Feeling uncool: the Megan Nielsen Briar

I don't often enter blog competitions. I try to only enter the ones that I really want to win, so I'm not sure why I entered a competition earlier this year on One Little Minute. Well, it was probably to win a fabric voucher :) but I ended up winning the Megan Nielsen Briar t-shirt pattern.

Its been sitting in my sewing space for a while, as I wasn't sure it was the tee for me, but last week I gave it a whirl.

The pattern came together nicely and the fit is pretty good. I made an XS, cutting the length part way between the cropped and longer version.

My main problem with this pattern, is that I just don't feel cool enough to wear this style of tee! I'm starting to feel like I'm getting older. I've really noticed that my clothes are becoming much more conservative or is it just that it's winter?? Regardless, it's not me and that tummy showing is not cool after three kids!! I suppose I should be layering...

So I quickly whipped off the shaped hem and added a Renfrew style band.

Fixed! Well at least enough to wear around the house, as the fabric has a fault running down the grey stripes.

Interestingly, I did try Megan's unusual neckline binding method. It was a little counter intuitive in the beginning, but it worked well and provided a neat finish. It also felt very sturdy and would probably be a good option for a less stable knit with minimal recovery. I used my overlocker to attach the neckband and my only gripe is that it does feel a little bulkier than a standard neckband, but that's OK.

While I'm talking about wearing certain styles of clothes, I've also spend a bit of time this week contemplating making Simplicity 2591 in my new vintage fabric.

While I love a skirt with some volume, I'm wondering if there's a particular age that it's no longer appropriate to wear them. I'll be turning 35 next year and feel like I'm getting too old to wear fuller skirts. I also move in a circle of friends that predominantly wears casual clothes, which often leads me to feel a little over dressed. I really want to make Simplicity 2591, but think I'll end up reducing the volume in the skirt a little, even though it's really not too full.

Anyway, that's enough rambling from me today, but do tell me, is 34 or 35 too old for a fuller skirt dress?

And can you look cool with a high - low hem or just a little odd?

Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair

Today I managed to drag my delightful 3 year old daughter to the Sydney Craft and Quilt show and surprisingly had a great time. Adele liked it and spoke to numerous women about all things crafty, sparkly and sticky and was even well behaved. I also found a few bibs and bobs that I was interested in, which given I don't make quilts, bead or scrapbook, was quite amazing.

The haul:

Vintage polished cotton - over 4m with 90cm selvage - and a vintage kids pattern. I don't know how old this fabric is. It isn't a typical vintage style print, but I love it. It's a true royal blue - much lighter than the photo - and definitely not in my usual colour choice, but I think I can use it. I'm thinking of using the directional print to make Simplicity 2591.

Here's the little girls pattern which I just had to have. I don't normally buy kids vintage patterns, as I am often given them, but I adore this one. Hopefully I'll be able to grade it down for Adele.

I also snapped up this vintage 1957 Australian Home Journal from the same seller.

I adore the draped, red dress on the cover and hope one day to have a play around with the pattern, but even if I don't, I don't mind. Mum and I have spent the day reading and laughing our way through the magazine. I'll have to share some of the hilarious bits with you another time. I have already gotten my value from this buy!

 

I also managed to add to my yarn stash, thanks to Suzy Hausfrau. I really didn't mean to, but this yarn was just so soft and squishy, I felt compelled to bring it home.

I bought a few skeins of the pomegranate and two yellow. Hopefully this will exit the stash as finished items quickly.

One item that was planned and actually happened, was some pre-made bag handles to use with this laminated cotton from Etsy. (I've linked to a similar type).

Looks like Orla Kiely right? I really need a lunch bag for school and might also make a tote for my sis. But again, not sure of timing of this make :)

The last purchase is super sweet, but mum has already predicted it will end up hers in about a year when it sits still unmade.

This is a craft panel from Craft Schmaft to make some super cut hot air balloons. I adore these and seriously hope I'll make them.

So there's my haul from show. Hopefully these purchases won't lurk in my stash and give me the evil eye for too long.

I should also give a shout out to some of my readers that I saw today. I think I blabbed on quite enough about my vintage fabric and patterns. I hope you are still reading after seeing the real, kinda crazy me!

Happy Friday :)

Planning

I love to read the planning posts of other bloggers, so thought I'd share some of my current plans.

As I tend to sew off season, most of these are for summer, but as I learnt earlier this year, sewing ahead of a season is so handy. As soon as the cooler weather struck here in Sydney, I was ready with four pairs of trousers for work. Never is there a morning that I can't find something to wear to school!

First up, the Burda Sweetheart Dress 04/2013 #116

I adore this dress and I think it would look lovely in Liberty Pointillism (pictured below) with a red waistband. It's going to be perfect with sandals in summer.

