Frantic Sewing

Do any of you have an event in the future and then decide you must, absolutely must have a new outfit(s)?  Then you try to break all sewing/knitting speed records to get the objects of your desire completed??

Well, I am doing that a bit now.  I am off away for a few days on Friday and have decided that as the climate in my chosen destination (NYC) is completely different from here in Brisbane, that of course I have nothing to wear!  Now, I am pretty sure that I wore clothes last summer, I don't remember the stares from walking about naked, so why do I need more clothes?  (let's call that a rhetorical question)

Short answer - I don't need new clothes, however I would like them!

Here are the items I cut out last night and hope to finish before my early morning departure on Friday:

Hazel Dress:
V-neck loose fitting top - BurdaStyle 101A 05/2012
Oversize top - BurdaStyle 07/2011
These are all pretty simple patterns, but I still don't want to rush the finish. I have started with the Hazel dress. What do you think my chances are of finishing these before I leave? I also work full time, so my time is limited. Still, it is good to have goals right??

Do any of you also do this mad rush before travelling or events?

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Birdie Sencha

My first version of the Sencha Blouse by Colette.  I did a toile first which showed I needed to make a small shoulder adjustment as it was not comfortable to wear.

I underlined the whole garment as the original fabric was pretty sheer and used french seams throughout.

I used a size 6 in the top (and adjusted for narrow shoulders) and then graduated to a 12 for my waist and hips.  I found that due to the blouseyness (is that a word?) of the pattern an FBA was not required.

I omitted the neck facing and instead incorporated the underlining to make a nice clean neck finish.

I also omitted the back buttons as there is no way I could reach to do them up!  I cut the back on the fold instead and like the clean lines this option gives.  I may do a version in the future with a faux back button opening as I found the pattern has enough room in it to go over my head just fine.

For those followers, you may recognise the fabric, it is a hack of my previous fail garment.  I am much happier with this and took great pleasure in cutting the failure into pieces!!  I am really happy with the fit of this blouse and it is comfortable, wearable and I think flattering. I shall definitely be making more.

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Ruffle Merino Top

I bought some lovely soft NZ merino recently and knew the exact top I was wanting to make. Of course I didn't have the exact pattern so modified one I already had, McCalls M4517.

I made the plain round neck top with long sleeves. I then set about constructing the ruffle. I cut a piece of merino approximately 120cm long by 15cm and folded it in half wrong sides together and sewed each end. I then turned it the right way out and serged the tube closed, and then ran a gathering stitch through to create the ruffle.


Starting where I wanted the ruffle to finish I then placed the ruffle on the top fiddling until I got the placement right. Once happy, I pinned it in place and marked with tailors chalk the line as it would have to moved around a bit to sew.



To stitch the ruffle in place I started at the bottom row, holding the other rows out of the way and stitched the row in place. Each row was stitched individually.

I don't normally sew knit garments having had some bad experiences in the past but this one sewed up nicely with none of the puckering dramas I have had in the past.  I sewed most of it with my serger and the seams under stress with a stretch stitch.  I also reinforced the shoulder seam with ribbon.  After this experience I may sew some more knit garments soon, I especially love the Merino it was lovely to sew and is toasty warm and comfy to wear.  Perhaps a bright colour for the next garment, I seem to be on a black theme right now - blame Winter!

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