Rethinking about patterns

Ive been doing alot of thinking about patterns of late especially with the change of seasons.  Im slowly coming to the conclusion that there isnt much choice out there in new patterns. 
Dont get me wrong there are few fantastic patterns that I have my eye on.  Just waiting for the offers to come up here in the UK.  For example some of the Vogue designer patterns are very clever, I always seem to be drawn to the ones that look like they would be tricky to sew.  Something different and challenging.

Vogue 3161

        

Vogue 1362

Vogue 1360 very similar to a pattern I made.  tricky but rewarding.

 But when you get looking at the other pattern they are very deja vu  The photos are good, here is a good example.  This shirt looks intricate but its all in the fabric choice.  Take another look at the illustration.  You will see that it its just a simple straight shirt pattern. Now surely we all have one of those in our patterns.

Here we have a basic long sleeved top that is made from 2 pieces of fabrics that makes it appear different.

A  jacket  cut across the waist, puts a different twist on this style

I look at the illustrations and think "Well thats like this pattern I already have but with........"  With a little skill and imagination we do not have to buy lots of patterns but just think different. Unless of course you like doing that.

Here in the UK patterns are not cheap especially  the Vogue, which are  ridiculously expensive, but for me its not just about saving a few £££ its more about being creative.

Mini wardrobe 2nd Piece New Look 6699 modified

Wow I cannot believe I am now half way through my mini wardrobe contest pieces.  I still have to make my shirt and a button through skirt, before tackling Scary September challenge "my first bra" (I sound like a young teenager again!)

My skirt, was made from an old New Look pattern 6699.  I took the skirt pieces from this pattern and used them.  When my fabric was delivered I laid it next to the top and added the bias tape as I envisaged it looking complete.
 I  then decided it didnt look right the bias was too broad, so I redrafted the skirt, using my 2 skirt pieces as blocks and referring to my metric pattern cutting book by Winifred Aldrich, I managed to make a new skirt pattern from it, I havent done pattern cutting for a long while and I only know basic.
I really like it and I like the piped effect with my new bias binding, I think I shall do more of this. Im not too sure if that horizontal band, if is in the right place, and I have tapered the skirt more this time.  Excuse quality of photo, the light it poor.

Ive only just discovered floral bias binding, Im aware its been around a while be we have only just started having it stocked nearby. I think its lovely and I am getting quite a collection.

Isnt this a great match for colours

For the lining I used a piece of fabric from my stash it was a bit short so I add a ribbon on the bottom.  The fabric is vintage for a car boot sale and I didnt realise that it was faulty until I got it home.  But Im fine with this as the whole exercise of the mini wardrobe was using up my fabrics and only I will see this.

Ive now cut  No. 3 my white shirt pattern long sleeve version Vogue 7903 its ages since I made a shirt and it should be fun.

 I was going to add a pleated yoke, copying a design I had seen

 On asking my sewing buddy her advice, I decided against it. I still liked the idea of a yoke front though.  So it got me thinking, lace? ribbon?  I had unpicked a top that had seen its day, it had lovely inserts on the lower part of the blouse. (I'm a sucker for dismantling clothing for the trims, zips, buttons, only if they are special.)  So I thought I would try them out on a yoke before I cut the rest of the fabric out. Its was very time consuming, and as the pieces were previously cut I was having to place them just so on my yoke template.  But I think it will be work and the efforts worthwhile, and it wont look as ridged as the pleating. Do you like it?

Mini Wardrobe 1st Piece Butterick 5890

Well I have finished my first top of the mini wardrobe.  





I like the pattern B5890  and I like this top.

I will make it again, but I think I chose the wrong fabric for the pattern, however I was stash busting for the mini wardrobe.  It isnt crisp enough, but more importantly it just wants to waft about, not giving me that smooth clean line, I will constantly be adjusting it.  .


A little different from the illustrations a) as previously mentioned the collar is  now fixed and not white as it just wouldnt  have worked, my fabric is alot darker than my illustration.

