02. Art Student . Ottobre Design Woman - Autumn/Winter 5/2017

I'd been eyeing off this pattern in Ottobre Design Woman Autumn/Winter 5/2017 for a few months now.

The pattern calls for a stretch denim, and since denim in any other colour other than black, blue or white is hard to find, it was not going to be made out of denim.

Besides, I have fabric in my stash...and so I found this piece of red polyester suiting to make it from.  I really like the way it turned out.  

1. Fit - I enjoy the fit of Ottobre patterns.  Although I did have to adjust the pattern to allow for my waistline.
2. Construction - this is an easy to construct pattern.  I could not find a metal zip in red and so decided to settle on the white zip (which possibly could be too heavy for the fabric I used).  Lots of topstitching.  I didn't think at first that the pattern would look good on me, however, it looks good on.
3. Instructions - are easy to follow.
4. Pattern - pattern needs to be traced off the master sheet, but the magazine's printing makes it very easy to identify each of the pattern pieces.
5. I deliberately did not topstitch the waistband, I want to loose some weight, so did not want to have to unpick this later down the track.

Do try Ottobre patterns.  If you subscribe online it works out cheaper than purchasing individual copies.

Check out Fans de Ottobre for wonderful creations from fellow sewers of Ottobre garments!

Jennifer Lauren Laneway dress is next on my sewing table.

What have you under your sewing machine needle?

Happy sewing

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; @anakiequilter, #OttobreDesign, 

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

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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