Sew Darn Tired

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 ...

This is my Mum. She's recently turned 83. She has also recently (last 6 months) moved into aged care. The first one was terrible but when a new one very close to my and her old home opened (delayed due to covid) she moved into there. It's a lovely place and other than being in your own home, she's pretty happy there and made lots of friends. There is a group of women who have joined their dining tables together so they can sit together and due to Mum putting olive oil and lemon juice or vinegar on her food, and everyone asking for the same, they have now taken to leaving these on the table!  She's wearing a top made from a remnant from a fabric sale which was fill a bag with scraps for $20 .. my friend and I shared the bag and I've made a few things from them. This is a silk chiffon which is a very vibrant floral. I was testing this Cynthia Rowley pattern and it fit pretty well, but a bit short so it has a extra piece on the bottom to lengthen. I was thrilled when I...

When I took the photo of the label on my newly made pants, I was nearly 100 percent that this fabric had metal threads... see the shiny bits from the flash? So to confirm my suspicions 100 percent I did a burn test. Pretty conclusive really! The weft threads are wires and are like steel wool. They are very fine as you can probably see in the photo. The warp is cotton - a quick burning and then fine ash left. I could actually feel the wires when I walk in that way that is a little annoying. I wonder what that did to my overlocker blades now I think of it?? The reason I was sure is because I also have some white shirting type fabric that I bought a number of years ago from the industry fabric sale I go to and remember  this Burda jacket I made in 2009?   When I bought that fabric (and some more in a silver/grey) the woman there told me that it had metal threads also and again you can feel the little pinch every now and again when you move. I also made th...

I'm going to go on Thursday but I'm not going to buy anything..... ba ha ha... as if! (I won't be buying much as I have plenty, but it never hurts to look.)

I've just come across a fabric sale that is in Melbourne on Saturday 18 April. Below are the details from  designerstitch.com.au  where they have a list of fabric shops in Brisbane and surrounds and also through the rest of Queensland and the other states. I'm sure if you live in Melbourne you are aware of Designer Stitch School of Fashion and Design, but I'd never heard of them before. The list of fabric shops in and around Brisbane is very comprehensive and there are some I have not heard of before. Massive Italian Fabric Warehouse Sale  April 18th – Open Direct to the Public One Day Only – Saturday 18th April  from 9.30 am until 3.30pm. 5 Marriott Street, Oakleigh. (off Dandenong Road ) ( the building does not have an obvious sign –  with only a small sign in window that reads “ Christopher George”) Fabrics at wholesale prices – ALL imported direct from ITALY…. Linens – $5.00 p/m Denims – $6.00 p/m (varying weights and stretch) Silks – $5.00 p/m (...

I normally get my Burda magazines from the local library as I don't see them around often to buy. I only have one that I have bought and I still haven't made anything from it.  Imagine my surprise when I got February 2010 issue on Wednesday and saw this..... In particular the coat on the right.  Why am I surprised? Because in April 2009 I made this coat.... ...The one on the right... and it looks like this.... It looks much more pink in my photo but the fabric is exactly the same as in the Burda photo!  That is my beautiful boy and we were at my friend's wedding in Auckland.  It was a beautiful day and we stayed 2 weeks in their home while they went on their honeymoon to Raratonga (I think it was). I rushed the end of it so I need to redo the sleeve ends.  It is not a lined coat pattern (actually it has one of those annoying half lining, so I tried lining it myself and it's just only ok.  I did not know of sewing blogs back then so I had not ...