Wanderlost

Sewing Projects :: But behind that fair facade, I'm afraid she's rather odd

Woo!  I didn't want to wait to post this one because I love it so much. I'll just make everything Disney related and then I'll definitely get around to taking pictures!

 

The Rita Blouse from Gertie's new Charmed Patterns

 

This fabric.  I just love it. A gorgeous Beauty and the Beast stained glass quilting cotton from Joann's of all places! I had a plan to make a matching top, black and using some of the B&B fabric, so maybe expect that in the future.  But I made this a skirt because the fabric had so many colours in it, I could just wear anything!  So when I caved and jumped on the bandwagon with Gertie's new shirt pattern, Rita, I knew I had to make it for this and that the only colour it could realistically be is yellow!  Obv.  I could have easily drafted the pattern myself, but really...buying things is just so much easier. I ran to Joann's the day it arrived and found the most perfectly coloured fabric for it. Exactly what I was envisioning in my Disney-obsessed mind.  I've already gone back to Joann's to buy more of that fabric in a different colour for the same pattern. Which is for a different skirt, but could also turn Disney-bounding very easily as well.  Mermaid style.  I could just churn these out every day, they are so simple!  One in every colour!

 

 

Click for fabric closeup!

 

 

 

Vogue 8787

The skirt gave me a bit more trouble.  I was so unsure how to lay out the pieces and the pattern that it took ages to decide.  Between the directional print and the width of the fabric, laying out a circle skirt was problematic.  I found a pattern in my stash that worked perfectly.  Ends up being a circle, but with more sections, no seam in the front, and more areas that have the pattern up and down. On grain on the center front, back, and sides.  I'll definitely use it again for any directional print circle skirts.  It's a dress pattern, so I just threw on a waistband. I don't know why I made it so wide, but whatever, it feels a bit weird, but doesn't look that bad. Fits my rose belt that I wore only because it has a rose on it.  And when I bought it, it was because it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. I'm a nerd, nothing new there!  I ordered some roses to make matching earrings and miscellaneous jewelry to match, lol.  I have a large black Hell Bunny petticoat underneath in some of these pictures, just for reference.  I had fun twirling.  I love petticoats.

~Nikki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lame twirl sans crinoline

Sans petticoat 

Sewing Projects :: Object d'Art

 

  Such laziness in photographing and blogging my recent makes.  No real excuses except work and laziness :P  I wore this one to go out to lunch on my aunt's b-day, so I grabbed a few pictures before leaving the house!

 

Decades of Style :: Object d'Art

 

This was a fun dress to make.  I found it surprisingly simple.  Part of that was probably the fabric I chose, it was very easy to work with and pressed pretty well into all those folds.  Lining up the stripes was probably the only real time consuming part! And you really have to pay attention to the folding and ironing or it won't lay right.  I don't have a lot of straight skirt dresses like this, but I like the style.  I might make a few wiggle dresses next.  I used a pencil skirt pattern I've been working on as a sloper for it.  Now I should just make the pencil skirt!

 

The fabric isn't nearly as bright and saturated as it appears in most of these photos. I really need some sort of setup to get better colours!  Anyway, I've had this fabric in my stash for years, like, I think it moved from Texas with me. And I had like 6 yards, I have no idea what I planned to make with it, but I have plenty left over for another dress.  I never buy this much fabric, so it was hard to use it on something that doesn't take up the entire amount, but I thought that it was just perfect for the pattern.  The design is great, I love the yoke and pocket details so much and the stripes really show off the folds and pleating, I love the little shiny stripe too, not too gaudy but fun!  And now I can make something else!  Woohoo!

 

Neckline pleating detail

The skirt is period appropriate, but WAY to long for most modern wear. It probably would have been to my ankles. I took off inches of it and still had to give it a deep hem (which made the kick pleat too short, I'll make a note of that!) to make it a good length.  I'd probably make a slightly smaller size next time as well, it was a smidge too big, but not enough for me to take in the sides.  I put a piece of elastic in the back waist, which is hardly noticeable, but it nips it in a bit more.  I also left a huge seam allowance on the skirt so that I can let it in and out as necessary over the years.

I made the sleeves on the bias to give it a bit more stripe interest and mirror some of the folds. I just now noticed the stripes don't match on them.  Whatever, I like how it turned out!  Very easy and comfortable to wear.  Definitely recommend the pattern.  I'm excited to make others from the company, I bought a bunch of them when they were having a sale ;)

 

 

 

Pocket detail and vintage button!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ~Nikki

 

 

 

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Sewing Projects :: Foxy!

