Monday 31 December 2018

2018 round up

It has been almost 6 months since I posted anything here, I have been making though, just not had time to blog it all.

In the summer I made a lot,  I have lost almost 2 stone and none of my summer clothes fitted anymore, nice problem to have. I wasn't loosing weight to change how I looked but to try and get rid of the persistent heart burn I was suffering from. The heavier I got the worse it got so it was a no brainer since my Mum died of Oesophageal cancer that had no doubt started as Barrat's oesophagus which is caused by persistent heart burn. Loosing weight has worked, I have had heart burn maybe 3 times in the last 6 months which is amazing!

Anyway, on to the sewing!


I have blogged a few of these makes but not all of them.

So, starting from the top left:

Jalie Swimsuit 3350. This was fun to make and went together fairly easily. The swimsuit fits perfectly.

Love Sewing Mag shorts and trousers, from a free pattern and I made up the instructions. I used left over jersey from the jumpsuit I made for the trousers and stash jersey (originally from the Village Haberdashery years ago in the sale) for the shorts.

McCalls 7629 cropped blouse. I got the pattern during the big pattern swap and made it in some apple print cotton from my stash.

See & Sew B5166 wrap dress, love it but not had an occasion to wear it yet.

2 McCalls 6844 Cardis, boring staples in the wardrobe. The creamy one has some wool in it and is itchy, the mint one has a bit too much stretch in the fabric but is fine. Both have been worn loads.

Simplicity 1318 Kimono, worn a lot in the summer, hopefully we get the weather again in 2019!

A 1980's pattern top, see the last blog post.

The autumn was much slower on the sewing front, my Granny was in hospital (and in the last few weeks moved into a care home) so I didn't have as much care to do for her which meant I could take on more paid work. Great for the bank balance but not so good for personal sewing, spending all day altering and mending zaps the desire to sew for fun!


I did finished my husbands long awaited jacket, it took over 6 months to complete and I am not entirely happy with it, I will definitely make another jacket but I will use a better pattern the next time, this one, Kwik Sew 3485, was not great.

I also made the Clare Coat by Closetcase patterns. What a lovely pattern! I made it from wool in my stash that had been Mum's and the sleeves are my old 1993 suede trousers! The lining was small bits of silk from my stash.


Then we got a cat and the only things I have made since is a Halifax Hoodie Sweatshirt and 2 tartan skirts! Smidge the cat is gorgeous though, I would never have thought I would turn into a crazy cat lady but I appear to have....!

My sewing / buying plans for 2019 involve not buying anything new and continuing to work through my fabric stash. I did buy some new jersey a few months ago to make into some new Lady Skater / Montea / other jersey dresses and a few tops as a lot of mine are on their last legs and I don't have much useful sized jersey in my stash. Maybe I will get some sewing done this week....

See you in 2019!






Thursday 12 July 2018

New Look 6429 - 1980's summer tops


I have had this pattern lurking in my pattern stash for years since it was given to my by my Aunt when she was clearing out.

I decided to try out a couple of the top patterns. The pattern was cut in a 16 so I went with that as it matched my measurements fairly well.


The vest top turned out massive so I took it in and lifted the sleeves and now it is wearable. I attempted a second version in the smaller size but it was a miserable failure, no idea what I did wrong but it was awful! I think I will stick with the By Hand London Polly top for any more woven vest tops I fancy!



The fake wrap top was made in the left over fabric from my kimono with cream linen for the back. It fits fine, I used the 16, took it in a wee bit but not nearly as much as the vest top!


It is much boxier that I normally wear and the excess fabric in the front that is supposed to be drapey isn't really when it is made in this cotton. It would be gorgeous in a proper drapey fabric but this has been nice and cool in the hot weather.

I'm not sure this pattern will get another outing, can't help but think that all the  effort loosing weight is lost when I wear these boxy woven tops that just hang from the bust!



Tuesday 10 July 2018

Simplicity 1318 - Kimono Jacket


My second make for the summer was Simplicity 1318. It has been in my 'to make' pile for over a year but was not needed last year as the weather here was bad and Iceland was not the country for needing summer clothes!



I made version B in cotton that my Dad brought back from Oman years ago. It went together easily, although I somehow managed to get the fronts uneven. I had to unpick / re hem one side, which was annoying and now it is a couple of inches shorter at the front that it is supposed to be. It's still wearable though and I have a kimono to try and stop my shoulders burning on holiday - they always seem to catch the sun no no matter how much cream I put on.

Really need to re press that back seam...!
This would be gorgeous in a printed silk, I am imagining liberty silk, but can't justify the cost for something that will be worn a handful of times a year (unless summers like this happen every year which I doubt!) I will have to keep searching ebay!



Wednesday 4 July 2018

Closet Case Patterns Sallie Jumpsuit

I have been in a sewing frenzy for the last month and a bit, altering and making new summer clothes. I have lost 23lb and nothing fits! The first thing I made was the Closet Case Patterns  Sallie Jumpsuit, I figured the stretchy nature of it would shrink with me more than a woven jumpsuit.


I saw a few versions of  this during Me Made May and fell in love with the simple style. I bought the pattern at the end of May and, for once, it got made immediately. The heavens aligned and I had exactly the right fabric in my stash so I whizzed this up in an afternoon and evening.

I used a viscose jersey and cut between a 12 and 14. I extended the body based on my measurements but didn't need to really so won't bother the next time. I love the fit and it feels just like wearing PJ's so that's a big win!


The weather has been so amazing that it has actually had a few outings and will have lots more when we go on holiday in a week.

