Time for you to decide...

In my madness, I've decided I'll take part in another Monthly Stitch Challenge...

For March, the girls at TMS thought it would be good to make up a pattern which we've never made up before. Easy eh? Yeah, right, I just happened to be there when they came up with the twist in the tail... Why don't we get participants to put three patterns on their blogs and get people to vote on which of the three they should make? And so the Miss Bossy Patterns was born!

 

And so, without further ado, these are my three patterns, with possible fabrics...

Vintage Vogue 8728 made in this really soft cotton lawn, which you may recognise from the Curious Kiwi's blog... This fabric will need lining, so it'll certainly be an interesting make.

By Hand London Elisalex in this cotton sateen in red with grey and white flowers. Not sure how the skirt will look on me, I might have to alter it slightly.

A new acquisition to my collection, Gather Kits The Mortmain in this cotton sateen. This dress has an exposed zip which I've never sewn before, so may be interesting to make.

So you have a week to let me know what you think I should make! This is going to be fun!

Sew Miss Bossy, which pattern should I make?

And here's to 2013!

OK, well I'm just a tad late joining the "this is what I've done and this is what I will do" group, but I've decided to write something, mainly for my own benefit. Well this blog is a diary of my sewing (and other stuff) over the past year and diaries are records of what happened and so... (Why am I making excuses to you all..?)

2012 was an interesting year to say the least! In the middle of January we moved from the UK to New Zealand! Having lived all our lives in the UK and moving 12,000 miles (OK, I should now be saying 18,000 Km - I'm still getting used to Ks and not miles!) was NOT a small step. We took the opportunity on the way here to visit friends in the States, so we took in Las Vegas, Boulder, CO and San Francisco on the way. How very different three US cities can be!

We both have jobs and we've lived in two different places since we've been here. We also got married last year! We've started to have fun discovering a whole new country, going over to the Wairarapa and Martinborough vineyards last Easter and Taupo this last New Year. And best of all we've met some fantastic people, many of whom are already beginning to be really good friends who we can ask for help/rely on. Mr N and I have joined the local golf club and they've been really friendly and helpful. I've found a choir to join which I love singing with, who also have an amazing programme lined up for the year ahead. I've got some great work colleagues. And possibly more important for me I've also found some great sewing bloggers who I've met up with and plan to continue meeting up with.

For the first few months, I was without a sewing machine, then was lent one from a girl in choir until my own arrived having made it's own long journey by container from the UK. Then I obviously need to change the plug! :-) So my makes for 2012 were (in no particular order)...

A Thai Voilet - Colette patterns Voilet blouse. This hasn't had as much wear as I thought, possible because the elastic at the ends of the sleeves is not the most comfortable. A cuff would be nicer.

 

A hen night dress - McCalls 6505. Since I'm so greedy I've had two hen nights and worn this to both :-)

Wedding party dress - Vogue 8020. Finished just in time for my after wedding party. It's only been worn the once, but I'm determined it's going to be worn again soon!

A spotty Vogue - Vogue 8789. I love this dress and yes it has been worn a number of times, only I have to be careful living in windy Wellington! :-)

The Hearts dress - Simplicity 2588. This is my second version of this dress and certainly gets loads of wear. It's great that it's not an obviously summery dress, so I can wear it with boots, etc. I love it!

 A spring circle - my first self-drafted circle skirt. This has become another staple in my wardrobe (as long as it's not too windy).

A $5 Vogue - Vogue 8789 again. Made from a thrifted sheet. A bargain and certainly a staple in the wardrobe.

So not too bad considering! I also managed to make two pairs of curtains for our house. A travelling spice holder (yes, honestly) and a passport for Mr N's important Ted in the form of a scarf with a silver fern embroidered on it! :-)

I also resurrected my knitting skills making a snood and a scarf (this I've never blogged about).

So for 2013, I have plans... I'm determined to try to clear some of my stash (famous last words!) I've already spent an evening going through my fabrics and pairing them up with patterns. I'm currently in the middle of making a blouse. I've another blouse that's sort of been conveniently forgotten, since I've gone off it since starting it (don't you hate it when that happens?) I've a Colette beignet skirt cut out and ready to go. I've also got a self-drafted pencil skirt which I started before we left the UK and never got finished. I am determined to finish this one, since I still like the fabric and a pencil skirt is so useful here!