Its made of one of my least favourite fabrics (polyester) and its very floaty, I dont make floaty dresses or blouses. I love the pattern  and the colours of the fabric and more than likely bought it because of that.  


I had to make a slip  to wear as my friend pointed out she could see absolutely everything underneath. "What Absolutely Everything!"  Luckily I had enough of the material so I used that.   I should have self lined it like  the sleeves had been, but hadnt thought of that at the time.  The sheerness didnt bother me while making it up, but maybe when out with joe public it could have proved embarrassing.


Okay, How you all produce these magnificent pictures with a self-timer is beyond me.

Obviously not enough time there!

       

A little better if not blurry.

Stash busting Part II

Well I have gone and done itand entered myself for a competition, not only the mini wardrobe, but also over at Beverley's blog  I have entered scary September where I will endeavour to make a bra and conquer my sewing fear.  So few pieces of fabric but I cannot seem to get my head around it.  

Well I have jiggled with fabric and patterns, selected then de-selected and this is my mini wardrobe.  but I will have to spend my pennies, so much for de-stashing.  I will use two pieces of fabrics from my stash and I have had  to order two pieces of fabric. I have since decided that I would like a crisp white shirt, so the cotton I was hoping to use was just too soft.  I  came across a shirt on the Boden website that I really like, so my drawings will have to be changed again
So here it is, I wanted an everyday mini wardrobe. 

4 garments and 4 outfits.
1. top with collar.  I have started this and have decided that a white collar wouldnt look right, my illustration is too pale and there is alot more black in it  so I am just going to make a collar with the same fabric
2. straight skirt,  with contrast edgings
3. button through skirt,this will be made from a pink linen mix,
4. button through blouse, this is the shirt I like (below) and  I really would like to make, hope I can use my pattern and add the yoke (it has tucks on) also if I have enough time.

I know they havent got the WOW factor, in fact the illustrations look abit basic, and I am finding, no matter how much you plan, your decision making becomes flexible once you starting making these garments. 

I am finding entering a  contest is motivating me ( yes its early days) I am determined to finish these outfits, just to see if they all work as hoped.  I have already started the patterned blouse and it is 3/4 finished, though I will have to make a camisole to go under it. I shall hopefully be able to show you in the next few days

My artwork

Someone commented to me that they thought I must be artistic.  Admittedly art was one of my best subjects at school, and I have dabbled with paper and paint since.  It must run in the family.  My nephew paints and has had several  exhibitions, my daughter is also very artistic, she amazed me with her sketches and the ability to"think out of the box" and produce something different.

After reading the comment it made think, so I got my sketch book and art work and looked through my pictures. I thought I would bravely share with you some of my work (the better pieces) that I have done over the years, some recently, and some along time ago I hope you like, BEWARE they are very amateurish.   

My daughter at the computer, at my little sewing desk

Im pleased with  this one  especially the glass. Though I think the neck  of the bottle isnt quite straight, and leaning to the left slightly.
  Somehow this bottle never got filled with pennies

These I did years ago when I went to an art class.  The tutor liked the ducks, if I remember rightly we had to paint clear reflections, just copying pictures from art magazines.   My Christmas picture on the right, the colours are muddy and not clear enough,  something I struggle with when using water colours, I believe the art is not to play with them too much.As with most hobbies and skills we have, the more we practice the better we become, and I prefer to sew. 

Stash busting part 1

We have been enjoying lovely weather here, and I have been motivated, planning and rearranging things.  I have finally moved the sewing machine back upstairs and this is where it will now stay.  I dont dislike sewing upstairs (apart from the lack of view).  So I thought I would show you where I sew and what I have been planning.  Not alot of space so it wont take long.

Its an old utility oak study desk (circa 1950) with 3 drawers, a handy pull-out shelf, and a lift up extension, that sits in  my bedroom

Up above I keep my sewing notions and overlocker

 and all my fabric ....

 fits into this silver suitcase that lives under my bed.

