Sew Darn Tired

                       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...

I go to aqua aerobics 3 or 4 times a week and I like to wear a rashie as it's outdoor and it's a bit warmer in the (not very cold usually but really warm this) winter, and I can't reach the spots for sunscreen. In Brisbane you must wear sunscreen every day even in winter as we have the highest skin cancer rates in the world and I don't want to be any more wrinkly than I am! Anyway, I went to the Gold Coast to see my friend for a few days and I left my rashie at her place and I she wouldn't get to Brisbane for a few days so I pulled out KS 2600. I saw this pattern listed on a pattern site and then became obsessed with it till I got it but this is my first chance to try it. Isn't it lovely! I wanted to test it to see how the fit was. I've made McCall's 7417 a few times but it's long between the shoulder and the arm for me and even though I have made a few it wasn't ever a great fit but it is a quick sew. The pants on the McCall's is a good fit...

I've made a new rashie set again from McCall's 7417. Usually I've made the shorter rashie twice before and I add a band (I'm short waisted so it fits to my waist like this). I wasn't paying any notice and realised I cut the long one and then only had enough fabric for the shorter pants. I have just scraps left now... maybe enough for a kiddy bikini triangle top but not pants. I bought a metre of this fabric from East Coast Fabrics for $15. It's  a lovely lycra and one of the heavier ones. I bought two more at the same time (July school holidays) but they are a thinner lycra so I'll see how that sews up soon enough.  You can just see the seam lines above. I have some mint coloured lycra and thought I'd make some 'piping' but in the end I didn't have enough time. My last spotty rashie (did I even show that one? or take a photo of it even? Now it's faded and nearly dead). I always put bands on the sleeves and on the waist of the sho...

Hi! Long time no see. I'm going backwards here with  unblogged items. I'm starting with a  pencil case I  made for my son at the beginning of the year. Pencil cases are pretty expensive and really *r@p. I used some zips I had in stock (ha ha , I feel like I have  "stock") and  some great 'fabric' I picked up in  Spotlight . It's kind  of net over some plastic. It was on sale for $8 per metre and then half price for $4.  There was also  a hot pink one too, but when I took them to the counter they didn't want to give me the  pink one for the half price so I left it  because they didn't say before cutting that it wasn't  on sale.  Anyway, I had to go back later for something I forgot and  it was  in the remnant bin so  in the end I got it for $2.50.  I  bought it to make some shopping bags .. still unmade min you. Anyway my  son really liked the pencil case but after 1 day it had scribble on ...

Last Sunday my sister called at 8am and said come over for lunch and the boys can have a swim. Perfect, except I just remembered, I bought lycra from Pitt Trading for swimming togs for Alex but I hadn't made them yet. I go to aqua aerobics every Sunday at 9am so I dragged out my Jalie 3242 pattern, measured Alex and traced a size T. I was going to use  Katherine's (Sew Blooms) tips to change a Jalie into togs for boys  but I have a different pattern so with my limited time, I just went with what I had.  I got them to here before having to go to aqua. I came back at 10.20 and then I finished them off and left the house by 12 noon. I used the coverstitch to do the hems and around the ...middle, but I think this makes them look like undies but I also figured it would keep the seams flat and less aggravating.  I get this great elastic from Trad's ... it's elastic that's about 2.5 cm wide and it has nylon tie through it, which is perfect for boy's t...

This is my beautiful friend who lives in the States and is right in the thick of the storms at the moment, but a two weeks ago she was here and for a big birthday (hers) we went to see Kinky Boots. It is a terrific show... plus shoes!! This was outside in the walkway from the Lyric Theatre. Maree's favourite colour (well one of them) is orange.  She got her great boots at a sale in the States .. fantastic leather suede over knee boots... so envious!! And very fitting. More orange. This is my new rashie outfit for aqua aerobic. Even though I hate the bands that come from wearing a rashie, I'd hate skin cancer just so much more, so rashie it is. Just for some perspective, this winter the average daily temperature was 26 degrees, with no rain and the clearest, most beautiful blue skies ever. Perfect for cultivating opportunity for skin trouble. Back to the suit. It's made up from scraps left over from other togs I made  about 18 months ago. I would have liked to...

I made new togs. These were a bit overdue as   pair I made in January  disintegrated. Well the red did that stretch out thing and the aqua (which was at least 20 years old) was still fine, such was the quality of that remnant. I knew they wouldn't last long as the red was very thin and not good quality plus the heat and chlorine from the night aqua classes really eats into the fabric.  So onto the new pair. It is still using the same pattern cut out from a pair of Arena togs that fit well that the last pair was to test if my tracing off was ok. These are made from a remnant piece of lycra from The Fabric Store a few years ago. Really I don't know why I bought it, it's not really my colours but it has a beautiful feel. It was about a metre long and $17 so that's probably why.. it is really lovely quality. I don't know how long they'll last; when you swim in chlorine a few times a week togs don't last long. The original togs had the bottom piece cut o...

Kwik Sew 1607, McCall's 7653 and Jalie 3134 I've made three pairs of togs in as many weeks. I am so pleased with all of them despite the Kwik Sew and the McCall's being too small for me.  I love the back of the McCall's one.. it's really comfortable (I mean I can get them on but it isn't something I'd let anyone see!) and very flattering with a nice open back. The shelf bra I put in is really supportive and adds another layer for lining in an area that calls for modesty. They are all fully lined and all good shapes. I'm really happy to have this monkey off my back. What I've learned is sewing swimwear is not hard particularly if you sew a lot already. Once your hands get the 'feel' of the elastic insertion then you are just about there. You don't need to be particularly pedantic with it even. I've also learned that sewing these two or three piece suits is so much quicker than the many pieced ones like the Jalie. It is just ...

This is the second start at this. The first time was too long and detailed. The short version: - son started high school... busy.. buses... piano... homework club etc - old parents getting older - house clear out (took forever... did every room) - guests stay - sewing room clean out. I haven't finished the Burda pants still.. just the waistband and hem to do but I need togs before I need pants. To tell the truth, it has been so hot and humid here, I couldn't bear to think about trying them on to check the waistband size. I do need togs for aqua aerobics and lap swimming, my year round exercises of choice. I was so desperate, I bought a pair at Aldi (that are pretty nice actually for a really reasonable price) but they are not good for active swim sports, more for swanning about.  I'm using Jalie 3134 . There's a story to the pattern but I'll tell you about that another post. This fabric I got from a  Brisbane Arcade,  shop sale, where the shop...