Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Monday, 28 November 2011
Mary Won a Singer 319k
Mary won a singer sewing machine and wooden cabinet at tender. Going to pick it up this morning I hope.
Oh serves me right... the machine has no foot control... grrrrr... but it seems so beautifully maintained that I will go looking for one.
I am in awe of the ruffler foot attachment.
Oh serves me right... the machine has no foot control... grrrrr... but it seems so beautifully maintained that I will go looking for one.
I am in awe of the ruffler foot attachment.
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| Singer 319K - it looks in very good condition and has a box of cams to make different embroidery stitches |
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| Singer 319k complete with sewing cabinet, accessory feet and 29 cams but no foot pedal or electric power cord |
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Oh my - was it a bargain?
Just saw 80, yes apparently 80 paper sewing patterns go for less than $30 plus $10 postage on ebay - that could have been a huge bargain. However the description and photo was vague..... so who but the auction winner will be able to decide if it was a bargain or not.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Bye bye shorts
I'm listing the Butterick 5044 shorts and pants pattern on Etsy. The size S is just not for me. Luckily I've got the pattern in medium from when I was making them for my mother so all is not lost... I can make more that I will be more comfortable wearing.
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| Go to the pattern page at Etsy |
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Blue shorts - Butterick5044 version C
Today I cut out and started to sew the knee length shorts from Butterick 5044. This is a very simple pattern with only one main pattern piece. The fabric is a remnant bought for 50 cents. It is a soft blue linen look fabric which doesn't crease easily.
* Lower the waist another 2.5cm
* Make the medium not the small (fits comfortably enough but just not my style of fit)
What would I do differently next time?* Lower the waist another 2.5cm
* Make the medium not the small (fits comfortably enough but just not my style of fit)
Monday, 21 November 2011
Birthday
I bought myself a birthday present - Famous Frocks: Patterns and Instructions for Recreating Fabulous Iconic Dresses--10 Patterns for 20 Dresses in All by Sara Alm and Hannah McDevitt. This does seem to have some disappointed reviewers but I like the idea that they are modern frocks not exact copies. Exact copies are no good without the appropriate undergarments and will never look like the original which was all styled up for the movie/performance/occasion it was designed for. Anyway I will have to choose one to make in the next week or so.
My cake, a Schwarzwälder Kirsch torte was baked by me and put together by my Father.
My cake, a Schwarzwälder Kirsch torte was baked by me and put together by my Father.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Leopard KwikSew2867
I've had a piece of polyester stretch leopard for several weeks now. When I bought it I was too excited to notice that the stretch went down the hide so to speak not across it. Anyway I still like the colour and pattern of it.
Today I cut out a sleeveless top using KwikSew2867 but without the drawstring. I added approximately 1.5 cm to the width at the hem and graded it toward the waistline so that it would side smoothly over my hips.
I've overlocked the shoulders and sideseams together as well as around the neckline, armholes and hem. I tried both a ball point and stretch machine needle and settled for using the stretch needle with nylon invisible thread.
Today I cut out a sleeveless top using KwikSew2867 but without the drawstring. I added approximately 1.5 cm to the width at the hem and graded it toward the waistline so that it would side smoothly over my hips.
I've overlocked the shoulders and sideseams together as well as around the neckline, armholes and hem. I tried both a ball point and stretch machine needle and settled for using the stretch needle with nylon invisible thread.
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| The completed top modelled by Mary |
Sunday, 13 November 2011
McCalls 2117 - an easy to make dress
I thought I had the fabric for this but my remnant was just not big enough, so its back to rummaging in my fabric stash for a bigger piece, preferably one I don't have to line.
Ok, I'm using a remnant I found yesterday, sort of a batik print. Once I'd washed and ironed it I saw the printing errors and very carefully positioned the pattern to avoid them (or so I thought). Cut it out and unfolded the front........ ooops one printing error line goes straight across the front. Perhaps it will look ok else I will have to add some ribbon or lace over it.
This pattern goes together quite quickly and easily. I made the knee length version with sleeves in size 12.
