Showing posts with label StyleArc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label StyleArc. Show all posts

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Lovely Clover

Facebook is a dangerous thing.
Last year Rathdowne Fabrics and Remnants posted a pic of several gorgeous wool fabrics they had just put into stock, I promptly bought two of them and have finally completed a garment using one.

It's the Style Arc Clover Cape.

See the little spots on the buttons, totally a coincidence of course!
This fabric 'spoke' to me as soon as I saw it - even though blue and brown tones together are not something I would have said I love.

Last winter I cut the cape and lining out and had only sewn up the collar stand and the pocket flaps before the weather changed, and so I put it away...

Double breasted and lined with some fabric I bought from Tessuti a while ago
As the weather recently turned cold again I dug it out and took it to Sewjourn a few weeks ago where I finished it off.

It is super warm and oh so comfortable to wear.
I love the arm slits as it gives you the freedom to move around in a way that other capes, which are secured under the arms, don't.
It also allows you to slip a bag onto your shoulder underneath it which I find really handy.

The arm slit is on the left then the pocket is concealed behind this flap
The wool was lovely to sew with and I was able to get the seams all nice and flat using my much-loved steam iron.
The top-stitching foot on my machine made it easy to get the lines all nice and even.
What mum doesn't need pockets!!
As this was quite thick with multiple layers in places, I left my Bernina dual feed on for pretty much all of it and the fabric just cruised through - no issues at all, not even when doing the buttonholes.

A less than wonderful shot I know!! 
I will get many years of use from this cape and possibly get to making another one for me as it's such a comfortable and versatile garment to wear.
I just throw it over whatever I have on and head out into the cold.
To say I love it would be an understatement!

Updated to add some 'modelled' pics.
These are taken from a funny angle as my photographer is quite short!



Excuse the creases - didn't think to press it!!

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Time out...again!

I've been very lucky to be able to 'escape' day to day life and spend time in the company of other sewing and crafty chicks a number of times this year, the weekend just gone included.

A couple of the girls at NCB had a booking for Sewjourn with a couple of spare places available. As I have had a few weekends away lately I agreed that I would only go if my crafty friend could also make it as I knew spending time with her would be an added bonus.

As usual, it was lovely to relax, unwind and be free of the regular activities of daily life such as cooking, refereeing/parenting, cleaning and cooking; and just go with the flow.

I also love seeing what other people get up to in their crafty pursuits. 
How they do things, what they choose to work on - I learn something new every time.


Brianna put this amazing quilt top together and inspired Wendy to make one up too. I love the colours and the shapes and everything about it. 
The fabric is a range from Parson Gray (aka Mr Amy Butler), and I had planned on getting some for upcoming teacher gifts (yes I am planning well ahead!), so it was lovely to see and touch and feel the range 'in the flesh'.

Brianna, along with Mel, Claire, Liesl, Lisa, Daisy and of course Wendy and myself - got through a huge amount of sewing.
This is just some of what was done.

Oven mitts, PJ/lounge pants, skirts, jackets, quilt tops galore, dresses, cushion covers, shower caps, a scarf a bat softie, ear bud pouches, skirts ruffled and tiered and a sweet little Oliver+s top.
Phew!

Clothing, quilts and cushion covers for all shapes, sizes, styles and tastes!
We took our time with it all - it was great to sew without feeling like I 'had' to get anything done.

I was in fact very productive, completing two ruffled and two tiered skirts, five little shower caps (just for fun!), completing my first Slip-on Suzie dress, doing repairs on two pairs of jeans, one pair of bathers, one skirt, one shirt and putting elastic into three pair of leggings as well as making a start on my Clover Cape.
Did you see the cute bat softie in the centre of the quilt...
I have to say my only regret was not having started my cape earlier as the finish on the seams when using Brianna's totally-amazing-steam-generator-iron was nothing short of incredible - so I wish I had been able to complete it.

But I came home feeling like a 'sewing weight' had been lifted from my shoulders as many little 'odd jobs' that have been sitting in the 'to do' pile have now been completed.

Loving making this one, stay tuned...
So thank you ladies for a really great weekend.
For excellent food, conversation, music selections and of course company.
Check out Wendy's post here for more details on all the quilts she worked on.

A very big thanks to 'the guy who lives here' for making it possible - you are one in a million, and I am glad you are my one from the millions. xx