It happened at last!

Yes, finally I have sewed! Yesterday I hemmed two pairs of trousers for a friend of mine but I didn't bother taking any photos. Today I made McCalls 5087 from 1976 (I was 14 and in grade 10!). I made it from some cotton knit stuff I had just to test the size and fit. I didn't have enough of each fabric so I made it with the dots on the front and the back and sleeves out of this washed out stripe fabric. I had some scrap red knit stuff (notice my wide reaching knowledge of knit fabrics?) that my girlfriend had given me to make my first binding!

I basted the red on with the normal machine then sewed it with the overlocker. Then I used a twin needle to finish it off and although I saw it wasn't quite right, I only noticed tonight that I should have put one needle in each fabric... of well this was just a test garment.

Notice how one thread for the twin needle goes into the normal holder but on the other side there is also one. I've never notice this before and would just thread both the threads the same, until I saw it on a blog a while ago (sorry can't remember which one - tell me if it was you!). I haven't had time to see if my older machine has this too. Anyone else notice?

See here, one of the needles should have been in the red and the other on the white... I knew it was off but couldn't work out what and just finished it before having to go out so didn't really work it out till later.

I made view C but with no cuffs and I added the binding as they had facings included (as if!). I shortened the length ('cause I'm short.. 158cm) for the body and sleeves and am pretty happy with the fit and size. I love raglan sleeves and I have to say this was perfectly drafted. Not one millimetre out! I know it's simple but...

This top will be a sleep shirt but now that I have tested and like the fit I will make some more. I have a lovely aqua merino wool that I'd like to make up and some other soft floaty stuff(more knit fabric knowledge) that I will make it up with. I hope to trace out a My Image pants and top pattern tomorrow. I have a couple of things I want to finish too. Tomorrow afternoon my son comes home from his Dad's and we have a week together so I guess not much sewing will happen.

Oh after I looked at these photos, I went out to find some new bras... I have needed to for a while and just didn't have time. It takes so much time.. didn't find any and will work on making my own but I know that takes a lot of time so will have to buy some till that is worked out.

Comments

Joy said…

Oh, what a fun vintage pattern! I like your fabric choices for this one.

02 August, 2013 01:22

Island night... PNG cruise

Well hello again. I've just come back from a cruise to Papua New Guinea and I made a dress for Island night. Island night or any theme night is just a suggestion... there is no organised event, meals, activities; just a dress code suggestion. As soon as I read that, I searched for this vintage surfie fabric I bought years ago at an op shop. I was thrilled to use it. I needed an easy pattern that I could make 2 days before the cruise departure and one that I would wear again. I used this Style 2911 pattern that I only bought online a few months ago. Style are my favourite patterns. I cut out a size 16 but had to reduce it to the 12. It's a great simple but elegant pattern and it went together perfectly. My machines liked it too... they cooperate when they like what I'm making and it was a breeze. I cannot believe that we didn't get one photo of it on. I was thrilled with it and even tho there is some ink staining you can't really see it as it's so busy. I had ...

Silk and undies, and old skirt, Korea

I found a photo of the silk I bought when I went to Seoul South Korea. It's so pretty. I can't remember how much it was but it was a good buy. Earlier that year, when I was at the fabric area in Paris, the silks although beautiful, were very expensive. The colour on my monitor is pretty accurate. I love it. There was huge markets with lots of crafty stuff and fabrics but it was overwhelming. The market we went to, Dongdaemun had lots of hand made jewellery too. I bought some capiz shells to make a mobile (I must find those). My friend bought some lovely big feathers. ** from here to the coffee is a repeat. For some reason I didn't remember already putting this up so apologies :) My friend gave me a big tub of really beautiful quality fabrics. These above were remnants pieces but I decided to make her something. I used the Kwik Sew 2028 pattern and made two sets. There is also a few metres of the brown top in a rayon twill which is such fantastic quality, unfortunately I d...

More things I've made - part 3.

Well part 3 is here. First up Style 1876. Did I ever say that Style are my favourite patterns? So this one was an op shop find a long time ago. It's a great pattern. I can't remember if the bodice is cut on the bias (but I think not) and the skirt is cut on the bias. I made it out of some synthetic crepe in the most fabulous colour. It has great pockets that you can see on the red dress.. The are sewn onto the back pieces, and then when you sew it up and leave the opening, you stitch the pocket onto the inside/front of the dress. That pocket isn't going anywhere. I used up all the fabric which was a gift from a friend's mother in law. It turned out to be a bit see though and I didn't wear it. It fits so nicely around the shoulders and arm holes. I decided I was going to wear it to Brisbane Spoolettes Frocktails this year as I didn't have time to make something else. I decided that it needed something else though as it was a little too see through for me. I had ...

Sew Darn Tired

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