Hurrah!  Pop the corks this post will have links (& many!)  Following all my issues with shockwave/flash crashing in Chrome I have moved across to Firefox & it’s great.  No more problemos & very user friendly for a webnoob like me.  Just thought you’d be glad – no more moaning on that front!  So, sewing it is.  PS The giveawaywayhay post (deliberate typo!) is being penned & just need some photos to launch later it this week, sorry for stringing you along.

Here it is, my second Colette Patterns Ginger skirt.  I had intended it to be a quick & dirty affair making an unlined version using a red linen/ cotton mix, perfect for summer. But then I saw Karen’s holiday Ginger, & saw that she had taken the trouble to line it & thought “Come on Scruffy!  Make an effort!”

I’ve lined my previous Ginger, & found that it could have done with a bit more ease in the lining.  So this time, cutting out the lining I added an extra cm to each side seam to allow for ease of wearing.  I also cut the front on the fold rather than create an additional seam which isn’t needed inside.   Just used gathers to ease the lining to fit at the waistband at the appropriate point in the making up.

I think I’m a bit into petticoats at the moment … look at how I’ve finished it off (& some secret rick rack also! Makes it feel like Christmas!)

The Waistband

This I think deserves a bit of space all to itself.  To avoid the gaping at the top, I referred back to my first Ginger & the alterations I made to it.  Luckily I had transferred these to my pattern pieces & was therefore able to line up & transfer these with the sweetheart waistband that I wanted to make this time.

The top piece is how it is before I made adjustments – the bottom two pieces show the weird wedge I need to take out of this waistband side seams.

** Post edit – please refer to the comment left by Mrs C below to develop this alteration to the next level & make a rounded waistband translating the adjustment evenly across the pieces – it’s a good read!! **

It was weird sewing it though – it seems counter intuitive seeing the angle that the three pieces make when sewn up together.  But it worked, it fits my clearly counter intuitive body shape.

So, to detour again from the “quick & dirty” I felt obliged to add some detailing, to invest some more love into this skirt.  It was worth it I think.  I cut some strips of the skirt fabric on the bias & made piping.  Nothing too obvious, as this skirt is going to be a basic colour blocker, but the piping just makes me feel it is a bit more special.

Since reading Roobeedoo’s note that the waistband in this version can wrinkle I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.  My interfacing, although medium, had already ironed on a bit awkwardly & therefore became my waistband facing (oh, I wasn’t going to admit to that!)  I didn’t want to risk it on the waistband proper in case it ironed on all gunkily again.  All through the construction the need for stiffness (stop sniggering) was niggling me.  Was I going to risk the quality of the skirt for lack of thought & effort?  My fix in the end was to create a template of the space inside the stitching, ie the finished waistband & create a buckram duplicate in the hope that it keeps it standing up right.  It seems to be OK…. but makes a crinkly noise when you move around sitting!

My invisible zip went in fine, piping just about even both sides if you squint.  It’s just the top didn’t finish as neatly as it could, but looks like a design feature.  Perhaps it is because of the piping.

I think this is going to be useful.  I’ve already discovered LOADS of tops that it goes nicely with & today I wore it with my Vintage Vogue jacket no less (it’ll appear in a Me Made May roundup)

Worn here with an old New Look 6808 top in linen…

The perils of long damp grass of a morning ….

Onto update #2 for Me Made May 12, let’s get down to business.

On the 9th May

I ambled out to the wool shop & along the way stopped here, somewhere I knew it would a. be quiet (so I wouldn’t get caught posing in front of my self timer!) plus b. had lots of railings on which to curl my gorilla-pod-type tripod.  I do love these parts of Bath, really close to the renowned “Sally Lunn’s” olde tea shoppe, of Bath Bun fame in North Parade Passage.  I’m keeping one of the Bath lions company.  A year or so ago there were loads of these, sponsored, painted & decorated, standing proud in all sorts of strange places across the city centre.  They were auctioned for charity but a few remain.  Before that it was pigs.  I liked the pigs better & they were harking back to King Bladud & how he discovered the healing powers of the spring waters when his infested pigs were made well again (or something like that, don’t quote me)

So I’m wearing my New Look 6000 Pan Am Inspired dress – woo hoo!  With a brown satin (not me made) jacket as it is still chilly.  Underneath the purple coat & topped with my crochet hat.  Can I let you  into a secret?  This is the first time I’ve worn *the dress*, the original opportunity was cancelled & then, with its 3/4 sleeves with cuffs it’s not the kind of dress to hide beneath a cardigan.  No more though!  It is having its time with this weird weather!

