Hot Patterns BoHo-De-Luxe Peasant Tops and other fun stuff..

OK, yes I'm slack, this is still sewing from 2009 only now being blogged about. However it is the only piece left to show for 2009 ... next post we are onto 2010!

I played with this pattern:

This is a 'vintage' pattern from the Hot Patterns website. I made it in a Japanese cotton bought from Gardams in Indooroopilly (Brisbane). I bought it specifically to make this top and it has a very pretty print which I thought would suit this style.

However I think the cotton is not soft enough for this top. The only alteration I made was to shorten the length by about 1 1/2" - still not sure I should be doing this - I think it is because I am a bit uncomfortable with the loose tunic style tops that are un-tucked and long. I think I need to try the full length and try and get used to it.


I used petersham ribbon for the tie. However, even though I like the tie, I find that it is constricting and I cannot lift my arms over my head. So I am thinking that I need to put some elastic in the casing with just the petersham ribbon ends showing. I think then it may be more forgiving. As it stands, it is not comfortable to wear. Review is here.


However, even though this top is not pressing all my buttons I am not giving up on this pattern. I think I will make the 3/4 sleeve variation in a more suitable fabric.

OK - nice segue...??

I have been playing with dye... yum!

I found (half price) a beautiful white crinkle cotton (bright white - not something I can wear) on sale at our local Gardams. I bought it, thinking I would change the colour. I purchased a packet of dye in a colour called 'Pumpkin' from Unique Stitching (good service - highly recommend this website). As the packet does quite a load (more than the fabric I had bought) I added another cuff I had crocheted from a natural cotton thread ....
and also found some bamboo in a buff colour I found I wasn't using because of the nhhh colour...
and this is what I got...


The crinkle cotton would be perfect for this pattern (so would the bamboo... hummmm?) so I plan to give it another shot.

Here is the cuff being modelled by me...


Lots of fun! I wore it today with a mostly brown outfit and then had orange toenail polish on - I thought I looked cute!

McCall's 5931 - photo shoot

Finally got a photo of McCall's 5931, which I first showed you in this post. These photos were taken on holiday at the beach ('holiday' = long week-end full of family stuff...). Excuse the hair, it was after a swim. The big black piece of fuzz is not on the top but only on the photos....

The tie looks nothing like the one on the pattern cover. Apart from that I think the only change was to shorten it slightly.

Not too much of a pregnancy belly look????





I seriously enjoyed making this and was considering making a second one, but I made this in November and haven't worn it yet, so I am thinking maybe it is not my style. However for the short time I wore it for this photo I noticed it is very comfortable and cool to wear so I should wear it I think sometime, but I am not sure a second would be any value.

More photos of new outfits coming soon ... we had a big photo shoot week-end!

BTW, I have broken my review drought and have reviewed this top here - the review has more detail on the construction if you are considering making it.

Answering some questions...

Much sewing, but no photos as yet... hubby is very busy either working or puttering around the house, preparing for our renovation. Hopefully tomorrow.

I have been sewing much. I have had one wadder - I don't usually do this but after cutting and starting to sew, it went in the bin. Normally I finish things before I decide it isn't working for me...lol!

I started Butterick 5352 the Muse dress. However I ordered the pattern in the wrong size. I cut a 14 (based on bust size 36") and then read the pattern to see the finished bust size is 37.5" - in a knit ... hunh? So why did I not buy a size 12 as I have learnt before? I dunno.... Plus the fabric was a cheapie from our local chain fabric store. It was marked as a 'dry knit' (polyester as you would expect). It was so spongy my machine hated it and skipped stitches all the time! So after trying to put the bodice together and sewing it all twice due to the skipped stitches, I tried fitting it and realised it was going too be way too big on my bust. To save heartache I threw it in the bin, without another thought!

I really agree with Lindsay T's post on using fabric you love!

My other close-to-wadder is another version of the HP Marakesh pants. This time in another cheap polyester from said chain store. This stuff does not press - yeech! The first pair in linen-cotton fit beautifully - these, are so different and seem to be too tight! I think it is because there is no give in the fabric. Or otherwise I made some mistake cutting or sewing... anyway not totally unwearable but I have not get the enthusiasm to hem them!

