A little bit of pretty

If feels so good to sit down and sew something from start to finish, even if it is just a pair of undies :)

I've been planning on making Amy's Rosy Ladyshorts pattern for weeks and Wednesday night I decided the dishes, washing and all the other housework could wait because I was going to sew.  And it was awesome.  These are only two pattern pieces and a little bit of stretch lace.  I cut out a size 10 and used a light weight pale pink rayon jersey with a scrap of white cotton for the lining.  I thought these looked so good that I immediately wanted to get a production line going and completely restock my underwear drawer.  Thankfully I had the good sense to wear them first.  They are supremely comfortable but I could easily go down a size or 2 if I was going to use rayon jersey again.  I'm going to try the 10 again using a cotton lycra to see how different the fit is.  The great thing is that Amy covers this type of thing in her construction notes which is fantastic for people who haven't sewn much with knits.

I really do seem to have lingerie on my mind at the moment because I also finished off this shockingly bright watermelon pink slip that has been lying on my sewing table for months.  I'm not sure why I stopped - I think I had to change the thread to fix something for one of the kids and then got distracted by other things.  Anyway, it's a copy of a RTW slip that I bought when I first started my current job about 7 years ago.  That slip is still going strong, but it's incredibly short, almost tunic length (not so good when worn under a wrap dress on a windy day).

Just like my RTW version this one has a round neck on one side and a v neck on the other.  I finished the hem with a dainty little scallop just because it makes me smile.

Two super simple projects but I already love both of them and can see a few more in the future.  My plan for this weekend is to finish up a couple of other things that are half made - I really don't want any UFOs dragging down my sewing mojo.  Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Sewing for boys

Early in January my girls were invited to our neighbour's birthday party.  I suck at finding boy presents and coming so soon after Christmas T couldn't think of anything that he really wanted.

He was pretty impressed with the girls' gum drop cushions and hinted pretty heavily that he'd like one.  So after a quick trip down to Spotlight to find some boy appropriate fabric I made up the larger size (same as last time), the girls stuffed it and I sewed it shut.  This one is exactly the same as my first two so if you're after the details you'll find them here.  T was pretty happy with his present and I was stoked that I got to sew a birthday present for a boy!

Thanks to Katherine for recommending Kirsty's blog Top Notch in response to my last post.  I love the Briar and Banksia combo in Kirsty's most recent post, and bonus - she's another Aussie! 

Award Season

I started this post by writing out a big list of all the things that have been keeping me busy - and then I deleted it all.  We're all busy and at the moment life's busyness is enjoyable, even though it leaves very little time for sewing :)

  

I need to say a very big thank you to Rosi who blogs over at Rosi Button, she's making some very gorgeous maternity wear at the moment, and Gabrielle from  Up Sew Late who is making me want to create my own pair of green linen shorts.  Rosi nominated me for the Liebster Award and Gabrielle passed on the Primio Primavera Award.

While it's lovely to receive an award from a fellow blogger - who doesn't love a pat on the back every now and again - for me the best part of the awards is discovering new (to me) blogs.  A little extra inspiration never goes astray.  Here's where it all went pear shaped for me.  Every blog that I was going to pass the award on to had already received either one or both of these recently - so if I may bend the rules slightly I'd like you to nominate a blog that you find inspiring/fun/addictive.  I'll list any responses at the bottom of this post and hopefully we'll all come away with something new to read.

OK I have to post 11 facts about myself and answer 11 questions - I'm going to be completely unoriginal and use Rosi's questions.  Here's more than you'll ever want to know about me!

1. When did you start sewing and what introduced you to sewing?
All the women in my family sew (even my Dad knows how to sew and he swears he can knit too).  Mum made quite a lot of my clothes growing up so there were always fabric scraps to be played with and turned into Barbie clothes, but I started garment sewing once I reached high school.

2. What other crafts do you do?
Aside from garment sewing I like to quilt and I used to do quite a bit of cross-stitch when my girls were smaller.

3. What do you look for in a sewing blog?
Someone I can relate to, someone I feel like I could have a conversation with IRL.  I love bloggers who are willing to share their failures as well as their successes, because we all know how depressing a wadder can be.  A sense of enjoyment - sewing and blogging are supposed to be fun :)

4. Who is your inspiration?
I find the whole blogging community incredibly inspiring, the little windows into other people's lives can really open up your mind to different possibilities.

