My Shirtdress… and the 15 Pound Aussie Project…

I’m no supermodel but I can sew!

Vogue 8028 mash-up – and the Shabby Apple inspiration dress

The hemline doesn’t look even but it is – it was just BLOWING A GALE! More on that later…

I fell madly in love with this dress when I spotted it on LLadybird’s blog for a Shabby Apple promo months ago. Unfortunately when Shabby Apple do promotions via blogs they are only ever for USA residents so I needed to make this myself.Then along came the RTW Challenge on Pattern Review and I could think of no better excuse to make it.

I had grand visions of my blog photo for this dress. Alas, the Blogs Gods were not smiling upon me. In my little corner of the world it has been raining forever (not really but it feels like it!) and we are recovering from one of our biggest floods in decades. I’ve had to ‘make do’.

I’m SoSadLizzy as I really really really wanted to win this competition. First prize $200 Mood Fabrics voucher, second prize $100 Mood Fabrics voucher. My lust is insatiable – before this was announced I had been drooling over my dream Anise fabric. Alas our river is in full flood, our jetties surrounded by flood debris, our glorious beaches are trashed and the rain continues to fall. Boo. Sob. Howl. Life can be so unjust!! If that’s the worst I’ll ever suffer in a flood I can live with that.

Many of the entries so far are fancy – and I respect that and no doubt they will smash me in the voting stakes, lace and couture stuff is sexy. That’s OK, I love this dress, I will wear it alot and I’ve been dying to make it for months. I’d rather make a dress that I love and wear often than a statement piece that I wear once. Oh dear I’ve become so practical…

I think my dress is similiar in spirit but (ahem) better than Shabby Apple’s. When I really really looked at the Overboard dress, I really didn’t like the collar – it had no band, it wasn’t notched. The button placket makes my eyeballs cranky as the pattern matching is poor. I also didn’t like how the skirt pleats created a visual mess at the waistline. My alterations addressed this, don’t we always gloat that made-by-me is better, so why slavishly copy an original? Improve it!

I used the top of Vogue 8028 (this is out of print, I got it on ebay for about $5). This pattern is a full shirt dress, buttons to the hem – Overboard is not, it’s a shirtmaker dress – buttons just to the waist with a zip under the arm. This Vogue pattern also does not include a pleated skirt. In the end I just used the top pattern pieces.

I changed the construction order to suit my alterations. I made up the front and back as instructed and attached them at the shoulders. I inserted the sleeves flat. I did not sew up the sides at this point. First I created pleated skirt panels. Pleating gingham is super easy – you just use the checks as a guideline. I pleated so the navy gingham check forms a visual waistband – the pleats point inwards. I then attached skirt panels to the tops. Without the sash my dress looks like this at the waistline…

Vogue 8028 mash-up – waistline

I then inserted an invisible zipper under one arm (which broke the first time I tried on the dress! Growl!). I sewed up the sides and hemmed the dress. Yes, it really was that easy!

I only made the top button a ‘real’ buttonhole. Shirtmaker dresses are great if buttonholes and buttons scare you. I sewed the buttonholes through all layers of the fabric – with the exception of the top buttonhole so I can leave it open & casual. The buttonholes secure the front, there is less chance of the buttons pulling and gaping. I simply sew the buttons over the top of the buttonhole, noone can tell and the dress front sits nice and flat. You escape the dress via an invisible zip under your arm!

I made the sash from scrap red lawn I had. Buttons were $2.99 at Lincraft.

I think my check matching was reasonable, not perfect but better than Shabby Apple by a long shot.

Vogue 8028 mash-up – sleeve details

Vogue 8028 mash-up – shirt front

Vogue 8028 mash-up – collar back view

So in a few days I will probably be back, begging, crying, pleading for your vote on Pattern Review… I’m totally cool if you are not a fan or you prefer the other entries (I may cry for weeks but sewing therapy will get me through – and there are a stack of other things on Shabby Apple I want to make up). You can only vote if you are a Pattern Review Member for at least the last 3 months. I like Pattern Review and use it a lot, it is a good solid resource to check any potential pattern purchases against – it’s the first place I check out. (Note to self: get over there in the next two days and load up your review, images and entry – stop talking about it and start typing!)

What makes me most proud is that I modified pattern significantly – I never imagined I could achieve this sort of customised result when I started blogging last April.

THE 15 POUND AUSSIE

In January I was contacted by Will of Abakhan Fabric via Twitter, he asked if I would like to be part of a budget bloggers’ project. Invited bloggers can select goods to the value of 15 pounds from their website once a month and make anything they choose. I pointed out that I lived in Australia but Will said that was OK. I have quite a lot of UK readers/followers so it made sense to me – and what a fun challenge!

This is great project for me, I’m a budget stitcher. The majority of my makes come from the bargain table, yes I’m picky and they are often beautiful voiles and lawn, but I freak out at paying a fortune for anything. Must be my ancestral Scottish blood (or the Welsh or English bits of me – or it could just be the cheeky cheapskate Aussie) can be blamed (or credited) for this!

