Make a garment a month challenge-April

I have been drawn to orange lately. So I'm going to make some orange pants for spring. My husband has already given this fabric the hairy eyeball! And I think I have already made a boo-boo and cut the wrong size out , I've gained some weight since the last time I made pants and I just went for my usual size. I just might be able to fudge a few skimpy seam allowences so I'm going to go ahead with them anyways. I've sewn a lot of knits of late so it will be refreshing to sew a (some what) stable fabric. I am trying to challenge myself in two ways.1- to use more colour/and or prints. 2- to find myself a pant pattern that fits me well enough to become a go to pattern.

Burda 8085

I cut out view A but I think if they fit I will probably convert them to the petal pushers view B . Rest assured, I will not be exposing my belly button and midriff !

As I was trying to take a picture, Lola was trying to get some attention- she won. The fabric is a poly/cotton twill with a bit of Lycra - and it's orange. You might be able to see some in the back ground. I just bought it this month at Fabricland- so much for using up my stash, right? I'll call it my new stash.

I'm very happy to be participating in the Make A Garment A Month Challenge . I am new to Blogging, and really enjoy seeing what everyone is up to. I don't have friends that sew, and it's nice to know I'm not alone in my obsession. My people just don't get it! ( until they want something hemmed up of course).

Sew - wish me luck.

 

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Ya can't sew without one of these!

My new baby! Isn't she sweet? She's big- a two bagger. I love her.

I want to make her a whole new wardrobe of cosy's - am I crazy?

 

 

I could hang out in my sewing studio and drink tea all day! Oh ya - I just did that!

 

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Ahhh- That's better! Inspiration dress - again.

Now I'm a happy little sewer. I think it looks like my inspiration picture.I like this fabric, the weight, colour, drape, print, and it even has texture. I like textiles with texture,I find it hides a bit of my texture. Like bumps and bulges and such.

So what I did this time was to use a scaled down print that does not wear me, I wear it. And the colour, I have to face the fact, dull looks good on me.I used the original seam in the back to help aid in fitting and it saves a lot of fabric. This pattern has a neck facing which you don't see much of lately, but I think I may start using them again as it really helped to support the neckline. For the cap sleeves I only added a1" binding( I was running out of fabric), but I like it, it looks finished. I also made a small detachable belt to wear at empire height. It has 2 hidden buttons for a closure at the back, and around the front I heat set some pewter metal studs, on point, for something to do. Not sure if you can see it in the picture though.

I will most likely wear it with my boots and my 1980's style hip slung belt.Go figure - in the 80's I had a waist and I didn't even use it then.

I will be wearing it with a slip

Time for a small rant here.Don't ever underestimate the power of a slip. They are not old fashion or prim- just proper!!! I cringe when I see a woman's wares under her garment or the silhouette of her inner thighs when back lit. It's not sexy, it looks cheap. Slips are alluring and allow your dress to slide around on your body and not get wedged up your who-who, front or back. I'd rather see a little snow in Paris then wad of fabric bunched up in the crotch! And they are really easy to make or buy. Or make a lining for your skirt! Rant over.

Time for a cup of tea!

 

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Inspiration dress

I just cannot pull it off. I'm sure many people could-just not me. So my dress will now officially become a tunic. I will spare you the pictures of what it looked like on me. It looks pretty good on my Dolly Lama though. But she is bigger then me by about 5 inches and filled out better then I am.

The new plan is to cut it off. Leave a nice weighty hem, and make a kangaroo pocket, which I will match as best I can to the design. With so much going on I don't want any more distractions. Then I will be happy, then I will actually wear it.

The fabric I should have used was this one. I got it the same day with about 15 other pieces of cloth. I must have been just too excited to dive in and didn't think it through. Mind you, I really do like it. I could give it away but I don't want to.

In fact, while my pattern is not yet folded up, I think I will remake it. Now that I know what I'm doing , it should only take me an afternoon to whip one up. I think I will put the original seam in the back, for fitting,but I'm still not sure about a belt unless I put an elastic empire waistline in it first.

It does look like the inspiration dress- boo hoo!

 

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Inspiration piece

I recently saw this photo in a magazine and thought I would love this maxi dress, but at 995.00 dollars- ya, not gonna happen!

Then I remembered I had just picked up this New Look pattern from Value Village for .99 cents!! Complete with coffee stains! It's out of print now and looks to me like it could be from the early 90's. Anybody know?

Now I'm thinking with a few little alterations I could make this happen. Obviously the length, and I will grade it out to an slim A-line. I'm sure I could figure out how to extend the shoulders to make cap sleeves. My fabric choice will have to have two 'right' sides for the hood or I could cut double pieces- in fact the inspiration photo just might be doubled. I will need maybe 3 meters of fabric just to be safe. Then there is the belt. I like that it's detachable which means I can place it where ever I want . I'm still stuck in the 80's and I like my low slung hip belts on my figure shape, but I can work with empire as well. Natural waistlines tend to make me look like a sack of potatoes tied in the middle! I don't have any prints like this in my stash so I will have to go fabric shopping, OH DARN! So off I go.

 

I'm back. Okay they're not exactly the same. LOL!!!!! Mine on the left just might be a tiny bit bolder.... But I like it and it was on sale...70% off at Fabricland. I did buy 3 meters and it looks like way to much so maybe there is more then one garment here. As for the bold print I'm sure my husband will have something to say about it-he alway gives my outfits names. One that comes to mind was 'seat covers on a boat'. It was a Channel style jacket in a pink,cream and black bouclé, with frayed lapels and edges- and I loved it!!!

