McCalls 6168 - times 5!

Oh my - I love this pattern.  It takes less than two hours to sew up after cutting out, is easy to wear and works with a lot of garments in my wardrobe.

Here is the pattern:

I have made up view B, both with and without buttons, and here are a few pictures:

I cannot recommend this pattern enough if you are looking for a quick, but classy, casual cardigan/jacket.

You can read my pattern review here, and there are more details on jackets 1 & 2 here, and 3, 4 & 5, here.

A Houndstooth Beauty!

I have been busy working on a fitted skirt, using a pattern I first used here.  I'm not sure what pattern it came from, but it had four darts in the front (two per side) and four in the back (again, two per side).  It is a straightforward pattern, centre back seam with an invisible zip. 

Lots more details and photos over on my blog!

Roksanda Ilincic Inspired Dress

I thought that I would try a designer 'inspiration' dress, and I have been a fan of the color blocking of Roksanda Ilinicic.  I particularly liked this $1600 wool dress:

And thought I would give it a try . . . .

 

I know that the back is a little wrinkly, but I am rather pleased with this dress.  I think that I may well be making a number of others!!

Lots more details and photos over on my blog! 

Urgh, I give up.  I have no idea why Blogger keeps adding extra lines in between photos they don't show up on my draft, and it drives me nuts :( 

Edit - thanks L, looks as though I had a few of those pesky < / b r > floating around.  I deleted them, and now everything is in line.  You have no idea how much time this will save me!!!

Confession Time

I have a confession to make . . . . . I have just come back from a fabulous holiday in Australia & New Zealand, and I succumbed to purchasing a T-Shirt . . . . it was just too cute and will remind me of walking barefoot on the beach on Waiheke Island, NZ.

So here is a picture of me on holiday wearing Me Made clothes (and being photo-bombed by Ayers Rock) - does that make it any better?!!!

I am wearing a linen skirt and top from Singer Perfect Plus.  I mixed and matched a number of Me Made clothes with just a few RTW items, and I had a huge amount of combinations to wear :)

Read more on my blog!

PS.  Am I forgiven?

More Kwik Sew 3422 for Mr. SDSC

Mr. SDSC was so pleased with his last shirt, that I thought I would make a couple more to practice techniques before I start playing around with the pattern and making it a better fit.  I used the same pattern, Kwik Sew 3422, and other than being more accurate with edge stitching a using a new foot for my Pfaff for the topstitching (boy that foot is spot on!), not much else changed. 

The first shirt is made from a gorgeous cotton with width-ways stripes, so I cut the pattern pieces out accordingly - I did not want horizontal stripes.  The thicker blue/grey stripe is woven like satin ribbon and has a different finish - it looks rather classy.

The second shirt is a plain 100% cotton - slightly thicker fabric (I have a feeling it may actually be quilting cotton) and will make a greater cooler weather shirt.

I am really enjoying making these shirts - there will be many more in the future!

Lots more details on my blog, and photos on Flickr - pop over and take a look!

Chartreuse Sorbetto Dress

Following on from the success of my Pointer Sisters Dress, I decided to make another, this time with sleeves, some embellishment and in a solid color.  I used a very lightweight crepe and a charcoal Bemberg lining.  I bound the neckline with some black cotton/lycra home made biased binding.  I did not insert a zipper as I was able to pull the dress on over my head without any issues (perhaps that is why I am having hair issues?!)

The pattern was very simple.  I used my Simplicity 7740 dress pattern and 'Sorbetto'd' it!  I sewed the black ric-rac down either side of front pleat (I copies this idea from someone - if it is you please let me know so that I can give you credit), holding it in place and added three buttons to the front.
Hmmmm.  I really do need to do a 're-shoot', re-organise my hair, and style this dress with a cute black cardi :)

More pics and information on my blog - so pop on over and take a look!

A Shirt for my Mister

My Mister is very supportive of my sewing (and knitting, and beading), he is a great enabler, very patient . . . . and deserving of a new shirt.  So I made him one.  Ta dah!!

This is my first shirt and I am really pleased with it.  I used Kwik Sew K3422, which was free when I bought a Craftsy Shirt-making Class.  I also referred to a You Tube video by Jacqueline Johnson - it was really helpful when it came to attaching the collar.  She demonstrated how to sew these in such a great way that my collar fitted and looked great on the first attempt.  I used the same technique also on the cuffs.  Perfect!

I did not make any changes to the pattern - I (traced and) cut out a large and sewed it without any alterations, including using the 1/4" seams.  I know that some people have found these small seams fiddly, but I found that (a) with my 1/4" quilting foot they were quick and easy to sew, and that (b) I had hardly any trimming.

I am really pleased with this shirt - as is my Mister!  There is room for improvement, but, in his words 'it looks like I bought it, and I'm saying that in a good way'.  Bless.  OK, I'll make you another!!



More details on my blog, on Pattern Review and lots of pics on Flickr!