NOT A DARLING – MAYBE NOT A WIGGLE?

I’m very frustrated. I have the house to myself this week and yet I am not able to make anything it seems. So here I sit, blogging to you (or myself quite possibly…).

Megan Neilsen’s Darling Ranges with a Lisette cotton voile. I don’t think I’m this pattern’s Darling… alas…

The Darling Ranges dress continues to defy me. I guess I should have expected no less, I’m a full two inches under the XS size – I tried a SBA and moving the bust dart upwards… to no avail… so I’ve put it aside yet again. That fabric was more expensive than I usually buy so I’m not risking it. I think it this fabric is destined to become another dress.

Since I wasnt a ‘Darling’, for some completely bizarre reason that not even I can fathom, I thought it was time for me to discover my inner Wiggle (which I fear may be a mere Shimmy) and decided to make Gertie’s Butterick dress. If Darling Ranges has me beat I’m not quite sure why I thought tackling a dress with boning and lining was a good idea… or in red polka dot taffeta… this is probably going to be my biggest folly yet.

Gertie’s Butterick 5814 – pattern and fabric

I was stumped on size but Gertie was very helpful via Twitter about sizing. Allow 1-2 inches for ease in the bust, 1 in the waist and 2 in the hips (I must be the only person in the sewing blogosphere not taking part in the coat sewalong, so she is probably humoring the mad Aussie).

MariaDenmark Yasmin Yoke Skirt pattern

The week hasn’t been a complete loss as I have made a very cute little a-line skirt. MariaDenmark sent me her brand new Yasmin Yoke Skirt pattern to try the weekend before last – thank you so much Maria it really made my week. I’ve really been struggling with crippling exhaustion on the weekends – only to recover for another five work days, then collapse in an absolute heap again. I’m more than tired, I can’t function unless I sleep for several hours in the middle of the day on weekends. I’m reading blogs but struggling to comment as I’m too tired to think. What’s with that?? Anyway Maria’s pattern arrived on Sunday night and I put it together during the week and then sewed it up on Sunday afternoon/night after the family left for Tasmania.

I’m loving making separates at the moment I must say. I’ve made it in a wine-coloured  ’butter suede’, which is super synthetic – an unusual choice for me but it feels great.

I’ve got plenty to say about the pattern – however you will have to wait as I have no-one to take photos. I did try but they are tragic beyond measure – I’m just sharing a thumbnail of a self-portrait in the mirror – I’d like to post a nicepicture when I get back from Tasmania (where the camera is on holiday) as Maria deserves it and I will be making some more! I hopefully don’t get frostbite modelling it… it has been snowing at the holiday house!

I’ll be a long way from my barefoot beaches this weekend!

So I will post as soon as I can (about the skirt… not the frostbite!) – watch this space. In the meantime check out Meg The Grand’s epic cartoon version and a work version.

And if you have ever been put off downloadable patterns – don’t be. The actual pattern for this skirt is just 12 pages! Yes 12 pages. Read that again TWELVE PAGES. I was amazed and it is well drafted. The pockets aren’t quite as large as I’m used to, but then the Kelly and Vogue 1247 skirts have freaky large pockets so you shouldn’t compare those with this. I also suspect huge pockets would ruin the line of this neat little skirt. Maria’s Yasmin Yoke Skirt pattern is available on Craftsy, Pattern Review or of course ShopOnion (which includes VAT). Maria is finishing up her teaching job to concentrate on her pattern business – yay for Maria!

I had a huge giggle when I read the description for this skirt… “ a cute A-line shaped yoke skirt in two lengths, with curved front pockets. This skirt is perfect for everyday wear. The skirt is designed to sit at the belly button and the yoke keeps any tummy fluff in.” It comes in two lengths, above and below the knee.It goes without saying (after my Vogue 1247 skirt post) that I made it in the hussy length (above the knee). And my tummy fluff is quite happy thank you for asking.

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE TALES (not tails – they don’t have them)

The koalas have certainly generated a bit of interest – in fact there have been some google search terms that have made it clear people are trying to figure out where is this koala/beach paradise where SewBusyLizzy hangs out?

