Best Bits of the Blogs

I've been up to my neck in work the past two weeks with nine more days to go of ridiculous deadlines. That has meant very little sewing time. I have managed to unpick my crescent skirt back to the waistband. But I have still been reading the blogs and here are my picks for articles this week.

Not completely sewing related but very related to me and working from home right now. Gertie from the Newblogforbettersewing has started working from home and has been contemplating fashion for her new lifestyle.

Sunni from A Fashionable Stitch, the artist formerly known as the Cupcake Goddess, has just finished a beginners sewalong for the new Colette A-line skirt, Ginger. There are heaps of tips and articles from other bloggers such as Tasia from Sewaholic, Gertie from the newblogforbettersewing, Sarai from Colette Patterns and Casey from Elegant Musings.

And if you're a Glee fan, pop on over to What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear? to check out the voting for most popular Emma Pillsbury outfit. I personally loved the Fantastic Field Skirt and the navy and white floral Kate Spade Josie dress teamed with the teal cardigan and coral accessories.

Source: google.com.au via Jane on Pinterest

Source: chiconthecheap.tumblr.com via Jane on Pinterest

Amazing Dress

Source: styleofa20something.blogspot.com via Jane on Pinterest

Sewing Spaces

We've moved into a new rental but this is a NICE rental and I'm hoping we can stay here for at least 3-5 years. The GREAT thing about this new place is it has formal and informal dining rooms. Hello? Who needs two dining room? So the informal dining room is going to be my....drum roll...sewing room and home office!! Yippee. At the moment we're just unpacking boxes but here are some inspirational photos for a new sewing space/home office.

Source: chaletgirl.wordpress.com via Jane on Pinterest

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via Jane on Pinterest

Source: nicolehill.blogspot.com via Jane on Pinterest

Source: mygrowinghome.com via Jane on Pinterest

Moving House!!

We're moving tomorrow. Ugh! So much to do. But there *may* be a chance of having a dedicated sewing space in the new place. Very exciting!

Vintage Patterns!

I'm not supposed to be buying more patterns or fabric but I fell in love with this...

Source: flickr.com via Jane on Pinterest

And found it on ebay along with 2 other patterns from the same designer.

Work overtakes sewing

I'm ITCHING to sew but alas (or I guess fortunately) I have a mountain of freelance work on at the moment which runs into the next month. So I'm guessing finished garment posts will be few and far between. What's new??

Source: None via Jane on Pinterest

Body Image: The Androgynous Male

While sewing my Crescent Skirt, a pattern designed by Tasia the Sewaholic for Pear-shaped women (like me)...I've been thinking about body types. Today this picture came to my attention in the Age newspaper:

What sort of woman's body type is that? Well, it actually isn't, it's a man's body with his hair and make-up done to resemble a woman. The article is here.

It has created a bit of a furore with Barnes and Noble and Borders stores requesting that the magazine be displayed inside an opaque sleeve.

A magazine cover featuring groundbreaking Melbourne model Andrej Pejic has been deemed too racy for magazine stands in the US because the gender-bending "Broady boy" is bare-chested and looks too feminine.

I wasn't confused by his torso ie. is that a barechested woman -- I think it is obviously a man so I don't think his torso is risque at all. It doesn't bother me that a guy struts the catwalk dressed as a woman. He calls it an 'art form'.

I think I am bothered, however, that a guy can easily blend in with women on the cat walk because of the issues it raises about realistic body types for women.

Now, there are women that have naturally low body fat and a very angular frame. I certainly don't think we should be saying "No to Zero" because some women are naturally a zero.

Charlize Theron, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellwegger and Michelle Williams are amongst the most famous “inverted triangles”. You have broad shoulders, narrow hips, slender limbs, a straight waist, flat bottom and varying bust line. You are a rare breed and the least common body type found amongst women – the “pretty pear” being the most common female body type. It is interesting that it was your unique body type that was chosen to represent clothing best on the catwalk from about the 1960’s onwards. Twiggy started off this trend! (http://youlookfab.com/2006/05/22/the-statuesque-inverted-triangle/) I'm not so sure Michelle Williams is an inverted triangle -- or statuesque. Think they were confusing her with someone else?

But it isn't the average body type and I think having men displaying women's clothing just perpetuates the myth that most women should be androgynous.

Crescent Skirt Sewalong: WADDER

Ok, so in keeping with my aims to improve my skill and learn more about 'fitting' I embarked on the Sewaholic Crescent Sewalong. I chose this particular sewalong for several reasons:

1) I am a classic pear-shape and Tasia designs for the pear. Sweet.
2) I am breast-feeding so dresses are kind of no-go in terms of access and also my boobs will shrink in the next 6 months.
3)Tasia knows what she's doing so I KNEW I would learn stuff.

Now, I tried to follow everything to the letter. I tried to not take any short-cuts despite my time-poorness. I made a muslin of the yoke and sewed VERY CAREFULLY. Ok, confession. I didn't sew a muslin of the whole skirt or insert the zipper which I probably should have, but the size 14 fit me to perfection. I think my waist measurement was about 1/2" larger than the measurement on the pattern but I am using a stretch denim so I thought firmer was better. I fitted the yoke firmly, taking in a full seam allowance where the zipper should be. The fit was firm but not pulling and the side seams were bang on my hips.

I pre-washed my fabric, I pressed and tried not to pull as I 'ironed'. I carefully measured the exact seam allowance and had a sticky marker to make sure I kept to it. When I did the French seams I measure again to make sure I was doing 1/4" (not that that effected the yoke at all.)

Today I skipped ahead a little and sewed in the zipper. When I tried the skirt on (I haven't clipped the seam of the yoke and facing or hemmed it) it was TOO BIG. Not a little bit but about 2 inches too big. WHAT DID I DO WRONG.

After cursing a lot, I remeasured my waist and it appears I have lost 2 inches off my waist in one month. Ok, so either I really did or I mismeasured. I should have made a whole size down.

What can I do to rescue my WADDER?!?

Eyelet Inspiration

I saw a gorgeous eyelet dress ages ago and have been lusting after one of my own ever since. I bought some eyelet fabric from Lindcraft but it isn't in my preferred colour -- it was just that I hadn't seen anything quite right. Then Gertie from the Blog for Better Sewing posted about a gorgeous eyelet dress AND a source for a stunning red eyelet fabric.

Source: blogforbettersewing.com via Jane on Pinterest

My mind went into over drive and I came up with this:

Source: mccallpattern.mccall.com via Jane on Pinterest

Again, an out of print pattern. What is wrong with me?? But I have been lucky so far and managed to get this one again from ebay.

Here is the fabric Gertie posted from Mood Fabrics.

Source: moodfabrics.com via Jane on Pinterest

Some other eyelet love:

http://www.neimanmarcus.com

Love this Marc Jacobs top, and the high waist poplin shorts! (Looks better with long legs I'm sure). It is a top with a coordinating cami. The top reminds me of Colette patterns Sencha blouse.

Source: colettepatterns.com via Jane on Pinterest

Blazer styling

Source: polyvore.com via Jane on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Jane on Pinterest

My plan is still to sew a blazer in navy with cream trim. I saw some great styling ideas for a blazer (Stella McCartney blazer).