tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074332136879809732024-03-12T18:39:16.407-07:00Boo Dogg and MeRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-55711593498719801282016-04-24T16:01:00.000-07:002016-04-24T20:09:48.876-07:00In Season Silk Competition - or the dress of swishy swishynessWhen Tessuti announced the <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/2016-in-season-silk-sewing-competition.html">In Season Silk Competition</a>, I got really excited. You see, I love the pinky-purple coloured silk. The other colour-way is not for me, but the other one was definitely my cup of tea.<br />
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Happily, I had the Brisbane Spoolettes High Tea to prepare for, meaning I had the perfect occasion to sew a silk frock for.<br />
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I am also going through a stage of wanting to wear things that have more waist definition. So, I sewed a vintage Style pattern - 2667.<br />
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<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: small;">I sewed Version 1, with the shoulder ties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">I love it. I can't say how much I adore this dress! I wore it to my Mum's 60th Birthday lunch too and had many compliments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So swishy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">I lined the whole dress in silk-cotton. The dress actually calls for a bodice facing, but there is no way that silk crepe de chine would hold up to a fitted dress well without lining. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">I hung the skirt for 72 hours. It dropped badly - but with some muttering under my breath, I evened that baby out and hand stitched the hem. It drapes beautifully now, particularly with the full lining underneath. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";">I love the v-neck and v-back. I'm slightly obsessed with them at the moment (stay tuned for another v-neck dress). I stay-stitched the living daylights out of that neckline and the ties. Previous experience has taught me that they can stretch badly. </span><br />
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To the Spoolettes High Tea, I wore it with these amazing <a href="http://www.redphoenixemporium.com/productlistings.php?prodCatID=2#filter=.earrings">Red Phoenix Emporium</a> earrings. They are so light and so cool. </div>
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So that's my entry to the competition. I am so chuffed with it - it is a dress I will wear to death and I feel really good in it! </div>
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It was also good to challenge myself by sewing with a trickier fabric and sewing something fitted - I'm having a break from my beloved sacks. </div>
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Are you entering the competition? </div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-68498455391542020892016-02-29T01:40:00.000-08:002016-02-29T01:40:24.073-08:00The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern: Vintage Simplicity 7454On Instagram there is a wonderful hashtag set up by Lisa from <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com/">Tessuti Fabrics</a>. It is #vintagepatternsearch. Basically you post a picture of the pattern you're trying to source, in the hope that someone out there in Internet-land will have the pattern and lend it/sell it/give it to you.<br />
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I desperately wanted to make this beauty, Simplicity 7454.<br />
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I could find the medium on Etsy, but I needed the size small. So I hashtagged away. Luckily, Colette from Tessuti had a copy she was willing to lend me. Even more luckily, Colette traced the pattern for me and sent it to me. Thank you Colette! I was so stoked to receive it.<br />
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This pattern has a bit more of a story since I received it. Since I got my mitts on Colette's pattern, I managed to get hold of another copy for <a href="http://clevertinker.com/">Christy</a>, who is now sending it to <a href="http://www.sewunravelled.com/">Jillian</a>. Who knows where this pattern will go next!<br />
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For now though, my copy is staying with meeeeeee. Hehehe.<br />
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For this version, I made the midi-length, in a heavy-ish black linen from my stash.<br />
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Well, I love it!<br />
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Changes I made:<br />
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<li>Took it in at the sides by 1cm on each side. </li>
<li>Tucked the facing to the inside - the pattern calls for it to be on the outside.</li>
<li>Omitted the buttons/ties. I can get it on over my head without any closure. </li>
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Those ties were nearly the death of me though. I could not get them to sit flat. It took three goes of unpicking and repositioning. Lucky I like the dress so much.<br />
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Can you tell I'm pleased with it? I wore it for the first time in Melbourne two weekends ago, and it was a dream to wear. Very comfy and cool. I am definitely making more!</div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-67826138354001442602016-01-29T22:35:00.000-08:002016-01-29T22:42:53.780-08:00Shirred SundressesIt has somewhat amazed me since we moved back to Queensland two weeks ago just how humid it is here. I had forgotten how brutal it can be when it is really hot and really humid. As I said in my last post, my Melbourne wardrobe is not really that suitable for this weather. I need really airy clothes that don't touch my skin much. I'm particularly bothered with too much fabric on my chest. M is also really sweaty and feeling the heat with her cast on -- it must be disgusting to have that little oven encasing her whole arm.<br />
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Queue the shirred sundress.<br />
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To help us both feel a bit cooler, I made a shirred sundress for us each. M's is out of a delicious Liberty gifted to me by <a href="https://bloglessanna.wordpress.com/">Blogless Anna.</a> Mine is made from seersucker from Spotlight. I wanted to test this style first before committing to one of my nicer fabrics, so this $10/m seersucker fit the bill.<br />
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For both dresses, I used <a href="http://jorth.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/shirred-dress-tutorial.html#.VqxX1zZq0gB">Jorth's Tutorial.</a> It is super simple. The only two things I did differently were:<br />
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<li>I didn't wind the shirring elastic tight around the bobbin. I keep an even and firm-ish tension as I hand-wind it on, but not tight. To tighten the shirring up at the end, I steam the living daylights out of it with my iron. </li>
<li>I subtracted 10cm off the width of the rectangles - I found them to be too loose. </li>
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I winged the placement of the straps - pinned them on and tested them before sewing them on, on both dresses.<br />
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As you can see, I have a ruffle. This is not intentional! I cut my dress length too short. But now it is on, I totally love it. Ruffle-Tactic!<br />
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My last picture is to show my insides - I have a small stash of coloured shirring elastic - check out my green insides!<br />
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So there you have it. Two shirred sundresses for this crazy heat. I have two pieces of fabric cut for another for me and another for M. We're both sweating our little hearts out!<br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-20452569693919900142016-01-27T16:52:00.001-08:002016-01-27T16:52:36.496-08:00Our Move Back to Queensland -- and a Ruby HackHi everyone! We are now Queensland residents again - Brisbane to be more precise.<br />
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I could no longer hack the 9-month long Melbourne winter, and wanted M to grow up in a climate where she can play outside all the time. So we decided to move back.<br />
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We've rented a very sweet little Queenslander while we sell our house in Melbourne. Then we'll buy something in the same area here.<br />
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We arrived about a week and a half ago, and it has been hectic. M started school (prep!) yesterday, after breaking her arm on Sunday night. Poor little bub. I have never felt so distraught in my life, and the time she was under a general anaesthetic was pure hell. She's now handling it like a pro, though is already sick of lugging the cast around. She's a very active kid, and it hinders her running around.<br />
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I bought a new sewing machine just before we moved, and picked it up two days after our move. I got a Bernina 330 and love it. I've got lots of sewing plans, primarily because the weather here is so different, and none of my Melbourne clothes are really that compatible with the sticky heat here. Melbourne is so dry.<br />
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To test out my new machine, and sew something to wear on super humid days, I hacked Tessuti Patterns' <a href="https://www.tessuti-shop.com/products/ruby-dress-top-pattern">Ruby Dress</a>. I wanted a drop waist dress with a ruffle on the bottom, made out of this amazing Japanese seersucker from Tessuti, called <a href="https://www.tessuti-shop.com/collections/new-additions/products/black-ripple-square-1">Black Ripple Square.</a><br />
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I hadn't intended on blogging this (I put it on Instagram and had a few requests for details), so my pictures are a bit limited.<br />
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Here are the hack details:<br />
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<ol>
<li>I started with the top length of the pattern and shortened it by 5cm. </li>
<li>I added 1cm around the armholes, so I could turn the binding under (the Ruby usually has visible binding, turned to the front). I didn't need to add to the neckline. </li>
<li>I cut a ruffle piece for both front and back that was the width of my fabric. I didn't make it a rectangle though, I mimicked the side seam edge of the top pattern pieces on the side seams of the ruffle pieces. </li>
