Monthly Archives: April 2018

Wedding Guest Outfit – The Complete Ensemble

Coats and Jackets, Dresses

Well, after yet more procrastination, here is the finished dress made up in the fabric choice of the Friday P&Q Sewing House Group. Listed as Stretch Poly/Viscose, I bought 3 metres from CheapestFabricsUK eBay shop at just £4.95 per metre (sadly now out of stock) and used my TNT hack of the Dartmouth top by Cashmerette.

    

This fabric is really fine and drapes beautifully, but is not for those new to stitching jersey fabrics. It slips and slides and is like trying to wrestle mercury! However, I persisted and have to say that I am now very pleased that I did as the dress is so comfortable to wear and looks really ‘classy’.

Most of the stitching was done on the overlocker but there are a few places where I have top-stitched by machine, partly to control the fabric! The gathered skirt was made using two panels cut 29 inches long by the full width of the fabric, so approximately 120 inches of skirt width. Two rows of gathering stitches plus clear elastic helped to control the fabric and ensure even gathers. For the hem, I plan to machine using a twin-needle but at the time of photographing the outfit, I did not have access to my machine (cat asleep on sewing chair!).

Every time that I make up the Dartmouth top, I have used a different jersey fabric. Each and every one has performed differently. On this iteration the crossover of the wrap has come out a little low, I may have to invest in a light lace-trimmed camisole to wear underneath.

Other accessories are a Silver Grey satin clutch bag trimmed with fabric roses and some Silver ‘crocodile’ textured peep-toe shoes. I will also have a pair of Silver-coloured mules to change into when the need arises!

 

Wedding Guest Outfit – 1st Garment

Coats and Jackets

After so much procrastination, at last the first garment of the proposed outfit for the family wedding is completed. I used the KWIK SEW pattern no K3736 with just a couple of minor changes.

For this iteration I used the Cerise ‘linen-look’ fabric that I had purchased from Fabricland at £4.59 per metre.

As I had made the pattern before, see http://carouselcottagecrafts.com/appliqued-denim-jacket-subtle-it-is-not/ and http://carouselcottagecrafts.com/black-linen-look-bolero-jacket-kwik-sew-k3736/ or here http://carouselcottagecrafts.com/kwik-sew-k3736-bolero-style-jacket/

The minor changes were to lengthen by 1 inch, ignore the fold-back cuffs, take in at the side seams by a total of 2 inches and this time I also top-stitched all around the outer edge of the jacket. I used two strands both threaded through a 100 top-stitching needle and straight stitch length 4.

Other than that there is not a great deal to say. Once again I am pleased with the final result which I think will co-ordinate well with either of the two dresses that I plan to make.

The reason for two dresses is the ‘Great British Weather’. I shan’t know until the morning of the day what the temperature is like. In the past I have attended Ladies Day at Royal Ascot which is in June. One year I wore a floaty dress and was very warm, another year a wool suit and was very cold!

Tutorial for Drunken Birds Patchwork Block

patchwork & quilting

This is a great setting design using Drunkard’s Path blocks that I first discovered using Google and pinterest. I used a set of Sissix dies to cut several sets to make co-ordinating pairs of bird blocks. I found that the lozenge piece of scrap when cutting arcs for the wings was ideal to cut in half and use as the head. The block can be stitched either by hand or machine although I found it easiest to applique the head piece by machine using a narrow zig-zag stitch.

Equipment: Sissix dies or card templates, scissors, hand sewing needle and thread or sewing machine and Microtex 70 or 80 needle and thread. Iron.

Materials: background fabric – print 1,  wings and head – print 2 , for shoulders and tail – complimentary print 3 .

Cutting plan:

3 x ¼ circle pieces in background print 1, 

1 x arc piece in background print 1

2 x arc pieces in print 2 for wings

1 x 1/2 lozenge shape in print 2 for head

1 x arc in print 3 for shoulder

1 x ¼ circle in print 3 for tail

Method:

1.Establish centre points of head piece print 2 and one of the 1/4 circles print 1

2.Place headpiece onto ¼ circle, lining up the centre points and raw edges of the curve with the straight edge of the head piece. Applique stitch in place (use zig-zag or blanket stitch).

