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!

WIP... finished ... Burda 7579 Jacket

I haven't been blogging but I have been sewing.  A project that has taken me weeks to finish.  It is Burda 7579, the jacket.  I started this jacket in Winter 2010 and never finished it.  Since we had the renovation the next year, it didn't come out of the cupboard.  This winter I have been busy sewing, meaning to finish this jacket and I have ... finally... now the weather is warming up again!

I am not going to say a lot about this jacket and will put the details in the review.  The jacket is made from wool purchased at Bargain Box in Ipswich and lined with a silk charmeuse purchased from Gorgeousfabrics.com.  I think I had planned to make a blouse, but the print was too busy for me so I decided it would make a perfect lining.  The buttons were the hardest part to source and I eventually found the ones I wanted at Sckafs in Brisbane.  I really love the buttons!

Lots of piccies for you...

First on Diana...

Then on me...

With the vagaries of photographing black... my pants are black but have come up brown in these photos???

Some details...

and of course, my sewing helper assisting me...

Ciao kittens! 

2012... when did that start?

My blogging has been more and more infrequent lately, so I thank you readers who have stuck with me through these breaks.  I don't think I will be doing a 2011 recap as I still have some 2011 sewing to show you.  

These are some shots of my finished McCalls 6116, which I showed you last post.

McCalls 6116

Photos were taken in December when we went to Brisbane for a night away and entertained ourselves by visiting the Matisse exhibition in the Art Gallery.

On the Brisbane River

The dress made in linen wore very well on a warm summer day and I am extremely pleased with the fit.  I had hoped to show you a back shot to show my broad back alteration, but the photographer did not quite understand my request and the photo is mainly of the back of my head and shoulders - not exactly what I wanted - you will just have to take my word for it that it worked really well.

Other sewing from last year I have not blogged about is the Strawberry bag from the Burdastyle website.I made these as some little gifts for some of the women in my family.  I recommend this pattern if you you are looking for something like this.  The best thing is I used all fabrics I had in my stash.  Quilting cottons for the strawberry and a poly-cotton for the main bag  (not shown open - sorry!)  The only thing I had to purchase was the toggles.  They have been very attractively photographed here by my photographer in our strawberry patch.

Strawberry bag

Also in 2011, I crocheted an amineko cat.  I bought the pattern in Lincraft but the pattern is available for free on Ravelry.  Don't know why I crocheted this cat - but I love it!

Animeko

I also love my Lulubelle - pictured here, stalking the garden on Xmas Day.

Lulubelle

I have one more dress to show you that I made in 2011.  Hope to get back to you soon... Ciao!

Another one of the top 10 made.. Simplicity 2599

I was so excited to finish this top, I have done the thing I don't normally do - the mirror self-portrait!

This is Simplicity 2599.  This top is also another one of the top 10 patterns of 2010.  If you read my blog, you may know that I have set the challenge to make all top 10 outfits (a follower I am!)

 

This version is my trial version made in a polyester chiffon (yoru?) which cost all of $5 m and seemed perfect for this top.  It is Version B with cap sleeves and vertical ruffles.

I was concerned when I first tried it on after inserting sleeves that it would be too tight across the shoulders.  I need to get a photo of the back and try wearing it for a day to see how it goes on that score.

  As you can see, it fits Diana very well across the back, but my shoulders are a little broader.

 

This is a great little top.  It has different cup sizes and I am the b-cup as my high bust is very similar to my full bust (that's those pecs I have worked on so hard ;) )

Even with the cup sizes I found I had to go down a few sizes as the ease is massive in this top.  I am a 34" bust which corresponds to a size 12 but it had something like 5 1/2" ease across the bust - too much for me.  I went down to the size 8, which has 3" ease.  

The other things I did were to leave off the button closure at the back as it slipped on very easily without this, so even though I think it looks cute, I know I will never undo the button.

I also left off the facing and used rayon seam binding to finish the neck edge.  I did as others have done with this too and used a roll-edge hem to finish the ruffle edge. 

The only tip (which I hope will work through the wash!) is that the ruffles are attached with two rows of stitching 3mm apart and the edge is raw.  As this fabric ravels terribly, I made the second row of stitching a narrow zigzag and then trimmed close to the stitching.  I am hoping that it will keep it tidy as well as hold it through washing.  I used my duck-bill scissors to trim the excess fabric.  I love these scissors - you don't want to be cutting a hole in your top at this stage!

Lulu was my sewing helper today and as you can see gave my top the seal of approval...

 

I am now washing my very expensive piece of silk to make another version of this cute top... Ciao!

Another pair of pants Burdastyle 04-2011-117 again

I made my first pair of Burda 04-21011-117 in this post.  They were essentially a wearable muslin, and they work so I made another pair.  This time in a wool tweed from Gorgeous Fabrics.    I wear these pants a lot as they are warm and comfortable. 

