One yard wonder - fold up apron

I completed the second one yard wonder, a child-sized apron.  But wait, it doubles as a bag!  Unfortunately I don't have any small children this will fit - but we've got one on the way :P

The one yard wonder book is quite a good sewing book for beginners, a few really useable patterns.  A few very random things like legwarmers - but hey, what's not to love about the 80's?

New sewing machine - singer

I LOVE my local op shops.  I get awesome sewing patterns from there.  Going rate?  50 cents.  And just before christmas?  A 1973 singer sewing machine.  In it's original case.  With the original receipts (FYI, $110 in 1974 - and with the time value of money thats $763.26)

What did I buy it for?  $20.

It sews like an absolute dream, and even buttonholes come out very pretty.  The only problem?  My desk isn't quite sturdy enough and when she's going full pelt, then the desk gets the speed wobbles.

Sorry trusty toyota, but as you've just been relegated to quilting duties.  Only.

Husband shorts

Peter from Male Pattern Boldness has a great post about learning to sew...which I read after finishing my first attempt at a pair of mens pants.  And don't get me wrong, the pants are fairly wearable.  Providing you don't want to wear them out of the house.



But following Peters advice, I just tried again, but this time with a pair of shorts, and you can really tell the difference between the first and the second time.  Which is very much the same for everything I've made.  Really puts forward the argument of making a muslin, but I'm usually far too impatient for that.  Such a fool.  Except for the lady grey jacket I'm making, which has a full bona fide muslin.

Anyway, back on track.  The shorts are actually made from fabric bought to be the lining of the original pants, so I skimped a little on quantity.  Which has lead to the only problem with the shorts, there wasn't enough fabric to do back pockets.  Which according to the husband makes them look like girl shorts.

Too bad.  If you don't like them make your own.  Or at least be quiet and I'll make a third even better pair!  And maybe next time I will iron them before blogging them.

Maybe.

Blue silk dress

This project was my first foray into sewing with silk, and I was trying to finish it in time for my work christmas party.  However that didn't quite pan out, but I did finish just in time to find it not fit around my belly anymore (due to baby, not pies)

Overall I'm pleased with the fit, I had to go down a few sizes and the pattern had far to much ease, and then do a full bust adjustment...which in this kind of pattern pretty much just meant to cut the chest patterns out of a larger size.

The way to make sewing with silk easy I've found is to use toilet paper inbetween the seams to stabilise them as I sew, and then it's quick to remove once sewn.

And the fabric?  $9 a metre.  Alannah Hill.  Heart.

Pantaloons? Yes please!

Pinned waistband on the pants

Less pants, more chinos.  But not.  Inadvertently, I took a pattern for chinos, bought suiting material and ended up with pants for wearing out to dinner.  Only.  But that's ok, they're for the husband!  Perfect excuse to take me out for dinner more!

I previously was a subscriber to a UK magazine called sewhip, thanks to my parents for a lovely birthday present.  And I loved it....for 10/12 mags.  You see, they changed editors.  They were more based on things and clothing patterns....and somehow more random crafty shite slipped in.  Let's be honest people.  There are only so many weird oddly specific craft items you ever need.  I.e. sewn banners, or felted headbands, or finger puppets.

But, back before the editor changed, there was a pattern for mens pants....and I thought...why not?  I completely ignored the sewing skills required, and began to plan....

Pants prior to zip

There were a number of times when I should have realised this project was possibly above my skill level.
1.  When I had to ask what to use as lining.
2.  After I bought lining, it just looked way to hard and I ignored it.
3.  When tracing the pattern was really difficult. Extending the legs?  Bah.
4.  Right now when it's time to put the zip in.

But...to be honest, aside from little hiccups, they are actually coming together quite well.  While it probably made sense to not make a difficult project, I've learnt a lot more than  I've mangled.

Huzzah!

Pant pocket topstitching

Now they are almost finished...but it would be unlike me to finish a project in a timely fashion.  Therefore, onwards with a new project, I'll be back to you in a few months pants! 

Lady grey sewalong

I'm doing the lady grey sewalong!  Using the lovely pattern from Colette Patterns for the lady grey coat,

I probably went the wrong way about buying my fabric.  1.  Heavy duty calico for my muslin.  2.  Red lining from alannah hill.  3.  Blue wool crepe from the oddest fabric store I've ever been too.

As a result the muslin will be too heavy, the wool might not go with the lining, and I have no idea what it will look like when it's finished.  Why did I get blue crepe?  I wanted purple.  Fabric regret?  A little.  4m at $20 a metre?  Definitely. Have. Fabric. Regret.  

So, the question is, continue in with an almost Navy coat with red lining, or sell the wool crepe on ebay and start again?  OR, do I make the lady grey with the Navy lining, maybe put some red and white trim on there and make it a shipshape with a naval theme?

Ballet skirt for a little ballerina

 Making a basic ballet wrap for  little girl, I used a silk crepe from an old dress..making everything do double duty!


1.     Measure your ballerina around the hips in inches.   This measurement will be known as X. 
2.     Draft two copies of the template piece on paper.

3.     Fold silk in half in line with the selvedge.  The two pattern pieces will be places apart, with the measurement of Y between the top and bottom pattern edge.  To calculate, perform the following calculation.  Y = X – 15”. 
4.     Mark pattern pieces on the silk and cut out.  You should have two silk pieces.

5.     On the long edges fold over the edge by ½ inch, and use small pieces of sticky tape to hold them in place.  You will be stitching through the tape while this holds in the edges in place.
6.     Sew a narrow zig zag stitch along the long edge on both pieces
7.     Trim along close to the zig zag stitch.
8.     Place the short edges together, with toilet paper inbetween to stabilise the seam, pin and sew with a short straight stitch together.  Ensure the hems are facing outwards as per the diagram.  This ensures when you complete the French seam they are both facing the same way.

Ballet wrap seam stabilised using toilet paper

9.     Trim ¼ inch from seam
10. Turn over one edge over and straight stitch ½ inch to enclose the seam
11. Hand sew on the snap fasteners 4 inches apart

Ballet wrap finished detail