Tutorial: Visualising Fabric on Patterns - Part One (Photoshop)

Reblogged from the curious kiwi:

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I was hoping to share some sewing with you today but I had a bit of a crazy weekend. I’ll share more of that with you later but for now, here’s what I was working on most of Saturday.

I posted recently about my NERDY stash busting using Evernote. Several sharp-eyed seamstresses noticed that in my examples I had included images showing my selected fabrics with the pattern line drawing.

Read more… 2,806 more words

What a great idea to match your patterns with the fabric you've already got! Go have a look for more interesting facts about sewing on http://thecuriouskiwi.wordpress.com blog

Something different – Modpoge project

I’ve been experimenting with modpoge.  I know I’ve set up this blog to be about  sewing, but I’ve tried something new and i wanted to share it with you.

While looking around the Pintrest community  for DIY and Crafts I’ve seen so many projects that use Modpoge to make an array of things. So I had to give it a go, once I’ve found a recipe for it. I was not to pay a little fortune when all you need is some school glue and water.

I’ve started with a boring desk, that I felt was in need of a bit of TLC.

Anita had  an old Anne Stokes dragon calendar, that was very similar to  mine for the current year, which she generously gave it to me  to have a go at this .

I first cut all the pages and selected the ones I wanted on my desk and put them  in their final position. I’ve taken pictures to make sure I’ll remember where I wanted each  of the pictures to  be.

Then I’ve started modpoge-ing  away. It’s not perfect, but not bad for a first try. Don’t  you  think?

After this one, I’ll be using modpoge to update some more thinks. You can use it on anything. You  can used paper or wallpaper or even fabric.

LiveJournal Tags: modepoge,pinterest

Shirt refashion from BurdaStyle May 2012

A friend of mine gave me some of his un-wanted shirts that I’m recycling into new garments.

First one looks like this one (Forgot to take some pictures of it before I’ve deconstructed it). And I’ve chosen to make a variation on the pattern 109 from June 2012 issue of BurdaStyle

 

I did intend to make it the same as in the magazine but I did not have big enough pieces, so I went for a shorter version.  Also I’ve used for the ties black cotton and lace instead of the embroidered appliqué.

I used the front of the shirt for the back. I stitched it matching centre lines and added buttons. I wanted to keep the pocked as well to  give a false impression that  the back is the front if looking at the back, but there was not enough fabric for the neck line which needed to be gathered so, I had to  turn the whole thing upside down and use the top for the bottom of the blouse and cut it  at about 15 cm from  the bottom. The hem would have looked weird, otherwise .

Guess what! Someone discovered how easy it is to use the button food on the sewing machine. I cannot believe I have done it manually for so long. Shame on me .

The  instructions are not so great but with a bit of help form Anita I’ve figured the out and made this lovely top .

I’m getting better at using my rolled hem foot as well. I’ve finished the edged of the lave before I’ve added to the blouse. In my  case I’ve done it from top to bottom, not just part of it as it was pretty short  any way.

Finally I’ve made something from the Burdastyle magazine before the next one is due. I have to be a bit more ambitious about it! If I get them, i have to use them. Gee I wish I’d keep up with my speed of buying them. I’ve got the same problem with fabric buying.

Do you  have the same problem? Are you buying to much fabric? How big is your stash? Mine is so big I’ve run out of space and I’m keeping it all over the place in the house.

Good thing that  my husband does not not read the blog, and doesn’t  realise how bad I am when it comes to sewing  stuff I buy.

LiveJournal Tags: BurdaStyle,refashion,recycle,lace,top,button foot

Lisette 2209 jacket and dress – review

So, I finally got round to it.

Pattern:

I have got mine  for free from the Sew Magazine February 2012 issue. However, you  can buy yours in the UK  from: http://www.habithat.co.uk/,http://www.jaycotts.co.uk or http://www.sewingworld.co.uk and in US of course the http://www.simplicity.com

Description:

Misses’ dress and jacket combination from the Lisette collection sold by Simplicity.

Overall description:

The pattern offers two versions for the dress (one fabric design or two –one for the bodice and another for the skirt), and the same for the jacket (one version with ruffled collar and one without). Also you  have to option to add pockets to the jacket or not.

For my dress I chose one fabric version and for the jacket I chose to go with the un-ruffled collar.

Materials and notions:

As I did not have enough floral printed cotton fabric to make the jacket/or the dress as a matter of fact, I had to think about mixing fabrics and textures. So I’ve ended up picking some corduroy for the jacket collar  and facing as well as the welt for the pockets. I love pockets on everything, so I’m always including them.  What’s missing from  this picture is the button. I only chose it at the end, once the jacket was ready.

for the dress another flowery cotton. but this time I’ve used the left over fabric from the jacket to make the facings for the neck. Also I needed a zipper and I’ve used red bias tape for the armhole and hem (both of which – zipper and bias tap not on the picture).

Written instructions:

I found the instructions easy to follow. they are accompanied like all the Simplicity patterns by diagrams to help you understand better the instructions. My pattern version which is for sizes 14 – 22 or EU 40 – 48 comes with Spanish instructions as well. However, you  do not really need the instructions if you  already know about garment construction. That’s so easy to make.

Construction Notes:

  I’ve made the jacket first, and then the dress.

 

No major changed from the instructions that come with the pattern, so not much to talk about. The only thing that I had to fiddle with was the facing where the button loop was placed as i needed to be careful not to  mess it up. The rest: EASY!

The dress, well the pattern shows one piece, I’ve cut it in half and used it on fold! I just needed to make sure I’ve copied all the pleat lines for the front. The rest was easy peasy!  

The only major thing here was to cut about 15 cm from the hem as it was too long and looked old fashioned.

Conclusion

Over all I love both the dress and the jacket. they are easy to  wear and the Jacked already has been worn a few times. Will be a great combination for the summer.

Will I make it again? Definitely!!!. i already promised my mum a jacket. Will need to make some adjustments though. I’ll make the dress again  as well but will use two types of fabric to emphasise the bodice. It gets lost otherwise; hence the big red belt.

It is a great project for novices.

LiveJournal Tags: Lisette,dress,jacket,welt,pocket,pattern review

Fresh Sewing day or small blog meet

When I woke up today and been surfing around on my android phone I came across Shakey Stitches’s blog http://shakeystitches.blogspot.co.uk/ from 1 May 2012, when she was taking about a small blog meet.

It seems the lovely lady at Lily’s Quilts came up with a great idea to get links to small blogs – with less than 50 followers – to  get to  know more people and possbilly make new friends  that are interested in the same – sewing .

So I’ve decided to have a look and add her button to my blog!

Now I’m off to add my link to her blog and to visit the ones already there!

See you  later