When I make it again these are some points I should recall:
* Use light-weight iron on interfacing for neck interfacing
* Remember to overlock the neck facing
* Do not overlock side seams until after I've tried it on (I really would have liked it to be a few millimetres wider across the thighs and seat area, but I'd overlocked all the excess seam off)
*Be really careful when placing the sleeve pattern tissue and cutting it out - one sleeve was perfect the other was somehow stretched or too big.
* On my body this dress definitely needs a split or two to make walking and sitting easier.
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| Should be easy and cool to wear if only I can decide on the fabric! |
This pattern goes together quite quickly and easily. I made the knee length version with sleeves in size 12.
When I make it again these are some points I should recall:
* Use light-weight iron on interfacing for neck interfacing
* Remember to overlock the neck facing
* Do not overlock side seams until after I've tried it on (I really would have liked it to be a few millimetres wider across the thighs and seat area, but I'd overlocked all the excess seam off)
*Be really careful when placing the sleeve pattern tissue and cutting it out - one sleeve was perfect the other was somehow stretched or too big.
* On my body this dress definitely needs a split or two to make walking and sitting easier.
Friday, 11 November 2011
New Look 6354 view B pants from start to finish
Had just enough white slub fabric to make cool 3/4 pants. Seems too sheer for me so will try lining it to the knees with left overs.
Am using 'print at home' pattern downloaded from www.sewingpatterns.com
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| Love the print at home option but sometimes sticking all those A4 sheets of paper together is tedious. |
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| Checking to see if my remnant is big enough to fit all the pattern pieces. |
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| Pattern cut out with no changes. |
I hope I won't regret using the blue chalk pencil to mark this fabric, it doesn't seem to be rubbing off.
It is just as well the marks are near the waistline and can be hidden with a top if need be.
I've overlocked the hem edge then hand hemmed it.
The waistband elastic is 5cm (2 inches) wide and I've used it as recommended in the pattern instructions despite my grumbles at the cost (about $5.50 a metre). This width does give a smooth finish unlike using two or more rows of narrower elastic which I have done when making the skirt version of this pattern.
The finished pants NewLook6354 and top KwikSew2867.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Kwik Sew 2867 view C is done
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After playing around with adding buttons or applique to hide the extra buttonhole, I've decided to leave it as it is. |
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Kwik Sew 2867 progress
OOOPS
I used the wrong guideline for locating the drawstring and didn't realise until I had made the buttonhole - Oh dear! Put another one in the right place, sewed on the casing and inserted some ribbon for the drawstring.
Played around with using buttons or applique to cover the other buttonhole. After trying the top on I think I may just ignore the mistake as I doubt most people looking at me will see it.
I have overlocked all the raw edges on the neckline, armholes and hem. The side and shoulder seams were overlocked together. I am very glad I added a little bit to the hip measurement, next time I will either add a small side split or another cm of width.
I used the wrong guideline for locating the drawstring and didn't realise until I had made the buttonhole - Oh dear! Put another one in the right place, sewed on the casing and inserted some ribbon for the drawstring.
Played around with using buttons or applique to cover the other buttonhole. After trying the top on I think I may just ignore the mistake as I doubt most people looking at me will see it.
I have overlocked all the raw edges on the neckline, armholes and hem. The side and shoulder seams were overlocked together. I am very glad I added a little bit to the hip measurement, next time I will either add a small side split or another cm of width.
Kwik Sew 2867 Misses' top view C
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| The pattern and fabric |
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| A smoother pattern is easier to trace. |
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| Tracing the pattern. |
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| Checking the accuracy of my trace, had to adjust it a little. |
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| I used sticky tape not pins to attach the pattern to the fabric. |
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| I've added a little extra width to be sure the top is wide enough at the hip. |
Meet Mary
Here is Mary hard at work modelling muslin NO.2 of a pinafore from Angela Kane (free from BurdaStyle).
I always thought Mary liked to be nude, having met her at the TenderCentre one weekend where she was entertaining the crowds. I was wrong though, she likes wearing works in progress, she likes the arty look.
I always thought Mary liked to be nude, having met her at the TenderCentre one weekend where she was entertaining the crowds. I was wrong though, she likes wearing works in progress, she likes the arty look.
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