Rhonda's 'Lend Me Your Shoulder' Top - Pattern now available

You may recall that I was lucky enough to be one of the testers of the 'Lend Me Your Shoulder Top' by the lovely Rhonda Buss. Fantastic news is that Rhonda is now selling this pattern and others in her Etsy Shop. So if you want to make your own you can!
This is a cool top which is the same front and back and has different sleeves and a cowl neckline to give an off the shoulder type or cowl effect depending on how you wear it.

It's great with jeans for casual evenings out, I've already worn it quite a few times, which for a test garment is a bonus. The red was a happy accident, becuase I had red on the serger already I pulled some matching fabric from the stash.
I did do a full bicep alteration and increased the body by one size (I am bigger than the Large) so watch out for this if you are not a teeny person. The alterations are easy enough though as there are only 3 pattern pieces.

SWAP Results

Slightly old news for those of you who already frequent the Stitchers Guild, but the SWAP results were announced on Monday. (I've been away on a week long residential course with limited online access).

The Grand Prize goes to: Sharon loves her new blue collection
1st Prize: ahearta's Mix and match Minoru
2nd Prize: Robin's city separates
Congratulations!

The rules for SWAP really worked well for lots of people this year. 
I must admit I am not entirely happy with my collection, the complexity of which was reduced from the original plan due to work and personal commitments. However I was pleased that I still managed to complete 11 pieces which met the rules, all sewn within the timeframe.

I'll write a post another day about the whole "What you sew vs what you actually wear" topic, though there's a discussion thread on this at SG. I'm having a bit of a think about this whole area since my sewing drive seems a little sapped at the moment - probably by the SWAP.

SWAP Photos are up

Yaay the SWAP photos are up and you can see them here - link to SWAP photos.

The voting rules are up on Stitchers' Guild here, and if you are a member I would encourage you to view and vote.
Obviously if you like mine the best then I would love you to vote for me :-) but in all seriousness you should vote for the first, second and third places as you feel most appropriate. Happy Wardrobe viewing.

Love Ruthie!

SWAP Seven #2 Knit Top

The second of my seven garments is a simple scoop necked knit top.

This is a great pattern with two sleeve lengths.
I made a forward head alteration by shaping the back seam and shortening the neckband accordingly.
The short sleeved top was cut from the same fabric as the dress, and the 3/4 sleeve top from the same fabric as the cardigan. To make best use of the fabric in both cases I cut both garments out at the same time from each fabric. The print knit stretches up as well as across so I think I cut the sleeves out at right angles due to fabric shortage.
This is a great pattern I have used a lot!

SWAP Seven #1 Cardigan Jacket

First up find yourself a pattern for a cardigan which consists of a front, back, sleeves and neckband as a starting point. Confirm the basic finished length you want (not including the hem points) and mark the hem and waist positions on your pattern. When you come to cut out the cardigan use theexisting pattern pieces for the sleeve and neck band, plus the front and back as far as the waist marker. Then cut a new piece for the lower body. This should run in the opposite direction for interest. The width is equivalent to the waist to hem length plus seam allowances. The length is equivalent to the waist length plus the waist to hem length twice. When you sew it together, pivot the peplum part at the centre front waist and sew it to the front band, this creates additional triangles at the side front giving the dipped hem. Easy but very effective.

The cardigan is based on New Look 6735 View A, the cardigan jacket. I had already altered this to deal with my forward head and shortened it for a previous cardigan. For this version I made a new pattern piece for the lower front and back (which I'm calling a peplum) as described above - basically a rectangle the length of the hip circumference and the depth of the original waist to hip length, with squares added each end for the drapes. Then when cutting out I stopped the cardigan front and back at the waistline.

Construction order was as follows:-

- shoulder seams

- insert sleeves (flat)

- sew up sleeve and upper side seams

- sew 2 sections of peplum together.

- sew peplum to lower edge of cardigan

- sew 2 sections of neckband together.

- sew neckband to front of cardigan.

For the 2012 SWAP I made this twice, one in a black and white striped sweater knit and then again in a plain black ponte.

The SWAP 7.

The SWAP rules this year had you choose seven garments from a list and then choose four of those to make twice total of 11 garments that will work together.  

