Across the Ditch with Style Arc's Kerry Cargo Pant

Happy New Year to you all!!!  I've just returned from a wonderful holiday in New Zealand ...... the mass of water between Australia and New Zealand is affectionately known as "the ditch" - a 3 hour flight from Sydney to Christchurch.

I can't speak highly enough about New Zealand as a holiday destination - we had a fabulous time - the scenery is spectacular, the towns aren't overcrowded (well, apart from Queenstown - which was dubbed "Surfers Paradise on Steriods" - but still a great place - take the Gondola to the restaurant for an evening meal - amazing!!!)

I'll try to resist the urge to fill this post with our happy snaps (I think we took over 600 photos!!!) ..... so I'll move on now to Style Arc's Kerry Cargo Pant Pattern that I made up just before leaving.

I made them in a fairly heavy black linen. I wore them to death on holidays - they were perfect for travelling where the weather was sometimes quite cool and other times very warm - simply fold up the cuff into the 3/4 buttoned position. Style Arc instructions aren't written like other pattern companies, they are an order of construction. Since these have a drawstring at the waist - they are very easy to make. The addition of the pleated pockets give them a ready to wear look.  I made a size twelve - and they fitted well.  I made them about 15cm shorter than the pattern, simply because I didn't have enough fabric - but they were still about the 7/8 length on me - fine for summer.

Wanaka - the Cinema Paradiso - where the chairs in the theatre are an eclectic mix of old lounges, a topless VW beetle, airline chairs .... a great atmosphere - shame about the movie "Midnight in Paris" a waste of money and time!!

Teamed with my own screen printed T Shirt!

 Of course, I had my radar tuned to fabric shops along the way - there weren't many ... but this one is Queenstown had a  lovely selection. I bought some red and black prints, and while we were there, the cafe owner from next door bought in the leftover cakes for the fabric shop owner to give to his chooks - but he gave 4 cream filled doughnuts to me!! I must say, while it was a lovely gesture - they were really the biggest dollop of fat and sugar I'd tried to consume for some time - even the kids couldn't eat them  .... shame the chooks missed out!!!

How cool are these chairs? From Seletti Boutique in Queenstown.

Fabric Vision in Papanui, Christchurch - a lovely, lovely, lovely shop in a town that needs all the loveliness it can find - great staff - had a fab chat to one of the ladies working there. Bought a couple of pieces there too.

 And now a couple of touristy shots ......

The "Haka" show on the restaurant at the top of the Gondola Ride in Queenstown - so interesting and fun!!

Lake Tekapo - the prettiest place I think I've ever been to - the bluest lake, the loveliest flowers (lupins) everywhere - great hiking walk up Mount John - loved it!!

 

 

Horse Riding at Hanmer Springs

Back down to earth now .... wishing you all a fabulous  .....Twenty Twelve!

Pattern Review Sydney Weekend

Just returned from a quick trip to Sydney to join the Pattern Review (PR) girls for a weekend of   ......

Fabric Shopping

 I was most impressed with The Remnant Warehouse, 494 Botany Rd, Alexandria. Lovely selection of fabrics, presented well, good prices, super friendly and knowledgeable staff - what more could you want?

Standard Knits  52 Pemberton Street,
Botany

 5 metre minimum cuts on a very very big range of Australian made and dyed knit fabrics.

 Metro Fabrics - 1/ 619 Princes Hwy, Tempe - The sheer quantity and range of goodies at this place was truly overwhelming!! And there's a gigantic IKEA store being built right across the road - so future trips should prove most beneficial!

Boning - every possible variation!

Then, lunch at Newtown and this little gem .....

 All Buttons Great and Small -419a King Street, Newtown

 Leather, leather, leather, snake skins - unbelievable!!!  707 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo

 Then just enough energy for these 2 lovely lovely shops:

 The Fabric Store, 21 Cooper Street, Surry Hills

Tessuti's, 110 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills

Dinner after our BIG DAY OUT was enjoyed on Crown St .... after spending most of our money on fabric we struggled to scrape together enough for the bill ......

Next day - a workshop.....

It was lovely to meet Lena, I did her workshop about adapting patterns for knits considering the stretch factor - very interesting!

So I must apologise if you're sitting there experiencing a severe gut wrenching attack of envy .....it was all Sharon's fault!  Thanks Sharon it was fabulous and fun!!!! And always good to meet new sewing folk from across the land and Tasman Sea!

Fabric Finds from Melbourne and Feelin' Hot Hot Hot?

I'm in two minds as to whether or not blog about the small amount of fabric I purchased in Melbourne - because of course now it is on public record and I am now fully accountable to actually do as I plan - phew! Can I cope with such responsibility....? We shall see.... First up, from Frou Frou in Glen Waverley... this mid to heavy weight cotton based (not sure how to describe the fabric - it's not a drill - but it has a definite weave dominance...?) with some spandex - check the underside - very interesting ...

And I'm thinking this old skirt pattern might be good  (look - it cost $2.90!!! Very old!) - the picture on the left ..

For my daughter, this lovely soft as soft sateen ....

for this Burda adaptation of their Sidonie Skirt ......"Marina's High Waist Floral Skirt"....

Now, this is my favourite ........

Another sateen- decent weight - not flimsy ....

and I'm thinking this Vogue 1114 - just reading the reviews and there are some interesting comments - but all the made up dresses look great - encouraging!!!

 Lastly from Frou Frou, I bought some black mesh - 2 weights - for some Marcy Tilton Tops, and some Fold Over Elastic - hard to find anywhere else - I've just been discussing this with kbenco - so if anyone else knows who supplies this - it would be nice to know.

Now, how exciting is this black linen photo??? From Rathdowne Remnants - for some simple elastic waist throw on pants for summer ....

Another one for my daughter - a floral cotton for one of those simple little gathered skirts with black elastic at the waist - I'll add a black rib casing for the ultra thick elastic .....

So... not too bad? Hopefully I'll be able to report back with finished products .....

Speaking of exciting photos ..... Feelin' Hot Hot Hot? Yes, especially when removing things from my oven .... time to make amends ...

Even my son sauntered in and had a go ...

Ikea fabric - much better!