May 10th

It was a working at home day today so I wore my white Renfrew underneath my cartoonesque Rooibos (with me made slip poking through.  Yes it does have yellow lace & it is turquoise).  Look through the window & you can see the glory of the patient pizza oven and the flourishing salad patch ….

May 11th

A hectic day ending at the hairdressers.  I always love having my hair done & getting to chat with my hairdresser.  He loves cutting my hair short & this style is a compromise.  He almost persuaded me to tong the long bit into curls, but I think I shuddered inside & said “what, you mean like an 80s kind of style?”  To which he agreed.  Luckily he had another client after me, so probably would have been too pressed for time (big PHEW!)  He took my pic by his luxurious decor- check out the wallpaper & the mirror (don’t ask me the name of the machine behind…)

I’m wearing my Hazel dress (Victory patterns)

May 12th

It was a red ellie day today.  The Lisette Traveler dress just blogged about.

Location is I am afraid very much in the garden, but I did manage to flourish it at Sainsburys (& felt bright & attention grabbing, not in a good way.  But then, not quite so attention grabbing as all the young ones with their extra short shorts & bare instant tan legs ….brrrr!)

May 13th

Did you catch the sun?  We had an afternoon BBQ, a bit of  a reunion.

I wore my vintage 50s Rockahula Vegas blouse with my New Look 6190 linen trousers.  I think I fixed that conundrum that is “how long” should a wide legged pair of trousers be.  Instant turn ups with the aid of safety pins, iron  & a deep enough hem.  Magic for flats, then reverse the process for heels ….

I’m in a carpark in Cheltenham (ha ha !  location, location, location!!)

May 14th

Oo la la…I’m on leave this week with plenty of creative tasks lined up.  That means I can flirt around with some frivolous accessories that would not necessarily be exposed to the gentle public.  Trying to keep to my goal of more public photos, I am strictly speaking off site ….. in the back lane!

New Look 6586 – a dress that predates my blogging & accidentally discovered on my “remake” pile.  I didn’t like the low ‘v’ neck on me & know now to go for curves (cos I’m curvy y’see).  Dressed up with the right accessories it’s much better.  Me made belt & the cardigan is my refashioned vintage one with lace …oh yes, the new petticoat makes itself known today as well.

Oh.my.word.  It is sunny today!  After a monumental year of rain (well that’s how it feels) the sun is out, the sky is blue & I could actually consider bringing out my summer clothes!  (May the 12th everyone.  That means that my summer clothes could get, hmmm, let’s figure it out, 3.5 months’ wear this year?  And I think you can guess that summer clothes make up a significant proportion of my wardrobe)

Anyway the sun made me feel like getting *that secret* dress out in the lush garden, finally….

What’s that I hear coming over the hill?  There’s a massive rumbling  …. the earth is definitely shaking….my gosh!  Have you ever seen so many elephants??!?!?!

Well you know that this is made using the Lisette Traveler dress pattern (sorry links still not easy, so I have to forgo them until I get my rear into gear & fix my browser problem), but here’s the pattern on the left to remind you.

This dress bumped its way to the top of my sewing list, actually I’d say it possibly stampeded over every single other piece of fabric I had in my pile for summer sewing to raise its very attractive bright redness in my face & blind me with its gorgeousity.

Here came the fabric of fun, my task was to create a dreamy dress.  I had in mind a shirt dress with gathered skirt, & after much thought (well, just a bit) I plumped for the gathered version of the Lisette Traveller dress.  (Thank you Debbie for the idea!).

The great things about the Lisette patterns I have found is that they are usually a quick & efficient make.  Hand sewing is negligible & machine finishing is primarily suggested in the directions.    I had wanted to make this dress for a specific event, therefore my aim was to be as effective as possible in its construction.

What I did differently -

I cut the interfacing first -usually I cut out the main fabric & then make may way to the interfacing, resenting it as it keeps me from getting the sewing started.  Cutting out the interfacing first seemed to help with this weird psychology of mine.  I am not sure it saved any time, but it was a great feeling to cut out the last piece of the dress fabric & know I could start!

