Playing with yarn...

Since the holiday to Kingfisher Bay Resort my sewing mojo has really flown out the window.  I did get all enthused and made up a little wardrobe capsule plan to move my wardrobe into the cooler weather, but have only managed one piece from it so far (which still requires some work). 

I loved my little capsule of clothes I made for the holiday and loved how everything coordinated so well together, so I do think the capsule idea is worth pursuing.  I will show you my capsule plan here, but please don't expect to see all these pieces turn up any time too soon :)

What have I been doing instead of sewing... playing with yarn.  During our holiday it rained a bit, so I had one afternoon and a ferry boat ride to start crocheting...

This is a Jenny King pattern - the marigold bolero and the pattern is really well written ... up until the last round.  I think JK ran out of steam at the point, but I put a question up on a forum on Ravelry and got a reply the next morning from Jenny herself.  You can't ask for better service than that!

I must have had a brain snap with crocheting on holidays and my motifs came out too small (when I thought I had measured them) so once again my bolero looks a little smaller than the one on the pattern, but after some steam blocking I am happy enough with the fit.

I am on ravelry as quiltsewsewsue so please friend me there if you use this great site.

Since then I have got bitten by the knitting bug.  I have left many comments on people's posts about their knitting, wishing I could knit the great garments they make and have decided that now is the time.  The Internet is a great resource and via YouTube and craftsy's class Knit Lab I am making progress on the knitting front also.  I highly recommend this class if anyone is looking to learn to knit BTW.

Pictures of my knitting next time... Ciao!

Style Arc Suzie top

As part of my resort wear I made the StyleARC Suzie top.  I liked this pattern when it first came out - it is my style.  I am a little surprised I have not seen a review of it yet though.   I made a size 8 which is my top size by bust measurement.  I have made a jacket (the Maggie jacket) in a size 8 and it fit really well.   I am saying this as the fit is snug on this one. 

I let out the tucks at the waist on the back piece.

Otherwise I made no changes to the pattern.  However it is snug at the bust and tends to ride up a bit, so if I were to make this again I need to work out how to add a bit of extra fabric there.  I think that shows in this photo...

If I get around to writing a review, I would have to say that No, it doesn't look like the line drawing.  The shoulders are much more cut in than the pattern shows.  I don't mind the cut-in shoulders, but it does mean you have to choose your underwear carefully.

I am wondering if I need a size up on this pattern or if a fba would be enough.  I like the top and may make another if I can work out how to get it to fit a bit better. Not sure I can be bothered though... 

BTW - I have changed my comments to be moderated now and may also have to stop allowing Anonymous comments.  I don't want to turn on the word verification as I am not fond of that feature, however  I am getting a really large amount of spam comments and it is not a fun part of blogging to have to go through and delete them all...  

Ciao for now kittens! 

Kingfisher Bay Resort... piccies

Photos of my mini-vacation (including some of the resort wear collection)...

Big bad banksia man...

Blue linen shirt over togs...

Crocodile Sung choi bao 

Pandanus roots

Dinner outfit (note shortened top...)

Rain on the way...

Sytelearc top back (to be reviewed)

Style arc top front (to be reviewed)

Sunset on the beach...

I wasn't by myself... :)

Another sunset shot...

the pool...

A review of the stylearc top to follow... Ciao kittens!

Resort Wear #4 Shorts Burda 05-2012-121

The high waisted Burda pants I made recently, have a shorts version, so I thought I would make a pair - Burda 05-2012-121  I used a remnant piece of fabric which was left over from a failed muslin.  The fabric is a stretch woven purchased previously from Spotlight to muslin some pants, but I liked the fabric and was quite disappointed when the muslin did not work.  However I had enough to make these shorts, by shortening the leg a little and leaving off the pockets.  Leaving off the pockets also made it a very quick sew.  I have reviewed the long version, so will not review this pattern as it is so similar.

So just a few snaps to show you how they turned out...

I used twill tape in the seam of the waistband, to help hold the waistband so it wouldn't stretch out.  It seemed to work well on the day I wore them.

A piccie to show the inside front facing.  This picture is probably closet to the actual colour of the pants, which seem to photograph a different colour in each shot!

I was very proud of my tidy zipper finish, so took some photos of that too...

One more piece in my resort wear collection... the Stylearc Suzie top.  I only have to sew the buttons on and I am done... Hopefully shall give you the photos of that top before we go on our mini-holiday.  Ciao!

Resort Wear? Scarf collar top ... Burda 08-2012-122

I have just finished what was planned to be part of my resort wear 'collection', but I am a little meh on this one...

It is Burda 08-2012-122, another I was surprised not to find a review on.  Maybe I know why now?? *sigh*

My first surprise on tracing this pattern was to see how long it is.  They call it a top, I think a tunic would be a closer description... my husband calls it a smock.... does that give you some idea where this is going...

OK some photos to show what I mean...

This isn't even as long as they would have you make it.  I shortened it my 'usual' amount of about 4cm as I am not as tall as a Burda standard height.  I also made a size 38 top and took it out to a size 40 at the hips.  (Just the same as my blue linen top)

Most of the photos in the magazine show the top tucked...

Now that looks more like the one in the magazine...

Untucked the proportions are all wrong for me (I think).  The top cuts me right in half. 

I would be interested to hear your ideas, but I do think I will be shortening this top by quite a bit.  At least it will be easier to tuck without all that fabric!

For anyone interested in making this top, my only other area of concern was the armhole width as I don't have slim arms... in fact in the magazine shot it looks tight on the slim-biceped Burda model!  The instructions have you finish the binding on the armhole before sewing the side seam.  I did this and then ended up unpicking the binding, making the armhole larger and re-binding.

The fabric is (I think) a silk cotton blend bought in the good old days when we had a Gardams in town. A lovely fabric and the only reason I persisted with this top...

I have a pair of shorts to show you and I am being rather over hopeful thinking I may get one more top done before I go away.  Ciao!

Resort wear ... photos of the blue linen shirt.

Photos of the blue linen shirt 06-2011-104 - previously blogged about here.  

I had the photos taken when I was getting photos of my pants.  I hadn't really thought it through, so I haven't got the best bra on for this top, so please excuse the bra shadow you can see. :)

In this back view I had a top underneath so no bra shadow...phew!  

Oh! and a tip, when you button this top, don't button the decorative upper buttons as you look like a doofas with bad pull lines ...

Review is here for those interested.

Ciao!  Next post a pair of shorts..

Resort wear #2 Burda 05-2012-122 Trousers

The description is "A hint of the 70's is in the air.....the season's trendiest garment - pyjama-style pants.  The pants are cut slender at the top to avoid adding extra fullness to the hips, then flare fully to the hem."

The pants have a really interesting front with a angled front overlap/underlap which is held with a button.  The button holds the layers together and thankfully the underlap is stitched shut inside.  There is a invisible zip at the centre back to get in and out of these trousers.

They are very high waisted.  In fact, the pattern says the upper edge sits 4 cm above the waist at centre back and 2.5 cm above the waist at the centre front....and it is so...

and the back...

A picture showing the inside front facing and pockets. 

Most of the time I will probably wear these with a top over all the lovely features at the waist...

If you can handle the high waist-line I would recommend this pattern to you.  I could not find a review of this pattern so I thought I would add my two cents in over at pattern review.  The review is here for those interested.... Ciao!