The gorgeous girls (yes they seriously are gorgeous – I met them at the EPIC London meet-up – more on that soon) from By Hand London contacted me in January and offered to send me a copy of their Charlotte & Elisalex patterns. Remember my Charlotte skirt?

Charlotte The Second: By Hand London

I saw several gorgeous Elisalexs at the London meet-up including Dolly Clackett and Taracat. This made me more determined than ever that I WOULD make this dress! Then Oopbop posted a floral delight very soon after I hit Aussie soils. ARGH – time to start sewing!

I’m a little OCD about fabric and pattern matches and sent myself barmy looking since January for Elisalex.

Turns out I needed to head to downtown Brixton, London to find my match. For the non-UK residents, Brixton is located in south London, it has sizable African & Caribbean populations so it’s little wonder that I discovered African wax fabrics there!

And I found this…

African wax fabric from Brixton.

I had made a bodice muslin in January. I decided to re-purpose the muslin side panels into the new dress. I love the colour block effect. I think it just enhances the visual impact that the princess seams of this dress create.

I made up the Elisalex skirt in all its glory. It is a gorgeous tulip shape – however I just looked like a scrawny toothpick arising from a circus big top. I just don’t have the ‘oo la la’ to carry it off. So I became reacquainted with the seam ripper and scissors – and ‘lex’ became ‘lotte’.

I was happily amazed at how easily the Elisalex bodice and Charlotte skirt went together, I simply changed the skirt seam allowances to 10mm instead of 15mm. I was amazed at how beautifully the entire dress came together!

and well… this is how Elisalotte looks…

Elisalotte dress – bodice

Elisalotte dress – front view

Elisalotte dress – back view. I think what makes this dress gorgeous is the wide neckline and back. It creates shape, balances out hips and chisels the waist. Love it.

My pattern matching is slightly askew. I blame the jet lag – which has been rather hideous! I admit, I quite like this creation, it’s striking, ’tis all I have to say on the matter…

oh, and you really should give this pattern a whirl. It’s fun to make, easy and packs a punch. The bodice is well drafted. My back does gape just a little – I’m not sure of the pattern fitting fix for scrawny upper backs.

Note: the By Hand London girls have just put their rather fabulous Victoria blazer on sale… waiting, waiting, waiting for it to hit Aussie soils (and you can buy your Aussie ones from SewSquirrel!).

and one more just for fun (thanks ELH for the pictures xox)

Elisalotte dress – action shot

PS forgive me any spelling errors etc I blame ket lag (how long can I use that excuse?)

PPS just noticed I typed ket lag instead of jet lag. So hilarious I’m leaving it as is!

An evening in Paris…

Just a quick post to let you know I’m back and will be blogging again soon. I am slightly jet-lagged after the epic 30+ hour journey home.

I did consider blogging while I was away. The thought of tapping out posts on my iPhone did not fill me with joy so I decided to wait.

Madrid – I fell completely in love with this city.

I do have soooo much to tell you. Rather than write a huge post, I might break it up into several posts over the next couple of weeks.

In a nutshell in the past three weeks:-

• I’ve been to London, Paris, Madrid.
• I’ve bought fabric, patterns, notions, yarn.
• I attended The EPIC London Bloggers Meet-up.
• I went to the theatre, had a back stage tour and saw Helen Mirren in The Audience.
• I met many gorgeous bloggers and stitchers.
• I finished a skirt.
• I started & finished knitting a jumper.
• I’m participating in Me Made May 2013.
• I’ve got a gorgeous Nautical Craft Swop to share.
• and a Sewing Surprises Swop to share!

Is that ALL you have been doing in the past three weeks Lizzy??

You are a tough crowd to please! I personally thought finishing a jumper in less than three weeks while travelling between four countries was quite a feat! Never mind I will tell you more soon.

I’ve missed you!

Pimms at a London pub. You have to enjoy the good weather when you can!

£15 AUSSIE RETURNS: Abakhan Fabrics
I finished my £15 Aussie project for Abakhan Fabricsbefore I left for London. This month I chose a lovely grey wool suiting and I must say I was rather taken with it!

I used Simplicity 2451 – a skirt much beloved by bloggers. I added a lining and hand stitched the zipper in.

