Wadder #1 or Attempt #3

Pattern Review - Vogue 8645

As I mentioned in my last post I encountered numerous problems sewing a dress to wear to my friends wedding. When I picked up 3 metres of this lovely satin like fabric from Shepherd's Bush market a couple of months ago I had in my mind to sew this lovely Vogue maxi dress pattern. However, as I was trying to be creative with my cutting out the pieces and trying to stretch the fabric to meet the pattern I sadly cut out the front facing on the wrong side.

As time was short rather than try and get creative I popped it aside and decided to go for a quick and easy Vogue 8645 that I have made previously.  Of course, I stuffed up cutting this out as well by cutting out the back waayyy too short. And unless I wanted to really push the bootylicious look in perhaps a more literal way I knew that I would have to consider cutting out another dress. As my wedding suitable fabrics were on short supply I went back to my original fabric and managed to squeeze out Vogue 8645. 

As I mentioned in my last review of the pattern, the dress itself doesn't have much to it and if it didn't have ties would look like a v-neck sack. However, the plus side of this is that it does means that it lets the fabric do the talking, (and it works well with my fun pink court shoes!)

I cut out a 14 and made no alterations except to shorten the dress by 4 inches. As it is not particularly  low cut I thought I might as well flash a bit of leg (I'm one or the other rather than both type of girl). I really like the shorter length, and think that it adds a more feminine feel. The fact that this dress in lined makes it very comfortable indeed. The only discomfort I felt during the wedding was the breeze that would sometimes make itself known. During the group photo there was a large bout of shrieking and trying to pull the dress down out of my face! Thank god the wedding itself took place inside. 

I am glad that this pattern has fallen into the TNT category (except when I stuff it up) and I am sure that this pattern will be used many a time in the future. There is something timeless about it. Well this is what I am telling myself as I am going to plough ahead to try and salvage my second attempt by making it into a top.

My review on Pattern Review can be found here. 

Happy Sewing!

Vogue 8711 - The Bootylicious Skirt

Pattern Review - Vogue 8711

So it seems as though I have been MIA these past couple of weeks. The reason for this is silly - I broke my camera on a hen-night out. So although I have been sewing I have not been able to upload any suitable proof of this!

As I was visiting the folks this weekend I forced asked my mum to take a couple of snaps of Vogue 8711 before heading out for my cousin's birthday drinks.

I have made this skirt previously (view D) in my pre-blogging days as a skirt for work in black jersey, but I have been dying to make this again with the contrast panels. I'm not sure about other sewers out there, but I generally find skirt patterns really underwhelming, so when I first saw this one a couple of years ago I had to jump on it!

I absolutely love the fit and style of this skirt and think that it flatters most shapes. It creates such a feminine silhouette either enhancing your god given curves (have you guys seen the stunning Mimi G rocking this?) or for those less curvily endowed, it creates a lovely hourglass illusion with the ruching and curved hem. 

As this is one the few clothes where my child-birthing hips/ethnic behind work in my favour I thought I should throw in some gratuitous booty shots:-

Every time I wear this skirt it makes me want to dance around to Sir Mix-a-Lots's 'Baby Got Back'.

Yes folks, there's more....

Anyway enough about my love of lady curves - more about the pattern: I sewed this straight out of the envelope cutting a size 16. As this pattern is designed with negative ease it makes the fit super simple. I did however ignore the elastic guide and probably halved the amount of waist elastic that was suggested, as I have a relatively 'iddy bitty' waist compared to my hips. I picked up the wine coloured jersey from a fabric shop in Goldhawk Road  priced at £4.99 per metre and I used a remnant of black jersey from my stash (probably from Simply Fabrics in Brixton). 

As with other reviewers my only complaint would be the large amount of bulk that happens at the seams. I spent alot of time carefully layering and trimming those bad boys, but I think that the underlining is necessary for stability so it's worth it.  

I absolutely know that I will get so much wear out of this little skirt. This pattern is such a Vogue pattern - classic yet modern. Another reason why I love this pattern is that I can wear it on a night out and feel dressed up with out feeling that I am exposing too much flesh - I am definitely getting old. My link to the review on Pattern Review can be found here.

Perhaps I can blame my age on the fact that I have been rubbish and made a ridiculous number of mistakes whilst sewing my dress for a friends wedding. I have almost arrived at wadderville 3 times over the last week or so. However the dress is almost finished and after the wedding next week fingers crossed I will have some snaps of something wearable!

