I Broked It...

My sewing machine! Its well and truly broked! I'm not happy as I've been sick and itching to do something as to not get bored. It needs to go to the repair shop but I hope it won't take too long.

I started cutting my hair canvas for the Lady Grey but I've cut the front and the back but I'm not sure what other pieces I'm supposed to cut. Anyone got any ideas?

Starting my Lady Grey...

A year later than planned! But It is getting cold. I asked what you guys thought and Kirsty and Freya both made excellent points for both my Cherry print dress/shirt and Lady Grey coat but the coat won out.

I am intending to overfit just a tiny bit. I want this coat to be worn in the snowy winters so it needs to have enough ease to fit a couple of jumpers underneath!

I started my wearable muslin this afternoon. I'm going to go back through Gertie's posts and do both muslin and final coat complete with padstitching etc. I'm doing this because if all goes well both will be useful coats!

I have to admit I bought a wool on sale to use as my muslin and I think I like it better than the fabric I bought a year ago.

This is my original fabric and lining. The Lining is Paul Smith shirting with little S' on so I figured S for Stevie!

I'm quite short (5ft3) so the coat is currently coming out at mid to knee length. I don't mind this so much as it will keep my legs warmer in the cold weather. Plus once its got the lining bagged in and its hemmed it should be a little shorter. I purposely cut a size larger than I normally do but I have ended up taking it in on each seam by about two sizes!

Before tweaking and taking in the back looked like this...

After it looked much better!

I fitted it to Adele and then tried it on pinned together. The fit is pretty good so far so I'm going to take it apart again and start with the interfacing etc.

This is what I'm thinking of lining my wearable muslin in. Its a japanese glazed cotton. I'm not sure though perhaps it is a bit too busy and bright? I'd love your opinions!

I have a final question for you all! Can you padstitch onto normal interlining? I can't find any hair canvas anywhere and I'm itching to get sewing!

Starting new Projects...

This has been playing on my mind. I've just finished some Christmas pressies and a pair of PJ bottoms for myself which I will post up about soon. I still have UFO's but I'm itching to start something new!

I have a few options:

My Bombshell dress - This I'm a bit apprehensive to properly start as I won't be able to wear it until summer and i'm hoping to have lost another stone at least by that point. It would be a shame to put all the work into something that will be too big. I could purposely make it a bit snug on purpose but I really don't know what my body will be like and as its so form fitting I don't really want to take the chance.

My Lady Grey Coat - This is a massive hangover from last year! I meant to make it then. I have some cheap wool to make a wearable muslin in but I spent quite a lot on 100% Jacquard wool in a lovely gold colour for the final thing. This could be a good place to start! I could learn a lot but I get massively impatient with finishing things.

Simplicity Shirt and Cynthia Rowley Dress. Both from this lovely Cherry print I have. View E of the shirt and View B in the dress.

What do you think I should start?

SSS How I did...

The answer in short is not very well!

I managed 25 out of 30 days. Not the best ever.

The only excuse I have is that since I started losing weight most of my me mades are either too big or not massively flattering.

Nevertheless I still enjoyed it and it has encouraged me to keep wearing me mades and has shown me what is most useful in my wardrobe! Plus I found some good combinations and outfits.

Here is Day 20 onwards

This is my new Storybook skirt which I wore for 3 days running I love it so damn much!

This is a key example of something that was too tight and now is too roomy! Plus the wrong bra oops! Well at least I didn't leave the house!

My Etta Cardigan got a lot of wear. Is a shame its bobbling like crazy. I think I may have to make another. The fuchsia colour just goes with everything! Overall most of my outfits were fairly imaginative and interesting which is what I was going for, its just a shame thats hard to sustain that for 30 days! I'm slowly building the wardrobe and am feeling a bit more prepared for the rumoured colder weather. (Snow in Oct apparently.) I'd really like my Lady Gray made soon so I can make the most of its warmth!

How did you do with Self Stitch Sept?