Another Ottobre 02/2013-14 summer frock

I have finished my "proper" version of this dress.  I made my trial version and details are in my previous post here.   

There was some changes I decided I needed and they were to:

• narrow the shoulder width a little 

• adjust the back for swayback.  

and I am pleased that my changes worked.  Particularly the sway back as I haven't done it too often.  The waistline seam made it easy to do.  I just took about 1.5cm height at the centre back seam along the waist seam of both the back bodice and skirt pieces tapering to nothing before the side seam.  The green arrows point to my alteration.

No fabric pooling in the back

Once again I used a facing and not a lining.  The facing is a combined neckline/armhole one and looks like this cut out. 

Click to see larger

 I was able to follow the instructions pretty much for inserting the lining to sew in the facing.  The only additional steps were to finish the lower edge of the facing (with the overlocker) and tack the bottom of the facing to the side seams (just to help hold it in place).

I wanted to show you my finished invisible zipper.  I was very proud of how the waistline seam matches up after inserting the zip.

I was thinking of making this version an inch or so above my knee but after consultation with my DH, I left the hem at knee height.

Here is a shot of the neckline without a necklace so you can see the shape of it.  A bit different to what you see about.  I quite like it but do cover it with a necklace as I don't believe the black/white is my most flattering colour.  

The fabric is a rayon twill I bought from Tessuti fabrics ages ago.  I think I had planned to make the suzy pants originally.  I obviously changed my mind and now I have a lovely cool summer frock (and a remnant to make another small item).

Ciao kittens - next gift making season is in full swing!

Pattern repeat, repeat, repeat... Tessuti suzy pants

One more pair.  I promise to put the pattern away for a rest now.  Tessuti Suzy pants  are my go to casual woven pants.  Lately our local Spotlight store seems to have had some really nice rayons in stock and I have gone a little crazy making these pants.  However they suit my summer lifestyle.  I only work part time and when I am not working I really like this style as my go-to casual look.  

Nothing much to say.  I think the only alteration I have made is to shorten the leg length slightly.  I have gone up a size since I made my first pair out of khaki green silk, to a medium and if t helps you I am pretty much a size 12 in Aus RTW.

My only other comment to make would be that I prefer the small prints to larger ones as I look a lot more "hippy" in the larger prints.  However I am too vain to show you the direct front-on shot to prove this.

That won't stop me from wearing these pants though... pyjama comfort, cool for a warm day, too many pluses that win over that minus.

My four photographed iterations so far.  I do have one other pair which were my "muslin" that I wear at home but have really the wrong print for me and are the least flattering in that way.  They still get worn though. 

As a follow up, for those interested.  The skort I showed previously (here) had the issue of the shorts leg rolling up and shifting.  I did add the gripper elastic as per Jen L's comment (thanks Jen L!).  I took the measurement of the elastic length from where the pants hit across my thigh and sewed them in a circle, ensured they were comfortable and then unpicked the hem on the shorts, cut the hem allowance off and then sewed the elastic to the hem so that when flipped to the inside the "grippy" was facing in to the leg and sewed a 3 step zig zag on the top of the elastic as my new hem.  This is what they ended up looking like.

...and most importantly they worked.  I have never been a big fan of the gripper elastic but as these are custom sized for me, I found them comfortable to work out in and the shorts didn't shift about so much... total win!  If you are looking for gripper elastic search on that or silicone backed elastic.  

And my first photo above has been taken in my backyard in front of the Jacaranda Tree which is in all it's purple glory at the moment so I leave with a full shot of the tree, taken against a grey stormy sky (which we have a lot of at this time of the year).  Ciao kittens...

More holiday snaps.... Tessuti Suzy pants

Another round of holiday snaps.  This time another pair of Tessuti Suzy pants.  The last pair I blogged about here.  Not a lot to say... great, comfy pants that are so easy to wear.

Cape Tribulation National Park

The top is also new.  It was made for the holiday too.  It is from Ottobre 02/2015 #17. 

I made it from a remnant piece of black bamboo knit fabric.  Divine to wear.  Black is not my best colour but I thought it was a good way to use the last little piece of this luxe fabric.  It is a very straight forward pattern.

I followed the instructions provided on a separate page for doing the bindings.  It has a formula to calculate the length of bindings, so I have noted them down for future reference as I do believe I will make more of this nice simple top.

These pants will always remind of this lovely holiday and are now dubbed my cape trib pants.  Ciao kittens one more round of holiday pics and waiting on tenterhooks to see if I make it through to round two of the PR sewing bee. 

Sewing for the warm... Tessuti Suzy pant again

Even though the weather is still cold here, I am going on holiday soon and as we are going North I will need some nice casual clothes suitable for warmer weather.... yay!