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That's it! Pretty easy, and I love it. I made a size 8, but took it in an additional 3cm on each side (6cm total). I had to do that recently with the Ruby I made for the Melbourne Frocktails, which I went to the night before I moved to Queensland:<br />
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This one is also made from a seersucker from Tessuti, called Navy Ripple Spot (couldn't find it on their website, though I noticed there is a black and white spot version).<br />
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I predict there will be more of these dresses in my future. I am really struggling with dressing in the humidity.<br />
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What do you wear on super hot/humid days?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-27087851451793415532015-11-22T18:13:00.002-08:002015-11-22T18:13:43.192-08:00Kate Top Sewing CompetitionAfter a little hiatus from sewing for me, I decided to enter the <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/kate-sewing-competition-1000-in-cash.html">Kate Sewing Competition run by Tessuti.</a> Kate is their new top pattern and is a shell top with a cropped length and side splits. I chose to make it in an awesome printed stretch cotton also from Tessuti (now sold out).<br />
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My Kate came together beautifully. I cut the size small and ended up taking it in. I'm currently making another and am making the extra-small.<br />
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I love these cut-away sleeves on my broad shoulders. It shows them off beautifully.<br />
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The pattern on this fabric was not printed straight, but I think I made it work. I used the option for concealed binding on the neck edge and armholes. I used some linen in my stash for the binding.<br />
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The instructions for the split are great and easy to follow. You end up with a beautifully finished garment. <br />
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So now I have a new top that I totally love! I initially wasn't sure about the colours on me as they are quite different from my usual choices, but I really like how they look on me.<br />
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How about you? Are you entering the Kate Competition?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-75841071578371716152015-08-04T03:25:00.000-07:002015-08-04T03:25:26.004-07:00The Peter and the Wolf Vests***Cough cough*** is anyone out there? It has been a long while between blog posts, hasn't it? I just can't seem to keep my blog-jo going.<br />
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I've decided to return to blogland with the three Peter and the Wolf Vests I made for Little M, her cousin L and me recently. I saw an awesome faux fur vest in Country Road and wanted one for myself. I decided to investigate faux fur but couldn't find any nice stuff for a while. Recently I changed jobs again and now work up the road from The Fabric Store on Brunswick St. I happened to go there one lunch (well, maybe every lunch break that week) and found some gorgeous faux fur with a chevron print in the pile. I bought 1.2m and made two little girls' vests and one big girl's vest.<br />
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Here is mine:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gEr9a8qmZbhIBSgwGvEwzHwmtCoiptiBqMUNNb9bI60qB8_SCgBEsLRIY0n-zco5gL_zP497Bv_vMVZ__F7NK4CzbyUyrhBexvmIOGAi88XuiKBOTrX3nVCOygkTkN280yJH5YVhH94/s1600/Vest-5.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gEr9a8qmZbhIBSgwGvEwzHwmtCoiptiBqMUNNb9bI60qB8_SCgBEsLRIY0n-zco5gL_zP497Bv_vMVZ__F7NK4CzbyUyrhBexvmIOGAi88XuiKBOTrX3nVCOygkTkN280yJH5YVhH94/s640/Vest-5.tif" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjDPqf-WbwrBpCpoNeWLSC2D7WRejS-C5RQyfHL5zu5EvHQijGfhVWAI8zzuwt51GawdXXwnlBm13SI282ztDk077GX1RnlLU6Y0PohUWRi0MKK8Qau_-G9DJ0k6IT9fLMpQ8P2pM_1M/s1600/Vest-1.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjDPqf-WbwrBpCpoNeWLSC2D7WRejS-C5RQyfHL5zu5EvHQijGfhVWAI8zzuwt51GawdXXwnlBm13SI282ztDk077GX1RnlLU6Y0PohUWRi0MKK8Qau_-G9DJ0k6IT9fLMpQ8P2pM_1M/s640/Vest-1.tif" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5LPRltckX9AEQGGtdOtfK3WWF6-xTASTNQH9VbOy99-xz4H1aPZGeNPLu5YqQwQns4FqeScw1MINi5GaeUmUXdS0oLt_6B1C_j6-kz4m8Q1CbStTDrlh8Q6ApcONujdzBO4l4b9CDg0/s1600/Vest-7.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5LPRltckX9AEQGGtdOtfK3WWF6-xTASTNQH9VbOy99-xz4H1aPZGeNPLu5YqQwQns4FqeScw1MINi5GaeUmUXdS0oLt_6B1C_j6-kz4m8Q1CbStTDrlh8Q6ApcONujdzBO4l4b9CDg0/s640/Vest-7.tif" width="480" /></a></div>
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Mine is an adapted version of this Japanese pattern (I can't remember the name of the book it comes from as I have lent the book to <a href="http://sewbrunswick.blogspot.com/">Leith</a>. I lengthened the pattern by 20cm, curved the bottom edge a little more and didn't add seam allowances. I traced the size large - I would possibly go a bit smaller next time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h3BNND2lkfXOx-b5x0mlYiRtN5dPaweoiNoUPEHOms3NIdZp1IfbP-8JSXSYRCDJqoc8gfX863jmjYD1jCHbCU9PQ5p9BjVBLQHHh6Dsl5BYo3sMDZozAWwbWhjx0cAvIqaGTcREmGo/s1600/Vest-8.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h3BNND2lkfXOx-b5x0mlYiRtN5dPaweoiNoUPEHOms3NIdZp1IfbP-8JSXSYRCDJqoc8gfX863jmjYD1jCHbCU9PQ5p9BjVBLQHHh6Dsl5BYo3sMDZozAWwbWhjx0cAvIqaGTcREmGo/s400/Vest-8.tif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is M's (L's is the same but with different lining):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMbgNBymdUw_qiE6b5GtQzQHZ5lib1RLWhjvU0kMN0MLjAAUwjQuJq-mkrWTvwUsgPmVs7L56ReqY-mNlH89ViJhIeuTwSZ1X_GKu8fKyyVbok5D0HPEWvBkDdXzOkBxKCyhkLTRlYUc/s1600/Vest-6.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMbgNBymdUw_qiE6b5GtQzQHZ5lib1RLWhjvU0kMN0MLjAAUwjQuJq-mkrWTvwUsgPmVs7L56ReqY-mNlH89ViJhIeuTwSZ1X_GKu8fKyyVbok5D0HPEWvBkDdXzOkBxKCyhkLTRlYUc/s640/Vest-6.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
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To make M's and L's, I used <a href="http://www.stitch56.com/products/lux-vest-e-pattern">Figgy's Lux Vest</a>. I followed <a href="https://thornberry.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/lux-vest/">Lara's</a> suggestion to print out two of the pattern and join at the CB so you didn't need to cut the fur on the fold. I did this with mine too at the side seams.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrc_r578YFp7CPVrfs4WaKnROKsuj7cH0tV3WIjFLlqEARVYV94yyRhOv1pXxO6I5vL52MARIvFqkiFCoQs5dJEreErVM5Zw1tJ9Z-wEumHyt9EtvdG_sW-NYb29eQLNuwbpNHAQ4Sg0/s1600/Vest-9.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrc_r578YFp7CPVrfs4WaKnROKsuj7cH0tV3WIjFLlqEARVYV94yyRhOv1pXxO6I5vL52MARIvFqkiFCoQs5dJEreErVM5Zw1tJ9Z-wEumHyt9EtvdG_sW-NYb29eQLNuwbpNHAQ4Sg0/s320/Vest-9.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Both patterns come together beautifully. A few tips I would definitely recommend when sewing with faux fur are (thanks to <a href="https://bloglessanna.wordpress.com/">Anna</a> for sharing some of these with me!):</div>
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<li>Have your dust buster and vacuum cleaner at the ready. I vacuumed six times over the course of making these.</li>
<li>Push the fur away from the seam (so into the garment) when sewing. Then pick out the caught strands with your fingers or a pin. </li>
<li>Try and cut the underside of the fabric, rather than the fur itself. This keeps the pile intact more and also creates less mess. I wasn't that good at this.</li>
<li>Don't wear black to sew with a light coloured fur. Let's just say my fave work out pants are still a bit furry. </li>
<li>Go slow. My machine handled this fine, but I went pretty slow. </li>
<li>Shake the garment out vigorously once you're finished. Watch the excess fur fly!!</li>
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I had so much fun making these. My sister has ordered one too - soon I'll have a little furry posse! M is very pleased with hers - asked me to wear mine when she was wearing hers the other day. I obliged, of course. She's too cute for me to get all weird about matching!</div>
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P.S. We saw an orchestral performance of Peter and the Wolf recently and wore our vests. Hence the name!</div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-48493709542256677662015-05-04T03:04:00.000-07:002015-05-04T03:06:10.909-07:00Megan Longline Cardigan and a Giveaway! (and V1247)Hi! It has been a long time between posts. Full time work has been cramping my style!<br />
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I could blather on about my long list of unblogged sewn garments, but I'm going to jump straight to my latest makes instead.<br />
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Last week I was in Tessuti for the first time in months, and was lucky enough to try on their new pattern, <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/new-megan-longline-cardigan-pattern.html">the Megan Longline Cardigan</a> before it was released. I bought fabric on that day, printed off the pattern the night it was released, and sewed it over the weekend.<br />
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Here it is!<br />
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I made it out of a very dark navy viscose jersey from Tessuti, and made the size extra small. I didn't change anything. The instructions are fantastic, and the cardi comes together beautifully.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0fm0dP-Xbe8CXcEMGWq2P5phZgG70L11abEJA7ecSmmEaxuIO97sWDdyCRKTDxREbs7IEMOqbr6Y8ciJkYtVRG9zJA7Z18LyCx7o4B1vDCjcffBtsEMdIFTum0KF6vRCfUqr8mFArY8/s1600/IMG_6970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0fm0dP-Xbe8CXcEMGWq2P5phZgG70L11abEJA7ecSmmEaxuIO97sWDdyCRKTDxREbs7IEMOqbr6Y8ciJkYtVRG9zJA7Z18LyCx7o4B1vDCjcffBtsEMdIFTum0KF6vRCfUqr8mFArY8/s400/IMG_6970.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I don't have a great deal to add except that I intend to make moooooore! This fills a real gap in my wardrobe and fits the aesthetic I love. I really love the swingy-ness of this cardi!</div>