I did make an effort to cut the ellies in line as stripes (apart from the button bands).  That was worth it.  I also found the print was not in line with the grain, & this time went with the pattern (oh how we learn from our mistakes!)

The other thing I did was to tissue fit the bodice to Barbarella (my dummy)- I needed to know that it was a reasonable fit.  It seemed to pass on that front, so it was full steam ahead.

The dress was a lovely make.  I can’t fault it.  The collar & stand is all one piece which I think works well & is quicker to put together.   I also rounded the corners slightly on the collar as I like curves.

But what I adore the most is the sleeves – they are gathered slightly puff sleeves on a slim band.  Delightful.  It makes me feel quite young actually, not that this was my intention!   Think yourselves lucky I didn’t model this with white ankle socks & a satchel…

It is funny that recently Tilly wrote about procrastinationon the details.  When I read it I thought “no, that isn’t something I suffer from”.  However, THIS dress or Tilly’s post changed all that.  Button colour.  I had in mine egg yolk yellow.  But when I went to the habbie store I not only bought some yellow ones (not quite the colour I had in mind), but also red & shiny white as well.  Gosh did I dither!  I ended up turning the yellow buttons & using them upside down.

Now where you may ask is the piping or the rick rack?  What details did I add?  OK, to start with I topstitched in off-white with a triple stitch to show up a bit.  This went around the collar plus each edge of the button band.  And piping?  None this time.  Rick rack?

You got it!  I added some to the hem for a scalloped loveliness.  Something was missing though.  It is a cold May afterall.  So I made a petticoat out of the posh lawn I accidentally over purchased.  Sweet cotton lace, yellow ribbon & my pintucking foot all conspired to create this wistful reminder of the petticoats I wore as a sixth former, also deliberately hanging out from under my skirts.

Am I trying to relive my youth?  Is this my very own 80s revival?  If it is what song could I possibly be leaping around to?

What went wrong this time?  Well my overlocker developed a blockage (ahem).  It is a Babylock Imagine Wave which has “air threading”.  ”Air threading” is a dream, you just poke your looper thread into the correct duct & pump.  The thread magically pops out of the correct looper, no probs.  But when it gets blocked there is no amount of pumping (ha ha) that gets it round.  After a phone call to my very understanding sewing machine vendor/ font of all sewing machine knowledge I tried poking jewellery wire into the looper, but it kinked & didn’t get around the right angled pipe.  So in the end availed myself of aforementioned very understanding sewing machine vendor/ font of all sewing machine knowledge & he cleared it out in a jiffy.  A clump of red thread.  Not from this dress though.  With my overlocker out of action I had to revert to zig zagging, and that just felt plain “wrong”.  I am officially the spoilt brat of sewing machines now, & I will tell you how much. I am mid “Ginger”, making a red linen mix version.  I had finished all the edges with zig zag, but I just know it’s going to show through when I iron it, & months down the line I will be throwing the iron around on it, caring less.  When my overlocker returned after its colonic I went over all of the edges & re-finished them.  Ahhh, that’s better.

So folks, sorry for a glimpse into the digestive problems of my overlocker.  Fancy seeing a close up of the MOST awesome brooch I recently got from LadybirdLikes on Etsy?  (I will struggle to get this link working, as it is worth it)

It’s only from a vintage sewing pattern cover on laser cut wood.  Gorgeous & essential accessorizing for the sewster do you not think?

Later next week I shall be holding a giveaway with different one of these gorgeous brooches included in a bundle of stitching loveliness.  Just for fun you know.  Keep watching & have a wonderful weekend….

Okey dokey, just where was I & what did I wear?  How did I bring my me mades to life?

Just what is it possible to get away with in May with below average temps & “rather a lot” of rain?

OK, so you have seen Day 1:

Ultra Violet blouse and What Ho Ginger skirt.

Location: The Optician’s

Day 2:

I’m wearing my Double collared blouse with my grey secret sari lined pinstripe skirt. Behind me extends Northumberland Place which is quite a characterful lane in the city, containing shops & cafes (including the Makery Emporium).  If you look closely the sign for the jewellery shop is sadly defiled by seagull splat, the likes of which we are over blessed with considering we are so far inland!