For £15 this is a brilliant work skirt. I loved wearing it. There will be more – no time for detail pictures, I had to fly to London! I should not have put my hands in the pocket for this picture, it looks like it pulls and it doesn’t.

And I’ve been busy sewing and knitting other things…

a detail shot of my just-finished Vine Bolero (Ravelry)

And a Japanese rayon knit Sewaholic Renfrew

and I’ve managed to squeeze a skirt out of this.

Must go. I’ve got to pack a bag for Paris…

PS: Abakhan sent me a ‘few’ things for the meet-up…

I have been super busy making/knitting things but need to take some pictures and finish some projects off in the next couple of days. I’m working on two skirts – one of which is my next Abakahan Fabrics 15 Pound Aussie project. The other I’m hoping to wear to the meet-up. How fabulous does this day out in London sound?? Thank you Rachel of House of Pinheiro who has done all the organising – can’t wait to meet you!

The gorgeous Rachel of House of Pinheiro (IRL I probably only come up to her kneecap)

CONFESSIONS OF SEWBUSYLIZZY

Like all truly hopeless marathon runners, I hit the wall of exhaustion hard after the Tessuti competition.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – sleeves rolled back.

I thought it was a pretty neat entry. Thought out, well executed, highly wearable and stood out from the crowd, an imaginative use of the fabric. The photos were well styled and the backdrop was awesome! Unfortunately Tessuti did not agree – or at least not in a winning or honorable mention kinda way. The winner was an outstanding creation and they also decided to award five runners-ups with $100 Tessuti vouchers. And no, I didn’t make that short list either. They are all great projects, there some in particular I really liked right from when they were posted.

I never ‘expect’ to win these comps. I’m fairly uncompromising person at times, I make something I will wear and suits the fabric – that’s not going to win me accolades – but I’d rather be ‘me’ and someone else’s version of ‘me’. At some point in our lives we all get caught up in being the someone other people want us to be or think that we are, I’m past being that person. I simply am who I am. Take me or leave me. I’ve never been a fan of reptiles of any shape or size – so my chameleon qualities are non-existent. My conclusion was that either:-

1. my stitching is not up to scratch; or/and
2. my fitting is not top-notch; or/and
3. my style is not ‘Tessuti Style’; or…
4. it actually doesnt mean much at all…

I admit, I felt quite despondent about entire process. It was one of those ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ moments. The feeling you get when you know it doesn’t matter what the dumper says to the dumpee, it’s simply a sugar-coated version of the truth.

Then I came back and read all the comments on this post, read the comments on the Tessuti post, the Twitter feedback and realised that to humble old me it’s your opinion that counts more. I might not be a stitcher to attract Tessuti applause but you gave me a standing ovation.

Thank you.

I’m annoyed with myself for being distracted by the Tessuti project and thinking about the outcomes and what that meant about me, my style, my ability. It took me a few days to realise it meant precisely nothing. I’m just me and I’m happy with that. $1K would have been nice or just a pat on the back – but you gave me truckloads of encouragement and admiration. That’s more than enough for me. I sew & blog because it makes me happy. That’s all.

My disappointment is no criticism of the Tessuti winners, the judges or anything else. It’s simply an interesting reflection about me & the process. And I’m tired, very very tired and that never helps.

It even manged to stop me stitching (it can and does happen LOL) while I gazed at my bellybutton in long sorrowful moments of self reflection & doubt. So much so that I lost faith that I could make my pink jacket. Stupid I know.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

I have these wonderfully perfect buttons from Buttonmania in Melbourne - thanks to the ever-wonderful Rachel of My Messings. I could finish the jacket before I leave but I would botch the finish. And that’s not worth it. So it shall now wait for my return. I feel really bad about as Rachel made a huge effort to get them to me on time. Thank you Rachel you are fabulous.

I had a go at making my own buttons, they were horrendous. The fabric was thick and frayed awfully. I wish I’d taken a picture of my efforts but I tossed them aside in disgust and outrage! This buttons are perfection. You need buttons? Check out Buttonmania in Melbourne, Australia. Go on spoil yourself. I know you want to.