The seven garments I have chosen to make are

Cardigan Jacket - made twice in black and white sweater knit and in plain black ponte, variation with angled hem peplum based on New Look 6735 View A.
Knit top - made twice in black and white sweater knit and in print viscose jersey, New Look 6735 View B.
Skirt - made twice in black and red ponte, variations on Rhonda’s All Points Skirt.
Dress - made twice in black and white sweater knit and in print viscose jersey, New Look 6071.
Pants - made once in black ponte, Burda 12/2007 #127
Jeans - made once in black stretch denim, Burda 9/2004 #106
Blouse - made once in red crinkle viscose, Prima June 2010

I'll do a series of seven posts covering each garment in turn over this coming week.

SWAP 2012: Angled Poise

Well I've got some (indoor) photos and am about to send them off to Ann Rowley for inclusion on the overall SWAP page.
Here's my original mood board

and here's me wearing the final pieces (won't be on the SWAP pages, but I love these combination type shots).

As ever a SWAP morphs a bit as it gets sewn up and as the time ticks away, with the deadline loomed ever closer!

Slightly hard to see in my tiny pictures but the pieces are
1.    Drape Front Cardigan, black and white sweater knit, based on New Look 6735 View A with draped peplum. (CARDIGAN 1)
2.    Scoop neck knit top,  black and white sweater knit, New Look 6735 View B (KNIT TOP 1)
3.    Multi length skirt, black ponte, Rhonda’s All Points Skirt (SKIRT 1)
4.    Scoop neck knit top, viscose print jersey, New Look 6735 View C (KNIT TOP 1)
5.    Drape front cardigan, black ponte, based on New Look 6735 View A with draped peplum. (CARDIGAN 2)
6.    Knot front dress, viscose print jersey, New Look 6071 (DRESS 1)
7.    Knot front dress, black ponte, New Look 6071 (DRESS 2)
8.    Pull on pants, black ponte, Burda 12/2007 #127 (PANTS 1)
9.    Curved seam jeans, black stretch denim, Burda 9/2004 #106 (JEANS 1)
10.    Scoop neck blouse, red crinkle viscose woven, Prima June 2010 (BLOUSE 1)
11.    Multi length skirt, red ponte, Rhonda’s All Points Skirt. (SKIRT 2)

Summer Collection - Tangerine Tango Safari

I will be taking my SWAP photos this weekend and sending them to Ann Rowley at Stitchers Guild. Certain composite pictures are not allowed under the rules, so I'll post other pictures here. In particular, my favourite way of showing multiple little Ruthies each wearing a different outfit on a single powerpoint slide so you can see the whole wardrobe isn't one of the approved ways, but its how I like to summarise a wardrobe so will share it here.

Of course as soon as I have finished one collection I start to think about the next one. The lovely Elizabeth is suggested a cream/brown summer 6PAC for me which seems quite Safari like.

And as I am Ruthie I need some colour as well, and thought I would go for Pantone's Color of the year - Tangerine Tango, and add that to the Cream and Brown to get Tangerine Tango Safari! Lol we shall have to see if it works.

SWAP final item

And at 11pm I show you the Burda 9/2004 #106 jeans. Just a quick hanger shot, and a little crumpled from me sitting wearing them whilst I talked on the phone, but you can see they are done, and how fun the shaped seams are.

Red blouse from Prima June 2010, a great punchy piece for the SWAP.

Spring 6PAC so far.

Over on Stitchers Guild, Elizabeth runs a sew along for each 3 month period called the 6PAC (originally the 6 Piece Autumn Collection) though the term 6PAC is now used for any seasonal collection.
The Spring 6PAC covers February to April, and I try to sew garments in co-ordinating themes over each period to join in, though I don't always manage to make the pieces Elizabeth suggests. As I am also sewing for SWAP, the pieces either are also part of, or co-ordinate with the SWAP pieces. Here's where I am up to so far this season. The black jeans from Burda 9/2004 #106 and the red blouse from Prima Magazine June 2010 are both partly constructed and will be done before the end of April.

 

And these are the 6 pieces I made in January (a very productive month, before I started the new job).