These four I really ought to finish first, but my head is already going round with other ideas and having been through the stash it's really spinning :-) I need to check out my concert dress. I've put on weight since I made it and it's just a wee bit tight for me. Still wearable, but not really ideal for taking large breaths to sing with :-) I have some fabric which I'm hoping will make a wearable muslin for the Colette Anise. I've never made a coat before so this will be a new one for me. I'm determined to try to make some trousers, but this for some reason I'm scared about doing! Having seen many of the comments on Karen's Sewalutions, methinks I'm not the only one! Not that my name is in the jar (I was away and didn't get a comment typed up...) I've also got some lovely merino to make something with, which will be a challenge as I've hardly made anything out of knit fabric (and I don't have a serger/overlocker).

Other ideas include a bathrobe - this should be relatively easy, apart from I'd like it in cotton waffle fabric, which seems to be virtually impossible to get hold of. I'd also like to make a skirt which is suitable for golf. Yes, I mean it. Why should I spend about $100 or £50  or more on a skirt, when I'm sure I can make one for less? Most I've seen in the shops have lycra cycling shorts underneath with a stretch cotton skirt on top. I'm also determined to make more separates. I have a lot of dresses, which I love, but separates would be much more useful. Finally, I've accepted a challenge by Mr N to make him a shirt or two... He's brave!

I'm also determined to take a bit more time and make the finish better, using French seams, etc, instead of just reaching for the pinking shears.

Methinks I'll be busy! How am I going to fit all this in? At the moment, I've not a clue, but we'll give it a go! I could do with a couple of days a month off work, so I can just sit at home here and sew! That would be a dream, but it's not going to happen, I need my leave for a trip to Queenstown, another trip back to the UK, a concert in Auckland, my brother-in-law's wedding in China - phew! I'm getting worn out thinking about all this, but excited by the plans I've got.

I'll obviously also continue to sing, play golf, work full-time, read all your blogs and try to comment on them :-D I've never been one for sitting doing nothing :-)

Welly bloggers finally meet-up!

Warning - picture heavy post!

One fine day in the middle of spring, seven intrepid sewing bloggers (and a baby!) from Wellington (OK, one from Palmy really) finally met to drink tea, eat cake, talk about sewing, look at patterns, ooh and ah over furry fabric and swap ideas, stashes, etc!

Yesterday we met up in Martha's Pantry, a tea room in Wellington. This tea room on Cuba Street is the quintessential English tea room, with fine bone china and high teas. We opted for sparkly cakes and milkshakes instead!

Sparkly cake!

Lots of hundreds and thousands!!

Joy making sure she gets the most out of her shake!

After trying on the hats in the tea room...

we moved on down Cuba Street with the intention of going to Minerva Books. However, we walked past Unearthed on the way, after laughing at the tartan Thermos flasks (remember those from childhood picnics?) Juliet suddenly unearthed (geddit?) a box full of vintage patterns! That was it!

Forgotten was the book shop while we ooh and ahhed and had a good look through the patterns. I believe most of us came away with goodies!

So finally we dragged ourselves away and went on to Minerva books. We had the chance to check out the Drape, drape books and the Pattern Magic books which were in store, but at a price. We left there empty handed!

Next on to Global Fabrics... The linen sale didn't tempt us, nothing really convinced us to buy anything, not even the bright pinks...

Nor the fur...

We left there empty handed too! Perhaps it was the thought of the fabric swap ahead. So final stop for these intrepid sewers was the famous MrsC's shop, Made on Marion where to took over the big table space at the back of the store to swap fabrics, patterns, etc.

MrsC was sewing the ribbons for Tuesday's grand opening of the newly refurbished National Library of New Zealand. This happens to be where I work, so I was definitely interested in that!

I can't wait to see them Tuesday morning at 6am!

And so on to the swap! There was a LOT of patterns there. Juliet had a whole load she'd got from the local op shop, so we were ages cogitating and ruminating over patterns. Whether to actually take that 80's pattern with the massive collar or the party frock straight out of Working Girl!

Joy deciding whether the pink really is her or not!

Anyway, there are loads left so look out for something very special coming next week...

So the intrepid band, minus one, who had left by now, but is in the earlier pics.

