Skirt Burdastyle 2/2010/104

Thank you for the lovely feedback on my swimsuit! It's very satisfying to find out that almost anything can be sewn, even by a home sewer with limited means (technique and machines). FYI, I did use a stretch needle, but I think the blue fabric was so thick and luxurious any needle would have had a hard time poking through!

After the swimsuit, I took out a piece of fabric I'd bought at IKEA some time ago with the intention of making a bag. Well, with the current heat wave I'm in need of more summer bottoms, so I thought I'd give the Burda pattern, a slight A-line with front pockets, no lining, a try. I cut out the short length (didn't have any more fabric), but I just don't like the mini length on myself anymore. My legs are alright I guess, but I don't like how a mini skirt looks so terribly wide on anyone above size 36. So I cut into a favorite piece of green linen, hoping that the rest will still be enough for the envisioned shirt dress, and added the border. Incidentally, I really like the skirts with a contrast border that have been around for a few years but never owned one.



Now I'm proud to report the skirt goes very well with the rest of my "Craving Color Wardrobe" that I started last summer and still wear heavily.

(As always, sorry for the blur!)

I think the skirt has a bit more hanger appeal than in real life, and looks a tiny bit like an apron on (and I don't wear aprons for fashion). DH says it's the border and I should cut it off ;-) I think it just takes getting used to and some creative combining.



Happy sewing!

Swimsuit Jalie 2446 View A

While working on the swimsuit, which took quite a while - the weather being positively tropical here at the moment - I thought about posting on it. Emotionally, posing in a swimsuit is no different than posing in a dress for me. And I'm all for being cool - a swimsuit is a swimsuit etc.





On the other hand, this is the internet. Who knows what big bad wolf might happen upon my pictures and abuse them, or use them to ridicule me? (A thought I also have when posting pictures of the children.)

I always tried not to let fear govern my behaviour. When I was younger and out and about, I consciously chose the alley that was the shortest walk for me, no matter how dark or isolated it was.


This is a sewing blog. So, for the benefit of anyone pear-shaped wanting to sew this swimsuit, here's the full picture, and the full story:


This was my second time sewing a single (not magazine) pattern, my first Jalie pattern and my first swimsuit.

I like the Jalie pattern, the instructions, and the sizing is spot on. I think it also looks a lot like the picture on the pattern envelope. (Not Jalie's fault, but would you believe I didn't understand that "fold line" meant "cut on the fold"?)

I had a few glitches sewing on the elastic, and my machine didn't particularly like the lycra fabric (skipped stitches unless I sewed through tissue paper). Considering I did this without a serger I'm quite satified though. When it was done I had my doubts whether I chose the right pattern for my body type, but now I'm starting to like it a lot. Sometimes a picture is a better judge than the mirror!

A short note on the covered buttons I made for DD's apron top: They held up perfectly well in the wash! So, for anyone wanting to save a few pennies, or wishing for a low-tech method for covering buttons, try the method I outlined in this post!

Scrap Busting and Swimsuit Sewing

I made DD another sun hat from the same pattern I've used before. Didn't retrace, although her head has grown; I just cut the pieces a bit bigger and it's fine.

If you're looking for a pattern I really recommend this one (BWOF 4/2009/142). It can be worn brim up or brim down, and when it's down provides good shade for the eyes, which can get important when children are too little to wear (or keep on) sunglasses. Besides, it's cute! And, as the title says, perfect for using up scraps.

This girls' top wasn't made from leftover scraps, but all the same used so little fabric that there's a couple of tops left in those fabrics for me. I didn't use a pattern, just cut around an existing top. DD started giving me that "Where's the pink and violet, and where's my glitter??" look, so I hastened to add a yoyo. Now I want the same top for myself. Too bad I'm not four anymore.

(Seeing this I realize I also made DS a sleeveless tee but forgot to take a picture. Oh well. Not half as cute. Poor, poor boys.)

Speaking of age, I must be this town's oldest H & M shopper (other than in the kiddie department), but I'm always very lucky (although I'm not buying a lot these days) and their stuff fits me. The same used to be true for their swimsuits. Well, not anymore. All of a sudden I loathe all their designs and colors. What ...? The same thing happened a couple of years ago with popular music radio stations. A sign that middle age is encroaching, I guess. What's a sewer to do?

Right, spend several hours of beautiful summer weather that will never return, staring at the screen researching swimsuit patterns and supplies. I ordered from no less than three sources and spent 50 € which doesn't sound so bad unless you consider that I got two suits for 10 € each at H&M last year. This had better become the suit of suits, so to speak. (FYI, I'm making the more covered view A. Yes, DH would also be very happy with the others. I'm saying I'll make those for DD in a couple of years!)

Let's hope I didn't jinx the project by making a public announcement beforehand... But I'd love to hear your input and tips if you've sewn a swimsuit before. Other than that, please wish me luck!

Girls' Pants and Pinafore Top

First of all, thank you for the many lovely comments on my blouse and last post's girls' pants! I decided to follow your advice and wear the blouse for a bit to get used to it. Wouldn't you know it - I received quite a few compliments, so of course now I have to keep wearing it!