Ten Pound Poms is Aussie slang to describe the British who migrated to Australia after the Second World War under an assisted passage scheme run by the Australian Government. Adults could migrate for 10 pounds sterling and children for free. So I’ve called myself the 15 Pound Aussie. Any of these Abakhan Fabric projects I’m going to tag as 15 Pound Aussie on my blog. Keep an eye out for them and if you are in the UK especially, don’t underestimate their range, it took me DAYS to choose! When I’ve over in the UK in 1 month and 17 days (not counting, really I’m not) I shall be buying up their bias binding range!

I made this dress from fabric sent to me by Abakan Fabrics in the UK.

This is my first project from this blogging challenge. An enormously wearable dress which used less than 2 metres of fabric at the princely sum of £3.35 pounds a metre, so £7.70 for the fabric plus $3 Aussie for the buttons. The RTW dress is currently on sale for $US 86. Bargain I say.

15 Pound Aussie win. Thanks Abakhan Fabrics!

Images credits: Shabby Apple and Sewbusylizzy.

#SewingDares complete

So things gotta little outta hand on Twitter the other day and the sewing Tweet Peeps started to throw #sewingdares around the globe – nothing scary – just little challenges to shake up our sewing worlds. So what dares are floating about out there? And who is to blame for such craziness? Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow of course – she who threw us into the Top 5 of 2012 frenzy! Read more about #SewingDares here… perhaps you want one?

What was my #SewingDare?

Hack a favourite pattern into something new. And Ooah suggested I hack Maria Denmark Day/Night Cowl top into a dress.

So I did.

Some suggested I just lengthen the top and turn it into a dress… however I had just cut out the Dress of Legend – Vogue 1250. It occurred to me that the way this dress is constructed is the secret to it popularity and flattering shape. I decided I could use that as inspiration to hack my beloved cowl neck pattern into a dress which had similar properties to The Dress of Legend.

If you haven’t made Vogue 1250 – The Dress of Legend (I think I was the last blogger ever to make this) – it had just three pieces… a front piece, and upper back piece and a back neck facing piece. “but what covers the junk trunk SewBusyLizzy??” I hear you cry. The front piece wraps around from the waist down to cover the junk trunk (consider them junk trunk flaps). There is a centre back seam over the junk trunk and your back is covered by just one pattern piece.

My rough muslin make up of Vogue 1250 looks like this…

The famous Vogue 1250 – sorry a very tired SewBusyLizzy picture after work and drinks.

I lengthened the Maria Denmark Day-to-Night top in a similar manner – adding junk trunk flaps. I shortened the back piece and scooped it.

The hacked Maria Denmark Day to Night dress – forgive the messy side, I haven’t trimmed the side of the pattern piece which sits on the fold. Messy Girl!

As my pattern pieces require no back neck facing as I simply finished the back neck and armholes with invisible elastic – so there are just two pattern pieces. Vogue 1250 has three.

I got some super cheap fabric to experiment with. The front piece is not quite perfect, I need to fiddle a little with the angles of the side cut-out area. From pattern re-draft to cutting out to sewing to wear – about one hour (loving that overlocker/serger). Yes really. This is what I ended up with…

The ‘hacked’ Maria Denmark Day to Night dress

Maria Denmark Day to Night dress- back

How do the two dresses compare? Well I like the blue fabric of the Vogue better - however I prefer the construction of the Day to Night dress, the overall shape, the cowl is much easier to construct and it’s also got more fabric in the cowl and the inside edges of the cowl don’t peek out the way they do in the Vogue. Plus this is a better size for me. The smallest size of the Vogue just feels too roomy across my shoulders and I feel a little swamped.

I think I might re-make my pattern hack again. In the blue fabric, fiddle with the side pattern pieces, shorten the back piece a little. This is more my kinda dress than the Vogue dress. It feels younger, funkier and less fiddly than the Vogue. The fit is much better.

And is it a Day to Night Dress? Yes. I wore it to work the day after I made it and to drinks that night with colleagues. Oh and I got lots of compliments… and lots of oogling looks…

#SewingDare WIN.

I’ve told you before – you NEED this pattern.

Quikc post tonight – not sure if I’ve left out any vital info, just ask questions if any of the above is not clear

Top 5 Favourite/Most Worn 2012

Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow is posting her Top 5 hits/misses/reflections/inspirations/goals for 2012. Great idea.

I think it’s always great to sit back and reflect on hits & misses – celebrate your moments of joy and absorb what you have learnt from the ‘minor’ hiccups.

So here are mine. Can you guess Number 1? Sorry no prizes for guessing the obvious…

SEWAHOLIC CAMBIE - I’ve got THE CAMBIE POX
Well you are hardly surprised are you? I adore these dresses. Beautiful finish, fit and the two skirts produce two completely different dresses. I adore my floral the most, with polka dots a very close second and then the lovely black number (it’s very sensible which makes outrageous adoration a little pathetic).

