15/07/2013

Lady Skater Pattern Tour

S.E.W.N.

Even if I was a little slow to cotton onto the fact that a ‘skater dress’ is an actual type of dress, here it is…the Lady Skater! When I first saw Kitschy Coo’s Lady Skater dress pattern doing the rounds, I’m sure it was like ‘Oh yeah, Skater hey, cute name’. But it was only when it came time to make my Lady Skater for the tour, that I did a Pinterest search for ‘skater dress’ (hoping to see some finished versions of the actual pattern) and discovered all of it’s long lost ‘Skater’ cousins from different department stores. It was a skater-fest of all sorts and I was tempted to take this pattern somewhere wild and dangerous but then I remembered it’s winter and time for mooching around being cosy and understated.

I knew I would probably like the Lady Skater, I just didn’t know I would love it this much! Let me explain, I feel like Lady Skater is the dress equivilent of the girl next door. Friendly, unassuming, says hello over the fence…that sort of kid. She’s no statement piece and that’s exactly why we love her. A simple knit dress with fitted bodice, flared skirt and options for cap, 3/4 or long sleeves. Being more in the pencil skirt camp and not having worn this style before, I wasn’t sure how I’d like it or if it would suit. So I made a safe winter version to go with boots and tights and scarves. That was a week ago and since then it’s been worn to work, out to dinner, on the plane, to school pick up and everything in between. There was not the usual fuss over whether to go a print or a solid because lately I’ve been noticing that the hand-made items I wear the most are the simplest, plainest basics. I love a good print, I won’t lie, but the print v solid ratio is getting out of hand and making for quite an ‘unwearable’ wardrobe. You’ve got to be in the mood for prints and some mornings they swarm at me!

Given the situation I decided the best bet for making a Lady Skater that would get a lot of wear was one in a solid color, something rich and yummy and a good base for accessories. I’m not usually drawn to brown but there I was fondling fabric at work and I noticed this fabric, I’ve never noticed before. A random organic cotton knit with the tiniest bit of lycra, beautiful and soft and exactly the sort of thing you’d like to be draped in winter…a blanket of hot cocoa without the burn. This time I was a good girl and obeyed the sizing charts. I made a size four with a couple of mods: 2-3″ added to skirt length, 1/2″ sheared from bodice length to sit on the waist and sides taken in at waist about 1″ each. I didn’t have any clear elastic in the stash and used regular elastic for the shoulder seams and waist band. Sleeve length is something I mull over probably more than is normal. I always go for 3/4 or just above elbow sleeves, it’s a comfy spot for a sleeve to sit and where cap sleeves cut you off at the widest point in your arm, 3/4 sleeves are universally flattering. These sleeves were meant to be 3/4 but fabric got eaten and now they’re elbow length.

Okay, something that’s making me a little cray cray…after all this time (well not that long) of sewing knits only now I’m having a hemming situation! Until I started sewing leggings and other things that require a neat looking hem but one that also has to stretch over a body part, I would just do two rows of straight stitch at 3.5 (like for kids tees). On the leggings I tried out a twin needle for the hems, which looked nice but now I’m finding the stitches are breaking when they get stretched over an ankle. Currently I am hemming parts that need to be stretched, like these sleeves, with one row of stretch stitch. Which apart from not looking that nice, keeps eating the fabric. So, given the amount of stretch sewing going on these days I’m seriously considering investing in some sort of cover stitch device…any thoughts?

The ultimate test: would I double dip the Skater chip? Why yes, yes I would. I love it and from all accounts a dress that loves your right back. I’d be temped to make another version in the exact same style. Or turn it into a maxi, a peplum top or some amazing peplum pencil dress. A perfect base with endless styling possibilities…I bashed out this infinity scarf in about half an hour to go with my skater, using this tutorial from True Bias. And on the way to this derelict house I accidentally bought this woollen hat…I blame the skater also!

