Vogue 7610 Jacket

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments on my Tessuti Dress Entry. The finalists have been announced, and alas, I am not one of them ..... there's always next year!

So, onto Vogue 7610 ... I made this some time back, just trying to catch up on a few things now..... this is great pattern and I've worn these jackets heaps!  First a denim one, lots of top stitching and jeans buttons etc, and the 2nd one I did in baby grey cord with a fake fur trim - all fabrics from Rosemary at Chic Fabrique.  For the 2nd one I shaved a little off the head of the sleeve I could probably go down a size overall now that I think about it. I cut a Size C. For the 2nd one, I also changed the shape of the back yoke and the shape of the pockets.  These jacket styles are a great addition to your wardrobe, the pattern was fine, though I am curious to try Style Arc's jeans jacket to compare .... but then again that would probably never fit on my "list" for quite some time ...... know what I mean?

Ciao for now!

My Tessuti Entry

Well, hello there!! I haven't blogged for ages .... I'm not going to bore you with details, just super busy.  Here is the dress I made for the 2012 Tessuti Dress Award, this year the theme is "Spots and Stripes."

Fabric is 100% Silk Gorgette - Red River Salt, with some Black Rayon for the contrast and Spot Tulle in the skirt and sleeve caps.  Pattern designed and drafted by ME!!! Yes, ME! Garment is self lined and constructed with French Seams throughout ..... many, many teeny tiny French Seams, and there is satin bias binding finishing where a teeny tiny French Seam was not appropriate. You may have noticed by now that it's not me in the photos!!! Ah yes, I've gone to great expense to recruit a lovely Size 10 - and isn't she great?!!!

So, if you've got a spare minute up your puffy sleeve, head on over, check out all the lovely entries,  and vote for my dress in the People's Choice Awards - ta!! Voting ends 10th OCTOBER, 2012

Rose Panel Skirt

Fabric from Tessuti's - a Rose panel printed on Denim.

I've had much trouble loading photos on blogger recently, mainly the ones I have to rotate - they won't upload in their saved rotated form ???? So my lovely daughter introduced me to Picnik and now I have made a collage!

Plain and simple straight skirt from a pattern drafted for me at Studio Faro in Sydney in 2005.

We've had a wet and grey quite miserable day here today, so it was lovely to have a glimmer of sunshine just as I finished this project - down to Pelican Marina for a location shoot.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Vogue 8634 Mars Red and Style Arc Bella Wrap in Rosa Rose

Vogue 8634 -A  Pattern Review Top 10 Pattern for 2010

Even though I've been back from Sydney for ages now, I've still got a few blog posts to write that relate to that trip.

Whilst in Tessuti's at Surry Hills, this fabric jumped off the shelf and grabbed me around the legs - it pleaded and pleaded to come home with me ... what could I do? It was causing an embarrassing scene in the lovely shop  ... so home it came ...... this is an amazing fabric (aren't they all??) well, it's a substantial weight - but with a super soft handle - it has a double layer - the outside layer is textured and wrinkly and the inside is just smooth - hello MARS RED! So I introduced Miss Mars to Vogue 8634.

I lengthened the top design to dress length and took out the seam under the bust (well, everyone else did too). It looks OK without the belt - but probably better with a belt. I also narrowed the sleeves down to the wrist to be a little more snug. This is a great pattern - comfortable and warm.  I couldn't see this fabric on their online shop - but I phoned the Surry Hills store to get some more and their Chatswood store had 2 other colours - just too good I keep tellin' ya!!!

So, did I buy anything else from Tessuti's? ..... Well, would you have walked away from this???

Rosa Rose - Stretch fine Rayon/Elastane printed jersey. And here it is in the Bella Wrap from Style Arc.

Super easy to make - I'm sure this wrap will get lots of use.

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 ??

Tessuti's Fave Top

A little while ago I made the "Our Fave Top" by Tessuti's Fabrics. I used a most lovely knit purchased whilst doing a Palmer Pletsch Workshop at Martin and Savage Fabrics last November. The fabric is a Rayon / Polyester blend with great drape and texture. Up until today, we have been experiencing very warm weather so I haven't felt like putting anything on with a sleeve, so my photos are on this lovely lady ....

The pattern is very easy. I added about 9cm to the overall hem - and I added a little width to the sleeve - where it tapered to fit snugly to forearm.
I shamelessly did not bother match the pattern at the side seam. I was concerned that the boat neck edge might be too wide or too deep at the back - but it wasn't! It drapes beautifully from a nicely fitting neck area.
This is a great pattern for the right fabric - something soft and drapey ... a great mid season staple!

Ruffles and Tulips

I have revisited the Wikstenmade Tulip Skirt ..... this one using a cotton print from Spotlight ... with happy red buttons ....
This is an excellent little skirt pattern, highly suitable for those learning to sew. And here is one in a denim from Tessuti's. I lengthened the skirt about 9cm since I am no longer particularly youthful (according to my birth certificate) .... it's a lovely lovely fabric, and I like this skirt - but I don't love it - best for the young ones .....
The little black blouse is a FREE pattern - JJ Blouse from Burdastyle. This is a super cute little blouse - I enjoyed making this. Fabric from the now closed - Pooh's Place at Belmont NSW - but recently resurrected into BLOCK N ROLL - Yay! we again have a local fabric store!!!! The fabric is a lovely spotted voile - I have more of this stashed away in cream.
OK, now I need some help ... for the denim skirt,
I topstitched the hem and placket using Gutermann's topstitching thread - it is quite thick. I used a topstitching needle - size 90, and I loosened off the upper tension. My little sample piece was good, but the results on the skirt were not good. The stitches on the wrong side had bubbly bits of the top thread throughout ... I'm hoping someone can help me ... should I fiddle with bobbin tension? More decrease on upper tension? Anyone? Anyone?