SWAP Patterns Used

The patterns I used for my collection

The 4 knit tops and the 2 dresses are all based on New Look 6735.

For the dresses I've used the short sleeved top C and added a long flared skirt traced off a RTW dress I once had. I overlap the pieces at the waist when cutting out so there is no waist seam.
For the tops I used the long sleeved version of the top (view B), lengthened the sleeves to full length and replaced the neckband by a self drafted soft collar. I have altered the front and back pieces to accommodate my forward head/sway back/rounded upper back.

The jacket and skirt are from New Look 6082, with the skirt lengthened slightly. The jacket has been altered for my forward head/sway back/rounded upper back.

The trousers are from Burda magazine October 2008 (Burda 10/2008 #132) which I sewed in November 2009 (post on Burda10-2008-132 Pants), which are included as my previously made piece.

I wear these a lot and the fabric has held up well to laundering.
I think I shall make a matching jacket (as I still have the rest of the fabric) and have a little suit!

Green SWAP top: final piece

Here's the springy Emerald green knit top

I have been quietly doing a Me-Made-May item each day, but no pictures.

Hopefully proper SWAP pictures this weekend of me wearing stuff, though I shall be good and send them to AnnRowley for the Flickr site and not post them here.

Anyway the story board looks like this now.

Not quite what I planned at the start but I like it!

SWAP Teal Cowl top

Made from a dark blued teal mystery remnant, which was very drapey (I'm thinking viscose aka rayon) and is beautifully soft on the skin, this should be a joy to wear.

Sorry about the photo, its taken indoors with flash on my new little Fujifilm point and shoot and I'm still getting used to it.
Same pattern as the ivory top, but that is almost a sweater knit weight, and this is extremely soft and drapey. Interesting what they look like despite using the same pattern.

Another SWAP dress

Well try as I might, I could not get the navy/ivory/tan print dress to work with the teal jacket, so I made a new dress with teal in it which works really well.

I want the tops in each section to be able to be worn over the dress so it looks like a skirt and gives more mix 'n' match options. So when daylight is back I shall check out the planned top fabrics before cutting out.

Ivory Cami

I've avoided creating a small remnant I then would want to store by immediately making it into this little cami.
I have a simple self drafted pattern which I coverhem and then add straps.

SWAP Ivory Knit Top

Made from the usual pattern, here is an ivory marl version. The fabric was a tube of mystery knit, and I managed to also squeeze of a little cami top as well. That still needs the straps attaching so I will show you that another day when it is done.

The unknown knit is quite beefy and has a slightly waffled weave one side and a smooth finish the other. I decided the smooth finish was the right side and have used it that way out.

I've revised the SWAP plan a little but now and it looks like this.

all blue, green, ivory tones. Next up a bright Spring Green top!

Me Made May?

Hello sewing world, can anyone point me to the 'Me Made May' source page and explain what the rules are?
Since my job is a suity office type one, and I mostly sew knits I definitely can't wear entirely Ruthie made stuff. However I was wondering if you can qualify even if you only wear one 'me made' thing like a cami or even earrings?

I am planning to use the jacket in New Look 6082

to sew up some simple suiting jackets, and instantly have suits by using the leftover fabric from when I made trousers. I can definitely do this with some navy pinstripe, some dark brown self stripe and a charcoal with teal stripes. I wear the trousers quite a bit with non matching wool jackets, except for the dark brown which doesn't seem to work with any existing jackets.
That'd give me three Ruthie made suits. I can also do the knit dress and jacket approach and wear some of my handmade bead jewellery.

Thoughts?

Great British Sewing Bee

I have been hooked to my TV on Tuesday evenings for the last 4 weeks rivetted by the Great British Sewing Bee on BBC2. What a fantastic programme.

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iplayer, if you are overseas you can probably find the episodes on Utube somewhere.

If you are a UK viewer who has been inspired to sew you can come and meet the lovely Ann over on Stitchers Guild Sewing Forum. You can also learn lots about sewing, get tips, support, share your projects etc.

If you are a super keen sewer already you can even apply to be on the next series, (woo hoo there's going to be a next series!!!!).

Overall I have really enjoyed seeing the skills and creativity of all of the participants, and anticipate the interest and boost this is going to give to the hobby of sewing across the country.