So, this didn't turn out quite like I wanted.  But that fabric!  So cute!!  I've been on a kick of 'cute' fabrics lately.  I don't know why, and I'm not complaining. After all, that's how you end up with seersucker with embroidered unicorns. 

This was my first time working with double gauze, which may have contributed to my problems.  It is light weight, but thicker than you would expect, it being two pieces of fabric stuck together and all. 

I started with the Mila Shirt from Itch-to-Stitch.  She did a great job drafting this pattern, she puts so much work into them!  It's what all indie patterns should be like-better done than cheaper big 4 patterns.  Different cup sizes, different layers to the pdf, just well done all around.  I'm sad that the pattern didn't work for this shirt, but I'd try it again with different fabric.  And I'd definitely buy another one of her patterns!

The problem came with the front placket.  It was just too thick.  The fabric doesn't have enough drape for the collar to fold down or fall open like you see on most relaxed collared shirts.  It was stick straight and just a whole lotta shirt and fabric and zero skin showing.  To the point that it looked really odd.   Right after I sewed this shirt up I saw the Cheyenne Tunic pattern, which was exactly what I was looking for, with a shaped button placket so I wouldn't have to worry about how thick the fabric was.  Oh well.  Live and learn.  I may buy it anyway, for the future.  Or redraft some pieces of the mila shirt.

 

Nothing I did helped so what did I do?  Just chopped off the whole collar area.  I'm worried that this type of neckline makes it look homemade, but you know what?  It was homemade.  And it has foxes on it.  So who cares?

 

I'm pretty proud of the pointy end of the placket.

 

 

Sewing Projects :: Red Riding Hood Wardrobe Part III :: Granville

Finishing up my Red Riding Hood theme, until I find some more fabric anyway.  I previously posted the red Minoru jacket and a shirtdress in the series.  Now, a Sewaholic Granville shirt, out of an adorable quilting cotton I found on fabric.com.  It was during my cotton kick ;)  I've gotten a huge amount of wear out of this shirt as well, mostly during office days at work.  I don't often wear me-made clothes to work, but I wore this once and now it gets requested!

The most perfect flat felled seam!

The shirt fit perfectly right out of the package, which is fantastic and in line with the fit I found with the Minoru jacket also by Sewaholic.  So nice for a change!  Such a nicely drafted button-up shirt too, princess seams, very professional looking (maybe not out of this fabric, lol), and a great fit. I didn't make any changes, so I don't have much to say about it.  I used some contrasting fabric (western paisleys stolen from my mom's quilting stash), which I absolutely LOVE and flat felled all the seams.  Check out those seams.  Seriously.  I don't know how I sewed them so perfectly and so straight.  It'll never happen again, but I NAILED IT on this shirt! 

I also used snaps instead of buttons which was super fun and something a little different.  I used a bunch of my tailoring skills on this shirt...which is sort of silly for a silly shirt....but I like putting my skills to use!

I don't really have the need for nice looking/tailored shirts in my wardrobe (how sad is that), but if I do, this is my go to pattern!

 

 

 

 

 

Sewing Projects :: Red Riding Hood Minoru

Wow.  Happy New Year, everyone!  My only resolution this year is to post more.  I haven't taken pictures of my sewing in months and I have some projects from over a year ago that I haven't got around to posting.  Might be good now though, to see which ones are actually comfortable and that I've worn since I've made them.  I also haven't posted any of my vacation photos from last year.  I'm going to try and catch up.  I imagine it'll last as long as most resolutions!

Well, this project!  This is one of the ones that was finished over a year ago, and I waited to try and get better quality photos.  But there you have it.  Never done.  Might as well get it posted as is!

This fantastic pattern is Minoru from Sewaholic. I made the version with the hidden hood, it zips into the collar.  Love it!

Also, since I waited so long to post this , I can now say that this has probably gotten more use than anything I've ever made.  I love this jacket.  It is a great weight (twill from Joann's), and I can wear it to work without fear of it being ruined (because it is a jacket and I take it off!).  And it's RED. I've already gotten some nice black wool in from Mood to make another version of this in some heavier fabric.  Some great flannel lining too.  I always say I'll make patterns multiple times, but this may be the first time it's actually happened!

It is hugely popular in the sewing world. I found it fit me with very few alterations, which makes me love this pattern company even more; it is perfectly drafted for my body type. 

