Why is everyone looking at me?

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For many years I clutched a small piece of Miss Valentino yellow linen, bought from The Cloth Shop in Heidelberg, never sure what to make out of it. Living in a country where neutrals reign supreme (think black, black and more black) I did not want to stand out like a sore thumb. I know. How unlike me :) However, in the mounting heat of June 2015 and just a few days before flying out of Doha for Europe, it fell upon me to make Burda 7124 in View A; a three spool skirt according to the pattern envelope.

Featuring an interesting back yoke and curved front darts that are beautifully visible in this solid fabric, this is no ordinary pencil skirt. Although not a difficult make, trying to beat this slightly slippery fabric into submission tried my patience, particularly where darts met. I won that round, though, by leaving the skirt in Doha for the summer :)

Lined in a 100% cotton stretch something-or-other, it is comfortable to wear even though it creases at the slightest sidewards glance. Before anyone writes in to point out that it is hemmed at an unflattering length…I already know that. BUT, as I live in a culture where one’s knees must be adequately covered while in the seated position, this is as short as I can go without reprimand. I wore it to school with a black, sleeveless vest of the same length which prompted a colleague to call out, “You are ready to lead, Bumblebee. Do not doubt yourself,” before she skulked off, sniggering quietly. So much for friends :)

Until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves

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Summer Sewing Reflection in Three Action Shots

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So, the long days of summer are over. Nine weeks of Italian, Slovenian, Croatian and Serbian glory are but a memory. Mainly good memories but a few not so: friends from Australia met with us for our two week, self-named Europe at Top Speed holiday; I saw a cousin for the first time in twenty seven years; my mother-in-law passed away after a tiring battle with mesothelioma which she fought for 18 months. She was 66, brave, and sewing to the end.

We now find ourselves back in Doha and in an effort to revive my flogged spirits, I thought it time to reflect on my summer of sewing, actually, a summer of wearing my summer sewing, before starting on my winter wardrobe (and I use the term ‘winter’ VERY loosely!)

First up, a sladoled stop in Stari Grad, Hvar with my dear friend Lorraine. Wearing a Merchant and Mills Dress Shirt made up from the wrong side of Merchant and Mill’s Indigo Flight.

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Although not the most figure flattering garment I have ever worn, it did look nice and was exceptionally lovely to wear in the heat of the Croatian islands. I made it in the smallest size possible in an attempt to achieve some shape and it is not too bad. Next time round I would just shape it a smidge more from the bust to the hip. While sitting and eating lunch in Florence a few days later, a stranger stopped me to enquire whether I had made my own dress and could she know what the pattern was and where to buy the fabric. Turns out she is a student of Susan Khalje of couture fame. The closest I am probably ever going to get to Susan :)

The next garment to receive lots of wear was my Tessuti Lisa top, made from a Tessuti white linen. Although not designed to flatter a pear shape, it was one of my favourite items to wear as it looked chic in a way only linen can do on a hot day. This be my mum and I, strolling in Venice.

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And lastly, the Colette Laurel dress in Tessuti’s Copper Lined Water linen, long gone from their website. This has got to be the closest thing to an ‘appealing shift dress on a pear’ I have ever sewn but I still need to work out a few alterations.

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Deepest apologies that this is not a technical post, nor one highlighting the design features of any garment, but all of these patterns are Oldie Goodies which better writers have already done justice to. I can now move on.

As always, until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves.

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Serious Summer Sewing

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So, in exactly two weeks time today I will have jetted out of Doha and into somewhere slightly more populated, marginally cooler and infinitely more free when it comes to dressing oneself. On all counts, I cannot wait :) However, after requiring a discreet wardrobe these past ten months, I feel totally unprepared for a summer spent here…

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This past week, in a flurry of activity in between writing reports and grading work, I managed to make myself three garments. Firstly, Tessuti’s Lisa dress as a blatant copy of Lisa’s version itself…

Secondly, a pair of Lisette culottes in Indigo Lulu Linen from Tessuti

and lastly, another pair of Lisette culottes in Scout Denim linen from Merchant and Mills.

The first pair are extremely cool and comfortable to wear except that they become quite loose during wear. Consequently, for the second pair, I sized down. Upon initially putting them on, whiskers and other such stuff becomes apparent (hello VPL); however, during the day’s wear, they loosen up just enough. On both pairs I hemmed a teensy hem as I wanted them to work both on the continent (hee hee) and back here when school resumes in autumn. I highly recommend this particular Merchant and Mills linen for pants as it has weight and substance whereas I think the Tessuti linen I used is better suited for tops.

Will I make either again? Well, after reading Karen’s recent post where she states that “I’m trying to find what suits and sometimes I’m failing,” I could go either way. I love that they are a current style garment but I am not 100% sure that they work on me. Being that I am in my 40s and all that, you would think I had this thing called style figured out :)

Until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves and drop me a comment. I love reading your thoughts and just having people stop by and say hi!

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Sewing Supplies Series: Souq Al Asiery

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This past week, together with my mum (visiting from Australia) and my friend Naomi, I took my first trip to the famed Souq Al Asiery, locally also known as Escalator Souq as it was the first souq in Doha to have an escalator installed. A quick online search revealed that “texture is available there” as well as “most Filipino products.” Hmmm…intriguing. From the outside it is not much to look at.

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However, the inside revealed a slew of stores carrying everything from polyester to silk to Liberty.

Intricate and ready to be sewn on.
Mum and Naomi in the Liberty store.

Additionally, one could also pick up Requirements for Men (the sandals), jewelry and travel goods or you could get yourself some clothing made tailor made :)

Don’t sew? Have a jacket made up as per your desire :)

I decided to purchase a few metres of Liberty which, at $30 AUS a metre, was a touch cheaper than at home. Now, to sew it all up!

Until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves.

Sewing Supplies Series: The Taliban Store

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Dear Loyal Readership,

Although many of us have access to amazing fabric stores that we frequent, um… frequently, my days of tripping in to Tessuti or The Fabric Store on a whim are temporarily on hold.

Although I miss the quality and choice I had in Melbourne desperately, Doha fabric shopping feels like I am setting forth on a grand adventure. From the tiny stalls down at Souq Waqif to the stores at the fabric souq, colour abounds and so does the visual feast.

In this series first, I bring you the Taliban Store. Not to be confused with an Afghani political group by the same name, the store sells zips, buttons, lace, thread and fabric to locals and expats alike.

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Opened approximately 15 years ago by Saleem Khan from Peshawar, Pakistan, space is at a premium. Every millimetre of the store is stuffed to overflowing with goods designed to keep even the most bored of 11 year old boys entertained, and I speak from experience :)

From buttons in dusty drawers to stacked spools of thread…

to snake-like zips and swathes of satin fabric…

the Taliban Store has it all.

Although the name no doubt raises the odd international eyebrow and seemingly causes great discussion online from time to time, it was well worth the trip for our purposes. We picked up beautiful embroidery thread and velvet ribbon for the kids to complete some holiday projects, for a grand total of 6 QAR ($2 AUS). It may not be as flash as shopping back in Australia, but it adds to the adventure we are having!

Until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves.

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Thread Loop Saves the Day!

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We all know that finicky, small jobs at the end of garment making can either make or break us, right? Well, I am here to save your sewing sanity by offering you the 5 Minute Thread Loop; less time if you don’t chat to yourself while making it). Don’t even bother going to make a cup of tea as by the time you do, either my tutorial will be over or you could have made a thread loop yourself :)

I do not know where this method originated but it was not in my neck of the woods. All I know is that I have be doing it this way for as long as I remember. I hope you find it useful and until next time, chat quietly amongst yourselves.

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