Anyway I have other sewing which has worked beautifully including the Jalie scarf neck top but no photos as yet! I am also nearly finished a variation of the Burda skirt 12-2009-122. I really wanted another denim skirt as I love this one so much so I squeezed another out of the fabric left - without the flounce - looking forward to finishing that one! So today I will use this post to answer a couple of questions...

I am planning to make a cord skirt soon and I also looked at that zipper tute by Sandra Betzina. But it left me with one question: what does she do with the zipper head which she leaves extending beyond the end of the seam? And what did you do with it? I am mystified! Please fill us in on the secret! Ruth

Ruth - the zipper is just cut off at the top. Just make sure the zipper is open and the head is on the pant , not the part you cut off. Then when you sew the waistband on, that acts as your zipper stop.

Elizabeth001au said...

I have one question regarding your December Burda issue. I live in Melbourne and subscribe to Burda through the Australian importer (in Sydney, and I am still only up to the October issue!! How did you manage to get your hands on the December issue so soon??
Appreciate any tips on this!
Thanks,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth - order the Burda magazine directly from Burda in Germany. It is much cheaper than isubscribe and you get the current month (not always a bonus as it is the wrong season!) There are threads on patternreview.com that discuss how to do this. I filled in the form, when a letter came from Germany a few months later, I filled out my credit card details and faxed it. Eventually a magazine turned up!

Sharon said...

Love your fabrics and will have to visit this shop next time I visit DS.
Where did you buy your chain for the Chanel Jacket? This is the last piece I need.

Sharon - sorry I didn't answer this earlier - it is probably too late now (sorry!). But to answer your question, the last lot of chain I bought from the Stitches & Craft Show from a jewellery stand. The first lot I purchased through Felicity of For Frock's Sake. HTH!

OK - photos next time, I promise...

Hot Patterns Wong-Singh-Jones Marrakesh Pants

Hi all - I have had quite a break from blogging, but I'm baaaack!

I have sewn a few items before and after the New Year that I haven't got photos of as yet so I will try and catch up with some of them soon.

One of the items I made still from 2009 (hemmed New Year's Day) are the Hot Patterns Wong-Singh-Jones Marrakesh Pants.


They are made from a cotton-linen blend bought from Sckaf's fabrics at Indooroopilly (Brisbane). I wasn't super happy with the linen pants I made earlier as they stretched out so much on wearing so I thought trying a blend would be interesting. I think they hold their shape better and because their is a tie in the waist of these pants they don't feel loose after wearing.

I love these pants - here is a photo showing the pocket - they lie so flat!


Beware - white tummy shot! The fly went in really well - notice I managed to match the stripes in the plaid - very happy about that!




There has been some controversy on the boards over at Pattern Review.com about the crotch draft. However I didn't have big issues with it. It does make me reluctant to do a review, though. I have not had time to do a review for ages and some of the comments made on this board have really left me with a sour taste and I wonder if it is worth bothering.

I didn't get a shot of the back, but believe me they fit really well. I have made a second pair (not hemmed yet) so will try and get the back shot of that one to show you how well they fit.

I love these pants - a lovely relaxed style that has pockets that sit flat and a nice fit. I also quite liked their fly instructions. I did make a 'test' fly first in some muslin to make sure I understood them before trying it in the real thing. That gave me the confidence to follow their instructions.

Anyhoo, I didn't get all the photos I wanted yet of the items I have made, but I thought I would break my blogging drought with these shots I managed to get before I went out the other day wearing my new duds!

PS - what do you think of the plaid in the fabric - I am a bit worried I look like I should be on a golf course but I thought they would read as brown from a distance...

Hopefully back soon with more piccies...

Burda Style 12-2009-122 skirt - photo shoot

The skirt is finished :) and the beach holiday is over :(

I am really happy with the skirt - happier than I look in this photo!

