Voting for SWAP has started on SG

If you are a member of Stitchers Guild Reloaded you can vote in the SWAP via a personal message on the site.
The photos of the completed collections are in a special part of the Gallery here

Mudcat writes

Please take a look through each of the SWAP 2019 galleries located here:
http://artisanssquare.com/sg/index.php?action=gallery;cat=34

Submit three votes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place by sending a private message to the user account SWAP_Votes.  The account is shared by the admins so they'll be able to count the votes and inform us of the winner. 

To be eligible to vote you must be currently (as of the time of this post) registered on SG and have the ability to send a private message.

Voting can begin as of now and will end at midnight Arizona time (MST) on Sunday 26May.

For anyone not used to the messaging, the option is at the top of the screen. Choose 'My messages' and then 'New'
Put SWAP_Votes in the To box, whatever you wish in the Subject box
and then in the body of the message write your votes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The votes are manually collated.

There are some amazing wardrobes so definitely worth a look.

SWAKOP 2019 first outfit

I've sewn a simple skirt and top out of the print knit which co-ordinates with my RTW jacket.

This is for the safari side to go with my orphan purchased jacket.
Top from New Look 6735 and skirt adapted from Simplicity K8175 view C (with pockets and waistband omitted and elastic waist added).

 Jacket, top and skirt

 Top and skirt with purchased belt

 Top and skirt without belt

 Skirt on its own

Top on its own.

I have some of the fabric left over so could make a different style of top from that.

SWAKOP 2019

Over on The Sewing Place, there is a wardrobe contest called SWAKOP - Sewing With A Kind of Plan which is a bit like SWAP but with a different time frame and rules.

This time its to create 2 smaller colour based collections linked by a bridge garment.
It is a fun way to get two colour schemes in. to the sewing plan.

I've started working on my first colour theme and its based around this lovely M&S jacket which is a bit of an orphan in my wardrobe. I'll call the colour 'sage' as its a grey green without much brown.

The fabric is a beautifully soft faux suede that feels absolutely lovely to the touch.

I've got some co-ordinating fabrics from the fabric cupboard and have started on a print jersey skirt and top (which could be worn together for a dress look) from this fabric. I love the brushstroke effects of the print, which means it works well with a variety of items in the sagey colour family even if it doesn't match perfectly.

SWAP 2019 Photos

Link to the Gallery on SG with all 8 of the completed SWAP collections. They all look fab!

My original inspiration

All the garments together

Teal wool coat - Prima February 2015

Teal knit top - New Look 6735 top

Teal Burda trousers - Burda Style 02/2010 #135

Teal tweed cardigan jacket - New Look 6416 (modified)

Teal skirt - Simplicity 8175 (Modified)

Print cardigan - Kinder Cardigan from MiY Patterns
Print knit top - New Look 6735 top
Rose knit top - New Look 6735 top

Ink Blazer - Prima April 2010
Ink lace top - New Look 6735 top (modified)

Ink trousers - New Look 6216 Trousers

And on a rail

The Print items

Ink Suit

Ink Lace Top

Rose Top

Teal Coat

Teal trousers

Teal Skirt

Tweedy jacket

Teal Knit Top

SWAP 2019 completed pieces

Here are hanger/dummy shots of the pieces I have made for SWAP 2019.
As the ink and teal plain knit tops look very similar, I'm including the teal one in the final version.

This year the rules for SWAP asked for 2 neutrals and an accent colour. I chose teal and ink as my neutrals and rose as the accent. I also included a print which has teal and ink and also a lighter version of the rose colour. I brought this out more on the print cardigan with rose embroidery.

I'll do some more photos of me wearing the pieces this week.

SWAP 2019 - Ink Blazer Finished

I have finally finished the blazer I started at the beginning of February.

It makes a nice trouser suit with the matching trousers from the previous post.
Prima Magazine April 2010 Blazer/Jacket 

I found the instructions a bit brief and the markings on the collar a little inadequate however I have managed to get a reasonable jacket which I will wear.If you have this in your stash you might enjoy sewing it, but I wouldn't go out of your way to get a copy!

SWAP 2019 - Ink Trousers

Ink Trousers - These are part of a trouser suit, I'll able to share the jacket soon, as it is almost finished.

I've added 5 belt loops and a purchased navy stretch belt

Using New Look 6216.

SWAP 2019 - Rose Pink Knit Top

I've just finished a rose pink knit top for SWAP 2019, I wanted to add another accent colour to the underlying teal and ink colourways.

In particular it was planned to work with the beaded and embroidered cardigan

Back to ink for a jacket and trousers which I hope to show soon.

More Knot Bags

Fabrics chosen from my stash by the recipients, then sewn up by me.

 Taupe and Duck egg for B (sewn with Taupe thread)

Plain turquoise with vintage penguins, igloos, kayaks and polar bears for G who loves penguins.

