Vogue 1314: With Powder Puff Added

Hi! I am currently beginning a five-day-whole-house-to-myself-break. Michael has taken Little M to Sydney to see his folks and I have to work on Monday, so here I am by myself until Tuesday arvo (Tuesday is a public holiday here in Melbourne - it's Melbourne Cup Day). I'm working from home on Monday and doing lots of girls-only things. Like going to Geelong for a fabric shopping afternoon, tapas and drinks with Anna and Renay on Saturday and movies and dinner with Ruthy and a friend on Sunday night. And sewing of course.

The purpose of this post however is to show you my new work dress, another Vogue 1314.

I used the lining pieces for this one as I didn't want the ruching. The fabric is a ponti remnant I got from Tessuti, and while it is a lightweight ponti I don't think it would have gathered well. I also left off the sleeves (obviously!).

I sewed the size 10 lining pieces as this ponti is not overly stretchy - it is definitely not as stretchy as the other ponti fabrics I have sewn with.

I am mildly annoyed with myself. Can you guess why? When I look at the above photo all I can see is a white circle positioned right where my nipple points too. I didn't even slightly consider cutting layouts with this. Michael assures me it isn't noticeable, but it is all I can see. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Now I'm looking at this photo it looks like I'm wearing a powder puff bunny tail. Bloody hell. I am an idiot.

Well, there you have it. My non-ruched Vogue 1314 with powder puff bunny tail added. If only I'd wore it yesterday it could have passed for a Halloween costume.

Pattern: Vogue 1314
Fabric: Remnant of 'Potion Commotion' ponti from Tessuti.
Notions: Knit stay tape
Alterations: Used lining pieces so no ruching.

Anna's Winter Dress Pattern in Ribena Ponti

I am really, really, really into ponti this winter. It is so cozy and forgiving, comes in prints and plains, and, once I figured out my machine likes a blue tip needle, is easy to sew.

So when Anna offered me a copy of the pattern - titled 'Anna's Winter Dress Pattern' - she had created from a mix of other patterns to be specifically made in ponti, I jumped at the bit.

You see, I really love a good comfortable sack dress. Really, above and beyond any other garment, it is my favourite thing to wear. I don't wear them all the time, but a sack ticks all my boxes. Comfortable, forgiving, suitable for mummy-ing, and with just a tiny bit of shaping, quite flattering.

So here she is - my 'Anna's Winter Dress Pattern' made in Ribena Ponti from Tessuti.

Awkward pose, but it was the only full-length photo Michael got!

This pattern is very simple. Think a elongated long-sleeved t-shirt with a curved hem. Easy peasy. To make the hems and neckline nice on this dress I used a wonderful fusible knit stay tape that Anna gifted me - this stuff is magic. It irons on beautifully and makes sewing a curved hem on a knit a complete breeze. It is called Sewkeys E by Emma Seabrooke - Extremely Fine Fusible Knit Stay Tape. I believe Anna bought it from The Fashionable Stitch Shop.

I wore this to my job interview on Tuesday - I'm trying to get back into academic research again - and (fingers crossed) I think I scored myself another Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (hope I'm not jinxing anything!!!!). So I see this as my lucky dress.

I bought 1.5m of navy ponti from the Alannah Hill warehouse today (for the princely sum of $12 - that place is awesome) to make another one of these, although with full-length sleeves - so it will be around again soon!

Also, I've decided to record some of the details at the end of my posts that other bloggers use - mostly so I can record how much fabric, what size I make and the alterations etc. in a more ordered way. What do you think?

Pattern: Anna's Winter Dress Pattern
Fabric: 1.5m Ribena Ponti from Tessuti
Notions: Stay-tape
Size: M
Alterations: none

Briar. And Anita.

You know one of the things I most love about having some real life sewing friends (apart from having awesome friends)? I can try on their sewn garments to (a) see if they look good on me and (b) check the fit.

This is what I did when I went over Anna's a few weekends ago and she was wearing her Megan Nielson Briar top. Readers, I cannot lie. I nearly ripped it off Anna's back. But I thought that would be rude so I politely waited until we were combing through her amazing wardrobe and calmly tried it on instead.

Luckily for me, it fit like a complete dream, simply needing 2cm added to the length of the front. So I made myself the size L with the added length, and ended up with a beautifully warm jumper:

See my cute green beads from yesterday? Little M wore her pink and purple ones out today too and we had quite a few comments about Mummy & Me matching outfits. Not sure how I feel about that!

This Briar is made from a Merino wool knit - quite a thick one - from The Fabric Store on Brunswick St. Luckily this pattern doesn't need much fabric, because I got sucked in to the tune of $38/m. But I have to say - this is THE most lusciously warm knit - I wore it out tonight for dinner and didn't wear a coat, despite it being coat weather. 

What can I say about this pattern? It comes together like a dream. I LOVE the way the neckline binding is attached (sorry, I forgot to get a close-up sans scarf). It just looks so professional. The merino was also a dream to sew. Despite some initial hesitation, I also really love the high-low hem. I think it is a cool way to layer. I'm not sure I'd wear the Briar without another layer underneath. After having my appendix out and giving birth, my tummy muscles are not as tiiiiight as I'd like them to be. So no midriff peeks from me. 

I also have to report that I have made another (two!) pair of Anita Ponti Pants. My previous Bleach Boys pair gets a serious workout, so I bought some extremely thick black ponti from Tessuti. I originally made this ponti into a pair of Style Arc Sailor Sue Palazzo Pants and the ponti was such a bad fabric choice that I refashioned them into these Anitas. I sized down for this pair too - really sized down. I would estimate these are at least a size 6 in the waist and leg - possibly smaller. I started with my size 10 but the first time I wore them spent the day hoiking them up. So I unpicked the waist and the hems and made them a lot smaller.

