Thank you!

I just wanted to do a quick post to thank you all for the fabulous comments on my Lovely Layers tunic. I really appreciate you all taking the time to visit and leave a comment.

I also wanted to let Barb know (I couldn't find an email address, Barb) that unfortunately, the fabric was not a recent purchase. I've really been trying hard to sew from stash for a while now, and so this one would have been purchased over a year ago. I have my fingers crossed for you that they still have some in stock.

Lovely Layers Tunic

After trying on a stack of TS tunics a few weeks ago, and just about passing out at the price tag, I decided that I could probably make one for myself. I settled on the Lovely Layers Top/Tunic from Crafty Mamas. I'd seen a few around the web, and thought they looked quite lovely indeed.

Typically, I wear a size 20 in RTW, but my measurements corresponded to the XXXL, so that's the size I chose. It worked. The tunic fit well without any alterations. The only issue I had was that the width of the longer tunic in the largest size did not fit on a standard 150cm wide knit. I chose to piece the front and back, knowing that you'd never be able to tell in the crazy print I'd selected for my test tunic. And I was right!

Not the sharpest photo I've ever taken, but it'll do for now. It was a wet and dismal old day here today.

It's a breeze to wear - which is a big plus in my books. I'm thinking I'm going to have to add another layer to go outside, though. It's a bit chilly here today.

Details:
Fabric: An ITY knit from East Coast Fabric

Construction Details:

2 hours tops! And I'm not a fast seamstress. This is one easy top to make. Yay!

It was almost exclusively stitched on the overlocker. The only time I used the sewing machine was to baste on the neckband, and to baste the second shoulder seam. I find I have real trouble getting a professional finish if I apply the neckband/binding to a shirt NOT in a circle if I don't baste that last shoulder seam before I stitch it properly. It ALWAYS shifts on me and makes this really messy looking join at the neck edge where it's really noticeable.

I did a rolled edge to hem the bottom, and a simple turn-and-coverstitch for the edge of the armhole.

For Future Versions (and there will be future versions!):

• Redraft the armhole for sleeveless versions. I just like it a bit higher and a bit narrower at the shoulder when I'm layering it over other tops.
• Adjust the side seam so that it fits on 150cm wide fabric.

Variations I'd Like to Try:

So, I've got lots of ideas for different kinds colour-blocked variations that I'd like to try. The motivation to try this pattern came from a bit of window shopping in the TS department at my local Myer store, so I thought I'd start there. Here are some of their styles that use colour-blocking. I apologise in advance for the visual overload, but I couldn't narrow it down any further. I can see a goodly pile of these tunics in my wardrobe this year. Now, I'd tweak most of these designs a little, but aren't there some great ideas for modifying this pattern?

All photos are linked to the relevant TS garment (as at 21 June 2013)...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, a finished project!

Now, this is the not the garment previously discussed in the last post...BUT I'm taking it as a win anyway. Apparently yesterday, the gods were smiling, because not only was I showered, with make-up AND decent hair, I was also wearing a new, handmade dress AND I remembered to take a photo. Truly, a blessed day. Anyway, moving on...

Last month I needed a new dress for work, so I dug around in my stash and came up with this number. I used View C from Butterick 5794 - a fairly straight forward knit dress with a cowl neck, 3/4 sleeves and a slightly hi-low hemline. I used a polyester based knit from East Coast Fabrics. I like the colours, but wouldn't have been devastated if it hadn't worked out.

Seeing as though I don't have the same figure shape as the model, I did have to do a bit of modification to get it to fit me, and to move that waist seamline, but nothing too major. It was a very quick and easy garment to sew.

And here I submit proof that I actually can, and do, sew instead of just planning... :)

Details:
Size:

• Bust 46.75", Waist 42.5" and Hips 49" - size selected 24W

Modifications/Alterations:

• Added extra width through the waist area - subsequently removed. This dress runs a little large.
• Raised waist seam (to more of an empire line) by ~ 2"
• Narrowed sleeve towards the bottom so it would stay up when I pushed the sleeves up.

Construction:

• Used serger mostly, although gathering done on sewing machine, coverstitch used on hems
• Used seam tape on shoulder seams and a tiny spot of Fray Check on coverstitched hems as I've been having a little trouble lately with the hems coming undone.

Results:

• Dress was a bit big overall, but that was easily rectified.
• Neck/collar is a bit floppy for my liking.

For Future Versions:

• Remove waist seam
• Check notches on sleeves, I think they're twisting in the armhole (either I missed the notches or they weren't there. Not prepared to commit at this stage.)
• Either use lightweight knit interfacing on collar to give it some body or reshape the pattern piece.
• Raise front neckline by 1" (for work modesty).

Plans...to return to the sewing room.

I'm still crafting away although it seems as though I've lapsed into radio silence on the blog. That's OK. I'm sure no-one expired because of it...

While I've been all about the knitting lately, I have started to inch my way back into the sewing room. I managed to finish (but not take any photos of) a pair of summer PJ shorts for my daughter which I had cut out in November of last year. I know, right? I'm crazy fast at finishing a project!

Anyway, since that extraordinarily complicated project is now gone from my sewing queue, I'm excited to start something new. I actually bought some RTW clothes the other week. I had a few gift cards that were about to expire for Myer, so I trotted on in and found myself in the TS section. I tried on quite a few garments and decided that I liked some of them enough to spend someone else's money on them! ;)

To cut a long story short, I've decided to make a few garments myself that echo that style. Surely I can do for WAY less money than the ridiculous prices they were asking for relatively simple garments.

