Category: Sewing Adventures

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Rebuilding a wardrobe, thoughts on starting

While we are in temporary accommodation I’m without any kind of sewing machines and post fire I own about 5 paper patterns (my digital patterns survived) and my stash has been severely reduced. Additionally I have only about a small suitcase worth of clothes left. A few dresses, my jeans, 3 tops some underwear and some sportswear and that’s about it.

All of which adds up to the fact I get to remake an entire wardrobe with virtually no restrictions. Normally I just make whatever I want to or to fill a gap but now it’s a whole new thing.

So far in my planning I’ve set myself 2 kind of goals
use as much of my stash as I want to, there will be no more saving fabrics “for good”.
Try and make more of my own patterns and as an extension of this be more daring with styles and trends

While we’ve been moving around Sydney in various suburbs and locations I’ve indulged in lots of people watching. I’m noticing what styles I like on other people and then analyzing why I like them? Fabric, fit, style, fashionability etc etc. It’s been fun and I’ve snapped pics of more than a few commuters trying to capture a detail or a fabric I really like.

I think my next step will be going and trying on lots of stuff. I’ve been avoiding that so far as I’m still swollen and lopsided from surgery (its reducing though very slowly). Once that’s down a bit more I’m going to set aside a day and just go and see what I can find. I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised and will certainly be taking many a change room selfie to record what does and doesn’t work.

It’s going to be an interesting challenge building an entirely new wardrobe, I’m hoping I will end up with some pieces I’ll really treasure. If anyone can suggest any good blogs, books or articles I’d be keen to read them and see what else I can learn from the whole experience.

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Sewing Adventures: another lingerie set

Not content with giving my friend one matching set of lingerie I thought I’d add another not quite a set to her parcel.

After the success of sewing the Delphine thong I decided to try another one, this time in a soft stretch lace and without the additional back coverage.

The lace from Pitt Trading is so lovely to work with but was so soft that the very end of the plate on my sewing machine was catching ever so slightly as it went though.

A quick fix was to use some wide washi tape to cover the plate and hey presto! Snag free sewing.

I really I thought the thong would pair perfectly with a plain black satin bra but as I was running out of time to get it finished in I cheated a little. In my teaching bag I often have samples of pieces that are not quite finished so I can show students diffferent steps along the way. A bit of a rummage through the bag and I found this black lace triangle that only needed a little bit of finishing off.

Together they make a nice not quite matching set.

Pattern: Delphine thong by Ohhh Lulu, my own pattern for the triangle bra

Fabric: Laces from Pitt Trading, elastics and trims from my stash

Alterations: None

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Sewing Adventures: Euler bra and Delphine thong

Recently a friend was lamenting the lack of cool lingerie that covered the tummy and yet still looked youthful. Naturally I knew I could sew a solution and because it was for a friend I knew I’d make her a matching set.

The Euler bra by Sophie Hines was an obvious choice as I’ve made it before and the shape is so modern it automatically makes any set look very contemporary.

It also gave me a good excuse to buy the Delphine high waist thong by Ohhh Lulu  I’d seen it on instagram and liked the shape, plus I thought it would fulfill the covered tummy option my friend wanted.

The Euler went together with no problems at all, I did add a touch of lace trim to the cup seam just to make it match the knickers a little more. The fabric is a sensitive jersey from Pitt Trading. Elastics and trims from my stash.

Delphine was easy to sew once I checked the instructions! I went with the added lace covered back and initially had the thong pinned in the wrong section. That looked odd so I checked the instructions, realised my mistake and once I had it attached in the right place it all went together well. It really is a lovely pattern and I was so pleased with how  they look.

I really like the lace across the back and think its super flattering as well as a great way to use up smaller lace leftovers or splash out on a small amount of a very fancy lace.

Pattern: Euler bra by Sophie Hines and Delphine Thong by Ohhh Lulu

Fabric: burgundy sensitive Lycra from Pitt Trading, lace from Pitt Trading, elastics and trims from my stash

Alterations: added lace to cup seam of Euler Bra

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Sewing Adventures: Kitty Pillowcase of glitter

During August I set myself the task of reducing my To Do pile. Did I succeed? well a little. The pile is still enormous but I managed to get some things done.

One of the things I did get done was to turn this impulse buy of glitter cat fabric from Spotlight into a pillow case. Super simple. Just measured the width of a current pillow case. Did a snip and tore the fabric, fold in half right sides together, folded back the selvedge edges to create the envelope style end fold and went up the sides using my overlocker.

Simple, easy effective. Would be perfect for presents and using up fabric leftovers.

So basically a speedy make full of WIN. Except it isn’t.

