New Look 6097... urban jungle dress

About a month ago I made another New Look 6097.  I was wearing my first version (see it here) the other day and thinking again what a great pattern this is.  It really is my go-to dress and even though I have put on a little weight the fabric and style is forgiving enough that I can still wear it and not be uncomfortable.  

I had always planned to make version A and had the perfect fabric in my cupboard.  A gorgeous jersey called urban jungle queen jersey bought from Gorgeous Fabrics a few yeas ago and waiting for the right project.

I haven't worn the dress yet as it is too warm still, but when my DH found his camera remote, we thought we should try it out and it gave me an opportunity to take photos of my dress.

I need to remember to take lots of photos as this stiff photo was one of the best.

I have been told the flash shadow is not good so it is something we need to work on, but I am hoping that learning how to use his camera by myself will help me get photos on my blog more efficiently.

Pockets too..

The cuff detail - I did have to hand sew the cuff to hold it but this is suggested in the pattern instructions if your fabric is very soft and drapey.

The back shot for completeness...

My original review is here and I still agree with what I said the first time.

Lulu has taken to sleeping in my sewing room - mainly on my chair but I have put a lovely woolly cushion in there for her and sometimes , by mistake, she sleeps on it... at Diana's feet/foot?...

Ciao for now!

Tania cutlottes

I have finished my Tania culottes from Megan Nielsen patterns.  I had been seeing a few nice versions of this pattern around the web, but when I got my new bike I was spurred to make my own version.

I made mine 20cm longer (instructions in the pattern to do this).This meant that it was a real fabric gobbler so it took me a while to source a fabric that would have the right drape and cost to make a trial of this pattern.  I eventually found fabric at the Lincraft sale.  It is called a rayon acetate gingham and is not wide (about 112cm) and I bought 4m and used about 2.8m to make this skirt.

A link to my review is here, but basically it is a great pattern.  Choose your size according to waist size as there is plenty of room for hips.  The instructions are reasonably detailed.  About the only part which is assumed knowledge is inserting the zip but exact placement is specified.   My only suggestion to anyone is to mark front and back pieces well as there are no notches or anything to help you differentiate them.

A really comfy bike riding skirt...

My only extra was to add a tab inside the waistband.  This makes the skirt easier to zip up as you can close the tab to hold the top of the zip together while you do it up and it adds that extra bit of sturdiness.

As I lengthened the skirt, it looks just like a full skirt when out and about so I felt quite comfortable to stop in town for a coffee, check out the hot rods on show in the main  street...

and the First Coat artwork...

I am entering this one in the Pattern Review New to Me pattern Co. contest.  A bit of fun and good timing as I bought the pattern just after I got my bike but took awhile to source some fabric.  Ciao for now...

Fehrtrade XYT tops

I have got some photos of my xyt tops.  I made a muslin initially shown in this post at the start of the year.  I never got to wear it to gym as it was way short on me but I did like the top otherwise. I ordered some supplex and when it arrived I made two more tops - the y-back and the t-back.

I like this pattern and the instructions are very good, particularly the elastic lengths and instructions for finishing the openings.  Note though that I used zig-zag and not twin needle to finish mine as I have never had much success twin-needle stitching over elastic.

The part of the pattern a lot of others rave about is the built in compression bra.  I could not get this bra to work for me.  I made the bra to size and found it was so tight when I tried it on I had to use scissors to get out of it.  It didn't help it was summer here and a slight haze of perspiration from wrestling with getting into the top, meant it wasn't coming off for anyone!

I made a second version with a large fba, increased the elastic length and sewed it into the original muslin I made.  The armholes skewed and pulled horribly and the compression was still too much for me.  I wear crop top style bras to gym and have not found them to compress as much as this bra does.  Maybe I am just not used to the style?  Also I believe as an old girl (with soft tissue) the compression is extreme and not at all flattering or comfortable.

Please don't let me put anyone off this - I do think the instructions are good and well thought out, but it is in the category "did not work for me".  It may work for you particularly if you are a small cup size and young! 

I decided I still liked the top style but gave up on the bra and bought some new ones from my fave gym wear shop Lululemon.

So onto pics...

The same fabric as the Kwik sew top from Runners Fabrics.  I love this fabric!  Stitching just hides in the space dye look too.  Both of these tops have been lengthened by 3 inches but no other changes made.

The y-back...

The Lululemon flow y crop is covered really well by this back.

The next version I made the t-back in a gorgeous kelly green.  This fabric is lovely but doesn't hide the stitches as well as the space dyed.  Maybe I didn't colour match the thread well enough - green is a tough colour to match.

Showing the back detail on Diana.

The top of the "t" didn't come out as well as I would have liked.  I made the triple strap to reflect the bra I wear it with (the Energy bra) and  I used this tutorial to sew tidy covered elastic straps for the three vertical straps.

So truly I like this pattern but the built in bra did not work for me.  I would still like to make more of these tops.  I might try altering the front neckline to change it up and I might look at lowering the back/ underarm line as I think it would sit in a more flattering way on me.

Review is here and I will be back with one more piece soon.... Ciao!

Tessuti Suzy Pant

As an interruption to my posts on active wear, I wanted to post some pictures of the Tessuti Suzy pants.  I made these last year and love them but have only just managed to get  a photo.

This pair is in a beautiful khaki silk crepe de chine bought from Tessuti as well.

I don't seem to have noted any changes I made.  From memory I believe the only real change was to shorten the leg length.

I made a wearable toile before cutting into my silk.  I made the toile in a snakeskin rayon bought at Lincraft.  I love wearing them and they are my every week-end pant as they are comfortable as I made my toile one size larger and put the pockets in.  I didn't add the pockets to the silk pair as I wanted to keep the lines smooth.  

On the day of the photos I wore these pants to a barbeque.  I wore them a few days later out to lunch with a sewing GF.  I wore them a few times at the end of last year to evening functions. Very versatile and comfy to wear.  Light as air in the silk I feel I need to check I have remembered to put my pants on!

I love my silk pants and plan to make more...

Ciao for now... Fehr trade XYT tops next...