Also, instead of giving up I got stubborn and sewed another pair of girls' pants. Quite a bit tighter, and with fewer details. It went fast, it fits, whew.

Another thing DD lacks is sleeveless tops. I got it into my head that a pinafore top would be perfect, as it is wearable over a t-shirt as well as for a sleeveless top.

(To be honest, all I really want is a pinafore dress for myself, ever since I saw this gorgeous number on Casey's blog. Not being sure whether the style is right for me, and where to find a good pattern in my Burda mags, I did some vicarious sewing for DD.)

I very roughly followed the Ottobre 4/2009/11 pattern "Viola". I left off the buttoned front and pockets, cut front and back on the fold, added a side zip and raised the front between the straps.

I also made my first fabric covered buttons. Being too cheap for the pre-packaged covered button-making pack, I used simple shank buttons, interfaced the fabric, cut circles, stitched running stitches all around and after inserting the buttons added a few more criss-crossing stitches in the back. Viola! They seem quite stable; ask me again after the first few washes!

Today I played with the new Blogger design options a bit. Do you like it?

Girls' Pants or: Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Once Removed

To start: my son, who has more fashion sense than I do apparently, noted that DD has a purple dress, albeit dark purple. So I was given free rein of the purple fabric.

As intended, I made a pair of girls' pants from the basic pattern/sloper I made a while ago. I did verify the inner leg length (yup, grown a bit) but didn't think to check whether the sloper really matched the (well-fitting) turquoise pants I thought I'd made from it. Um, no.

I happily went ahead, put in a few more seams (like a yoke and separate waistband) and some decoration... And, in a pattern I recognize only too well (see DS's last pair of pants, or just about any kids' pants at first try), finished a nice pair of pants that DD can wear... when she's six or so (currently 4 1/2)! (You'd think I have a sewing blog for noting this kind of thing. Well, I've noted it now. Remains to see whether I will read this before the next attempt!)

Do I have no sense of the children's true size? Or am I so afraid to cut out something that will turn out too small? This doesn't usually happen with my own garments, but then I try on a lot. And I really dislike having the children try something on. It just invites too many opinions...

Well, here's the finished piece, and on to new shores. Happy sewing!

Blouse Burdastyle 3/2010/124

Whenever I finish a post, I think, "Next time I'll write it up better. With good pictures."

Whenever I finish a garment, I think, "Finally it's done, let's get a post, any post, out there and be done with it."

Just so you know why my often-promised improved photography is so slow in coming!

(To clarify any color confusion: I am not this pale. And the blouse is navy blue with aqua dots and light blue buttons.)

Would you believe I mulled over the collar, something's not quite right, why is it standing up at such a sharp angle... and even ripped it out and redid it, without figuring out I'd sewn it together wrong? Because I hadn't sewn a stand-up collar before, I automatically sewed together the collar pieces on the short side... And I'm ashamed to say I did not go back and do it over. It's a bit victorian now, but fine by me! (I also didn't have any fabric left to recut the collar, having squeezed out 1.25 metres worth of blouse out of 1 metre fabric (and a light blue poplin for the inner yoke). Design challenges...

This blouse has a hidden buttonhole placket from the middle down, but shhhh... Burda doesn't let on, not even in the German version. Only after reading the instructions about 100 times I understood. Pretty, though.

All in all it's a bit prim and proper, and I'm not sure I love it. I laid it on top of a pair of DH's faded jeans, and it looked just right. Sadly, I neither have nor wear distressed denim.

I'm also not sure I'll continue with the blue SWALP. It's such a different colorway from all my other clothes, and not my best color at that. Maybe there are ways to get a little variation without changing my color style so much. On the other hand, I have everything on hand for the planned navy trenchcoat. (And there's even a Trenchcoat Sew-Along going on! If only I could figure out how to get in...) Hmm. Opinions, ladies?

Me-Made-May and Budding Fashionistas

1. Me-Made-May:

As you remember, I loved the idea of Me-Made-May (Lite) when I first saw it. Although I managed to follow through from beginning to end, wearing at least one me-made garment every day, I'm a bit sad I didn't have the time or energy this month to sew more new garments (still working on that first SWALP blouse) - build more diverse outfits - accessorize better. Then again, this isn't a fashion show but a sewing blog. Sew I did (if not much), and I wore my stuff, too. Success!

Here's the last six days in me-made:

Me-Made, top left to bottom right: skirt, shirt, shirt, shirt, jacket, skirt.

What I gained from MMM: I think I need to cull my me-made garments. If something didn't get worn this month despite the small selection and "having" to choose me-made 31 times, maybe it needs to go.

2. Budding Fashionistas

Our daughter is four years old, and very opinionated. She tells me often, and emphatically, which colors she likes (pink, violet, gold) and which she doesn't like (gray, black, brown, denim being "gray"). She needs more pants, and I decided to humor her and get some soft purple linen mix fabric. It would go well with a colorful poplin print from last year's fabric market.

(I had to put in a blue checked piece so the violet looked true to color.)

Today, I showed her the fabric. "Would you like some pants from this fabric?" - "No, I want a dress!" - "But you have about ten dresses. You need pants!" - "But I don't have a purple dress!!"

Flawless logic. Who needs pants when you don't have a purple dress yet.