For the next seasonal collection (Summer 6PAC), Elizabeth has suggested I go with cream and brown, so once I finish a few SWAP extra pieces (ones I planned but didn't sew in the SWAP timeframe), I will change over to the new colourway for Summer 6PAC.

I decided that this time, since I had asked Elizabeth for her advice, and she had so graciously given it I would follow it for once, instead of doing my own thing. Elizabeth has met me in person and watching the results of my sewing over quite a long period, and has an eye for such things so I think she's worth listening to.

Here's her sage wisdom for me

Well, let's see, Ruthie - you're a warm and clear colour, and "dramatic natural" as you say.

I *think* I would pick lighter neutrals for you this summer and go with a lighter ruddy/rusty brown (your hair colour)  and cream.  I've not seen you do much cream but I do think it would work.

I'd do a skirt with asymmetrical hem and a knit top in cream; (inner column)
A pair of brown trousers and a jacket with cool tabs and ribbons  (like that cynthia rowley one) in the brown (outer column)
A t-shirt in a brown/cream print [PS I put this in here because you like prints, but I bet a brown t-shirt would be v useful]
A dress in a brown/cream/colour print

See if you can get a colour in the dress to match one of your earlier wardrobes.
Then I'd pick out/make a bunch of necklaces, belts, bags in clear warm colour combos -- turquoise, coral, etc.

Alternatively -- you have loads of clothes.  Find some trousers or skirts and make a non-patterned top in a similar colour.  -- you might find it really extends your wardrobe.   Or concentrate on making a jacket (I know that you, like I, struggle with this). 

SWAP Progress Red Skirt

I've made a version of Rhonda's All points skirt in Red Ponte knit. This one has a knee length straight section and the angled points area at the hem only.

This is a nice simple SWAP piece, but still works in with the Angled Poise theme I planned.

SWAP Progress

The lovely Elizabeth has posted her SWAP progress, so I thought I would do the same. I have paused in my sewing labours, as I have just run out of topstitching thread - most annoying so here is my report.

SWAP 2012 Angled Poise

1.    Drape Front Cardigan, black and white sweater knit, based on New Look 6735 View A with draped peplum. (CARDIGAN 1) - DONE

2.    Scoop neck knit top,  black and white sweater knit, New Look 6735 View B (KNIT TOP 1) - DONE

3.    Multi length skirt, black ponte, Rhonda’s All Points Skirt (SKIRT 1) - DONE

4.    Scoop neck knit top, viscose print jersey, New Look 6735 View C (short sleeves) (KNIT TOP 1) - DONE

5.    Drape front cardigan, black ponte, based on New Look 6735 View A with draped peplum. (CARDIGAN 2) - DONE

6.    Knot front dress, viscose print jersey, New Look 6071 (DRESS 1) - DONE

7.    Knot front dress, black ponte, New Look 6071 (DRESS 2) - DONE

8.    Pull on pants, black ponte, Burda 12/2007 #127 (PANTS 1) - DONE

9.    Curved seam jeans, black stretch denim, Burda 9/2004 #106 (JEANS 1)
-    IN PROGRESS


10.    Scoop neck blouse, red crinkle viscose woven, Prima June 2010 (BLOUSE 1) - CUT OUT


11.    Multi length skirt, red ponte, Rhonda’s All Points Skirt. (SKIRT 2) -PLANNED

I've also made a red dress and a red knit top, but as I already have two of each of those they are extras. Once SWAP has completed I will make up a red ponte jacket from Vogue 2989, but don't want to rush to do this before the deadline.

Rhonda's Lend Me Your Shoulder Pattern

Rhonda asked for some pattern testers for her Lend Me Your Shoulder Pattern,
so I volunteered. A few days later the pattern arrived in the mail, and I compared it to my TNT and made some alterations to get it to fit me.
I then made it up in a bright red two way stretch red jersey and am very pleased with the result.

Loving this colour on me, though it does have to have lipstick!
You can see the results of the other testers on Rhonda's blog.

Black Ponte Pants: Burda 12/2007 #127

I've sewn some very simple black ponte pants from #127 elastic waist pants in Burda December 2007.
Not much to look at but a useful staple, need some pressing.

These work with the SWAP.