Sewaholic Cambie, View B. The perfect sundress, pretty, ladylike but not ‘old & fussy’.

SEWAHOLIC ALMA - not squee or twee
The perfect woven top. No buttons, no buttonholes, no fuss, versatile, comfortable. Perfect. If I had to teach the world to sew in perfect harmony… we would all be making Almas. There is enough variation in that pattern to keep anyone happy.I would be hard pressed (no pun intended) to choose a favourite between these tops.

Sewaholic Alma – view A

Sewaholic Alma – not squee or twee… just me

VOGUE 1247 Skirt & top - the tardis skirt and top
Love, love, love this skirt. Amazing. Best casual skirt ever. I wear it all year round thanks to boots and leggings. We are BFFs.
Top is gorgeous. It could look big and boxy but in the right fabric it drapes beautifully. I wear the skirts and top… a lot.
This picture doesn’t do the pattern justice. However if you don’t have this pattern you really must buy it.

What I really wore all day… Vogue 1247 top and skirt…

VOGUE 1236 - not a sack of potatoes a frolicking frock!
This was one of my early makes. It’s not super flash but it’s so comfortable, nicely finished and I wear it quite a lot. A lovely simple pattern.

Vogue 1236 – Definitely not a Sack of Potatoes

SEWAHOLIC LONSDALE
I made this last week and worn it twice already. Great casual summer dress, flattering, simple to make and comfortable. Yes, yes! Pictures coming very soon.

Sewaholic Lonsdale fabric choice

HONORABLE MENTIONS

MARIADENMARK
I haven’t had a chance to take photos for the blog for my Yasmin Yoke skirts. Or make my final pair of Winnie Wide Leg Trousers. I suspect they will be on my 2013 Top 5 list!

Life intervened in a spectacular way late this year… work, family, you name it, was all going pear shaped. Casual clothes I find easy to photograph as I spend lots of time on the beach. Work clothes I am always racing out the door and the evenings are long and late and the light is bad. Great simple design, easy to wear and make. Although I did sneak in this picture when I had to pick one of my girls up (sent home from school sick – so I enlisted her to take a blog photo. Come on! She just had ‘itchy eyes’ which turned out to be an allergy and was better within an hour of medication and home!)

Sewaholic Alma – as a work blouse. I’ve paired this with Maria Denmark a-line Yasmin Yoke skirt!

I have only muslined the Winnie wide leg trousers, I suspect these are my perfect trousers. They fit perfectly, I adore the wide legs and they are really easy to cut out and put together. There are not a million and one pieces. Just a simple clean design. Love them. There will be a ‘real’ pair of these in 2013.

MariaDenmark Winnie Trousers: muslin back

Love the simple t-shirt and look forward to making more – I also printed out the Kimino tshirt pattern this week. I’ve also just purchased her brand new Day to Night top which I’ve just got to get some elastic for! It’s just $5.50 on Craftsy at the moment – special introductory price!!

MariaDenmark Birgitte Basic T-shirt – short sleeved t-shirt

SELFLESS SEWING
I adored making the Fishing Vest, it was trimmed with all manner of frivolousness, she admires it, I adored making it.

A Fishing Vest – this project was a blast, I loved every minute.

Confirmation dress. Not my most stellar make but again Miss 7 adores it and that’s the most important thing of all! I think it’s in her Top 5!

Giselle’s confirmation – she is doing well not to shiver. It was freezing and they made us wait outside in a cold wind for 20 minutes! Lovely!

APRONS
This might seem a weird choice but I loved making these – thank you Karen for a light-hearted sewalong that really got me to make something completely different! I loved photographing them – particularly when the tourists started taking pictures of me too! They are just fun. I’ve even made an amazing one as a Christmas gift. Yes, yes! You can see it soon!

Butterick B5474, view E: Strawberry Fields Forever. Oh and that? In the background? That’s coathanger – also known as Sydney Harbour Bridge.

HOODIES FOR NICE GIRLS… Vogue 8854

I made a hoodie…

Vogue 8854 hoodie – for a ‘nice’ girl

I can’t be a bad-ass cos it’s a Vogue hoodie. Yes the hoodie for ‘nice’ girls… from the latest season release from Vogue.

I used a Marc Jacobs knit that I picked up in Sydney’s Surrey Hills The Fabric Store last month. It’s divine. Soft and cuddly. Navy on one side and royal blue on the other. And a screaming bargain at just $8 a metre. Yes, yes I know you are really jealous now… I only needed 1.6m for this top!  I got the pattern for about $7 (including postage in a major indulgence haul from BMV).

Vogue 8854 hoodie – neck closed with toggle

Rachel of MyMessings in Twitter suggested making it fully reversible with flat fell seams… completely awesome idea… I eventually came to the conclusion the fabric would be a little thick (the fabric! not me thank you very much!). Good decision. I snapped two needles making this hoodie (or maybe it’s more of a bad ass hoodie than I thought).