3.Take the shoulder piece (arc shape) of print 3 and matching centres with the 1/4 circle, pin and stitch taking a ¼ seam.

3.Fold each of the remaining 6 pieces in half to establish the centre points pin and stitch together to make the other 3 portions of the block. I usually stitch the wing arcs print 2 to 1/4 circles print 1 next, and finally the tail arc print 3 to the  1/4 circle print 1

4.If stitching on the machine you can chain piece these together. Press the seam allowances away from the 1/4 circles and towards the arc sections of the block.

5.Stitch the 4 portions of the block together according to the plan to make a complete Bird block. Press the joining seams open and flat.

6. Enjoy your completed block!

 

The 4 P’s

Coats and Jackets, Dresses

Planning, Prioritising, Purchasing & Procrastination

Now that I am well and truly back home and the weather has improved so that we are enjoying a very late Spring, I have to make my sewing plans.

I have been delayed from my first love of dressmaking as I insisted on completing the quilt top in memory of my Caribbean cruise. But now that is done, it is back to dressmaking.

Planning. I have lost weight since last Summer so several of the makes no longer fit. I hate making alterations – I would much rather make an entirely new garment. I have sold a few of last year’s dresses and have plenty of ideas, patterns and fabrics to make new ones – but which ones?

Prioritising. I have a family wedding to attend in just three week’s time – I cannot wear the same dress as last year’s wedding for two reasons a) it no longer fits(!) and b) the wedding will be attended by the same family members. I have a certain reputation to maintain – if I attended the wedding wearing the same dress, rumours would start that I was feeling unwell!

As my readers will have concluded, I enjoy wearing bright and colourful clothing. So, for this wedding my colour choice is Cerise Pink. I have the fascinator and will make a little jacket in the same colour.

Purchasing. The fascinator hat was purchased new from The British Heart Foundation charity shop in Winchester. The linen-look fabric for the jacket was bought from Fabricland in Salisbury. I plan to make another version of my ‘hacked’ jacket from KwikSew 3736.

  

Whilst the design of the dress will be a simple fitted bodice with an almost circular skirt (from the Lady Skater Dress),

the fabric choice for the dress is almost limitless.

Procrastination. I have been buying lots of jersey fabric. Whilst at Fabricland I fell in love with this ponte roma that coordinates very well with the Cerise ‘linen’ for the jacket but the ladies of the sewing house group deemed that it was not sophisticated enough for a wedding.

Alternatives that I have purchased:

  

Scuba from Fabric Styles

Although the floral print would be fine unfortunately on closer inspection I found that the colour in the tassels print clashes slightly with the Cerise ‘linen’. Finally, the ladies were unanimous in their selection of this fine jersey from CheapestFabricsUK who sell through eBay.

I have to agree that this delicate print is fabulous. I only hope that I can do it justice. To take advantage of the great drape qualities, I may well opt to make the wrap front bodice- a hack of the Dartmouth top from Cashmerette.

Other plans were inspired by a visit to the Joules store on board ship during my recent cruise holiday. I was particularly taken with these striped jersey tops.

 I could use the Fraser sweatshirt pattern from Sewaholic – or draft my own dividing lines for the different prints. 

From an eBay seller I bought some lovely ponte roma in White with a narrow Navy stripe and plan to combine with some floral print as a yoke across the bodice and sleeves.

  

The floral ponte roma came from the CheapestFabricUK.

I also plan to re-fashion the Neenah shift dress (now too big) that I made with the Navy/White version of Ponte Roma and use some of this bold-coloured floral printed fabric (purchased from Minerva Crafts) for the yoke.

  

So that is just 3 garments – possibly 4 that I plan to make in the near future.

If I can just stop procrastinating and get on with sewing the outfit for the wedding then I can pursue the exciting projects that I have planned for the Summer. I will write and tell you of my progress and finished garments next month.