The one about muslin!

I have decided that, so far as nice projects are concerned, I would do a muslin and work on the pattern beforehand. The only problem is this: it costs money! I have been on the look out for cheap cheap fabric, and I knew I would find happiness in IKEA, because I already had. This Saturday, we went there (BF and I), because we just like browsing through their stuff... It is kind of romantic... It makes me think of 500 days of Summer.

Anyway, I have found cheap cheap cheap fabric, that is the right weight, and quite funky. It is the last roll in the clearance of fabrics section. I took everything that was leftover! 13.90m! for 13.90 euros! Almost nothing!

I might turn them inside out for trying outs, but I am fairly happy!

My first "Haul" ever!

I am happy happy happy!

I received an early birthday present from my (hopefully future) in-laws. It was a voucher! After many thoughts, I decided to use it for Vogue patterns. SAY WHAAAT? Yes Mister or Miss! Vogue patterns! For the first time ever, I am going to have some! See, usually, my problem is the following: I live in Europe, and it costs 20 USD to ship 1, 2 or 3 patterns, and I think this is absolutely too expensive as Vogue patterns are not the cheapest thing in the world either... BUT this time, they had clearance sales on some of my faves and the shipping costs didn't seem that high anymore! All in all, 28 Euros! I am introducing you to my soon to be new babies!!!

1. Misses' Top And Skirt from Rebecca Taylor
I love the Top and it is going to be in my winter wardrobe. I do ot know in which color yet, but it will! I also think that the skirt is nice, look at the waist detail at the back!

 

2. Misses' Dress from Tracy Reese
Look at that back! And look at that front! lol... The a-line of the skirt is going to be so flattering, and the V-neck also! Front ruffles, pleats, exposed darts, what else do you need? I will use a funkier fabric... I cannot wait!

3. Misses' Jacket, Top, Dress, Skirt And Pants (a Vogue wardrobe)
You get all these bits for less than 5 euros! I fell in love with the back of the jacket! So Victorian! The T-shirt looks like a nice and simple basic too. I want to try the skirt, but a little shorter, or longer... I really like the leg of these pants. Maybe these will fit, and will stop that malediction of the pants I have had over my head for a while!

Some of you know that my second hobby is books! And, yes, you can pair my two passions: books+sewing=love forever! I have found a cheap version of the 1978 edition of the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. I have read a lot of good things about it. I cannot wait!!! It is in the mail at the moment!

My last "Haul" item is a pattern I got on Etsy for almost nothing. It is a Men Three Pieces Suit pattern from 1975. I feel like spoiling a special someone, one of these days...

I have just realized that I am being very ambitious... Those patterns, plus the Burda ones, plus the Ottobre magazine I plan on purchasing.... Oh well, CARPE DIEM!

The pleat/pencil skirt

I am done! DONE I am telling you! Here is a little flash forward to the end result...

Let's rewind... Why this project? 1)When I decided to start this blog, I had traveled on the world wide web to look at a few blogs. Then, I clicked on links and links and links and I ended up on GREAT blogs. I discovered that sewing was also paying attention to details.  2) I got really inspired. I am also currently going to a few job interviews and in need of corporate kind of clothing. 3) I watched Tim Gunn's TV show and it struck me that I didn't have any pencil skirt, one of his essentials. 4) In the last BURDASTYLE I purchased, they actually had one in the plus size department, that could hide my fatty bits. SO, I HAD TO DO THIS ONE!

I wanted to do it properly, especially as I got a GREAT fabric for it, way more expensive then usual. I is wool, and a little stretchy. A dark grey.  For the lining, I chose a deep dark red color. The contrast is so so so nice. I have some leftover that I kept for later to make a cute little vest. In previous posts, you can see the first steps.

Today, I have sewn in the lining. Sadly, the pattern of the front didn't correspond to the measurements so I had to undo the foldings. I kind of fixed it with a double face iron on tape on the inside bit of the lining. I think it'll be fine.

My boyfriend even took a few pictures while I was sewing around the slit...

Focused eh? Anyway, here are the photos of the finished skirt. Enjoy!

Here you go. I hope you like it! Next is... A shirt dress with a Burberry kind of fabric! I cannot wait!

Burda: September preview

I am not the first to comment on it, but here are my two cents... It's an easy post, after my IKEA trip and the groceries shopping and Saturday cleaning to come!

Usually, I fall in love with one of the features in normal sizes, I hate the second, and I kind of like the third.  The plus size part is sometimes really nice, and sometimes really crappy... This time follows the rules and it is one of those NICE plus sizes!

I am so in an autumn mood at the moment, and I was really expecting this preview. As often lately, I don't like one of the features, the loathed "Folklore". I would also enjoy more the graphic bits if I had less bits around my bones... Anyway, here are my faves:

I will have to work on the pattern for sizes, but I like that classic shirt. It would be great on a full skit and the V looks very flattering. To be tried...

And then there was the plus size bits! It actually is very nice this time! The fabric choice can make this dress work so so so well... I love the sleeves of this one, they make the arms look more delicate and they would work well with nice vintage buttons on their sides. The V neck is, of course, a plus for me, and the bow as well, and I love the fact it is a button up too! The skirt seems nice and A-line! To be tried!