My biggest dilemma was whether navy should be on the outside or inside. I know! Decisions!! I nearly put navy on the outside. However I have quite a few dark jeans and felt the royal blue was more versatile… and sometimes a huge chunk of shapeless navy or black just looks… well… shapeless.

This is absolutely nothing fancy (except the dead posh fabric of course) about this. I love the contrast colour that you see inside the lower back hem, hood and neck facing.

Vogue 8854 hoodie – back view

I found the hem went a little wavy/wonky but I’m not too concerned. I think it will settle down with some wash & wear. Again I think the weight of the fabric is an issue here… but it’s so snuggly all is forgiven. Despite being quite thick fabric, it’s very soft and drapey.

It’s extremely comfortable, easy to wear and I think will be a casual winter favourite. It’s not fancy wear but hey, everyone needs a little ‘slouch’ in their life right?

Vogue 8854 – hood up

• I turned under the inside edges of the neck facings. They just looked untidy unfinished or overlocked.
• I flipped over the fabric to get a contrast on my neck facing when the toggle is undone. I thought from the look of the pattern only one facing would be revealed. Doh! Not true (although I could be a little neater in my styling – this was a slap on the nearest jeans/footwear and run into the backyard photo shoot). I don’t mind it so much as I figure it’s going to be done up most of the time. Note to self: stop trying to be tricky.
  

  Vogue hoodie – all the guts – no glory. Still need to tidy up the end of the neck/hood seam. It was tough to sew through the thickness of the fabric neatly.

• I used a wooden toggle instead of a button – a suggestion from ELH.
• I omitted the snaps which are to hold the flap down more firmly. I just think they would look messy with the neck open.
• I used a twin needle on the hem and cuffs. Yeah I know, dead fancy for a hoodie right?
• I set the sleeves in flat because… well it’s just so much easier! There is no gathering in the sleeves. I attached the sleeves and then sewed up the sleeve and side seams in one go. Why make life hard for yourself?
• I love this fabric and I like the cuffs turned back so the contrast inner shows. I haven’t stitched these back as I want the length for the colder winter days. Yes, tragically I live somewhere where winter isn’t really that cold and this will probably be quite snug most days…
  

  Vogue hoodie – neck open.

• I hand-stitched the outside bottom of the neck opening down, rather than edge stitching along the bottom edge as the pattern says. I found the edge stitching was very obvious due to the thickness of the fabric. It created a giant puffy indentation. Not so fancy. I also stitched a little further up the bottom of the opening as I did not want to put little press studs to close the opening. I just thought it would look messy when the toggle was undone.

I figure if I get sick of the ‘bum flap’ as I have nicknamed it, I can always shorten it a little.

Next time I am fortunate enough to make it to The Fabric Store, I am going to pick up some lightweight Metalicus wool fabric, or NZ merino knit. I think this would make a gorgeous t-shirt weight top. Almost like a tunic… I suspect this is the sort of fabric Vogue have used in their top.

Good news? I’ve got the same fabric coming my way at Christmas courtesy of my mother-in-law. this time it’s soft pink and fawn… not sure if it’s another hoodie or a jacket… I’ll have to wait ’til it talks to me…

Random interesting facts about hoodies: Madalynne recently posted about hoodies and a little about their origins.

IN OTHER SEWBUSY NEWS…

Whole Wheat Progress, the back

I’m knitting a cardigan… I think… I had a major brain explosion and couldn’t nut out the pattern. When I woke up one morning this week and went ‘Doh! You IDIOT’ (and that was being nice to myself – I can knit I’m just not very good at it – and of course I’ve chosen a pattern with lace and cables… see My Messings… I’ve been in love with this pattern ever September she posted it as a consideration in her knitting adventures… she went on to knit Miette.. and has now started Whole Wheat by Alexandra Charlotte Dafoe (you can pick up the pattern for $7 on Ravelry – where I am SewBusyLizzy if you wanna be friends) … I decided I could not live without it anymore either.Now I have figured out the pattern I don’t know what my problem was…. other than being ridiculously tired of course…

Funny… I can sew a dress with boning, lining and underlining but knitting is hard!

Final picture – taken by Miss 9 at bedtime on the iPhone…

Hoodie shot by Miss 9

Now I have to go and cut out a corporate jacket for Miss 9 who is starring as the corporate b*&^% who tries to outsource the elves work at Santa’s workshop. Cheery Christmas stuff…

Sew Blah Lizzy aka VOGUE 1224

Vogue 1224 – not feeling the love

OK I don’t hate Vogue 1224, in fact I’ve worn it a few times.

It’s comfortable. I’ve worn it a few times. I really like the fact the skirt is lined. I could eat three lamb roasts (with vegetables) and still have room to move in it.

Do I love it?

No. It just feels ‘blah’. Ordinary. Everyday. And I have nicer dresses that are ‘everyday’ that look a lot better and flatter me more.

This was rated as one of the Best Patterns of 2011 by Pattern Review. Now I’ve made a couple of these patterns (here and here) and love them. This I don’t love. We don’t even feel like acquaintances.