Perfection: Buttons from Buttonmania

Me? I’ve gotta go. Sew & pack for London, Paris & Madrid. Yes, sucks to be me.

Thanks for hanging around with me and putting up with my random rumblings and sewing creations.

Love Lizzy.

GRIDLOCK POP

The original post from Tessuti was to “design an outfit incorporating this fabric. Make it up however you like but make it just for you! Our brief is simply to create something stylish and appropriate as day wear.” That later seemed to morph into ‘garment’ but I had this ‘outfit’ concept stuck in my head.

I spent ages looking at this fabric. It sat next to me on the lounge some nights and I draped it over myself quite a bit. I learnt about the fabric, how it draped and felt against my skin. This fabric is hot to wear – it’s 21% cotton, 77% poly and 2% polyurethane – there is no way I would make this to wear as a ‘daywear’ dress in my climate. I would ‘glisten’ terribly at any time of the year (that’s sweat in ladylike terms). It’s ‘breathing’ properties are limited. It’s a great jacket fabric though.

I chose my trusty Fashion Star jacket in the end. Like everyone I loved the Burda Crossover Blazer and Burda 7491 came in a close second (I even traced Burda 7491 and purchased the Crossover Blazer pattern). Those jackets are lovely but I don’t think Gridlock would have done them justice. Thank you Trish & Felicity for their advice.

The fabric had arrived wrapped in an old McCalls pattern – it seemed like fate.

The colour, while being a very beautiful blue, looked dead against the cream background. It needed a ‘pick-me-up’ so I decided a burst of colour was required.

My first choice was dusty pink but when I visited the fabric store this cerise cotton linen leapt from the pile of bolts, saying ‘Whattaboutme?’. It made the Gridlock POP so I found some matching lining and away I went.

Tessuti Gridlock – POP

I think the temptation with this competition is to clad yourself from head to toe in Gridlock. I decided to create a statement piece (the jacket) and a dress is to complement the statement piece. They complement each other without being ‘matchy-matchy’. The items can be worn by themselves or together as an ‘outfit’. I wore the jacket today with my jeans for a TV interview!

That was the EASY PART.

THE JACKET – MCCALLS 6611

The optional extras that I inflicted on myself:-

• Continuous bias binding
• Made-by-me piping
• Topstitching. Not just the jacket shell but also the lining – in contrasting thread (pink on blue and blue on pink)
• Covered buttons

THE DRESS – MCCALLS 6699

As I prefer to make my life as difficult as possible, I made up Fashion Star pattern (6699) to pair with the jacket. It’s got cute contrast pockets, skirt vent and waistband. The Gridlock fabric is quite bulky so I chose to add strips of it to the pocket lining.

To the dress I added:-

• Topstitching to the neckline and armhole.
• Piping to the waistband (self made as for the jacket). I’ve really proud of the zipper as the piping is pretty close to perfect.
• Underlined the skirt, I was concerned the pockets would show through the skirt.

I will write up a post later in the week about how I did a few things with this project – right now I’m too tired and over it to say much more (except I want to make a t-shirt for therapy).

There are some seriously awesome entrants now for this competition – which you would expect with $1000 on the line.

SHUT UP LIZZY & SHOW US THE PICTURES.

OK. Let the pictures speak for themselves. A little creased due to car travel – no ironing facilities at the lighthouse!

I can’t help but point out – how perfect are these shoes for this outfit!!?? The right colour and even a bit ‘Gridlocky’, it was pure luck, I’ve had these for years!

Even the ominous clouds seem to be the right colour. I have not colour altered these pictures at all.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – alternate view

Tessuti Gridlock. The dress – Cerise with contrasting Gridlock elements

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – sleeves rolled back.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – back view

Tessuti Gridlock – back view. Alas cotton linen is very ‘crushable’.

Some detail pictures…

Tessuti Gridlock: lapel, button, piping, topstitching

Tessuti Gridlock – pocket

Tessuti Gridlock – zipper

Tessuti Gridlock. Shell – construction

Tessuti Gridlock. Lining – construction. Please note I’ve top stitched the lining with contrasting thread!

THANK YOU!
Thank you in particular to Trish, she endured regular random emails from me – which I am sure made little or no sense some days – I even inflicted progress shots on her. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This stopped what was a hard project from also being a long & lonely project.

