The Facts

• Fabric: brown and teal cotton/wool? suiting (stash) and sumptuous and a little stretchy cloudy blue synthetic (stash, pretty sure it was red tag when I bought it)
• Pattern: Simplicity 1863 (borrowed from friend Valerie who got it free from a theatre company)
• Year: early 1930s
• Notions: thread (stash), elastic (stash), belting (stash), seam binding (stash)
• First worn: for photos on DATE (real first wearing will be January 6th)
• Wear again?: Absolutely!
• Total price: $0

Admittedly this outfit was not exactly constructed for Christmas or New Year’s, but it was made for an upcoming special occasion, sort of a nice cap to the holiday season. In mid-December I received an invitation from one Lady Valerie, addressed to Lady Erin, to join her and several other “ladies” at the wedding of Matthew Crawley and Mary Crawley. Naturally, I accepted the invitation and set about thinking of what I might wear to this delightful affair. (To you lucky Brits, recall that we poor Americans are subjected to an agonizing wait when it comes to the continuing saga of Downton Abbey and do not, under pain of death, give us any hint of what happens in the third season in your comments. You have been warned.)

Though season 3 of Downton begins in the early 1920s, I had been meaning to make up this pattern so many times (the Academy Awards challenge as an homage to Gosford Park, another Julian Fellows creation; the TV challenge for Downton; and several times last year) and I finally felt I had the right fabric chosen and the right fancy-ish event (one I’d had all along, of course). Lady Valerie’s invitation required her guests to wear appropriate attire and hats (I’ll have to see what I can do about the hat before the event), and I certainly did not want to disgrace myself by showing up in something dowdy. And anyway, tailored skirts and feminine blouses featured heavily in the first couple seasons, so I felt it was in the right spirit. Plus, I’d borrowed this pattern from Valerie almost two years ago! How fun it would be to hand it to her while wearing it.

I have always thought of the stark beauty of January in terms of white, cream, icy blue, and grays punctuated by the bare, dark brown trees, so this ensemble really says January to me. I’m still working strictly with stash here (and I think I deserve a little applause for having kept my stash-only vow for the entirety of 2012 with absolutely no slip-ups, cheating, or backsliding) and I’m happy I’m still finding things that match. I’m pretty sure that you will find me at Jo-Ann’s, buried in fabric, laughing maniacally–maybe crying a little–as I break my fast on January 2nd (my 33rd birthday).

Tallying up the damage in 2012, I have spent less than $150 on notions and made 50 separate items this year (a few items were made with fabric paid for by someone else and then handed over to said person upon completion). That’s an average of $3 an item. I blame the incessant need for zippers. Not bad, though. Especially when you consider I would normally take less than a month to spend that on fabric alone in years past.

The fabric for the skirt is one I bought at the same time I got the teal wool for this skirt, thinking I’d make it into a jacket. But at that point I must have never made a jacket or anything with plaid, because there was certainly not enough yardage to get all the pieces one needs for a jacket and still match plaids. So, it is a skirt and I love it! I cut the front panel on the bias to add a little pizzazz.

And now I shall escape to the English countryside for more drama at the great house with its romance, tragedy, and drool-inducing costumes. Cheerio, all! And may 2013 be your best sewing year yet!

I know this picture is a bit grainy but it really is the best I could do. I am in Texas visiting my family. If not for my husband I would have forgotten all about taking pictures and writing my last post of 2012.

I remembered to bring the pants with me but completely forgot to write down the pattern number. It’s a really simple pattern with a double elastic waistband and double elastic around the bottom as well. I like them a lot and think I’ll wear them quite a bit to work and out and about once it gets warmer. The fabric is another flowy poly blend that does not press very well.

Well, this is it. I will miss you all. When I started Sew Weekly I was afraid I wouldn’t find a place in the community. That maybe my sewing skills weren’t good enough.  I hadn’t really sewn in a long time and never thought myself very good. With your love and support I have grown so much. There is so much I want to say but don’t have the brain power at the moment.

Thank you all! Please keep in touch.