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Obviously I needed a new skirt to go with my Megan! Totally logical, right???!!! I made a plain black Vogue 1247 out of a black stretch remnant from Tessuti I've had for ages. I made the size 12 and lengthened it by 10cm. No other changes. The waistband is a smidge big - something to remedy for next time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxecRcuZKySqbfIgXOwA2ziUIEk_saUWGJCCQRatH1eS8y_wqwEBzH4MtgkXzglVlrWzSXlzs583x-58P_I6p7MjBZTm8FhAosLo6YZ0NzwHtHyqiFosaTHFS_cXSsT_uE4U2kuXnUZ8/s1600/IMG_6921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxecRcuZKySqbfIgXOwA2ziUIEk_saUWGJCCQRatH1eS8y_wqwEBzH4MtgkXzglVlrWzSXlzs583x-58P_I6p7MjBZTm8FhAosLo6YZ0NzwHtHyqiFosaTHFS_cXSsT_uE4U2kuXnUZ8/s400/IMG_6921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now - to finish, Tessuti have kindly offered to giveaway a hardcopy of the <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/new-megan-longline-cardigan-pattern.html">the Megan Longline Cardigan</a> to one of my lovely readers - anywhere in the world! To enter, comment below with your contact details and tell me what colour or print you'd make the Megan in. Giveway closes this Sunday, the 10th of May at 5pm. I'll announce the winner on Sunday night. Good luck!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-24251577269370665352015-01-26T00:26:00.002-08:002015-01-26T00:26:31.279-08:00Two-Piece SetacularHi! Happy new year. It's been so long since I blogged. After Sewjourn in December last year I sprained my neck. That has seriously curtailed my sewing, blogging, fun etc. But I'm slowly on the road to recovery and have something I sewed at Sewjourn to show you.<br />
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I really love <a href="http://www.gormanshop.com.au/">Gorman</a> clothing. Their most current collection had a bunch of 'sets' of clothing - predominantly full skirts and culottes teamed with a cropped woven tank. I really wanted my own version. I was also hugely inspired by the round of <a href="http://www.adaspragg.com/tag/two-piece-setacular/">Setaculars, the brain child of Sophie from Ada Spragg, that were everywhere in blogland last year.</a><br />
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First, I found the perfect fabric - an Italian cotton called Ink Floreale from Tessuti, which is now no longer available. I then decided to make a circle skirt and a matching cropped top. I used vintage Style 3863 for the skirt - a full circle skirt pattern from the 1980's.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7fnCOmYjNqh9cIY6mSkJCqtrubr7YHSxWrC55BJ-DY0OyGpJFVSvI029B4IwoYIDf8Uk7f3zWHA5tnagMjoC115HI3cspT2qRib17XbbI2aZuEBif1vcqwJ_1F1djKZgb0aX3urY1X8/s1600/IMG_1909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7fnCOmYjNqh9cIY6mSkJCqtrubr7YHSxWrC55BJ-DY0OyGpJFVSvI029B4IwoYIDf8Uk7f3zWHA5tnagMjoC115HI3cspT2qRib17XbbI2aZuEBif1vcqwJ_1F1djKZgb0aX3urY1X8/s1600/IMG_1909.jpg" height="640" width="432" /></a></div>
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I borrowed this picture from the Tessuti blog - <a href="http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2014_09_01_archive.html">Lisa also made this recently.</a><br />
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I then used my staple woven tank pattern, <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-1557-misses-tops.aspx">OOP Simplicity 2599</a>, to create a cropped tank.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1leZ0w_YyB5WVrRWSlvRhKAme5NHSnvWNFa4zW8NZo2U6Sm7kIWeb3cPqBWFk7l9SodFmsyiF1IX-boTJvL04uV3DYazfm4cfN5acfFTI8fD7MxoEz2ToAweyFqI5lPMuDSj_r-oQoas/s1600/2599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1leZ0w_YyB5WVrRWSlvRhKAme5NHSnvWNFa4zW8NZo2U6Sm7kIWeb3cPqBWFk7l9SodFmsyiF1IX-boTJvL04uV3DYazfm4cfN5acfFTI8fD7MxoEz2ToAweyFqI5lPMuDSj_r-oQoas/s1600/2599.jpg" height="640" width="443" /></a></div>
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So, here she is! My Gorman-inspired two-piece setacular.<br />
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I tried to get it so that tank finished just over my waistband, and would only flash teeny bits of skin when I stretched. One of the women at Sewjourn helped me mark the length - I can't remember who it was, but they were spot on! Thanks!<br />
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Can you see my invisible zip at the CB? Me either!!<br />
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This all came together really well. I have made the tank a million times so no thought was really needed. The skirt hung from the first night at Sewjourn until last weekend.... so over a month. This wasn't intentional, I just couldn't really sew for a while after spraining my neck. I had to machine stitch it (I wouldn't usually) as I'm still not up to long periods of hand stitching (or sewing full stop).<br />
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I feel amazingly feminine in this outfit. There is something about wearing a waisted skirt with the cropped tank, and the swishy-ness of the skirt that makes me feel all w-o-m-a-n. <br />
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I'm glad to be back blogging. I have a backlog from Sewjourn and one item from since I've been back. I'm also really looking forward to sewing a bit more now my neck is on the mend.<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-25773213233720151162014-11-30T00:37:00.000-08:002014-11-30T00:37:08.750-08:00Ruby in ManningTomorrow Michael and I have been married for 7 years (we've been together for 12 years). Happy anniversary babe!<br />
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To celebrate, I booked in my sister to babysit lunch time next Sunday (she's pretty busy at the moment so no night-time hot dates for us). Then my lovely friend Therese (chooktopia on Instagram), who is also mum to Little M's BFF, asked if Little M could come for a playdate today at her place, and told me and Mike to go out for lunch. As if we would refuse!<br />
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In anticipation of next Sunday, I had made myself the new Tessuti pattern, <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/products/ruby-dress-top-pattern">the Ruby Top/Dress</a> to wear on our date. Any excuse for a new frock, I say. I made it in a Liberty Lawn called 'Manning' that I have had in my stash for some time.<br />
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Tessuti list suitable fabrics as "light to medium weight linens or linen blends, rayons, viscose and silks". I think I am just scraping in using a lawn. I tried on the sample in Tessuti, made of silk crepe de chine and it flowed over my body better. It also sat at the neckline a tad more nicely.<br />
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Don't get me wrong - this lawn version is super comfy and I really like the way it looks, but that crepe de chine sample was all sorts of divine.<br />
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See how the lawn billows a little? The silk didn't do that. <br />
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I made the size 8, grading to a size 10 at the arm-holes (I know there is a more correct term than that, but I'm too tired to google it and find out) only. I do have quite broad shoulders. I also lengthened the dress length by 8cm and used the teeniest baby hem. I have cut out a viscose crepe version to sew at Sewjourn soon and lengthened by 10cm.<br />
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I really like the cut-away arms and the key hole back. I do wish there had been information in the instructions on how to make a thread loop though. I had to search around for a tutorial - the one I found was on the <a href="http://oliverands.com/community/blog/2010/09/thread-chain-tutorial.html">Oliver and S website.</a> </div>
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I didn't stitch-in-the-ditch for the binding on the neck and arms. I don't possess that level of finesse in ditch-stitching and love hand-stitching anyway, so I hand-stitched that binding down. Worked a treat and it meant I could control the tension on the binding to. Take note if you make this - you really do need to stretch the binding a little to get it to sit nicely. </div>
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So, there you have it! A Ruby in Manning. I think I'll wear this a lot. It was very cool to wear on this 37 degree day here today. I have cut out a linen version and the viscose crepe I mentioned before - both to sew at Sewjourn. I also think I'll buy some silk crepe de chine in the fabric sales post-Christmas and make another Ruby dress to wear to my sister's hen's night in February. Are you going to make this? I think it is a great basic with an edge. I see many of the tops in my future too.<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-45412202755157587892014-11-07T22:03:00.000-08:002014-11-07T22:03:14.320-08:00Simplicity 1366<a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-11789-misses-skirt-top-cynthia-rowley-collection.aspx">Simplicity 1366</a>, a drop-shouldered, cropped top has been doing the rounds of late. I thought it looked good, but wasn't going to buy it. Then three bloggers whose style I adore made it up, and I decided to take the plunge. Check out <a href="http://blogmixedemotions.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/floral-cynthia-rowley-simplicity-1366.html">Mixed Emotions version, </a> <a href="http://groovybabyandmama.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/simplicity-1366-again.html">Groovy Baby and Mama's version, </a> and <a href="http://lilysageandco.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/cynthia-rowley-vs-nani-iro.html">Lily Sage & Co's version.</a><br />
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To start, I decided to make it in leftovers of a viscose I bought from Tessuti last Christmas - I made a <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/gettin-my-printerama-on-suzy-hemlock.html">pair of Suzy pants</a> and had about 1m leftover. So I made a 1366!<br />
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Warning: these photos are fairly terrible, sorry. It was rainy and yucky and I was en route to work and had about 2 minutes to get photographed. My motto these days is to <i>get things photographed. </i>Otherwise they never will.<br />
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I made a size 12 and after some advice from fellow Instagrammers of similar height to me, lengthened it at the hem and at the sleeves by 2.5cm. <br />
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In future versions, I will pinch about 1cm out of the back neckline. It is a tad too wide across there.<br />
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I wore it with my black Libby A-Line skirt. Perhaps a teeny bit short for work, but I am used to government attire. Would never wear this to a government job, but I was sitting in my office all day that day. Although I did go out for lunch with my boss. I think next week I will wear it with my black Papercut Patterns Pleated pants and brogues.<br />