I have loads of versions of this queued up in my head to make but I don't have any more suitable fabric. I may have to buy some and make a shorts version for holidays although time is running out and the weather is so good it feels wrong to be sitting indoors sewing. I am pretty sure that is a Scottish thing, to get the 'not using the good weather effectively' guilt!

Same goes for summer blog posts, I have lots more summer sewing to blog about, 2 tops, a kimono, a woven jumpsuit, a dress and a swimsuit, just need to get some half decent photos and for it to rain so there is no guilt!




Thursday 31 May 2018

Me Made May 2018, the finale!

I can't believe a month is over already, how time flies when you are having fun!

Here is a wee round up of the last 10 days:


Day 22: A Liberty Print Renfrew, very well worn so a bit faded now, a keeper though.


Day 23:  A Simple Sew Shannon top lengthened to tunic length. A keeper although a bit tent like.


Day 24: B5771 See&Sew culottes. Ancient, made from ancient fabric, too big now so need taken in.


Day 25: Spotty Shorts - shortened Jocole skinny pants. Also too big, need taken in.


Day 26: A never worn copy of a RTW top in silk. Tent like but I like it!


Day 27: NL 6217 in cotton voile. Not worn much as it is rarely warm enough but I liked it today.


Day 28: A top from the Sew Serendipity book. My first ever make for myself and it was made using an Ikea duvet cover!


Day 29: Liberty print skirt and Megan Nielsen leggings. Both worn often, skirt now massive so has also been added to the take in pile!


Day 30: Simple Sew dress in African wax print. Also big now.



Day 31: Liberty print Lady Skater dress and Juniper Cardigan. Love both of these although I can hear my Mum declaring from on high that I need some new bras, my bust looks awful!


This has absolutely been my favourite Me Made May yet! I have actually managed no repeats, have worked my way through all the rarely worn items in my wardrobe, and taken a mug shot every day!

The only problem now is that I have a massive alterations pile and a list of patterns that I 'must' make!






Thursday 24 May 2018

Me Made May Week 2 and 3

Here is a wee round up of weeks 2 and 3 of Me Made May.


Day 8: Raglan sleeve top from the Sew U Home Stretch book. I used a woven fabric for the front and I love the idea but I used a mish mash of jersey. I plan on remaking this top with the same front panel but better jersey.


Day 9: Very worn out Liberty jersey Renfrew top. Not worn this for ages since is is a bit scabby looking but I can't bear to throw it out!


Day 10: Not very flattering McCalls 6992 jumper. Think it's a keep cos I love the fabric.


Day 11: The itchiest jumper in the world. This is the Owls jumper by Kate Davies Design, the only thing I have knitted to wear. This will be only worn in future with a thick under layer with a polo neck and long sleeves!


Day 12: New trousers based on the Jocole skinny pants pattern. Love these and couldn't resist making them. Also totally accidentally matched the patterns on each leg!



Day 13: Banksia top which is now a bit big but nice for warm weather when no cardi is required. It's a keeper.


Day 14: McCalls 6844 cardi made of awful fabric that is slowly falling apart. It is a warm weather cardi though so should last me another few years since warm weather isn't that common in Scotland!



Day 15: Heavily refashioned men's polo shirt. This was always way too tight, now it fits, yay!



Day 16: Starry Lady Skater dress. I love it but is is very loud....


Day 17: Spotty trousers made using my trouser block. These are now too big and really faded, they look ok here but not in real life. Theses are now in the recycling bag.



Day 18: Husbands wedding shirt refashioned into a blouse. Love this tucked in now I am not as round!


Day 19: New Look  6446 jumpsuit in some inherited fabric. I made this in January and this was it's first wear but it is too big over the bust now. It will need altered before it is worn again.



Day 20: I wore a Megan Nielsen Karri dress and my wee sister wore a Cleo dungaree dress, both made by me. I really don't like the fit of my dress, will be altering the neck line to see if that helps, if not it will be recycled!


Day 21: A wrinkled linen New Look 6217 top. It's way too big now so is going to the charity shop.

Only 10 days left to go and I am almost at the end of my rarely worn clothes which is great. I have a large alter / refashion pile and a load of stuff has already gone to charity. Also there is a load of stuff that is unwearable as it is just way too big, mainly summer skirts, which is nice but does mean there will be lots of alterations happening here, normally I get paid to do that kind of work :)


Wednesday 9 May 2018

Me Made May Week 1

A week of Me Made May is over and I have managed to wear 7 under worn items in the wardrobe.

Day 1: 
Me made leggings and skirt. Skirt is really stiff and uncomfy, I suppose that's why it's called upholstery fabric... It has been putted in the refashion file.


Day 2: 
Me made raglan sleeve top. I made it from scraps of fabric and it is way too short. Not sure how to fix this one but something needs done as it is really annoying to wear.


Day 3: 
Me made Megan Nielsen Banksia top in fabric that my friends Mum was getting rid of. I don't wear black often but I think this one's a keeper.


Day 4: 
Me made tunic top based on the Plantain pattern. I got the fabric from a stash clearance on ebay and didn't realise it was sequined which is horrendously uncomfortable to wear. This is now in the charity shop pile.


Day 5: 
Me made Renfrew top made in Liberty Jersey. This used to be too tight but it fits now so will be getting a lot of wear now.


Day 6: 
Me made circle skirt which I made from a beadspread that my parents brought back from India. It is a sunny weather skirt so doesn't get worn much as it looks odd with all my cardigans.

Day 7: 
Me made cropped trousers which were always a bit uncomfy. I used cotton with no stretch and I think that was the wrong choice. They are a bit looser now so more comfy but I will have to tweak the waistband so they fit again.


I have been loving looking though all the Me Made May instagram posts and my to sew list is now huge, just need to carve out some sewing time!