Gina

The Facts
Fabric: 1/2 yard organic fleece from Brooklyn General and wool scraps from last week
Pattern: Woodland Elf hat from Bend the Rules Sewing and Ear Flap hat from Mailorder #4, both by Amy Karol
Year: 2007
Notions: plaid bias tape from Purl Soho, button, scrap of red felted wool, all from stash
First worn: in Germany all this week
Wear again: already have
Time to complete: about an hour and a half per hat
Total cost: about $8 ($4 per hat)

I made the elf hat for Fenna before when she was very small.  She hated it.  A couple years later she changed her mind.  So it goes.  This time I added 1/4 inch to all the edges to make it a little bigger.  Now it’s a bit too big– I can wear it.  Next time I would change the shape to elongate the top and bring it in closer around the face.  I lined it with the same fleece you can see on my hat and stitched in the ditch up the long side seams to keep everything in place.  The bias tape I used to enclose the front edge and for the ties.  The red wool for the flower is actually a scrap from the first elf hat.  I wanted to do similar embellishment on my hat with the same materials, but I finished constructing it five minutes before we left for the airport.

So mine was very hastily put together.  I wasn’t sure how the style would suit me.  I love how ear flap hats look, especially chunky furry ones, but they never look good on me.  This version is relatively sleek and I think it’s a go.  I’d like to make it again with the crown a touch deeper and some other refinements.  Working on these, I remembered how much I enjoy making hats and have vowed to make at least one every season.

Photos were taken right after we missed our train from Emden to Oldenburg to visit the idyllic outdoor Christmas market with friends.  Yes, that is a light dusting of snow on the tracks.  We got there eventually, and I drank too much Gluehwein.  This is my last post and I’m tearing up.  Thank you sincerely for a wonderful year, ladies.  I’ve come a long way and I owe everything to the inspiration, information, and kindness I’ve found here.  Happy New Year!

Let’s play Where’s Wally.

Happy holidays indeed, I have a minute to write this post then shoot out the door and road-trip it to Mum and Dad’s for Christmas so, by the time you read it I’ll be lounging around with a belly full of mums most excellent homemade Christmas pudding. This weeks dress was inspired by one of my favourite Australian labels Romance Was Born, I instantly fell in love with their tank dresses. Simple to make with a graphic explosion to the eyes. Look at this gem.

I thought i’d have a go at making one for myself. I found this smashing graphic print from Australian textile designers Wenzel which I thought would fit the brief perfectly. This is a Spotlight purchase,  they have really lifted their game, their range of fabrics are getting better and better, they must have a new buyer or something it’s always exciting for a fabricholic like me to walk in and see the shiny new stuff laying there for me to stroke and buy.

The construction was fairly easy, I just cut to my measurements flaring the shoulders a little to look a little like this Hero Dress.

A lovely royal blue low-sheen satin for the back piece adds a bit of contrast, it breaks the graphic up a little don’t you think? Even vertical black and white stripes would look good. With the neckline, I cut a bias strip from the blue satin and sewed this on from the inside turning over and pressing under then sewing down. All seams are serged and the sleeves and hem turned under. Very simple.

I have worn this a lot already it’s really really comfortable, another perfect addition to my Summer wardrobe. I’m on the look-out for other fabrics that can be sewn up into tank dresses. My next dress I’ll do actual sleeves and maybe a rounded hem and wear it with my black army boots on the cooler days.

So there is one more challenge? I’ll see you next week for the finale? what a year hey? I started putting together my final post for the year and got a little melancholic thinking about The End and at the same time I was very excited and proud to see everything I had achieved this year. Anyway, I’ll leave my goodbyes for next weeks post.

Hope you have/had a wonderful and festive Christmas, stay safe xx

Sewn to the soundtrack of Desmond Dekker – Israelites

The Facts

Fabric | Silky Satin

Pattern | Self drafted

Year | 2012

Notions | zero

Time to complete | 2hours

First worn | for the photos

Wear again? yes

Total price |$20

• The Facts:
• Pattern:  Simplicity 8498
• Fabric:  quilting type cotton from 1993
• Year:  1969
• Notions:  huge separating zipper, hem facing tape
• Time to complete:  I’m going to make up a number and say 5 hours because I didn’t keep track.
• Make again:  Yes, in a better quality fabric
• Total cost:  ?????? I bought the fabric and crazy zipper back in the ’90s, so it could be anywhere between $5-$20.  The pattern was 69 cents from Village des Valeurs

I’m going to slap this post together quickly because I’m not sure if it will get published to The Sew Weekly or not, but if it does, Happy New Year to everyone!