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I think this looks like one of those professional school photos were you turn slightly side on and smile, usually with a white sheet behind you.<br />
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Have you made one of these? I'm going to make a Liberty one soon (maybe at Sewjourn), and like the idea of lengthening it into a dress - perhaps in a nice rayon or viscose. How about you?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-22040777479431150342014-11-02T00:11:00.002-07:002014-11-02T00:12:36.542-07:00Alice - the Dress AND the Top. So... I made myself a 'set' of sorts. I made the new <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/products/alice-dress-top-pattern">Tessuti Alice Pattern</a> in both the dress and top options, in the same fabric (also from Tessuti).<br />
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Am I weird? I have feeling I am. </div>
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When this pattern came out, I knew I would make it in this lovely linen from Tessuti (all sold out, unfortunately). I bought 3.2m of it a while back, thinking I'd make a maxi dress. I changed my mind - a sewist's prerogative, I say!</div>
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Let's start with some pictures of the dress:</div>
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I made the top and dress simultaneously, so will discuss them together. The length of the skirt portion in both the top and the dress is very long - I used a 10cm hem for both (5cm doubled over) - so perhaps think of shortening if you are shorter! I am 173cm for reference. </div>
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I cut a size small, however, it was enormous. I do measure closer to an extra small in the Tessuti Patterns these days, but chose to cut the small because I have swimmer's broad shoulders (I don't swim except for leisure, but was told constantly as a young person that I have a swimmer's physique). </div>
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Unfortunately, I found out the size small was too big when the dress AND the top were completed, bar the hems. Gosh I was cranky at myself for not trying on during sewing. I unpicked the arm band/cap sleeves (overlocking, under stitching, all stitching!) and took them in under the arms by 5cm on each side. That meant I also had to take in the arm bands by 5cm on each side. </div>
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The linen I used is quite lightweight and ever so slightly sheer, so I used a white linen to line the yoke and cap sleeves/arm band thingies. Colette from Tessuti also mentioned on Instagram that the linen size small she has made 'grew' by an additional size - mine however was much larger than one size difference. I can't honestly say if it is a sizing issue or a fabric issue. I do plan on making more of these, and will cut a size small, but try it on before I sew on the arm bands. It is easy enough to take in - if you don't sew on the arm bands first!!</div>
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Maybe a tiny pregnancy vibe? No, I'm not :-)</div>
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I really love both the dress and the top. The fabric is divine - it, and the Alice pattern remind me of <a href="http://www.gormanshop.com.au/">Gorman's current collection.</a> I love everything in the current Gorman season. I think I will wear both of these a lot this summer - will you be making one?</div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-21079140479912382482014-10-23T22:57:00.002-07:002014-10-23T22:57:48.325-07:00Gabriola the Great.I have decided that this summer, I will wear only maxi skirts. Does that sound dramatic? I hope so, because my Gabriola makes me feel dramatic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sewaholicpatterns.com/gabriola-skirt/">Sewaholic's Gabriola Skirt pattern</a> is a different maxi to those I have worn in the past. It is pieced and flared, rather than being more of a dirndl skirt. I love it.<br />
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I made it from a rayon from Tessuti. The rayon was gorgeous to sew with. Check out that beautiful fluid drape!<br />
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I did a few things differently. Firstly, I didn't like the idea of a straight waistband on curved yoke pieces. So I used the Clover pants waistband. It fit perfectly to the size 8 Gabriola skirt pattern pieces. Secondly, I cut the yoke pieces on the straight grain instead of on the bias. I read quite a few reviews saying they buckled along the seam lines when cut on the bias and sewn together.<br />
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Look - no buckling!<br />
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The zipper was horrible to insert. I used an invisible (the pattern calls for a regular zip), and it took 4 attempts of basting, sewing, unpicking etc to get all those yoke pieces to align. Grrrrrr.<br />
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Have I mentioned I love this skirt?<br />
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I have received soooo many compliments wearing it. A rather hilarious one was I was wearing it at the Gr'lld Burger place in Hawthorn with my sister Ruth and Little M. I ordered the 'Hot Mama' burger (love chilli) and the barely-out-of-puberty waiter said to me 'the right burger for you, love your skirt'! Embarrassing beyond belief.<br />
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Are you going to make the Gabriola? I urge you to!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-15019139919670551112014-10-18T20:43:00.000-07:002014-10-18T20:43:00.228-07:00Yves Saint Laurent Set-Acular Goes to the Nurse's BallMy lovely sister Ruth asked me a while back if I would like to go as her date to her annual nurse's ball. Matt, her fiancé, has decided it is not his thing. It is most definitely my thing. Getting dressed up, swanning around sipping champagne, being generally a little bit fancy. Being the mother of a 3 yo, I do not get fancy. I get dirty, rumpled and generally tired. In short, I jumped at the chance to have a fancy night on the town with my dear sister.<br />
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I had planned another dress, out of silk I got for Christmas. I stuffed the bodice. I could fix it, but could not fix it in time for the ball. I don't really have a fancy fabrics stash, with lovely silks waiting my attention, so with just under two weeks until the ball, I paid Tessuti a rather panicked visit, and bought 2.2m of <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/collections/new-additions/products/musk-graffiato-c-d-c">Musk Graffiato,</a> a divine silk crepe de chine that Trish told me was a Yves Saint Laurent fabric. Let me tell you, it is amazing.<br />
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As I didn't have much time, I decided to go super simple. I also really wanted to make something I would wear again. I have done a wardrobe purge recently and need flattering clothing I feel good in. I have also been lusting after a very simple maxi skirt that <a href="http://lilysageandco.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/last-stop-on-two-piece-set-acular.html">Debbie made a while back</a>, and so decided I would do a maxi skirt and shell top.<br />
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The top is <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-1557-misses-tops.aspx">Simplicity 2599</a> a very simple shell top with a few variations. I made the most simple of tops, no frill, in a size 12. The only things I did differently were binding the neck and arms and I used french seams. No way an overlocker was coming anywhere near my beautiful silk!<br />
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The skirt is a basic gathered skirt. I used a straight waistband with the zip going all the way to the top - I really don't like button overlaps on these types of skirts.<br />
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I didn't line either - I wanted them to be summer garments, light and swishy. The fabric was an absolute dream. Just wonderful to sew with.<br />
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I wore it with an Elk necklace and earrings, Elk shoes and a Saba belt. <br />
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Here I am with Ruthy. Little M said she looked like a ballerina queen. High praise. </div>
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I had a great time - it was nice to be out and about, nattering away and eating nice food and drinking champagne. And of course, being all dressed up!</div>
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I see myself getting a lot of wear from these two pieces as separates. I think it was a good idea to sew something like this. I'm doing some serious planning for my Summer wardrobe. I want it to be a thoughtful plan, with coordinated pieces that will last. Do you plan your sewing? Or are you like me usually - sew the newest pattern in whatever fabric takes your fancy? </div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-1209336029893897062014-10-04T21:27:00.000-07:002014-10-04T21:27:07.655-07:00Vogue 1395: The Meat Dinner DressEvery year, Michael's family has two fancy-pants dinners together where we all go to a nice restaurant and eat (way too much), drink and be merry. They are generally scheduled around birthdays - one in April, one in October. The one this October was last night at <a href="http://santelmo.com.au/">San Telmo</a>, an Argentinian restaurant here in Melbourne. It was a meat-fest and I woke up craving some crisp greens and tomatoes. Michael suggested we have lamb chops for dinner tonight and is still laughing at the filthy look I gave him. I like meat (love a good quality rare steak), but not to that extent - I have reduced my intake of red meat drastically in the last year and feel much healthier for it. <br />
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Anyway, I decided to make a dress to wear - I'm a bit sick of the good old sack at the moment, and feel like some waist definition. I decided I would sew a new pattern - one of the Rebecca Taylor for Vogue ones - <a href="http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v1395-products-48380.php?page_id=174">V1395.</a><br />
