Brown Jacquard A-Line and a NEW WINNER ...

Having fine tuned some fitting details on my previous A Line, I was excited to put this lovely little one into action .... purchased at Scone during the last school holidays, it is a winter weight jacquard with a little elastane ..

Topped with my TNT Jalie 2682 -I had about 2 or so metres of this teally blue marle jersey, so as I laid out the pattern pieces I thought I'd be very clever and efficient and use the remainder to cut another envelope top. Man, I thought I was the king pin of efficient layouts ....... until ......

the construction process for the Jalie began ... and I failed to cut TWO of the Bodice Front pieces -each is cut on the fold - so there is actually another layer of fabric under the outermost one .... anyway, I had to piece together any little scribbly bits I had left to make a 2nd Front - the grain and stretch is all out and it's not till these photos that I realise that some of them are even sewn with the wrong sides - all over the shop!!!

Still, it will have to do, I can cope with these kinds of "design features" ..... I'm happy with the skirt - I just LOVE textures with oomph!!

And with regards to my recent giveaway, Wendy has not yet contacted me, so I have re-drawn, and it is my pleasure to announce that the winner is ....

Sharon from "Petite and Sewing" - PLEASE drop me an email and I'll send these goodies off - thanks again to all those who entered!

Does my apple look big in this?

I made a quick and easy A- Line Denim Skirt, to test out a pattern I had from a Pattern Drafting Workshop I did in 2005 at Studio Faro in Sydney. I have many Size 10 Blocks from that experience and a few drafted to my size (from 2005). Sue Neall from Palmer & Pletsch teaches us to write down our weight at the time we open a new pattern and begin making adjustments - a very good idea - I've got no idea if I was bigger, smaller or the same now as I was in 2005 - anyway, I had to take in the side seams about 1.5cm each side. I thought the denim needed a lift so I used some apple print to applique on 2 rows at the bottom - and I couldn't resist adding an apple right where the style people tell us to NOT add bits to draw attention!! Oh well, now I've fine tuned this pattern I've got a nice brown jacquard piece waiting patiently in the wings ....

Wendy are you out there? Wendy the winner of my giveaway - please contact me by Sunday - or there will be a redraw!!!

Brown Owls at Nords Wharf

Ever been to Nords Wharf??

You should!

In fact, you should come along next Tuesday evening (28th Sept, 7pm - 9pm) to Nords Wharf Hall, Marine Parade Nords Wharf for the inaugural Brown Owls Meeting initiated by the arty dog - check her blog for more info and background.

Spread the word!!

And the winner is ...

Entries from the Living Smart Festival and those left on this post were combined and Sweet Pea drew this one as the winner .... Congratulations Wendy - please contact me with your contact details .... (and a quick correction ... my name is Gay not Gail!) and your prize will be on it's way!
Thanks everyone!

Deja Vu

Do you remember this top?
Made using Tessuti's "Our Fave Top" free download pattern and the lovely Martin & Savage Fabric.
Well, it's one of those pieces that you sort of like, but, tend to not wear, yet when you do, people tend to give positive compliments..... I sometimes wonder if people just comment on pieces that are unusual or unexpected, and their politeness urges them to say something nice .... well, looking at these photographs again, err, I don't feel that great about it at all ..... I feel like I'm wearing a circus tent .... Having said that, I honestly loved this top on Lisa and Christina and Lara ...

Fortunately I had just enough of this great fabric left to have another shot at a silhouette at the complete opposite spectrum of said Cirque de Soleil .....

Using this Marcy Tilton pattern .... View A
Ahh, that's better .....
This is a great pattern - lots of design possibilities with varying the contrasts and using mesh fabric etc....

I used the very very last of the fabric - I even had to add a band to the sleeve to ensure the length, however, I could possibly make more of these for a small nation from the fabric from the first top ......

Pssst .... have you entered my giveaway .... drawn Tuesday Evening 21st Sept ??

100 Posts + GIVEAWAY + Festival Report

and sew it seams that this is my 100th Post!!

It's been a great little journey so far - I've "met" some great sewing gals and have enjoyed sharing my sewing adventures and learning about yours.

Before I announce a most fabulous giveaway to celebrate this momentous occasion, I'll fill you in on the Living Smart Festival from last weekend.

What did I wear?

I still had quite a few of the pant bits and pieces from this project, and I added fabric from daughter's outgrown Pumpkin Patch pants, I also used her satin belt for a strip within the other gores.

