Sucking it Up...

I started on trousers... Sadly I didn't finish them, I am still doing said trousers and as I anticipated trousers and me do not mix well.

I've spent over two days on fitting and combined with Uni work thats why its been so quiet over here! I warn you this post has highly unflattering angles of my body in.

I tried out the Lisette Portfolio pants. Nice narrow leg. I cut an 18 and depressingly they were way too tight on the hips and top thigh area but baggy at the knee.

I decided to cut a new pair and extend each side seam 2.5in.

Urgh here they are at the side.

The Butt was not much better...

So I set about cutting a new pair increasing by 2.5 on the side seams and lowering the crotch.

You guessed it. They were then too big! So I spent ages tailoring them to my body with lots of jabbing myself with pins.

Eventually I created a new pattern piece from one side and heres the second side! Look at all that excess!

I cut them down and they now fit much better although once they are hemmed they will be a tiny bit short and I need to make the crotch a bit higher again as it was way too low once it was altered. I also had trouble putting in the waistband but I will finish this!

I am determined to have a TnT trousers pattern if it kills me! Which at this stage seems likely...

Something Blue FINISHED...

Ok, So this was meant to be for the blogger meetup but I have decided to unveil it early.
I wore this for the Royal Wedding and was hemming it at 8am frantically before going to a party.

This is Lisette 2209 the cute dress with cross darts on the bodice. I don't think having a patterned fabric on the top made the most of the darts and I think the cotton was a bit thin. But it is flattering.
I didn't have chance to line it but I should have really, It looks nice on but It ended up a bit tight on the waist.

I've also used this as my Sew Weekly Hat outfit, I paired it with my white 1950s hat for a kind of sailory vibe.

I've decided that It was too rushed to wear for the blogger meetup. So any suggestions for another Red White and Blue outfit, let me know!

Lisette 2211 Barcelona Feedsack Market top... Done!!!

New Top, New Hair! I'm back blonde and have finished my Lisette 2211 Simplicity Market top!

I have to say I literally love it. I had little to no problems and it was done super fast.

I used a cute little floral stretchy unknown fabric I bought in Barcelona for 1.30 euro. The stretch was the only thing relating to problems in this construction.

Wonky! This was partly me not reading the instructions and leaving the yoke bits until last not doing them first. The stretch also means some of the topstitching is a little wonky but never the less I really do love it!

This is so comfy and perfect for jus chucking on! This is a definitely flattering pattern and I would love to make it in a range of colours and fabrics.
This has been a great few days! I have managed to complete two tops and a dress! I have bought with me 4 more projects. My art deco skirt, another top, my red white (in need of blue) tunic and straight legged pink jeans to do. I don't think they will all happen as my fabric scissors are back in Brighton but I would be super happy if I could get one more project done.
I am up to 8 Garments in my goal to finish 10 this year. Already! Maybe I should think about participating in a Me Made Month soon?

Also I would love some help on a good name for this top! Mine is RUBBISH

Lyra...DONE!

Finally this stinky project is finished.
I am quite pleased at how it turned out. Sewing wise... Looks cute on the hanger no?
Sadly am not so pleased at how it looks on me. ( My mum got cross with me for saying it was horrible on.) Apologies again for the messy hair and no makeup shots but Its been a staying in day. But back to the dress.
Its just not fitted enough for me and bust-wise the ruffles elaborate something that doesn't need more elaboration (if you get my drift.)

The high neckline and the shapeless skirt make me look pearshaped, wide on the bust but flat and SOOOO wide on the hips.

It looks slightly better with a belt but it is hardly Dress of the year.I would possibly make this dress again with shaping in, lower neckline and a zip, But I would never use slipper sateen on it EVER again. The ruffles just don't make it worth the effort.

Plus I still stand by my grumbles about the pattern being crap.

This dress has been named Lyra because of a Kate Bush song. It represents a similarity with this dress. Its one of those songs I'll listen to but don't really like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rei_OOUxaBE

Frustration...

