Project 52 Weekly Fashion Challenge - Week 1

 It's the Wiksten Tank (again)

I joined a group on FB a little while ago - its the Project 52 Weekly Fashion Challenge.

The premise is that each week, a new challenge is set to create a piece of clothing. Once your piece is completed, you upload your photos to the FB album for that week, and a winner is chosen. The deadline for each week is Midnight Sunday in whichever time zone you live in.

I joined because I thought it would be a great motivator to make more of my own clothes, which will also hopefully improve my skills and confidence!

This weeks challenge was to make a 'geometric' top.  The only bit of spare time I had this week was Saturday night, so it was a mad panic rush to try to get something made.

Luckily I'd picked up this checked fabric at Spotty a couple of weeks ago. I only bought one metre, so I had to cut the back of the top in two pieces and join them. I did some pretty topstitiching on the back to make it look deliberate!

The fabric frayed and frayed and frayed... so each piece had to be fully overlocked before I could even think of stitching anything together.  I wanted to add square pockets to the front to make more of the geometric theme, and Bec had the brilliant idea of cutting them on the bias (after block interfacing the fabric first of course). I love the bit of extra detail it provides.

Unfortunately I didn't have the right coloured binding in the stash to finish off the neckline, armholes and hem. I went to Spotty today and they didn't have the right coloured binding either.... so it looks like I'll be making my own... maybe tomorrow.

When Inspiration Strikes

You just never know when the next brilliant idea or inspiration might appear.

I was brunching with Cathy in a nice little cafe one day when I spotted this lovely metal screen.

I have a bit of a fencespotting thing going on over on instagram (which also includes metal screens in cafes). I really like looking at the patterns and the shapes.  I'm particularly fond of the 50's 60's and 70's type era.

These have all been added to my inspiration folder for future reference.

I was particularly smitten by the cafe screen so I got to work designing a repeatable pattern.

Which I then had printed up as fabric.

I decided that I wanted to make myself another Wiksten Tank, so I chose a cotton voile basecloth.
Although you can't really tell from this photo, the cotton voile is really sheer, so I have to wear a singlet undeneath.

You can just see a little peak on the right armhole from this photo (and it's a little washed out), but I used a really bright red binding for the armholes and neckline. It worked perfectly with the red in the print.

Thankyou Cafe Screen - I think this might be my new favourite top!

Summer Lovin'

I love this strange time between Christmas and New Year where it feels like the world just stops, sighs, and takes a little break.

I should be having a nice relaxing holiday down on the beautiful Victorian Surf Coast. Instead, I'm at home, catching up on sleep, and using the little break to do some Summer sewing for myself.


For a while I've had a picture in my head of the perfect, no fuss, comfy summer dress. I haven't been able to find anything that suits, so I decided to go ahead and create my own.

I began with a Vintage Simplicity 5007 top pattern. I made a toile, tried it on, marked it with pen, and chopped and sewed until I ended up with a bodice that fitted my shoulders and bust nicely.

Then I rifled through all of my dress and skirt patterns, to find one that was sort-of the shape that I was looking for (Lisette Passport Dress). I made up the separate pattern pieces, omitted the pleats, and altered the shape and size to match up with my bodice. I also added in-seam side pockets.

Please excuse the stack of towels and the random dog tail hiding behind me. Just keeping it real.

I sewed everything together using the standard method - shoulder seams, side seams, match bodice to skirt.... and then came the invisible zip!

I invested in an invisible zip foot ages ago, and ever since, I've managed to crunch each and every invisible zip that I've tried to sew. But, a couple of moths ago, I went over to Anna'a studio and had a little invisible zip lesson.

Using the standard zip foot, I managed to sew this one without any swearing, unpicking or crunching. I'm taking that as a big win! I even managed to very nearly match up my seams perfectly.

I have hoards of op-shopped bias binding in the stash so that's what I used for the neckline, arm holes, and hem. Simple yet effective.

 Ta-daa... one finished Summer dress!

After finishing the dress, I was on a roll. I had a piece of beautiful Lisette Cotton Lawn which had been sitting on my cutting table, silently mocking me for two months.

I decided to make another Wiksten Tank, but this time I completely ignored the instructions and just sewed and overlocked the seams, and bound all the openings and hem with some more op-shopped bias binding.

I made the XL size again (as that was the size that I'd originally traced off), but I added an extra half inch to each of the side seam allowances to make it a litte bit tighter.

It's a really quick and easy, no fuss top to make, and really comfy to wear. 

Now I just need to decide which one to wear today!

A Wiksten Tank for me

Random stash fabric (maybe from Spotty remnant bin years ago)?

I promised myself earlier in the year to take more time to sew clothes for me.

I was planning on making myself a new dress to wear to B-Fab's upcoming wedding, but I haven't had the mojo to take on a big project like that at the moment, and there's about a billion non-crafty things being organised in the background at the moment that have had to take priority.

So for some reason last week, I also decided that I wanted to make myself a simple top. I found the Grainline Tank and the Wiksten Tank online (both are downloadable - yah!)

I ended up choosing the Wiksten Tank as that also has an option for a longer tunic style top/dress.

For some reason, they both have tiny pockets on the boob. Call me crazy, but who wants a boob pocket? I don't need to be drawing any more attention there! So, as you can see, I eliminated the boob pocket on mine.

I'm assuming that the instructions have been written for those that don't have an overlocker as you sew a seam, then fold over and sew another seam (I also topstitched the seams as I think it looks nice). For my next one, I'll just sew and overlock. Easy peasy.

I also took the lazy option and just used pre-made bias binding. I have a tonne in the stash, and my local oppy also has another tonne.... so I'll never run out!

This is the XL size, and it's a bit big but nice and comfy. I think I'll try a L next.... and I just happened to find the perfect fabric for it at Spotty today!