All posts tagged: fp

Laura After Midnight’s Dimpsy T

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A few weeks ago I bought Laura After Midnight’s new pattern the Dimpsy T.  I originally intended to make it for TMS Indie Pattern Month but life got in the way. Today, however, I needed a quick fix. As I’d already traced off for the Dimspy T it was easy to decide what to make! I had traced it off in a size 14.  I’m really in between a 16 and 18 across the bust, but my greaseproof paper would only fit a size 14 on and I’d no sticky tape to hand, so a 14 it was! As the size was likely to be a bit on the snug size I decided to make it up in a stretch fabric.  I had some fabric which hasn’t even made it upstairs to my stash yet.   I bought it when I popped into John Lewis in Newcastle on Thursday.  (it was only 3 miles away from H’s cricket match – how could I resist!). Here’s what I brought!  Think I must’ve needed cheering up, or maybe brightening up …

GBSB Capri Pants – converted to an easy elasticated waist

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I need more pants!  No not knickers, I mean trousers! Cropped ones for summer.  I’m living in my jeans and when we have the occasional warm day I’m stuck at just what to wear.  So I decided to make the Capri Pants which are in this years series of the GBSB book. The pattern looked straight forward.  Side invisible zip and facings instead of a waistband. I chose a denim with some lycra content.  Not sure how much, but they had a definite stretch rather than had ‘give’.  I sewed them up without the darts (i marked them but waited to add them) and basted the left side seam – but sewed all the others with a normal stitch length and overlocked all the edges..  I also stay stitched the waist band. I tried them on and apart from taking in the centre front seam I thought they’d be ok. I made 2 new rows of stitching for the centre front seem before I was happy with the fit. After adding the darts I then found …

Georgia, you were only supposed to be a muslin!

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For TMS’s first weekly challenge of #IMP15 I decided to make The Geogia Dress from BHL. It called for a fabric with a little stretch to help with the close fit.   As I’m trying to sew more quality than quantity I knew I needed to make a muslin. I traced the size 14 (U.S. Size – I like being 2 sizes smaller so sticking with it!!), then rummaged in my stash. I couldn’t find anything suitable, so delved into my ‘clothes to be refashioned’ box. I found a pair of my hubbies old jeans, and then after further searching in another box I found a gorgeous piece of Egyptian cotton. The latter had been chopped off my mum in laws duvet cover when she wanted it making smaller. Neither had any stretch but it would give me an idea of the fit and also enable me to check out the construction. The dress went together really well.  I didn’t take any pix when making it up as I only ‘threw’ it together to get the fit right. …

Finishing A Cowl Neckline

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I recently made Lekala 4119.  If you’ve tried Lekala you’ll know the instructions generally expect you to have a fairly decent knowledge of garment construction or time to google.  Or both. These are the complete instructions of the top describes as “Blouse with Draping” INSTRUCTIONS:  1. Sew side and shoulder seams. Serge and press toward back.  2. Serge neckline, fold to wrong side and topstitch.  3. Serge armhole, fold to wrong side and topstitch.  4. Sew bottom part into ring. Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and sew to hem, stretching a little bit. The seam is at the left side seam. Serge the seam. This is a great easy to wear top.  Cowls are in, but sleeveless ones narrow down their wearability. With this there’s no sleeves to set in so it’s a really quick make – if you know what you’re doing!  I like a clean finish on all my clothes – makes them last longer, they look more professional and less home made. I thought I’d share how I finish my tops …

Colour Blocked Cabernet Cardigan

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Due to a recent and severe case of cardigan and blazer envy I’ve unintentionally made the Morris Blazer, The Oslo Cardigan and now The Cabernet Cardigan!  Thank goodness for blogging! I first heard of SBCC’s latest pattern when Lladybird made this striped one, and this leopard one. I knew straight away I want to make one and as Betsy was offering free P&P (from America!!) I didn’t hesitate and ordered a hard copy.  Although I don’t mind PDF’s, if time is on my side and it’s not too expensive I do prefer a hard copy.  I think it took around 2 1/2 weeks to arrive, which I didn’t think was too bad. I was in a bit of dilemma before I could order my pattern.  The sizes are split in 2 – skinny bitches and curvy chicks.  I’m sort of somewhere in between.  Maybe a curvy bitch, I’m not sure! And also, I didn’t realise the sizes shown are for the finished measurements.  Doh!  So I ordered the sizes xxs-l, which has a finished bust circumference of …

The Oslo Cardigan from Seamwork & Tips on hemming a slinky knit!