~Nikki

Chin/zipper guard detail

Adjustments/Alterations

• Chin/zipper guard.  I'll include this in my next version as well.  Great idea I stole from someone on the internet.  It is just a folded over piece of fabric behind the zipper and the top wraps over to the front.
• Removed the elastic cuffs.  I don't think I made the sleeves longer either, they were a just a little long to begin with. 
  • I'll find a nicer way of finishing them for my next version.  For this one I just made the lining of the sleeves shorter and that pulled up the outside fabric and I just stitched it down
• Pockets.  Why she didn't include pockets in the pattern, I'll never understand.  I haven't seen a single version were someone didn't add pockets.  It makes for some creative pocket ideas (I just did a slanted patch pocket, love it and easy!) though, welts, patches, flaps, etc.  For a jacket to be released without outside pockets is a huge miss though.
• Changed the hood to a 3 piece (contours to your head better) and lined it.  The fabric is thin enough were it doesn't create a problem zipping the collar closed, but it might be too much for my wool version.
• Top stitched all the seams and reinforced the pockets with some fancy stitching.  No one ever knows but me, but I'm happy to have a well made jacket!  Made entirely on my grandmother's old machine since mine broke on the first seam.

Pocket/Topstitching detail

 

Inside out, hidden pockets and all!

This is my evil picture. Muhahaha

 

 

Sewing Projects :: A late Christmas dress, the plaid Dahlia

The idea was to have this dress around Christmas, but that just didn't happen.  After the work on the movie was over, I got sick and was basically not in a sewing mood for almost 2 weeks.  I spent my time knitting instead. But then I started work on this. I have such a severe love-hate relationship with plaids.  They are such a pain to make things out of, but I just love plaid so much.  My love of plaid really knows no bounds.

I saw Colette's Dahlia pattern and thought it would be perfect for this fabric, so I ordered it.  This is only my second indie pattern and my first Colette.  I was SO excited when it came in the mail, the packaging and instruction booklet and everything was just SO stupid cute!!! Awesome job with that.  I was thoroughly impressed.  I only wish they didn't have that ugly grey version of the dress on the front.  What's up with that?  I didn't really use the instructions, but they looked really good.

Then I started reading all the reviews.  Not terribly positive.  The neckline is apparently a disaster and never lays flat. I began to wonder how anybody managed to make the thing work at all!  I mean, raglan sleeves in a non-stretchy material....the physics of that just don't work right...Reviews can be a scary thing. 

I tweaked and cut and taped the pattern apart beyond all recognition, but it probably ended up almost exactly the same as it started anyway. So it goes.  And lining up plaids.  Don't even get me started. I don't want to talk about it.  It is like sewing the dress 4 times, if it is off a single woven thread, it looks terrible to me. Rip out and redo!  You probably can't tell in the pictures, but my plaids line up perfectly ;)

 Changes:

• Used facings instead of bias tape for the neckline
• Made the neckline smaller/less wide
• Put tucks in at the shoulders-on purpose, not an after thought ;)  Thought it would help shape the shoulders better
• Got rid of the neck gathers
• And most obviously, changed the skirt.

The neckline isn't perfect.  It still doesn't lay totally flat, but I used a facing instead of bias tape and I think the thickness of the seam and fabric have something to do with that.  I'm still fascinated by how all the pictures for the pattern have flat necklines, but basically not a single project I've seen does!  Then again, mine might have been flat too.  I never tried the pattern before making changes on it.

 

I'm not totally thrilled with it, I have to say.  I don't really know why.  Which is annoying because I spent so much time on it. The neckline doesn't bother me too much, and it is easily changed (without taking apart the entire dress) if I feel the need to.  I don't know, maybe the waist is too high up?  I don't have any pictures of it, but when I raise my arms just a little, the entire dress comes up with them.  It makes for an odd silhouette or something.  Maybe the smaller skirt would have been better?  Maybe I'm making it all up.  Maybe it is fine :P  

It is pretty comfortable after all.  I think I'm getting better at fitting things.  Isn't that nice?  I just need to find a reason to wear it now, it's toasty warm and perfect for winter-as long as it doesn't go back down to -20F

 

I was going to take pictures of more projects today, but I realised my hair looks terrible.  I may not be posting things, but I've been sewing and have a massive backlog of projects to put up-- I just don't feel like taking pictures.  Winter makes me so lazy!

 

~Nikki