Meghan Dress

I'm getting closer in my 'perfect-summer-dress-for-me' search - I have finished my first Meghan Dress - yay!

Designed by Sis Boom, the pattern has been around for a while. It is, as many have reviewed, easy to follow and easy to sew. I even lined mine, a technique I haven't tried before.

I also seem to be getting closer to the 'perfect-fabric-for-me', but once again, I have selected a fabric print with too much tonal contrast, when I should really work with more of a solid.

Even so, I'll sew this pattern again, for sure!

xx

The Staple Dress

I'm searching for the perfect-for-me-summer-dress pattern because it is time to let my ever favourite Schoolhouse Tunic go! (or maybe just until the weather cools down again....)

I looked at the Washi Dress pattern, and even downloaded it, but decided The Staple Dress is more my style.

I made it, I shirred it - shirring for the first time ever using the assistance of the excellent online tutorial from Made by Rae (who designed the Washi Dress that I didn't end up making- oops!) - and now I have a new dress for summer! Hooray!!

And is it the perfect-for-me-summer-dress? 

 

I don't think so, but I'll have a better idea after I make it again with a purpose bought fabric rather than grabbing any old fabric I happened to have in my rather limited stash at the time.

With that, my search continues, but as I already have another pattern traced and ready to cut, hopefully it may not be too long before I get there!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

xx

 

P.S. Don't you just love Ken in the bottom corner of the dress photo? He's such a schmoozer!! Can you just make out the other dolly on his right side? Ha!!

Another Schoolhouse Tunic

Yep. Another Schoolhouse Tunic. And why not? The pattern works for me, I know it well, it suits my shape and it is easy to make. Perfect.

This version is in a glorious pink linen, and while I know that my current go-to colour is grey, I couldn't resist how truly luscious this fabric is. That, and I had it ready to go in my meagre post-moving stash.


Have you tried some new colours lately?
What is your favourite go-to pattern?


Sam xx

Liverpool Tunic

Hmmmm. My muslin Liverpool tunic is looking suspiciously like a school uniform. Or like one of the old Qantas hostie uniforms without the style and panache of the originals!

 

Not quite the result I was looking for, but more the fault of the fabric I chose than the design itself. In fact, I'm loving the pattern! Just not loving the fabric quite as much as I obviously did when I bought it earlier this year. I reckon the Liverpool tunic is most successful when teamed with a fabric with a large scale design.

 

This version has the short sleeve intended for the hot weather but I think the elbow or 3/4 lengths would be more flattering for me next time. I have secured the ties in front for display but they are actually intended to be tied at the back.

 

And, funnily enough, it also helps if you follow the detailed instructions! I kept second guessing them a couple of times only to find out that each time I was WRONG!!

 

And so, after having a little break from this garment with just the cuffs, buttons, buttonholes and hem to finish, I shall continue on. I haven't made a shirt for about 15 years so it has been fun constructing this one. And I want to finish it. I need something new to wear!

 

At least, until I make another......

 

 

And I am still having fun sewing and not packing boxes.

 

Sam xx

Because

 

.....because sewing is much more fun than packing boxes!

 

 

Sam xx

Schoolhouse Tunic #3

I can't knit for a while, so I'm sewing instead!

Schoolhouse tunic #3 in a grey linen bought from Spotlight earlier this year.

Gotta love a good pattern, but I will be trying the Liberty shirt by Amy Butler next.


Sam xx

Miss M makes

It was decided. "The Dolly With The Big Bosom" did not have enough night-time attire and this situation was in dire need of a solution!

So a determined Miss M copied one of Dolly's dresses to make a pattern, pinned the templates onto the chosen fabric, and cut out the nightie fabric pieces.

She then gave it to me to sew. An honour!

And to conclude, a fashion parade - Of course!

Ooh la la!!

Sam xx

What are you doing with your children during these school holidays?



Schoolhouse tunic #3

Last Monday I posted a photo of my next sewing project in cutting out mode, and one kind reader suggested that it looked rather intriguing.

Really?? Well, I suppose it could have been had it not been for my dodgy cutting - I didn't place the back bodice piece on the fold!