It’s like the pillow equivalent of a magnet for cat hair. It seems to pull all the cat hair from all over the apartment and is routinely covered with really big tumble weed style balls of fur. It’s terrible. It’s so gritty and awful. Definitely in the wrong fabric for it’s purpose category. Learn from my mistakes and don’t use this one for pillows, it may look cute but soon it will be as fuzzy as the cat!

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Sewing Adventures: Sashiko Panels

Having started doing Sashiko stitching earlier in the year, I find that I want to keep doing more. I picked up some pre printed panels from etsy and BeBe Bold.


Having them pre printed feels like cheating and then you realise just how wonderful it is to have them pre printed. It’s so easy and means you can just follow along. So simple and so enjoyable.

Perfect for when you feel like doing something but don’t actually have time or brain power to do anything complicated. I did plenty of these while I was just out of hospital.

So far I’ve just completed the stitching on the panels, I want to turn them into something useful but as yet haven’t decided what? Am slightly concerned that I should’ve stitched through both layers but couldn’t find out if that was I was meant to do or not? Suggestions welcome.

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Sewing Adventures: Running Sloths

This top has been in the to do pile for at least 2 years? Possibly longer. I ordered the sloths when I got some pandas (you can see the pandas made up here).
Originally I had planned them as running tops and the pandas work ok but the fabric just isn’t good enough for summer running. So I’ve found that it makes it into the rotation for walks, weights and being on the bike trainer (like spin class but you get to use your own bike).

The sloths have been just waiting for the hemming to be done since the day after the pandas were made. Earlier in the year when I had planned to get a coverstitch machine this was going to be first thing I did. Then the getting of a coverstitch turned into a debacle and once again the sloths got set aside.

During my month of getting stuff done, I got my new Prym jersey twin needle, threaded it up and spent about 15 minutes finishing it off. Am so glad I did. Not only is it finished it also makes a nice addition to my current work out wear (current work outs consisting of walking or bike trainer, not allowed to do anything else yet). I still feel (and look!) quite swollen so I know these photos are in no way flattering but they are an accurate reflection of where I’m currently at.

The twin needle works like a dream. Perfect stitching and just glides over the fabric with not a care in the world. I’ll certainly be putting it through it’s paces on all kinds of knit projects from now on. Speaking of dreams, how lovely is my running view?

Overall I’m enjoying the sloths, much like the pandas I feel like the scale is too big and creates a kiddy type look as opposed to a cool print look. The fabric is fine for activities that don’t create huge amounts of sweat but the face of the fabric is quite easily affected. I already have more than one pull in the fabric from it snagging on a pin, my nails or general no rough useage.

Pattern: Women’s Racer Back Singlet from the Measure Twice Cut Once Basics range
Fabric: Activewear jersey from Spoonflower
Alterations: lengthened, graded out 2 sizes from Bust to Hem.

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Sewing Adventures: Peak To Do

I’ve reached peak “to do”. As a lover of lists and eternally trying to be organized, when I’m working on a project I pack up all the relevant details and pop them into a zip lock bag. Then they go into the “to do” box.

In theory this works fine. In a year of stress, lack of time and an apartment tiny in space it actually leads to not one, not two but three to do boxes.

This is quite a lot of projects that are partially started and never finished. Not only is this terribly wasteful it takes up way too much space.

So I’m declaring August as my personal project month. My aim is to get as many of my partially projects finished as I can. Just grab a zip lock bag of goodies and go!

Additionally I’m going to try and not start anything new. Hopefully by the end of the month I have lots of finished projects and my sewing area looks less like the aftermath of a horrendous wind storm than it currently does.

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Sewing Adventures: The Betty Blouse

In my head the outfit was to be a simple pair of elastic waist pants and a boxy top. The fate of the pants you know about in the Simplicity pants of mehness, the boxy top is an entirely other story and a much nicer one at that.


I wanted a simple boxy top and immediately thought one of my Japanese pattern books would have just the thing. In taking them off the shelf I came across The Betty Blouse. A free pattern with Simply Sewing magazine and it was just what I needed. Loose, extended sleeve and just the sweetest detail of front pin tucking.


I measured up the pattern pieces chose a size and decided to grade out the hips just a little to give myself more room.
In looking for fabric it was deja vu as I was looking deep into the stash but got distracted with a recent addition of this Lisette lawn. I’d picked it up at a half price sale at the fabric cave.
Within moments I had the pattern onto the fabric and was cutting out with reckless abandon…and reckless it was. My fabric wasn’t quite long enough. Some shifting around and I could make the top but it would just be shorter than planned.


Pintucks, side seam, neck binding, sleeve hem and body hem made it an incredibly fast make that when finished looks like it takes far more time than it did. The pintuck detail elevates it from boring basic to interesting basic.
Cutting it shorter due to lack of fabric would normally be an issue but here is where I’m grateful to be a short sewer as it’s actually an ok length on me. Here I am wearing it with a scarf to cover up the drainage pump I had for a bit after surgery.