5. Do you have a bizarre talent?
I wish!  My kids on the other hand...

6. What's your favourite thing to sew or create for yourself or others?
I love making leggings for my girls - they're quick, they love them and they get worn until they fall apart.

7. What have you always wanted to sew but haven't yet, and why?
Bras and bathers, they've always intimidated me but I'm tackling them this month.

8. What is your favourite thing you've ever made?
I think my favourite would have to be my bleach boys dress - love the fabric and the fit of the dress.

9. What's something you like to treat yourself with?
Books.  I love to read, but once I get started I get really grumpy if I have to put it down.

10. What was one of your favourite things growing up?
Our annual beach holiday in Torquay - loved it.

11. Where would you most want to travel in the world and why?
I have a whole list of places I'd like to visit but at the moment Hawaii is really calling my name.  It looks incredibly beautiful.

11 useless bits of information facts to finish

1. I work in Local Government but you won't find me leaning against a shovel!
2. I have four brothers and one sister.
3. I prefer solids to patterns.
4. I love action movies and rock music. 
5. I prefer bubbles to flat wine.
6. Put any sport on the TV and I can happily sew for hours.
7. I'm an introvert and I'm quite happy with my own company.
8. I'm a dog person.
9. I'm 183cm (6 foot) tall and I love to wear heels.
10. I once stayed in the bath for 4.5 hours reading a book - I looked like a prune when I got out :)
11. I smile every time I walk into my sewing room.

Tried and true - Simplicity 3686

Just before Christmas I decided that my wardrobe would benefit greatly from the addition of these Country Road shorts, especially with our casual work period.  I loved a couple of brightly coloured pairs (which they no longer have online) but couldn't get over the $70 price tag.  I figured it couldn't be too difficult to use Simplicity 3686 to make something similar. 

This pattern fits me pretty well so I knew I wouldn't need to make any fitting adjustments.  I used the narrow leg view (view E and F) but if I was going to make these shorter then I'd make the leg slightly wider, but not as full as the other views.  

I'm really happy with the look of the little details in these shorts, the silk lining for the pockets and the white waistband facing (copied from the inspiration pair) make me smile.  I was trying to only use stash fabric and notions so I had to use a white zip and pale pink thread for overlocking/serging.  Normally this would drive me crazy but I really like everything about these shorts.  The cotton sateen sewed like a dream and because I've made this pattern so many times everything went together really easily.

I've actually got another pair of shorts cut out and ready to go and a pair of slim fit navy pants just waiting for me to sew on the trouser slides.  I think Simplicity 3686 has earned the title of tried and true - these shorts bring my total up to 7 and that's excluding the two other pairs I mentioned above.  Right, time to go and sew a birthday present for one of our neighbours.

The first steps - bra making sew along

I love beautiful lingerie, but it can be really expensive.  Last year I noticed that a lot of very talented ladies are making their own.  Every time I saw Carolyn, Katherine or Novita post another beautiful set I'd think about giving it a go, but always decided I just wasn't ready.  Then I saw Amy's sew along and decided it was now or never.

Yesterday was the first day of Cloth Habit's bra making sew along and it was all about measuring for fit.  I won't bore you with my measurements but I thought I'd show you the beautiful kits that I bought and the pattern I'm hoping to use.

The pattern is MIX 30 by Merckwaerdigh, which includes a bra, knickers and french knickers pattern.  I also bought both of my kits from her Etsy Shop.

I know it'll take a bit of trial and error to get the fit right and adjust to sewing lingerie but, nothing ventured nothing gained, right?

Mission Maxi Redux

My first finished item of 2013...is the same as it was in 2012!  This is view A of Jamie Christina's mission maxi.

It was over 40 degrees in Melbourne when I wore this to work on Friday so I've only got an inside photo and it was difficult to photograph this beautiful bamboo jersey.  It's a fabulous tangerine colour and it's so soft and slinky and smooth, but boy does it have some stretch.  For this pattern I usually add 5 inches at the hem to get the length right.  This time I cut off 2 inches because the weight of the fabric pulled it so far down.

There's really not much to say about this pattern.  It's a great pattern, it goes together quickly and I'd highly recommend it if you're thinking about sewing a maxi dress.  

