Natalie and Nina

This is another of Kat's fabulous patterns teamed up with my fave cardigan, Muse Natalie dress and Style Arc Nina cardigan.

I'll not say much about the cardigan, I've said it all before, it is so easy to cut and make up. I love them. I know the draped look might not be for everyone, but I get so much wear out of these.

I think I bought the fabric for this one, intending to make something else and it was definitely pattern tetris cutting this out. I think the bottom piece is actually cut across the grain, but hey, it works and the cardigan has been washed a couple of times since making up and it's made no difference. This merino is quite closely woven and keeps it's shape really well. Unlike my black merino Nina cardi which has gone a tad baggy now!

The details
Fabric:  Fuchsia pink merino from Levana, Levin, June 2015.
Notions:  Thread and some cotton tape to stabilise the shoulders and neck.
Pattern:  Style Arc Nina cardigan, size 14
Changes made:  None
Another one/recommendations:  I've made four of these cardigans. I love them. They are great for slobbing around in and are smart enough for work. I know the look isn't for everyone, but for me, I love them!

And so to the Natalie dress. I was intrigued by this dress from the start. I was over at Kat's one weekend for a knitting afternoon and she suggested I try on one of her sample versions. I loved it, the fit, the style, etc. I knew I needed one in my wardrobe. And so, I used this pale grey knit I got from Levana back in April. It was intended to be another Gillian, but I decided it would be perfect for this dress.

I went for the version with the gathers under the bust. I didn't intend to, but this fit was actually much better for me. I had to be careful with pattern placement, I could have had flowers in the wrong places - as it were!

The pattern, like all of Kat's patterns, is drafted perfectly. This is a size 38 and fit me straight out of the box. I've made no alterations to the pattern at all. I followed the instructions to the letter, they didn't need any changing. It's really easy to put together and sews up so quickly. The sleeves are the perfect length for me - I love 3/4 length sleeves.

I honestly have no complaints about this pattern. OK, the ties are really long and that's possibly because they are intended to come round the front, but I'd rather leave the front free. Hang on, is that my only gripe - what am I saying? Nope I've no gripes or groans at all and I get so many compliments when I wear this dress. It's a real keeper and very tempting to make another...

The details
Fabric:  Pale grey polyester knit from Levana, Levin, April 2015
Notions:  Thread, interfacing and some cotton tape to stabilise the shoulders.
Pattern:  Muse Patterns Natalie dress, size 38
Changes made:  None
Another one/recommendations:  I'm actually really tempted to make another, this dress is great, it fits well and I really love it. I certainly recommend the pattern, it's so easy to make up and the fit is fab. Oh and what's more you can make a top or a maxi dress too.

Excuse the hair everywhere, we'd done photos the day before and the exposure was all wrong and this day is one of Wellington's lovely windy days. You'd have thought by now I'd learn to put my hair back!

Muse Tahi

Happy first birthday to Muse Patterns!

I've been testing again! When Kat first mentioned this pattern combo to me, I was there. I love shrugs and I thought this one would be great to go over my concert dress to replace the very old tie front cardi I was using. As for the seam detail on the skirt, I was sold, please let me test, please, please!

The shrug
This is great for stash busting, it uses such little fabric and is so easy to put together too. That easy that I forgot I was testing and completely forgot to read the instructions - oops!

I made the version with 3/4 sleeves. Honestly it is the simplest thing to make. Stitch the shoulder seams, insert the sleeves, sew up the side seam and sleeve seam in one go, hem the sleeve cuffs an then attach the binding around the raw edges and away you go!

I used less than a metre of fabric. My version gapes a bit at the back of the neck and the binding seems to be tight at the bottom of the back. I think this is really my fabric choice, trust me, trying to find notches cut in this fabric is nigh on impossible!

Now wearing this over my concert dress, I ideally would need to pin the front of the shrug to the straps on my dress, since it's a strappy dress. I can't be showing skin to all and sundry in concerts. I don't have a photo of this yet. However, with anything else I love the shape. I think it looks great over everything else. At most, an additional inch on the front would be good, but anything more than that is getting in the realms of FBAs and SBAs. As it is, this style suits everyone.

The details
Fabric:  Black fluffy fabric received from a swap from A Charm of Magpies, one of our WSNB-ers
Notions:  Thread and some cotton tape to stabilise the back of the neck.
Pattern:  Muse Patterns, Tahi Shrug, size 40
Changes made:  None
First worn:  For photos here at Truby King Gardens in Wellington with the Tahi Skirt and a Belcarra made in June.

