Red print shirt

 

Same pattern as the reindeer shirt but with slightly narrower cuffs, and as the buttons are smaller, more buttonholes!

The fabric was a thrifted remnant, a lovely soft cotton and a non directional print.

Unfortunately the dye has leaked in places when I pressed after using the water spray during construction. I think I'll let it soak in some hot water with salt added to see if I can even out the dye, as I quite like the effect where it is pale and dark red instead of red and white.

And if that doesn't work think about overdyeing it.

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Updated to add that I soaked the shirt in very hot salty water overnight  - the water turned red so obviously a lot of dye came out. The next day I washed on cool in the washing machine and left to air dry - the colour is now even across the whole shirt.

Silk Blouse

 

I used a silk satin with a bold print, I bought in 2010 and Simplicity 9200 Misses Shirts. I was hoping by using a TNT pattern and a little more knowledge I could manage silk! I spray starched the fabric before cutting out. Allowed it to dry and then ironed it. I sewed slowly with a Microtex needle and used a lot of pins!

On this version I sewed the centre fronts together to make a pull on blouse (I checked on an earlier version that this would work!) and changed the sleeves to be wider at the hem and go into a narrow cuff. I debated adding front pockets to break up the print a bit but haven't done so at this point. (I've saved the scraps in case I change my mind).

I thought after lots of working with viscose (rayon) that I was ready for silk abut I still found it really tricky. The spray starch reduced the fluidity but didn't address the slipperiness of the satin. I think I'll allow a bit of time to pass before I tackle the next silk in my stash, but I'm so glad I'm no longer avoiding the silk.

Red and Black Knit Top - McCall's 7574

I had some scraps of double layer knit left and decided to make a knit top with it.

As my knit scraps are double layer, thick and warm I initially sized up to get an oversized sweater look. I chose the long top with long sleeves. It was a disaster with the saddle sleeves - just looked like a deflated American football player.

I got some advice from sewing buddies and recut the bodice section to better fit my torso and sewed it back together, adding cuff and hem bands to tie the two fabrics in better.

I'm not convinced I'd make this again, but if I did there would need to be some grading between sizes.

Bright burgundy tiered skirt from pesky crinkle rayon.

One final project in the bright burgundy/dark red thread is a tiered skirt.

When I was looking for fabric which would use this thread I found a length of crinkle rayon/viscose. I've tried to use this type of fabric a few times in the past but had all kinds of difficulties with it. The one successful project was a midi length tiered skirt so I thought I'd make another one with this fabric.

This is it after sewing it up

And this is after washing in cold water and hanging to dry.

I didn't use a pattern, but here are the measurements of the pieces.

1. Waistband - 3 1/2 inches wide and long enough to go around my hips.

2. Main skirt - 18" of full width of fabric cut in half

3. First tier - 2 x 9" of full width of fabric.

4. Second tier - 3 x 9" of full width of fabric.

5. Inseam pockets - 4 approx 10" x 8 1/2" (self drafted)

Constructions order:

1. Sew pockets to front and back skirt pieces. Finish seams. Sew round the pockets and down the side seam. Finish seams. Fold the pockets to the front and stitch in place along the waistline.

2. Sew ends of waistband. Gather skirt onto waistband, insert elastic, stitch closed and finish seams.

3. Sew the two pieces of the first tier together. Gather. Distribute fullness. Stitch tier onto skirt.

4. Sew the three pieces of the second tier together. Gather. Distribute fullness. Stitch second tier onto first tier.

5. Hem.

Burgundy Frill Neck Blouse.

If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you know I like to sew multiple things with the same thread colour where possible. I really like to have the overlocking (serger) threads inside my garments all matching and to this end have 5 drawers of thread, much of it Coats Moon sorted by colour.

So whilst I had bright burgundy (Moon M0055) on the machines I hunted in the fabric boxes for other fabrics I could sew up.

I found a remnant of a lovely bright burgundy viscose (rayon) with a very slight crinkle texture and beautiful sheen. I had cut other things from it previously, so it was an odd shape and not much yardage. It looked like it would like to be a blouse.

I ironed the fabric and laid it on my cutting board, and decided to try Simplicity 9200 again only to find I couldn't quite get the front shoulder out of the fabric (big funny shaped thing had been cut out). I then decided to move the shoulder seam forwards. So took 1.5" off the front shoulder and added it onto the back shoulder (and left myself a note in the project tray*, so I didn't get confused putting the sleeve in).

Once I'd cut out the front and back, I was able to cut the sleeves single layer, but then realised I didn't have any sections large enough for 2 collars..... After a bit of pondering I cut two collar stands and then cut lots of pieces 2 1/2" wide and varying lengths, which I pieced together to get a strip about 3 times the length of the collar stand. I then seamed the ends, pressed in half, and gathered onto the collar stand as a frill.

