A belated quickie

 I forgot to post these two items from my winter sewing to-do list.

First up is a pair of (very) wide-legged pants, from New Look 6873. I had made these once before, extremely hurriedly (for a disco night), in size 10 which was far too big for me. So this time I made the 8. I used some cheap quilting fabric just to test out the sizing.

As you can see, they really don't suit me at all. I wonder if they would sit better if I were to use something with a nice drape? The fit is pretty good, but the legs don't look nice.

 

The other item I tried out for the first time was Butterick B5711. 

 

I'd never purchased a Butterick pattern before, but all the patterns at Spotlight were half price so I grabbed it. It was still super expensive even at that price!

I used some gorgeous drapey stuff- gorgette, maybe?- that I got for $2.95/m at a local store called Fabric Frenzy. Yes, TWO DOLLARS NINETY-FIVE!!! And I got a gorgeous fuschia as well. It is divine!!!

This came together okay, but the instructions are SO confusing!!! It doesn't explain things properly at all! I want to make view B for summer in the fuschia gorgette.

It's quite unusual as it has tucks instead of darts. I luuuurve the tie collar!

It's Spring!

...well, it is here in the Southern Hemisphere. The weather here has been ridiculously gorgeous all winter, and the first day of Spring was warm and sunny. What better way to welcome Spring than with a pretty dress covered with watermelons???

 

I had purchased New Look 6886 last summer but never got around to sewing it up. I'm still pretty inexperienced when it comes to tailored dresses- I've only tried 2 different patterns, and the first one was such a nightmare to fit my silly body that I really couldn't be bothered doing it all over again with a new pattern. Looking at view A of this dress, with the gathered bodice instead of darts, I thought that it would be much easier to get it to fit me properly. Happily, I was (mostly) right.

 

Pattern used: New Look 6886

Fabrics and notions 

Some  kind of stiffish cotton from the clearance table at Spotlight...I really need to keep track of what is on the tag when I buy it so I know what it is!

6mm elastic

16" zipper

Hook and eye 

 

Pattern alterations or any design changes

I didn't do a large waist adjustment, but I should have. I unpicked the bottom of the bodice seam and tapered the seam allowance down to 1/4" and it fit much better.

The sleeve fit/ back fit was terrible. I had to do a MacGyver on the back of the sleeves and unpicked the top of the zipper and took another 1cm off each side of the centre back.

Did you use any new skills?  

Raglan sleeves.

 

Problems?

Yeah. The bodice fit perfectly and I was all "Yeah baby! Check me out!" Then I put the sleeves on and they kept falling down. Either I didn't stretch the elastic enough when sewing it, or the sleeves are too big for my small back.

My mother in law came over and folded and pinned the excess fabric for me. It looks a bit dodgy but no-one would ever notice. 

Dodginess...I didn't put the zipper up high enough!

 
Cost
Pattern: $4.49

Fabric: $3.20/m; used about 2m

Zipper: $1.80

Other notions: Stash

Wearability factor

Very high! I've worn it twice now and it looks so sweet! Heaps of my students commented on it when I wore it to work. I can't wait to make another one!

Cool weather New Look 6808

I decided to have another go at  New Look 6808, this time with longer sleeves (View A). 

Since I had so much trouble with the fit last time, I decided to do some 'proper' alterations instead of just adding or subtracting at the side seams. So I did a large waist alteration, using instructions from the Colette Sewing Book. Using this method, I added an inch to the waist; I also made the ends of the waist darts higher by about 1cm as I knew from last time that I needed to pinch more out from under my bust.

The fit STILL isn't making me happy...it's slightly snug around the hips, and still a bit too big at the bust side seams. However, I do like it.

 

 

Pattern used: New Look 6808

Fabrics and notions 

Quilter's cotton, purchased last year

16" zipper

Interfacing

Pattern alterations or any design changes

Large waist adjustment

Lengthened waist darts

Shortened overall length by 2 inches

Changed the cuffs (read on to find out why)

Did you use any new skills?  

Nope, but it was much easier doing a lapped zipper this time around.

 

Problems?

The cuffs are supposed to have these little cutout things in them...I tried from every angle and every direction to do it, but it is literally impossible- you just cannot fit the cuff over the arm of the machine. So I just eliminated the slash and made the cuffs plain.

 
Cost
Pattern: I've already used it, so I'm not counting it in the costFabric: $15/m (VERY exxy for me!); used about $8 worth
Zipper: $1.50
Thread: Stash
Total: $9.50

Wearability factor

Pretty good. I've worn it twice now. Problem is it needs to be ironed and I have a thing about only wearing ironed clothes to work...I feel it's a waste of me ironing if I wear it around the house!

Butterfly Frock

So this post is waaaaay overdue. I finished this dress over 2 months ago and had attempted twice to write a blog post about it, but Blogger was not being my friend. I hope I can remember all the stuff I wanted to write!

The story behind this dress- I purchased this fabric last year, for no other reason than it was $4/m. I have a terrible habit of buying fabric because it's cheap, with no project in mind for it. It's a habit I'm trying to break!

