... and Vogue 9112 goes to...

Mae!  Please contact me via my email address on the side bar so I can get your new pattern posted to you.  I used the very scientific pull a piece of paper out of a hat type draw.   I hope you like it. 

And so this blog post has some pics I will give you some sneaky peaks of my next two makes.  It is Vogue 1179, now OOP but I have been wanting to try it for awhile and managed to snag one on eBay for a reasonable price.

The first one in a teal jersey...

... and obviously I like it as I made a second one in a largish geometric print I have had sitting in the stash for years.  Finally a pattern to suit it...

Once I wear them (road test them) and get some "proper" photos I will give you the full deets on the making of them.  Ciao kittens, thanks for playing along...

Stepping out of the comfort zone... Vogue 9112

I have been eyeing off Vogue 9112 for awhile and watching peoples makes around the interwebs.  I like the collar, the loose styling and the quirky piecing details but wasn't sure about the bell like effect if made in a firmer weave.  So in my quest for cool, loose dresses for summer, I though I should give it a shot.

I found a lovely rayon crepe (I think?) from The Fabric Store in Brisbane.  It is a good weight and a lovely drape but I wasn't sure how it would all go together.

My biggest hassle with the pattern was the sizing.  Using bust size I should be a large going by the sizing chart.  However I know enough about Vogue sizing that I bought the Xsmall-Small-Medium pattern size.  I then checked the finished bust size on the pattern piece and was still scratching my head about what size to choose.  The small would have been too snug at the bust but the medium had way more ease at the bust than I thought I needed.  I was a bit stuck.  They define Medium as a size 12-14 but it is obviously aimed right at the 14 and I think a 12 would have been the size I need (and the one I generally have made in Vogue patterns previously). 

I didn't want to make a muslin so I did the good old Palmer Pletsch tissue fit.  Taped the armholes and pinned the 2 front pieces and two back pieces together.  It seemed to fit alright across the bust but looked way too wide at the shoulders (particularly on the back armholes).  So I adjusted the pattern pieces for that by taking some width out of the armhole front and back.  I did have that thought that I find tissue fitting often gives a false impression of size, and it may be too big still, but at least it was within cooee of getting a reasonable fit.

So I cut out the gazillion pieces which took forever and got stuck into it.  The sewing is quite fun as it is like sewing puzzle pieces together.  If you make this dress watch you mark all the match points and keep your pattern pieces out as there are so many of them you will miss some!

The front and the backs are pieced and then sewed together at shoulder and side seams.  I tried it on for size at this point and I did need to take it in at the bust.  So I ran it in from the armhole to about the first notch.

My next challenge was the collar.  My fabric was not going to work in this collar but I had cut it anyway as I like the collar and thought it would be a bit plain without it.  It would not hold the height of the collar with the drape in my fabric and also the wrong side would show.  So I sewed the tucks in as per the pattern and pinned the collar to the dress, whereupon it pretty much collapsed as I expected it would.  So after a bit of head scratching I simply folded the collar RS together (folding along the length of it) and sewed the collar ends.  I then flipped it out and pressed, basted the raw edges together and attached the collar as per the instructions.  However I could not see the need to use the facing so I overlocked the seam together , pressed the seam toward the body and stitched it down.

My collar now is basically half the height of the collar but I like it as the higher collar probably would not have suited me as my neck is not very long.

So I am pretty happy with the outcome and think I will get a bit of wear out of this dress.  I don't think I will ever make another one though as it is quite distinctive.  So I want to pass the pattern on to someone.  If anyone in Australia (sorry not willing to pay for OS postage) wants it please let me know in the comments.  The pattern is cut at the Medium but I have tried to keep all the lines.  I have also narrowed the shoulder (taken width off at the armholes) a bit on the pattern pieces.  If  more than one person expresses interest I will do a draw.  I would like to mail it next week, so let me know by Monday 11th Jan if you are interested.  

My review is here.

One more pic to show the breezy nature of this rayon fabric...

Ciao kittens, please let me know if you are interested in having this pattern.  I am in de-clutter mode and would love to pass it on to someone rather than have it sit here in a box gathering dust.

pattern Pyramid... we have a winner...

... and the winner of the draw is Deadlycraft.  If you could send me an email at the email addy on my sidebar with your address details I will be happy to send the patterns off asap! 

And so to include a few pictures ... I have started my decorating for Xmas.  I am going very simple this year...

And my latest sewing WIP...

I have to finish the other side seam and hem this but have got horrible wrinkles in the silk yoru chiffon in the side seam.

I think it may be to do with the fact that I have used a textured fabric with a bias cut pattern.  I am going to have a go to see if further persuasive pressing helps or whether I need to rip the seam out and try again (last option).  If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them.... Ciao!

Odds & sods... including more on pattern Pyramid

I have not done much in my sewing studio lately but have sewn two more little Nicole Mallaileu zippered purses.  The patterns are now available as downloads and I would recommend them as they give great detail on the sewing of these purses.

I have threaded a ribbon onto the zip pull of one and I like that idea as it makes it easier to find the zip pull.  One of these is going to be a gift and I think I will keep one for myself as they are very useful little bags.  All the fabric has come from stash and the zips have been purchased at op shops or the bargain bin at a local fabric store... so not much cost involved.

In my last post about the pattern pyramid I said I would add a pattern to the parcel and this is the pattern I have chosen as I have two of them and it is multi-sized so great for anyone who would like to use it. 

So if you would like to be part of the pattern pyramid fun you have until the end of the 30th November to leave a comment on this post.   I am happy to send this to anywhere so don't be shy!

Back soon (hopefully) with my Big 0 Birthday dress.... Ciao! 

Pattern Pyramid Giveaway!

I have been lucky enough to be part of the Pattern Pyramid that is going around sewing blogland.  I won my parcel from Funnygrrl at Falling Through Your Clothes.  The parcel finally turned up - it must have been on the really slow boat, but it is finally here, so now I can host my own giveaway!

This is the parcel that turned up, including a beautiful card from Funnygrrl.

And these are the individual patterns in the parcel...

A Simplicity jumper or top - cute 1970's styling that still does have the embroidery transfer in the pattern.

Very Easy Vogue - I think a '90's pattern (could be wrong) - cute tucks at the sleeve heads.

Vogue doll pattern, which looks like it contains some cut out pieces in skin-tone fabric - ready to go...

and finally Sew News top - set of dolman sleeved blouses.

The rules of the giveaway are:

Anyone, anywhere can enter by leaving a comment on this post by the end of November 30th but you must have an active blog.

I will randomly select one winner, and post them the collection of patterns along with hand woven labels  to be sewn into anything made from one of these patterns (these didn't arrive with the parcel so won't be part of this giveaway).The winner will then pick one pattern to keep for themselves, then host their own giveaway. They will randomly select a winner, post the remaining patterns to Person A.Person A will pick a pattern for themselves, host their own giveaway and post the remaining patterns to the winner, Person B. Person B will do the same and so on until there is a last pattern winner.For more information, including details of the charity supported by the very generous donor of the patterns, please see Karen’s post and the code for the Pattern Pyramid button.

I am not letting on at this stage as to which pattern I will keep.  Do you know me well enough to hazard a guess in your comment? Plus I am thinking I may add one extra pattern (yet to be chosen).

OK - best of luck everyone, I hope we can keep the fun moving around the sewing world!