This dress was part of an extremely casual sew along between Tanit-Isis, Nettie and I. We discovered that we had all gotten the same pattern around the same time, and we were wondering how the same pattern would look on three different bodies, in three different fabrics.  Take a look here and here for their  beauties.

Of course I was the last to finish, and after seeing T’s gorgeous full length gold gown and N’s perfectly fitted wool jumper, I was all the more squeamish to show off this quilting cotton quickie.  Well, to be honest, it wasn’t a quickie because as it turned out, THE PATTERN WAS MISSING THE INSTRUCTIONS!  I’m sure I saw them at one point, but a thorough clean up of my sewing area didn’t turn up the missing sheet, so I may have imagined it.

It was pretty easy to put together even without the instructions, although I did go through my usual littany of alterations:  add 4cm to middle back, lower the bust darts 1.5cm,add 5cm for the hips, shorten hem by 10cm.  All that added up to a pretty good fit, except that I forgot to raise the armscye, which resulted in this:

(please excuse the bathroom mirror photo. I’d been sledding all afternoon in -10C weather, so I was in no shape to make much effort)

Off came the sleeve and out came the bias binding, and a sleeveless shift was born.  I’ve been making more than my fair share of this shape in 2012, so my aim for 2013 is to branch out a little and try some new silhouettes.

I am pretty happy with the placement of those unusual bust darts / underbust seaming combo.

I even like my weirdo huge exposed separating zipper – it was the only red zip I had in my stash and I thought what the hell.

You may be able to see where I had fisheye darts in the back that I picked out.  I didn’t like the placement, but now that I see photos of my rear, I can see that I need some kind of shaping back there.  To be addressed very soon.

And a post wouldn’t be complete without my usual outtakes.

The Facts
Fabric: Gold Brocade
Pattern: Butterick 6582 and Vogue 1137
Notions: A zipper…that’s it, just a zipper!
Year: 1960
Time to complete: 3 1/2  hours
First worn: December 2012
Wear again? Yes, on New Years Eve : )

Total Cost: Dress $21.19, Coat is from Christmas challenge

Since I’m not sure if we’re doing one final challenge of the year I figured I might as well! After all, can you wear the same dress for Christmas and New Years? I think not : )

I was originally inspired by this purse:

It was in the collection of my costumer friend that died earlier this year. It just SCREAMS party, don’t you think?

I thought it would go nicely with the 1960′s gold convertible Cadillac that the gentleman with the 1940 Packard has. Unfortunately with the craziness of the holidays we couldn’t connect to do photos but we will soon… : )

But since this is so much amazing gold-ness I thought it deserved a dress with MORE gold to it and here we are!

Since the car was unavailable I decided to set up my dining room early for New Years dinner. I think between my dress, the purse and the table setting there is sufficient glitter for a party : )

I am also wearing the coat from last week, I’ve reversed it so the lining shows and the burgundy is on the inside. It does indeed reverse and looks pretty good. Whodda thought??

The pattern went together quite easily. The only thing I changed about it was fully lining it since those gold threads ITCH. I also used the “inside” of the fabric instead of the “right” side. I didn’t care for the yellow tint to the satin, not my best color, but the “wrong” side looks pretty good AND is sparklier. Yes, sparklier is a word : )

I’ve also got on enough sparkly jewelry to make a drag queen happy. I know this for a fact since I bought the necklace at a well known drag store in the Haight some years ago. The earrings and bracelets are new additions to my collection thanks to H&M’s after Christmas sales. Buy one, get one free. Love that!

Since I did this all at the last minute I didn’t have time to track down a photographer so once again I’m using the timer feature on my camera. I’m getting pretty good at this I think : )

Just for fun I’m including an outtake for Vicki -

Not the best shot of me but can you see Miss Amelia in the lower left corner?

Have a WONDERFUL 2013 everyone!! I hope you stop by my blog to say “Hi” every now and then. Drop me a note and I’ll stop by to see you as well : ) I have made so many new friendships this year, it has been truly amazing. I want to thank Mena for allowing me to come play. And thanks to each and every one of you who left me a comment. You don’t know how much I was surprised and delighted each week. It was truly incredible.