Joy - a charm of magpies

MrsC - Sent from my iRon and also of Made on Marion

Jo - Making it well

Erm, Me, Nikki

Juliet - The crazy gypsy chronicles

Kat (with baby Drake) - Modern vintage cupcakes

Missing from this pic is Mel - the Curious Kiwi

So no doubt you'll be wanting to know what I came away with...

From Unearthed, I got the following...

 Two lovely vintage patterns which will need grading up, but...

 This great fabric! It's shouting circle skirt at me, but I'll need red or navy with it as there's not enough there.

From the swap I got...

The dresses, not the jackets!

Pale blue lining and a dark blue with grey leaf pattern fine crepe which I'm hoping might make a Taffy blouse.

Phew! What a day or afternoon to be precise! I was shattered time I'd wended my weary way home back on the bus, but I can't wait for the next meet-up!

Oh and as for the outfits... We tried to go sixties for the Sew Weekly theme... You'll have to check out the other blogs for their outfits, and mine will follow soon!

My hen night dress

Well it's taken me ages to get this post written up, my excuse was moving house and other more important things!

Anyway, Mr N popped the question in Amsterdam about three years ago and now we've finally moved to New Zealand, we decided it was time to set a date! We didn't want to rush things you know :-) Plus it makes it certain that we'll only have a small number of people, since few can afford to come out! Only joking! This is where we want to live as a married couple and so this is where we wanted to get married - simples!

Since many of my friends couldn't make the wedding, I had a hen night in England, when we went back to at the end of May briefly. By all accounts, I think it was when they had their summer. No kidding the whole time we were there it was wall to wall sunshine, temperatures in the high 20s AND all across the country they'd put the flags out for us - even in central London - we were quite touched... :-)

Mr N's daughter offered to organise my hen night for me, so I had no idea until the day before what I was doing, when she presented me with a large envelope with the details! Unfortunately she was busy finishing off her fashion and knitwear design degree at uni and couldn't come along. :-( [As an aside, the hard work has paid off and she got a first for her dissertation and a 2:1 overall, we are so proud and chuffed.]

Anyway, I keep digressing! I needed a dress for such an occasion. What is a girl to wear for a hen night? I toyed with a 50's style fitted bodice, full skirt dress, then eventually found the perfect pattern...McCalls 6505. Hang on, I hear you cry, that's not a 50's style dress. Mm, I know, but this seemed to fit the bill perfectly. I bought the pattern online and downloaded it, being meticulous with my taping together.

Fabric, what fabric? Mm, anything in the stash? Nope, oh well, it looks like I'll have to go to Global Fabrics - such a hardship - I love that shop!

I found this beautiful grey silk with lime green embroidery. Is it not gorgeous and so much nicer than lace! What to line it with? I guess if I wanted I could have found a lime green, but I decided to stick with the grey instead.

 

I promise I'll iron the fabric next time!

Only after buying that and getting home, I realised I needed a trim for the neck and sleeves. Nothing in Global Fabrics, it's no good, I'll just have to go to Spotlight... But I found exactly what I needed. I thought it was going to be too cheap looking to start, but the lime green sequin trim works.

Being slapdash as usual, I didn't make a muslin, I just cut it out, measuring meticulously, honest! I still measure twice/three times before cutting, even if I don't create a muslin. I actually cut the lining and sewed that together to check the fit before cutting the silk. The theory being the lining didn't cost so much and I'd not wasted it :-) Like my thinking or no?

The instructions were not the clearest in some places and I ended making some of it up! According to the pattern the darts in the back dress should have been stitched with the lining, I did them separately. Truth is, I got confused between dress, lining and underlining! Yes, the lining is actually lined as well, there's fabric all over the place! The dress called for an invisible zip and had I thought about it earlier, I'd have left the back seam open before inserting the zip, as it was I struggled with the dress and lining sewing in the zip with the seam already sewn up. Then I had to attach the underlining to that!

I honestly think the Gods were on my side, the whole dress went together without a hitch! The sleeve and neck edges on the main dress are finished with a zig zag stitch before hand sewing the sequin trim. The back of the neck is finished with the lining fabric, this is the one bit of the dress I'm not convinced by, but at least I chose a neutral lining, it might have looked odd with a lime green lining fabric. Any other thoughts? Would it be too much to sew more sequins down the back? The front of the neck also has gauze or net attached to it to give a bit more stability.