Here is the front closer up - you do get a fish-tail look from the front as the flounce starts from the front and the denim does hold it out, but I think the corduroy they suggest would do the same - at least it does in their picture.

Back of the skirt...
With the flounce and the pockets on an angle, I think it gives a nice curvy shape - I need all the help I can get!

The only changes I made were to leave off the welt pockets on the front and to use the Sandra Betzina fly tutorial and then I bodgied adding a fly shield. I need to perfect that and will try Mary Nanna's tutorial next time.

Dawn has also made this skirt and posted photos here. It is similar with the flounce, but Dawn has added weights to minimise the fishtail look.

I used a quilting cotton for the inside waistband. My top stitching went beautifully until this point but you can see some wonky stitching on the inside here.
Well, I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and New Year! I hope to have time to sew (like real, bulk time) in the new year so I plan to post more successful (*!!??) sewing then!

Burda Style 12-2009-122 skirt - a work in progress

I have finished the McCalls top from my last post but have just washed it, so have no photos to show as yet.

I decided I desperately need more casual clothes, so first up, a denim skirt was in order. I had some denim at home bought to make jeans but I really would use a skirt more right now so decided to use it for that instead. I have a piece left which I am thinking may make a good slouchy bag.

The pattern I chose was from this month's Burda Style (bwof) 12-2009-122. There are some lovely items in this issue and I thought this skirt looked a bit of fun.


There's was made with a pin-waled corduroy, but because of the styling I though it would be lovely in denim too.

From the magazine - 'This short skirt of comfortable pin-waled corduroy sports jeans styling with flat-felled seams, slanted front pockets, and seat pockets. A semi-circular panel set into the back adds shape and room to move. '

I have not finished it but felt I made good progress today. Next week-end I hope I get time to finish it as I will be on holiday at the beach the week after that and really want to take it with me.

I have yet to finish the top stitching of the back flounce seam (ran out of top-stitch thread - I hope I can get this same thread, as I have had it in my cupboard awhile). I also need to add the waistband and stitch the hem.

Here is the front (I think it fits me better than Diana)...


I used the fly instructions from Threads by Sandra Betzina. I have never really made a fly I was happy with so I thought these instructions are great and I am adding the link to my sidebar so I can find it easily again. I did make a trial first to work it out as I also wanted to add a shield as the zip is a metal one and I don't want to pinch skin!

Side front....

I didn't add the welt pockets to the front. Because I am on a time-line I decided to leave them off. I was also concerned the fabric was a tad too heavy and would show pocket lines when I went to press it.

back...
and side-back


Once the top stitching is done on the flounce seam it will be a really cute feature I think.

I am away in Brisbane this week on a training course and so hope to finish this next week-end and maybe I will show a photo shoot of my new McCall's tunic and this skirt taken at the beautiful beach resort we are going to for our holiday.

Have a good week....

McCalls 5931 - a teaser

I have had a few days of sewing this month. One of which was on last Thursday at our local neighbourhood group meeting of the Darling Gowns (part of the Australian Sewing Guild). We have a lovely group of ladies who have only been meeting for a few months, but we have lots of fun when we get together. I have been working on McCall's 5931 described as ' Empire waist peasant tops'.

I made a muslin and found a few issues which I will detail in another post, but this is the top so far - it still needs a zip and to be hemmed...

I am really happy with it so far - I think it looks better in real life, than it looks in this photo so hopefully when it is finished and I do the photo shoot you will think so also. The fabric is an olive crinkle cotton bought from Gorgeous Fabrics. It is just perfect for this pattern. The pattern has been enjoyable to make as it has a lot of interesting construction. I have hand basted heaps but find with all the gathering it helps make it come together successfully with less un-picking.

Once it is completed, if I still love it as much, I am considering making it from a silk I bought while in Melbourne. Is it too distinctive to have another one? The silk is a soft tan/brown with a small scale print in it. It is in the first photo in this post the left-most piece. (I can't re-post the photo as I am not on my own computer at the moment). So what do you think .. is it worth considering making two of these?