I think I may be in love...

At the beginning of the year, the lovely Eléonore from Deer and Doe released a free t-shirt pattern called Plantain. I suspect you all know that though anyway!

I had been meaning to try my hand at making my own t-shirts, as well as finally getting round to using my serger for more than just neatening edges, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

The pattern is a PDF download, so instant gratification. Well, not really - we all know there is a fair amount of work involved when it comes to PDFs: printing, cutting, taping, cutting again…urgh! But I have to say, this wee pattern comes together very quickly, and it even fit completely onto my dining table, so that was a back-saving bonus! 

I bought this jersey fabric especially for the Plantain, but naughty me, I didn't check or bring the pattern with me to the fabric shop, so I erred on the side of caution and bought 2 meters - which was more than enough. So I have a fair bit left over, but annoyingly not enough to do very much with. I'm hoping I can squeeze SOMETHING out of the remnant as it would be such a waste otherwise.

So as I mentioned, this project was my first real attempt at using my serger to sew jersey - and oh my god….it was like an epiphany. Honestly, I just couldn't believe how amazingly easy and satisfying it was to put this together!!! Again I erred on the side of caution when choosing which size to cut out and I went big(ish) with the thought that I can always take it in, but because I was sewing it up on the serger I wouldn't be able to let it out due to the sergers knife! It ended up a bit bigger than I had planned, but I decided to leave it, and after wearing it a couple of times I actually love it as it is - it is super comfy.

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about this pattern is the neckline. I have seen some comments on other blogs about how low the neckline on the Plantain is but for me it is perfect. I may use this neckline as a template for future makes, because I think it is probably one of the most flattering styles I have made.

Unfortunately I had initially been thinking about entering this t-shirt into the competition Deer and Doe were running but fate was not on my side (what is it with me and competitions - I missed the Laurel one too!); I needed a twin ballpoint needle to do the top stitching (well I probably could have done without, but I WANTED one!) and ordered it online - except, when my order arrived (with only 3 days to go until the deadline) they had forgotten to include my needles!!! They were very good and sent them off to me straight away, but I was worried I wouldn't have enough time to finish the top if I waited. So I headed off into Belfast…and after visiting 3 sewing/craft shops (as well as previously visiting a big sewing shop outside of Belfast) I came away with no needles - apparently the people of NI aren't in need of twin ballpoint needles!!! Well, as it turns out, as much as I love my t-shirt, I don't think it would have stood much of a chance against the finalist  - do check them out, some beautiful modifications!

So, some deets on the make:

Pattern: Free - thanks Eleonore!
Fabric: 2m jersery @ £10.49 = £20.98
Black thread: £0.79
Twin ballpoint needle: £3.59

TOTAL: £25.36 

A bit pricey for a simple long sleeve t-shirt, but as I said, I bought a more fabric than I needed. So hopefully I can counterbalance that by squeezing something else out of the leftovers.

But…discovering how amazing it is to sew knits: PRICELESS!!!! Infact, this is kinda how I felt once I made this top:

(why yes I did make that meme especially! lol)

Needless to say, there will be more knits to follow!

Floral Laurel

I started making this Colette Patterns Laurel dress back last year, when they announced the amazing contest. But I didn't give myself very much time (oh, and I had a wedding to plan!), so didn't make a muslin first. When I first tried on this dress, which had been cut to the original length (a lot longer than this), it was very big, very baggy and very unflattering. I was disheartened and didn't have the desire to fiddle with the fit. So it sat and languished in my sewing room for many months.

The other week or so I decided to give it another chance, because I really loved the fabric (which I had bought a couple of years ago when I was in Thailand). I decided that it would work much better on me if it was more of a tunic/mini dress length. So I lobbed a massive chunk off the bottom and declared it passable. Yes, just passable. I'm not really in love with this garment, it's alright, but nothing spectacular. 

I think the main reason why I am not in love with it is the neckline (which I have conveniently 'hidden' in these shots I see! lol) - it's just not the most flattering shape on me. Perhaps I may have a look at it another time and see if I can scoop it out a bit. The whole shape of the dress is also not one I would normally go for. I tend to lean towards shapes that nip me in at the waist, so to have something hang so loosely on me feels a bit foreign, and is something I find hard to get used to. But at the moment it is a nice dress to 'hide' in (click here to see what I'm on about- no I'm not pregnant!).

But - would you believe it, this is the first time I have actually sewn/inserted sleeves! I found it relatively easy, but it certainly wasn't a perfect execution - however, when I looked at other Laurels I see that there is just quite a bit of extra fabric in the sleeves. Some people have put in little pleats at the shoulders which I think looks very cute, and may be a nice option if I make another one.

On a positive note - this was a successful 'Stash Bust'! So I'm happy about that!

Oh and I cut my hair! These pics were taken right after so everything is sitting nicely. I've since washed it and I have discovered there is an art to blow-drying a fringe, which I have yet to master!! But I'm so thankful for no longer having to spend an entire evening washing and drying my hair!!!

A Tartan Washi

This wash't a planned make, but after the success of the Red Linen Washi dress I felt like whipping up another one. It's a really easy dress to make and so comfy to wear, I knew I wanted/needed more in my wardrobe. Keen to use some fabric from my stash I decided I would try and use this heavy tartan fabric. I had originally bought it to line my red cape, but when it arrived (one of my usual online purchases) I just wasn't feeling it. So it has been languishing in my stash for a couple of years now - every time I looked at it, all I could see was a picnic blanket!

On my Red Linen Washi the bust darts were a little high, as was the bodice base, so I added an inch to the shoulders and this made all the difference. It's a perfect fit now. Since the fabric was so heavy I decided that I would use lining fabric for the pockets, otherwise there would have been far too much bulk there (an area that doesn't need any more bulking out, thank you very much!). Overall I'm pretty happy with the dress, and hopefully it doesn't look too 'picnicy'...