So I decided to share another story of Australian wildlife intelligence with you…

I woke up one night to the sound of a very large rat just outside my bedroom door. I woke up the Ever-Lovin’ Husband and made him get up to check it out. He is no more fond of rats than me but he ‘manned’ up for the event. After a little bit of poking around the kids’ school bags, he gave up and turned on the hall light…

We found a very large koala madly trying to break in the front door – we have black-glass reflective doors – so there is every chance he thought he had found the love of his life… no photos of the koala making passionate love to the front door unfortunately due to its reflective nature.

We eventually open the front door and he ambled up the path and then decided to take the closest tree… which was our downpipe.

Koala – going up a downpipe!

After an ear-shatteringly noisy ascent, he was most perplexed to only find guttering instead of branches and leaves. So he commenced an ear-shatteringly noisy descent and then we shooed him up the driveway and into the reserve near our house.

Yes they are funny little creatures.

Boomdeeadda nominated me for a Lovely Blogger Award – which was a lovely surprise. It was a lovely surprise on Sunday night after feeling so deperately tired for the previous two days. Thanks Boomdeeadda (and your blog header is gorgeous!) - I will need to write a separate post about that. So… watch this space.

Anyway I’m off to trace off another bit of my Wiggle/Shimmy dress…

Thanks for listening!

KELLY’S OTHER SIDE… Megan Nielsen’s skirt returns…

My first Kelly was very sweet and girly. Now this is my other side, grunge mum. I love them both.

Megan Nielsen’s Kelly Skirt in camo – this is very ‘weekend’ me, camo and boots. I love these boots!!

I REALLY do love this simple sweet little pattern.

Why? Well, because it is SO simple. I can concentrate on adding little unique finishing touches and my energy is devoted to lovely finishes – rather than becoming distracted or frustrated by complex instructions or fancy design lines.

Megan Nielsen’s Kelly Skirt in camo – I added belt loops and contrast pockets.

That’s not to say I don’t love complex design lines or a challenging pattern. I do. However I have a lot of love in my heart for this pattern, it’s just delightful. It’s feminine, classic and simple.

Megan Nielsen’s Kelly Skirt in camo – back view

This time I added four belt loops, placed above the pockets and back pleats. I also used contrasting pink polka dot cotton for the pocket lining (leftovers from my Minoru) and finished the interior pocket raw edges with some black bias binding I found at a local op/thrift shop. I top stitched around the hem twice, stitched the waistband down by hand. In general, I just took my sweet time and enjoyed the project.

Megan Nielsen’s Kelly Skirt in camo – finished off the pockets with some bias binding. French Side seams.

I used buttons with a mottled silver/grey tone and added a black satin ribbon for a belt. I like the mix of grunge and girly.

Megan Nielsen’s camoflauge Kelly Skirt – sweetened up with a satin bow (which I should have tied more neatly – grosgrain next time!). I might try it with a black leather belt too…

Roobeedoo has certainly caught the Kelly fever. She knocked out this fabulous print version (most jealous and impressed by it!) and then this quirky version. And it sounds like she has another on the boil! If you still need convincing, check out the pattern testers on Megan Nielsen’s blog. They are all cute, wearable and versatile.

I’m having a slight love affair with camouflage at the moment. I adore denim and camouflage prints for casual wear. These soft contrasting camo prints look a bit grunge with black or gorgeous with pinks, pastels and lace (well in my opinion anyway…).

I am thinking about a straight camo skirt next, above the knee teamed with a white button-up shirt knotted at the waist with flats… perfect for summer…

And I really need a pink pastel Banksia blouse to go with this one… or another MariaDenmark Birgette tee…

However the next project is something a little different (well for me anyway…).

Project details:
Pattern: Megan Nielsen’s Kelly Skirt from Sew Squirrel
Fabric: $3 cotton drill from Spotlight
Buttons: $3 from Lincraft.
T-shirt: Metalicus, black cotton with lace sleeves

DON’T FORGET… You can still comment on my MariaDenmark t-shirt post and go in the draw to win this newly released PDF download pattern… hop on over and comment before next Tuesday  and read about this inspiring designer!

ACCIDENTLY KELLY SKIRT – MEGAN NIELSEN