[I have to apologise now, lack of hyperlinks due to technology taking *forever* & not working properly....If you want to look anything up, there is a search box near the top of the right margin...I'm trying to get to the bottom of it]

A decorated bicycle, part of a display to promote Bath City Conference: One Hundred Ideas for Bath, that was going on that day.

May 3rd

Oh, it’s that purple coat!  It shows that I wear it alot, also that it was cold & wet, also that I do not have anything me made that is up to the job of keeping me warm & dry.  A Minoru has been ordered to be prepared for the autumn.  So I’m wearing my red spotty cowl neck dress.  The hat, isn’t it adorable, is a crocheted gift made by my friend.

Location:  I am at the bottom of the Holloway, a street on a hill  that is unbelievably close to the city centre & where I meet Gary when he comes to pick me up from work (when I am too lazy to walk/ catch bus!)

Star Wars Day:

This day has already been posted about & as you can see has a couple of star guests!!  Jane & Karen welcome to Me Made May

Location – All Saints in Covent Garden.

May 5th:

I am pooped.  I did not go out all day.  I sat.  And I caught up on some overdue emails (very overdue).  I printed out knitting patterns that I have bought via Craftsy (it is a long drawn out process with my aging technology).  And I got lost in the time warp that is “vintage sewing pattern” search on Ebay.

I am wearing my Spring floral Renfrew and my denim Beignet.

May 6th:

At the carboot as well as some bananas, that bag is laden with folders of knitting patterns!  From the 60s through to the 90s.  Oh, what a fashion treat it was looking through them all. I shall share some with you at some point. And the picture on the right is taken at Tyntesfield, the most amazing neo-gothic house – ever!  I’m wearing my bold AMH Loulouthi skirt, my red Renfrew as well as the oldest thing in my wardrobe made by my Mum in 1987, a Rowan jumper.

May 7th:

Location: my salad patch.  Yep, I’m singing.  It’s raining but when it helps my salad patch flourish so it makes me happy.  I’m wearing my Clothkits skirt & my grey Renfrew.  The cardigan has mended elbows with patches …

 Day 8:

Location: Queens Square, Bath which is a Georgian square.  In the backdrop is the western side which was designed by John Pinch in 1830 & takes a neo Grecian style, whereas the North side is designed by the architect John Wood the elder, a fine example of the Palladian style apparently.  He lived there.  This is the location of our own version of the “Occupy” protests.  It also hosts boules contests, french markets & in the half marathon you get to run around it (twice) whilst the fabulous steel band encourages you on.  It’s near the beginning of the route after a slight incline, so generally not the lowest point of the race!!  Oh yes, I’m wearing my Vogue dress, V8667.

Sorry such a lot of pics !  But all up to date now.  I’m struggling to play with Flickr due to my browser/ Flash problems, but will get there in the end, hate the idea of missing out on the fun!!

PS Sorry for all the moaning about technology- it’s not what I think of as fun!

Are you enjoying all this dressing up in your me mades?

OK, so I have skipped a few Me Made Days, but promise a round up post very soon as I have succeeded so far in taking all my shots in public, I kid you not, well nearly.  (Apart from the 5th which being a lazy Saturday at the end of a very high energy week is considered a day off, as I doubt I will venture far enough.)

My May the Fourth was special in that I had a trip to ….. can you guess by the souvenir my lucky man is displaying? (My generosity knows no bounds – does this show you how much I appreciate him?)

You got it!  London town, specifically around the environs of here:

And after snapping a few photos, like this one

And this one of the most beautiful pub I think I’ve ever seen

Look who I bumped into!

 Yes, it is Handmade Jane & Karen of DidyouMakeThat.  And look, appropriate vintage sewing-machine-backdrop.  Past participants of Me Made Challenges, they had not officially signed up for Me Made May 2012, and little did they realise they too could feature, and now Jim has fixed it for them.  Jane is wearing her goy-jus Peony dress & Karen is sporting her Minoru over the top of, guess what, yep, one of her many Sorbettos.  And me?  I am wearing the red ellie dress with a coat you may see quite a lot if this weather resists improvement (definitely not me made, but some nice details …).  I promise a full reveal of the new frock in a few days.  It is rather a favorite! (Oh, I know, I’m such a tease!!)