Things I’ve learnt

1. Elastic waists are not my ‘thing’. I have to wear a belt with this dress to escape the potato sack look – I’m sure that look will be in fashion one day – but not in my world.
2. I’m not 100% confident that stretch dresses are my ‘thing’ either – shame as they are comfortable in that tracky dak (tracksuit pant) kinda way.
3. The Peasant Girl gathered neckline with flappy sleeves is not ringing my bell – which is quite a relief as I think I’m more suited to the Lady of the Manor lifestyle.

Vogue 1224 – I think 1224 is code for blah. You can tell I’m loving it in this picture… can’t you?

Not much to say about this one. I’m not saying it’s a bad pattern – to be honest it is great fun to sew. I feel like a little twig in this number with my stick arms blowin’ in the breeze. There are benefits to being lean but there are bootilicious-lacking pitfalls as well.

I added an inch to the hemline because I’d read it was a little saucy in the length department. Maybe a saucier length might have saved it.

I used a double needle for the first time. I thought they were complicated for some weird reason. I just watched some YouTube and realised that double-threading your sewing machine is not rocket science after all. Doh! I am no longer put off hemming stretch tops. That’s an excellent outcome.

Oh well I might just have to wear it to the beach… because I do have the lifestyle for plenty of those sorts of dresses…

Vogue 1224 – nothing flash

Vogue 1224 – back view. Yes, definitely needs a belt.

Vogue 1224 – I simply don’t like this dress without a belt to define my waist. I feel like a little sack of spuds…. I think the whippet has just done a ‘wheelie’ around me at this point and splashed me!

I like my lemon Peony more, it’s just as comfortable as I did’t take it in to fit like a glove. I prefer to wear wovens. Maybe silk jersey is better however I’m not getting that in my neighbourhood. This is some plastic-feeling concoction. I do like the stretch net skirt lining – comfortable!!

I’ve had this urge to make swimwear lately. However I think they would make me feel even more blah so I’m heading back to the sewing room to finish some trousers (which I am loving Maria!) and a Sewaholic Alma blouse that has me all a-flutter… and sitting here blogging about a pattern I’m not mad about is not getting those finished.

Thanks for all your feedback about my slightly wacky apron photos. It was great fun and I even won the Apronalong giveaway. Hooray! Thank you Karen

Oh… I’ve had an overdose of reality lately and thank you to those who have been so lovely xox perhaps recent events and just feeling weary is contributing to my blah response to this dress…

No I think it’s just blah…

NEW VOGUE PATTERNS

I knew it! A super-prolonged BMV sale always leads to a new pattern catalogue release.

It appears someone at Vogue was listening and they have ditched most of the ridiculous (but highly entertaining) poses that appeared in the last few releases. They also seem to have realised that using super busy prints actually hides all of those pattern design details that are of interest to stitchers.

And I must say I am finding plenty to like in the new bunch.

I love everything about this dress from Kay Unger, waist tucks, cowl neck, nice length, gorgeous colour… I am buying this as soon as there is another BMV sale!

Vogue 1328 – Kay Unger

And this from Anne Klein, I like that neckline detail but it’s looking a little messy I think fabric choice would be very important to make sure this sits nicely…

Vogue 1327 – Anne Klein

I was liking this but I think that the single side panel of colour might look a bit skew-iff on me… perhaps in a single colour or less contrast, ie black and dark grey it might work, everything else in lovely – check out the line art on the Vogue website by clicking the image…

Vogue 1329 – Kay Unger

There are a few with super busy fabrics but the lines are simple and the fabrics sing. I really love this fabric (would look horrid on me) and the dress is very wearable and the collar is cute (I love me a good belt).

V8847 – very easy Vogue

I would quite honestly lie down and die if I even found this fabric in a shop – fabulous!!! Not sure about the back drapes but interesting…

V8846 – Custom fit

There is a Claire Shaeffer jacket but I think the twists at the waist would be a bit too bulky for me…

V8845 - Claire Shaeffer jacket

Don’t freak out about the fishtail peplum (which I think I would actually like as black lace on a black dress I think…) but this pattern has a wide range of options and I think would be a good investment…

V8849 – Vogue Options

I like this jacket and I particularly like the side profile – not so sure about the little furry creature nestled on her head… I think the cap in the second picture is a much better option!

V8861 front view – and it’s ‘easy’

V8861 – side view

And heavens above I’m not sure whether I am having a moment but I really like this jacket. I might wake up tomorrow and realise I was having a brain fart… The pattern is an entire wardrobe and I like everything except for the pants, which are not a good match for this jacket. Check it out at the Vogue site for the back view - which I can’t upload for some reasons…

V8866 Misses’ Jacket, Belt, Top, Dress, Skirt and Pants

There are 34 new patterns in all – go & cruise the new collection. (I cannot tell you how much I wish I could wear a skirt like this somewhere – how fabulous…)

What do you think?

Disclaimer: All images remain copyright of their original owners and are used here for purposes of illustration and discussion.