I made a Simplicity 2364 top from a superfine knit from Martin & Savage. I cut a 10 for the top as others had noted it was on the bigger side. It's a nice top, but next time round I would bring the front fold up a little higher. I'm not crazy about the skirt - it was a fun quick project for this whole recycling theme .....


Here is my friend Nicole, who was a fantastic help and a PR whizz! Here is our open air workshop area ....
Situated right behind us was the stage ... yes ... live music .... yes ... bongo drums ... I didn't know whether to talk about sewing or to teach a Zumba class!
The music was certainly loud and very distracting, but I had a small interested crowd .... the overall atmosphere of the festival was great!
Here is another quick project I didn't get the chance to blog about previously ... take one old cardi ....
and make a beret .... too easy!
Well, you've been a very patient audience and without further ado... it is my pleasure to announce a giveaway in conjunction with those at the Festival who entered on the day, you all have a chance to win this......

• The latest Threads mag (I accidentally received 2)
• A Nicole Mallalieu Day Bag Pattern - very versatile - very easy - very good!
• A Project Runway Brand Spanking New Sewing Case
• 2 pkts quality interfacing - one is a woven lightweight the other a lovely Soft Lite Weft
• 1 pkt Jeans needles - size 80 - not easy to buy - yet a versatile everyday needle (as recommended by Bernina)
• and finally a cute as a button PINK tape measure in a cute as a button little tin

Phew! Open to everyone - a GLOBAL GIVEAWAY!!!

I'll draw the winner NEXT Tuesday 21st September. Just leave on comment on this post - anything you like - and if you win you'll need to email me quick smart or I'll re draw!
Good Luck!

Nicole's Specs Case

Here is Nicole's Spec Case - she used Nikki's pattern .... confused?

Now, she did actually write down all of the details of the fabric and the type of interfacing she used ....... but in the flurry of cleaning up the studio last night, it seems to have been mislaid .....
So, this is a test .... if you're reading this post Nicole, please leave a comment to tell everyone about the inner mechanics of this little number .... I do know that she is an avid purchaser of vintage fabric .... open wide ...
In any case, her case is just delightful - great work Nicole! And great pattern Nikki!!!

From Denim Jeans to Panel Bag

Every well dressed young Miss needs a fab bag to go with her fab outfit .... and this thoroughly modern Miss prefers to upcycle in the most sustainable way she can ....
Denim would have to be one of my favourite fabrics to sew with.... and sewing with recycled denim is even better - it's soft and strong and full of character.

My friend Nicole and I made this bag using her unwanted jeans. I was keen to try Nicki's new Panel Bag pattern and I was also keen to add a feature of the shrinking sheet effect that I have used previously.
I altered the pattern by adding 5cm extra length to the bottom panel pieces of this bag - I wanted to show off as much as the feature fabric as I could. The shrink sheet is placed underneath the feature fabric and stitched - I used a serpentine stitch with about 3cm gap between each row of stitching. You then steam iron with the iron hovering above the fabric - not touching - the steam makes the fabric shrink and shrivel right before your eyes.


Of course denim loves to be topstitched - I used this Guterman thread - it's an upholstery thread with a denim 100 needle - worked a treat ...


I reused the jean pocket for an internal pocket ...
Added the obligatory brassy rings ... and I also stitched on the jean tag - though it did rip a little as I tried to unpick it - but stitched it on regardless ... the red piping really highlights this bag ...

and a brass magnetic closure ....
And ..... where is she off to this weekend?

Some Trim, Pants Legs and a Jacquie E Halter Neck Top

My friend Nicole donated a big big bag of her clothing that she no longer needed to me. A few things really caught my eye ... firstly the trim that she had already cut off something else ..... that was quite easy to "rip" off the band of white fabric ....

Then there was a mysterious collection of pant legs - just the legs - canvas, linen, this n that ....
And a white halter neck top from the Jacquie E label.
I made a gored skirt pattern and cut some gores from all of the pant legs ...

This is a golden oldie ...

The seams were sewn with right side on wrong side - overlapping - I pinked the raw edge that was upper most on the skirt and the underside edge was overlocked.
I pinked around the hem line of the skirt and sewed the lovely trim on.
I then added the leftover trim around the V of the halter neck, and took up the hem of the top about 5cm and added the trim to the hemline.
Why waste good ribbon on those annoying hanging bits underneath? So I made a little flower which cried out for a red button in the centre.

Phew! Not long now .....