Gabriola 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.

Sewaholic's Gabriola Skirt pattern 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.

I made it from a rayon from Tessuti. The rayon was gorgeous to sew with. Check out that beautiful fluid drape!

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.

Look - no buckling!

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.

Have I mentioned I love this skirt?

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.

Are you going to make the Gabriola? I urge you to!

Rachel De Thames Liberty Saltspring

I'm trying to start a tradition of sewing Little M and I a Christmas dress each year from Liberty of London Lawn. So far, I'm doing well, however I was thwarted this year by Sydney's horrible weather on Christmas day.

You see, a Saltspring is not really a freezing, wet, sticky-day kind of dress. Luckily we've had some beautiful weather here in Melbourne (I know, I'm shocked too) that has given me ample opportunity to wear my short Saltspring.

I was going to make the maxi version again but Leith convinced me the short version is more wearable and versatile. I have to agree - it is much easier to just knock around in this short version.

I don't have much to say from my last review, except I made the size 8, lengthened the skirt by 8cm and it was a joy to sew. I hand-stitched the hem, used Lara's fancy tool to turn the straps, and thoroughly enjoyed putting this together.

The fabric is Rachel De Thames from Liberty - I got it from Shaukat, and I mostly got it because it was named Rachel. I really love the print too - just thought it was cool that there was a Liberty print with my name in it - and spelt the same way!

After wearing my maxi version around a bit, I ended up buying a bandeau bra to wear with this version. It is a simple soft cloth bra that is just like a band. It doesn't offer any support but gives a bit of coverage.

I've been wearing this a lot to play with Little M - we're all on holidays at home together and it is so nice. We've just been pottering around, going on bike rides, napping, eating, and visiting friends. I have another week off, and Michael two more weeks off with our tiny lass. Happy times indeed. 

Sew Nice I Made it Twice: A Liberty Cambie

I'm totally on fire with my blog post titles aren't I?

I actually made this Cambie not long after I made my last one. I like to strike while the iron's hot. I haven't gotten around to posting about it because I haven't really worn it - for some reason when I initially wore it I didn't like the way the fabric colours went with my skin tone. But today I got over that.

I made this one in the Liberty print called Wiltshire. I think paired with solid, dark accessories it is okay on me. It is not quite as vibrant as I had thought when purchasing it.

Onto the pattern .... nothing new to add from my original one. Here is a recap of the alterations I had to make:

• I started with a size 8 bodice, but ended up taking it in about 1.2cm on each side.
• I pinched about 1cm out of the middle of the sweetheart neckline.
• I shortened the straps by 1.5cm, tapering to 2cm at the bodice.
• I took 1.5cm out of each back piece from the top - tapering to nothing at the bottom.
• I shortened the bodice by 3cm.

Things I really like about this version include the pockets. Very useful for my work ID and keys. 

The back sits nice and flat, as does the front of the bodice.

So... a non-blogged item sees the light of day! I am glad I dragged this out today. It was comfy and made me feel nice. Wearing Liberty was a much needed event after my Washi dress on Saturday :-) 

I'll leave you with this final photo. I asked Michael for more direction for posing for blog photos. He told me to think of seahorses. 20 points if you can identify which movie he was referencing - one of my all-time favourites for a good snorting laugh!! 

Saltspring

I am a total sucker for a maxi dress. I think it is because I love summer. I love the heat, I love to sweat a little, I love being outdoors and not feeling cooped up inside. This winter, Melbourne is my arch nemesis. I feel as though we are having the worst winter I've yet to experience. It probably isn't helped by the fact I had a sinus operation and then have caught a cold that won't go away, but this Melbourne winter sucks. Windy, rainy, cold..... blah. Bring on summer!

Luckily next week Little M and I are heading to Brisbane, my home town. Michael is off to Germany for a conference and us girls are going to see my family and take advantage of the beautiful 28 degree days Brissie is having.

In preparation for this, I've sewed a few summery things for us both. First off the rank to show you is Sewaholic's Saltspring Dress.

I really need a pedicure. My feet have been enclosed in shoes for too long!

Look at that little pup in the background!

I sewed this in a size 8 with the only alteration being adding 3cm to the length of the skirt. I omitted the zip, and that was that. Hello Saltspring.

This dress comes together very easily. As other reviews have noted, the genius element of this dress is that the bodice lining pieces are shorter than the outer, so the blousing effect happens naturally. I love it. I only wore it to take the pics this morning, but I sat and had morning tea in it (albeit with a fleece jacket over the top!) with Little M and it was extremely comfortable. I think it gives a nice silhouette - what do you think? Maybe a little pregnancy-suspcious from the side? I'm not in case you're wondering!

The other thing I love about this dress is the pockets. That, to me, is genius. Pockets in a maxi dress.