So, I'm starting with the Crafty Mamas Lovely Layers tunic. I thought I'd go with the scoop neckline and no sleeves so I could wear it with a layering tee underneath.

I'm planning to test it out with this fabric (second from the left) for my first attempt. This will go with some black leggings and a black layering tee that I already own, so it won't even be an orphan for a millisecond. I'm liking this plan already.

I happen to have some purple dry knit fabric from Spotlight that matches the print quite well. It's leftover from my Style Arc Creative Cate top. I'm going to make another layering tee to go with the tunic.

A TNT pattern for a tee-shirt is one of the things I've been working on since my last post. I'm close with the 2/2007 Ottobre t-shirt, but I need to double check my alterations before I cut into my gorgeous black linen knit that I bought from The Fabric Store last month.

Motivation Injection

I've definitely been finding it hard to get back into the sewing groove. Truth be told it's a combination of my new obsession with yarn crafts and a massive backlog of projects started but never finished for some reason.

Yesterday I stumbled across a group on Ravelry called Seven Wips in Seven Days. It's pure genius! Essentially, their philosophy is that if you spend a little bit of time regularly on each of your projects , eventually, they will all get finished and you won't get bored. To follow the basic system suggested, you pick 7 of your "works in progress" and assign them to a day of the week, and commit to working on each project on its assigned day. Like anything, there is as much flexibility in the system as there are people using it. There have been all kinds of variances mentioned in the discussion threads of that group, like choice days and theme days. Like I said, sheer brilliance!

Now, I don't have that many knitting works in progress, but I certainly have many more sewing projects that have stagnated for whatever reason, usually boredom or falling prey to the excitement of starting a new project. Now they're stifling my desire to get behind the sewing machine, so something drastic needs to be done.

Knowing that I am the Queen of Procrastination, I know that just doing one project at a time just doesn't work for me. If I run into a tough spot, I'll do anything I can to avoid working on it - even if it's meant to be fun! That's why I'm convinced this system will totally work for me. I'm only committing to sewing one seam or knitting one row of the assigned project. Of course, starting is often the biggest stumbling block and once I get going, I often want to spend more time. That's what I'm hoping for, but if it doesn't happen, then it's no big deal. It also allows me the freedom to spend the majority of my crafty time on whatever project is exciting me the most at that time, free of guilt. Win/Win, I say.

Anyway, I'm not going to make a massive list of all the projects I have "in progress". That would be pointless. But I am going to pick seven and get started. Here's my plan:

• Monday: Sure-Fit Designs Dress (Sew)
• Tuesday: Hey, Teach Cardigan (Knit)

• Wednesday: DD's Colourful Cardigan (Knit)

• Thursday: Burgundy Dress (Sew)
• Friday: Marigold Bolero (Crochet)

Jenny King's Marigold Bolero

• Saturday: Aqua Vogue Top (Sew)
• Sunday: Embroidery on Brown Dress (Hand Sew)

I thought I would check back in here at the end of each week, and update the list, just to keep a record of whether this system is working for me.

When I finish a project from the list, I plan to fill up the 'empty' day with one of the remaining projects, until all seven are finished. Some people replace a finished project with another one, preferring to keep many projects in rotation. I'm not sure yet which approach will work for me, but I'm willing to give it a go.

What do you think? Would you benefit from a system like this?

Quick Update with Pics

Linen Dress Update

I know it's not very impressive, but at least there's been some progress. I had to give up yesterday. The lack of sunlight made it way too hard to see what I was doing.

I still feel like I'm all thumbs when I'm embroidering, but I don't think it looks terrible. I started at the back so I would have had more practice by the time I got to the front designs. I just have to remember it's at the bottom of the skirt. No-one's going to be peering at it up close.

Stash-Busting

As I mentioned yesterday, one of the stash areas I would dearly love to downsize is my collection of lingerie fabrics & laces and knit remnants. I'm posting a picture here of the piles as they currently are, so I can look back in 12 months and marvel at how far I've come (or not).

Lingerie fabrics and laces are on the top shelf and knits leftover from other projects are on the bottom shelf.

Stretch lace collection.

First FO for 2013!

I normally slow down over the summer holidays, but this year it's taken me longer than usual to get back into my groove.

So, I wanted something easy for my first project. Combine that need with a pile of knit remnants and stretch laces, and I settled on sewing Ottobre's "Simply Basic" panties (5-2009-02).

 

I made a pair from chocolate jersey, leftover from my Sunshine Top. Luckily, I had some matching chocolate brown stretch lace in my stash. The fit was really good. I just needed to lower the front curve of the leg openings a little for subsequent pairs. To mimic that adjustment for this pair, I filled in that section with the lace.

To accomodate the lace insert, I didn't stitch elastic all the way around the leg openings, only the portion where there was no lace. This worked well for a seat-of-the-pants fix.

I've been wearing them all day and they are super comfortable - the ultimate test of underwear. I can see that pile of knit remants being put to good use this year. And, no, I won't be modelling any of them. You're welcome.

In related news, I've joined Cation Design's Stashbusting Sewalong to give me a little push in completing my 50 Stash Projects goal. I've committed to using 12 pieces of fabric from my stash. I really think I'll be able to do much better than that, but I thought it better to under-promise and over-deliver, than beat myself up over not meeting a goal.

 

The theme for January is "Itty Bits" - sewing up pieces of fabric which are less than one yard. Well, I can tick that off my list now, but I have many more smallish pieces that need to be used up. I can see myself happily sticking with this theme for the whole year!

Now I'm off to continue working on the embroidery for my linen dress! Wish me luck - this is a new venture for me, but I'm finding it quite fun so far.

(I'll add a more current photo when it's looking more impressive!)