Fabrics from Linton Tweeds

One week ago I ordered and sent a cheque to Lintondirect and to my surprise my fabrics arrived today only one week after sending the cheque. The fabrics are beautiful, not just in color but in quality and I look forward to making them up. Here is a photo of what I ordered.

The black wool crepe will be a pair of pants. The blue wool crepe will be a skirt and the checked fabric will be a jacket. The jacket will be made like a Chanel jacket and I will use the techniques that were in the threads magazines as well as what I have learned elsewhere.




This week I am working on the khaki travellon skirt and Jacket. I will also cut out the red and the white blouses using the pattern I made for the pink satin blouse but cutting it longer.

Swap no.s

4 out of 6 tops completed

2 out of 4 bottoms completed

0 out of 1 jacket completed

Pink Satin Blouse

Pink satin blouse is nearly finished.

Here is the plan of the blouse.

The satin is a polyester in a warm pink color. The pattern turned out really well. I didn't make a toile of this garment first as I felt that it was right. I made the blouse short from the waist down, 13.5cm from the waist at centre front and 11cm at the side seam. Centre back was shortened 1.5cm more with a sway back adjustment. Ease added was 1cm at waist and hip side seams. I wanted this blouse to be a nice fit. The fit when I tried on the blouse is perfect, I will make this blouse again as is and I will also cut it longer in length.

This photo shows pinning and cutting. I added seam allowances as I cut the blouse.

This shows the completed pattern.

The blouse so far.

The hem is only basted so far I still need to do the machine hem. I have not done the buttonholes and buttons yet either.
I have tried on the blouse and the fit is good. Though satin show every wrinkle and the darts. I think that the next satin blouse I make I will not have side bust darts as think it would look better without them. Every time I make a design and pattern I learn more, which is what its all about.

I have ordered fabrics from Linton Direct UK to make a Chanel style jacket, skirt and pair of trousers.

Jacket and skirt in Khaki colored travellon has been cut out and I have started sewing.

Finishing off the 1st Wardrobe Plan

As of today I have completed

3 out of 6 tops/blouses
1 out of 4 skirts/pants
0 out of 1 jacket

so I have 7 garments to do.

black/red knit top cut out and half sewn. That will leave 6 garments to do. I need to speed up a little bit.

Today I will also draft the pants and make a toile

Over the last 2 weeks I made a costume for a customer and I digitized and embroidered to 't' shirts and a Jacket for Aarons mum.
I have cut out 2 summer dresses ( halterneck) for maddie.
I'm looking forward to having my own camera to photograph my projects.
This is the costume.

Simplicity 4095

I finished off my red stretch knit top which is part of my swap. The pattern is simplicity 4095 and the fabric used is ponti knit which I purchased from spotlight. I didn't need to alter the pattern and made it straight from the packet.

This top turned out rather nice and I will be making it again when I find some suitable fabric. After making the top I noticed on the back that I should have done a sway back adjustment which I have since done ready for the next time I use the pattern. See the creases in the side view picture. I don't see this as a big issue and I will wear the top any way.

Pale green knit top

As part of my swap I have drafted a pattern for a knit top.

This is the block draft. I went down one size on the measurement scale and used my bust, waist and hips measurements less 4cm. This worked well except that my fabric for my top has only 20% stretch accross the grain. This top is not too tight but is a firm fit. I will use this pattern again but with stretchier fabrics. The top I made from this block is a soft green/grey. The fabric was quite cheap and there is enough to make the top again but this time using my actual measurements. This was a very quick pattern and top to make and I will be using this pattern again with more summery fabrics. I turned under the 1cm seam allowance on the neck seam and added clear elastic which I pulled a little as I sewed it under. Next time I wont pull the elastic so much as it is a little gathered on the front neckline. I will use this pattern on the black/red print fabric as part of my swap as there is not enough fabric to make a crossover front top.

Swap Plan

The 1st plan is the tops and blouses

The 2nd plan is the bottoms and 1 jacket

Items finished: pale green knit top, shawl collar blouse, six gored skirt.

red knit top.

Maddies jacket and a cute photo of Connor

I made Maddie a Jacket from Burda pattern 9745. It turned out nice as it looks in the picture but because it finishes at her waist its only fashionable and not very warm so I then lengthened the jacket pattern and made it out of stretch panne. I had some striped rib knit in my stash which is a pretty close match. Here is a photo of the jacket. She will wear this jacket more than the short version I made originally.

I could not resist this very cute photo of Connor.

I havn't had time to do much on my swap but this week hopefully. I have already got some ideas ready for my next swap plan.