Here is the polka dot Sorbetto & Jane’s beautiful Peony, er, and a couple of empty cocktail glasses.  It’s not every day that a few sewing bloggers get the chance to share obsessions you know!   What a lovely May 4th

Oh I have been so lucky.  I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of Tasia’s testers for the new Sewaholic Cambie Dress.  I became mega excited when I received details & designs.  You may have already seen there are two versions: a full skirted version with inseam pockets and an A line version with hip pockets.  Both dresses are fully lined & both have the cutest sweetheart neckline with gathered cap sleeves.

What struck me was that I would wear both versions.  The A line skirted dress I felt could be a smarter office dress whilst the full skirted version evoked vintage 50s frocks fit for a frolic.  I knew I was in trouble for the testing.  I wanted to make both.  Surely I could make both to Tasia’s deadline?  Maybe?

At my next available lunch break by the twelfth strike of the Abbey clock my desk chair was spinning on its pedestal as I raced across to the fabric shop in town.   I knew what I wanted, I had Tasia’s list of recommended fabrics, but could I find something “just right”?  Sadly not.  I wanted a patterned fabric, but not anything too modern, or too typically “2012 wedding”, or too expensive.  I ended up just buying some expensive lawn as lining a bit out of guilt after asking for them for the fabrics on my shopping list, *bothering* them to retrieve bolt after bolt & clearly turning my nose up at their offerings.   (Once home I found that I already had some suitable lining bought in Goldhawk Road at a fraction of the price.  Ain’t that just the way it goes?  Anyway, no worries, the lawn is destined for prettier things than just being a lining).

So, long story short, I rifled through my stash & found enough fabric in there already to make not one dress but two.  OK, it meant diverting some polka dots earmarked for Gertie’s Bombshell Dress, & some floral that was going to be a Chantilly, but why not?  So first up, the full skirted Cambie dress with in-seam pockets (styled most delectably with teal tights & aqua shoes.  ”Nice look, clashing legged lady”)

[Just look at that peripheral clutter....I failed to spy that, clearly!]

What I love about Sewaholic patterns, as well as the styling,  is the amount of thinking that goes into the design to make our lives as sewsters easier.  Tasia seems to invent shortcuts or simple processes that take the trick away from tricky.

There is real understanding that underlies the way Sewaholic garments are constructed.  And what’s more the instructions and diagrams guide you through the whole method simply.  Magically I could not believe that it fit me the first time – no muslin.  I did breathe a sigh of relief as I had progressed quite far into the make before trying on for real (Barbarella helped all she could in the earlier stages)

I’m having so much practice sewing invisible zips that I no longer need to look it up !  (And yes Karen, I always use an invisible zip foot, can’t contemplate anything else) That feels like progress.  Check out the way the waistband matches each side….Oh yeah !

But can I go on more about the prettiness of the Cambie?  Just look at the neckline?  And aren’t the gathered sleeves also gorgeous?  You get the benefits of a sleeveless dress without feeling too revealing, or exposing too much upper arm if that’s something that could be seen as un-officey.   And yes, for my second dress, that is an unseemly amount of rick rack I’ve used in every seam possible.  By the time I was onto version 2 I was on a roll & didn’t want to miss an opportunity for some zigga zigga ah…  Neckline, sleeves, pocket tops & waistband.  Somehow it didn’t seem to be overkill (not to me anyway!!)

See, it has a different feel with the A line skirt.

And did I manage to make both to meet Tasia’s deadline?  Not quite, but I kept in touch with the lovely Tasia  & shared dress #2 with her.

Come on peeps, you know you want to make one for yourself!   Pop on over, gather all your pennies for when it comes on sale.  Good luck Tasia with the sales of this pattern.  I really love it & thank you for involving me in your testing

And I have already worn this beauty out to hear/ see/ swoon at my teen/ uni musical hearthrob.  Oh yes, you can’t go far wrong with polka dots & Martin Stephenson & the Daintees ….

Well, that is until superfans open their mouth & start talking gibberish that is.  (Sorry Martin!  I was starstruck!).  He’s got some dates coming up in Scotland by the way ….I’d link to a lovely vid on YouTube (here he is) but I have a major technology fail – anything to do with flash / shockwave isn’t working on my browser & it’s pants, I even have to put the links in via html.  I have a looming sense of doom that my laptop requires some of my quality time.

