Saturday, April 28, 2012

Very exciting news: Gertie's book is available for pre-order. I discovered Gertie's blog Blogforbettersewing a while back and she has just avalanched as every sewing girl's muse, girl crush, teacher, confidante...Go order it!! Go on!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

It's actually pretty funny that my last post was about my grand plans for sewing and then the wheels completely fell off of my life and rolled down the hill!

The other funny thing about my lack of sewing productivity is that despite not completing any projects recently, I have still added to my fabric stash and lined up future projects at the rate I would if I was prolific!

Currently nearing completion though is a dress made from some Liberty Lawn my husband procured for me while in London in January. I asked him to pick me up so Liberty fabric, thinking he might pop into a fabric store and buy some but he went all out and went to the main store, took photos and brought me home two 2 yard pieces.



He does very well picking fabric for me although he tends to choose colours in the purple, blue, brown, gold colourways whereas I would gravitate towards greens, reds, pinks...But I don't complain!!

Do you have 'cutting-into-nice-fabric-phobia'? I do -- badly. I sweat over the choosing just the right pattern and preparing the fabric and cutting into it...Often I end up sewing with my crappy sale fabrics and leaving the good fabrics languishing in the stash! I decided I needed to bite the bullet and get stuck into sewing with some Liberty Lawn straightaway.

I chose this pattern to use the Strawberry Thief fabric:





I am just sewing in the sleeves and you know...I don't think it was the best pattern to use the Liberty Lawn for. FRACK IT. The lawn is too crisp and the sleeves kind of stick out. I think this dress needed a fabric with a softer drape. But it's ok I guess. I just knew this would happen if I used some of my good fabric!!




Saturday, January 14, 2012

2012 - Plans

It's easy to make plans for sewing, but even easier to be distracted by whims and spur-of-moment inspirations along the way. But it is nice to start out with some sort of plan. My goals for sewing since 2009 have been to improve my skills and to work on fitting. So my sewing goals are not always driven by what I need in my wardrobe but also by what I want to learn or improve on.

Jackets:
Last year I had jackets in my sights, but none of them became reality. So in 2012 I am determined to work on jackets in particular a navy linen blazer and a grey/blue wool short coat.

 

Since I made my plans for jackets/coats, sewaholic (Canadian) has released a new pattern for a jacket, the minoru. I wasn't all that fussed by it as our climate doesn't really call for weather-proof, hooded jackets. But then I saw JuliaBobbin's version and I was sold. My husband also just brought back some lovely tweed wool from Hong Kong and it is screaming to be made into a trench type coat. I certainly don't need that much outerwear so I have some decisions to make.

Overlocker:
In 2011, I learned just about every option for finishing a seam for people without an overlocker (serger). The problem is...I do own an overlocker. It sits sadly in the corner of my sewing room, unused. I believe I have it threaded properly but the tension is all out and I gave up trying to perfect it. I bought it second-hand a couple of years ago so I'm sure it needs a service. One aim this year is to get my overlocker in working order.


Handbag:
I made my current nappy bag at the last minute and from stash fabric and it has served me very well! I'd like to try my hand at making a more sophisticated handbag. I'd like something that looks a bit Kate Spade-ish and I have my eye on this fabric and pattern.





Knit Fabric:
I'd like to conquer my fear of sewing with knit fabric!

Other projects:

I have two more Burdastyle A-line skirts planned - one in a beautiful wool from Tessuti
I am about to start on my Peony dress (Colette patterns) in a vibrant blue stretch sateen.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

2011 overview

I don't make New Year's Resolutions but I like to set some goals for myself particularly in sewing. Looking back over 2011 I am pretty pleased with what I achieved, sewing-wise.

Firsts:

I worked on seam-finishing as I am always unhappy with just zig-zagging. I tried bound seams, pinked, and french seams for the first time in 2011.
I spent more time making muslins and trying to get a better fit.
I participated in two sewalongs both with Sewaholic -- the crescent skirt and the Lonsdale dress
I went to Tessuti for the first time!
I acquired my mother's sewing machine.
I tried shirring for the first time.
I completed my first burdastyle pattern.
I used my blind-hem foot for the first time!

My wishlist for sewing is always much bigger than time allows but I did get some of my wishlist ticked off. I set some goals for the Colette Spring Palette Challenge and knew that it would be a Spring/Summer challenge. I finished 3 out of 6 -- the crescent skirt, pendrell blouse and lonsdale dress. Technically Summer is still here so I have time to still get more done! I have the peony pattern ready to go. I did actually make a muslin for the shirt dress but the fit was all wrong so I abandoned it.

Way back in May 2011 I bought a pattern and fabric to make an eyelet shift dress and I have finally finished it! Photos to come.

I had grand plans to make a few jackets but this didn't come off.

I did a little sewing for kids -- I made a skirt and jacket for Miss Six and I made a skirt for two of my nieces for Christmas.



Thursday, January 5, 2012

Tessuti Sale

I had the immense pleasure to be spoiled with a trip to Tessuti on the first day of its sale. They have 10%-50% off most fabrics. I usually can't afford to shop at Tessuti but the fabrics are so worth the money, if you have it. I managed to pick up one metre of black with a white flecked dot wool for 30% off. I'm going to make a Winter weight A-line skirt. I only needed one metre which cost me $40. I have the pattern. So I will get a pure wool skirt for under $50. That's not bad huh. I bought a couple of other more basic fabrics -- one was 30% off and the other 10%. It was REALLY hard to narrow down my choices.