VOGUE 1247 from head to toe

Vogue 1247 – top and skirt. First Vogue 1247 outing, we had a picnic dinner on Town Green, it was getting dark so not the best picture but I do like the vividness of the fabric in this light. I look exhausted… I am….

Vogue 1247 – back view. This is the next afternoon, on the ‘dog beach’.

The Vogue 1247 skirt was one of the first things I made this year. I nicknamed it The Tardis Skirt because it has hidden pockets in the yoke seam – they can hold a truckload of stuff. I was inspired to return to this pattern after Karen from Did You Make That? recently posted her 1247 skirt – I had already purchased the fabric for a skirt and top so Karen’s post provided the motivation I needed to get started.

I had planned to make the Darling Ranges dress first in my Spring/Summer Sewing plans but the bodice muslin was a disaster so I’ve put it aside for now. Vogue 1247 is the first one I can tick off my seasonal sewing list.

The top took three evening sewing session in total to trace, cut out and sew. I had been intimidated by all the French seams in this top and allocated it to my mental ‘too hard’ basket. I’ve recently started to French seam anything I can… mainly because it’s faster than zig-zag or overlocking stitch, the interior finish is much neater and saves a lot of thread!

The trickiest part of this project was cutting out the fabric for the top. Rayon is not much fun to cut out so I used my rotary cutter as much as possible.

Despite not feeling confident that I could manage to get all those seams to meet at the front, it’s almost perfect! It’s probably out by less than a millimetre but I think I can live with that. The print is very ‘busy’ and I could have missed by a ‘country mile’ and it would be very hard to spot when I actually have the top on.

Vogue 1247 – French seamed top.

I machined the hem as the pattern directed but I didn’t like how the hem fell. I ended up handstitching the hem and unpicking the machine stitching. The top is much more fluid as a result, the hem less obvious. It was worth the extra time.

I just adore this pattern and can’t recommend it highly enough.

The top is large but in a soft fluid fabric, it moves beautifully. I can see myself wearing this with the skirt, jeans, a black skirt to work, skinny black pants with heels – it’s very versatile – although I do need to wear a cami under it as the neckline is very wide. It’s the sort of top you could make as a gift, it could fit and flatter just about anyone. I’m slender and blousy things can swamp me but paired with a fitted skirt/pants, I love them. I’m definitely going to make the top again, perhaps in a plain rayon now I know that I can conquer all those French seams.

The skirt only took me two nights to make – including the bias binding finish, I love the finishes on this project – it’s what makes it so special. The skirt is a sensational, practical design as well as an easy flattering shape to wear. I didn’t add any length to the skirt as I like my casual skirts to be shorter. Others might prefer to lengthen it – I could just be a hussy. It’s perfect in hot weather with bare legs and flip-flops (or thongs as us Aussies call that sort of footwear!). And I’ve worn it all through winter with leggings/tights, boots and long sleeve tops – it will definitely be in my bag for my upcoming long weekend trip to Tasmania. I could never have too many of these skirts in my wardrobe. My girls have begged me to conjure up something similar for them. 3 Hours Past has just posted the Book Report dress that she made for her daughter which has similar pockets. That dress is a little young in style for my girls but I could definitely alter a pattern to incorporate hidden pockets in a yoke seam now.

Vogue 1247 – my most recent on the right. Evidence that an invisible zipper foot is really worth every cent!

What I’ve enjoyed most about this project is seeing how my sewing is improving. My second skirt is so much neater. The zip is perfect – it certainly helps having an invisible zipper foot, I also lapped the waistband the wrong way on my first skirt - it’s simple to fix but I can’t be bothered, I love it anyway. My bias binding finish is also much neater. A sewing win!

It’s great to revisit a pattern and see your skills progress. It’s a little exercise I plan on conducting more often. There are lots of things I would like to sew, but I also think it’s also valuable to go back and improve your skills. Not to mention getting value for your pattern spend!

I’m a little disappointed in the pictures as I love this outfit but I don’t think it looks as good in the pictures as it does IRL. The Ever-Lovin’ Husband approves and thinks it looks v.nice. My blog posts feel less than inspiring – I’m battling enormous fatigue and my gift of the gab is somewhat limited. Hopefully some long sleeps will sort me out.

Pattern: Vogue 1247
Skirt: light/medium-weight black denim. It had an unpleasant chemical smell, I washed it twice. ThePerfectNose advised via Twitter to give it a salt wash as the ‘denim’ smell is sometimes caused by the indigo or sealant used in the dyeing process. Two washes fixed it but next time I will try the salt wash!
Top: cotton rayon mix
Time: five evening sessions to trace, cut out and sew.

QUESTION: Are Vogue patterns really that hard? Is it just an urban sewing myth? I think so. I’ve had a number of women, older women in particular (including my mother), tell me that Vogue patterns are more difficult than the other patterns.

Yes some Vogue patterns are difficult and Vogue is so kind to tell you up front. They even tell you if they think it’s suited to your  body type (I just wish they had a symbol for vertically challenged skinny people – but you can’t have it all I guess). I’ve always found Vogue instructions to be clear, well illustrated and I’ve never had any trouble.

