Finally, some dressmaking

Hi everyone

Now, I'm up to the stage of making clothes for me.

The weather here in Melbourne, Australia has turned cold (still not cold enough to put the gloves on), but certainly cold.  I love it, most people I know hate it, however, this is the only time of the year I don't complain about the weather.

This time last year I was in Granada, Spain.  It was very hot. I loved the colours of Spain the consistent blue sky with the sandy tones of buildings. The colours.  Before I went overseas last year I came up with the hair brain idea to go through my winter wardrobe and get rid of things that either did not fit or were outdated.  Did that. My thinking was that I'd have enough time to replenish my wardrobe.  WRONG, I need to work hard these holidays to bring my winter wardrobe up to scratch.

 Alhambra, Granada, Spain

But, I digress with my photo.

When I WAS a member of the Australian Sewing Guild I met up with a lady who put me onto Ottobre Design magazine. She gave positive reviews of the fit of the patterns, especially for us largish women.  So I thought I'd give it a try.  I agree with her the fit across the shoulders, sleeve length and general fit are great.

This coat is from Ottobre Design Woman Autumn/Winter 5/2013, page 9 (yellow one on the right):

I decided to make this out of a pin wale black cord, I have the shell and lining done with only the task of putting the two together, here's a picture of the outer shell of the coat, my inner lining is an orange check:

I promise you, a finished coat on me, for you to see in my next post.

Happy sewing everyone, take time out everyday to do something you enjoy doing, life is too short to put things off.

Sandra

#SandraLovesSewing     #Dressmaking      #quilting      #Ottobre      #sewing

Part of Patchwork Frenzy revealed.

I hope to return to dressmaking in the next couple of weeks. I am a teacher and in Australia, we are about to finish our school term. We are all counting down the days.  My sewing machine and I need to become more 

acquainted with dressmaking.

If you've been following me, my friend, Ronda and I have been making quilts for ladies at work who have fallen pregnant, with seven to do, here are three that we gave away today:

This one was made for Silvia (we knew she was having a boy):

This one for Eliza:

Finally this one for Helen:

I guess, when you have to produce in quantity, you have to keep the design simple.

We've tried to use leftover fabrics, but, you never quite have the right coordinating fabric and so have to buy some here or there for it to match.

What a shame, it meant another trip to the fabric store!

Anyway, have a good week everyone. Happy sewing.

Sandra

Patchwork Frenzy

Hi everyone

Well, after spending two days trying to work out technical issues with my internet connection, I am now back on line.

Primarily I enjoy dressmaking the most.  However, after a friend introduced me to patch working (many years ago), I now alternate between the two.  Unfortunately for me, it means I never throw out scraps of fabric when dressmaking as they may be 'useful' when I am patch working. I guess that many of us who do both, have similar stories to tell.

Of late, there appears to be a deluge in people around me getting pregnant, and therefore presents with it the challenge to produce baby quilts.  Well, my colleague at work Ronda and I thought that this was a good idea at the time that we came up with it. I've now rallied the term, "speed patchwork and quilting".  Besides trying to keep up with those at work falling pregnant, I also have friends closer to me having babies and birthdays.

Since last December 2013, I'd like to share some creations.

This lap quilt was made for a friend of mine named Jo for her birthday December 2013 (probably the first time that I actually completed a quilt on time for a friend - usually they are late).  It was my second attempt at quilting (all over). Usually I finish my quilts by tying them.

In January 2014 I created this block with an art quilt in mind:

Mm, need to develop this beyond the UFO stage!

Next idea, a full sized quilt for our bed (almost finished), but here are some of the fabric selections and blocks (to be revealed later):

This next small quilt was made for an ex-student of mine's son Paul:

Isn't he gorgeous?

A close up.

For a colleague's son at work, the following quilt. I did the patchwork, and my friend Ronda the quilting:

Off to the Australian Quilt Convention in April 2014 and did a couple of hours class on the Bernina stand and achieved this:  (OK, photo the right way around next time)

You guessed it, another colleague pregnant, the beginnings of the quilt:

The finished quilt, patchwork by me, quilting by Ronda.  I really liked the outcome of this, all those triangles drove me batty!  I must admit that I do like it once it is finished.  Jury is out as to whether I will ever repeat this feat (as I like to at least do a new design twice).

Someone is retiring, and this is the beginnings of it here:

So, Ronda and I have made three more quilts in the last two weeks.  I will reveal these to you in my next post.

Enjoy the next week everyone, and remember to find some time to give back to yourself and do something you enjoy.

Fabric Bargain - Jobs Warehouse

Jobs Warehouse in Melbourne opened today quite unexpectedly.  They had closed down some time ago, shut up shop with rolls of fabric left inside. It opened today to sell to the public.  Hubby was walking by and rang me to rush on down there as full rolls of fabric were selling for $10.  Could I say no to this? Of course not!

Of course I picked up bargains, a roll of Thai Silk for $5 and a roll of beautiful white linen for $5. Had I known I would have got there earlier.  The rolls were virtually walking out.  I think I missed the best of it, but then again, how much fabric can one truly store in a two bedroom apartment?

Although I am elated at my purchase, I am saddened at the end of this era of the Melbourne rag trade. Jobs Warehouse was the last of what existed before; 60 years of history now gone. We now move into a new era (or have been moving towards a new era for some time now). Even up to the 1990s I can still remember Flinders Lane still having wholesalers taking up space above retail shops. Now all gone. I hope that someone makes a documentary about this.

Reassuring today that most buyers of fabric were young people enthusiastic about fabric and their craft.