Whoops, I traced the pattern incorrectly and it is missing a zipper. Yay, it still fits (even if it is a tight squeeze to get on)

Whoops, there is a huge smudge on the camera lens. Yay, this is my own draft of a peasant to so that I don't need a zipper.

The only thing I have left on this blouse is the buttonholes and buttons. But the top is so unflattering. The sleeves are supposed to be puffy and they are, slightly. And the pleats make it look maternity. I am not happy with the collar style on me. The pattern itself looks fab. Maybe I can save it. I need help.

Yay - some undies that fit DD. Traced off a RTW pair, I added more height and the waist and bound the seams. They fits wonderfully well.

There is not picture of the whoops vintage style undies that could be mistaken for a parachute.

Curved panel pants - with a tutorial

After cutting out a few pairs of too big pants for DS (still not sure what went wrong) I wanted to add a little something to my basic Ottobre pattern that I had sitting around. Enter the curved panel pants.

First trace your pattern. Draw a line were you want you it. Add seam allowance to both sides - I do it at 1cm since that is my regular seam allowance.


Now you have to trace off your new piecces.

Since the patterns include a seam allowance, they should not match up nicely (only on the stitching line). It is really important to draw the grain line on all pieces.

Cut out as normal

Sew up the panel seams. I don't pin - you can see how it doesn't look like it is matched up at the seam edge...

but you manipulate the fabric around as you sew for a smooth seam.

Make sure you clip the seam so that it will lie flat.

Colouring in cord

For awhile I have been thinking about a dye technique that would be easy like low water immersion but with soft smooth variations in colour. The idea was tested first in my trusty kitty litter tray (reserved for dyeing, no cat in this household) and some plain paper. On Friday there was a break in the weather so it was time to test my idea in full scale.

For this method, I use my tray and mixing up the dye like I would the shaving cream method. However, I make up a huge amount of the dye /shaving cream mixture, pour it into the tray and move the tray to creat soft mixes of the colour. It was a steep learning curve, since the ground wasn't flat and I hadn't worked out what the right dye+ shaving cream+water ratio was best.

It was a windy day too so I couldn't spread out my fabrics flat. Above is my favourite one. Pity it is the smallest piece.

I needed to mix up some more dye here. Too many blank areas.

I made two other pieces but I think they will be redyed. The depth of colour is low and the contrast minimal.

What do you think?

Pink and jade Burda for me

You know, I am pretty low maintenance. I am pretty economical with my words (spoken and written). This is pretty much reflected in my infrequent posts and minimal pictures. I love seeing ones with full make up, hair done and coordinating shoes. Not here. I feel pretty good that I have managed to take some photos (with the help of a tripod).

First up is a dress that I made last year. It is two Burda patterns morphed together. I like the shoulder area of one dress but did not like it's sleek, sheath skirt portion. So I traced another dress pattern with a flared princess lined skirt.

I was looking a little sack - like until I used the seams and took it in, lots.

I can't remember if I showed this blouse from last year. It is the same pattern as this top

I made it with a white stretch poplin. I chose to use the collar and lapel option and a flat sleeve. I can't get the lapel to sit down though - the lapel piece is quite thin and with the lapel/interfacing + seam + facing/interfacing, it is quite thick with fabric.

I am wearing a new skirt that I know I haven't blogged yet - I finished it yesterday. Pattern is Burda, actually the same skirt pattern as my January Meme

However, between each panel I have added a godet (you know, a triangle). So it is lovely and swishy.

See, I told you it was swishy. Fabric is a cotton voile - lovely fabric to sew with.

Sewing reviews

This is some of the sewing that I completed last year before we went away on holidays. They have been worn a fair few times but each time I wouldn't have time to get a picture or the batteries were flat or some other lame excuse.

First up is my TNT Burda yoked a-line skirt. I really like this fabric but did not buy much of it. Maybe I was buying it for Jalisa. I would have liked a dress from it, but had to settled on the skirt.
This is a dress from Burda WOF (6/2005 #123). I wanted to try something different for a change. The fabric that I chose did not pair well with the pattern. Too many seams cutting up the pattern.

The pattern was easy and went well together. I had to let out the side seams a little to skim more over my hips. Next time I will flare out the skirt portion when I am cutting out to make it a more flattering A-line shape.

Eek, I did not realise I looked like that from the back.

Thanks for looking.

This is how you model

According to Jalisa

I am not seeing the pount though. These are the tees that Jalisa and I dyed last Sunday. They turned out very solid (what I was aiming for) but I think they may need a bit more decoration, maybe a stencil or two is in order.

I think she did a fabulous job. We did not make too much mess either.

January Challenge meme

Argh, I hate photos of myself. This is a Burda gored skirt (it has 12 gores and a yoke at front and back). This was actually a test run to check the pattern, but it will be good for school runs. Fabric was hand dyed by me, but I am not really that keen on it.

This is a Burda blouse. I have used this a few times now. Time for something different. I just need to get around to tracing /printing them off.

I also have a half-finished skirt, based on the above pattern, but with godets as well. I still have a couple of days to finish it in time I suppose.

6 (long) years

Every year on our anniversary we take photos in the same spot (goes back to the first year when we couldn't afford anything much and were camping down at the Gold Coast). This is my fave, but I will need to hop on my other computer to adjust it. I don't have the software on my laptop yet.

We started a goofy shot this year.

Dyeing day

Jalisa and I did some dyeing this morning. Just some blank white tees that I bought specifically for Jalisa to dye. I wasn't sure if she was ready to dye in terms of motor skills but I thought it would be a good lesson in mixing colours.

I did not give Jalisa a choice in the procedure, just the colours. She chose dark pink, yellow, light blue, green and purple. I actually mixed the dye with some shaving cream to make the dyes visible rather than transparent in the mixing bowl. This was good way to show Jalisa the different shades of green that could be achieved by adding different amounts of blue and yellow.

We wet the t-shirts then placed them into the dye/shaving cream mixture. The dye was masssaged in, to cover all of the white areas. We then added one cup of soda ash mixture (while lifting the tee out of the bowl) and massaged this in. I was particularly careful with the pink and purple, since the red is the fastest of the dyes to strike.

I am pleased to report that the colours are looking bright and fairly solid. Maybe the most solid I have ever done. The original colours were golden yellow (I think), intense blue and mixing red. The purple that was created is gorgeous. No pictures, as we need new ones.

I'm excited

Carolyn is hosting this sewing meme:

Not sure about doing all 12, but I have already started this month's challenge. A gored, yoked skirt in hand dyed fabric. A new for me Burda pattern. I already want to do this pattern again and add godets between each gore. I have a couple of skirts like that and I love them - nice and swingy.