What do you think – have I just been lucky with Vogue?

IN OTHER SEWBUSYLIZZY NEWS…

Koala in my backyard

The koalas around my house are driving me nuts. It’s breeding season, and despite their cute and cuddly looks these little fellas are very very noisy when they are out and about looking for a ‘good time’ – and some little fella carried on a treat until 2am a few nights ago. Despite having a koala-unfriendly fence, they still manage to get into our backyard – which gets Banjo (our whippet) most excited. Dogs and koalas are not a good mix so Banjo is enjoying lots of inside and lounge time!

So that’s one project (or two really!) achieved out of my Spring/Summer sewing plans… what next??

Spring/Summer Plans 2012

Tonight I jumped into the fabric cupboard and I eventually re-surfaced clutching a rather large pile of fabric and patterns.

I’m totally inspired to sew (yes even more so than usual). Today it was warm. After work I put my floral Cambie on and I was in heaven. WATCH OUT SPRING – here I come!

First project will be… wanted to make this and then some tweetin’ with House of Pinheiro got me all inspired!

Megan Neilsen’s Darling Ranges with a Lisette cotton voile. I’m a little concerned it’s too ‘busy’ but I think I will use tiny buttons and very tiny red-stitched buttonholes…. still thinking… this fabric is divine. So so soft. Maybe fine red piping along the neckline???

and then perhaps I will make this (I’ve made this skirt twice – best skirt EVER and didyoumakethat has inspired me to go again!)… if you haven’t got this pattern – first smack yourself and then go out and get yourself a copy – it is worth it – even at full price!)

Vogue 1247 top: cotton rayon. Skirt: black denim

and then this cutie-pie…

Colette Patterns Chantilly with a fine cotton voile. I’m really excited about this combination – but a little scared of the pattern. Advice anyone?

a nice little shirt (provided Burda doesn’t get nasty with me)…

Burda – and yes, more cotton voile!

and this little work number…

Vogue 1220 – black cross-hatched cotton with a tiny bit of stretch. Sensible stuff for work…. I fell in love with pattern months ago on Catherine Daze’s blog - then winter came…

or…

Simplicity Cynthia Rowley – slippery stuff which is making me nervous. After Punkmik’s magnificent Licorice I keep thinking… maybe this fabric…

a few more tops…

Op shop floral cotton – Sewaholic Pendrell and Alma (maybe long-sleeved or 3/4 sleeve)

and just in case you were wondering where the Cambies were!

Sewaholic Cambie – pretty little cotton skulls with a full skirt just to girly them up! An a-line denim with red polka dots is also planned – fabric in the wash…

A few things are ‘yet to be decided’….

Black gingham – shirtdress and a blouse… I’m thinking a blouse with the red birdie fabric skirt below (with a nice black belt)…

with…

Red cotton voile – perhaps a long skirt…

and then there is…

yet more cotton voile – blue birdies. Fate undecided. I’m thinking a long loose kaftan top for the beach.

and a few more birdies….

More cotton voile – foliage and birdies. I did buy this for Colette Chantilly but it’s been shunted! I keep thinking Butterick 5750 for this one….

and then there is this… (which I am a little obsessed with)

more cotton sateen – fate undecided – but I’m thinking there might be something in the Gertie’s book! And a simple skirt. I have a mighty 4m because I fell completely in love with it. I don’t know why!!

and I do like this…

Cotton poplin – Colette Pastille keeps popping into my head. I think it needs to be a simple shift dress. This is the same pattern as the Cambie in my blog header but with a black background.

Perhaps Simplicity 2444 for this lovely cotton sateen?

Cotton sateen – thinking about Simplicity 2444

and I have a few other things planned…

• simple straight mini-skirt in this fabric (there’s one in a Burda magazine I’ve got)
• a Banksia blouse (not sure of the fabric but better make up my mind as there is a sewalong coming up!)
• another Kelly skirt
• a white loose button-up shirt. I can’t decide if this will be too much on me… probably I better stick to something more simple….

So not much to do then…. but I am SewBusyLizzy so I think I’ll handle it…

But you know, I could change my mind completely tomorrow… speaking of which I’m hoping to post some patterns from the stash tomorrow as part of…

The Perfect Nose’s Patterns and Postcards swop

VOGUE 1151 – can’t bear to wear…

I made this dress ages ago – before I started my blog in April (yes ages ago in my recent sewing history). It’s Vogue 1151.

It’s loitered on my bedroom chair for all this time. I can neither bear to wear it or throw it out.

It’s nicely finished. I love the fabric. It fits quite well. I just can’t wear it.

It’s just a bit too… snug… short… sassy… sexy… for me anyway… to be walkin’ it out the front door… and the front has this weird ledge/collar that I could sit my morning tea biscuit on (if I ate biscuits for morning tea – perhaps I could rest nibbles there at work functions…)

Vogue 1151 – front view

Vogue 1151 – exposed zipper

Vogue 1151 – the ledge

Vogue 1151 – just can’t wear it! What do you think??

