Did you say "Chanel"?

There's nothing better than receiving a gift that you didn't expect to receive. Even better when it's sewing related.

At first my reaction was, "no, not another book".  The book is called "Famous Frocks.  The Little Black Dress" by Dolin Bliss O'Shea.  On further inspection it was a book with patterns included, and to boot there is an interpretation of a dress by Coco Chanel. Now you've got me interested. Having said that, I don't think I'II ever purchase a Chanel outfit, one, because of price and two, because of my size (I doubt that I am their target market).

However, I do appreciate the design style.

The book looks like the instructions are very clear and easy to follow, my criticism is that the sizing could have been extended up another two dress sizes.

The author interprets designs worn by Ava Gardner and Audrey Hepburn.  However, I look forward to making the interpretation of a dress by Coco Chanel!

Watch here to see my interpretation!

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Decades of Style 1940s Claremont Coat (Part 2)

Sewing is the one constant in my life, I've been sewing for longer than I can remember.  Sometimes the simplest of things can give us the most difficulties.

This blog post continues on from my previous post https://sandralovessewing.blogspot.com.au/

This pattern is a beautiful coat to sew.  The pattern is not hard, until you decide to stray from the instructions.  I knew that I wasn't going to hand sew the lining in (as per the instructions), so, one of my challenges was to bag the lining.  However, unlike my previous attempt at this technique, I wanted it to be perfect.  Herein lies the problem, when you strive for some sort of perfection, this in itself can be a blocker.  I never used to be like this, yes, I always have strived for my sewing items to be top quality finish, I think I think about things too much these days.

I overcame my block with bagging the lining, and am happy with the finish.  Then another blocker was thrown in my path.  The buttonholes!  Of course I couldn't finish the buttonholes, the fabric was too thick for the automatic buttonhole to work efficiently.

Then it was suggested to me that I could make a bound buttonhole.  So, I thought about it for a while, did a bit of research, and decided that it would have been better to have planned to do this from the beginning.

Back to the drawing board.  I could:

1. get a business that specialises in button holes to do the button holes for me.
2. hand sew the button holes
3. investigate whether there was an attachment for my machine that would deal with bulky fabric

The third option began to grow legs after investigation on good old Google.

Phone call to my sewing machine centre, and low and behold, I have finally finished my @decades_of_style coat.  Set with vintage buttons:

So, lesson learnt:

1. Plan all aspects of your sewing from the beginning
2. Make sure you've got all the right equipment to do the job

I will make this coat again, it feels very nice on.

Happy sewing everyone, glad I got this one done before the end of winter!

Sandra

#vintagesewing;  #vintageinspired; #handmadewardrobe; #memade; #memadeeveryday; #isew; #ilovetosew; #lovetosew; #handmadewardrobe;  #handmadeeveryday #sewcialist #letsmakethings #letssew #handmadeclothing #sewinglove #sewingproject #sewing #sewingpattern #handmadewithlove #imakemyownclothes #isewclothes #justkeepsewing, #plussize, #plussizefashion; 

1940s Claremont Coat - Decades of Style

July in Melbourne, Australia can get quite chilly.  I'm sure, that by comparison to other parts of the world it's relatively mild. June was quite warm by comparison.

I really like this weather, but, it's only good if you are suitably rugged up.  So herein lies the problem. You throw your favourite coat out because it started looking tatty last season with every good intention of making another coat before the next season.  As I said good intentions.

As you well know, I've reached a sewing block in my head, usually I'm enthusiastic.  I can not give you any good excuse as to why I haven't been sewing, I just haven't.

I purchased the pattern to the 1940s Claremont Coat  from Decades of Style a while ago. A beautiful, stylish coat.

It came in PDF format, and so had to get it professionally printed, I ummed about the cost of printing (around $35) - because the width didn't meet the standard size of their printing machines (I'd already spent around $25 for the PDF pattern), and then decided that I'd come this far and spent the money on printing (that was our Summer 2016/2017).

I wanted a coat that would make a statement, something I couldn't find in a shop.

Five weeks ago, I decided to cut the pattern. The coat of course had to be a red wool I had. I needed that half a metre extra for the sleeves, frustrated I continued and had to cut them on the fold.  Adjusted for my measurements as the pattern only came to a size 46, cut the fabric and lining.  There it sat for another three weeks.

It's Friday July 21 and a week ago I finished the shell and lining.  It is coming along quite well, after a few hitches.  This is not a difficult pattern.  However, I think I am going off road with the instructions for attaching the shell to the lining as there is too much hand sewing in the instructions.  At this rate, I'II be 100 before this coat is done.

I don't know what my mental block to sewing has been about.

It's getting real cold in Melbourne at this stage, 1 (one) degree celsius over night. Icy over the day (when there's no sunshine); yard duty as a teacher is not much fun.  This needs to be my motivation to finish this coat this weekend.

The story will continue with the big reveal.....

