Need to catch up on project posts.

Wow. Its been a long time since I posted anything so I have a lot to catch up. I will start catching up with some of my project very soon.

Vogue 8571

This dress went together quite quickly and easily. The fabric is a jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. It was lovely to sew and it washes up beautifully and I havn't needed to press it since I finished it. I just wanted to sew and relax and making this dress was just what I needed.

The pattern. I traced off a size 10 in the shoulders going out to the 12 on the side seams. No other adjustments were necessary.

On the neck facing I didn't press under 1.5cm and slip stitch to neckband seam as was written in the instructions I just left it flat and ditch stiched through the neckband seam. There would have been too much bulk for me if I did it as per the instructions. I don't know if I will ever make this dress again but I am very happy with the one I have.

M6035 has been traced and cut out in a cream cotton ready to be sewn as time permits.

Just before christmas I made a dress for my niece Michelle. This is the design she drew.

And this is the finished dress. The dress has a corselette fitted to the hips. The boning runs on the princess seams of the corselette and both the corselette and the dress are lined. You could run, jump do anything in this dress and feel confident that it won't fall down. Michelle did jump around to test it during the fittings and it didn't budge. The corselette has a waist stay and uses hook and eyes as closures on the side seam, the dress uses an invisible zipper. Because of the corselette there was no pressure on the invisible zipper. The bodice also has beading on the side gathers. I am pleased with this dress. It took a lot of hours to plan, draft and sew and I enjoyed doing it.

New Pattern

I received some new patterns in yesterday's post. This one McCalls 6035 I can't wait to try.

I can see this shirt pattern being made more than once. I really like the design of this shirt and am hoping I have time to start tracing and altering the pattern for fit this afternoon.

McCalls 6040http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M6040.htm?search=6040&page=1 is another of the patterns in this order. I can see this as a jacket to wear around at home. McCalls 5191http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5191.htm?search=5191&page=1 is also in this order. As I dont have many casual jackets this may come in handy. V1136, M6039, V7975 and M6018 were the other patterns in this order. All of which I have plans for.

I am expecting the Marfy 2010/11 catalogue to arrive this week.

Lots of alterations done lately and a little sewing for myself. Now to trace of 6035.

When I was younger, oh so much younger, my dream was to have a very large family and to work from home as a dressmaker. Well I have the large family and over the last few years I am starting to realise the work from home part of my dream. The reality is a lot different from the dream. Its a lot harder to do and sometimes there is not enough time to do everything, but I do so much love it all.

These last few months I have been very busy mostly doing alterations for a laundrette. I also do alterations for an ever growing list of clients as well. I have also made shirts and some tops for other clients.

V2634

For my self I have made a few shirts http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V2634.htm?search=2634&page=1 is one of the patterns. I have made this 3 times now. A dress http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V8489.htm?search=8489&page=1 and that's pretty much it for myself. I will blog about and include photos of these two patterns soon. Oh! and I nearly forgot this 1954 vogue design http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V2960.htm?search=2960&page=1 which when I was testing the pattern on some old fabric from my stash thought the test was good enough to wear so I finished it off properly and I wear it.

I am starting to work on two formal dresses for two of my nieces. These are images of what the 1st dress is to look like. I have drafted the foundation for this dress using the sitam method of pattern making.

The fit on the toile was pretty close I just have to tighten the side seams a little, contour under the bust and tighten the princess seam above the bust a little. Next I will alter the pattern to match the toile and cut out the foundation in twill, add interfacing, boning, waist stay, lining and fasteners. More photos soon.

Burda Jacket and Top

Burda 11-2008-102b

I made the jacket to the pattern except I didn't add the belt.

The description in the Burda magazine "This elegant jacket is absolutely loaded with fabulous features-inverted box pleats and broad cuffs provide for the puffy sleeve effect, the waist is highlighted by a buckled belt while the wavy hem-edge looks like a very feminine peplum!"

I traced off the size 38 pattern. I shortened the bodice for length across the chest near the armhole notch by 1cm and under the arm, taking out 2cm in length from the front and the back pattern peices. I shortened the sleeves by 2cm. Made a toile to check the fit and didn't do any more alterations to the pattern though now in retrospect I should have altered the width across the chest as it is a little wide in the shoulders.

The fabric is from spotlight. It wasn't very expensive and I think it is an acrylic/wool mix. With not a lot of wool. This jacket is not lined.

I read the instructions through before commencing this project and found them ok except when I got to the collar application. I read this part of the instructions a few times before I understood what was required.

I like this jacket, it looks really good with straight skirts and pants. I don't think I'll make this pattern again though as I can't see the need for more than one and there are so many more patterns I want to try.



Burda 11-2008-103b

The burda description, "Finest elastic jersey comfortably jugs your figure, a pretty dotted print and empire waistline add fashion fair. The plunging neckline adds a sexy eyecatcher and perfect for showing off one of the latest over-sized necklaces!

I used my usual size 36 in the shoulders and traced out to a 38 for width from the bust down. Shortened the sleeves by 2cm. I didn't make a toile for this top.

The fabric was purchased in spotlight. Its a black/teal/white polyester knit?

As usual I read the instruction through first. This top was quick and easy to make and a great wardrobe builder.

I will make this pattern again in the spring with short sleeves.

I still want to make a few more of the patterns in this magazine as there are a lot of nice designs in this issue. 104a,117 and I like the childrens fashions for my granddaughter, possibly 121 as I have not tried the burda pant patterns as yet and I have read that the fit is really good.

Burda World of Fashion 5/2007 116B

Recently I made this blouse from the Burda World of Fashion magazine 5/2007 116B. http://www.burdafashion.com/en/Magazines/Archives/116_B_Blouse/1270777-1463237-1487611-1487617-1487792.html

I thought this would make a nice little shirt and it did. I start tracing the size 36 pattern at the neck and shoulder going out to the 38 lines on the side seams. I have made this pattern up twice now and both times in a cotton voile. The second time I used the collar and sleeve from 117.

I read the burda instructions through first and then didn't need to refer to them. The shirts went together quickly and easily and I will probably use this pattern again. I used Vilene G785 to interface the the front facings and collars with a double layer on the collar stand on 116B. The shirts turned out well and were reasonably cheap and quick to make.