Pineapple Pants

This year I have joined the RTW Fasters which means I have pledged to make all my clothes!  So far so good and I am only shopping to look at the details and construction and the inside of garments for inspiration. That is me on the right with the umbrella!

This fabric has been in my stash for a year and I originally thought I would make a jumpsuit out of it but then decided on culottes!

Pineapple 🍍 pants! Vogue 9019 Culottes. I took out the pleats and look how roomy they still are! I also added a tie belt that is fastened at the waist at the side seams. Fabric was viscose I think but it  puckered at the seams so there was quite a bit if unpicking. The fabric did not like the overlocker no matter how I played with the tension, so I ended up zigzagging most seams. It has a zipper at the centre back so I used an invisible zip.

(The top is a bought one from about 6 years ago!)  Happy sewing!



🌸

Gatsby Inspired handkerchief, tango dress!

My lovely husband and I have just celebrated our 50th birthdays with a big Gatsby Party.  We decorated the house in 1920s things and all our guest came dressed for the part.

So what to wear for me was the big question.  I did lots of internet searching and decided I liked the look of this tango dress.

I liked the hemline and also the bit of fabric that falls from the shoulders so when you accelerate across the floor it trails behind you!  So essentially I measured up a block for myself and went from there.  It was not smooth sailing and it was more of an engineering project than a straight up sewing project! I added and subtracted bits as I went and sewed and unpicked and re-sewed and unpicked and so on and so forth!  I made the bodice out of upholstery fabric (I have always loved jacquard fabric) and polyester satin for the handkerchief and I bought an organza shawl (scarf) with lace ends which I draped under the armpits. (Just a touch of upper arm camouflage)  And you will all be proud of me for not choosing BLACK!

Here it is on model....

You can see it is shorter at the front and longer at the back.  The neckline is very low and it the end to get the right silouette I decided to go 'bra-less" but had a tight lycra camisole on.  My fabulous mother lent me her long strings of pearls and gave me her marcasite broach.  Perfect!

Here's us all on the fabulous night!  And the highlight for me was the champagne fountain (hired here in Christchurch from the China Cabinet -contact the lovely Maureen).  If you have never had one of these then go for it.  Everyone was thinking it was going to fall over but no it was marvellous and not much spillage.  It's the middle of winter here so it was so nice to have a wonderful celebration in the middle of the dull days.

And I must mention that Megan my neighbour did my hair in true 1920s style. I think I should have been born in that era!

Hubby with someones 'fox-fur'

Yes, I know I look too young to be 50!

Sewing Knitted Fabric

During June I did put together this little number.  The pattern was from a favourite top which I cut up to use the pattern but becasue this knitted fabric was more stretchy it ended up being a wrap around with a ribbon tie. I added lace trim on the edge.  I did have to hand sew it on becasue the sewing machine kept missing the edge.  I gathered around the bottom of the garment so it has a ballooning effect.  It's very warm and quite elegant.

If I made it again I would cut the waist slightly lower.  I didn't allow for the seam allowance so it sits just a little bit too high - not much but I would have liked the waist to be down an inch.

I got the knitted material  at Sakaguchi's annual sale. I thought it would be hard to sew but it wasn't and it didn't unravel.  It behaved itself admirably.

I found a good tip on making sure that the overlocking doesn't unravel.  You leave a rats tail on the end of the stiching and then thread a needle and sew it in like you would when you put together an actual  knitted garment.

If you wonder if I have disasters.  Yes I do!  I have a half assembled blouse.  The fabric is so flimsy and hard to sew and it doesn't fit and it's not doing what it is supposed to. I think it is going on the scrapheap!  Lesson learned.  Just becasue you like the material, doesn't mean it will be easy to sew!  Be fussy about what you choose.  Getting ambitious is when I am often faced with disaster but then again, I'm not going to get good at sewing if I don't take a few risks now and again.

Lace Skirt - Burda Easy 8155

It wasn't until I joined the sewing bloggers fraternity that I realised that it is perfectly normal behaviour to be a fabric stroker.  I can spend my whole lunch hour stroking divine fabrics - I suppose it is my equivalent of window shopping.  I find the feel of beautiful fabrics therapaeutic - more so than even the colour or pattern.   I feel rather wonderful after such an outing.  I go alone so there is no discussion needed and the lovely people at Fabric Vision - well I guess they know it is all part of the joy and eventually I will buy something.

Remember this lovely image - it's actually a burda pattern for the cardi but I loved the lace skirt.  So I had my eyes pealed and  saw a  similar fabric in Spotlight, and grabbed it.  It is such a  lovely piece of fabric that I was afraid to cut into it and so spent the month of July procrastinating and getting it out and putting it awayt!

But yesterday I decided to feel the fear and do it anyway!

I used

Burda Easy 8155 - it's my third skirt in this pattern and they have all come out quite different!

Look - it's turned out just fine.  I lined it with grey coloured synthetic fabric so that I was sewing a double layer.  I didn't want the seams to show and the lace was slightly stretchyt and the lining was not!  I also decided to do a wee embellishment on the waistband - a grey strip to break it up.

 Mine rides up a bit more than hers!  But love it standing up - I'm imagining myself at a wine and nibbles event where I will be standing and socialising.  Just note that when I first put the lining in I made it perfectly meeting the bottom of the lace.  But when I sast down the lace rode up more and you could see an inch of the lining.  So I redid it so that the lining comes to about 1.5 inches above the hem.

  

Lovely scalloped edge which graced the hem.

 Detail at waistband. 

Another invisible, invisible zip - now that I know to unzip the zip iron out the curl I can get it oh so invisible!

It's still winter here so I am putting it away so that I have something to wear for when it's gets warmer.  

Another Easy Comfy Summer Dress

February was a glorious month weatherwise, (not too good for the farmers though).  Anyway I made another dress in the same style but fitted the back with two long darts.  Again I used Cotton Sateen bought from Fabric Vision and again it was easy peasy to sew. And congratulate me, I didn't use black!  Love this dress and since I already had the fitted toile, it was quick to make.  I put in a V-neck this time and edged the neck with satin bias binding.

It's so comfy.  I think its the slight stretch in the material that makes it so.  I've been wearing it with a short sleeved red cardie to barbeques and out shopping.

I would have to admit to being a bit of an impatient  sewer, simply because I want it finished so I can wear it.  But when I get like that I have now trained myself to put it down and come back to it another day.  Forcing myself  to make a toile was soooo worthwhile, I recommend it.