These are a lot of fun!

Japanese Style Knot Bag

A lady I know showed me a little looped bag she had been brought as a gift from Japan, made from beautiful fabric. I wanted to have a go at making something myself using that idea.
YouTube Video I followed
So I went on the internet and looked at a few links, videos and etc. I followed the instructions in the one I've linked above.

Of course you can make the bag bigger or smaller or rounder but the main bit is that one handle is longer than the other for the loop.

Here's my pattern

And how that looks in fabric when flat

Steps to make the bag
Prep
1. Make the pattern as per the dimensions above.
2. Cut out a pair in each of two fabrics, if very thin add interfacing.
Sew
1. Place each pair right sides together and sew the green areas.
2. Turn one right side out and right sides together sew the blue part.
3. Turn right side out, tuck seam allowances in and topstitch the red parts. I found this was quite fiddly to do so you might want to press or tack this area to make it simpler.

If you like to see this visually you can follow the YouTube video I followed.
Use non stretch fabrics. Here I've used cotton fabrics - the navy is heavy for upholstery and the print is a dressmaking fabric. However I think it could be nice in velvets and silky fabrics for evening.
Its also good for someone who knits or crochets to keep their ball of wool under control.

SWAP Ink Lace Knit Top

I'm back on my SWAP/wardrobe sewing again.

This piece is made from a stretch lace with a plain knit lining to the body only.

Its made from my favourite pattern New Look 6735.
I've used the direction with the greatest stretch going around the body, which was actually lengthwise on the fabric. So the hems are the selvedge.

Construction therefore was different
- centre back and shoulder seams on lining body
- centre back and shoulder seams on lace body
- neck seam (with inserted elastic)
- topstitched neckline
- basted lace and lining together around the armhole and inserted the sleeve flat.
- topstitched sleeve seam to body
- basted lace and lining together at each side, then basted the side seams and sleeve seam.
- once confirmed OK, stitched and overlocked, threading overlock ends back into the seams.
- the knit lining has a high cotton content so should be nice to wear, it is left unhemmed and slightly shorter than the lace.

Cotton Floral Dress

This dress is a gift for my Aunt, who asked for a cotton V neck, A line dress in blue tones. I hope this meets the brief.

Its a very simple style which just pulls on over the head. I added 3 white buttons to the front, though they get slightly lost in the print.

I used a long out of print pattern New Look 6304 which is badged as a 1 hour dress (sewing time only). I didn't time myself, but although it is a simple style, I wanted to finish it neatly and in a way that would make for easier alterations if needed so I've overlocked all the edges of the pieces before sewing them up. So I am sure it took longer than 1 hour but it hasn't been too strenuous a project.

Now to pop it in the post and await feedback before the next version.

Testing Ikat Bag Pop Pouch

When LiEr posted the request for pattern testers for the Pop Pouch (a clever cross between a pencil case and a pen pot) I volunteered and was really happy to be one of those selected.
Pop Pouch on Ikat Bag Blog

The instructions are very detailed and enabled me to create these Pop Pouches

Here they are zipped up and keeping the contents safe.

And unzipped in pen pot mode, so you can access your pens and pencils.

This one has a contrast striped lining, the others have plain linings.

It has been fascinating to challenge myself to make something different and I enjoyed learning something new.

Based on the feedback from the testers LiEr is making some small tweaks to the instructions, so its not out for sale yet, but once it is I'll link to it.

ReP-A-R-E (RePurposing, Alterations, Repairs and Embellishments) #12

ReP-A-R-E (RePurposing, Alterations, Repairs and Embellishments) #12 is a set of lavender sachets in the same fabric as the pattern weights.

Each one is made from a rectangle of cotton fabric, 20cm x 10cm (8" x 4"), fold in half, stitch 2 sides closed and snip the corner off. Turn through, fill with lavender and stitch up flat to give small squares.

These are now nestling in my sock drawer. (The Lavender was from France, a gift from family when they holidayed there)

ReP-A-R-E (RePurposing, Alterations, Repairs and Embellishments) #11

ReP-A-R-E (RePurposing, Alterations, Repairs and Embellishments) #11 is some pattern weights (one and a half dozen seemed enough).

Each one is made from a rectangle of cotton fabric, 20cm x 10cm (8" x 4"), fold in half, stitch 2 sides closed and snip the corner off. Turn through, fill with rice and close with the side seam to the centre of the opposite side forming a pyramid.

The fabric I have used here is "Greenwood" from Arthur Sanderson & Sons made in 2004. I have a remnant of it from an unknown source. It is a cream background with blue, green and white leaves and very pretty. For the pattern weights I've ignored the print direction.

The 'leaf' is my favourite motif and so I often buy leaf print fabrics.