Hello peeps! How are you?  It’s the first of May today, & well, you know, the start of Me Made May 12.  I don’t intend daily posting but I had to laugh at today’s photo & thought it worth an immediate posting.  I just couldn’t wait  to share it with you.  Remember I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone & take at least 2/3 of my photos outside of my own 4 walls, yes in public.  Well, I had to make a visit at lunchtime …..I had a screw missing loose & while mine were being fixed I couldn’t resist playing around with the goods on offer….

They call them their “Where’s Wally/ Waldo” glasses!   Aren’t they just excellent!

Outfit details – you’ll notice a coat that is most definitely not made by me, but apart from that I have on Ultra Violet blouse and my What Ho Ginger !skirt (& yes, even a pair of hand made knicks, but don’t tell every one.)

And while I am creating some spoilers fancy a teaser of what I’m working on?

I’ve replaced the buttons on the cardigan with some vintage ones.  Unfortunately not quite enough so there are some deliberate “design differences”.  It’s an off white charity shop find with pretty scalloped neck.

And can I also share some newcomers to my vintage pattern family?  I have a feeling that you’ll enjoy viewing them too?

This is an Ebay special bargain.  The boat neck dress has a slightly gathered skirt, as opposed to the usual darts, as well as a scoop back.  SWOON.  But then with this jacket? My only doubt is that I need to wear shapes that emphasise my waist & am not sure whether this jacket lends itself to a bit of shaping.  What do you think?  If boxy jackets do nothing for my shape, would the curved front overcome this?

I have had my eye on this one for ages & finally resisted.  ALL that I love in a 60s blouse – back buttons, flounces, pussy bow collars, frilled cuffs, & what’s more, a free pinafore pattern should I wish to show off any number of these blouses with their match made in heaven (ie the “jumper”).  Lured by Miss Betty’s Attic to purchase this blouse, I also succumbed to this one.  It is a repro vintage pattern, BUT …..prepare for some gorgeousness….

Now if ever there was a dress fit for nautical-isation, this surely is it.   What else is there to say except I hope you love them as much as me.  :-)

Cherroo!

Hi Karen,

How are you feeling?  Did you get any sleep last night? ……………………..Ha, funny!.  I love your PJs by the way & your split jumps are really impressive!  I think I’d have fallen off the bed.  ………………………………..Yeah, I know.  Meryl is kind of cool isn’t she.  I wish I could pull off dungarees like that, but I just channel Bananarama ……………..

Well, you know, *stuff*………..  Of course we did!  ………………..Well it’s kind of glam I suppose.  Sherry went a bit crazy on the blusher………..Yeah, Chardonnay, as usual, you know what she’s like!

No, there isn’t any glitter – oh, except I’ve found some glittery blue nail varnish.

……………..Oh no!  Far too cold !  Tights and boots but I just got in the mood.  Gotta go …. they’re calling for me.  Bridget Jones is just about to start…..wish you were here with us!  See you soon xx

So what do you want to know?  (Apart from what we talked about ALL night?)

I did find the old duvet cover, it is from Ikea & any dreams this piece of reclaimed fabric had of being paraded as a beautiful dress have declined.  What started for the bed, has gone full circle back to bed.

If you remember I used the Sweet Nothings bloomer pattern, really easy to sew, with one piece per leg- not side seams, just inner seams – very quick to sew.  I used the rolled hem on my overlocker to finish the flounce edges (something that is always incredibly satisfying!).  And for the top I found a camisole pattern & managed yet again to introduce rick rack!  Yeah! zigga zigga ah!  The top was designed to be lined, but for bed I thought that it would be too hot to have lots of layers, so I used bias binding rather than make facings up.  And the buttons?  They are also reclaimed from the duvet cover.  What a great cheap make  And how nice not to be wearing an old half marathon t-shirt with PJ trousers.

Great sewalong Karen!  Thank you for hosting it.  And for once I have hit the timescales!!!

And I’m still reading “Born to Run” by Chris McDougall – it’s not a big book, but I’m just not getting much reading done. It’s great – all about ultra running, but not in a scary way, written in a very engaging & at times quite exciting way!!

Can’t wait to catch up with the rest of you – later though.  The sewing machine is shouting for me.

If this is what being organised is, I’m afraid I favour ignorant mayhem, although I am pleased to say I was able to locate the fabric for my PJ bloomers (stand down Samaritans!)  I have been reviewing my sewing plans & have come to the conclusion that they are “unrealistic”.

