Yarn fun... Francis Revisted, Dory and more...

I have rediscovered my love of yarn craft.  I have always loved crochet and did knit a little (badly) when younger.  Now with the advent of youtube and Craftsy I am improving my knitting and doing more crochet as well.

These are some items I have been making over the last few months.  My biggest project so far ... my purple sweater.  This was started in July of this year and finished in September... just in time for the warm weather!  I have been waiting for the day the stars aligned correctly that I had a photographer and a cool enough day to pose in it.

 

Details of the jumper are on my Ravelry page - here.

My other two projects were chosen for simplicity so I could work on them while travelling.  First up is the Dory Scarf which is crocheted in cotton.

Ravelry page - here.

And last but not least, my teapot cosy... details here.

Anyone else getting into yarn?

Number 3 - Burdastyle 12-2009-122

Obviously a TNT now as this is the third skirt I have made from this pattern.  

No 1. I made with the fishtail (which I did get tired of) - here.

No 2 adapted to remove the fishtail - here.  

This time I made it (again) without the welt pockets and the straight skirt variation, but with the angled back pockets.   My photos are on Diana but if you look at version 2 linked above you can get an idea of how it looks on me.  The length is the same - above the knee.

The top stitching is triple stitch using regular purple thread.  I like it as it is quite subtle on the black denim.  I used 2 buttons as I used to have problems with the band curling back on the corner.  This time I think I got the instructions right and folded the band back on itself on the RHS.  So there is more layers of fabric to hold it firm.  I have to say the 2 buttons is not an original thought.  I am sure I saw Anne of Gorgeous Fabrics do that with this skirt.

My fly sewing has really improved from the first of these skirts!

Of course I used a jazzy quilting cotton for the inside waistband and fly shield. The zip doesn't match in colour and is an inch shorter than recommended in the pattern.  It was an op shop buy.

The back pockets are slanted as per the pattern.

I like this detail as I think it adds curves - a good thing for me!

This skirt was cut out in January this year and has been sitting around since then.  I am on a mission to finish UFO's hanging around my sewing room and this skirt is the first FO since making that goal!  

I had stored the receipt from the fabric purchase with it.  I bought the fabric on sale at Lincraft.  I bought 1m and it cost me $7.99 (sale was 40% off).  The threads were all in stash, as was the quilting cotton lining the waistband.  The buttons had been cut off an old shirt of my DH's and the zip was an op shop buy so probably cost 10c.  This skirt is definitely a bargain!

And for those who are undoubtedly wondering the shirt is another Ottobre buttondown just the same as this one - here.

I am waiting for some ordered buttons to arrive and then I think it will go into heavy rotation in my wardrobe just like the cream one has.

I plan to wear this skirt next week as DH and I are taking a few nights off to go to our local wine district for our 25th wedding anniversary.  Maybe I will get a photo of it then for you.

Ciao kittens!

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?? 

Mini Wardrobe - Piece 2 - Ottobre Pearl Cardigan

The second piece for my mini-wardrobe is the Ottobre Pearl Cardigan 02-2012-9.

For those of you with good memories and sharp eyes , this is made in the same fabric as my Tessuti Fave top.  So it is a fine pin-stripe jersey. 

 I have not seen this pattern reviewed yet and am a little surprised as cardigans are a popular make.

The neckline is quite wide... wider than I expected and to begin with I wasn't sure I liked it but after wearing it for a day I do.  It is a summer cardigan and worked well in the office air conditioning.  The wide neckline on the back piece is stabilised/finished with grosgrain ribbon and this was probably the most difficult part to sew.  I hand basted it first to achieve a tidy finish.

You can see how wide it is from the back.

This is a real quick make and the most painful  part was the tracing.

I really like this cardigan and can see me using it a lot this summer.  Review is here.

I have been distracted from my sewing plan to make a second buttondown blouse and hope to show some photos soon.

We have also been on a family camping trip recently and for my OS readers I leave you with a picture my DH took of one of the many kangaroos that we saw there.

Ciao kittens!  

Mini Wardrobe - Piece 1 - Ottobre Buttondown Blouse

It has been a busy month and I have just come back from camping for a few days with my family.  It was lovely but it does mean I won't complete my entry in time for the Mini-Wardrobe Contest on Pattern Review.  However I will still show you my pieces as I get them done.

My first piece is the Ottobre Buttondown blouse 02-2013-3.

I made this with a beautiful piece of pedestal fabric that I have not been able to cut into in the 3 years I have owned it.  Finally my sewing confidence is at the level to use this piece.  It is a woven bamboo with a beautiful texture woven in.  It frayed easily so I did do french seams on the side seams but otherwise it was beautiful to work with.

As my fabric was so precious I did muslin this top first and the only pattern change I made was to shorten it at the waist about 2 inches.  Design-wise the changes I made was to sew it with a double yoke following the instructions in the Readers Digest Guide to Sewing (page 410) and to not sew a button or buttonhole onto the collar stand.  I would never do this button up and I think with all the thicknesses of fabric there I may be setting myself up for heartache to sew a buttonhole in that position.

The pattern is drafted beautifully and I think this resulted in the best collar and stand I have ever sewn.  I even managed to do it all by machine - no hand sewing!  I am sorry I have not got a close-up photo but the top is in the wash now.

Conclusion - love this blouse - the review is here.

Ciao!  back with the cardigan soon!

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....

Linnea top and Scooter pants... Ottobre 02-2010

Scooter pants!  I would have to make these pants just for the name of them!!  They are from Ottobre 02-2010 and are pattern no. 2.  They pair these pants with the Linnea top (No. 1) and I have done exactly the same...

From the Ottobre 02-2010 magazine

 I did make a muslin of these pants and removed some excess fabric from the front crotch.  If you can see it, this is the alteration on the pattern tissue.

I think I may still need to scoop (?? never sure of the terminology) it a bit more.  I think there is still a bit of puffiness there.  Any tips??  Here is the pics on me..

and the back... excuse the bra strap (why doesn't the photographer never notice these things??)

A detail picture of the front showing the tabs and the yoke.

I like these pants and the top and think I will wear them a lot.  I will try pinning the front seam in a bit more (or maybe I should baste instead of pin!!) and see if that helps with the excess fabric.

Next up I am sewing for the mini wardrobe contest on pattern review.  The pieces I have chosen work in with these two pieces so I am really hoping I can build myself a cohesive wardrobe.

The plan ...

Like everyone who enters this contest I am not sure if I will make the deadline as I have a week's holiday planned toward the end of the month, but I will give it my best shot. 

Ciao!  the contest has started and I need to get to my cutting table!