'Tap to Party' Cowl Neck Top

This is the 'Tap to Party' Cowl Neck Top from my Handmade Wardrobe's Weekend Sewing Club.

I used a remnant of red polyester mix jersey fabric. I sized down to medium. But then graded up for the waist and hips. I also lengthened it a bit. As I have large upper arms neither sleeveless nor flutter sleeves were going to work, so instead used a knit sleeve from another pattern. I was a bit short on fabric so added cuffs to get the 3/4 sleeve length.

Plaid Totes

Current project is tartan tote bags to be used as Christmas gift bags. 

The fabric is a piece of wool tartan/plaid I've had since the Warrington days (15-20 years ago). 

It would have been suitable for an exercise in plaid matching to make a coat/jacket, but I wouldn't have worn it, so it is on its way to becoming 6 bags. 

I did debate ribbon trim to Christmas-ify them, but decided they'd probably get used more by the recipients if they were more classic. 

They are unlined with self fabric handles, so easy to fold and put in handbag/car etc.

Bolero jackets

I have been sewing. I altered two pairs of jersey RTW PJ trs (one plainnavy, one navy with tiny teal hearts). They had sewn in elastic which I unpicked and replaced with a casing and adjustable elastic with ribbon ends. That took a long time for something quite simple. I also made a little navy bolero jacket for my friend to wear over the blue RTW dress I shortened for her.

Then I shortened some velvet curtains for the same friend, and made tie backs from the bit I cut off.

I cut out a shirt for DH when he was out but haven't started sewing it

I made what I hope is the final bolero jacket. This little number from sequins and silver satin! I added a layer of flat piping made from the silver lining as the sequins are very scratchy (if pretty). 

The Jackets are all the same pattern, the little bolero jacket from Prima March 2009.

Men's Loungewear Set

Men's Loungewear Set aka winter PJs

Men's Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-shirt from Tiana's Closet

https://tianascloset.com/index.php/2021/02/03/mens-crew-neck-long-sleeve-t-shirt-free-pdf-sewing-pattern/

Trousers/pants are Love Notions Men's Thomas Track Pants 

An adapted "Sweater Weather Pullover" by My Handmade Wardrobe

The "Sweater Weather Pullover" is the November pattern for The Weekend Sewing Club by My Handmade Wardrobe.

It's a Unisex pattern. I've made an XL as a gift. I added a centre front zip and 3 pockets (two embroidered with a Rugby ball logo)

Faux suede jacket

 

I initially cut out a skirt for the Endless Combinations contest, but I could not get the sewing machine to make a stitch in it, despite trying 7 different needles (all different types), so I had to abandon that and made the skirt in corduroy instead.

The overlocker was able to sew the faux suede fabric so I tried to think of something I could make from the pieces and scraps that I could construct on the overlocker.

I still had New Look 6351 out from when I'd used it for the V necked top, so I thought I'd have a go at the jacket.

I was able to cut the jacket out of the skirt pieces and the leftover scraps, including the facings. So I was pleased that I saved a wadder. But the jacket is short (shorter than the tee in the same pattern). The sleeves are not full length and the front flaps didn't seem to work well, so I added a collar from a shirt pattern to give a more moto jacket look.

My Janome CP3000P was able to deal with the fabric so the hem is cover stitched.

I found it didn't really fit me, so it's gone to a shorter bustier friend.

Sweater Weather Pullover Version 2

 

This is the same pattern but the alternative sleeve plus a few other tweaks.

I put the standard neckband in initially but the layers had shifted, I'd caught it in the overlocker and it was not good. I cut the ruined neckband off, which made the neckline lower and the only long strip of fabric I had was quite narrow, so a new slim neckband. 

This version has the bishop sleeves. I made the hem band and the cuffs slightly shorter in length, but kept the depth. It was a real struggle due to the fabric but I love the end result.

The fabric is a stretch velvet which is very slippery. I had to change my approach a bit to sew it successfully.  For each band I sewed the short ends and pressed the seam open. I then folded the band in half, but before attempting to apply it, I machine basted the two layers together. This then gave me a stable band to apply. To keep things in place I used sewing clips and extra long pins which I wove in and out several times and sewed slowly on the machine checking nothing had slipped, then overlocked afterwards. For a very simple top it took a long time!

The "Sweater Weather Pullover" by My Handmade Wardrobe

This is the November pattern for The Weekend Sewing Club by My Handmade Wardrobe. I've made two very different versions for myself in size Large. Here's the first.