Still in the plus size, THE trench coat! I have been wanting one for a while. I am a huge Burberry fan! I wonder how fitted it is... I just hope it is not too straight. I like a waist in coats. And, Tim Gunn says that a Trench Coat is a wardrobe essential... Last week, I have found that gorgeous coat fabric that would be perfect for it in a local gorgeous shop. Completely on my to be tried list!

My final fave was still in the plus size section: jacket! I would love to make it in tweed, with quirky discreet pimpings. I have plenty of ideas for that one!

Here it is! I think that I picked up very sober things this time around. It must be because I have to dress for job interviews, and I am in that kind of corporate mood... I still think that they can become quirky so so so easily!

TO BE TRIED!!!!!

Progress for progress sake! The Pencil skirt!

Today was the shell day! So, basically, putting stuff together. The problem is that I have been looking at so many blogs lately that my standards are so much higher now! I so my seams properly, my belt too, I don't skip interfacing anymore, I also stopped drawing the patterns on the fabric with a pen... OK, I must admit, I still used a pen for the lining! GUILTY! Throw me stones!

The pleads on the front were maybe simple to read in the magazine, but it took me ages to figure it out on the fabric, even if I did it 2 days ago with the muslin. In the end, it looks so so good, and it falls so so well!

I have also been a very good girl with the belt...

With the inside seams too (I used double sided kind of glue tapes, anyone know the English term for it?) and I opened them really nicelely. My grand ma would be almost pleased!

I have also done the invisible zipper, the button and the slit! I have also started the lining, I do not know if I'll be able to finish by tomorrow, because we are going to IKEA! Woooohooooooo!

Pencil skirt with weird pleads...

   Like every last Friday of the month, I get my hands on the new BurdaStyle mag. This time in french, yeah! I liked a few items and I decided to try first this pencil skirt. Why? Will you ask me... First, I am in the middle of quite a few job interviews and I have no pencil skirt. And Tim Gunn says I should! Second, this model has pleads that just might hide a bit of my belly. I am not 100% confident, but we'll see.

On model,

In picture,

Technical drawing,

It took me quite a while to understand the front bit, but that is why a muslin is for ;). I think the fit is OK. I just have a few twitchings left to do, like 1) shorten it a little bit; 2) put the belt; 3) wear it with good underwear...

Front

Back

I am also done with the pattern copying, and tracing. They are cut, and so are my few interfacing bits... I have chosen a GREAT grey stretchy wool and red lining! I just need to get a nice button for the back, an invisible zipper, and, well, THE thread. If anyone reads this before I go to the shop, which kind of thread would you recommend?

As I had something like 60cm of fabric left, I decided to make a vest with it. I'll tell the story later, but here, you can see how efficient I have been with the fabric. That is what is left!

So, off to bed, and tomorrow, I'll sew, sew, sew!

Sweet dreams...

Zoo PJ romper!

Disclaimer: this outfit is not made to make me look good. At all!

Back in April, I went to an indoors fabric market in Antwerp. I had 1 euro left from my budget, so I got a meter of a crazy children fabric that has zoo animals on it! Then, I thought… What can I actually do with a single meter… Knowing that I am not that thin! Shorts! Yeay!

In a crazy pre-sleep state, I imagined it as a romper with a tricot fabric. And here we go! I picked ideas from various patterns, but in the end, it’s just PJs ;)

To "pimp it up", I have added buttons in the front, and sewn on more zoo fabric. Monkeys, giraffes, and a princess frog!!!

In the end, my romper feels so nice and comfy! Though not that flattering, this is why you will only see a few angles of the result on me... Indeed, my lovely man almost compared me to Spongebob!

Let's end with the "hanged" result...

Let's just say that that was a lot of fun, as I needed to sew something easy after my evil bridesmaid dresses!!! Tomorrow, I start my first ever pencil skirt! With a twist!

Sew along...

I discovered very fast a few blogs. Grosgrain is one of the first that I visited. She created a concept called "Frock by Friday" where she shows the different steps needed for the realization of a garment. There has been four so far and, sometimes late, but I was in for all of them!

The first was the Coffee Date dress. Mine has ladybugs crowling on its side ;)

The first was a pattern from Bernina, a shirt dress. Mine has embroidered light blue details...

The third was the Tara dress. Mine has wallpaper flowers on :S

The last in date was the Anda. Mine has Japanese details, and an Obi belt!

I can't wait for the next one!

It's wedding season!

In july, my best friend got married in two parts: town council, and church the next week!

A few weeks before, I offered (silly me) to sew both bridesmaid dresses for the church: one for me (size 50), one for her sister (size 34), a looong split ;) And it took me ages! We went through a hell of a process… It ended up pretty well ;)

Of course, I couldn't wear the same for the town council, could I? Hence this shiny lovely one...

As usual, the full projects are on my Burdasttyle ...

My 12 first projects

So far so good? Hum...

I still think my first projects look cute. But when you look closely at the finitions, well, it's an other story ;) They all are on Burdastyle on my profile here.

1. Cherries dress

2. Polka dots dress

3. Stripy Marilyn top, with navy skirt

4. Patchwork shirt

5. Maxi dress

6. Climbing lizard dress

7. Summer jacket

8. Birthday man: apron

9. Greenhouse dress

10. Marilyn Polka

11. Go go green!

12. Shift dots