New Look 6578

A simple pinafore in the last of this fabric, stashed for years and used a couple of years ago for a dress for the same little person, who was sad when she grew out of it.

The pattern is New Look 6578

A well used pattern, as you can see by the state of the envelope

Jenna Magenna

Jenna cardi; the sequel.  

In magenta wool jersey:

I made the plain front version this time, waist length, long sleeves.  I narrowed the sleeves and cuffs for this version and they fit much better.

Version 1 is here.

Simplicity 2995

I bought this Nani Iro double gauze from etsy seller Miss Matatabi last year, mainly to try double gauze as I hadn't sewn with it before.  Turns out it is lovely to sew with.  It presses well and sort of sticks to itself a bit so not much pinning is necessary.  The fabric is quite narrow (108cm or 42 inches wide) so it limited what I could make with the 2 metres I bought.  I used Simplicity 2995 and extended the shoulders for a cap sleeve effect.

I used purchased bias binding for the neckline and just overlocked, turned and topstitched the sleeve and bottom hems.  Lazy!

I didn't have enough fabric to match the pattern on the back pieces, but who am I kidding I wouldn't have done it anyway, because unmatched doesn't bother me one bit.  Unless it's plaid.  How many plaid frocks have I made? None.  Told you, I'm lazy!

This shift style is a little bit of a departure for me.  I'm used to more waist shaping, but I think I'll wear it because I do like it.  I pieced a tie belt from the scraps to act as wearing insurance, in case the shift silhouette doesn't appeal to me after all.  

Butterick 4607

I made another thing which is not a double knit boat-neck frock so I felt I could blog it.

I have been looking for some wobbly rayon challis to make a button front shirt, but not having much luck finding prints I like. Anybody seen any cute prints, which are not multicoloured florals?

I found this cotton voile at Spotlight and there was 1.4 metres left on the bolt, which was enough to make this shirt, minus the front and back yokes.  I would have had enough to make pockets, but nah.  I'm happy with the print as it is.

I used my vintage buttonholer again, ahhhh so easy and fun!  I also sewed on the buttons using my sewing machine. WHY WASN'T I TOLD THIS WAS SO EASY?

I used the method I saw in this youtube tutorial: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-ZoGnZ_ZX0

using my new-to-me Bernina 801 I got for $37 at our local auctions!  Hurrah!  I took the presser foot off and used my low shank adaptor.  It worked perfectly.

A year, you say?

We're still here.  Still sewing.  Not been blogging, obviously.

I've mostly been making ponte boat neck frocks and tops, so not great blogging material; great wardrobe material though.

This weekend I made a Jenna cardi in orange merino (from the Remnant Warehouse).  I chose the gathered yoke, waist length, full length sleeve version and used vintage buttons from my button jar. I was a bit nervous about doing the buttonholes.  I don't think I've ever done buttonholes on a knit jersey before.

I thought it would be interesting to try out the singer buttonholer I've had sitting around for a couple of years and never used.

I did some practise buttonholes on scraps first:

and then jumped in.  Of course I got the placement wrong on the first buttonhole on the actual cardigan and had to unpick it, grrr!  Which made some holes in the merino of course.  So the first buttonhole is messy now, but it's all learning, right?  

The finished cardigan:

The sleeves are a bit too wide, but I've run out of orange thread so I will take them in later.  The hem band at the waist is a little out of alignment too, even though I was careful; not sure what happened there, although by the time I get to wear it I might have forgotten about it.  That's what I get for sewing winter clothes in summer.  I'll probably wear it with the lower buttons unbuttoned too, so it won't be obvious hopefully.

I love this pattern!  I have some gorgeous magenta wool jersey (also from the Remnant Warehouse) which I think I will use to make my next version, once I decide on hip or waist length, three quarter or long sleeve, gathered yoke or no....

Foldy shopping bag

I hope you all had a Merry Merry and such.

I went to the Spotlight sale today. 3 for $10 patterns and 40% off fabric!  The sale is on until Wednesday, which is New Year's Day.  (Most Spotlight stores are open, not my closest one though.)  I came back with NO patterns!   I hoped some would jump out at me; I got through one and a half pattern books then my attention span failed me.

I bought 1 metre each of these cotton drills:

and traced my current favourite fold-up shopping bag, and now I have a foldy shopping bag out of the Mexico travel poster fabric: 

I added a tab and snap because one of the problems with my current shopping bag is it has a separate little sack you put it in once you've folded it and I am so going to lose that. (Half the time I can't find the sack in my handbag and I end up just stuffing the bag in unfolded, which is not ideal.)  

The tab is attached in the middle between the handles and I just folded the bag up and marked where the snaps should go.  I practised folding a few times before I put the snap on to make sure I found the best folding size and position.  Whether I can reproduce it in the wild when the pressure is on remains to be seen.

Have a fabulous and safe NYE all!

Copying a vintage frock

I have always loved this barkcloth vintage dress I bought years ago.  It's a bit shabby so I haven't worn it much as a result.  I don't want it to totally wear out.  It was lovingly handmade by someone many years ago.

I found this fabric online (vintage they said, but it must be new old stock as it is pristine) and the weight was perfect to try to reproduce the vintage frock:

It is the same weight as barkcloth, but it has more of a pique-like texture.  

I folded the original frock in half and traced the front and back necklines onto a bodice tracing from another pattern with similar style lines.  I love the low back on this frock.  It seems saucy, but is high enough so the bra doesn't show.  The straps turned out a bit narrower on my version, I probably fudged adding the seam allowances or something.  I like the look though.