The main sweatshirt is sewn from a thick fleece backed sweatshirting. It didn't have enough stretch for the bands and the burgundy ribbing I had clashed terribly, so I went through my knit fabrics looking for something stretchy enough and co-ordinating. I ended up with this lovely leaf print.

This one is sewn as per the pattern with some minor exceptions. I scooped the front neckline slightly and raised the back neck and I added a pocket, 6 inches wide by 8 inches tall (approx 15cm x 20cm) with approx 1.5" (4cm) hem at the top. I also made the cuffs slightly shorter.

Endless Combinations Voting and some more pieces

 Voting is open on the Endless Combinations contest

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

You need to be an already existing PR member (either paid or free) to vote

I finished another garment during the contest time frame but didn't have chance to do photos/review etc for it, so it didn't form part of my entry.

This is the knit top from 6351. I raised the back neckline, took a thin wedge out of the upper back, down to nothing at the hip. On the front I graded from an 18 at the shoulders out to a 22 lower down to reflect my body shape. I added 5 inches to the sleeve to make it wrist length and also did a full bicep adjustment.

I shortened the neckband to match with the changes to the back neck.

After making this top I had an L shaped piece left over from my 2m cut of fabric. So I cut out and sewed up another Side Tie Top. Which was the Weekend Sewing Club pattern in August.

I drafted a simple knit neckband which I stitched a dart into at the V. The ties are the full width but slightly shorter due to the shape of the scrap. I slightly lengthened the body sections but did a 1" hem. As before I moved the ties up slightly so they tie just below the bust rather than at the waist.

Endless Combinations

 I managed 9 garments within the timeframe (I'd sewn a 10th but didn't get photos). I downloaded the free version of Canva and managed to produce some composite photos.

It was really fun trying to work out some jumps from one garment to another.

I'll let you know when voting opens ;-)

Plum corduroy skirt

I sewed a plum corduroy skirt using a Prima Pattern (New Year 2001) from my collection.

I wanted something which would work with the dark plum corduroy fabric and this pattern was designed for denim and corduroy.

This is a thick plum corduroy with a fine whale. It's heavy. I sewed it with a jeans needle which worked fine. Hand sewing the inside of the waistband was so hard going I ended up with both my thumb and forefinger bleeding!

I lengthened the pattern by 4 inches, which turned out to be too much so I was able to do a really deep (2" hem).

I also added 4 darts to the back waist to get a better fit and adjusted the waistband accordingly. I inserted the invisible zip using the new method I learned at the Weekend Sewing Club.

Note: Prima magazine is a UK monthly women's magazine. For mail subscribers it includes a free sewing pattern, for those who buy it at the newsagent, you can send off for the pattern. The pattern can often be found on ebay and some recent ones can be purchased from the publisher's site.

Burgundy Rib Knit dress

 Burgundy Rib Knit dress from New Look 6650

I raised the back neckline slightly, and scooped the front neckline. Instead of folding the fabric under and stitching for the neckline I drafted a narrow neckband and applied that instead. The neckline measured 25" and I cut a neckband piece that was 2 inches wide by 22 inches long.

The pattern has a short sleeve and a slightly longer short sleeve, so I extended the longer sleeve by 11" to give a full length sleeve.

I didn't cut the back on the fold, instead I added a seam allowance to the centre back and moved the split round to the back.

I sewed the ties on about 2 inches higher up than the pattern indicates as this is more flattering on my body shape.

Velvet Skirt

I'd bought a metre of silvery grey stretch velvet for a project for someone else. That went a different direction so the fabric wasn't needed.

A metre is just enough for a long straight skirt with back split and elasticated waist, so I used New Look 6730 View A which worked very well.

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.

Classic denim dress from a blouse pattern

I had a great time making this project. It's a denim dress made from a dark denim with no stretch. It had languished in my stash because I prefer stretch jeans.

I used Butterick Misses' Shirt 5665 I extended the tunic length of the pattern by 16 inches (40cm) to get a midi length dress (flaring out slightly). I also added more buttons/buttonholes, a tie belt and patch pockets with buttoned flaps.

I had a lot of fun with this project. I got out my backup machine and threaded it up with some contrast thread for the topstitching and in my button stash I had 6 cards of 3 (18 buttons) which were perfect for the project. 2 for the pockets, 2 for the cuffs, 13 down the front and a spare sewn to the seam allowance. As they are shank buttons I had a lovely evening sewing them on by hand whilst watching TV.

Black lined coat with faux leather accents

 Wool mix black coat with satin lining and upper collar and patch pockets in faux leather

I also made a large co-ordinating scarf, thinking to have a scarf coat, but have kept it separate for now.