Giving it another go …

I started the year with the #2017makenine Challenge – pick nine patterns and get ‘er done during the year! So far, I am not too sure if I have been successful though. I started with the dress pattern in the bottom left hand corner. It was Vogue 9202, but it turned into a top, McCalls 6896 – actually rather successfully!

Last weekend I started my second garment of the #2017makenine Challenge. Pants/trousers in the middle row, left side – Vogue 7881, described as “Claire Shaeffer Custom Couture Collection”. How’s it going?

Well I took a good look at that pants pattern again and decided that I wanted to forgo the “couture” techniques just for now – I just don’t have the interest or energy! I just want some pants, quickly, like now. So I switched to another pants pattern of mine, Vogue V2532. A simple pattern – fronts, backs, pockets and waistband – described as a “basic design”.

Continue reading →

Woah! Hey guys n’ gals …

Look at me! I’m over there! Specifically … I’m over at High Latitude Style today with Nicole and a few fellow sewists! Check out our contributions here, at High Latitude Style and get some great advice on designing your own clothes.

My contributions were my black Sewaholic Hollyburn and my Butterick top (B5645).

Excuse me now, while I dash over to High Latitude Style and check out all the contributions from some really talented sewists!

Happy Sewing!

I have nothing to wear …

I have a closet full of handmade garments and I’ve lost my inspiration to get dressed in the morning … I have nothing to wear …

So the other day, I started wandering through my fabric stash and patterns and my Craftsy courses to be inspired, and I remembered I had purchased this one a while ago – Sew to Flatter: Plan your Best Wardrobe with Nancy Nix-Rice – when it was on sale. I only buy Craftsy “on sale” and if you sign up for their emails then you get notice of their sales. 😉

This course talked about colour, fabric, patterns for body type, wardrobe planning, etc. Just the thing I needed to re-discover my wardrobe! Continue reading →

Again … I say better late than never!

I managed to get my FIRST Jungle January – #junglejanuary5 – finished prior to the deadline, but my second animal print just wanted to fight with me. It is a lovely fabric – a cream, black and brown 100% Rayon Challis. Just beautiful to the touch. But as I was discussing it with Curls n Skirls I realized that it would be a perfect weight for a top, but perhaps not a perfect weight for a dress. It might need a lining. But then if I was planning to wear it in the warmer months – would I want lining?

So I changed the plan … instead of making a dress, Vogue 9202, I would make a top, McCalls M6896. I’ve made the McCalls pattern before – it was my FIRST Jungle January – with good results. Of course the Vogue bodice pattern pieces were too short. They only reached to the pink line I drew on the McCalls bodice pattern pieces. So I would have to add an extension onto every Vogue bodice pattern piece.

Continue reading →

15697451_10210614472734212_3611234722976884590_n

I’m done now …

I won’t be buying any more Vintage Sewing Machines. That’s it. I’m done. Why? Well, because I have my Rocketeer! My Singer Slant-o-Matic 500. “Barbie”, as I call her, was born in 1961. Look at this ad someone shared on FaceBook – look at those prices. Quite steep for the 60’s, I think!

Continue reading →

Vintage pattern No. 4

Yes, I am almost finished my “Sister’s Sewing Projects”. I have finished her last skirt and am working on her matching shirt/jacket. We are going to have to go out and buy you more fabric soon, Sis!

I haven’t abandoned Jungle January 5. I’ve still got some sewing to do on my second Jungle January 5 animal print – a dress – but I have put that aside for a couple of days. We need some distance between us … Let’s just say the Jungle is not big enough for the two of us at the moment!

My sister’s favourite skirt pattern is McCall’s 4408. I have made this pattern for her before … a few times.

Continue reading →