If you ever get out my way drop me a note and we’ll get together for tea or hot chocolate. By the time you read this I’ll have (hopefully!) met Djamila from Berlin. And I’m going to host a few sew-alongs this year if you’d like to join in : ) First up will be doing something in the style of Gina Clark. You MUST stop by!!

Again, thank you all SO MUCH!!!!

The Facts

Fabric: 5.5yds All That Glitters Red & Black Scroll Flocked Taffeta $35.70 (£22.15). I actually bought way too much in the sale so will be able to make something matchy matchy with the remainder next year.
Pattern: Sort of frankensteined from Simplicity 2444 and Vogue 2902 and things I’ve learnt during the year.
Year: Contemporary/retro.
Notions: Zip $0.99 (£0.62), thread.
Time to complete:  20 hours.
First worn:  31st December 2012 (me, last minute?)

Wear again? Yes, whenever I get the chance and don’t feel like death warmed up.

Total Cost: $36.69 (£22.77)

The challenge: “Happy Holidays Dec 31″

Ok, I lie….the crown is one. Can you count a crown as a ‘garment’? I made it as part of the Diamond Jubilee challenge outfit….from a Butterick sewing pattern….I even sewed some of it….so I’m going to call it an honorary garment. And anyway I need it to make my end of year stats chart true:

I like numbers, but pictures are good too:

But anyway, back to the final frock of the year, and a glimpse into my closet…..which now seriously needs a clear out and New Year’s tidy:

I saw a dress in a Harpers Bazaar magazine earlier in the year, Salma Hayek was wearing in a stable, brandishing a riding crop. It was a beautiful red evening dress with black velvet flocking….not too dissimilar to this fabric, a larger pattern but this is near enough for me. And this dress is made copying my previous favourite dress of the year, my Papa Was a Roaming Gnome polka dot dress. I just finally managed to perfect the fit on the bodice this time…the Gnome dress is a little tight, I have to sit up properly and breathe in to make it comfortable….this dress was comfortable from the putting on.

Which is useful, because currently I feel awful. Like death warmed up. Do you know how when you stop the whole world catches up with you? Well, I stopped for Christmas Eve through until Boxing Day…..and a minor cold I’d been coping with got to my lungs  and wreaked havoc with my asthma. So in these photos I’m actually feeling a bit pooey….and I haven’t bothered to put a full circle petticoat on.

What a delightful photo of me coughing my guts up.

So do you know what I’m going to do this next week? This first week of 2013? I going to sleep, and when I’m not sleeping I’m going to sit on the settee and eat chocolates and watch tatty television. I possibly, only possibly….if I get bored with doing glorious nothingness…..I might open my present from Father Christmas (and my family, and my parents and my parents-in-law…..thank you all very very much) my first ever serger/overlocker. I’m ever so excited about it. I reckon it’s going to half my sewing speed for garments in the future.

But that’s for later in 2013. Before then I have to catch up on curtains for Melchett, my youngest, finishing off decorating my bathroom, and spreading colour throughout the rest of my house (it’s typical Arizona latte brown throughout and you know I’m slightly partial to more exciting colours than that), fixing my flush on the downstairs toilet and other delights I’ve been putting off until the 52 weeks of the 2012 Sew Weekly challenge were finally over.

But worry yourselves not…..I will be carrying on creating costumes and garments galore next year. I hope to be a much bigger part of the Sew Weekly Community (I’m so sorry I haven’t had time this year to contribute to the discussions and commenting on the wonderful creations that you’re all making that don’t get enough limelight) and as I plan to make quite a few bigger projects (suits, I want to perfect suits……and there WILL be a Bowie sew-a-long some time during 2013), you can catch up on my progress and other general ponderings on my blog fanbloomingtastic.com

Until then can I repeat my thanks I’ve been saying for several weeks now – THANK YOU MENA! Thank you for coming up with this wonderful adventure in the first place…..I’ve learnt more than I could ever have imagined and tried making styles I wouldn’t have tried without the prompting of the weekly challenges. Thank you to my wonderful family for putting up with me and my moments of “I can’t do it, I can’t go on. It’s all gone wrong. I’ve broken my machine forever. Etc” I love you all so much. Ok, I’m gushing now and that means I’m going to need my inhaler in a moment, so I’ll shut up and wish you all an exciting 2013. Reach for that dream, dream big and love one another!

