Catching up.

Well hello! It has been a while. I've been very busy... boy working full time really cuts down the everything else fun time doesn't it. So onto the catch up.

These 4 patterns above I got way back in July I think. My friend who lives and works in the U.S. was coming over and I wanted the New Look 6459, Simplicity 1366 and Butterick 6244 but of course every time there was a sale at Spotlight, these were not available or already sold, so I asked if she could get them for me. Stupidly I should have ordered them from sewing patterns.com but did think of it early enough so she popped into a Joanne's to get them .. .ended up costing me $50 AUD but I guess I have them at least.

So far I have made a muslin of the culottes (no photo yet though) and with the same fabric, the top which isn't sewn up yet... maybe this arvo.  I think that culotte pattern is a good work uniform pattern and will look different in different fabrics (that's such an obvious statement but you know that I mean non sewers will not notice it's the same pattern). I have cut out a Sweater from the New Look knits pattern (out of a linen knit from Darn Cheap fabrics a few years ago that was $2 a metre.. this is a great pattern for it and when I get it whipped up it'll be perfect for the office). Of course now it's too hot (wayyyy too hot) for the Butterick jacket but I really like it so next year winter, look out. The Butterick Dress is nice too so maybe that'll get a look in some time soon.

Next is the dress above made for the Brisbane Spoolettes Frocktails way back in October. I used the vintage Butterick on the left for the bodice and the skirt from the modern Butterick on the right. Fitted perfectly together. Funny story about this, as usual I made it up on the morning of Frocktails. Of course I wanted to make a new dress for Frocktails (at least this guarantees one dress a year) but I was vacillating between many patterns and fabrics for a few weeks, interestingly none of the ones that I actually used. In the end, at 11 am on the day of Frocktails, my son asked to meet up with his friend at the park so I said yes but he had to be back by 1.30pm. So in that time, I suddenly chose this fabric and patterns and whipped it up.

The fabric is a remnant piece I bought from Darn Cheap Fabrics in June when we were in Melbourne for a week. It's a polyester, which I normally steer clear of as I prefer to wear more breathable fibres, but I just loved the print and it was only $7 for about 2 metres. It is even more vibrant in real life.. th pink is actually fluro. I don't like full skirts on me and I like the A line skirt on the other pattern so I used it. I fully lined the dress with some cotton muslin-like fabric so it was a quick sew really. I did start to make facings but it was just too time consuming to cut them out plus interfacing, I figured it was quicker to line the whole front. I pinched out about 2 inches in the neckline front and back (I am very, very narrow there and across the back.. tiny even) and if I had more time, I would have faced the tie parts in the fashion fabric, but no time and it's not that noticeable. What is noticeable is the ties loosen quickly and easily, I'm guessing because of the slippery nature of the polyester... I think the cotton lining makes this go slower because I don't think they would stay tied up if both sides were polyester. I ended up not putting in the elastic as I liked the A-line look of the dress and I sometimes choose to wear it with a chain belt. Every time I wear this I get multiple compliments. If, when I make this up again, I will lower the boat neck a bit as it is high and I hate things on my neck, but otherwise a lovely dress that has had a lot of use and is easy and lovely to wear.

 I loved the venue "The Annual Sew Your Own Dress Get Together" was held at. Thanks Colette for a fabulous evening. It was cut short for me as my son had a birthday party that evening too, so I had to collect him by 8.45pm so I wasn't there for the games but I had a great time catching up with those I did get a chance to say hello to. There is never enough time to talk to everyone...particularly if you leave early :(

This is me wearing the dress (the only photo I have wearing it) and my son and nephew at Parliament House Special High Tea last week. My Christmas gift to my sisters and Mum was the high tea. Everyone had a great time. They boys read the information sheets and made sure they stirred their tea without touching the cup and making noises, holding their pinkies up and also learned the correct way to get the scone on the plate and then cut it and put the jam and cream on. We did the tour after and had a great day.

This is me the last time I went three years ago... look how grey I have gotten in that time! 

See that dress above, it's Simplicity 1796 below. Notice what I did... yep put the skirt and bodice on the wrong way. So I didn't even allow myself to get cross, I just unpicked it and sewed it up again. I am debating whether or not to put elastic or a drawstring tie in ... I think I'll go the elastic 'cause it's easier and I just want to finish it. I made an 8 in the top to the armholes and then down to a 16 at the waist and the skirt. It's a quick make but there is something weird about the facings and the shoulders in the drafting... there is 2 cm seam allowances there somewhere for some reason. The facings didn't fit so I skipped them and made some bias and used that instead. Quicker and a nice finish. This is a rayon that I got from an eBay seller - Janie's Fabrics I think, something like that. It's a nice heavy rayon and was only $6 pm. I have been looking for a rayon same at this but a navy for about 4 years and finally I saw some at Spotlight online. I bought it and for .3 kg weight they still charged the full $8.99 in postage. I will never buy online from them again but I really wanted this fabric. It is much lighter weight and only 112cm wide but I want it to make some wide leg pants. I had some in black many years ago and they were so versatile I wanted to replicate them. 

I will try this pattern again and maybe make the cross over dress. Again I need quick easy things to make for work as my wardrobe is limited - as is my time.

This is the last of the makes... I made the skirt a few weeks back... a remnant piece of rayon crepe (what a gorgeous fabric and print). It was only a few dollars and just enough for a simple elastic skirt, but I didn't have anything to go with it (which reminds me I made a white cowl neck top too but no photos) and then I bought a dress and this green top at Big W when they had 20% off. I think it was $20. It's a polyester crepe and when I washed it I noticed it was the perfect colour to go with the skirt, so win, another outfit for work. I am contemplating cutting it shorter at the hem and shortening the sleeves too as I feel overwhelmed in it, but I may wear it together first and see if it's workable as is. No point using valuable sewing time if it's not needed.

I don't foresee any posting before Christmas so I'll wish you all a safe and happy festive time and a hope for a wonderful and peaceful 2017. Thank you for reading and commenting - it's very much appreciated.