27/06/2013

Upcoming// The Craft Sessions

Newsworthy

Holding onto this news has been like needing to pee really bad for several weeks with no relief! And today I can finally reveal that the BIG something is I will be participating in a special event that’s literally been in the works for a couple of years, The Craft Sessions. Now, retreats of a crafty nature are a little thin on the ground around here. I watch wistfully, nose pressed up against the glass at the parade of blogging meet-ups, sewing retreats and amazing fabric shows overseas. And while I’ve been plotting the when’s and how’s of jumping on a plane to join the festivities, a small force of craftrapreneurial ladies have been dreaming up this exsquisite weekend of crafting and making in the Yarra Valley, outside Melbourne. Throw in some good food, wine, yoga and inspiring company…and you got yourself a retreat!

Here’s the craziest part of all, by participating I mean I’ll be…actually leading a workshop! Alongside this bunch of unimaginably talented ladies, some of whose blog’s I’ve been following since before I even had one: Leslie of Maze and Vale, Melissa of Tiny Happy, Georgie of Tikki Knits and Jules of Woollen flower. Between us we span sewing, embroidery, printing, knitting, patchwork and quilting and we’ve been given the reigns to design and create a weekend’s worth of unforgettable, bespoke workshops in each of our crafts. So, you probably know by now that I won’t be at the head of the knitting workshop but I will most definitely be sharing my love of garment sewing, both for adults and kids and more details of the workshops will be released shortly. Hold tight.

The retreat will be held in late October and registration opens early July. You can keep in touch via the mailing list and / or follow the Facebook page. The Craft Sessions site is a lovely reflection of the whole nature and sentiment of the retreat as one of makers, just making together. Of craft as community! You can read more about how the Craft Sessions came to be, here.

18/06/2013

Cut-out tank + leggings

S.E.W.N.

Hey it’s two-for-one-Tuesday! And I’m sorry but I got no special deals on pizza for you, just two fresh additions to the handmade closet. Presenting my new favourite-ist leggings in the whole wide world and the new Megan Nielsen Crescent blouse. Both pieces were completed before the epic month of May and are conveniently slotting in while I muster the courage to start this Bombshell swimsuit business.

Pattern: Megan Nielsen Crescent blouse

Fabric: A semi sheer Silk cotton with a slightly bigger weave. I doubled the layers for the front and left the back sheer (didn’t get photo oops, just visualize yeah?).

Bits to love: Another beautifully put together pattern. I especially appreciated the finishes around the cut outs and button closures. There’s the option of a collar / collarless version and two variations for the hem length and shape, one is round (I’m assuming like a ‘crescent’?) and the other squared off and tunic length. I kind of surprised myself here by going for a solid color, especially given the scope for mixing prints or color-blocking in this pattern! But sometimes I can be a very Zen sewer and I was thinking along the lines of choosing a fabric that wouldn’t detract from the lines in the blouse. And I also used two self cover buttons in the same fabric to keep everything at one. Namaste.

Urks: The strapless bra situation. It seems it is my quest to unearth a strapless bra that does it’s freakin job! Holds things in place, stays put all day and comfy enough you forget its there. Not much to ask right? Back in the day, when I used to have a decent pair (it’s all relative), I was sure the issue was just that a strapless bra was never going to have the lift of a normal bra, end of story. HowEVER, after retiring from their post as milk factory last year, the boobs just went ‘right that’s us done, we’re out of here’ and shrunk down three whole cups sizes. No complaints, at least now I thought I’d be all over the strapless bra thing. Only, just like it’s predecessors, this one was great in the shop but crept south, was uncomfortable and made weird bra lines through the top. I couldn’t wait to fling it off after these pics (and replace it with a regular bra…straight away in case you were wondering), so a little sadly, until this get sorted, my crescent is not getting much of an airing.

Pattern: Burdastyle Leggings 01/2011

Fabric: Rayon and lycra jersey from here

So, guys, I went back for more leggings. And this pattern is ten times better than the last. Everything that was slightly off about this pair is now lovingly accommodated here. Where the McCalls pattern was a little short in the legs, too shallow from crotch to waist and so on, this one is longer, higher, faster, stronger! The leg length is really spot on. I have longish legs and I like a little bunching at the ankles. They also come up to my ribs and keep my organs warm. So, I love them and really recommend the Burdastyle pattern. But each body to their own. They also feel so much cosier in a soft fabric, as opposed to swim lycra. I was utterly gobsmacked to find this fabric, only the juiciest knit fabric I’ve ever laid eyes on, randomly on Etsy.

