Clothing

The Delphine

Categories Clothing, Sewing12 Comments on The Delphine

As I am working my way through the Love At First Stitch book from Tilly & the Buttons, my next project was to be the Delphine skirt. The skirt is a simple a-line skirt with a certain amount of structure. I chose to use some fabric that I had found at an estate sale; very cheap as I got the full box of fabric for $5. I can’t even describe this fabric because I’m RUBBISH at recognising fabrics. All I can tell you is that it is woven, quite thick and makes my scissors fluffy!

I set out cutting the material and it worked perfectly with the small amount of fabric that I had. I just had enough interfacing left to use too. I cut a size 5 for this, despite my hip measurement being closer to a 4. I thought it would be better to match the pattern to my waist as that is where the fastening would sit. I was really impressed with how the skirt came together to start with. Overlocking was a breeze and it resembled a skirt very quickly *happy dance*.  I inserted an invisible zip and it was invisible! My last attempt at inserting an invisible zip was successful as the zip looked fabulous, it just wasn’t invisible. I concentrated more this time and managed to do it using only a normal zipper foot.

Delphine Skirt

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The Dress That Almost Wasn’t Blogged About… & a Tilly Brigitte Scarf

Categories Clothing, Sewing19 Comments on The Dress That Almost Wasn’t Blogged About… & a Tilly Brigitte Scarf

Back in November I made a dress from my vintage stash using this pattern. It’s the Simplicity 8541 from back in 1969…I could have submitted it for the 2014 vintage pledge but I didn’t.

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This was my first time using a polyester knit for a garment and it just didn’t go smoothly. I couldn’t get the collar to sit right, the pleat had disappeared and it was too tight. It was put into the cupboard and forgotten about. However, I got it out to try on earlier this week as I wanted to use the left over material for something else I had in mind. I put it on and then wondered what I had been fussing about when I made it. The collar isn’t a disaster, it’s ok and it wasn’t as tight as I remembered it being! So here I am today, blogging about it!

Continue reading ➞ The Dress That Almost Wasn’t Blogged About… & a Tilly Brigitte Scarf

Something for me :-)

Categories Clothing, Sewing12 Comments on Something for me :-)

A lot of my sewing at the moment hasn’t been for me.  I haven’t made a garment for myself since the vintage dresses and the vintage pledge I made back in August!  I bought quite a few vintage patterns to have a go at but unfortunately other projects have taken over and they have been sat in a drawer for a while.  I have decided that I would like to make something for myself once per week.  Last week I made the cute little bag, but it doesn’t really fit into the ‘clothing’ category!

The pattern that I pulled out this week was the Simplicity 8830, published in 1970.  A simple one for the vintage pattern pledge!  The trousers and skirt don’t really appeal to me that much but I liked the look of the floaty v-neck top.  This pattern is a size 12.  According to the measurements on the pattern, I would need a size 16.  However, when I made the last vintage pattern bigger to suit my measurements, it actually turned out to be far too big.  I took a risk with this one and made a straight cut size 12 without any pattern adjusting :-/

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Loosely Linked Halloween Sewing

Categories Clothing, Sewing7 Comments on Loosely Linked Halloween Sewing

One of the first items of clothing I made in Alabama were these pyjama shorts for Adam.  Adam chose a ‘Day of the Dead’ themed fabric; I made the shorts and he loves them.  I’m not really sure why we both have such an attraction to Day of the Dead themed things and sugar skulls.  The patterns can be so intricate and I like the fact that something that can be so sombre is made into a celebration.  One day, I would like to travel to Mexico and take part in the celebration, which happens over October 31st and the beginning of November.

Anyway, we found some more fabric that was heavily printed with sugar skulls.  We both loved it even though it was more expensive at $9.99 per yard.  This time Adam requested some long pyjama bottoms and a matching top.  I bought 2.5 yards which just covered the bottoms due to the direction of the print, something that I never really thought about when purchasing.  This means that the shirt will be made at a later date, possibly when I get a coupon for Joann’s.  This is the pattern that I used for these pyjamas.  I didn’t pay full price for it either… I used a coupon!

pattern packet for pyjamas

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The Tale of the Short Sleeved Shirt

Categories Clothing, Sewing20 Comments on The Tale of the Short Sleeved Shirt

When fabric shopping last week, Adam found some burgundy cotton, scattered with small golden stars.  He asked if I would make him a shirt and of course, I agreed as long as he could find me a pattern.  So he did.  He chose a New Look pattern that had an option for a shirt for both of us.  I must admit that I was a little scared of the thought of making something that wasn’t clothing for me.  I couldn’t try  it on half way through and I knew that it had to be as close to perfect as possible as I know how fussy Adam can be with his clothes.

This was the first pattern where I had traced elements rather than cutting it all out to the size needed.  I used freezer paper to trace and it is nice to know that I have that pre-cut pattern now to use again.  Even if it did take an extra hour to trace and cut :-/

I made a few alterations to the instructions as it called for interfacing within the collar and under the shirt front.  I didn’t have any  so just went for a facing in the same material, which turned out to be just right and wasn’t too thick!  The body of the shirt came together perfectly and the facings were relatively easy to attach too.  The collar confused me loads and the instructions weren’t very clear; the pictures didn’t really help either.  I attached it and just hoped I had done it right!  It turned out fine but it seemed a very long winded way to attach a collar!  I also ended up catching a tiny bit of the facing in the collar seam….ggggrrrr!  Adam didn’t notice though!

Continue reading ➞ The Tale of the Short Sleeved Shirt