New Look 6082 Skirt

Also in the teal knit I have made up a (slightly lengthened) version of the A line skirt.

 The hem is level, I just seem to have taken the photo at a slight angle

Only one more top and SWAP will be complete.

New Look 6082 Jacket Completed

I sewed up the New Look 6082 jacket today, so now have a jacket for the SWAP. Yay!!!

The colour has come up a little brighter in the flash than reality, but you can see (hopefully) that its the short jacket from the pattern (see previous post). I have also cut out the belt, though will probably use a brooch to fasten it, though it's good to have all the options available.

The fit is quite good, though it could nip in more at the centre back waist.
It works very well with the knit print dress, and as it is quite dark, still works with the red knit top and checked skirt.

So quite good progress I think, both on SWAP and on jacket fitting. I would quite happily use this jacket pattern to make some simple unlined jackets to match already sewn up trousers!

SWAP Jacket and Skirt: New Look 6082

I have laid out the roughtcut pieces of jacket and skirt of NewLook 6082 on the dark teal green knit and it looks like it is going to be enough for both, so I need to trim the pieces properly and alter the upper front, upper back and neck band for my forward head.
On this pattern that'll mean taking a wedge out of the front neckline between bust and shoulder that tapers to nothing at the armhole and adding same on the back. Makes for some wierd looking pieces (and makes the back longer than the front) but they do then fit me.
Then I shall cut out out and get sewing up.

SWAP Plans

I bought matching green thread for my spring green tops, found some dark teal green wool jersey which might make a nice unlined jacket and have cut out my dark teal green cord skirt.
This would allow me to replace the purchased jacket with the dark teal green wool one, though I'm not sure how the dark green jacket would play with a red knit top, if it doesn't work, another new knit top might be needed.

So I suspect in the interests of time, I need to make the tops, then the skirt, and only then cut into the dark teal green wool.
I will have a bit of sewing time this weekend, so need to make the most of it since April is ticking away.

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Will the red top survive?
Will I manage to sew the dark teal green jacket?

Spring Dress & new SWAP Plan

Despite there still being snow on the ground its officially spring and we've now moved over to British Summer Time. This inspired me to sew up a little tee shirt dress in a fun leaf print in shades of purple, teal blue and emerald green.

This uses my old favourite New Look 6735 lengthened into a dress and with little cap sleeves. Should be great in the summer to throw on with sandals and be comfortable.

I wanted to use my new skirt in SWAP since I discovered it is a dark navy (and not black), so worked the plan hard using a purchased item - this denim blazer.

This then makes the rejuggled SWAP plan look like this, only needing two knit tops and a skirt to complete, so completely doable before the end of April.

Frugal Fabric Friday: Simplicity 4966

Here's a hanger shot of the new skirt

It is made from remnants of fabric using Simplicity 4966. I wore it today with black tights/knee high boots and a red top/jacket.
From that wearing I would conclude that it really needs a lining, and probably the back waist taking in slightly for my sway back. It's a very flattering shape on my full thighs, with a nice little flare at the hem and I love the way it can be made up from oddly shaped leftover scraps of fabric.
As such I am very likely to make it again should the scraps be the right shape.

It might be a while before I post again folks! So enjoy for now.

Sewing - yes I've actually done some

Yes this is a sewing blog and I have actually done some sewing though it needs a good press before I'm willing to share it with you.
As with any sewing done when tired it had a mistake which needed sorting out - one skirt panel was in back to front making for a very strange shaped skirt. Being a conformist I did not take this as a creative lead, but instead unpicked and repinned, the  repinned again before resewing and its Ok now.

I've used scraps leftover from making trousers many years ago (about 10) into a skirt in the style at the top of the drawings from Simplicity 4966 above. I'd originally planned to use scraps of several different black fabrics, but was happily surprised to find by careful placement I could get the whole skirt out of the two scraps of the same lovely menswear check. So that's what I did.

I made a size 16 with a narrow hem and an invisible zipper and I think it'll be fab with opaque tights, knee high leather boots and a sweater.

Had a 10 hour work day today which has left me quite tired, so off to bed early, but hope to share the shirt on Friday for a long overdue Frugal fabric friday project!!!!!