I have a bit of fabric left and I'm hoping there might be enough to make a simple A-Line miniskirt, which I think would be pretty cute. I'm debating whether to buy a pattern or attempt to do a 'rub-off' of a denim skirt I have. I'm leaning towards the rub-off because I can't seem to find a pattern that's exactly what I'm after. We shall see.

OK, now here is my attempt at a fashion bloggers Outfit Shot, don't laugh too much:

Glasses: D&G / Jacket: TXMaxx / Cardi: too old to remember! / Dress: made by me! / Jeggings: Oasis / Boots: Timberland

Oh yes…the freebies will be flying in…any minute now…any minute...

Happy New Year!

A very Happy New Year to you all! A bit late to the party aren't I? Ah well, c'est la vie. Did you have a nice Christmas, filled with lots of delicious over-indulgent food and drink and plenty of sewing related presents I hope? I have to admit I didn't get too many sewing related presents this year, apart from a very lovely red and white spot sewing basket from the in-laws, which I have already put to good use. I'll reveal it's new role soon.

But yes, back to the overindulging. I certainly enjoyed myself far too much over the Christmas period, so I'm cutting back severely now that we are into the new year. I'm not going on a diet per-say, but I am being more careful and selective with what I choose to eat. Why am I telling you this? Because I have decided that I need to take the same approach to my fabric stash!!

I have accumulated a substantial stash (although I have seen far bigger stashes across the net recently - at least I'm not the only one!) over the last few years. I've also developed a bit of an obsessive hobby that involves trawling online fabric shops, imagining vast wardrobes of fabulous me-mades, buying the required fabrics and then folding it up neatly (ish) and never actually getting around to making any of it (although I do get it out from time to time and drape it around me in front of the mirror!)! Anyone have this hobby?! Perhaps it's more of an addiction than a hobby...

I haven't made any New Year Resolutions or even goals this year, but my husband and I would REALLY like to move house this year. So I suppose to aid that, we are consciously cutting our spending. One of the ways I could/should do that is to work through my stash, and not buy any more fabric. Good ol' stash bustin'. So much easier said than done - I caught myself nearly buying a couple of pretty cotton prints today!

I'm not inflicting any rules on myself. I've discovered I don't do well with rules, deadlines etc. My blog is a testament to that. I'm just declaring that I WILL do a wee bit of stash busting this year. I actually don't have any space to store new fabric, so it's practical as well.

I'm off to a decent start, as I have a couple of projects waiting to be blogged that have both been made from the stash. And I've just washed 3 different fabrics that I'm hoping to sew-up, production-line stylie, into skirts. 

I see there a quite a few people also planning on doing a bit of stash busting or dieting this year. Are you? Or have you got some other plans for 2014? Do tell...

 

A Red Washi Dress

Yeay - a newly finished project to share on the blog, finally! 

As I suggested in a previous blog post I have been thinking about making the Washi Dress by Made By Rae as it seemed to be a flattering yet relaxed dress which is just what I have been looking for (see why in this post). 

This is quite a simple pattern with a fitted, empire line bodice, a pleated skirt, inseam pockets and a shirred back. The shirred back is great as it means you don't have to worry about sewing closures (such as a zip or buttons) so it's a good project for beginners or for those looking for a quick sewing fix! The Empire line has the potential to make a dress look like its Maternity Wear, but on this occasion I think it's slim fitting enough to hide your muffin-top without people wondering if you may have an announcement to make!

The pattern also comes with a cute option to cut a key-hole neckline, which on this occasion I decided to go for. A little bit tricky, but I thought since my dress was going to be a solid colour it would add a nice detail. Speaking of which, the dress is made out of a burnt red linen-cotton blend that I have had in my stash FOR AGES! The truth is that I bought it on-line with the plans of making a shirt dress out of it. But when it arrived it was heavier and had a different drape to what I had imagined and so it got put aside until i could think of what to use it for. It's so nice to finally put it to good use, plus I still have some left over which I think might be enough for a skirt.

I didn't make a muslin for this, partly because I couldn't be bothered to be honest and partly because there's not a lot to fit, and the shirred back would provide some ease. Turns out that my bust darts are too high, as is the empire line. But it's not anything major, and if you don't sew you don't notice it!

The cotton-linen fabric is actually really perfect for this dress, although it does crease a lot, as linen tends to do. But that doesn't really bother me very much. It's a great dress for layering up in Autumn/Winter, as I've done in the above photos with a polo neck, jeggings and boots, but I think it will also lend it's self well to Spring/Summer too.

I think this is turning into one of my favourite makes as I have worn it repeatedly and it has been through the wash several times already. I'm lucky that I don't have a very formal dress code in work which means this has been in high rotation and I am keen to make more!

I am the Queen of Cardi's when it comes to Autumn/Winter work attire, mainly because our work heating is so unpredictable, so I actually tend to wear this layered with a cardi rather than with a polo neck underneath (unless it's really cold!). So here are a few renditions:

Oh, I also mentioned in a previous post that I was going to start recording how much each project cost me, so here's the low down:

Washi Dress Pattern - £10
Red Fabric (I probably used about 2m from the 3m that I had) - £6
Thread - £0.70
Shirring Elastic (I had some in my stash but found some in red!) - £1
Interfacing  - £0 (had some in my stash, and I used so little it would be very hard to work out the value used!)
Bias Binding for arm holes - £1

Total: £18.70

In summary - BARGAIN!  Totally worth it as I have been wearing it non-stop!

So, are you tempted to try out the Washi Dress for yourself? Or perhaps you have already made it? I would highly recommend it!