These photos are taken after a day at work so please excuse wrinkles.

The obligatory back shot.  I do get some wrinkles, but am not sure it means anything.  Anyone better at fitting pants please chime in!

The pocket I forgot to show last time.  This time I used a rayon lining fabric to make the pocket bag and the pocket has no 'line' that shows through.

The petersham waistband.  This is easy to apply and comfortable to wear but it does assume you wear tops over the top (not tucked).

Overall a good pattern, if you like the narrow leg style.  I do believe I need to make one adjustment if I make these again - a front muscular thigh adjustment, which basically splits the front pattern and adds some width at the thigh.  It does feel like it pulls a little here and I will be interested to see how it affects pair no 3. when  (if) I get around to making them.  Review link is here.

Parting shot ... Lulu inspecting the work done in the new kitchen...

Hot Patterns Weekender Sunshine Top ... with embellishment!

My last summery top for this season. I chose to make the Hot Patterns Weekender Sunshine top in the shorter length and sleeveless.

The fabric I used is a beautiful rayon jersey bought from Bargain Box in Ipswich in July last year. I decided to embellish it after seeing this top in the window at Jacqui E.


After watching the videos that HP produced on the top and on embellishment, I decided to use rolleau and buttons covered in self-fabric instead of beads. This photo shows the detail - you can see the metal shine on some of these buttons, but it is only the flash that has caused that - they do not shine normally!

Trudy from Hot Patterns describes this top as suiting everyone, whether you have a small or a large bust and I think she is right!

I am really happy with how this top turned out and am only sorry that the weather is cooling off and I may not get a chance to wear it much until next Summer (maybe I should try it layered - could work??)

Link to my review here.

And as a parting shot(s), I have now got laundry benches in my new laundry but they have strange marks all over them...

Oh that's why...

Questions & answers

I have had some questions lately so thought I should answer them as best I can in this post.

My post on Simplicity 2451 skirts had the following queries:

Imaan said...

Looks like a great pattern Sue! Very nice. I have a question about the facing on the second skirt, which you did with the rayon tape. Is that the same as Petersham? And if so, where did you buy it? Is it available in Australia, or did you source it from O/S?

Imaan - it is not the same as Petersham, it is much lighter in weight and not woven in the same way. I bought mine from this ebay seller. It is called Hug Snug. Belinda is the one who got me interested in using Rayon tape and who recommended this seller to me.

Gail said...

I love the grey skirt. Do you know where I can buy some of that hand top stitching measuring tape? Also the tab for the invisible is a great innovation - Could you do a tutorial?

Gail, I received that tape as a gift in my quilting days. I would try quilt shops. Good luck! On the tab, you can get more info and piccies on how it is done in this post. I have this on my side bar under 'My skirt sewing tips'. HTH!

Julia said...

these skirts look great on you! Has Queensland dried out yet?

The water has gone but the clean-up continues. Sadly I think there is still about 3 people missing locally and they are continuing the search for them.

From the post on the Ottobre Katherine top:

Sewingelle said...

love, love, love these tops! Green suits you too.

Did you finish the edges of the ruffles or just let them curl under?

I considered leaving the edges un-finished, but the instructions say to roll-hem the edges, so I used it as an opportunity to make better friends with my Overlocker (we have an un-easy, volatile relationship). Leaving the edges raw would be cute, but the roll-edge gives you the opportunity to use a contrast thread or perhaps a shiny thread to add some more interest to the top.

and from the review on patternreview.com (not sure that o3b will see this, but I thought others may have wondered the same):

o3b said...
I love your tops. I can see the results of your other pasttime love - fitness. You look fabulous in both of them. Did you do an alternate neckline shape on the floral one?

The neckline does look slightly different in each top but it is the same. I think the different fabrics used has affected how the neckline sits.

And on the post on the Navy dress:

Carol said...

What, no picture of the dress styled with stationery? Only yesterday I styled my low wrap-front dress with a large red paperclip. Perhaps we can start a new trend? Navy is a nice colour on you. I always avoid it because it reminds me of uniforms, but I'm seeing so much of it these days I might have to make something navy.

Carol - I thought about showing the fold-back clip in the photo, but mine was a very dull black!

I also had some comments on the review about trying elastic on the neck edge. I do think this would help, but I am reluctant to un-pick two rows of stitching in dark navy jersey fabric, so will not be trying it on this version.

I also had some suggestions to try it with necklaces and those people will be very happy to know that they totally enabled me to go shopping at the Elk website - love the new necklaces, but I haven't tried them with the dress yet!

I have done some more sewing, finishing my Hot Patterns Sunshiner top and will try and get a photo this week-end. I am also moving onto Autumn sewing as the weather is definitely cooling down. First up are a few pieces to wear at home - comfortable & cute (I so hope!)