All the seams in the main silk dress are French seams and I hand sewed the hem on the silk too.

I was really pleased with the finished dress and certainly my hens liked it! Methinks it may have to have another outing my my kiwi hen night! :-)

Oh, you want a photo of the real thing, I nearly forgot!

 Oops! Wrong one!

Is this one better?

Organising patterns

Just a quick post, and with some pretty awful photos today...

How do you organise your patterns and keep them tidy? I'm OK with patterns bought from the store in an envelope, they fit quite nicely in a shoe box (well boot box if I'm being a pedant!) Although the box is quite full already...

Mm, not sure there's room for many more in here!

Conveniently the Prima patterns I've amassed over the years are A4 size and fit in one of those poly-pocket type things. They now all fit quite nicely in a leaver arch file (although that's now full too!)

Anymore space?

The problem I've got is with those patterns I've downloaded from the Interweb thing. Those which have been printed on umpteen sheets of paper and painstakingly taped together with that pressure sensitive tape so they don't go brown and yukky. At the moment I've put them in cardboard files, but I can see over the years, I'll end up with quite a few of these and getting very untidy shelves.

Has anyone got any ideas? Useful suggestions will be gratefully received. How do you organise your patterns, are they in a mess, or have you managed to keep them tidy? What about those of you self-drafting, how do you keep your patterns tidy?

Prima Patterns

I’ve intended to write a post about these patterns for some time and never got around to it. Finally with a bit of prompting from Claire from Sew incidentally.. here it is.

I seem to have amassed quite a few Prima patterns over the years. When I began to get these I didn’t subscribe and used to phone up for the patterns, in the end I decided it was easier (and cheaper) to subscribe. I can still buy the magazine here in New Zealand, but it tends to be a couple of months behind, by which time it’s too late to order the pattern.

[In the interests of those who want to know about the phone numbers and if they repeat, I can go on the numbers from about mid-2008, before this, they were completely different. From what I can see they use about three different phone numbers only, which started with 0906 757 6471 in May 2008. And so, each May, August, November and February the number to call is the above number ending in a 1, the months in between will end in a 2 and then a 3 (trying not to give too much away... :-) ) ]

I have generally found the patterns easy to make with clear instructions. Their sizing also suits my shape and I find I don’t have to make any changes. They also include seam allowances in their patterns... Sometimes they are printed double-sided, which can be frustrating, but I've actually found the paper they print them on quite nice for pattern pieces.

Here is my collection, including the descriptions which the magazine used, I’ve put photos of them all on my Pinterest site, instead of clogging up the whole blogasphere, and have posted only a few here (no preference to whether I still like them or not!) Apologies for the shiny bits, it’s that magazine glossy paper which is a pain to photograph and my scanner isn’t quite set up! Next in line will be posts about those patterns I’ve actually made up!

• January 2005: Party tops to make
• April 2005: Tiered skirts
• August: 2005: Perfect wrap dress
• September 2005: Flattering separates
• March 2006: For that special day
• May 2006: Quick and easy skirts
• August 2006: Sew a classic summer dress
• September 2006: Two easy pieces
• December 2006: Show off your curves
• March 2007: Glam party dresses to make
• May 2007: Dress to impress
• June 2007: Flirty skirts for summer
• October 2007: Quick-and-easy swing coats
• November 2007: Easy dress or tunic to make
• December 2007: Your little black dress
• March 2008: Occasion dresses you’ll love
• April 2008: Three easy tops
• July 2008: Simple summer dresses
• September 2008: 2 easy pieces
• March 2009: Beautiful bridalwear on a budget
• April 2009: Flattering wrap dress
• June 2009: Dress for the occasion
• September 2009: New-look skirts
• October 2009: 2 stunning looks
• March 2010: Dream dresses
• May 2010: New looks for spring
• June 2010: Simple summer tops
• July 2010: A classic summer dress
• October 2010: Autumn dress or tunic
• November 2010: Make one in an evening
• January 2011: Dress to impress
• January 2012: Cowl neck tops

 

January 2012

 November 2010 and October 2007

 March 2010

July 2008 and December 2007

October 2010 and May 2010

 January 2011 and September 2009