So I have been looking around the webs and have been loving seeing casual drapey pants and decided it was time to pull out the Tessuti Suzy pant pattern again.  Last time I made these in a size small and in silk (posted here).  I tried these on as I know my shape has changed a bit since early last year.  Crossfit has ensured my butt is a little more rounded than it used to be!  

The pants fit but the side seam told the story - it pulls to the back at my butt and pulls forward at my thigh and back again toward my calf... so I figured I would try on my original muslin (not blogged) I made in a medium.  Well they fit much better now and fit nicely over the new, improved butt.  So I traced the medium off and made the same one alteration as last time (shortened the leg length by about 1/2") and amazingly found some gorgeous rayon at Spotties on sale.  So a new Tessuti suzy pant was born made....

In.love.with.these.pants.  

 So much so that I went back to Spotties and bought more fabric for a second pair. 

The top is New Look 6150 made in a beautiful knit rayon from The Fabric Store.  I choose my size by looking at the finished bust measurement and using the one that gave me one inch of ease. It is a bit of a fiddly make with the pleats and gathers in a rayon knit, but so worth it!   I had been looking for a top similar to a RTW one I used to own - pictured in this blog post.  I think I have found it and plan to make more of these flattering tops. 

My new fave outfit.... Ciao kittens... more warm weather makes soon...

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...

Tessuti Chloe pants (finally)

I made these pants last year, but have only just managed to get photos for you.  The pattern is the Tessuti Chloe pant and the fabric is a very heavy weight linen bought from The Fabric Store in Brisbane.

I made a size 12 and the alterations were pretty much what I normally do for pants.  Shortened the leg length by about 5", took in the side seams at waist level, scooped the crotch (front & back) and took some fabric off the side seam at thigh level from the back piece only.

The only other change I made to the pattern was to put the zip in the CB seam instead of the side seam.  I have put on weight last year and am hopeful I can get it back off and get back to where I should be, so figured that would make taking them in later easier (hopeful?).

I am petty happy with them and really like wearing them.  

 

My only comment on them is they are very high waisted.  The pattern description states it sits on the high hip... well not for me...  

However brilliant instructions and the finish on the facings is really neat.  I would highly recommend this pattern.  BTW the top is the  Mandy boat tee (pattern also from Tessuti).  Review is here  Ciao kittens - more photos of finished items soon.

Tessuti Eva dress

The Eva dress by Tessuti is not my usual style but I feel like my 'style' is evolving and I am exploring new options lately.

The fabric was bought from Tessuti as well and is one of their recommendations for this dress.  It is called Giolica and is a linen polyamide blend and has a lovely crinkled texture.  I made my dress and used the tip in Sandra's excellent review to spritz the dress with water after after sewing to restore the crinkle.  The picture is after doing this.  I have washed it since and the crinkle is slightly more pronounced.  This makes it a lovely dress - no ironing required!

The dress has been worn to my work Xmas lunch as well as on Xmas Day and was lovely and comfy (no need to loosen the belt after eating!)  I had been thinking though that if I had made it in green, it may have made a good Xmas tree costume...

Anyway a great pattern with wonderfully written  instructions that makes a very easy to wear dress, perfect for an Australian summer!  I still have two pair of pants not blogged about (both Tessuti patterns)... getting the photos is the road block, but life should be a little less busy now that Christmas is over so I hope to show them to you soon... Ciao!

Tessuti - Mandy Boat Neck Tee

Another free download pattern from Tessuti - the Mandy Boat Neck Tee  This pattern seems to be a step ahead of the Fave Top - the pattern can be printed at copy shop or home printer size and (lucky me) has access to a plan printer.  The instructions are also more detailed than the instructions for the Fave top.  

This top uses a lot less fabric than the Fave top but I think I still prefer the Fave top's shape.  However I do believe this top will get lots of rotation through the wardrobe too.

The fabric is a linen jersey bought from The Fabric Store.  The fabric is divine to wear and work with, except after washing it skewed a bit (BTW - the Fabric Store do recommend dry cleaning, but I am too cheap to do that for an everyday wear top) so I had trouble getting the stripes to play nicely.  I mostly got matching except on one shoulder.

A quick sewing fix that gives a casual top with modern styling.  What's not to like?? 

Tessuti - Our Fave Top

I know I am supposed to be sewing for the Mini Wardrobe Contest, but got momentarily distracted to sew another top.  The Tessuti - Our Fave Top - a free download.

This top is not my usual style.  I usually favour more fitted clothing but I keep seeing this top about and decided it was time to try something different.

This is a simple top to make - two pieces - sew seams, hem all openings.   The part that takes the longest is taping all the A4 sheets of paper together. 

... and the biggest surprise is I really like it.  It is a great piece to showcase a bold necklace.

It also is so comfy and easy to wear...

And, yes Sharon, it is wide at the hemline...

Ciao!  Hopefully I can start showing my mini wardrobe pieces soon....