The Facts

Fabric: From stash, originally from Croft Mill – about a couple of pounds per metre at the time. Used one and a bit metres.
Pattern: Self-drafted, drew round an existing apron.
Notions: Thread from stash.
Year: 2012.
First worn: Lots of times over the Christmas holidays by its recipient!
Wear Again: I’m sure it will!

Challenge No.12 for this year – so it’s been one project each month for me! I had hoped to have finished a red wool shift dress by Victory Patterns, but that was not to be … another week or so for that one. I made this as a Christmas present, for a man, and I managed to find some chef type fabric. The diamond pattern made it perfect for lining up hems and seam allowances, as well as allowing for perfect pocket positioning. I made extra long ties which cross around at the back and tie in the front rather than a bow at the back. I used to make these to sell and I’ve since had an order for another one!

I’ve been finding it quite a challenge to balance sewing with my knitting this year. Here’s one of the knitting projects I also managed to finish.

It”s a cushion done as part of the cultural Olympiad and was presented to an olympic athlete – I don’t know which one unfortunately. One of the highlights of this year! I wonder what the new one will bring ….

Happy New Year Everyone!

I like to make myself a birthday dress each year, and with time running out, I decided to give myself a break and head-start.  Because everything was cut, I saved myself quite a bit of time.  And there was absolutely no angst about choosing a fabric and pattern – everything was already done for me.

Which brings me to the fabric.  I fell in love with the geometric design on fabric.com as soon as I saw it.  It is a bit out of my comfort zone, but the colors were too pretty to pass up.  But then there was the issue of what to do with it.  I wanted something long to make the most of the linear pattern.

And then I remembered Simplicity 5876.

I attended the Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance exhibition at the DeYoung Museum on my birthday and thought it would be the perfect dress for the occasion.  A stranger even asked if I was a dancer!  Ha-ha – my ridiculous posture has its perks!

• The Facts

⁃ Fabric:  Rayon Challis

⁃ Pattern:  Simplicity 5876

⁃ Year: 2002 (1930s vintage repro?)

⁃ Notions:  Seam Binding; 12” zipper; buttons

⁃ Time to complete:  3-4 days

⁃ First worn:  December 28, 2012

⁃ Wear again?  Yes!

⁃ Total price:   ~ $30.00

The Facts

• Fabric: red cut-away jersey (gift!)
• Pattern: Kirsten Kimono Tee from Maria Denmark
• Year: 2012?
• Notions: thread (stash)
• First worn: December 24, 2012
• Wear again?: Yes! I love it!
• Total price: $0

I’m back! (Sort of.) I have not fallen off the face of the earth, but writing, editing, developing a writing conference session, Christmas parties madness, a few days of sickness, teaching sewing, and living the rest of real life have kept me too busy. I can tell you I am nearly done with my last project for the year, and I think it will be very special! Just waiting on some buckles to come in the mail.

I had thought that all I would have to post this week would be the little dresses I’ve made for my nieces for Christmas. But then on Sunday the 23rd I received one yard of an awesome cut-away red knit that I saw in the red tag area at Jo-Ann’s. I got it from my young friend Timia, whom I have been teaching to sew the past several weeks. Timia finished her first skirt on Saturday. It was when we were shopping for her fabric in November that I saw the red knit. I hid it below some hideous navy vinyl and hoped there would still be enough on the bolt in January when I could break my fabric-buying fast. Well, Timia remembered it and bought me a yard of it as a thank you/Christmas gift. What a sweetheart.

So here’s the shirt I whipped up in less than half an hour on Sunday afternoon, using the same pattern as I did for the white stripes tee.

And here’s what I had planned to post about originally…

The Facts

• Fabric: cotton quilting scraps, scrap lace (stash)
• Pattern: McCall’s 6006
• Year: 2009
• Notions: thread (stash)
• First worn: Not sure!
• Wear again?: Hope so. :)
• Total price: $0

These little dresses are for my nieces’ dolls. Along with some little store-bought doll shoes, these will be one of their Christmas presents this year. I hope they like them!

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope yours is full of great joy for the incredible gift that was given.