Think Pink at The Sewing Place.

The Sewing Place has a Think Pink contest in July.

The Sewing Place - Think Pink

The cardigan is the Style Arc Nina.

I made some changes on my last version which worked well so this time I incorporated them into the tissue.

(Alterations  - dropped the waistline at the back round to the front. by about 1.5" at the back and .5" at the front. The waistline sits in a better place on me now. Also altered the direction of the neckband so its cut with max stretch going along the length, easier to ease and gives  great visual vertical line down the front.)

I used four different sewing machine for this (perhaps overkill!). The main seams are sewn on a standard sewing machine and then overlocked for a clean finish.
The outer edges of the collar/peplum are finished with a rolled hem done on the other overlocker and the sleeve hem is done on the coverstitch.

The Nina takes quite a lot of fabric so there was not a lot left, just enough to squeeze out a little cap sleeve tee. No real pattern used here, it is basically a slightly shaped rectangle with a neckband applied.

Here they are together as a little twinset with a necklace, could be worn with any dark trouser.

Wearing a SWAP 2020 outfit

Wearing a SWAP 2020 outfit

Red cardigan, silk tee and black bengaline trousers.

(Excuse the lockdown hair, haircut happening in my garden on Friday)

SWAP 2020 Collection

Here's my final picks from the pieces I sewed in the red and black theme.
I have 4 tops, 3 trousers, 3 layers and 1 coat which can be worn over everything.

Top row (left to right)
Quilted zip front jacket from Prima magazine Feb 2010

Floral print blouse from March 2020 Prima Magazine

New Look 6420 - Silk and jersey dolman sleeve top

Prima Magazine May 2020 Blouse

Style Arc Molly in grey knit

Bottom Row
Black jacquard knit cardigan from Wendy Ward's book 'Sewing with Knits'

Red cardigan from Wendy Ward's book 'Sewing with Knits'

Butterick 3947 pinstriped wool mix trousers

Black bengaline trousers New Look 6216

Tartan trousers with contrast side stripe and waistband New Look 6216.

Far Right
Simplicity 8467 coat with hood (lengthened)

I also made a few extras which I've not included officially in the SWAP but are in the same colourway.

Musical notes blouse from March 2020 Prima Magazine
Style Arc Marni jacket from scraps (won the scraps contest on The Sewing Place)
Viscose and jersey T top New Look 6216
Dark grey bengaline trousers New Look 6216

And of course last year's jacket from McCall’s 7694

So a 16 piece collection in all.
I've had a lot of fun with it!

2nd pair of 'Use what you have' PJs

For this pair I used a remnant of semi sheer shirting in aqua and white stripes, some different aqua lace and a white shoelace for the tie. I sewed two rectangular mother of pearl buttons over the stitching where the straps attach to the front.

This was a shorter length of fabric which had been used already for something else (not by me that I can recall). So on this version the trousers are much more cropped and the top has lots of extra seams and the straps have the stripes in the 'wrong' direction.
For the top I used the simplest camisole from this pattern (a blend of D and E).

And the trousers are old favourite New Look 6216 with the pockets and with the drawstring converted to an elasticised PJ drawstring coming through working buttonholes. This is not on the pattern.

(I have elastic for approx 3/4 of the waist and then stitch 2 lengths of cord, ribbon, shoelace etc, one to each end of the elastic. I make two buttonholes before constructing the waistband, sew the waistband on then thread the whole cord-elastic-cord piece through the waistband casing via the buttonholes. This makes for something which is adjustable, but once adjusted can be easily pulled on. This is my preference for PJs and allows for comfort during tummy fluctuations).

I was very pleased with this pair as it really didn't look like enough fabric but I've managed to get a lovely pair of light summer PJs.

P.S. There is no join in the PJ leg, they are just not ironed!

'Use what you have' PJs

During lockdown I really relished being able to create from my existing resources so although fabric shops have now opened I plan to continue with that approach.

So these are 'use what you have' PJs.

The fabric is a length of shirting fabric, pale aqua with a raised white pinstripe. I have no recollection where I got this but it has been in the fabric stash for more than 10 years. The pale aqua lace I've used as trim was similarly in a box of notions as were the ribbon used for the waist tie on the trousers and the buttons down the front of the top.

The trousers are based on New Look 6216. cropped slightly due to fabric limitations and with the pockets omitted. The top is traced off a RTW top, with lace at the neck and hem and bias bound armholes.

I'm pleased with these as they will be good as summer PJs and used some bits and pieces which have been kicking about for ages.