Thank you also to the Tweeples who checked on my progress and cheered me on, especially Bimble&Pimble with her derby cheers and pom poms.

Good Luck Tessuti Gridlock contestants…

I am STILL working on the never-ending project. I WILL (must) finish soon (I pray). I have nothing of interest to show off today, however all is not lost! You can check out my Desert Island Sewing post over on the ever-delightful Winnie of Scruffy Badger… who I will meet in IRL very very soon!

Desert Island Sewing with Scruffy Badger (aka Winnie)

My epic Tessuti Gridlock project continues. I swear it’s not that epic or amazing but it is taking ages… I don’t know why… I wish I did know… I just want it to be over… (sob)

Tessuti teaser

Ah, I need a holiday… hang on… I seem to recall I am jetting off somewhere soon… London? Paris? Madrid?

I did this a couple of months ago… but just in case you missed it…

Yes, this is all I have to show you today! My scrap pile!

I’m staggered towards the end of my Tessuti project. There was much umming and ahhing along the way but all shall be revealed soon.

Thank you to fabulous readers – all your comments were enormously helpful. In particular thank you to Trish who has been become an excellent email consultant/sewing buddy, we have had lots of emails as I dragged myself through the creative process and having someone to bounce an idea off has been fun.

I find people’s creative processes really interesting. I thought I might write up a post on how I get/drag/inspire myself from A to B when I sew. I’m sure we all have different ways of thinking and doing things.

I feel like I’ve been neglecting the blog – this project is just taking up all of my spare time. It’s amazing how much I miss the comments and writing to you. My sewing IRL is a very individual pursuit, no-one really to talk to and throw ideas around with. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the London meet-up on April 20 (Wow that’s come around fast!!). It’s funny that I haven’t met an Aussie sewing blogger but I am about to meet a huge bunch of UK gals! A huge thank you to Rachel of House of Pinheiro who has been organising the meet-up. Thank you gorgeous girl!

The gorgeous Rachel of House of Pinheiro (IRL I probably only come up to her kneecap)

In the meantime I need to get some sleep and try to finish Stage 1 Project Tessuti tomorrow. This is a fierce competition - there are some fabulous entries – check out the peplum jacket!!

I’ll have some photos soon of Project Tessuti, I promise! Were you the kid that tried to peek under the wrapping paper of your Christmas presents? LOL I was!

I’m ‘almost’ settled on this fabric becoming a jacket – and I will make a skirt to pair with it.

I can’t imagine wearing this as a suit – that said, I think I Heart Fabric’s Tessuti outfit is fabulous – yup I never make any sense. I am shorter than average (yes really – there seems to be a wonderful blog mythconception out there that I am much taller than I really am, that’s OK people let’s stick with that). I tend not to wear too much pattern, particularly darker ones, as I think it visually shortens me – when you have an excessively tall husband you think about these things!

My original plan had been to make up a dress with a bolero. A Simplicity 2444 dress style and a figure hugging bolero using the reverse side of the fabric for trim around the neckline etc.  However after much fabric patting and excessive amounts of umming and ahhing, I just don’t think it’s ‘me’. I just can’t comfortably wear that amount of ‘matchy matchy’.

I think it’s going to be a casual jacket with a skirt with trim, I’m not participating in sewing challenges or competitions unless I can do them the SewBusyLizzy way, I’m interested in makign things which are ‘me’, a reflection of my style, taste and lifestyle. Anything else feels like a sellout.

I’ve narrowed it down my jacket choices to four. Yesterday it was two, the indecision is killing me!!

The contenders

Burda Style 7401

I’ve had a crush on this pattern ever since Handmade by Carolyn made it for her daughter – I love the slouchy style of it. I can imagine wearing it and loving it – with a short skirt or coloured skinny jeans. I’m just worried the fabric is a bit ‘busy’ for it, then again sometimes those visual conflicts work a treat. Love the soft flippy peplum. Would make the long sleeve version.

McCalls 6611

I’ve made this before and really love the jacket. I like the peplum and the cropped style.