Ha! Last night the husband says to me he was looking at all the fabric I bought - pretty fancy- but I'm not sure about that 'Aztec-y' print! Now I'm second guessing my choice not just because of his comment but it's a lot of print on a long dress on my small fame. No matter- I think I'm going to go through with it anyway. If I feel over whelmed in it, I will just cut it off and make it a tunic! That's always been one of my biggest challenges in sewing, choosing the right scale of print for my size.

The pattern calls for a seam down the center back, but I think I will place it on the fold as I don't want to have to match up any more horizontal lines then I have to. I'm sure I can fit it through the sides or add some vertical darts in the back if I have to. Besides, if it becomes a tunic, it won't really need much fitting.

I guess I should start cutting it out......

As the sewing Fates would have it ,I just happened to have Vogue pattern 6869 on my cutting table ready to cut out next , it has the exact type of cap sleeve I'm looking for! So I made a simple pattern adjustment by copying it to my original with tissue paper. The directions for finishing the are to just fold under and top stitch,but due to the weight of my fabric I may face the the cap to give it a better weight. Does that make sense?? Or (thinking outloud) I may add a binding. My fabric has a great boarder print that I can take advantage of here. That would look even better. This is one of those figure it out as you go along projects which I seem to get mixed up with all the time!!!

So far so good. My hood turned out pretty slick , with the border print along the edge, and I did self line it. The instructions were a 2 inch hem. I cut that off and just left a seam allowance.

Now that I see this in picture form, a binding is a must, other wise it just looks so cheap and off the rack. The other problem I'm encountering - it's just way too much print for me!!! Guaranteed this will be a tunic. It will look cute with capris or long shorts(is that an oxymoron?) for the summer. As a tunic it might look good with a kangaroo pocket or pockets of some sort or even a draw string like the original pattern.

I'm not sure how old something has to be, to be considered vintage - so I'm going to consider this pattern vintage. So what I've noticed is what better quality it is. The tissue is thicker and stronger,and the instructions are better. More detailed pre-construction tips such as fabric descriptions, prep stitching, needle choices, larger illustrations, etc. I guess I never noticed when things started going south and it's bothering me now because I just bought a 35$ Vogue pattern and it was torn before I even took it out of the envelope!!! End of rant!

 

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Finished graffiti top

Butterick 5955 view D

Ok, the husband really likes this one- go figure!?

It's not as loud in real life either. I don't understand cameras and light and whatnot. It quite subtle, black,grey,silver and mauve.

My tip of the day; don't set your iron on high when you are pressing polyester !! Nearly had a disaster. Slightly melted the inside of the lace sleeve. It's a bit crusty. Only I will know and who ever reads this!

Changed the neckline by adding a 2" binding and then stitching up the front seam. Much nicer finish then the pattern called for.

Used Shiva Paintsticks and stencils for my graffiti- see previous post. Heat set with the iron and put it in a hot dryer. It's still a bit 'stinky' (smells like oil paint), but that will disapate in a week or so.

Well that was fun! Now on to my next project.

 

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Butterick 5955

Butterick 5955 very loose fitting top

One pattern, two very different looks.I bought this pattern because I thought it would be great to use up all those remnants and left over bits and pieces of woven fabrics that I have hanging about.

So far I have made it twice - both times with knits. Still stash busting,but this pattern is designed for wovens- Oh well, what ever. With such a simple pattern I thought it was a great opportunity to make a few creative mixes of fabric, which is so trendy right now.

Here are my fabric choices . One is a gorgeous ,delicious velvet burnout and a very fine, dotted, low stretch net. Both of these I purchased from the Sewing Workshop booth when the Stitch Expo was in town. I noticed an edge finish she used, involving a thin 1/4" braid. I happen have some similar in my stash, so I'll give it a whirl. That's why I love going to trade shows - I always learn something new!

I applied the trim by laying it on the fabric about a half inch from the edge,and straight stitched. Do not stretch your fabric. Then I folded the the fabric to the back and straight stitched again. Stopping and starting at an inconspicuous spot- then do a little zig zag to lock it in place. Then carefully trim away the excess on the back, close to stitching. It turned out flawless.

For the second version I chose a boring grey Lycra jersey, and added black stretch lace for the back yoke.

Still boring. Then I get an idea- lately I have been liking all the writing and graffiti on everything...

So I got out my Shiva Paintsticks and stencils and got busy playing.

This is what I've got so far.

Rather then just random words or letters I thought I would use inspirational words and phrases that have meaning to me. I toyed with the idea of putting a zipper down the front but didn't like how it looked with the v neck, I would have to pre plan that- maybe round out the neck line. In fact I think I will do that on another version in a heavier fabric. I do think if I make this In a woven I will grade down a size or two, it is very loose fitting, I think it will be too billowy if I don't.

I don't remember what the instructions are for the neckline finish, I just know I didn't like them. So I've decided to use a 2" binding,folded in half, stitched to the outside then flipped up. Then I will sew up the front seam.

I was at the West Edmonton mall today and I saw this top in a store. I really like the zipper neckline and thought it might make a nice finish for this top in one of my next versions of it.

Well that's all I have for today. My graffiti top won't be finished for a few days.

 

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