Initially I wasn’t going to try and match up the pattern but decided to give it a crack and the effect of the symmetry is kind of cool. I feel like a walking anatomical illustration. Lining up the print was not so hard, there is only one pattern piece for each leg so after I doubled my fabric over before cutting, I used pins to mark little land-marks on the print, making sure the points corresponded on top and bottom layer. Not sure if this is common practice but it worked so well! Right now, I’m wearing these, hmm maybe three times a week and they are starting to fade a little so I’m considering buying more of the fabric (if there even is some) to make a back-up pair. Is that weird? I just never want them to end.

15/06/2013

Bombshell Giveaway Winner

Newsworthy

Thanks for entering the Bombshell pattern and fabric giveaway. I loved reading the comments and judging by the response, the Bombshell has filled a massive void for on-trend swimwear patterns. I’ve used a random number generator to come up with the winner, but can’t quite figure out how to import the actual thingo into the post. It’s late and I’m a techno-no-go tonight, so I’ll just get on with announcing…the winner of the giveaway is no.20, congratulations to… Nele84!

The Sewalong begins this Monday coming and I am really hanging out to see everyone’s versions post Sewalong…because you did realize that by entering the comp you were forever after committed to making a Bombshell?! Excellent, I knew you wouldn’t leave me to strip alone! The pattern is available here and a popular place to gather the other supplies is Sew Sassy. I only just ordered my swim cups and elastic from them after finding a huge black hole in the Australian swimwear notions market. But if you’re running out of time, there are other ways around, you can even rip swim cups out of old bathers from thrift stores like this tester did. And if it’s pretty swimwear fabric you’re still after, this shop ships internationally.

Let’s do this!

13/06/2013

GIVEAWAY! Bombshell Swimsuit Pattern – Closed

Newsworthy

There I was, table cleared, stash at the ready, all set for the big winter sew. And then the Northern Hemisphere swoops in with THIS distraction! A swimsuit pattern. The hot-as, gift-to-women-everywhere, BOMBSHELL swimsuit, by one of my fav adult sewing bloggers Closet Case Files. Here’s the thing. I didn’t test this pattern. I’m not an affiliate. But when I saw this I just had to share! I love swimsuits. I’ve loved them long time. And if I actually did fit into the mould of Aussie surfie chick then that’d explain things. But I’m pasty and scared of sharks. So it’s anyone’s guess.

As for sewing swimsuits, I’ve been wanting to have a go but until now have found nothing remotely inspiring in the way of cute patterns. And to be honest the intimidation factor here is pretty high. I’m not afraid of stretch, I afraid of ruching and maths and weird elastic. And all are involved here, in small quantities, mind you. I’ve glanced over the pattern (one eye squinted shut) and there are a few small calculations involved and plenty of ruching. Which is why it looks damn gorgeous! And all the pattern testers have said that it is A-Ok and easy to follow so I’m sure it’s going to be F.I.N.E. Plus there is going to be an actual Bombshell Sewalong!

If you’ve witnessed the conga of breathtaking bombshells making their debut in the last few days you’d know what I mean by this swimsuit being universally flattering. There’s this stunner by Sallieoh, this gingham beauty by Lladybird and another lovely by Paunnet. Being a bit print happy I was always going to dive for a patterned fabric first but now I’m noticing how classic and beautiful the Bombshell makes up in solid colors. However, if it’s a printed swimwear lycra you covet, my two favorite sources are Tessuti Fabrics (online and ships internationally) and The Fabric Store (accessible by kangaroo only).

I am truly in awe of anyone who puts together something as mind blowing as a hand-made pattern so I wanted to get behind Heather and her Bombshell and celebrate its release with a giveaway…

Up for grabs is one copy of the Bombshell pattern + a piece of this exsquisite swimwear fabric, generously donated by Tessuti Fabrics. Of which there is more available + other beautiful prints, like this beach scene (it said buy me, I said yes). If you’d like to enter, leave a comment or tell me which version you’d make. A winner will be drawn at random, from anywhere in the world and announced on the 16th June. And then I’ll be sprinting to the post-office in the hope that it gets delivered before the Sewalong begins.

So what do you think about them apples? Are you in?