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This is a fairly basic dress made less basic by the addition of a back overlay that extends into the ties at the waist. I was intrigued after seeing <a href="http://crabandbee.com/2014/06/12/bossy-bees/">Morgan's Bee Version.</a> Morgan is one of my favourite bloggers. I decided to use my rather precious length of rayon from Darn Cheap Fabrics that I bought after <a href="http://rennous-oh-glennus.tumblr.com/post/89106231434/a-spotty-hannah-top">Jenny made this top out of it.</a> The fabric is lush, but was horrible to sew for this dress. Narrow hems and slinky rayon were not made for each other and I had to unpick a lot. Luckily I made this when Little M was out, as she would now have a lot of very choice swear words in her vocabulary too. This is what I ended up with:<br />
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I made some adjustments after a muslin. I had to take 3.5cm out of each shoulder seam, beginning at the neck edge. I then added 3cm to the length of the bodice, and 5cm to the skirt length.<br />
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In these photos, the neckline looks way too high, and I admit for the first two hours I wore it, it annoyed the living daylights out of me. Magically though, after those 2 hours, it somehow settled in place and sits about 2cm lower - which is where I wanted it. I wonder what happened? So weird.<br />
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My wings. That is the back overlay being extended out, which you then tie in front (obviously). I found I had to cinch it in pretty firmly, otherwise I looked a little pregnant (which I'm not).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kUGhq1ECzRpHhj2FepwdZIpUKXYZjVEy3isjL96cGVnur2khW9Z-Q8zadhqnIIPfhGc4WjmELGSRUOIhjNcpVszFR85V9wfCVCBd_e-4ur4gqdWCubmVnsratOxYyxzLTht0fxiXSvc/s1600/V1395-040172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kUGhq1ECzRpHhj2FepwdZIpUKXYZjVEy3isjL96cGVnur2khW9Z-Q8zadhqnIIPfhGc4WjmELGSRUOIhjNcpVszFR85V9wfCVCBd_e-4ur4gqdWCubmVnsratOxYyxzLTht0fxiXSvc/s1600/V1395-040172.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a pretty awesome tan line happening there!! I accidentally got burnt at Phillip Island last weekend. I am usually so anal about being sunsmart. </td></tr>
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While I didn't completely enjoy making this dress, I really enjoyed sewing something different and something that wasn't a sack. I'm not ruling out future sacks, but I don't reach for them as I used to. Maybe when summer properly hits I will.<br />
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I'm currently making a dress to wear to my sister's professional ball in two weeks. I have barely started - I have no sewjo!!! What are you sewing?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-39852308224599982582014-09-06T18:32:00.000-07:002014-09-06T18:32:22.012-07:00Bellatrix Blazer (and some not-so-quiet pants).Oh hi! It's been a while. I've been really sick this winter. Laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, Influenza A and a sinus infection. It's been horrible, including a visit to emergency at hospital when I couldn't breathe properly. Blogging has simply been beyond my head space, but today, on this gorgeous Fathers' Day, I decided it was time. Michael and Little M are doing some sticking and gluing in the back sunroom and I'm taking some time to update you on one of my favourite projects of the year.<br />
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This year has all been about jackets and coats. After I finished my <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/my-french-jacket.html">French Jacket</a> I decided I wanted to sew a classic blazer. I bought the <a href="http://papercutpatterns.com/products/bellatrix-blazer">Bellatrix Blazer by Papercut Patterns</a> as I thought it fitted the aesethetic I was after. Classic, with a bit of funk.<br />
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I made it in a very heavy linen from Rathdowne Fabrics, with a remnant of green silk-satin lining from Tessuti.<br />
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I made the size small, with two adjustments. One, I did a 'full bicep' adjustment (yay for my gym work paying off, I love a good toned arm). I followed the method in 'Fit for Real People' by Patti Palmer and Marta Alto. An excellent, clearly written book that I would recommend in a heartbeat. My second adjustment was to take in the upper centre back by approximately 2cm. I had some minor gaping.<br />
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The pattern calls for pretty much each piece to be interfaced. For this version, I only interfaced the collar and under collar. This linen is really heavy and I wanted it to be able to get all creased and soft like a linen does after some wear.<br />
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I added shoulder pads and reinforced the sleeve head (the pattern doesn't call for this). I used very slim shoulder pads from Tessuti - these are the only shoulder pads I will ever use. They are very soft and easy to shape to a coat or jacket.<br />
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The button is from my stash. <br />
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Check out that green lining! I do love a silk lining. So soft against the skin. I had this dry cleaned before wearing it to bully that collar into submission - I really think it needs it so you don't get a sharp edge on the collar.<br />
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I highly recommend this pattern. It is a surprisingly easy make. All the pattern pieces just come together so well. I've actually made two more - one in this style and one with the shorter peplum. <br />
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I wore this yesterday to my birthday lunch. We went to Cafe Vue at the Heide Modern Museum. It was excellent. I had a lobster roll. Yum!! I wore it with my new Clover pants. I am still somewhat unsure about these pants. I posted a picture on Instagram asking people whether it would look good as cigarette pants. I got a resounding yes! They are extremely loud pants, but I guess that is the trend at the moment. I've got enough leftover of this fabric to make a simple skirt.<br />
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Look at that young girl's pose there. She is in full 'threenager' mode at the moment. Never a dull moment for me - so much negotiation and attitude.<br />
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What's next on your sewing list? I need to get sewing the dress I'm wearing to the nurse's ball I'm going to as my sister's date in October - her fiancé has opted out - hehehe.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-65612846433868491942014-07-28T00:43:00.000-07:002014-07-28T00:43:04.949-07:00Anise Jacket (and bonus Papercut Pleated Pants)About 14 months ago, I started an <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/sewing/anise">Anise Jacket.</a> I muslined it, bought the wool/cashmere fabric, silk lining, thread, interfacing etc. I started sewing and trialled bound buttonholes on scraps (my fabric was far too thick for bound buttonholes - at least at my skill level). I decided I'd get do something else with the buttonholes. I basically sewed the jacket to the point of buttonholes and buttons. I put it on my dressmaker's form and admired it for the next 12 months. That's right. I didn't touch it for 12 more months until I decided it was cold, and I needed jackets.<br />
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I investigated getting the buttonholes done professionally. There is one person in Melbourne who offers that service that I could find, and I was informed by someone who is 'in the know' that that person has been known to completely ruin garments people have paid them to sew buttonholes in. That meant one thing only.... I would have to sew these buttonholes myself.<br />
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Cue a few sleepless nights (joking... sort of), me reading every internet resource available, talking to Kate at <a href="http://www.buttonmania.com.au/">Buttonmania</a> (and buying required resources for hand stitched buttonholes), and obsessive reading of Claire Schaeffer's Couture Sewing Techniques. I then started them. Only to absolutely hate my first four attempts. Let me tell you, unpicking silk thread on a very thick wool/cashmere is not fun at all. I may have had a small hissy fit. I left them for about a month. And then picked everything up again, wore a small running head torch on my head (doing fine stitches on that bloody wool/cashmere was really, really hard to focus on) and got them done.<br />
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I now have an Anise jacket that has been serving me well on these cold Melbourne days.<br />
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The fabrics were purchased from Darn Cheap Fabrics. They actually have a very nice selection of wool coatings. This is a wool cashmere blend and was only $20/m. The colour is lush.<br />
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I really like the 60's vibe this jacket gives off.<br />
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Awesome silk lining. I am slightly obsessed with silk as a lining.<br />
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Back view. If I knew what I did now when sewing this, I would have adjusted that under collar piece to account for turn of cloth. Ah well, you live and learn.<br />
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The buttonholes. They're not perfect, but they're okay. Liveable. The buttons came from Clegs.<br />
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I did not keep notes around making this jacket. The only adjustment I remember doing was to take some out of the CB. Apart from that, I made a size 8. Other things I would do in the future is to add in a sleeve head piece, maybe use a slim shoulder pad, and investigate why there are odd wrinkles coming down from the top of the sleeve (I have seen this on every Anise made - something weird with the pattern?).<br />
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My Anise was an odd make, mostly due to the extremely disjointed sewing process, but I enjoy wearing it now. I receive compliments every time I wear it - I think mostly due to the lovely colour. I don't think I'll make it again though. It is a fun jacket, but not a style I am totally gaga in love with.<br />
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Speaking of being gaga in love, meet my new Papercut Pleated Pants. I won't bore you with the details of these, seeing as I <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/papercut-pleated-pants-pattern.html">have made them before</a>, but I absolutely love these. They're made from a black viscose-blend suiting remnant I got from Tessuti, and they are my perfect pants. Slightly slouchy, they sit at the perfect point on my waist, are very comfortable and look awesome with my patent brogues. I'm so glad I revisited this pattern, and will be making more.<br />
