Nicole M's A Line Skirt

 Nicole M has released a new skirt pattern. It's an A Line with a wide yoke. For this one I used a grey wool crepe from Block and Roll at Belmont and I pieced together some Lisa Ho Silk that I've had in the stash for many years - from the Fabric Store, Surry Hills.

 The Lisa Ho Silk has two pretty sides - I fused on some soft Hansel Interfacing onto each side and pieced some strips together. This generally made a wedge shape -I attached a binding to each side.

 I lined the skirt and added a little lined section to the bottom of the panel piece that would hang below the hem of the skirt.

 I also fused a piece of Hansel to the wrong side of the skirt where the panel would be attached.

 Here are the pattern line drawings.

 This is a fab pattern - it's a gentle A Line as opposed to a circus tent A line that you often see. The yoke is firm and snug.

 Here is a shorter version - made in denim and I added a ruffled piece of the selvedge to the hem. I made this one before the wool/ silk one - my first was cut as a 12 - but had to take in about 2cm on each side, the wool version was cut as a Size 10 - but as I handled the wool piece so much, fiddling around with the panel placement etc - it grew and grew - should have stay stitched the waist early on - so ended up taking it in as well.

Excellent instructions - and just the best way to secure the yoke around the invisible zip - LOVE IT!!!

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!!!

A Cushion for Kai and Nicole's First Skirt

Liz E had her first sewing lesson this week ..... she made this extremely cute cushion for her son Kai ....


She did a great job and I think she already has a stash at home to continue with - a new sewist joins the team!!!
And Nicole has completed her first skirt. She used a lovely grey wool, and we traced off a Lutterloh A Line Skirt pattern. It looks great!


Nicole is now struggling with sew many ideas ... what to do next???? Sound familiar?