Burda Style 7495

Clearly I’m developing a peplum obsession (and excuse me that chick looks like she wielding a riding crop – so stern!). I’m small and I like the shape peplums create, a bit of curvy illusion is good for a skinny wench. I like both the short-sleeved and long-sleeved version. Worried it’s a bit mother-of-the-bride in a so much pattern, not creating it as a suit.

Crossover blazer – Burda Style

Just love this one. Would have to buy it online and tiled it all together… and no seam allowances make things more complicated again…

I’m interested in your thoughts, I think ELH is sick of hearing about it…

I often find hearing people’s thoughts help me clarify my own. And quite frankly having mental conversations with myself has been going on for weeks, I’m getting quite sick of the little person in my head prattling on endlessly! Let’s shut her up.

Have you seen Karen’s (Did You Make That) fabulous Minoru in the Tessuti challenge? That girl can sew!

IN OTHER SEWBUSY NEWS

I’ve started this jacket. Looking nice… so far… I’m up to the fringing. I wish Burda Style had more patterns starting at 32 or 34. So many of them start at 36.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

So I searched the Burda site again and found this jacket which could be contender No.5.

Stop looking Lizzy and sew something!!! SOMEBODY STOP ME.

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress

I made this for Aislinn, my one & only niece (I have four nephews). The fact it’s so cute will hopefully make up for the fact her baptism was last weekend. Oops.

This is a downloadable pattern – I believe it is no longer in print. That’s a shame as it’s a lovely age-appropriate (ie not old-fashioned daggy) dress for little girls. This is a size 12 months-18 months. Tiny! The pattern is sized 6-12 months to 3 years and you can also download it as age 4-8. My daughters both want shirtdresses now, fortunately I won a magazine from The Perfect Nose and I have a shirtdress in the queue from that.

Unfortunately I could not find a shop that would print the large format sheet on the weekend (it provides a tiled pattern as well as a large format pattern sheet) so I tiled the pages myself. The logic of the PDF layout of Oliver + S is outstanding and putting them together was a breeze.

This itty bitty little shirtmaker dress has a Peter Pan style collar and a button placket. I had never constructed a placket before but the instructions are very clear and it was easy. Fiddly but easy.

The one thing that threw me was the 1/2 inch seam allowance – instead of 5/8 seam allowance. I chanted it to myself every time I went to the machine LOL.

I stuck to the pattern with just a few little SewBusy touches…

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress sleeve tab

• I used press studs rather than buttons on the placket. They seemed more practical and less swallowable than buttons.
• I attached little white flower buttons on the contrast sleeve tabs and pocket flaps (with some little bits of green contrast stitching)
• Added a little lace trim to the hem, cos a gal can’t be over-trimmed.

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress pocket

And the finishing touch? My own little label – courtesy of ELH, the Ever Lovin’ Husband. It seemed appropriate to use the first one on his god-daughter/niece’s dress.

SewBusyLizzy Label – the slip stitching is a bit messy – I was excited at this point!

It’s actually our 13th wedding anniversary tomorrow.

One of my friends once said I should blog my wedding dress. I didn’t make it but she said it’s so lovely I should share it with you. It’s fairly simple in style. What do you think? It still fits

Pattern Review RTW Competition
The RTW Pattern Review competition voting is about to close. I’m pretty confident that I’m not going to win in fact I think one of my blog followers will! when I saw her dress I thought ‘yup that’s the winner!‘. That’s cool. I realised when I decided to make the dress that it wasn’t the ‘showstopper’ ‘prize winner’ type, it’s too ‘everyday’ however I wanted to create an everyday dress that I would adore wearing and that’s exactly what I did. I continue to wear my gingham 15 pound Aussie shirtdress a lot and it always receives high compliments, in fact my hairdresser complimented me. I mentioned I had made it and she laughed “I was just thinking… I should get some fabric I think I could make that“. It really is the best knock-off yet – people want to knock-off my knock-off! LOL

And back @ SewBusy Headquarters…
I’m thread-tracing my jacket pattern. Yes, it’s time-consuming and intense… but it’s relaxing & fun… yes, I’m not kidding! I don’t joke about sewing. This is serious stuff.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

Jump Rope Dress details
Pattern from here.
Fabric: Japanese lawn from Spotlight (Australia).