Happy Sewing!

Déjà Vu...?

PATTERN REVIEW - SIMPLICITY 1884 (again...)

I shall keep this one brief as both the pattern and the fabric are things that have been posted about recently. As I mentioned in my last post I had enough fabric left over from the dress to knock up this top previously blogged about here. 

In case you missed out on the fabric info in my last post, I used some jersey picked up from Simply Fabrics in Brixton. I have a special place in my heart for Simply Fabrics. It is true that there is a real mix of fabrics (and quality) but it is the perfect place to pick up fabric for wearable muslins as it is so cheap.

I pretty much made it up exactly the same as last time, I only made some minor changes.
These are:-

• Omitted the tie in the front
• Lengthened the front and back by 2"
• Used rolled hems instead of bias binding (as I sewed this pattern with a stretch fabric)

Front & back close-up

The only thing that I will have in mind next time I am sewing this pattern with a stretch fabric is to perhaps stabilise the armholes with clear elastic to stop them from stretching. This hasn't happened yet, but I can see that the armholes will stretch over time.

I love how easy this is to make. This is most definitely earning a TNT pattern status. I am already thinking about what other fabrics I have in my stash that I can use on this pattern! It's such a comfy top to wear too. I mean look how happy it makes me...

My review on Pattern Review can be found here.

I have a couple of things on the go (as I finished this top and dress a week or so before I went to Paris, but have been too lazy busy to blog about them).

One is Vogue 8711 which I have made previously and the other Vogue 8827. Both will be fruits of my recent Shepherd's Bush shopping trip. I am hoping to finish Vogue 8827 in time for a wedding, so fingers crossed it really is an easy Vogue!

Happy Sewing!

Summer Sewing!

Pattern Review - New Look 6122

Following the polka dot dress that you may remember here all I want to do is sew summer clothes. I tried to satisfy a bit of this desire by sewing up New Look 6122. 

I used some jersey that I picked up from the remnant box at Simply Fabrics in Brixton and I made view D from the pattern. The contrast belt is a remnant of black jersey from my stash which I expect I also bought from Simply Fabrics. 

This came together really quickly, especially as the construction process is very standard. When I originally bought this pattern the neckline options attracted me the most. The only thing that I found a bit annoying is that I didn't think that the back bodice is long enough, but I couldn't be bothered to alter it. However, it is bra friendly so that's a relief. 

As this pattern was so straightforward and uses negative ease, the only alterations I made were to french seam the skirt and I disregarded the elastic guide for the bodice back. As I cut a size 14 it meant that I did used alot less elastic to pull things in. On the plus side, working in a stretch allowed me to get away with no FBA and even though this is a crossover style in the bodice I don't need a modesty stitch at the bust. 

Overall I am a little underwhelmed by this dress, but I think that I will appreciate it more when the sun comes out. I didn't find this particularly satisfying to sew (which is why I was too lazy to take better pictures), but I am glad to have it in my wardrobe none the less.  Considering the cost of the fabric and the pattern, it's a bargain and I even had enough fabric left over to whip up a top, which I will blog about later.

Here is the link to my review on Pattern Review

Hopefully April will bring some more inspiring sews. I recently did a fabric shop in Shepherds Bush which for me is food for the soul, and I was lucky enough to snap up some fabric in Paris. Here is a snap of one of the shops around the Sacré-Cœur.

Happy Sewing everyone!

First Suit Dress!

Pattern Review - Vogue 8667

Yay! I finally finished this. Vogue 8667 has been my February project and seemed to take forever, though this may be due to lack of sewing time, and also working on multiple projects (this is a 2013 sewing goal).

I used a teal suiting that I picked up from Fabricland for £2 a metre. They have this fabric in many different colours and it is such a bargain. When I am next in Bristol I am definitely going to pick up some more. This fabric was a delight to sew, although it did fray a tad when working with it so I zig-zagged  the seams.

The changes that I made was to cut grade out the front side bodice to 2" and increased the length of the front bodice 2". I wanted the skirt to hit me above the knee so I cut the skirt pieces the same length as the lining pieces. I cut a size 14 and graded out to a size 16 on the hips. I think that if I was to make this again I wouldn't the bodice pieces as a size 12.