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I was a little late subscribing to the new digital magazine from Colette at the back end of last year so I missed out on the free pattern.. including The Oslo.  At first it wasn’t a problem, but then they were popping up all over, even in the Supermarket!  And I needed one to snuggle and slouch in, with so splashed out! I went down to Dewsbury to Lucky Fashions and spotted this scrumptious knit with an amazing drape for an even more amazing £3 per yard.  I snapped up 3 yards and dashed home! Before the sun set I had my very own Oslo. And boy has it been put through its paces.  It’s gone with everything! (as you’ll have seen on MMM15).  It seemed a bit daft taking pictures of me in the Oslo for this post, what with all the selfies of me on MMM, so I sweet talked my lovely niece into putting it on for a few photos.  That was the easy bit, The hard bit was getting it off her! I …

Taking a breather from my Holly Jump suit – Newlook 6217

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This week I’ve muslinned (? a proper word?) the Holly Jumpsuit twice.  And I went shopping for fabric (and bought 2 extra pieces)!  Then I needed a quick fix before I dived into my Jolly Hump Suit,  mmm…, or should it be Holly Jump Suit?! (i’m laughing here, that was initially a typo but it’s stopping! lol….still lolling……!  (I’m Jumping Into June in case you didn’t know! If you want to read more about it and see who else taking part head over to Chris’s blog here…….) Anyway, moving swiftly on.  Whilst looking for something else I found this pattern which came free with the Love Sewing Mag (I think!!) Without delving in my stash I knew I had the perfect fabric for the top – B.  The fabric I’d just bought to make my Holly Jumpsuit!   I did buy an extra 1/2 metre so it’d be ok.  It was really quick to make, except I used bias binding nearly everywhere.  It was ready to go out and meet the girls at 3pm for a late …

“Magic Our Morris” The Grainline Morris Blazer

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Now, does that heading stir any memories? Selwyn Froggitt was a popular Sitcom which ran from 1974-77. I was born in 1971 so although I don’t remember everything from it I do remember a well know phrase from the show, which was “Magic ‘r’ Morris!” Morris was Selwin’s brother. If you remember it and fancy a nostalgic chuckle take a peak at this You Tube clip. If you don’t, then moving swiftly on……….. here is my new Grainline Magic Our Morris Blazer! (worn with my BHL Polly Top) I’m so excited to share this with you!  I’ve not taken it off since I finished it this lunch time and have had so many compliments.  I woke up at half 6 this morning and by 7am was well into cutting out.  All in all it’s taken me 5 hours from start to finish (not including getting the pattern ready). So here we are – I’ll get straight into the finished garment photos, then I’ll just mention a few changes I made during construction. I think you …

Vogue 1429

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I spotted this pattern a month ago and immediately thought “golf!”  I’d been on the look out for a  top with a collar that was a little different from the usual polo style top that golfers wear.  Not just because I wanted to be different, I’m a tad scared of plackets! This pattern was marked as easy, so although the collar didn’t look too straight forward, I thought it would be easier that the dreaded placket. I chose to make the sleeveless version as I didn’t have enough fabric to make one with sleeves.  I was either going to use a grey ponte knit (leftover from my sisters coco) or a black viscose jersey (refashioned from an old top).  For the contrast I was using some leftovers from my scuba knit espresso leggings. I wasn’t being a skin flint using the scraps – this was hopefully going to be a wearable muslin – according to the instructions I could alter the fit on the side seams if needed, and other than that it should fit! …

The Hudson Pants #PatternParcel6

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Back in October I bought Parcel 6 from the Perfect Pattern Parcel.  This is the 3rd parcel I’ve bought but I’ve not gotten round to making anything until now. The Hudson Pants, although for a lady, looked a great style for my 12 year old son. I initially made the 3/4 length style but he felt they were a bit too tight so i chopped them to above the knee and just overlocked the hem. I’m pleased with my button holes.  My one step button hole on my machine is a bit iffy so I just did it by twiddling a few dials as I went! They were really easy to put together. I made each pocket a different colour. Not because I was feeling particularly creative, it was because I didn’t have enough fabric! I can’t persuade him to wear them inside out. He doesn’t quite get how good they look on the inside – all his clothes look like this!! On one leg front piece I had to use the fabric vertically as …