I have made this pattern before. I know that the bodice is one piece, but I forgot, and on Tuesday I realised I had two halves for the back rather than one whole piece. So, I packed it away for the day I could get back to the not-so-local fabric shop from where the fabric came in order to purchase some more, and instead, set off to the not-so-distant Spotlight to buy some different new fabric.

I managed to find some beautiful grey linen but was then distracted by a rich, neutral plummy/grey cotton sateen - perhaps not quite the drapey fabric recommended in the pattern but it was such a gorgeous colour, I couldn't resist!

Wednesday, I cut it out. I sewed that night and finished the garment on Thursday. The sateen is a bit stiff but still workable. It just happens to look a bit....fuller...than other softer fabrics.

And here it is*.....Ta-dah!

Surprise, surprise - it's another Schoolhouse Tunic! Not necessarily very exciting, not very original, but at least I now have something new to wear!

And there are more to come.......

Sam xx

*Sorry about the light and colour in the photo - it certainly doesn't look very exciting - more brown than anything, but trust me, there is plum in there!

The eyes have it

"I've been expecting you to call," said my Optometrist, earlier this year, as she peered closely at my records. 

Excuse me?

"You are a '68/'69 baby, right?"

Er....yes.

"Well, then, I've been expecting you. You are either one of the ladies who can't thread a needle anymore or someone who loves to read but can't because you can't read the print as easily as you used to. Which one is it?"

Er......both.

"See?"*

No, it seems I can't! In fact, it seems I need reading glasses. I mean, wasn't it bad enough realising that I am no longer in my 'early forties'? Obviously not! But wait. There's more. Bifocals. Excuse me???

No. Not yet. Reading glasses will do for now. I'll get bifocals/multifocals when I really need them.

And this week, not three months since this initial exchange with my Optometrist, I do.

Sigh.

But it's not all bad. Maybe having reading glasses and being able to see close up is the reason why I have been knitting again, sewing again, painting again.

"Life begins at forty"? Not for our eyes, it doesn't!

And for those who like to see things.......a sneaky peek** at my new sewing project.....

Looking*** forward to my new glasses,

Sam xx


* Optometrist's pun, not mine!
** My pun, this time. Sorry.
*** Sorry, again. I couldn't help myself!

Spot the difference

Before.....

.....a birthday present that I liked, but it was far too large and couldn't be exchanged.

After!

I took in the bodice, reset the sleeves with a slight gather in the shoulder, and then redid the skirt in the style of the Schoolhouse Tunic and the adjustments I made to the pattern to fit me.

Ta-dah!!

I'm much happier, now.

Many adventures planned for tomorrow - can't wait!

Have a lovely Easter.

Sam xx

The Perfect Tunic

Like many, I have searched for a great tunic shirt in the shops.

Actually, let's get real. No I haven't! I do not like shopping because it takes so much time. I would much rather sew a tunic instead, make a garment I really like and one that fits me. So what if I haven't sewn clothes for 15 years??

My research led me to the Liverpool Shirt. So I bought that pattern. But I wasn't quite convinced. What else is out there? Ahhh! The Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated. That looks a bit easier and less time consuming. So I bought that pattern too and I received it on Thursday.

And do you know what??

Ta-Dah!!!

Finished this morning at 7.30am, after a night dreaming (nightmaring?) about how awful the back pleat was. I had read Kate's post here about her experiences with sewing the Schoolhouse tunic, about how she needed to make alterations to her tunic before she could make it work for her body shape. Another blogger said "Yikes" when she saw the way the fabric bunched up at the back.

Yikes, indeed. I had a large blobby bit of superfluous fabric right in the sway of my back. It had to go. So, this morning, I undid that part and put two darts in instead. Muuuuuch better!!

Will I make it again? Yes, I will! I cut the pattern one size smaller than was recommended for my bust size and was very pleased that I did. It was spot on. The version I cut out was also 2 inches longer than required. I may put another inch on next time just to make sure. I found the instructions easy, although I used this tutorial to help me, as it illustrated each step clearly and in detail.

Is it my Perfect Tunic? I think it is pretty close...... I am already planning my next version.