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I better get back to the Bellatrix Blazer I'm making for a special event coming up though - what are you making at the moment?<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-13069157989084778262014-07-06T02:28:00.000-07:002014-07-06T02:28:13.948-07:00French Noir Deux Libby SkirtWhat came first - the pattern or the fabric? For me, the fabric - <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/collections/new-additions/products/french-noir-deux">French Noir Deux</a> - a stretch cotton from Tessuti came first. I went into Tessuti and nearly bought it for pants. Then I thought it had too much give for pants and that they would bag out. I went back about 2 weeks later and bought it to make the new free Tessuti pattern, <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/collections/free-sewing-patterns/products/libby-a-line-skirt-pattern">the Libby A-Line Skirt.</a><br />
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I wore it out last weekend to a Japanese bath house and then to a Japanese restaurant for dinner with friends. So... no makeup (can't wear makeup when you're going for a cleansing soak!) - I feel odd looking at blog photos of me with no makeup!<br />
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Anyway, back to the fabric for a second. It is a heavy-ish weight stretch cotton. Almost like a denim with a lot of stretch. It has the pattern kind of embossed on it - this is a hand-wash only garment for fear of wearing off the pattern. I absolutely adore this fabric. I was thinking about getting some for a jacket...<br />
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The Libby A-Line Skirt is very simple to make. It has waist facings - no waistband. This to me, is much better than an A-Line skirt with a waistband. I could never figure out why I don't like the Colette Patterns Ginger Skirt, and now I know why. The waistband made my tummy pooch out below it. It wasn't comfy or flattering. This is much better. I also like how this looks with a shirt tucked out - I never wear my shirt tucked in anymore.<br />
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I made the size 8. I tried on the size 10 in the Tessuti store and it fit perfectly, but this fabric has a lot of stretch so I sized down. I made it in the mid-length - it is probably more in line with the mini length, but I am tall. I am finding that as I get older my skirt lengths get waaaay shorter. Wonder what that is about??!!<br />
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The skirt came together in a few hours, including hand-stitching the hem. It is very simple. Has a side invisible zip. I'll be making more. Definitely be making more. How about you? Are you going to give it a go?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-25166532908522489882014-06-20T16:09:00.000-07:002014-06-20T16:11:19.768-07:00My True Bias Hudson PantsThis week Kelli from True Bias <a href="http://truebias.com/2014/06/the-hudson-pant-sewing-pattern-is-here.html">released her first pattern - the Hudson Pant.</a> I was lucky enough to be asked by Kelli to pattern test this pattern, so have actually been wearing these pants every day for a couple of weeks now. Yep, every day.<br />
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To me, these pants are super cool tracksuit pants. I have one pair of old-school Adidas tracksuit pants, and they never see the light of day. Michael would possibly divorce me if I wore them outside the house (hehehe). But these, the Hudson Pant, have been outside, to the park, to the supermarket, round to a friend's house and everything in between.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, these are my pattern testing pair. I haven't sewn up the final pattern (yet), but Kelli has told us she made the following changes to the FIT of the pants, according to tester feedback:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">added extra room to the calves and ankle cuff for a bit more comfort and ease (Kelli says that she doesn't honestly think that it is enough that you will notice in pictures, but that we will feel the difference.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">changed the way that the pocket detail is attached to the pant. It is now a smidge smaller than the area it is attached to so that when stretching to fit it will lay a bit flatter against your hip.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So the final pattern will not fit exactly as these do, but I love these so much I really wanted to blog them. Kelli was fine about that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I whipped up a quick muslin of the testing pattern and found I need to lengthen the pattern through the leg by 7.5cm, and the front and back crotch by 2.5cm each. Kelli has drafted the pattern for a 5'5" woman, and I'm 5'8", so this was as I had expected. </span></div>
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Some details. Including the fact that I did not stitch that bottom line of top-stitching very evenly! Whoops. </div>
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My fabric came from Tessuti. The patterned fabric is a lightweight ponte, and the black contrasting fabric is a soft, medium weight ponte. Unfortunately the patterned stuff has pilled a bit. </div>
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There's been a bit going on in blogland recently regarding pattern testing. To let you know, I wasn't paid to test (apart from receiving the final pattern for free), I was asked to test within a two week time-frame, Kelli was extremely receptive to feedback, and I loved doing it. I don't know how she selected her pattern testers - my guess for why I asked is that we did the Sew Bossy thing together and therefore 'know' each other through that. </div>
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This is my most worn garment I've sewn this year. I need another pair so I don't literally wear these out. I'll have to start looking around for some fabric. So - how about you? Are you going sew a pair of the Hudson Pant? </div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-63706071446803744412014-06-15T00:05:00.002-07:002014-06-15T00:24:29.076-07:00My French JacketI think last year when <a href="http://poppykettle.com/a-french-jacket/">Melanie posted about making her French Jacket</a> the entire blogging community went a little French Jacket crazy. I promptly bought <a href="http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8804-products-22886.php?page_id=174">Vogue 8804, the Claire Shaeffer French Jacket pattern</a>, and then put the pattern away. I bought fabric for it at Christmas, courtesy of my Mum.<br />
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The pattern and the fabric sat in my pattern drawer until just after Sewjourn last December, when I saw <a href="http://sewbrunswick.blogspot.com/">Leith's</a> version as a work-in-progress. Seeing her's spurred me on and, nearly six months later, I have a French Jacket.<br />
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Let's start with my muslin.<br />
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This is a terrible photo, sorry! I started with a size 12, which is my standard size in a Vogue Pattern. Overall, the fit was okay, however, I made three adjustments to get a closer fit and the look I wanted:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Starting at the CB bottom, I took about 3cm in total out of the CB up until about half way up. </li>
<li>In the jacket side front and starting at the shoulder seam, I took about 3cm out of the princess seam, until about 10cm down (ending just above my bust). </li>
<li>I trimmed off the button placement allowances. I wanted it to close with hooks rather than buttons, so I just left a 1.5cm seam allowance on top of the CF.</li>
</ol>
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I figured if it needed any other adjustments, I'd do them as I sewed the jacket. There were no glaring fit issues so I figured minute fitting could be done as I sewed. </div>
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My muslin sat in a box for about two months. I just couldn't concentrate on it. Then, one day, about 2-3 months ago, WHAM! French Jacket sewing was all I could think of. </div>
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If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen some progress shots. I'm going to start here with the finished shots and then show you some progress shots. I wore it for the first time to my sister's engagement party, which was last weekend. </div>
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I wore it with a black ponte Vogue 1314 - I'll review this dress again in another post soon.<br />
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Can you tell I'm a bit pleased with it?<br />
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Those buttons. I love them. They're from Buttonmania and I want a million more. <br />
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The lining. Silk satin. Such beautiful stuff. So easy to sew for a silk.<br />
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The venue was actually so overheated that I wore the jacket for these pics and then took it off. I lovingly placed it on a table at the back of the venue and nearly had a heart attack when I went out there about an hour later to get my lippie and discovered it under about 20 jackets. I felt like doing a mother lion roar and yelling "this is my FRENCH JACKET, DON'T TOUCH IT"!!! Instead I secured it in a safer spot and went and got another champers. </div>
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So... a few changes I made to the pattern:</div>
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<ol>
<li>I didn't quilt the lining and shell fabric together for two reasons. One, I did a practice quilt on some scraps of fabric and it showed way too much on the outer of the shell. I didn't like how it looked. Two, after consulting with Leith, we both thought that in the 'Making of a Chanel Jacket' video clip on YouTube that they do not quilt the jacket in the video. That made me think that Chanel jackets are not always quilted together. </li>
<li>I interfaced the jacket pieces (not the sleeves) using a very soft and fine fusible interfacing. The difference to the tweed was amazing. </li>
<li>I reinforced the sleeve head. The tweed I used was so soft and fine that the sleeve head was collapsing on itself. </li>
<li>I put trim all around the bottom hem - V8804 doesn't call for that. </li>
<li>I put very slim shoulder pads in. Again, I think the tweed really needed them. </li>
</ol>
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Here are some progress shots:</div>