 This is my humungous pile of “sew me soon” fabrics (I count 15).  This is the manifestation of fantasy.  How on earth am I going to find time to make all of these up?

So, in writing about them I shall use this post to go where my energy is & that will be how I can prioritise, good idea, right?  (I have to apologise also that for some reason I can’t add hyperlinks in this post which is a shame as I reference other peeps’ blogs as well as some of my past makes.  I just don’t understand….but never mind).  Let’s begin.  You do not win a prize for identifying my Spring/ Summer colour palette amongst this pile.  There is a serious tendency for red, white & navy with a splash of teal thrown in for good measure.  Oh did I laugh when the realisation hit me that I shall be most decidedly patriotic for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  All very deliberate you understand?!!

So what am I trying to achieve with this bright bundle?  I’d like to perk up my spring work wardrobe, as well as adding some life & some smells of the sea to my casual wardrobe.  There is unlikely to be very much cross over between the two – I cannot see myself turning up to work styled a la marin festooned with stripes and anchors.  For work I am thinking dresses, skirts & tops, all of which can be non-work wear too, should I so chose to posh myself up a bit.

First up will be a red linen mix Colette Patterns Ginger, I plan to make the cupid bow waistband variety.  I may throw in some piping or rick rack, but am also thinking (for once) I might keep it plain.   This will be a great mixer & I shall not line it either, so I am anticipating a more speedy make. (Score!!)

More linen– I have a bare metre of teal linen mix that I shall either make into a skirt Simplicity 2451 -( you know the skirt favoured by Zoe) or if I have enough to squeeze it, the Cynthia Rowley short sleeved jacket, Simplicity 2443.

The eagle eyed amongst you may have spied where some of my iPhone buy-back money was diverted – yay!  More ellies!  I couldn’t bear the thought of Ditto running out & so feverishly bought a few more instalments – this time for some dress lengths.  Oh I know.  Talk about over the top!  But I just couldn’t help myself.  What do you think?  I want to make the red into a shirt dress, maybe the full skirted Lisette Traveller, or else my Vintage shirt dresses (remember my “too old for school vintage gingham dress”).  As for the navy (it is very dark) I had thought to make it into this wonderful pattern with 3/4 sleeves but it also has a cute detachable collar & bow that I won from the Hectic Eclectic during the Sew Grateful week.   But I would need to get speedy on this as I see it as a Spring make- you know the time of year when you are weaning yourself out of your cardigan.

Speaking of dresses, there is also some gorgeous fabric that Debbie from Minnado’s House kindly sent me from her legendry fabric bountifulness.  Wonderful drapey navy with spriggy flowers on it.  Yes, it could very much be a blouse, but I also see it as a wonderful dress (40s stylee?)  & as Debbie suggested with red buttons.  I am going to see if I can squeeze this vintage pattern out of it.  Wish me luck!

Next, a taster for where my thoughts are regarding my nautical wardrobe.  ONE day (soon I hope) we shall go on a sailing holiday.  Even if Gary stubbornly leaves his bell bottoms & Jean Paul Gaultier extra tight t-shirt & pipe at home I want to kitsch it up & look the part.  It’s all stripes & brights for me.  These following items are supposed to complement & supplement other things I have already made.  (Sidebar – I was thinking of using Pinterest to develop images for planning this holiday wardrobe..could work, no?)

First of all I want a successful pair of red trousers.  You hear me sewing Gods?  I don’t want any more hassle.  By the way can I say that I’m so grateful to all the sympathetic & helpful comments you’ve left in comments to my photo story ex-Clovers.  I am quite stunned by the links & tips & guides you’ve taken the effort to send me.  Big thank you   I shall go & look at them all before even getting close to cutting out my next  pair (promise).  But I want to make some tapered red trousers using my Built By Wendy pattern (seemed to work OK last time on my piped linen trousers) & Clover style legs.  I have some bright red fabric & it has some stretch in it, as I was originally planning to Clover it.  The nautical element might be understated and extend to notions.

But now for some overt “hello sailor”.  Come on over for  some vintage delight.  Time to get excited.