This Briar and a pair of Anita Pants has been my go-to outfit over the last while. I love the combo, and it keeps me super warm on these horrible chilly Melbourne days we've been having (although the last two days have been beautifully sunny). I love the outfit so much that I have made another Briar and another pair of printed Anitas that I will show you soon.

So - what is your take on the Briar? Are you a fan of the high-low hem?

Tessuti's Anita Ponti Pants in Bleach Boys

Readers, I am currently quite sick. I've been laid up with yet another bout of sinusitis, and have taken the drastic measure of changing ENT surgeons, had another CT scan and had my nose vacuumed. Crazy times.

Because I feel sick all I want to wear is cushy, comfy, cosy clothing. Like my new Tessuti Anita Ponti Pants. These pants are described as 'slim pants' - and that they are. They aren't quite a legging (I wouldn't wear leggings except under a dress/skirt). They are very comfy stretchy pants.

I made them in Bleach Boys Ponti from Tessuti.

Bleurgh - I do look sick... 

These pants come together very easily. I made a straight size 10 - the only alteration was to add 3cm in length. I think they took about 2 hours to make. I lifted my overlocker blade while stitching down the elastic - I was a bit nervous about nicking the elastic!

I made these pants about a month ago and have consistently worn them - enough so that I'm making a plain black pair as we speak.

This ponti is verrrrry thick. I don't know how confident I'd be in a lighter ponti in these pants - they don't leave much 'hiding room' if you know what I mean.

I wore these today to my ENT appointment, with an Icebreaker Merino wool roll neck jumper and my Camper boots. And Icebreaker Merino wool socks. I was toasty warm. Perfect for a girl who is under the weather.

I was a bit dubious about the printed pants trend when it all began, but now I feel like I am going to embrace it wholeheartedly. What are your thoughts?

Dixie DIY Ballet Dress in Pelorous Ponti

Do you read Marie's blog - A Stitching Odyssey? It is one of my favourites. Marie is extremely gorgeous and makes such lovely clothes. Recently she made the Dixie DIY Ballet Dress - a very simple dress intended for knits.

I had not heard of Dixie DIY before, but I loved Marie's floral version and had been looking for a simple long-sleeved dress to make with the 2m of ponti called 'Pelorous Ponti' I bought in Sydney from Tessuti (I couldn't find it on their website).

I made the size small, and made the following adjustments:

1. Lengthened the bodice by 7cm. I muslined the bodice only and found that it ended only just below my bust - without taking out the seam allowance to join it to the skirt. I don't think it would have been a good look! 
2. Lengthened the skirt by about 3cm. 
3. Took the sleeves in by 5cm in total. They were unusually baggy, and I wanted them to be more streamlined. 
4. Added a belt. I think it needs it to break it up. 

I love this dress. At first I worried it was a bit too firm-fitting and showed every lump and bump, but I changed my bra about fifty times and finally was happy with how all the bumps were contained.

I had a bit of fun with taking photos - it is a ballet dress after all!

I'm so graceful. Especially in knee-high boots.

Little M decided to get in on the fun - she does love a good twirl and a boogie.

Check out that air!

I'm off to take the kid for a spin on her new balance bike - pretty windy in Melbourne today - definitely reminding me to get started on some winter sewing!

Vogue 8815 in New Zealand!

Greetings from Wellington, New Zealand! I am over here on a work junket, attending a conference for a week. It has been very hard to be away from my little girl.

But it has given me a chance to debut my new ponti peplum blouse, V8815 made in this gorgeous spotty ponti from Tessuti (sorry about the hotel room iPhone pics). I wore it to the welcome drinks do on monday night.

This blouse has been reviewed extensively around the traps. I made a size 10, grading out to a 12 at the shoulders only. I extended the back darts by 2.5cms and lined the bodice. I also used the sleeves from the Gabby dress as I wasn't sold on the Vogue sleeves.

The blouse is straightforward to sew - it is easy to adapt to knits and I think it looks cute. You do have to wear it with something snug on the bottom though- some skinny jeans or tapered pants or a pencil skirt.

I think I'll make another - possibly out of linem - what do you think?

Perfect (?) Ponti and Styles Post-Baby

As you probably already know, I favour natural fibre fabrics. I love linen, cotton, silk, and wool. I hardly ever deviate from these fabrics. Recently in Tessuti however, Lisa drew my eye to their beautiful range of jewel-toned ponti knits. My goodness they were lovely.

I wasn't sure what I would make (I usually go fabric shopping with a clear purpose, patterns, and list), but I desperately wanted some of this lovely teal-turquoise coloured ponti. Given I was unclear what to make, I bought 1 metre, thinking I would make a pencil skirt if nothing else caught my fancy.

That is what I made. I used the skirt portion from BurdaStyle's Melissa dress (which is the knit version of the Jenny dress):

I cut the size 36, and tapered in an additional 0.5cm on the sides for a firmer fit. By the end of yesterday the skirt had stretched out a fair bit, so I may have been better to cut the 34. 

I think I like the way it looks, but I really am not used to wearing firm fitting skirts. This question annoys Michael no end, but do you think I'm a bit lumpy for this style? Having a baby has changed my body, making me unsure of what suits me sometimes.

I just realised how worn-out my tights are!

So, that's my 1 metre ponti skirt! I love the bright colours that are very popular at the moment. I've got a few more finished projects up my sleeve that I'm going to get photographed this weekend - hopefully I'll be able to post one soon.