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First bit of trim I sewed on. </div>
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Pockets completed. You hand stitch the pocket lining on. </div>
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This is my one regret - I wish I had attached the trim on the sleeves closer to the bottom of the sleeve hem. There is a little bit too much fabric showing under the trim. </div>
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Getting there! At this stage there no machine stitching left to do. All hems are hand stitched, all the trim is hand stitched. I loved it. To me, this project signified hand stitching, and lots of it. I wanted such a project. I really love hand stitching. It is therapeutic to me and I think achieves greater accuracy in detailed projects like this.<br />
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Final stage here. Attaching the metal chain to weight the hem. I still cannot believe how much this little chain makes a difference to the way the jacket hangs. It is not a step to be missed.<br />
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I thought I'd also include where I sourced everything from:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Tweed fabric, silk-satin lining, interfacing and slim shoulder pads: Tessuti Fabrics. </li>
<li>Mohair braid trim: M&J Trimmings in New York. </li>
<li>Buttons and French Jacket hook and eyes: Buttonmania.</li>
<li>Chain trim for hem: Clegs. </li>
<li>Fleece for sleeve heads: an old jumper of my daughter's. </li>
</ol>
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Finally, I used a few resources A LOT:</div>
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<ol>
<li><a href="http://poppykettle.com/a-french-jacket/">Every single post Poppykettle wrote about making hers.</a></li>
<li>Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire Shaeffer. </li>
<li><a href="http://goodbyevalentino.com/2013/10/14/the-shanel-jacket/">Goodbye Valentino's posts about making her own.</a></li>
<li>A Threads article about sleeve heads that I now can't find anywhere.</li>
<li>A bucket load of internet resources, including blogs for inspiration and tips. I looked at other sewists' versions of the French Jacket constantly, and at images of Chanel Jackets. I also constantly looked at the white version Cate Blanchett wears in Blue Jasmine after I saw the film last year. I love that white Chanel Jacket. I cannot wear white like that until Little M has moved out of home. </li>
</ol>
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So there you have it! I made a French Jacket! And I love it. I'm slightly afraid of wearing it, but plan to tomorrow to work. </div>
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I also really want to make another jacket now too. Bellatrix, I'm looking at you....</div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-72585380648266937882014-06-11T23:58:00.000-07:002014-06-12T00:00:47.118-07:00Red MonetaLike everyone else in blogland, I decided to jump on the <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/sewing/moneta">Moneta bandwagon.</a> I almost didn't as <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Dixie%20DIY%20patterns">last year I made the Dixie DIY Ballet Dress twice.</a> To be truthful however, I have never been super happy with either of those makes, primarily due to the skirt almost hugging my tummy. There is nowhere to hide in those dresses, especially when you've eaten. I don't like feeling like I have to suck my tummy in. So I thought I've give Moneta a shot, given it has a gathered skirt.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEh18zGr_YPxJMr14jIpid8wOpaTdrDPkKtvLybYSI14bMao90voBRRGwpvQBOVxrfImwZQ8mPcPPvWToDNVIleO_nDUGBol425zq7HboxWWKeS7iCwyR_3VoDSeligy3dm0RNCotSLo/s1600/Moneta+Red-5240116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEh18zGr_YPxJMr14jIpid8wOpaTdrDPkKtvLybYSI14bMao90voBRRGwpvQBOVxrfImwZQ8mPcPPvWToDNVIleO_nDUGBol425zq7HboxWWKeS7iCwyR_3VoDSeligy3dm0RNCotSLo/s1600/Moneta+Red-5240116.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I REALLY should have edited this photo before uploading it. Untidy bedroom in the background ahoy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I used a very soft cotton knit from Clegs. The pattern asks for too much fabric - I made this out of about 1.6m of fabric.<br />
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I made a size Small, and lengthened it 2cm at the waist, and 2cm in the skirt. I did this as the cotton knit is not at all weighty, and other sewists had noted heavier knits pulled the bodice down, eliminating any need for lengthening. Obviously, I had the opposite problem. When I made my Jaywalk Moneta/V1027 mash-up, I didn't lengthen the bodice as the viscose Jaywalk fabric is quite weighty.<br />
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I also used the extra-large width at the shoulders only - using a larger shoulder width is a standard adjustment for me now.<br />
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I am pretty happy with this dress. There is one area I'm not happy with - the excess fabric in the upper-side-bust:<br />
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I've noticed this issue on almost every Moneta made up. Anyone know why this is happening? It's not enough for me to really worry about it in terms of wearability, but I am fascinated regarding why this is happening.<br />
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I've got two more of these planned. They are just so easy to wear and are a pretty cute silhouette. Are you going to get your Moneta on?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-57040342875082067852014-06-08T22:10:00.001-07:002014-06-12T00:01:04.723-07:002014 Tessuti Jaywalk Competition: My EntriesHave you or are you entering the Tessuti Jaywalk Competition this year? The day they announced the competition, I bought 6m of the lovely viscose jersey they set as the theme of the competition. It was so cheap, in a good stripe and is a beautiful quality.<br />
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I immediately wanted a tunic with the black/natural for the body and the white/natural for the sleeves. So I made one!<br />
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I really took my time matching those stripes. I used the tunic Anna drafted that I have <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/annas-winter-dress-pattern-in-ribena.html">sewn before.</a> I love this simple little dress. I've worn it three times already and have been complimented so much. It is a great layering dress, and I'm really proud of my stripe matching.<br />
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Given I had six metres, I decided to enter twice. I decided to make more of a warm weather frock - although I can wear this with a cardigan or jacket now. For this one, I used the bodice of Colette Patterns' Moneta dress, and the skirt of Vogue 1027. I sewed elastic in the waist of this dress as it is quite heavy. I also didn't cut it on grain so that I would achieve that chevron effect.<br />
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I froze my a*s off this morning to get these shots!<br />
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I'll review the Moneta dress properly soon. I have made a bright red version with sleeves, and have encountered some fit issues that I'll discuss in that post. I'm a bit too tired to go over them now - we had my sister's engagement party on Saturday night. I danced and drank champagne until the early hours of Sunday morning and am still tired! We also got our bridesmaids' dresses sorted. It has been decided that I will make my own. I am petrified - the fabrics are from Tessuti and include silk organza. I will need your advice!!! Hope you've had a nice long weekend - I'm off to watch some Boardwalk Empire while the kiddo is at the zoo with a mate.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-2633711591302699552014-05-18T17:11:00.000-07:002014-05-18T17:11:44.950-07:00Day Tripper Top by Shwin DesignsHello! It has been a looong time between posts. It is such a crazy time of year for me at the moment. I'm lecturing again after having five years (!) off and it has thoroughly surprised me how much it is kicking my butt. Looking forward to the end of semester in two weeks!<br />
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I have been doing some sewing, just finding it hard to blog my makes. I made the <a href="http://shwindesigns.bigcartel.com/product/day-tripper-top">Day Tripper Top by Shwin Designs</a> about a month ago, out of a wool knit from <a href="http://bloglessanna.wordpress.com/">Anna's</a> stash that was originally from Tessuti. <br />
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I made a size small. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't need to adjust for length. I usually do, but I really like the length of this version. It is the perfect length for wearing with my Cue work pants. In this lovely wool knit it is also a very cosy and toasty top - almost like a jumper. I am seriously lacking things like this in my wardrobe. I actually had to purchase two wool jumpers (from Elk) to assist in keeping me warm. Melbourne has just gone through a cold snap (though it is pretty warm at the moment) and I was completely freezing. <br />
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I like how it dips down at the back - like a mullet top!<br />
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I did encounter one issue. When I attached the neck band, it gaped very badly. It stood up at the shoulder seams, making it look like a bad funnel neck. The neck band is a rectangle folded in two - I think this is why. I think it needs to be shaped. To fix it, I unpicked the neck band at the shoulder seams and essentially made a dart in the fabric to contour it to my neck. This worked on the whole - there is still room for improvement though. <br />
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The sleeves and hem are finished with bands - I think this makes it look nice and professional. I was going to do a twin-stitch around the neck, sleeves and hem bands but this wool knit is quite dense and spongy so I simply did a single row of stitching to secure the seam allowance. I think it only needs one row.<br />
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I really like this top and would recommend the pattern - on the proviso that you fix the neck band. I am tempted to make another, or maybe the Perri Pullover? Hard decision. <br />