I made a one piece facing and used this tutorial to make a half-circle skirt

The original dress has a full circle skirt but my fabric was too narrow and I only had 3 metres anyway.  I only just realised in time that the fabric is directional too, so I had to cut two pieces of fabric and lay them out so the flowers wouldn't be upside down on the back of the skirt.  The skirt has side seams now, which is fine by me.

Here she is:

 Perfect for Christmas drinks parties, which are coming up scarily soon!

New Look mash up

 This is New Look 6968 with the neckline and facings from New Look 6736  because I love those facings.  Finish the neckline and armholes in one?  Yes please!  The facings stay put with just a tack under the arms too, which is fab. 

 The fabric is vintage from my stash, I'd say early 60s because I have patterns from that era with very similar fabrics illustrated.  Also it was very narrow, so even though I had 4 metres, it took about 3 metres to make this frock.  I wanted a waist seam, because I thought it would suit the vintage vibe, so instead of just making 6736 again, I franken-patterned.  

I put the zip in the mid back like my last 6736.  I like not having to muck around with the top of the zip at the neckline.  Looks neat, still easy to get on. 

I used one of my vintage belt kits to make a self belt.  Buy these kits when you see them people!  They are awesome.  It adds to the vintage vibe, no?  (Oops blurry pic; but does remind me of a Monet, so I'll post it anyway)

Pics above show it on me with and without the belt.  The belt makes it I think, even though it is well camouflaged.

Better late than never?

Anyone would think I'd given up sewing. Not the case, but I haven't been blogging 'cos I can't seem to take a decent pic (not like Kitty, she's got the knack!). Anyway, hopefully these will give the general idea. Here is today's Sunday sewing output:

First up is an rose print knit fabric - it's a bit ITY like, nice and drapey. It's a recent eBay buy - I also got brown background / orange rose and navy background / pink rose - hey, I like a giant rose!
It's the top from New Look 6735, extended into a dress. I've made a few of these, very quick to sew and show off a print well - only a couple of hours to sew too. I love the neckband, a very clean and neat finish. Excellent travel frock too, I took the plain black one with me on the last trip.

Next up is a frock made of Erin Michael's 'Lush Uptown' paint-by-numbers quilting fabric - I've wanted this ever since I saw it AFTER it was out of print a couple of years ago - luckily it's recently been reprinted (and is already hard to find, but I found a great eBay seller with it). I used my tried and true (this must be the fifth or sixth one I've made) Butterick Retro 6522 - this is a great pattern for a bold print as the lines don't interfere with the pattern. I made this to go and see The Handsome Family on Saturday night - somehow the deers seem appropriate!

New Look 6736

I bought this stretch cotton sateen from Gertie's etsy shop.  Gertie described it as "Shaheeny" and I thought it would make a great sarong dress and also I loved it.  I love Shaheen frocks. 

I have a mildly fancy frockortunity coming up, so I decided to put this fabric to work.

When I was play-gathering the fabric, the wide bands of darker colour looked a bit too diagonal, so in the end I let the fabric be the star and decided to make a plain sheath dress.

This is New Look 6736, which I've made a couple of times before.  I always leave out the neckline notch because I prefer it plain.  I put a zip in the mid-back because I only had a 14 inch zip, and I like how the back neckline looks neater that way.

Forgive the wrinkles; I should get a camera remote because running back and forth with a 10 second self-timer doesn't give me enough time to re-smooth.  When I walk it doesn't crinkle up like that.  

LOL at the different bangles in pics one and three.  I was trying to decide which went best.  Which do you think?  Bamboo or beads?

New Look 6013

This is New Look 6013, view D, made in mesh knit.  I bought the mesh snake print from ebay.  I folded out all the darts (including the bust darts) after I traced the pattern.  The raglan sleeves are also a meshy knit, some metalicus fabric Moggy found in Melbourne.  The snake mesh is quite sheer, so I have to wear a slip.  I am too lazy to line.  Don't judge!  I like wearing slips.  There, I said it.

Here it is on Betty Dressup:

                                                     Front:

Back:  

I kept the centre back seam in case I needed to shape it more, but I didn't have to.  This is a nice, easy pattern, and being New Look, no crazy extra ease.

I constructed all the seams on the overlocker, and coverstitched the hems and neckline using my Coverpro 1000CPX.  I love that machine.

*Peeks around corner; waves sheepishly*

Hi!  Coming out of winter hibernation, finally!

My sewing room is cold, ok?  And how many boat neck, three-quarter sleeved ponte frocks do you want to see anyway?  It's almost all I made for a year.

The weather has warmed up, and I made this frock last weekend out of some polyester border print I bought at Remnant Warehouse a while ago.  It's woven, no stretch, sort of a cross between a charmeuse and challis in feel, maybe?  I don't know,  it's silky, but still a bit crisp.  Twill?  Anyway, it feels nice for a poly.

It's a border print, but I needed a waist seam because I wanted to use the sparser diamond pattern in the bodice.  I couldn't just cut the dress out in the middle of the print because I wanted the sweet black hem border to remain.  Needs a press too, that hem, oops.

I have many patterns.  I don't want to seem boastful, but I'm a pattern thousandaire.

I didn't, however, have a pattern in the massive stash which was suitable for my (admittedly simple) needs.

So I made up a pattern, making a wide-ish bodice it so I didn't need a zip.  I didn't put darts in, but did slash and add pleats to the neckline to add a bit of interest.  The skirt is just two trapezoid shapes, and I zigzagged elastic onto the seam allowance at the waist.  I made a quick muslin out of an old bedsheet, to check I didn't need a zip (I didn't, yay!)

Hands on hips pose:

Belted:

Neckline pleats, with sweet 1960s horse pendant:

On the roll, showing reason a waist seam was needed, unless I wanted a mid calf length or maxi dress, which I didn't:

So, what have you all been up to?  *Whistles, tries to distract from own slackness*