Sew, I've Been Thinking ...

Sewing is done for my disjointed travel wardrobe. These shorts are from BWOF 05-09 and I think they are 103 but I can't remember. The fabric is more of the very fine Vera Wang wool that I used in the skirt in the last post. Pockets and facing are the same spot cotton. Nothing remarkable, but the fit is good and they will be comfortable. This is another blouse from BWOF 02-10-114. Something unprecedented happened with this blouse: I don't not have suitable buttons in my stash so I HAD TO BUY SOME! These buttons were perfect ( from Moo Moo Stitches last Sunday in an emergency). The thing is, these buttons cost $2 each, totalling $20 and the fabric only cost me $10! But I love this blouse and it will get loads of wear. When it's time to toss it, I will keep the buttons. The close up is not too good, sorry. They are dyed shell with little flowers carved into them. I made the longer version of this blouse also. I think it is 113 from the same BWOF issue. I used the oversized col

I made this blouse, which is BWOF 02-10-114 from a wonderful cotton I bought in Tweed Heads. My dilemma is whether to use white or red buttons. Black I've already dismissed as too boring. I hope you can actually see them as these photos are out of focus. This is a lovely pattern and has a long version, too, which I think is 113. I omitted the large, turn back cuffs, but I'm considering making a long version in red. The long version also has oversized collar and stand, which looks fun. This stand is square, too, which is way more easy than the usual curved one. I can't decide on red or white buttons, so I'm keen to hear your opinion. I'm leaning towards red because it takes away the preppy feel, in my opinion. Here's also a bad shot of my label, which I made in red for this one because it felt like fun. This skirt is BWOF 02-10-104. I made the shorter version with a piece of wool that came from the Vera Wang collection on Fabric.com. I know a lot of peo

I took this bad photo from the magazine I saw this in originally. I love this with the over knee boots. Faye, this about where it hits me - just below mid thigh. Inspiration Execution This fitted Cue dress has a cut out back. I found almost the identical fabric (would you believe it) but I decided I liked the crazy paving effect better than the floral. It looks sack-like and 70's hippy on Vera, but on me, with over knee boots it is actually kinda sexy, if I do say so myself. The original picture I have of this dress shows it worn with over knee boots. I used KS3633 the same as I used for the striped dress last post. I have a couple of different coloured tight slips to go underneath, a black, a red and a flesh coloured. I cut extra small at the top grading to small on the hips and it fits perfectly with no unsightly pulling. It's the first real knock off I've ever done and it was a pretty simple one, but I'm uncommonly pleased with this. It's the only eveningish dr

In the order I sewed them; Burdastyle shorts downloaded free from the website about three years ago. I've made them about six times now and have no idea of the name or number but I love these shorts. The flat front style with the buttoned sides is very flattering. These are made from remnants. It's a printed drill that was leftover from a christmas present last year. Buttons and black drill from stash: another 'free' garment! M5974 again but I've forgotten which view this is. I bought this border print knit a year ago and the border confused me every time I laid the fabric up to cut out. I cut the borders off, laid the fabric up on the table and then I had a better idea of what I wanted to do. I sewed the borders together to make the sash. I've already worn this with a red belt. This is KS3633 which I bought to knock off something I will show you later in the week. This is part of a travel wardrobe I'm in the process of making. The fabric is way

First up is M5974 View D - the wrap version with long sleeves. Nothing amazing about this dress, it's just a good easy wear work dress. The pattern is a Palmer and Pletsch, so contains a lot of fitting instructions and includes 2.5cm seams in places, which drove me made at first. I sewed as directed for this one and ended up cutting off all of the excess. I cut a straight 10 and shortened the skirt a full 5cm. I love the pattern and I love the dress. I ended up trimming the extra seam allowance from the pattern for the next one. Next up I made View A of the same dress made from fabric that I've had for at least three years now. Cidell made a fabulous maxi dress from the same fabric ages ago and I loved it so much I ordered some. It's been a hard fabric to work with. One side of the fabric is an uninterrupted print, the other side is panels with a border in between. For that reason alone, I have been hard pressed to make it work. I've laid it up on my cutting

But first I must thank Kristy for showing her inspired method for creating labels at home. I have been planning to get some labels made for ages now. Indecision about what I wanted and extreme laziness are the only reasons I actually haven't done it. Within half an hour of reading of reading Kristy's I had bought some transfer paper and ribbon and started work. Part of my indecision was font choice, but then I realised that as I am not trying to create a recognisabe label for sale, I can have whatever I wanted. In fact, I could choose a label to suit the mood of each garment! I downloaded a whole heap of new fonts and tried some of the ones that came with Word. This is printed on pink paper because that is what I had in the printer. After this I printed the labels on transaparency so I could try them out on various ribbons. Now to the back story. I once worked with a woman who was a serious label queen. She referred to everything by its label. Nothing was simply pants, shoes,

I rarely, if ever, manage to get around to posting pictures of me actually wearing the garments I make. There is no reason, other than laziness. After wearing this dress all day Monday, I decided to actually take a picture. I look a little stiff and stern in this shot. I blame that on the dash across the verandah from where I wedged my camera on a very sophisticated box to a posing spot I had forgotten. Next time I'll make a mark on the floor, like a sensibe person would. I love this dress! It's comfortable and flattering and made me feel great all day, even though I look like I'm clenching my teeth in this shot! To avoid the frump factor, which worried me with the colour and print, I paired the dress with a pair of funky boots which don't quite make it into this picture (again with the mark on the floor). Here's a really fuzzy shot of my shoes so you can see them.