Here's the blouse paired with the floral trousers

(* I have two shallow plastic baskets, slightly larger than A4/letter paper. As I cut out I put the pieces into the basket along with any zips/buttons etc I might need. It stops me losing pieces in the jumble of the sewing room)

Burgundy and cream Roses blouse

 

I used some weighty viscose (rayon) from my stash (just a remnant) to make this burgundy and cream blouse with stylised roses from my TNT shirt pattern.

I put all the buttons on but will likely wear it open at the neckline.

It's not really a summer blouse, but could be great for the 'wear red' dress code for choir at Christmas.

Pattern Information.

This is my current favourite shirt pattern. It is adapted from a shirtdress pattern which was in the March 2020 Prima magazine (UK women's magazine).

Black Pinstripe trousers

My final piece in this collection are some black pinstripe trousers.

This is my altered New Look 6735 pattern. I also added extra hidden inseam zipped pockets.

 And here are all the pieces together

My first Metra Blazer

 

I've been noticing people's versions of the Metra blazer, and when it was the $5 Friday pattern a few weeks ago I bought it.

Metra Blazer - Love Notions Sewing Patterns

I watched a few YouTube videos on construction as well as reading the instructions and watching the linked videos. They all varied a little so I mostly followed the advice and did a few bits my own way. Its all worked out fine.

Sizing - I measured myself and chose the size which matched up with my measurements - this was an XL. I did a full bicep alteration on the sleeve. The fit is fine. 

As you can see the back hem is slightly raised which is more pronounced on me, I think on the next version I need to do a high round back alteration (normal for me).

Fabric - I used 2 co-ordinating jacquard double knits I had in stash. These were very spongy, and a bit thick when it came to topstitching etc. It also ravelled and needed to be finished with the overlocker.

I used the larger design for the front back and sleeves, and the smaller design for the side panels, pocket flaps and collar facing. I think it's worked out quite well.

The sort of welt pockets are really clever and I enjoyed doing them. There are not really any pockets, its just an opening into the inside of the facing. You do get a glimpse of the wrong side of the fabric, which isn't that attractive in this knit, so bear that in mind.

The shoulder and neck seam was a bit tricky in this fabric. I would probably had an easier time if I'd interfaced the snip area. Maybe next time!

I really like the pattern and will be trying the other view next.

Style Arc Parker coatigan

 

Here's the Style Arc Parker Coat, made more like a coatigan in a very soft ponte. I think it would keep the shape better in a firmer fabric.

I was slightly short of fabric so omitted the back slip and hip seam and cut the upper front and back as long as the fabric allowed.

Robin print dress

This is another dress for my lovely young friend C - its a Robin print cotton fabric made up in a version of the dress from Simplicity 9473.

The fabric was narrow so I split the skirt front into 3, a centre panel and 2 side front panels, I left the back as two panels. This allowed me to have the robins the right way up throughout the dress.

I also added inseam side pockets.

Keeping warm

 In another polo neck  (turtleneck)

Once again I used I used OOP New Look 6008. I've altered the sleeve for a full bicep and the back piece for a high round back. 

This is a plain single knit jersey with only crossways stretch. It was a bit prone to rolling, and I had to snip into the seam allowance to get the sleeve heads in.

It should be a nice nod to the festive season whilst staying warm and comfortable.

I bought the fabric from MyFabricPlace which is fairly local to me.

It looks to still be in stock at £3 per metre.

Another in the same pattern, this one had an unusual black print on the fabric remnant.

Candy cane turtleneck

Inspired by my Candy Cane decorations I found some leftover red and white striped fabric in the fabric resources. As always with leftovers it was a funny shape, but I did manage to squeeze out a little New Look 6008 turtleneck top with slightly shortened sleeves and collar.

Platinum Jubilee Capsule Wardrobe Plan

I had an idea for a capsule wardrobe for the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

I've not done a capsule wardrobe for ages, so a new one would be fun for me.

Where I can I will reuse or repurpose existing items as this just seems to make sense.

This shirt from February, cotton so could be worn in summer.

Perhaps this dress from January, though ponte may be too warm for June.

This top also from January, this is viscose jersey so fine for summer

worn with the blue jeans from March, not too thick so should be OK.

Blue Cardigan from Oct 2020, over the red dress.

Red cardigan from April 2020, over anything blue

T shirt from Jan 2020, has brushed poly sleeves so can feel quite warm.

Hmm that would cover the 4 days without me sewing anything new! 

However if the weather is warm on those days, several of these outfits would just be too hot so perhaps there is some scope for sewing some more summery items.

Red Frankenpattern dress

 

This dress is made from a red ponte fabric, using the top section of the NewLook 6735 knit top. I've lengthened the sleeves slightly and cut the top at the waistline (just folded the lower portion out of the way).

The skirt is self drafted, inspired by a friend's RTW tunic. The back is a single slightly flared panel, and the front has two side panels and a centre panel. The side panels have patch pockets which are sewn into the panel seams. The skirt is slightly gathered onto the bodice.

I planned this to be a casual dress to wear with leggings, but its come out quite nice in the ponte, so maybe it could be dressed up as well.