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!

Style Arc Laura Combo

Pose courtesy of Karin!!

 

 

 

 

 

So here are the last of the Sydney photos - I wore this outfit to see Jersey Boys and the next night to see Mary Poppins - nothing like travellin' light! By the way, both shows were amazing - the music of the Jersey Boys was great - even though Franki Valli's voice can be annoying - the music in general was fun! Mary Poppins, all I can say is,  if you haven't seen it - YOU MUST!!!

Anyway, the Laura Combo from Style Arc ..... I'll present my notes for each item....

Laura Jacket
Size 10. I've made two of these jackets, the first was in a medium ponte, and it was evident that the fabric was not drapey enough for this design - the collar didn't sit right. My second one was in a lightweight knit - much better. I used some strips (two cm wide) of fusible interfacing to reinforce the shoulder seam. The collar/ hood (the pattern actually refers to a collar / hood even though the drawings don't show a hood - yet the pattern shape looks like a hood ...??) anyway, since the seam is exposed it may be a good idea to do a Flat Fell or French Seam if you don't want the overlocking stitches to show. Also, be aware that the wrong side of the fabric will clearly show in this pattern. To finish the front edges the instructions say to baby lock or overlock edge stitch. I thought I'd try a specialty thread in one of the loopers to give it a nicer than ordinary finish .... it took much trial and error to get the right thread - but I was happy to find this one while at the Quilt and Craft Fair ....

In summary, great pattern - even in the slightly heavier fabric where the collar doesn't drape as well as the softer one - I have still worn it alot. It's a slim fit. The instructions are basic - but it is really easy to make.

Laura Knit Legging

Size 10 - the fit is snug - as it should be. I used a lycra that is too shiney - I need to make another pair in some better fabric. Basic construction steps, no diagrams but the experienced sewist should be fine. There is a slight typo in the instructions ....2. Using a safety or sew the front crotches .... Anyway, a great legging pattern.

Laura Dress

I used a grey light weight interlock for the top portion and a Martin & Savage polyester / lycra print for the main part. I also used a mesh lining (just for the main part of the dress) to give this some body and so that it wouldn't cling to me. I think the dress ended up shorter that I thought it would from the drawing, but, I still really like this dress. It goes well with the Laura Jacket and the tights, but equally well without the tights. It has a slim fit - and feels great to wear. Lots of possibilities with mixing up fabrics and colours. The picture has no Centre Back seam but the back is clearly cut with a seam and there is no reference to sewing up the CB seam. Otherwise an easy construction and a good multi season piece to add to the wardrobe.

Another Modified Sling

Another bag, on a similar theme to this one. Same pattern modifications - lengthened and slightly widened the bag. This is a great pattern - lots of variations to opportunities to add your touch to the overall look.

Apart from that ... further pics from our recent trip to Sydney ... this time for the button lovers out there - from All Buttons Great and Small, Newtown .... enjoy!

Ready, Steady, Knit

Well, not quite - this took me 2 years to knit!!! I am a complete novice knitter - yes, I've made numerous scarves and squares sewn into rugs, but I've never made anything with a proper shape for wearing.

I borrowed a library book and launched into this cardi .... it took forever, mum had to help me with the tricky bits, there are numerous mistakes - repeated rows - but they are sort of consistent - and there was no way I was going to unravel it... it doesn't hang the way it does in the picture and it weighs a tonne! But it's warm and I WILL WEAR IT!!!

Now, I did plan to title this post as "At least it's finished!" but I had to find a way to link in a boast for this picture ....

I went along to a screening of "Ready, Steady, Cook" in Sydney with my son and our school. It was an experience - good fun - and those chefs are quite amazing - they really do cook it all in the time allocated!

On a different trip to Sydney, this time with my 14 year old daughter, I was delighted with this display in a Supre shop - I can't actually bear to go into a Supre shop, but I happily snapped a few pics and waited dutifully outside. (Warning - if you click on the Supre link - you may get a blast of music which is played at 10 times the volume in the shops - hence - don't go in!!)

On our way to Haigh's Chocolate Shop in the Strand Arcade, we stumbled upon an amazing and beautiful display of fashion creations from TAFE students .... so much talent and creativity - a real treat!

On the knitting front, I have nearly completed a waistcoat - and have started a 2nd cardi - well, what are cold winter nights for???