The fabric sat on the shelf for months, until I purchased three pairs of awesome tights at the end of summer. Grey, ultra-bright turquoise, and burnt orange. I got them home and thought, "WHAT the hell am I going to wear these orange ones with???" Then one day as I was staring at my fabrics, pondering what to make next, it hit me that the orange butterflies on this fabric are the exact same shade of orange!

Next dilemma- what to make? I knew I wanted a dress, and I knew it had to be a 'wintery' dress. I love the sleeves on New Look 6000 but I'm still not too sure about the fitted skirt. So I decided to make the KwikSew 3521 because I love the skirt and I've made two of them so I knew I wouldn't need to make a toile (muslin). I cut out the dress and lining from the KwikSew and the sleeves from the New Look and it all worked!

Pattern used: KwikSew 3521/New Look 6000

Fabrics and notions 

Quilter's cotton

16" zipper

Black lining fabric

Orange buttons

 
Pattern alterations or any design changes

I lined the skirt (the KwikSew pattern only has a bodice lining) and added sleeves, obviously.

Did you use any new skills?  

Yes, I lined the whole garment. This was a bit confusing but I contacted Kerry from Kestrel Finds And Makes and she helped me out.

Cost
Pattern: Hmmm, I've already used these patterns, so I'm not going to include them in the cost.
Fabric: $4/m...I used just under 3m. So about $11

Lining fabric: Purchased from an op shop. Used about $2 worthZipper: $1.50
Thread: Stash
Hook and eye: Stash

Buttons: From a big box that cost $2. About 1 cent eachTotal: About $14.50

Whoops, I realised AFTER I'd sewn on and overlocked the cuffs that they were on backwards!

 Wearability factor

Very high! I wore it to work and I think it looked fabulous with my tights! What do you think?

(don't tell me what you think of my facial expression)

New Look 6808

I actually made this top a couple of months ago, but I wasn't happy with the fit. Three minutes at the sewing machine today to add 1.5cm to the waist darts worked like magic and now I'm proud enough to take photos of it.

 

I really liked the look of this pattern when I spotted it in Spotlight. I had some really cool quilter's cotton in my stash and thought it would suit the view D top perfectly.

It was very easy to sew up, but I didn't alter the pattern at all so of course the fit was terrible. Usual problem- too big around the bust, too tight around the waist and hips. I fixed up the tightness issue but thought I could get away with the poor fit around the bust due to the busy-ness of the print. I wore it once and did not like it one bit- apart from the cool fabric.

 

The top has a side zipper opening, which I've never seen before. It was a bit tricky putting in the zipper in the side seams, especially after I did my alteration and made the seam even curvier, but I got there in the end.

 

My favourite element of the design is the super adorable collar and bow. 

Pattern used: New Look 6808

Fabrics and notions 

Quilter's cotton

16" zipper

Some pink cotton from my stash for the sleeve lining

 
Pattern alterations or any design changes

Added 1.5cm to the waist darts. Increased side seams at the waist and hips.

Did you use any new skills?  

I think this was actually my first attempt at a lapped zipper. And the first time I've made a bow!
Cost
Pattern: $4.47
Fabric: $4/m...I used just under 2m, so I'm guessing $7
Zipper: $1.50
Thread: Stash
Hook and eye: Stash
Total: an amount that I can't be bothered figuring out

Wearability factor

Very high now that it actually fits properly!

Another New Look 6078

So here's the blouse I mentioned I was working on! I was waiting until I could get a few more closeup pics but I haven't been bothered to do that yet, and the desire to blog may not come upon me again for a while. So I'll edit the other pics in when I finally convince Jane to put on the blouse and let me photograph her.

This is my third attempt at this blouse and I've ALMOST got it  perfect. Almost!!! I just can...not...get...that...collar....right!!!!! Argh! However, I think the cuteness of the ricrac disguises the messiness of the collar.

 

 

I think I have got the fit pretty much perfect now. I made the bust darts 1cm longer and the fit issues seemed to magically disappear! Hurrah!

I love everything about it...the sweet little sleeves, the cool purple buttons ($1 from an op shop), the awesome print, but most of all the cutesy wutesy collar! I just wanna wear this EVERY DAY!

I wore it to work yesterday with my favourite skirt of the moment- I picked it up from an op shop a couple of months ago and I love the shape and colour. The boots had to be thrown in the bin last night- I hadn't worn them for a few years and the crappy fake leather was flaking off.

This week's purchases

I just thought I'd share some crafty bargains I picked up this week.

First up I got this single bed sheet and a long slip from an op shop.

The sheet will be used to make a summer frock and I will be chopping the bottom off the slip so I can wear it under my unlined dresses/ skirts.

I went to Spotlight on the weekend and they had some bargains. I picked up this lovely sage cotton at $5 per metre. I think I will make a top or even a dress with it. Or both!

This cute cotton was $2.40 per metre! I will use it to make something for Elizabeth and maybe a summer top for myself.

This is boring as bat poo, but it was under $4/m and I bought it to make some work pants.

My favourite! I got 4 metres of this gorgeous quilter's cotton and it was a ridiculous $3/m!!! I can't wait to make myself a pretty summer frock with a gathered skirt with this stuff.

I've nearly finished a blouse I've been working on this week but it's very clow going as I only have been able to snatch 10 minutes at the machine at any one time.