Showing posts with label megan nielsen patterns. Show all posts

Saturday, 25 April 2015

A rather sharp looking Banksia

Posted by Alison on April 25, 2015 in banksia, megan nielsen patterns, Sewing / 6 comments

I have been looking longingly at the scout t-shirts all over sewing blogs, fab ones here and here, wishing I suited loose fitting t-shirts. I then remembered that I have the Banksia pattern which is similar but a little more fitted and have made it before with varying success.

The first time I made it it was too big. The next time I reduced the size and did a FBA and it was too tight over the back and loose over the front. The third time I increased the width of the back piece just a little and it was just right! It still looked a little tent like but not maternity so I decided some of my novelty print cotton was finally going to see the light of day.

I went with the method for fitting that worked before - cutting a medium and increasing the width of the back piece. I totally cheated by placing it 0.5 cm from the fold rather than on the fold, increasing the back width by 1cm, nothing complicated or technical but it works!

I did a few other tweaks:
- increased the width of the sleeves by about 1cm
- dropped the arm holes by about 1cm.
- widened the collar piece by the width of the placket as I was not having a placket and wanted the collar to meet at the front.

It worked and I am totally in love with the fabric, my parents bought in America a few years ago so no chance of any more though :(

I think the next Banksia will be placket and collarless, just to see what it looks like!

Darling Ranges Dress

Posted by Alison on April 03, 2015 in darling ranges, Dress, megan nielsen patterns, Sewing / 6 comments

I have been meaning to make a Darling Ranges dress for a year, since I made this muslin,which was massive. I do love Megan Nielsen patterns, did anyone see her brilliant April Fool's this year? It was brilliant!

I cut the L for the muslin so this time I made a straight M and it is practically perfect, maybe a teeny bit tight over the bust.

this face is much better than the one I was pulling

I had to drop the but darts by about 3 inches (I am not sure, even pre kids, that my bust has ever been as high as the darts are on this pattern... ) and I shortened it as I ran out of fabric. I used a cross weave organic cotton that I got in a bundle from here.

My right bust dart appears to be a bit pointy.... I will need to deal with that.

I have plans on a summer version to use up some of my enormous cotton stash that really needs attention but for now it's back to a couple of pairs of trousers that are WIP's.

Tania Culottes

Posted by Alison on June 11, 2014 in megan nielsen patterns, Sewing / 2 comments

I have been itching to make the some Tania culottes for ages, I got the pattern for my birthday last November but couldn't find the perfect fabric without buying new which I didn't want to do. Then, whilst browsing ebay (obviously, where else:) ), I stumbled across someone selling loads of stash fabric in the same village I live in - perfect, no postage costs! I went a picked up the fabric from a lovely Korean lady who blogs here - wow. I got 2m of grey jersey and 3m of floral pattern satin with a slightly textured finish.

red is more pink in real life...

I was daring and cut a 14 and it is snug at the waist but actually fits, normally I need a 16+ at the waist, yipee!I also lengthened the pattern, I didn't fancy (read: don't have the legs for) mini culottes then fought with them to get the hem level, everyone says to leave them at least 24hrs to settle and they are right!

I did a rolled hem on my overlocker as I couldn't face doing a narrow hem, I reckon it saved an evening of sewing and a lot of swearing at the sewing machine!

Of course, I had to take the obligatory culottes photo!!

Off to find more fabric, I need more of these in my wardrobe!

Darling Ranges - a wearable muslin

Posted by Alison on March 31, 2014 in darling ranges, megan nielsen patterns / 1 comment

I have had the PDF Darling Ranges pattern by Megan Nielsen since November and finally got round to printing it out and sticking it together so I could try out a wearable muslin a few weeks ago.

http://megannielsen.com/products/darling-ranges-dress-sewing-pattern

After reading Kerry's post about broad upper back adjustments I realised that this is what I have needed in a lot of patterns. When I made the Banksia I did a FBA and it ended up massive so went with just a broad upper back adjustment with the Darling Ranges. I also made the arm holes slightly deeper and sleeve pieces slightly wider to accommodate my bingo wings :)

I was using a cast off maxi dress from my Mum for the fabric and didn't have enough for the full DR dress so made a blouse instead. It looks nice on the hanger but it is not the most flattering - gathering round my widest part.... I think when I make the dress I might put a circle skirt on it to avoid the gathering!