An unusual start

 If you’ve followed my blog in the past, you will know that I often do things my way and don’t follow instructions. The same is true for the order of construction. This time I started with the sleeves instead of the body of the jacket. No logical sewing reason, just that I had limited sewing time and postponed working on the inner construction of the body. For that I want real dedicated time. 

For the jacket I chose the less complicated route. I’ll remember the petite jacket for another time and have chosen the May 2006 jacket:

For spring/summer jackets I like 3/4 sleeves. This pattern has those with this nice curved hemline. Buttons will be attached later. 

Some of the inner construction visible here. The facing is interfaced with a thin fusible interfacing. After applying that I marked the stitch lines with carbon tracing paper. 

The curve is trimmed with pinking scissors to make the curve smooth. 

I trim the corners to minimise bulk. 

Next step will be sewing the front with a shoulder shield/placket. 

Rosie shirt

Tonight I played pattern tetris to get a jacket and trousers out of my fabric. The fabric is narrower than usual but I think it works. Pinned all the pieces to the fabric and as it’s getting late here I decided to wait with cutting. Better check tomorrow whether I have every piece and cut with a clear head.

In the meantime let me show you a blouse I finished only very recently. It’s the Rosie shirt from Bella loves patterns. The first time I use a pattern from her and it doesn’t disappoint. Well drafted and good, thorough instructions with a lot of photos. I wouldn’t be me if I would have followed them all as written ;).

The instructions make the collar as if it were a coat. Way too complicated imho, so I made sure the upper collar has a bit more fabric to adjust for turn of cloth and sewed the collar in between the front and the facing. At the back I used a bias binding for the edge, a cute detail that’s just for my own pleasure. 

The linen is a bit too stiff probably, I hope it gets a bit more drape over time.

 

Old Burda magazines, I love them

Thank you for the lovely comments and kind words on my blogging again. I can’t say how much it means to me that you read this after all the time I neglected this blog. 

The green suit I plan to make is not yet cut, I’m considering two jacket patterns and can’t decide yet. Let me share the options.

First the pattern that was my initial plan, until I realised that it was a ‘petite’ pattern for shorter women. It is from rhe February 2006 issue. I browsed all of my magazines (and I have a lot) to look for a similar shape for the sleeve but the only pattern that was close was a petite pattern too! 

  

If I would choose this pattern I must make changes I’m not too sure about. A muslin would be a first step. 

The other jacket is this one, from the May 2006 issue:

  

Both have 3/4 sleeves that I like but this one has a different style. It is in regular sizes. I know what to change for my figure on this one, Burda being consistent in drafting makes that easier. I love Burda patterns for that. And I love the older magazines better than the current ones, though there is improvement at the moment. There were so many repeat patterns and simple designs! 

This is my favourite trouser pattern right now, from a 2000 issue! I made it twice in the last month, adapting length and width a bit between the two. Will try to make photos of them and planning to use it for the green suit too  

Opening a door?

Not a new dress but one I’m quite happy with and looking forward to wearing it again this summer. Thought it’s a nice photo to say hello again. 

I stumbled upon Bloglovin for the first time in a very long time and found more blogs publishing (again) than I knew. 

I’ve been away again without meaning to. I posted a bit on Instagram but it never was the community the sewing blogs had. It might be time to revive my blog too. 

A few things have changed for me: I retired from my work in IT this year, which gives me more time for sewing and other hobbies. I started teaching sewing 5 years ago and continue doing so.  It’s really nice to be able to share the joy of sewing that way. 

Also I have started to make bag/organiser patterns and sell those in digital form and as paper patterns (the last only in a few shops in my country). I’m planning to use this blog mostly for the garment sewing I do and sharing the process, something that I like to read about myself. 

Next up: A green suit  from a beautiful linen.

Sewing for my daughter

About two weeks ago my daughter asked me whether I had any special plans for this weekend and on my answer that I had nothing planned she asked me whether I liked to have a sewing weekend. She wanted to sew together, so that she would get back in the groove of sewing and could get a little help. What does a mother say to such a request? For me it's a very rhetorical question. Of course I would like that. So that's what we did this weekend, sewing together. We even found time for some baking. Confess that my DH was a little neglected this weekend 😉. 

The tally is 5 tops and one pair of trousers altered! Easy patterns, most of them used before, all but one using the same colour thread which reduced time needed for changing thread on three machines (sewing machine, overlocker and coverstitch). I made her a couple of tops (after 50 years of sewing I can sew pretty fast if I want to, usually take my time though) and my daughter traced and made one top on her own. 

First is a top with layers from Ottobre 2/2014 with layers at the front. Rolled hems on the layer pieces.This was the most important piece as it is needed in two weeks time for a wedding she'll attend, but not difficult. 

Number two and three: t-shirts. On the left an Ottobre pattern I used before but changed a bit for the look she wanted this time (a bit wider, short sleeves a bit wider too than the original version). On the right the Bobbie pattern by Jalie, for which I made a curve to the armholes and added a cuff. Based on a photo of a shirt she liked.

  

Shirt 4 is the same Ottobre pattern, but then in original width of body and sleeves:

Last but not least the top my daughter made completely by herself, using a Burda pattern:

I'm proud of her doing this on her own. She asked a few things, but I only had to confirm that her way of thinking or doing something was correct. 

Finishing off with one sewing detail I'm pretty chuffed about: a v-neck topstitching done on my coverstitch. 

Needless to say my daughter went home happy. It was a lovely weekend, today the weather was especially good for sewing (cold and grey where I live). Back to work and household chores now. And of course thinking about the next project for myself! I already got a dress finished I want to show you, so stay tuned!

Burda blouse, April 2021

It's been again quite a long time since I posted. I won't bother you with the details, I'm well but illness and mourning has been part of the past months. 

Now it's time to get back to some sewing. A relatively easy blouse from Burda April 2021. 

A good preparation for when spring will finally arrive, it's been cold, raining and storming most of March here. I look forward to wearing this blouse.

I made this blouse before, in March last year and loved to wear it. So when I was looking for something to make from this fabric I remembered this pattern and as it was already traced and ready to use an easy choice. I had only about 1.20 meter as I bought it with the intention of making a short sleeved blouse. The facing has a seam as it couldn't be cut twice from that length in that amount of fabric. The little tricks we use to make a fabric work!

Below my first version of this blouse.

Podcast interview

In December Maria from @SewOrganisedStyle asked me to talk to her about the fake Instagram account that was made with my name and to talk about my sewing history and what I like to make. It was so lovely talking to Maria! 

The podcast was published today and if you would like to hear the story, here's where to find it:

Sew Organised Style website

On YouTube with some photos (no video)

She has some great interviews with other dressmakers too. Enjoy!