The fabric is a light to medium weight cotton from the Alannah Hill warehouse that I got on a whim with no specific purpose in mind a while back. It was $6/m and was a joy to sew. I wish I'd gotten more.

I can see this dress getting a lot of wear come the warmer months here. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to sew a Liberty version as my Christmas dress. I've gotten the Tiny Dancer print from the current collection for Little M's Christmas dress - she is going to look insanely gorgeous!!!!

Pattern: Sewaholic's Saltspring Dress
Fabric: 3m cotton from the Alannah Hill Warehouse
Notions: none
Size: 8
Alterations: lengthened skirt by 3cm, omitted zip.

Italian Cambie: The 3rd (and final!) Sydney Sewing Social Frock

Here is my third and final frock that I sewed for the Sydney Sewing Social - my Sewaholic Cambie Dress, sewn in some lovely cotton Sateen Michael bought for me on his last work trip to Italy. What a man!

Must learn not to slouch. Have started doing pilates exercises at night to combat this.

I'm slightly worried this type of sleeve/shoulder strap makes me look like a gridiron player. What do you think?

I wore this on the third day - the Sunday. Leith and I went touring a bit. We went to Adriano Zumbo's patisserie cafe for breakfast, had a gander at a market where we bought our kids some sunnies, went to look at the harbour bridge and the Opera House and then had a vietnamese salad for lunch. Then it was time to go home!

But back to the Cambie. I had to make a lot of alterations, so I'm glad I made a muslin. This is what I did:

• I started with the size 8 bodice, but ended up taking it in about 1.2 cm on each side. 
• I pinched about 1cm out of the middle of the sweetheart neckline - I did this by creating a tiny dart, and then cut the piece as one whole piece - so not half on the fold. 
• I shortened the straps at the shoulder seam by 1.5cm and then where the straps meet the bodice by 2cm - but only on the inside edge, not the side edge. I just tapered to nothing about halfway along the strap. 
• I took 1.5cm out of each back piece from the top - tapering to nothing at the bottom. 
• I shortened the bodice by 3cm. In its original length it didn't hit my natural waist - it was way below it and just didn't look very flattering. 

A lot of adjustments! But I have to say it is a great easy-wearing dress that I feel comfortable wearing as an every-day dress. I've also made a Liberty one (pics coming soon) that I love the fit of, but am worried the fabric makes me look a wee bit washed out. 

I've had a bit of a break from sewing maniacally since our Sydney trip. Still been sewing a bit but not really feeling enthusiastic or motivated. Then this morning I was thinking about my planned projects and realised I've got tonnes to do - mostly because I've promised my sis a dress for her birthday in March and am sewing Little M a single bed quilt for her birthday in April. Plus I've got the Sewcie Tea dress to do and I want to enter the Tessuti Competition. Better get my skates on! 

Lovely Liberty Christmas Ladies!

Merry belated Christmas and New Year!

We have been in Brisbane visiting my family and arrived back on the 30th of December. It was a whirlwind week, filled with eating, playing, drinking, nursing my new little niece and swimming.

And getting dressed up in new Liberty frocks! Well, for me and Little M anyway. I sewed us both a party frock made from Liberty Tana Lawn. Such lovely fabric. First, my frock:

I made the Sewaholic Lonsdale dress in blue 'Mitsi' Liberty Lawn. I made a muslin of the bodice only - and I'm glad I did as I had to make the following alterations:

• I started with a size 8 for the bodice but ended up using a size 6, grading to an 8 for the waistband (damn you stomach after childbirth!).
• I pinched out about 2.5cm of fabric vertically from the front bodice. To do this I created a vertical dart, starting with the 2.5cm at the side, tapering to nothing at the CF. 
• I used a size 8 skirt - and didn't have to lengthen it! 
• I also used the largest size for the tie lengths. I'm tall and wanted plenty of tie to get a bow out of. 

I have to wear a strapless bra with this dress, which I'm not crazy about, but apart from that, I am in love with my Lonsdale. It is so comfy to wear and I feel very feminine in it. And it goes perfectly with my new green Funkis clogs:

Now for Little M's frock. I used the 'Poppy' Liberty lawn. Isn't it gorgeous? I sewed a size 2 of Simplicity 1890, a Project Runway pattern. I decided to go with sleeves as we were in sunny hot Queensland and I didn't want those beautiful arms to get burnt. The size 2 is a smidgeon big, but at least that means she'll get more wear out of it! This dress was simple to make - princess seams and very easy to set-in sleeves. Also quick as the pieces are so tiny! I'd recommend.

She's wearing little Saltwater sandals with it - isn't she gorgeous?

She has recently taken to wearing a bangle (bracelet) or two everywhere she goes .... so stylish!!

I had a good break from sewing, but am now champing to get started again on a few things, especially as Leith and I have now booked our flights for our Sydney sewing trip! We'll be there on the weekend of February 8th. Who will be around to join us for a spot of shopping and champers?