Pattern: The Betty Blouse
Fabric: Lisette Lawn from The Fabric Cave
Alterations: shortened to fit onto available Fabric, graded out at hips a little. Would make again

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Sewing Adventures: Lisette B6169 dress in floaty rayon

As you’ve probably gathered a lot of my recent makes and crafts have all been based around either being in hospital or post surgery. Before I went to hospital it was fairly stressful so I made a list of what would be needed. Pajamas, robes, outfits for post hospital and crafts to do while recovering. This planning and sewing kept me busy and was a great help in keeping me calm.
Now that I have time to blog about it, it’s feeling a little ALL about the hospital/surgery. I didn’t have time or inclination beforehand to make anything new that wasn’t going to be useful and now post surgery I can’t yet cut out or sew. Blogging these pieces and explaining the reasoning behind them is just like the rest of my wardrobe, garments made with a purpose. Hopefully it’s interesting to read and may help anyone else needing to go to hospital and wanting to make their own wardrobe to take with them?


When I bought this rayon at Spotlight I had entirely different plans for it. Ideas of floaty scrappy summer dresses were flitting through my mind. Fast forward through a few months of endless doctor visits for me and for The Englishman with his broken shoulder, the fabric was still sitting there and summer was rapidly on its way out.
I wanted a light loose dress for post surgery. The reasoning being that the weight of the garment couldn’t be felt on my skin and that plenty of room would make it comfortable.


This was all going through my mind when I spotted this Lisette B6169 pattern in a bundle going cheap at Pitt Trading. They don’t usually carry patterns and this was part of a sale lot so it seemed good fortune that it came my way.


Cutting out the pattern the pattern shapes looked incredibly straight, there was no difference from bust to waist or waist to hip. This seemed out of the ordinary so I googled the pattern looking for reviews. While the pattern is incredibly popular it seems everyone has made the jacket. I couldn’t find a single review on the dress.
I did some measuring, shortened the dress to be more appropriate for my height and added in some extra ease. I basically drew out approx 3 cm from the edge of each hem then angled the new line up to approximately the waist. It was incredibly slap dash which is not my normal approach, I didn’t even toile but cut straight into my good fabric.
The pattern itself is a bit of a fabric eater and I had to add in some extra seams in the back yoke to make it work. The fact that my fabric was a directional print certainly didn’t help.’
Once cut it was a really easy pattern to put together, the only thing I made a mistake in cutting the neck band and it’s too long and doesn’t sit flat. Every time I put it on, I think ‘ I must fix that” but it’s yet to happen.


It’s not the kind of style I generally wear, it’s almost cocoon like in its shape with a high low hem. All things I tend to avoid. However it looks not too bad and it’s doing it’s intended job of a loose comfortable dress post surgery perfectly.
I wore it to the hospital and then again on my way home. Here I am at the elevators on my way out.

 

I’ve got a drainage pump attached at this point and the dress was loose enough to pull on over the whole thing which was wonderful.

Here it is back at Spotlight, was grabbing selfies for Me Made May.

Pattern: Lisette B6169
Fabric: Rayon from Spotlight, it’s still available just be sure to pre wash and realize it is a directional print.
Alterations: shortened for my height, extra width added hem to waistline (approximately). I cut the largest sizes in the body and the size 12 yokes.

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Sewing Adventures: Hello embroidery my old friend

There was a time in my life when I would do a form of embroidery every day. I did big multi month pieces and always had a piece to work on.
Over time I got out of the habit and yet it was not replaced with something of substance. Endless scrolling for inspiration on my phone oddly left no inspiration and at nights end I had achieved nothing.


So this year I decided I was going to do more. I started with some sashiko pieces and kept fairly busy but now with weeks of enforced slowing down and beautiful wonderful time with zero pressure to do anything I have found an old friend. The meditative friend of embroidery.
I had lots of pieces pre planned for the time but an unplanned one has brought possibly the most inspiration?


While I was in hospital I was lucky to have some visitors one of whom was Maria aka Velosewer. She utterly spoiled me with a bouquet of flower chocolates, an array of magazines and yummy donuts! Such treats.
The issues of the New Yorker and Frankie Mag were shared through the whole ward but I kept my issue of Mollie Makes as it had the sweetest embroidery kit attached.


This simple Scandi floral hoop was an absolute joy to stitch and I love the colour palette.
After such enjoyment I’ve rediscovered my embroidery stash and will be adding more projects to my ever growing to do list. The advantage here is that these can be done while watching tv and will replace the endless scrolling.


And this simple embroidery? Am going to tuck in all the excess fabric, add a circle of calico to  neaten the back and hang it above my desk as a constant source on inspiration.

Pattern: Scandi Florals Hoop Kit from Mollie Makes

Alterations: none

Fabric: included in the kit