I also have some lovely, spotty border print voile from The Fabric Store that I think will become a perfect tie neck blouse.

The shade of blue on this fabric is not normally in my wardrobe, but I really love it. I hope it will work.

I also LOVE the Burda Crossover Blazer 06/2012 #121

Don't be surprised if you see this one jump off my blog sooner, rather than later. It's already traced and cut. I'm making it in some black linen look poly/rayon, as I really don't have the time for real linen in my life right now. I'm not making a contrast inner, as I didn't have anything suitable in my stash and I really need a good staple black jacket, so am happier to make something plainer. I've been criticized on this blog before, for my preference to make black clothing. "Where's the colour?" "Why so dark?" But my only black blazer is an el-cheapo ponte one that is starting to pill. It needs to be replaced and I love wearing black.

I think I've mentioned before that I adore Emerson Fry clothes. In their recent range is the Mick pant, which just look like such fun to make.

All of that play with stripes! I also just happened upon a remnant at The Remnant Warehouse of stretch ticking-like fabric that should work a treat for these. I'll have to wait till I'm really in the mood though to draft a pattern for these.

This list is getting long, but I can't help it! I'm also looking forward to playing with the Hot Patterns Riviera Summer Breeze top - the one with the tie side.

I have some stunning purple rayon from Tessuti, but I think I'll make a toile of this before cutting into this lovely, light fabric.

I think that's about all for now. So many plans and so little time - although it is almost school holidays. I'm counting down the days my friends!

Cuppa tea dear??

Are you joining us for the next Sydney Sewing Social? What will you wear? What will I wear? How many sewing projects can we sneak into the American Club, without looking too weird, to ask Sharon or Maria for advice?

I'm soooo looking forward to a whole afternoon without kids bugging me for anything! Heaven help the person who demands sweets before eating their savory food! I might have to set up a time out corner!

So aside from a very much needed break from parenting, I'm super excited to gather and talk about all things sewing with people who don't think its weird. I might even bring along a few sewing items I no longer want, as I'd rather they go to a good home than languish in my stash mocking me.

So will you be there?

Date: Sunday 23 June at 1.30pm
Venue:  Level Fourteen, The American Club - 131 Macquarie St Sydney
Cost: $47 p.p
RSVP: to Kristy_Idle "at" hotmail.com by 3 June - I'm sure this can be extended for you!

I can't wait for Kristy, our official hostess, to serve us tea!!

"One lump or two?"

Just following the crowd...

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For Adele

Every now and then I use my sewing powers for good and unselfishly sew for my family - this time for Adele.

Look at that face!! Could you say no to her if she asked you to sew her a frock?? I couldn't!

Adele and I designed this dress yesterday. I had purchased a small piece of Tinkerbell fabric from Spotlight (on sale) some time ago at her request. She wanted me to make her a dress, a baby blanket, a hand bag, two pillows for her bed and a pillow for her baby from just 70cms of fabric! As the fabric was quite naff, this was our dress compromise.

The pinafore was based on a pattern I drafted many moons ago, when I made clothes to sell at the markets. Adele picked the ribbons and lace for the straps, which act as interfacing. She also selected the vintage buttons that came from my Nan's stash. The denim is a remnant from who knows when?

She wore the dress last night, I washed it today and she wore it again tonight! Clearly she loves it!

While enjoying a luxurious sewing day I also added to her PJ wardrobe.

Two piece PJs complete with collar!!

And a nightie, or sleep dress as she calls it, that she isn't sold on yet.

The fabric was a super cheap flannelette from Spotty, purchased on super sale for less than $2 per meter. I bought the whole roll, hoping to make some PJ pants for me, but didn't quite have enough after cutting Adele's two piece. The fabric isn't to nice on the eye, but for just $5 in fabric and stash buttons, these are quite cost effective.

I used vintage patterns for both items.

I also recently made Adele a Little Red Riding Hood cape. On our recent trip to Melbourne, some very dear friends gave me some older dresses that they no longer wanted. As soon as I saw the red stretch velvet, I knew it would be a cape for Adele. The shiny poly lining was a stole to go with the dress!

It is so satisfying re-purposing things like this.

And again, she loves it. It has been worn so much and shoved into her handbag so often that it really does need a good iron.

Lastly, this awesome poncho was acquired recently and it's so cute I had to share it here. We've been clearing out my husband's grandparents house recently as they passed away late last year and this was found in the house. Nan had always crocheted and I guess she forgot it was there. It's ours now and again Adele loves it.

Such a long post and I have more to show you, but I'll wait for another day.

Happy long weekend friends!

As seen on Elegant Musings...

My little girl won't wear bonnets anymore...

But Casey's adorable little girl, Audrey Leigh does!

What a doll!

Get your bonnet pattern here.