Simplicity "1460"

So the whole point of keeping a blog is to document progress right? and part of progress is leaning from your mistakes right? well simplicity1460 was one such mistake.

This was going to be my first piece for my vintage pattern pledge - a pretty tunic in a 50's style which was suitable for both work and play.

I picked up this cotton lawn and the pattern from Minerva back in March/April and made it up almost straight away. That's how long this has been sitting. collar unfinished, unhemmed, no buttons and generally unloved.

I kind of gave up by this point and just attached the cuffs

 The problem with this tunic is partially I cut this before putting on weight but mostly that the shape around the shoulders was just - weird. It was like walking with my shoulders hunched forward and together.

The overlocked facing edges worked well enough...

 I even tried it on my slimmer friend and although it came together at the front the shoulders were still weird.

So the things I liked about the pattern:
I liked the darts, maybe seems strange but I think they worked well in giving shape to the front
I liked the potential - I can see that with the right tweaking and alterations that this could be a really pretty tunic
the peplum style - i have said before and ill say again this is a style that works for me and i love it!

I think i'll maybe try again with this at some point with more experience under my belt with shoulder/back altering. and as for the fabric, I see a woven tank style in its future - a sorbetto perhaps?

what does anyone else do with their 'not quite perfect' makes?

JCS

A Completed Bronte

So this wasn't in the sewing plan however when this pattern was released I couldn't resist! Meet [Charlotte] Bronte!

Apologies for the distance shots - I was trying to keep the sunburn out of view!

 Made up in an Alexander Henry jersey knit, this is the softest fabric i have ever had the pleasure of putting next to my skin!

this was a metre long remnant I have had in my stash for about 6 months and was just waiting to be made into this top. There were vague musings that I would draft a tank top but I thought the fabric deserved something a little better...

This top included a lot of firsts for me:
1st time sewing a knit
1st binding
1st time using twin needle and proper stretch stitch

and all in I think it turned out pretty damn well! I also think this was a good fabric/pattern to try working with knits on because it was dark - any snags of the thread have been hidden! and the small issue I had with attaching the binding at the end is cleverly hidden by the overlap :p

These pics were taken after wearing the top to work all day and apart from a little drooping of the front neckline it kept its shape pretty well.

Clearly the other half never got the memo to tidy the house...

 I cut a straight size 14 with no alterations - and the fit was perfect! I could have cu a 12 but would have resulted in a tighter fit which I'm not so keen on in knits. I also made absolutely no attempt to match the pattern... haha I don't even think its possible with this pattern

I don't quite know whats going on with the hem on the right hand side there...

another first for this make - it was the first make on my machine since it was repaired! and its running like a dream! :-)

So i'm not sure when i'll make this up again but it certainly fills a hole in the wardrobe. I really like the style and think it could work well made up in a more plain knit.

Has anyone else made up the Bronte top?

Take care guys

JCS :-)

Completed Book bag

So it's lunch time on a Friday and with only 2 more hours until hometime I think I can safely say i made it through this week relatively unscathed!

This week I had a bit of a bits-and-bobs week! I started off the week by cutting the pattern for my Lola. I had found some really nice fabric the other week and have finally sourced a jumper who I feel can donate its cuffs... I had everything I needed to start this epic pattern

So I had all the intentions in the world of finishing this project this week - the pattern is lying in about 9 pieces on my dining table... HOWEVER I have been promised an overlocker for my birthday so I thought i would wait and use this pattern to test out my new toy!! *does happy dance* woo hoo!

So MEGA excitement aside I moved to a project which I promised for my longtime best friend - a book bag! We agreed that if she bought the fabric and gave me an idea of what she wanted, i would make it up for her! she chose the red fabric and two sets of bows for decorating the handle connections. I got to use discretion for what looked best :-D (Oh and  I went with the black bows in the end). As she lives in London we don't see each other too often I had plenty time to decide how i wanted it to look. I thought... it would seem that I work much better under strict time limits.

So here it is!

I didn't actually have any measurements to go on other than "just make sure it fits a folder" and then after agreeing on this it would turn out that I dont actually have a ing binder at home! oops. So with measurements based on a trusty nigella cookbook and a laptop i think i managed to quite sucessfully create a bag which is suitable for purpose.

I will maybe refine the measurements and make another I think but this definitely worked well. I was even left with some excess from the straps so I might make another little bag with them.

My final project of the week was my greek cross quilt. It's not quite finished -

just some binding to go on now - hopefully that will be a job for Sunday.

Have a good weekend y'all

JCS

Vintage Pattern Pledge

A sewing pledge.

During 2014, I Jennifer Catherine Shaw of Jennifer's Sewing Space pledge to make at least 2 vintage patterns.

eeeep! I'm gonna make up some vintage patterns this year!

The two I have in mind are two simplicity patterns which I picked up at a steal the other week...

An awesome 1950's dress - I have grand plans for view B

And a  40's Dress. I saw some great liberty fabric which I'm gonna use for view A.

I picked these up with no real timescale planned. I'm still building up a collection of stuff so I thought 'why not?' and now I have found the challenge, they have gone right in at the top of my to do list...

Check out the button on the side for more info...


JCS