Tripfits probable and possible

In order to make up for my terrible sewing neglect lately, today I made two things:

#1 - the much-sewed on PR New Look 6429 Surplice Dress (otherwise known as the Fauxwrap)

I've had this cut out and sitting on my cutting table for WEEKS. As someone said on PR, it feels like it takes longer to cut than to sew...
I finished the neckline with fold over elastic - makes it sit nicely methinks. It is very comfy and a little bit dressy. I'm going to Paris and Rome, so I felt I should make some effort...


#2 - fishtail skirt. My convertible skirt (Kitty's version there) was meant to be going on holiday with me, but it's gone all funny and wants to slip down while walking (hello, Victoria Markets potential knicker-exposing incident!) so I decided I would need to rethink the black skirts. And then I found my wool jersey fishtail skirt has some little holes in it... anyway... so I decided to make another fishtail skirt.

This one is from some nice drapey knit crepe. I left out the zip and put a smooth wide elastic waistband in, as well as lengthening by 10cm (although I may reduce that a bit, it is just overlocked for now).

Edited to add: the pattern is Butterick 4859
Did I mention it is a really bad picture?


I think I will make a pencil skirt from the leftovers of the doubleknit coat (which I have worn a bit and am loving).

Next: red poplin wrap shirt from Vogue 2863. And before you ask, I'm not intending to make the capris...

Rapt in fabric

I picked up these two fabrics at Remnant Warehouse the other day. The black is a rayon/poly jersey with built in ruffles and the stripe is a rayon woven. I'm thinking of making a pussy-bow blouse with the stripey black and white, and a wrap cardigan with the ruffly jersey.

Jumper jumper

I did end up wearing tweedy last night. I put a thin jumper under it, (it was chilly) and I was happy.

Tweedy

So I made this frock. It's the middle view from Simplicity 6445, in a tweedy looking suiting. I bound the neck and armholes with bias tape, and hand-sewed some flat braid under the yoke to look like piping. And then I took a ton of photos, inside and outdoors, trying to decide if I like it or not. I find it easier to be objective when looking at photos.
I took it in a lot, because as expected from the pattern illustration, it was a little sack-like. I didn't cut off the seam allowances before binding the neck and armholes, and I think it would sit better if I had. Normally I can't wait to wear something I've just made, but this one is a little 'meh' so far. Maybe if I leave it for a while, it'll grow on me.

A-line experiment

Crazy, I know, but I realised recently that I don't have a black A-line skirt in my wardrobe! I think I got rid of the two I had in my last wardrobe cleanup.
I made this today, a plain pull-on A-line in cotton thierry knit, a scrap from this frock. I put faux pocket flaps on the front to make it less boring. I based it on the pattern from the high waisted tripfit skirts, but with a narrower waistband due to lack of fabric.
This wasn't the right fabric for this project; I think a less 'floppy' fabric would work better, but it will do for about the house, shopping etc.
I'm standing in that bizarre manner to show the A-line, as it flops down into a straight looking skirt unless I do an awkward 1960s style modelling pose.

Citrine, with pockets internal and external

I finished my coat. I am very happy with her - took her out for a road test to the theatre (highly recommended) this evening - the internal ticket pockets worked a treat!



The buttons aren't actually crooked, and there are four of them (bought at the Great Buttonmania Sale of '08). Lovely big grey carved deco looking numbers.

And here is her lining, which earnt her the name Citrine:

Pocket frock-it

It's almost that time of year again. The fifties fair is on again next month at Rose Seidler house in Sydney.

I made this frock yesterday, with the idea I would wear it to the fifties fair, weather permitting. Even weather not permitting really; I have cardigans. And many tiny umbrellas from Japan.
It's New Look 6699, view G bodice. Love you New Look! Call me! We'll have cake!

I lined the bodice with white stretch poplin, as the main fabric is stretch cotton sateen. Since I had a bit of the white poplin left over, I put side seam pockets in the skirt. I like them, it gives the dress a more casual feel.