I had tried making a smart work dress a couple of years ago and it was a massive wadder. Everything about it was terrible. Most because it was a straight suit  dress that just didn't take into account my shape. I am happy to say that I have learnt so much more about my body shape since then.  

I love the collar on this dress, I think that it is such a lovely detail, and the way that the skirt sections skims my hips is pretty flattering. I know that alot of people mentioned that there is alot of hand sewing in this pattern, but to be honest I didn't find it too bad. I meant that I could practise my slip-stitch (my hand sewing is not the best), and have something to take to my sewing group. I think that it looks really neat and professionally made on the inside. 

You can see my review on Pattern Review here.

I have a couple of other items on the go, as I am trying out having multiple projects at one time. It's taking some getting used to as I have always been a one project at a time kind of sewer. However I expect that it will all come together all at once. I currently working on an easy top and dress, so I expect that these will  be finished in the next couple of weeks. 

Happy Sewing!

Pattern Review - Vogue 8645

Pattern Review - Vogue 8645 Dress

To continue with the instant gratification rush that I seem to be on, I whipped up this Very Easy Vogue Dress. I bought this polka dot satin in Morocco last August and instantly knew that this was the pattern that I wanted to make and added it to my wishlist. I stubbornly waited until Vogue patterns were on sale just before Christmas before purchasing the pattern. 

Close up of the gorgeous satin

This dress was incredibly simple to make - so it really is a 'Very Easy' pattern, even for a Vogue. There are no darts, zips or elastic casing etc. so it would be perfect for a beginner. Because it is a loose pullover dress there are no fitting issues. I cut a 14 and sewed it straight out of the envelope with no alterations. Initially I was going to french seam this, but as it was lined I didn't bother. However I did go the extra mile and hand sewed an invisible hem. 

Although I did make the tie belt, I really like the contrast of the black belt. I think that it breaks up the pattern and gives my waist a bit of extra definition. Interestingly, the smallest part of my waist is not actually my waist, but underneath my bust. Or perhaps it's that I have such incredibly huge child-birthing hips (they are a whopping 3 sizes larger than my waist size!) that the tie or belt sits better here than on the waist as shown on the pattern picture. 

I had seen some pretty reviews of this pattern and it really inspired me. Otherwise it definitely would have been one of those patterns that passed me by. Especially as the line drawings made it look particularly shapeless. Here is a photo of the dress on my dummy without the waist tie, it looks like a nightgown! The shoulder and waist ties give this pattern so much of the definition. 

I really love this pattern - I like that pulling in fabric here and there ends up really complimenting the female form. I feel so feminine and girly when I wear it - I think I made the perfect fabric choice which adds to the feminine feel. This dress also makes me long for Spring/Summer like no tomorrow. I would definitely make this again and recommend it to others.

Next on the sewing table is a suit type dress for work. I have some conference/meetings coming up towards Easter so it will be great to have it in my wardrobe.

You can see my review on Pattern Review here.

Happy Sewing Everyone!

French Florals & Happy Birthday to Me!

Pattern Review - Simplicity 1884

Looks as though I am still on an instant gratification rush. I cut this top out last week and finished it on Monday night in time for my birthday celebrations on Tuesday.

 

This pattern was very simple. It consists of 5 pieces and fitting is very simple, I sewed this straight out of the envelope, cutting a medium (size 14-16). 

The fabric is a lovely silky satin that was a present from my godmother when visiting France last May. It  is quite slippery and live, which probably added a little bit of extra time to the construction process, as did the french seams. I finished the hem and armholes with bias binding. I used sew in interfacing for the collar as I had run out of iron-on and am having a stash-busting January. However, I think that this works really well with the floatiness of the fabric and stops the collar being too stiff. 

I think that I prefer this tucked in? Or maybe I like that this top looks nice either way depending on my mood.

I really love this top - fab addition to my wardrobe. I love how quick this is to make and it's great to have something that requires little effort but produces a large reward. 

The only thing that I found very slightly taxing is easing in the collar facing, although I expect that the 'live' fabric made this harder. For some reason 'easing in' always puts me out of my comfort zone. Whenever I sew anything that requires easing in, I finish, take my foot off of the pedal and realise that I have broken into a sweat. Does anyone else have a sewing task that makes them do the same?

Not sure what I am going to sew next - I am still in stash-busting mode. I am going to take some patterns to cut out when I am at my sewing group this week and see what takes my fancy. 

My review on Pattern Review can been seen here

Happy Sewing!