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I'm in the thick of making my French Jacket and Ruthy's engagement party dress at the moment though, so all other winter sewing is on the back burner! What are you making? Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-5016193346034854732014-04-21T00:39:00.000-07:002014-04-21T00:41:59.560-07:00Fabric Box TutorialIf you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that on Easter Sunday I was taught by my friend Therese (aka Chooktopia on Instagram) how to make fabric boxes. We went around to Therese's house for an Easter Egg hunt (our daughters are BFFs) and she had made one these fabric boxes for all three kids to collect their eggs in. I immediately wanted to learn how to make them, so while the kids were playing, and the men folk were talking about woodwork or something, Therese gave me a tutorial on how to make fabric boxes.<br />
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I put pics of the boxes I made yesterday on Instagram and was asked by a few people for a tutorial. After gaining permission from Therese to do a tutorial, here is how she taught me to make them. <br />
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<u>Step 1: Choose your fabric box size and cut out your pieces</u><br />
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You could really do any size, but Therese had measurements for a large (the hawaiian print one up the back) or a medium (the spotty versions and the cross-stitch one in front).<br />
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You need 4 pieces of fabric:<br />
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1 x patterned fabric rectangle (can be any type - I wouldn't use a silky, soft fabric though. I used Japanese cottons from my stash and a very similar fabric from Therese's stash. She used a quilting-type cotton for the little cross-stitch ones).<br />
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1 x plain fabric rectangle (Use something pretty stiff. Therese used an amazing canvas, I used denim and a very stiff linen).<br />
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2 x plain fabric squares (same as the plain fabric rectangle).<br />
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Here are the different sizes:<br />
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Medium Rectangles (cut 1 patterned and 1 plain) - 54cm x 18cm<br />
Medium Squares (cut 2 plain) - 15cm squared<br />
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Large Rectangles (cut 1 patterned and 1 plain) - 69cm x 22cm<br />
Medium Squares (cut 2 plain) - 20cm squared.<br />
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<b>All seam allowances are 1cm.</b><br />
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<b>I don't press or overlock the edges at all.</b><br />
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<u>Step 2: Join long sides of rectangles together</u><br />
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With right sides together, sew one <b>long side </b>of the rectangle together. Don't sew the other side together.<br />
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<u>Step 3: Join short sides together</u><br />
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With right sides together, fold the joined pieces in half width-wise and sew together to make a tube. You might want to put a pin at the long edge seams to align the seam lines.<br />
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<u>Step 4: Insert the first bottom</u><br />
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The first part of this step is to round the edges of your fabric squares. You can use a glass as a guide or just eye-ball it.</div>
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Once you've rounded your edges, divide the patterned part of your tube into four sections. With right sides together, pin on one of the squares, aligning a pinned section with a rounded edge.<br />
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Stitch around the edge, with the patterned part of the fabric facing up. You will need to go slow and ease it around slowly so you don't get any gathers. If you wanted to be extra careful, you could use a long gathering stitch to ease the patterned fabric onto the plain square. </div>
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This is what you should have at the moment:</div>
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<u>Step 5: Inserting the other bottom</u></div>
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The next step is to insert the bottom onto the plain section of the tube. Turn the tube back in the wrong way, and repeat what we've done at Step 4, but leave about 5cm unstitched together. This will let you turn the box out the right way.</div>
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<u>Step 6: Turn the box out the right way</u></div>
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Using the 5cm gap, push the fabric through the hole so the box is the right way out. </div>
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<u>Step 7: Hand-stitch opening closed</u></div>
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Using your preferred hand-stitch, stitch the small 5cm opening closed.</div>
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<u>Step 8: Fill up and admire your box!</u></div>
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Voila! You have cute little fabric boxes to store your goodies in. I have the large one with hawaiian flowers storing some overlocker threads that don't fit on my thread board. The smaller ones are filled with my daughter's various tiny toys that don't have a home. Little animal figurines, doll house furniture, wind-up animals etc.<br />
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I can see more of these in my future - how about you? Are you going to make one?Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-14089903468944033702014-04-17T23:44:00.001-07:002014-04-17T23:44:23.261-07:00Just an Australian Girl, Up in the Tokyo Streets** 5 points if you get my lame attempt at a pop culture reference....<br />
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Well, I'm not in the Tokyo streets (unfortunately), but I am rocking around in a <a href="http://www.tessuti-shop.com/products/tokyo-jacket-pattern-print-at-home-or-copy-shop-version">Tokyo Jacket by Tessuti.</a> I only became interested in making this recently. I desperately wanted a loose, swingy, casual jacket. The Tokyo fits the bill.<br />
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I made this in a medium-weight viscose from Tessuti. A lovely fabric - frays like hell, but drapes in the most amazing way. Didn't slip under the needle either. It has a self-stripe that adds a teeny bit of interest.<br />
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I tried on the size extra-small in Tessuti Melbourne one day. It fit, but I perhaps needed a smidge more room across the shoulders. So I made this in the size small. I am thinking for my next one I might revert back to the extra small, but keep a small at the shoulders. This size small feels a tiny bit too big and slips off a tad.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqt4BLFj3NkFjjcKRyz9R-GTNVC0K0b1oTwJeLIKn0Ng3U9sp1jLNSXBK1tVgNqp29d6Qgf4eW_pHnlHRlj8Rk8SmzRs9vyvcGUrpwens4rB_6_hQ5h0uaUVyyRfK_ODdgulGgMn62Ho8/s1600/Tokyo-4170174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqt4BLFj3NkFjjcKRyz9R-GTNVC0K0b1oTwJeLIKn0Ng3U9sp1jLNSXBK1tVgNqp29d6Qgf4eW_pHnlHRlj8Rk8SmzRs9vyvcGUrpwens4rB_6_hQ5h0uaUVyyRfK_ODdgulGgMn62Ho8/s1600/Tokyo-4170174.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That young girl of mine cracks me up</td></tr>
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I left off the pockets. The pattern has you put the pockets on, hem the back section and then join it at the side seams. This means your side seams are not tucked under a hem. That didn't appeal to my anal-retentivness, so I left the pockets off and joined it at the side seams before hemming it. I hand-stitched the hem, and instead of attaching the collar band by stitching-in-the-ditch, I also hand-stitched it. You can sort of see in the picture below.<br />
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This jacket is a nice sew. It is rewarding - you get a jacket, but for no where near the effort you have to put into a more tailored jacket. I highly recommend!<br />
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What are you sewing this long Easter weekend? I have to sew Miss M a few pairs of pants, and I'm hoping to start sewing a more tailored jacket too.....<br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-907433213687980973.post-79130774478180028342014-04-13T02:39:00.000-07:002014-04-13T02:41:02.898-07:00Chambray Obsession: A Spotty CamberReaders, I dream in chambray at the moment. I see it everywhere. It haunts me, making me believe that every garment should be in chambray. And yet, I cannot find dark denim chambray anywhere. Tessuti had lovely pale stuff, but the colour was much too pale for me. Over summer I did find some dark coloured spotty chambray at Tessuti Surrey Hills. I bought the last of the roll - about 1.6m of it. I had thought I would make a bomber jacket out of it, but then realised it was too fine.<br />
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So I decided to make another <a href="http://merchantandmills.com/products/patterns/the-camber-set-pattern/">Camber Dress by Merchant and Mills.</a> I <a href="http://boodogg.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/the-camber-dress-goes-to-geelong.html">wear my linen version </a>so much I knew this would be a wardrobe staple, and it only takes about 1.5m of fabric.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Guess who loves her Santa hat so much it is being worn as a trans-seasonal, every day hat? Hint: it's not me or Bessie. </span></td></tr>
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I made it the same as my last one. Size 14 at the shoulders and a size 10 through the body. I accidentally cut it too short however, so I bound the hem to preserve as much length as possible. <br />
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Look at my spot matching down the back through the yoke and dress! Almost perfect. <br />
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I love this dress. The chambray is really soft. It is perhaps a smidge too short. I wore it to Little M's birthday party yesterday (a blog post on that to come!), and had to be a little careful with how I sat/bent etc., especially as it was a fine day (phew!) and I wasn't wearing tights.<br />
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So, my question is -- where do I find lovely dark plain chambray? Please, if you know, I need all the details!<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04070809028433760473noreply@blogger.com27