I'm sorry for not posting in such a long time. Thanks to everyone who asked after me. I seem to have gotten lost a little in the past month or so. Not sure if it was winter weariness or something else, but I seemed unable to get out of my own way. I have been sewing and knitting (a little) so I do have something to show for myself. In addition, I have started studying again and it's taken a while to sort out my routine of work/study/sewing. For those who are interested, I'm doing to a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science. As well as choosing a double degree, I have rather foolishly chosen double majors in both Arts and Science. It may take me until I am 90 to finish, but that's OK. I've also been training every day, so I've been up at 5am 6 days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday I run the lighthouse at Byron Bay and if you've ever walked it, you know how hard it is. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday is weights. You'd think I'd be in good shape, b

I've been busy. Too much going on. My energy is limited and my mojo almost non existent. I have made a few things, but nothing really very exciting. These jeans are from the free Burda style Anita jeans pattern that I make every time. Somehow I managed to erase all the other pictures I took and this is the only one left on the camera. Of course, I managed to keep the one that makes me look 6months pregnant. I used a heavy duty thread for the top stitching but I won't do that again, it looks a little cartoony to me. Still, the fit is good and I needed jeans desperately. Boy do I look fat in this picture! This is KS 33378 I think, the twist neck top that I have binned every time I've made it. This time it seems to work. This is an incredibly soft rayon jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. The fabric will probably stretch a lot with wear, but it feels so lovely on my skin I don't care if it looks too big. I knit this from a Jo Sharp pattern in an alpaca and silk blen

Well, so much for the holiday. A series of incidents at work meant I was called back early. I will take more time off after the end of the financial year. I'll stop complaining and show you what I've sewn. I made this pair of yoga pants. They are BWOF 11-2007-122. I made them from a microfleece and they are a delight to wear, despite this awful picture. I've traced the matching yoga top and will make that one day when I have time to do something other than work. Remember the black and white boucle jacket I made that was too small (Vogue 8161)? I retraced the pattern in size 12 and made this jacket. It's in Gorgeous Fabrics rayon doubleknit and was inspired by a jacket I had many years ago. Back in the days when I had a real, honest career in film and television I travelled all the time. I had a red, black and white wardrobe that was wholly for travelling. As part of that wardrobe I had two doubleknit jackets, one red, one black. They were princess seamed zip

I started the week with a mind full of plans. I traced all the patterns I needed to, I washed and pressed all the fabrics I was going to cut, I even prepared a whole heap of food so I didn't have to worry about cooking. You may recall a few weeks ago I mentioned a piece of lovely leopard print cotton fabric that I had no idea what to do with. Well, I decided to make BWOF 08-2009-128 , the Parisian chic dress. I liked the idea of such a simple, elegant dress in an animal print. I even suggested to Gail that she make the same dress in a gorgeous silk animal print that she'd bought. Short version is this; I did not have enough fabric. No problem, I will drive up to Tweed Heads and buy some more. I moved on to the next garment. I had planned to make Vogue 1020 top as I'd made it loads of times before. I had a yard of lovely purple rayon jersey that I had bought especially for this top (part of a green and purple wardrobe). Short version is this: I cut the fabric ou

I have been sewing, but nothing exciting. I made this top from Kwik Sew 3338 with my usual Stitches magazine cowl collar added to it. This is the same beautifuly rayon as the darker brown I made earlier in the week. I bought these two fabrics to use as layering garments. They look better together in real life than on Vera. Next up I made these pants from BWOF 10-2007-115 - the same as the charcoal ones I made a week or two ago. Sorry about the photo on the bed. I need to find a better way to photograph pants. I bought this fabric last winter and never got around to sewing it up. It's a heathered brown RPL from Gorgeous Fabrics and if you want a lightweight pant or skirt fabric with lovely drape, then I highly recommend this one. It is still available and I think I have to get some more. I have a dress in mind. I had enough left to make this skirt from Vogue 8604. It's way, way longer than I usually wear but I decided to give a longer skirt a try for winter. I'

Just a quick update to show you this. It's BWOF 10-2007-115. The photo doesn't do the colour or the fabric justice. It's a rayon lycra jersey that I bought at Fabric Fantazia in Tweed Heads when I took my machine in the other day. I only bought a metre of this colour and another straw colour, but I think I will go and buy some more. It's the most luscious slippery velvet soft jersey I've ever seen and I can't wait to wear it. I like this top, although I did find myself thinking of Cidell's BWTF while I was reading the instructions. I'm off to make the other one now.