Happy sewing everyone

Sandra

#vintagesewing;  #vintageinspired; #handmadewardrobe; #memade; #memadeeveryday; #isew; #ilovetosew; #lovetosew; #handmadewardrobe;  #handmadeeveryday #sewcialist #letsmakethings #letssew #handmadeclothing #sewinglove #sewingproject #sewing #sewingpattern #handmadewithlove #imakemyownclothes #isewclothes #justkeepsewing, #plussize, #plussizefashion; 

4. Monday Basic Raglan T-shirt and Friday Evening Dress. Ottobre

Amazing how a new piece of equipment can change the way and what you sew.

So, it's time that I revisited some Ottobre patterns that I've either used before or have avoided because I hated using a regular sewing machine on stretch fabric.

I revisted Ottobre Autumn/Winter 5/2013 - 4. Monday Basic Raglan T-shirt and Friday Evening Dress. Check out Fans de Ottobre Design blog.

I purchased this geometric fabric and had enough to do the dress and the T-shirt (had to use another fabric for the sleeves in the T-shirt).

I am so much happier with the finish of my stretch garments with my Janome CoverPro, I'm certainly a lot happier sewing stretch fabric.

Happy sewing everyone, I'm tackling a complex coat pattern this weekend.

Sandra

Vogue 8682 (V8682)

I've decided that it's really hard to concentrate at work when it is a Monday, and that Monday is the day before a public holiday.

My mind is on sewing projects and not on work.

In a previous post I mentioned that I was overcome by my sewing stash, I went around the house telling my husband, "Hi, I'm Sandra, and I have a fabric problem".  Now to tackle some of that problem.

I pulled out some patterns to, that I always had the intention of sewing, but never did.  The first one to get off that table of mine is Vogue 8682.  I then went through my stash and found four metres of red peach skin fabric.  (Now, are you having flashbacks to the 1990s?)  That's exactly how long I've had this piece, it was quite vogue back then, I love it's texture, it's probably the closest you get to a fake suede, but in a fabric form.  It will do nicely when the days become cooler (at present I've the fan on in our office and wearing a summer dress!)  OK, I'm not working either, when I should be.

Pattern:  V8682

What adjustments did I do to this pattern?

• 3cm (1") adjustment to extend the length at the waist
• I chose the short length with the long sleeves (long sleeves with longer length reminded me of a nightie).

The pattern called for a 22" zip, I had a 18" one on hand and finally decided to go with this because the fabric itself has some stretch.

I am very happy with the outcome.  It is comfortable and and easy pattern to put together.

Those quick projects that add to our wardrobe are just the best.

Items used from stash today:  reel of cotton and overlocking thread; four metres of fabric; one zip.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Simplicity 2148

I've gone through my sewing patterns and picked out a bunch that I want to make.

Some years ago I cleared out my winter wardrobe and haven't quite restocked.  So, I decided that the first thing I had to make were a few stretch fabric tops using my coverstitch machine.

I picked Simplicity 2148.  When I originally purchased this pattern I did so with the intention of entering a competition with the Australian Sewing Guild, their selection of patterns left me uninspired, so the pattern just sat there amongst my stash.

With my new coverstitch and a desire to improve my skills with working with stretch fabrics I decided that I would make one of the tops in this pattern set.

This is View A from this pattern:

It's made from a light woollen knit fabric, it'll do me during winter as I don't like to dress too warmly anyway

I'm happy with the top.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Lingerie Design - Full slip

In my next post, I'II be revealing my red dress, for the little red dress challenge.  Trouble is, it is made from a fabric that has see through bits.  I don't think my husband will let me leave the house until it is less see through!!

I contemplated lining it, threw out that idea and decided to make a slip instead.

Trouble is, I am not in the mood to draft the pattern, I just wanted to get it done and move on with other sewing.

I decided I would use the same pattern that I used in my red dress, but alter it using some basic drafting techniques and apply it to this alteration.

I am pleased with the outcome:

It fits quite well on me, appears wonky on my dressmaking dummy because my room is a mess, and,  my dress is no longer see through!

Tell me, do you want me to post a tutorial on how to do this?  It really was very simple to do.

Well, I'm determined to make it to my blog goal of 52 blog posts for 2016.  I can see that I am fairly close to this now, so, I will work hard to attain it.

Any suggestions as to what you'd like to see on this blog in 2017?

Merry Christmas everyone.

Sandra

Stretch fabric cardigan

My overlocker and I are spending some quality time with each other lately.

I've been sorting through my ever expanding stash.  Sadly some fabrics have moved onto other homes, others are with me.  I am trying really hard not to add to my stash at the moment.

Whilst sorting I came across a boucle orange fabric, just one meter, 150 cm wide, would there be enough to make a cardigan?  With much fiddling - yes.  Luckily it is a busy fabric, because the bottom band is piece, upon piece of fabric sewn together.

The pattern used was Seamworks, Wembly Cardigan 3024.

https://www.seamwork.com/

An hour and a half sewing time! May have taken less time had I been able to see the eye of the needle to rethread the overlocker, and had a needle not drop out of the machine!

Such a fantastic, quick project, done entirely on the overlocker (serger), would highly recommend this. The fit on this companies patterns are true.

Happy sewing everyone

Sandra

I did make another cardigan in black to go with my Ottobre dress.