Sorry for the negative titles the last few posts!

But as predicted this dress is not going the way I want it to... Here is as much as I can show you of it on...

Depressing isn't it. Let me explain... Project Runway patterns have a design element to them in which you choose what dress you want and you can interchange embellishments.

This is all well and good and when I cut this out for version A the one with the short sleeves I had the savvy to cut out the ruffles I wanted for the front and back. It seemed odd that there was a back piece on the fold but not a front. I puzzled then decided to cut out and pin to see if there was some clever trick I was missing...

Nope It definitely needed a bodice front... Why is it not on the cutting layout (1 is front bodice 2 is back bodice)

I was puzzled still further by the first instruction... Front Bodice? You didn't tell me to cut one!!!

In the end the only clue you were given is a tiny A by the side of the pattern rundown. So I went with what would normally be my sewing instinct, ( I was trying not to rush and to do things by instructions for once.) Was correct all along and I had wasted an hour working it out.

What an Idiot.

I'm afraid thats not the only grumble I have about this pattern... Narrow hemming a ruffle? That sounds like way too much hard work to me! Especially in this fabric. So. What I intend to do tomorrow when I start up again is cut another 2 of each ruffle and put them together so the edge is enclosed. I think it would look super messy otherwise!

On a positive note. The skirt pieces are together, ruffles mostly assembled and I know exactly how to put the bodice together plus there are no fastenings... Hurrah! oh and I love the design and it fits with my fabric perfect... Ohhh look ruffly....

The Mona Skirt.

OK So the progress on my Barcelona Jacket has ground to a halt. But I did whip up a quick pencil skirt from a vintage simplicity pattern I had lying around.

(Please excuse the lack of makeup i'm writing this frantically and getting ready for uni at the same time)

I say Quick. It should have been but I need to get it into my head I am not a size 20 1/2 even in Vintage Patterns. I seem to always overestimate the size I am and spend the rest of the time taking in and fitting it to me. The fabric was a little bulky on the zip too so that took longer than expected and two goes.

I frankly couldn't be bothered to thread up my serger and I only have white thread. So I raided my trim's box and found some cute vintage laces I had lying around.
I think this could be a wardrobe staple! I know its patterned but its a seperate and its stashbusting!

This is better... Progress!

My Barcelona Jacket is a little further on! I finished uni stuff a bit early so I thought I'd put in a little bit of sewing time. The first bits went together pretty easily. But I'm finding as usual I am going dime to the dozen and not reading the instructions. I started putting sleeves together without even starting on the lining Doh!

The sleeves are pretty but the super strong interfacing I had is not really such a good idea. If I make this again i'll remember to buy thinner weight. Still at least I'm sewing again for a bit!

I'm also stuck on what would be the best lining for this. I have 3 contenders.

I have the original plan a flimsy poly in a kind of minty green,

Pale pink slightly stretchy cream poly

Or this cute striped Grey and pink? What do you think?

Mini Rant. Pattern Paper: Dot and Cross V Squared!

I have had one of those moments where you are in pure desperation for one thing you think is simples.
OK So in college. We were taught to do our pattern cutting on dot and cross paper. I've always used it and its one of my little sewing habits. (apart from the greaseproof if It is wide enough.) I can get it from Fabricland normally on a roll and buy it in metres. Normally all well and good.
This week my mum and me went looking for some such paper. We travelled all around Bristol hit around 4 independants as well as HobbyCraft (AKA Soulless Box) and John Lewis. Not ONE sold dot and cross.
In the end we payed £6 to park and bought the squared type at the market. The one that was in every other bloody shop!

The dreaded squared paper.

As you can imagine we were not amused.
I'm just curious, as no one seemed to know what dot and cross paper was in 60% of the shops we went in.
Am I being a bit Antiquated using it? I find it easy to draw curves on it etc and it was the way i was taught only two years ago.

What does everyone else find most useful especially for Burda Style Patterns