Summer Sew Along Complete x2 :)

Well it makes a change for me as I actually completed a sew along in time! Here is the finished products: Yes I done two (and a half if you count the jacket I started which in now in my ufo pile)

    

I have done these properly, all seams were serged and finished in a French seam. So they look as good as the real thing. The rose print top has a plain black back as I felt the print was a bit too much for me.

The pattern was self drafted. I literally took an old favourite and traced round it. First time I have ever done it and now have a stack of simple summer tops to try it with!

    

 

Here is a few more in construction pics and I now have two more summer tops. Yay me.

 

           

I’m really pleased with the turnout inside and out, I even added a little pocket on this one.

        

 

Hope everyone has a great week sewing. xxx

This is what happens when…..

In the middle of tracing my 11 piece pattern (biggest one by far....very nervous) for SESA 2012 and the doorbell goes. I answer the door, pay for my takeaway and come back into the front room to see this.

   

My daughters bloody cat had obviously decided to skid across my table and tissue paper pattern :( :( One day I will catch her and string her up! Bit of sticky tape and all is ok but I like my patterns to stay like new.

Note to self.... Take cat with me to the door next time!

 

Finally finished the tracing & cutting….now onto the fabric….Gulp!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

X

Summer Essentials Sew Along (SESA) 2012

 

1 MONTH: In the month of June, sew one fabulous garment that you plan on strutting all summer.

1 GARMENT: Your choice!

1 GREAT LIST: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sssa/

1 FABULOUS PRIZE: 2.5 YARDS OF SUMMERY COOL SEERSUCKER & you could also win an indie sewing pattern of your choice from Ali!

For more details, to join in and to grab the badge please head over to the gorgeous girlies that are hosting the sew along: Sarah of Rhinestones & Telephones, Ali of The Wardrobe Reimagined and Alessa of Farbenfreude.

 

I am definitely taking part in this. I have been debating all day about what to make.

 

I have decided to go with Simplicity 2446. I know it doesn't look very summery but year after year I look for light summer blazers and never find any. I have a few modifications in mind to make it more summery (colour, material, 3/4 length gathered arms, different collar) so in theory it will be lovely, light and summery.

 

I have some black (I know I know stupid colour but I cant help it) cotton sheeting for the muslin as this will be my first jacket attempted so I am anticipating many muslins so I went for the cheapest material to hack into . I am off now to find my pattern and work out what size to trace. Happy days. xx

Truffle Muslin pt I

So I have finally made some headway on the next project in the Sew Colette challenge which is the lovely Truffle Dress.

I have traced the pattern doing the same as I did for the Pastille and cut a 14 top tapering to an 18 skirt (hope I have done the grading right).

I am really hoping that I wont have to do a short torso adjustment and a sway back adjustment but at least I know what I am doing this time (she says *& does a big big eye roll).

All cut out and marked up,double checked all the markings before I put the pattern away this time (these patterns can be a sod to fold up again)!!!!!

I have cut this muslin from an old bed sheet (god only knows why I had a bed sheet that colour)!!!!













So tomorrow I am ready to sew it all together and then work out what alterations I need to make for a great fit. Hope everyone is getting on OK and cant wait to see everyones finished garments :) x

Sew Colette: Pastille Finished Finally.

Ok So I have now finally finished my Pastille Dress and it is well and truly wearable (just need to wait for some warmer weather)

I am off to do the school run now but I will post a pic to twitter and Flicker later of me wearing the dress once I set my camera up and find where I put my tripod.

So here is the final dress. Due to the disasters I had I have had to make a few alterations.
1. I added an extra pleat to the bottom of the skirt for personal preference.
2. I had to cover the neckline with a peter pan collar and I used Suzannah's tutorial to do this.
3. I removed the cap sleeves and converted them to basic short sleeves.

Now onwards to the truffle dress :) x

Colette Pastille Dress: Half way there.

I am so behind with the sew along but I will be catching up real soon!

I have spent the evening finishing off my muslin and I must say I am glad I did as I have had to make a few adjustments.

I have had to take length off the front and back bodice as I obviously have a very short body myself! But I also have very small shoulders so I will have to take some bulk from the shoulders too.

I have also decided lower the neckline on the final garment as high necklines do nothing for me and I have spent too much time procrastinating over pleating the fabric down to the hemline as I feel it will look much better (plus I'm such a shorty I need to loose a fair few inches off the skirt length). My pattern has been adjusted accordingly I am ready to go!!!!

Roll on my little ones bed time so I can get going of the final garment tomorrow. Here is the unaltered muslin and despite my attempt to re-pad Deirdre she is still not the same as me fitting wise.

I hope everyone has a fab weekend. :o) x

Colette Sew Along: Pastille Prep

So I have been a good girl and although I am way way way behind I have spent today tracing and cutting and preparing my muslin!

I am off to bed now but will finish marking up my fabric tomorrow and hopefully start sewing the muslin tomorrow night!

Has the weekend gone already?

Well I had quite a productive weekend. I re-padded Deirdre but despite have the same measurements clothes fit her differently from me but at least its close enough.

Her before and after shots, she now has a defined bust and waist. I have taken some off the hips too.

I also made my Colette Meringue skirt smaller and repositioned the zip.

Please excuse the over exposure. As you can see the zip is now nicely positioned and runs smoothly into the seam and on the whole is about a size smaller all over.

And on a rare occasion here is me wearing it!

I am one of these people that hates having my photo taken and certainly dislike looking at them afterwards!















And there it is the weekend has gone already!

Colette: Meringue Finished

Well I have finally finished the Meringue skirt (behind schedule I know but I am getting there) and I have to say despite adjusting the muslin and the pattern it has still turned out a tad too big. I made a slight balls up on the zip and need to practice the scallops but once I have taken it in more at the waist it will be wearable :)

I have posted my pics here, comments and tips are more than welcome.

Here we have the finished garment, not to bad to be honest for someone of my level.

I had huge issues with the scallops so I followed a tutorial on perfect scallops by Pattern Scissors Cloth adding interface to make the material easier to work with and voila.









I double topstitched the scallops too.













As you can see I made a complete mess of this, the zip was place too low, the seam did not quite meet with the zip and I accidently managed to put the seam ripper through the material when unstitching the zip the first time round!

Despite precise marking, checking and pinning of the darts one of them runs off slightly to the side but this is not too much of a problem and doesn't notice too much.

The back darts came out fine!

Once I have reduced the waist in size I will post a picture of me actually wearing the skirt.

Now onto the next project and I'd best knuckle down and get it done :)