Dress #1 for Tamara

I sewed several things for my daughter for Christmas. The first item was this dress.

I used this OOP Butterick pattern that I made for her before and she loved it.

The fabric is a rayon jersey. I doubled the bodice front and sewed down the  opening so it wouldn't gape  and I lined the skirt with tricot lining.. I left out the side zipper because the fabric had so much stretch.

As usual, I worried that the dress wouldn't fit but it did and very well too. Here's a peek at my darling daughter on her first day back at work after Christmas

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I  have lots to show you but a sore neck is keeping me away from the computer except for short periods of time.

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A New Dress, V8742

I loved Vogue 8742 as soon as I saw it!



I've had this beautiful Fukuru knit for a few years .The colours are lovely and rich against the black background. I knew it would be a dress but until now, I just couldn't find the right one. Here it is.


The jewel neckline will be great to wear with a chunky necklace ,



but I love the dress better with a cowl collar which I decided to make as a separate accessory.



I also made an infinity scarf which will be a great addition to the dress.
Here it hangs loosely at the back



Here it wraps cosily around the neck.





This pattern is easy to sew. The sizing is quite accurate.( it calls for a two way stretch ) I sewed size 12 with an extra 1/2" at the side seams and I did my usual FBA of one inch. I love the fit.

There is no zipper ,only a button and loop for a closure.

The shirring which is done on the side front pieces where they join the sides of the center front is flattering for a mature figure,IMO




I added facings to the neckline instead of folding back the neckline seam and I lowered the neckline about an inch.

That's all there was to it. A quick easy dress which I'd love to try in a stretch crepe in a plain colour.

What do you think?




More pics here.

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Vogue 8605, a New Version

Early this fall, I noted that black leather was being used with grey wool or other fabrics by many designers. I immediately became intrigued . I had a large piece of charcoal wool left over from this coat made in February . I also had some black faux leather.

Vogue 8605 came to mind again for the third time this year.You can read about the changes I've made to this pattern in this post.


Here is what I came up with this time.





This time I lengthened the sleeves as much as my yardage allowed and added the faux leather cuffs.As you see here , I also covered the sleeve seam with a strip of the leather.




I used the trim on the facings of the pocket openings and turned them to the outside and top stitched. The result is far from perfect but ....





The bound buttonholes are also made from the faux leather.



as is the collar and front facings which I pressed so they would show like a piping down the front. To see how I did this, look here on my other blog.




I added a cotton flannel interlining to the upper front and back for added warmth and lined with a beautiful polyester satin from my stash.



The faux leather was cold against the neck so i sewed a band of the wool to the collar like this


I love this jacket. I've worn it a few times and have gotten a lot of compliments.It is very comfortable! However, I'm giving it away because I have too many jackets and this one is the same fabric as last winter's coat.

I had thought to give it to my pregnant DIL but she didn't think it was her so one of my sisters will probably receive it for Christmas.





More pics here.

I hope you found time to sew this weekend!

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A Nostalgic Jacket

About eight tears ago I made this jacket twice for myself and twice for my DD.
The pattern is OOP Vogue pattern 2679.



I loved the black stretch denim version I made first and I thought I'd make a new version. Not a good idea!

This pattern has had it's day and I'm not in love with my new jacket although it's fine. I didn't make pants but bought a pair of jeans instead to save time..



The fabric is a medium weight striped stretch cotton denim that I bought at C&M Textiles in Ottawa.

I top stitched using two spools of grey polyester thread .




The closures are heavy black snaps which I hate applying!!



I like the the cuffs. They can also be worn folded back.




I used a Hong Kong finish to give a clean finish to the inside of the jacket.



Please ignore the silly expression on my face in this photo!



I've worn this a few times and haven't gotten a single comment so I guess I'm not the only one who thinks it's mediocre! Lol!

I hope you had time to sew this weekend. Have a great week!

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A Marci Tilton T-shirt V 8636

Just a quick post on this one.




I made this top, Vogue 8636, a while back and I just want to say that it's a good pattern. No modifications with this one to make it wearable,just the addition of a bust dart which I later changed to a row of ease stitching. I prefer that method to a dart on a knit garment. For more info on this method, look here on Diana's Sewing Lessons.

The design of this Marci top is very simple and very 70's isn't it! The fun part is how you can change it up and satisfy your creative urge.

I used three fabrics for my version... the black polka dots and the white are both rayon lycra and the neck and cuff bands are stretch mesh with a litlle flower design.




I decided to go with white top stitching for contrast.





The sizing was generous and I didn't need any extra at the side seams of the size 12.

This version is best suited to spring and summer but I'd like to try one for winter ,maybe in a soft sweater knit this time.



Hope you 've found time to sew this weekend!

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Absent but Sewing..... My Fall Pieces

Wow! I sort of dissappeared there for a while didn't I!
Does it happen to you that you just don't want to blog and most especially ,you don't want to have your picture taken to show on your blog? What is that about!?! Well that's been my reason for being away so long.

Today, I feel the spirit moving and am looking forward to blogging and visiting your blogs.

I've made a few simple things in the past few weeks. I'll show you the V8750 skirt first.



I loved this skirt as soon as I saw it and decided to use a cotton stretch sateen for my version. I decided not to use a contrasting top stitching thread but rather a matching one. I ended up being sorry.The interesting cut doesn't show up well . Here's the photo but it didn't photograph well at all I think due to the sheen of the fabric.

This is a great pattern and is a true "pencil"
skirt. I love the fit. I made size 12 and didn't need the extra inch at the side seams.I lined it although there are no lining pattern pieces. I had to draft my own by following the shape of the finished skirt.

Then I made a top to match the skirt. I used an old BWOF issue ( Feb. of 2008 style #124). The fabric is a rayon/lycra which I find is too thin and draws attention to the bust area so I drafted a lining piece just for the front and that worked well.



There is shirring at the princess seam on one side and at the side seam on the other.



I decided to shir the sleeves at the hem . I cut them a few inches longer and shirred both at the seam and at mid point of the sleeve.






Next I made this S2603 two piece set (with a few modifications) in a rayon blend knit and I really like the results.



Last time I made this set I felt it was too full at mid front so I cut off about 6" starting at the collar seam and down the front. I also took another 6" from the slanted front hem area and angled to nothing by the side seam. I think I like this version better than the navy one I made last year.



I've got lots more to show you but I'll save them for another time.
It feels good to be back in Sewing Blogland.

A Sporty Suit

This suit,which officially marks the end of my summer sewing, is just the style of outfit I love wearing.I know I'll get a lot of mileage out of these two pieces.





The jacket is an old favorite of mine, Burda 8905 (OOP)If you have this pattern and have never used it, I can truthfully say that it is a little gem. I've made it six times!





and the skirt is from BWOF (which I know is now Burda Style ) in the February issue of 20003, style #128.




I used the stripe of the cotton twill fabric in all directions which was great fun in the planning stage.I used a contrasting heavy duty thread for the top stitchingwhich you know I love to do!






For the facings, I used a taupe linen stripe which I think coordinates well with the tan/cream cotton twill.



I tidied up all the seams by using either a Hong Kong or a flat fell finish.

This outfit was really a joy to make .Next spring, I'll add pants as well.






More pics here!

And now on to some fall sewing and a quilt for Riley.

Happy Sewing from