It was great fun to make. The pattern was quite challenging when I was a super novice stitcher (cos I am like soooo experienced now … not!)… I did take the zip out twice but got there in the end.

I love the fabric, it’s a fine stripe heavy knit in grey and black. I’ve got enough to make up New Look 6000 (I have been most inspired by the Scruffy Badger Frock Fest which occurred in December last year). I think I will be able to wear NL 6000 out of the house… I would feel suitably demure.

I usually love to wear my frocks, I wore this Lisette one to work just yesterday and I adore it. Super comfy and perfect for the not cold but not too hot days we are enjoying at the moment.

Sunni’s post about everyday Wardrobes and the Never Worn Garment in the past few days got me thinking…. I do wear a lot of what I make - I admit I have been not wearing the frocks in the past few months - it’s been too cold this winter. I can’t wait to wear the Cambies 1/2 and 3. I pat them every day with a loving coo of ‘it’s not long now’.

I feel like frolicking about on all our lovely beaches in some florals and brights now that the temperature has dragged itself into the mid 20s. Farewell winter!

Have you made perfectly good dresses but can’t bear to wear them? Do share! And include blog links to the NWG examples!

TWO PROJECTS… ONE POST…

Yes, I’m spoiling you today with pictures of two finished projects. Please excuse my hair – it’s Sunday night…

Here is my Cheap & Cheerful skirt which cost me a grand total of $2.50. It would have cost $1 if the zipper had not broken when pulling apart the old skirt.

Cheap & Cheerful Skirt, Simplicity 2451

This skirt was made with Simplicity 2451, view D, size 8. It’s a tiny bit baggy over my booty but the fabric is so busy you can’t tell. The fabric has no give in it so I think it’s best with some booty-wigglin’ room. I’m really chuffed with this skirt. I love the fabric, I love the pattern and I am sure that ELH (ever lovin’ husband) loves the price!

More pictures of Cheap & Cheerful on flickr. I know I look too thin in some. I haven’t exercised in…. errr…. months. So what happened? I gave up bread a few months ago (it seems to give me ulcers) and that’s the result! Apparently I’m healthier this size?! At least I have no more ulcers. First time in seven years!

RESCUED

This afternoon I finished off a second Vogue 1247 skirt. I don’t love it as much as my Tardis skirt made from the same pattern but it’s OK. My choice of fabric made this skirt hard work.

I found the fabric on the upholstery fabric clearance table at Spotlight and loved the look of it. Hopefully no-one will mistake me for a sofa or dinner chair. It’s a black and silver with a very small textured check pattern.

I almost gave up on it. Then I pulled it out again and decided not to give up. This happened because we have an ‘upstairs-downstairs’ house. Bedrooms upstairs and living downstairs. My sewing room is between the two girls’ rooms – I can’t sew once they are in bed however I have discovered they go to sleep a lot faster if I stay in the sewing room as they know that they can’t run between rooms and make mischief. So I make the grand sacrifice most nights and sit in the sewing room, gazing at patterns, pondering the next project and sometimes unpicking a disaster! It also gives me time to unwind and relax doing one of my favourite things – and I tend to do some of the things that seem more tedious when the machine is running and the iron is on. Everyone wins.

What went wrong with this project? The invisible zipper did not work. It went in fine but then refused to budge past the yoke seam, the fabric was just too chunky at the yoke seam area for the zipper to squeeze past. Unpicking the zipper was very difficult as the weave of the fabric meant that my thread was all but invisible. I’m proud to say I did not swear… I think I was concentrating too hard trying not to wreck the fabric.

I gave up on an invisible zipper and put in a normal dress zip. It’s not as nice as an invisible zipper but it looks just fine.

The Hong Kong finish was more difficult than it was for Tardis. I should have purchased wider bias binding as the standard width was a little narrow for the thickness of the fabric. Yes, yes I could have made bias biding but crikey I work five days a week! And this skirt needed the Hong Kong finish as it re-defines the term ‘fraying’, it was shedding threads worse than a Persian cat sheds hair in the middle of summer in Alice Springs, Australia. (please note I never exaggerate. Ever.).

I’m not mad about this skirt. I’m not a big fan of the thickness of the seams or how the hem sits (also due to the thickness of the fabric). It doesn’t press well due to the ‘nature’ of the fabric (which I would call ‘uncompromising’). I do like the texture and the weave of the fabric, so it’s a trade-off between its good points and its bad ones. It’s quirky and I like something a little off-beat to pair with a corporate jacket. Plus I can stuff my phone and work tags into the pockets and no-one will be the wiser!

I’ve called this one Rescued. Tardis is still my favourite version of this pattern, I love it to pieces and wear it to death! At least this skirt has got me out of my ‘blue rut’ – I noticed all my patterns reviews have been made in blue fabric!!

Vogue 1247 – Rescued

Thank you for your comments in these early days of my little blog. Every single one brightens my day and I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, they are most appreciated – thank you!