 Ding dong! Check out the sailor shorts & trousers- this pattern was my gem from the Crafters’ Ceilidh pattern swap, donated by Debi herself I think.  I have some white fabric  to make shorts, & some denim for some trousers (leg style to be determined).  All have stretch – I kind of went on a fabric-with-stretch buying bingo, at the time believing in the achievability of Clovers for me.  But I’m sure it will result in more comfort for this ol’ gal in whatever it becomes.  Maybe it will enable longer periods of time not in PJs?!!

I also have some wonderful horiziontally striped cotton, bought in Edinburgh.  This I imagine as a kimono sleeved 60s style top, button back with a little stand up collar perhaps.  This will be my first design in Miss P’s Draftalong…

And sailor-wear would not be complete without some striped jerseys to make a red/white cap sleeved t-shirt plus a Breton style long sleeved top.

And finally for this instalment at least I just had to show you this cuteness…I’m not saying it is a priority.  But putting it together has made me coo.

A tangential foray into sand & sea – outside of the main colour palette, but included as it is seaside related!!  This will be a full pleated skirt with a border along the bottom with this stripey yellow shirting.  The floral fabric just happens to be the same tone of yellow…..

Now as for the other things I need to make, presents for friends, fancy dress presents for kids …..it’s shivering me timbers!

Sorry again to everyone I cannot link to today  If only there was an instant way to understand html that didn’t eat into sewing time …..hopefully it’ll be fixed by the next time I post.  Bye for now one & all

After the Clover fail I have not retreated to lick my wounds – far from it.  But I do feel as if I am descending into chaos.

Let me illustrate what it is like in the Badger sewing studios at the moment …..with just a simple example.

Like the scores, nay hundreds of other participants I have joined the PJ Pyjama Party, a sewalong hosted by Karen at Didyoumakethat.  Apologies, I realise you have probably read a variation of this paragraph countless times….

Originally thinking of making up some basic winter warmers, the dawn dawned & I recognised that it’s supposed to be Spring (& it sure is- talk about changeable weather).  I decided to make up something from a book I have only ever leafed through lovingly gazing at some of the pretties, reading up on hints & tips for sewing different lingerie fabrics, elastics & laces, Sweet Nothings by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader.

Let me tell you that this book has some interesting patterns in it, some great basic patterns, some refashioning, as well as night/ loungewear.  Now I wouldn’t make all of them, but there certainly is a range, from basic knickers, dressing gowns, night wear to corsets & garters with many variations in between.  It was particularly attractive to me when I read that it has full size patterns included.  Well, it has for some of the styles, with some also requiring blowing up by photocopy.   Did I say I have yet to make anything from this lovely book?  There are lots of things I do want to make, so luckily my freaky grey cells worked in my favour this time, synapses fully kicking into action directing me to revisit this book to find the pattern for the sewalong.  Here it is:

Blooming heck, but they’re cute!  Check out the flounce at the hem.  I shall be sewing PJ bloomers!  If I have enough time I also fancy making a camisole with some kind of ribbon lace-up up the front.  Oh & if REALLY twiddling my fingers with sewing free time, I could even make a matching mop cap (Not!)

It is at this point that I’d like to show you the fabric.  It’s to come from an old duvet cover that I had thought would make a pretty dress, but as it is white with bright flowers, it feels very “high summer” to be accessorized with a deep tan, which of course applies to a couple of weeks in the UK summer.  It will get more use being made into jammies.  Problem is, I looked for the fabric last night, through the 5 drawers in my sewing room, then amongst the outrageous pile of “now” fabrics in my “sew me soon” hamper & I cannot find it.  Gah!  This all serves to remind me that:

• I want to make lots of things this Spring/ summer
• A nautical theme will feature
• I have lots of friends’ birthdays coming up
• I have a wedding coming up - I have bought the Craftsy Couture dress course & the Starlet Suit course
• I have bought quite a lot of fabric following my iPhone buy-back bonanza
• In fact I have done quite a lot of buying!
• I need a prioritised plan ….
• And then I know which fabrics belong in the “sew me soon” hamper
• And I can find my PJ Bloomer fabric….
• Good job there’s a weekend coming!
• If you’re lucky I could even write up the plans in a nice tidy blog post.  Now that would be organised!

 Source

PS I chose this pic for BA’s snarl- he has obviously also noticed the state of my sewing room….that did not even make it onto my list.  I am in denial.

Happy weekend all