my much loved and patted Liberty fabric.

I've always admired Liberty fabric on others, but the floral prints just don't feel like me, so when I saw this splatter print tana lawn (Melly) I snapped it up. It was such a pleasure to sew.  The fabric was beautiful and the pattern went together perfectly - even the bias strips behaved themselves.  Because it was Liberty I felt like I should use french seams instead of the over locker, and I was incredibly proud of myself for using them on the set-in sleeves too.  Not something I've ever done before, but it was actually pretty easy and now my top looks beautiful on the inside too.

I'm getting my sewing mojo back and I love it.

Happy Days

Today I handed in my last assignment!!  I'm having a glass of my favourite pink bubbly to celebrate and can't wait to get into my sewing room.  The only problem now? I can't decide what to sew :)

Happy sewing.

Flippy - McCalls 6842

This skirt is so much fun.  It's quick to make, twirls beautifully and swishes around your legs while you're walking.

I used McCalls 6842 view D and a beautiful ponte fino knit from fabric.com.  I ended up cutting out a size 12, removed 3 inches from the length and omitted the back zipper and waistband facing.

The photo below is what I get when I ask my 10 year old to take pictures - but it gives you a better idea of the skirt shape.  I wouldn't normally pair this top with this skirt, but I have a real lack of summer tops, both for work and causal.

One of the best parts about making this skirt is knowing how much money I have saved!  I saw this Witchery skirt and loved it, but not the $100 price tag.  I even went in store to try it on thinking I could justify the purchase somehow (I was thinking along the lines of no time to sew and I need some new clothes).  I really liked it, but it was far too short for me to wear it to work.  I'm so glad I checked the McCalls patterns because this is an exact match, in a better fabric at a more work appropriate length.

Obligatory twirling shot - slightly more revealing than I expected but so. much. fun.

Apologies for the slightly out of focus photos, but I decided it was better to post with dodgy photos than not post at all.  My last assignment is due this week, so hopefully I can spend a little more time in my sewing room after that.  I'm sure Wade does too because at the moment I'm buying plenty of fabric and patterns to get my sewing fix :)

A little bit of summer - Simplicity 6107

Mum rang this afternoon and said that she was going to stop checking my blog because it never changes - so Mum, this one's for you :)

Despite my love for pencil skirts I have exactly none in my wardrobe and every time I try to make one the results are less than flattering.  Every other sewing blogger talks about how simple pencil skirts are so I feel like a bit of a failure for having so much trouble getting one to fit me properly.

I can't say I'm overwhelmingly in love with this skirt either, but the photos are convincing me it looks better than I thought it did.  This is Simplicity 6107 , view d made up in a stretch cotton sateen I picked up at Spotlight.

Like every other pencil skirt I've made I ended up with a very 'poofy' front - the fabric just folds in on itself in a very unattractive way.  I tend to look like I'm wearing a skirt designed for the male anatomy.  I blame my 'mummy tummy' and have tried all sorts of combinations of darts and nothing seems to work particularly well.

I've since read that someone else just folded that excess fabric out of their pattern (sorry can't remember where).  A simple solution and one my study addled brain didn't think of!  Instead I extended the front darts by 2.5 inches which has helped, but not completely eliminated the problem.

I'm not a huge fan of people being able to see the outline of my pelvis so  I was incredibly conscious of not making the skirt too tight.  After wearing the skirt all day I could probably have taken the waist in a little more as it didn't feel particularly secure.

Well I now have one pencil skirt in my wardrobe and next time I'm going to try folding the excess out of the pattern.  I made my first fabric.com order recently and received my fabrics on Monday.  I've been madly studying all day so that I can finish my assignment and spend a totally guilt free, self indulgent day in my sewing room tomorrow.

Time to get back to the books.

More for the man - Jalie 2918

It has been over a year since I made anything for Wade and he asked me recently to make him another couple of t-shirts.  Apparently he really likes the fit of the tops I made him last year, he wasn't just wearing them to keep me happy!

So I searched the fabric cupboard and found a couple of pieces that he was happy with.  So far only this one has been sewn up, but the others will hopefully follow soon.  I'm can't exactly remember what type of fabric this is, I bought it from gorgeous fabrics several years ago.  It's beautiful quality, has a 'terry cloth' look on the wrong side and is a grey marle with a really fine orange stripe.  All wrong for my colouring, but looks great on him.

I made this up exactly the same as last time using a straight size 42 with no alterations.  Men can be so easy to sew for.

I used orange thread in the overlocker and liked it so much that I also used it for the twin needle finish.  It took me three sessions to make this top, but it was so lovely to be able to duck into my sewing room for ten minutes at a time and just sew a couple of seams.  Very therapeutic.  I have actually made a couple of other things recently but...well, they're not failures, but they're not winners either if that makes sense.

Anyway, Wade loves his new top.  He wore it as soon as I finished it and told everyone he saw that I'd made it for him.  It's nice to feel appreciated!