Trying a vintage togs pattern.

Hello, it's been a while again. Not as long as some bloggers who have recently returned to blogging...up to 7 years, but I'm glad people are coming back. I never joined Instagram as I'm not that fussed on 'social media' and more with people who write about their sewing.

So back to sewing. I picked up this vintage McCalls togs pattern. It's quite a good value pattern as there are three very different and interesting swimsuits included. That's pretty rare. It's a size 16. I decided to make view B. All of the patterns have pieces for the bra cups too which is really great. Photographed with it is a Burda beach wrap. I can't find the magazine number right now, but it's at least 10 years old.

Basically it's a large square of fabric with arm holes cut out. The fabric is genuine 70s towelling. I know because Mum bought it to cover our 'fantastic plastic' vinyl couch. Vinyl was preferred back then but it was too hot to sit on in a Brisbane summer. Obviously doesn't need to be said, but with 5 kids she never got time to use it. A few years ago I made some girl summer beach skirts with white bobbles to sell but that got tiresome. This is such a great item though. I take to the coast when I'm at my friend's house and when we walk across the road to the beach it is perfect cover and drying item.

The finished togs. You can see the sewn in bra. Because of the cross over front, the bra is 2 separate cups. It works really well and I think I'll adapt this for my future togs. The lycra was from an op shop years ago. I've really loved it for a long time. Bright and cheerful.

I matched the seaming in the back. I made the side panels on the cross for the stripes for a bit of interest. The bum is a bit big but I'll change then for the next pair. The back is not as low as I thought and I'd cut that down a bit more next time too. I'm larger busted, the straps would pull to the front, so I put two cross straps on the upper back and this fixed that problem. No photo of that though.

The finished togs. Fully lined with some power mesh I had and truth be told probably a bit heavy but it offers great support all round. I will definitely be making the View C too. I was recently away in Cebu and bought some lovely togs and so there is no urgency. I'm glad to have this lycra used up and have a zip up rashie cut out waiting to get sewn up.

And speaking of rashies, I made this one from a very small gifted piece of lycra from a sewing friend. It is SO bright and gorgeous. It's the same Kwik Sew KS2600 zip rashie pattern but I cut the front on the fold for a quick make and one I tested the pattern with. I made it a crop rashie, with band under the bust and bands on the arms. It's a princess seamed pattern and it's a good fit.

I also tested a dress pattern that I have made about 20 kgs ago and had to change it a bit. It's not a great success but I did take it to Cebu with me, but it needs some work. I'm wanting to make some more dresses and have a few ideas ticking away the last few months. Just not the time. I also made (all before the togs and dress) some lilac pants, have a vest cut out of the same fabric and enough for a bias skirt I hope. I also have a pair of pants that needs a grosgrain waist band. This was a jumpsuit from a few years ago that I never wore after a Frocktails but loved the colour. That'll be next post. Thanks for reading. Hope everyone is ok after many crazy world incidents in the last year and ongoing it seems.

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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