Striped Tee for a friend

This is the Closet Core T-shirt with the full bust front and the cropped length. I made it for my friend C.

There was a bit of fabric left, so she'll get that back to play with (she's learning to sew, but has a busy full time job)

Ivory Top

I seem to make a new ivory/cream top every year as they seem to shrink or get stained.

This is made from a pattern I created by tracing off a RTW top

For this version I added a sight V at the front neck by stitching a little line on the band from behind.

Remy Raglan adapted

This is the Remy Raglan pattern with the full sleeve add on, but then instead of the woven cuffs and bias neckline I've cut jersey bands, copying something I saw in the Whitcomb Top.

It is an experiment, that I don't think has quite worked, what do you think?

Metra Blazer in a Printed Ponte

 

I've made another Metra blazer, this time in a printed ponte knit.

For this version I made the shawl collar version as I felt that shape was more in keeping with the swirls of the stylised floral print on the fabric.

I kept the full bicep alteration and did a high round back alteration of 1 inch.

When I wore it out for lunch with a friend I wore it with blue jeans (Itch to Stitch Mountain View) and a plain aqua turtleneck (poloneck). It worked well.

I think plain coloured versions would be more versatile, but I'm trying to sew from stash and this was a suitable weight.

Sparkling Stars - Citrine Blocks

 In March 2023 I made the Ruby, Amethyst and Emerald Blocks for the Sparkling Stars quilt from The Sewing Place.

After a long pause, I gave myself a nudge, and have now done the Citrine blocks

I've done them as neatly as I am able, which for now is good enough.

The yellow fabrics all came from my lovely Auntie Joy's quilting stash.

I still have the Aquarmarine and Sapphire blocks to do, but maybe a bit of garment sewing next.

For a chuckle I include the first picture I took of the blocks, only for a dear friend to notice the 'deliberate mistake?'. Once I'd seen it it was glaringly obvious so I had to upick and resew that section!

Here are all the blocks I've made so far.

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

Black and white print top

Yup its another turtleneck top, this time from a viscose (rayon) fabric printed with an irregular squares pattern

I used the same pattern as the previous top, but I love how it shows the difference in the drape, particularly in the collar.

My accidental SWAP is looking quite good now with 5 tops, 2 layers, 2 bottoms, a coat and a hat.

I'm planning one more pair of trousers and then I'd like to switch colours!

Rib knit sweater and hat

I had some pieces of tubular rib knit and decided to make a turtleneck top and a hat.

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

The ribbed hat is made from the Fleece Fun free Beanie Hat pattern

Easy Fleece Hat Free Pattern with Video Tutorial ♥ Fleece Fun

With the red pieces I made in December I have a little capsule wardrobe coming together

New Look 6216 trousers

I've slightly tweaked New Look 6216 and made it up in some lovely black suiting from stash. 1.6 metres of 150cm wide was just enough. I can't remember when or where I bought the fabric but it seems to be a viscose, polyester and elastane mix.

For fit I have extended the crotch on both the front and back as I needed the body depth. I've also lowered the front waist and raised the back waist as well as scooping out the back crotch. Much nicer fit!

I finished the hem with the blind hem stitch.

In addition to my fit alterations I also slightly widened the legs and enlarged the pockets

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.

Slim leg black trousers

 

I made some slim leg trousers from a stretch bengaline fabric and decided to use the Monsal lounge pants pattern. This is for knit fabrics, and didn't translate directly to the stretch woven. However scooping the crotch and tightening the elastic has sorted the problem and these should be good basics.

Monsal Lounge Pant pattern from the Wendy Ward Book "A Beginner's Guide to Sewing with Knitted Fabrics".

A Vera knit top with lace sleeves

 

I adapted the FREE Vera Knit Top from Forget-Me-Not patterns for this knit top above.

Vera - Knit top (Free PDF pattern) - Forget-me-not Patterns (forgetmenotpatterns.com)

For my version I cut the body and cuffs from a solid black viscose jersey and the sleeves from a stretch lace. I lengthened the sleeves by 3 inches and adapted the cuff for my wrist. I also altered the V neck to a scoop neck and cut the ends off the neckband piece which I then seamed at the back.

Fairisle jumper (sweater) knitted by my mum

 My mum knitted this for me (at my request)

The front

The back

The yarn I chose

The 'inspiration' from Prima magazine

The Fair isle pattern mum used on my jumper

I asked mum if she'd knit me a jumper (sweater) and sent her a pattern from Prima magazine. She advised me that the pattern didn't seem to work - it seemed to be too many stitches and the diagram didn't match the written instructions or the example.

In the end she knitted me a raglan sleeve fairisle style in the traditional top down style using the stich diagram for the pattern.

I LOVE it and am super warm!

Black Coat Completed

 I've finished the coat!

I chose these buttons from my stash as I thought they picked out the grey tones in the fur collar.

The lining is black satin (here's the coat inside out)

The buttons, lining and fabric came from my stash. The wool fabric was leftover from an unlined jacket I made for SWAP 2009. I did need to buy shoulder pads and fray check. The sleeve heads were made with a scrap of batting leftover from my Rainbow Quilt.

The pattern is Simplicity 4003 View B lengthened by 6 inches.

Coat Progress

 My coat has got to a point where I can take a photo, but it isn't yet finished.

I'm using OOP Simplicity 4003 as my pattern. My coat is View B (the green one) with 6 inches added to the length.

I still need to do the lining (partially constructed), hems, inserting the lining and buttons and buttonholes, so quite a way to go.

I did interface some scraps and sew them together to simulate the button hole area, the machine was able to make a buttonhole without any problems, so just need careful marking.

I did make a test of View C (the checked one), and although I loved the collar I didn't think the belted double breasted front was the most flattering for me.

I'm much happier with the single breasted with faux fur collar.