I had a vintage pattern picked out for this fabric, but I thought the print might be too much in a full coverage bodice with cap sleeves. And so a sundress was born.

$5 knockoff

A couple of years ago, when shopping with Kitty in Sydney, I bought this $5 top. I really like the shape of it, and have been looking for a pattern to make myself another in plain black. The closest was a Jalie 2794 but those patterns are only available overseas and are quite spensy and it's not quite the same and so on.

So I decided to get the Kwik Sew 3338 that I've used before to make a plain long-sleeved t-shirt (I have decided that plain t-shirts, while practical, don't do much for me). I put the traced off pattern up against the $5 top and finangle it about to get the same shape. The front is one piece from the neck down and two side bits that go up to the shoulder seams.

Great explanation, isn't it?

Here's the result - I am rather pleased. One more tripfit done!
I
Note it didn't cost $5 - I used leftovers from something else and a pattern I already had.

Girly skulls

I've been a bit of a sewing fiend lately, despite the very pleasant and sunny winter we are having in Sydney so far. Why leave the house for walks on the beach, or lunch in an outdoor cafe, when you can hunch over a sewing machine in a draughty kitchen? Not me!
This is what I came up with for the skull jersey I bought last week. I used the sleeveless blouse pattern, but changed it to a pull-on top. I didn't think buttons would sit well anyway on this floppy fabric. I cut a v-neck so I could get it over my head.
I haven't tried it on with the pinafore yet, but I think it will suit it well, and give the sweet pinny a subtly sinister edge.

One of them "work in progress" thingies

I'm making a coat. All lined and pockety and everything (extra inside pockets because I am making it as part of the European tripfits). I had to make the lining pattern and the pockets 'cos they didn't come with the pattern (New Look 6736). And I had to go out for lunch. And afternoon tea, and and and...

That is my excuse for not finishing it in one weekend. Here it is in progress:
I chose a sort of citron-celadon stretch satin for the lining, and the main fabric is a nice smooth doubleknit.
I have enough left over for either a skirt, or even a pinafore, or maybe some trousers.


I'm kidding, I mean this one:
These are the Kwik Sew 3115 yoga pants, which would be comfy for the 24 hours we have to be on the plane. I'd make 'em with a wider waistband so one could do the fold over thing like the January tripfit skirt (which for some reason I don't have a pic of, so I shall have to reference Kitty's)

Sister Navy of the Beutrons

...that's what Moggy suggested I call her. I had to take her in and up a lot to prevent that 'novice nun' look. I took in the bodice and armscyes a bit too much perhaps because putting the sleeves in became a challenge. I had to reshape the sleevecaps to fit them in, but I managed. The stretch of bengaline keeps it all comfortable and I can still move!

I probably took it in too much across the chest, looking at it now, but hey, no one will notice because they'll be checking out how that huuuuuge white collar matches my pasty white skin.

Some New Look lurve

Kitty and I were discussing today how lots of people feel the love for Burda. And we just can't seem to get on that Burda train. Apparently the fit is great; I don't know because I've never made one - the styles just don't appeal.

It's not you, Burda, it's me.

Luckily I don't need to do alterations on patterns (apart from sticking in a few cm in the midriff, which makes frocks fit better for long-waisted me), so as long as I check the finished pattern measurement before I choose my size I'm fine (We all do that, don't we? If you don't, you should, or else you risk too much ease, mateys! Nothing kills sass like too much ease!). So the whole fit thing isn't a big issue.

Of the modern patterns I do like New Look.

Hello, they say, I will be a dress for you! Let me be a coat! You'll love me and make me lots! Look at my midriff details and choices of styles! And I'm so cheap - quite frequently as little as $5! Isn't that worth a try?

here are some of my favourites:
Here's one I'm making at the moment (the coat, in black doubleknit with celadon satin lining)

And here is one on my to-make list (it gets rave reviews on PR).