Ive been rummaging for inspiration

A tailors dummy would be wonderful, but I havent the space.  I do however have Gloria  (a charity shop find)  who  is very slim and flat chested, no use to me.  She lives on  top of my chest of drawers and wears  some of my jewellery.

*****

Over at  Carolyn's  blog she has been doing a paper doll project, it is here were I first came across  Fashionary  (its on my Christmas list).  If you go to their website you can download the templates.  I have found this such fun and very useful for organising, and planning  my stash.  It helps me visualise how the fabric and pattern will work together.  When I trace around the dotted template I try and make the shape more fuller like my own body shape.  As you can see I am imagining my floral jersey dress shortened, worn with a pair or jeans (on the right).

So whats on my to do list, Good question?

 I was all prepared to start cutting out sewing up using my stash of fabrics and  try and make a few outfits for the coming seasons,when I got side tracked and found out there is a mini wardrobe competition over at pattern review.  Basically  4 items in 1 month (September) making at least 4 outfits. Sounds fun. Next week sees the end of the holidays, with new term starting so the timing is right. I do not want to buy any more patterns and fabrics.  I see this competition  as a stash busting exercise.  So we shall see if it is possible to find 4 fabrics that will combine with each other and with the small amount of patterns I own.  Set myself a real challenge there.    To be continued ......

Butterick 5495

It started off so well I really like the pattern on the packet an easy to wear top, then  I found some lovely material.  

I like colour, and this felt so summery and fresh. 

I had been looking at this pattern and had seen many versions where it had been lengthened and made into a dress, I had enough material to do this so I went ahead and lengthen the pattern pieces.

the perfect marriage, or so I thought.

Cataloguing my handmade garments is about sharing the good with the bad, and for me this is definitely the latter.  I just cannot grasp what it is I dislike so much about this dress.

The picture says it all, Its all too much for me.  I dont normally wear dresses this long.  My friend liked the length, but I prefer knee length dresses.  I had to stitch up the front opening as it was way too low, but I think I stitched it to high.  The whole outfit  feels so matronly.  

I have full intention of cutting it down to a long top and wearing layers with it.  I shall follow up with altered dress.

Never mind, onto the next project. I am at present planning my winter wardrobe. More to follow.

I've made a skirt

Firstly, thank you all for your get well messages, so very kind of you all, you are all such kind bloggers.  Sewing isnt too strenuous  thoroughly enjoyable, and productive so I continue to sew.

Ive made a skirt, just a simple straight one with a pleat at the back.  not too difficult. The fabric is so pretty it didnt need much.  I fell in love with this fabric that I picked up from the Shuttle last year.  My initial intention was to make the white jacket  from my solutions  patterns on sidebar, but time was just against me.   The piece was double edged and I still have enough to make a top. I couldnt decide between a fitted dress or skirt.  Skirt it was, hoping it will be more adaptable. 

                                                                                                        We attended a wedding on Saturday.  Looking at all the photos we had taking throughout the day, we didnt get many of ourselves so I asked husband to take one of the skirt for the blog.  Of all the lovely settings we had been in, we ended up in the lobby at the reception near the public conveniences, nice!  By then  time was moving on and the light was poor. 

It was a beautiful day, not too hot, just right. 

After we came out of the service this band played while the photos were taken is was wonderful. People in the street stopped to watch them.

The groom is Scottish so the men were wearing their kilts,  I do like kilts.  For me the highlight was after the couple came out from signing the register they were escorted by a piper with his bearskin hat, very impressive.   

More photos please

"Look at the  photographer"



 Remember the bridesmaid dresses, that I was altering, sadly I was unable to finish the second lot of alterations due to being in hospital, so husband took them back so they could get them finished elsewhere.  I did however remake the little white dress as it was enormous in size but the right length.  Looks like the were still have  a few fitting problems.  During the course of the day I did a few little minor alterations. Not helped by the fact there was  a giant inflatable slide for the children (and adults)  

We had a lovely weekend, hope you are having a good one too.