I wouldn't normally wear something this casual to work (we don't even have casual Fridays), but the CEO relaxes the dress code between Christmas and the first executive meeting of the new year.  I've got some bright shorts on the go, can't wait to show them to you, they're coming along really well.

Happy New Year and a quick look back

Happy New Year!  I hope you ended 2012 on a high, we relaxed and had a few drinks and nibbles with our neighbours, it was a great way to end the year.

Currently working on a quilt for my nephew

I've always been really impressed by the year end wrap ups that other bloggers do.  It's a great way to take stock of what you've sewn for the year and take a look at the wins and the fails.  I made 57 items in 2012 which breaks down like this:
31 items for me
2 items for Wade
19 items for the girls, and
5 'other' items (predominantly home sewing)

My favourite and most worn item this year would be my slim fit black pants, they're worn at least once a week and you'll be seeing another pair soon.

My biggest fail is the mission maxi with the godet.  I took it off after taking the photos and it never even made it into the wardrobe.  I thought it would be fabulous but I don't like the way it looks on me and the godet doesn't work with my lifestyle.

My biggest surprise for 2012 was this dress.  I started off feeling very 'meh' about it and yet throughout winter I reached for it regularly and felt good wearing it.

2013 will see me sewing from my stash.  I have a list of over 20 items that I'd like to make and I have the fabric for all of them (if I get organised I'll put them on a tab at the top).  I'm also going to participate in Cloth Habit's bra sew-along.  All the fabulous bras made by other bloggers has convinced me to give it a go (that and $80 price tag on my favourite bra!).

Thank you all for your kind words and support in 2012, wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013 with plenty of awesome sewing.

Pretty little birds

I called into Spotlight yesterday to pick up a few supplies in the hope of finishing up several projects before the start of the new year.  The required supplies were unavailable but Georgia fell for a pretty bird print and I picked up a bright and cheery knit so the trip wasn't a total loss.

The pile of projects on the go were pushed aside to make a little top for Georgia.  She has a sheer shirt that she loves and we used that as a starting point for this tank top.  Even after a quick muslin the armholes have turned out a little tight, but she hasn't taken it off so I think it's ok.  The arms and neckline have been finished with self fabric bias strips and the bottom has been narrow hemmed (the back is even but doesn't look like it because the wind blew it around).

I'm planning on clearing the decks a little bit before the start of the new year, having so many projects on the go is a bit frustrating.  I'd hoped that having multiple projects ready would make life easier, but seeing the piles of fabric cut out actually makes me feel really restricted - I feel like I have to sew those projects next and because of that they lose their appeal.  Hmmm - that's a bit perverse isn't it?  Anyway, it was fantastic to have fabric come in and get sewn up so quickly but now it's back into the sewing room to keep working on some of those other projects.

A little Christmas spirit

In my ever expanding fabric stash is a very small selection of Christmas fabrics - pretty little pieces that I just couldn't resist.  

To assuage my guilt for stockpiling fabric I had no plans to use I made the girls some Christmas pyjama pants using the Little Nighty Night Favorite Things pattern.  I then promptly added to my general fabric stash during a flying visit to Spotlight.

It's nearly time for me to pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly, put my feet up and enjoy the general craziness of Christmas.  From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.

White hot - Butterick 5672

Work has absolutely fried my brain so I'm struggling to put words together tonight.  It's going to be short and sweet.

I've used this pattern twice before - the first time I made the dress and the second time I made a slightly different peplum top.  All three items have been made using ponte knit.

I didn't want a full peplum this time so I drafted a new one (basically a rectangle with curved ends).  Hopefully you can also see the darts that I've added to the front neckline (there are also two smaller ones in the back).  Both times I've previously made this pattern the neckline has gaped a little but it didn't bother me enough to fix it - pretty lazy hey :-)  This time the gaping was driving me crazy so I added the darts and I've got to say that I really like the way they look.  I also left off the sleeves (well duh!) and finished the neckline and armholes with self made cotton bias tape.

Summer has certainly hit in Melbourne and I loved adding this to my wardrobe.  I felt cool and comfortable but still put together.  When I look in my wardrobe I feel like I have nothing seasonally appropriate to wear, maybe last summer was pretty mild.  I had a bit of a cutting session last Sunday so hopefully, life permitting, I'll have plenty of new things to show you soon.