And so this post has a photo... who needs a cushion when you have a dog to lean on?

McCall's 5978

Had to do a quick post to show that I am still alive and occasionally sewing. I have just finished McCalls 5978. I will post a full review and more pictures when my DH is home and able to take them for me. (He is visiting his Mum who had another strange turn and is on hospital again - she is getting better but the Doctors don't know what is going on, oh and it is a 2 1/2 hour drive away!)

I love this cardi - it is made from a beautiful organic black cotton knit (which was quite expensive) and I found really cute buttons (which were also expensive), so I obviously do not sew to save money! And to throw some more money away, I have lost a button (or two as I thought I bought one more than I needed). I suspect the cat has eaten them as I couldn't possible have absent-mindedly placed them somewhere I can't find them...

Here is a photo on Diana (sans one button - more buttons are in the mail!)

And this is the button thief (or the one blamed for it anyway), sitting in a Spotlight bag (our chain fabric/craft store).

Spotlight bag ... 60 cents, cat's happiness ... priceless!

To ruffle or not to ruffle?

I love my first McCall's 5522 so I am making another one.

I am making it in a lovely quality cotton with a black spot which was white but I dyed ecru to take the edge of the white.

I decided on the long sleeve (as opposed to the full 3/4 sleeve), with no collar (collar stand only) and a ruffle. This is the bodice assembled with the ruffle basted on and one sleeve roughly pinned on. I have made a rolled hem on the edge of the ruffle in black.

I was concerned the long sleeve would look too much with the spotty fabric but, now I am wondering if the ruffle is a little Poiret the clown. You need to take into account the button band will break it up a bit but I need some help before I proceed. Is it too much, should I take the ruffle off now to ally heartbreak (and a lot of unpicking) later? Any and all comments welcomed (apart from maybe scary clown references...)

Parting shot - Can you pick the odd one out of my cat ornament collection?

Simple sewing and more frustrations!

I was happy to receive the email from Gorgeous Fabrics regarding their silk sale with the thought to use the silk to make your Mum a simple scarf. I printed out the instructions, but I wasn't able to purchase from GF as there would not have been time for the order to arrive as I wanted it for this week-end when we visited my parents. So I found a lovely pieces of silk chiffon (?) from the remnant bin at Gardams. The fabric is one that had one colour woven one way and another the other - green, blue so it has a lovely shimmer to it. If you can tell me what that is called, I would be grateful as I have been racking my brain to try and remember!

The instructions call for a rolled hem on the overlocker (serger) and to continue my run of bad luck with the OL, of course when I changed it over to do a rolled hem the chaining stopped and has not returned. Less than a month ago, the same thing happened when I started the mini-wardrobe contest and the machine was serviced fully and I was told it was OK to go! However there is obviously a bigger problem with this machine as it loses the ability to chain as soon as it is changed to a rolled hem... *frustration* ...the machine is packed up ready to go back to the shop (again!).

So to cut a long story short I ended up looking up how to hand sew a rolled hem and that is what I did. It took hours!

I am trying to look at it in a positive light as at least I learned a new skill! Here is the best photo of the hem that I could get.


After visiting with my parents, I had a free afternoon so wanted to accomplish something on the sewing front, so I have made some jammie pants to wear on the cool nights we are getting.

I used Burda wof 11-2009-131. I would love to make a pair in silk but decided to try the pattern first in good old cuddly flannelette. I don't think you need to see these on me - they look like pyjama bottoms (believe me)!

I think I must have misunderstood the instructions though as my ties are about twice as long as I think they should be (misunderstand BWOF instructions - never!)

Another hem shot - I used one of my fancy stitches on my Bernina for fun! The colour is not showing true here. It is the colour shown in the above photo.

Lulu missed us while we were away overnight at my parents place so has been very helpful this afternoon.
I bought some ivory coloured knit fabric when I got the flannelette so I think I will make a little t-shirt to complete my night-time ensemble. After I have worn these I will make a decision as whether I make some from silk (maybe I should check if that silk sale is still happening at GF!)

Mini Wardrobe - Vogue 2980 top

I have finished two items out of the four for the mini wardrobe contest. One is reviewed and photographed. The camera battery died before I could get the photos of the second item.

So my review of the Sandra Betzina top is here. I won't repeat all the details here but the summary is that I love the top and SB's tips on using Steam a Seam lite 2 really help to make great twin-needled hems!



Without any further chat - the top modelled by Diana...

Here the arm is pinned out of the way so you can see the pleats in the 'bolero'.

And a sneak peek of the skirt with the Hot patterns skirt which will be photographed and reviewed next.

I will be putting up photos of the outfits on me when I get all the items made.

And now onto gratuitous photos of my pets - my two animals found the sleeping bag I had washed and left on the futon so it would be out of the way until I got the bag washed (I didn't think anyone used this area at the moment)...