Another one/recommendations:  This is a great pattern, definitely recommended even if you just want something quick and easy to make up. I've a feeling more could be on the cards for me. It comes with four different sleeve options, to cover all seasons. I've just taken mine away on holiday and it was worn every evening out!

The skirt
Ok, so the skirt. Those seam lines on the front, they were what drew me to this pattern. Just look how simple yet effective they are. I made this out of minimal fabric and even my pattern placement required quite a bit of pattern Tetris. I had to place the centre seamed piece at 90 degrees to the grain. It was just not possible any other way. Oh, and before you ask, the plain simple A-line skirt just wasn't an option!

To be honest I love how this shows on the final skirt. I reckon it was an inspired choice!

I thought the corner seaming detail on the front would also be really difficult but no, follow Kat's instructions and you'll be fine and dandy. Honestly, they are so easy, it's frightening just how easy they are.

The problem I had was with the zip... Due to the lack of fabric I decided to omit the centre back seam and use a side seam zip. Silly girl I forgot Kat has said all seams bar that centre back seam are 3/8ths. You try putting in a lapped zip with 3/8th seam allowance! Fortunately after ripping the zip out I realised that I'd cut too large a size and could easily take in 5/8ths seam allowance. Zip woes averted! It's still not perfect because I played around with the seam afterwards to get the skirt to fit but I was testing the pattern and was uncertain of my size. I cut a size 40 if that helps, since I'm between sizes. So I went up a size as I thought it would be quite fitted.

The instructions are really clear, I even followed the instructions to the letter for the zip. This is something I'd normally just go, lapped zipper, ok I know what to do!

I'm also shorter than Kat and ended up cutting about an inch and a half off the bottom. Personal preference for length also intervened.

This is going to make a great casual skirt in my wardrobe. I'm working out what I could use to make a fancy posh one, perhaps something floaty which needs lining in the long flared version?

The details
Fabric:  Tan coloured cotton drill, a remnant from Evans of Masterton, April 2015, I had 90cm of 150 wide!

Notions:  Thread, metal dress zip and waistband stiffening

Pattern:  Muse Patterns, Tahi skirt, size 40, which I took in.
Changes made:  I removed the centre back seam and put the zip in the side seam, and shortened it. 

First worn:  To Fabric-a-Brac here in Wellington, with my Belcarra, made in June. Photos here in Truby King Gardens

Another one/recommendations:  Like the shrug, this is another great pattern from Kat. The drafting and the instructions are really great. The corner seaming is so much easier than it looks and it's just so effective. I certainly quite like the idea of something long and floaty... Just check out that maxi floaty version on the website.

Kat gave me this pattern for testing purposes. All comments and opinions are my own.

A leafy Salme flounce

OK, so I'm two months late in blogging about this dress and even though Mel gave you a taster, I still didn't get the post written. Sorry, not sorry. Life is life and sometimes it just takes you by surprise.

And so, for Indie Pattern Month, The Monthly Stitch did a pattern swap/round robin. Another member of The Monthly Stitch Collective was given my details and they would buy me a pattern from an Indie Pattern company I'd never used before, I in turn would buy patterns for someone else. I received both a PDF and packaged pattern. This is the PDF pattern. It's the flounced dress from Salme, something I'd never ever thought of buying. It's obvious that others see more in patterns than I do!

I made up the muslin of the bodice quite quickly, but it needed some alterations and by the time I'd fixed it, and made those alterations, it was way past New To Me week of IPM. I did actually finish the dress in time for the catch up week at the end of July, but getting around to writing the blog post - yeah well. I've made far to many excuses and I really don't need to.

The fabric I bought from the Fabric Warehouse here in Wellington some time ago. It was bought with the intention of making a Pauline Alice Alameda dress, but when I received this pattern, this fabric was just perfect. The Alameda will need to wait and can be made in something else. :-) 

So the muslin, the bust darts were too high (this is usual) and the hips were too tight. So I moved the darts down, about an inch and a quarter. Seriously they were really high up. For the hips I think I initially added about two and a half inches, but took this in once I'd made up the bodice and tried it on.

This is where I deviated from the instructions. The skirt is a circle skirt and the instructions say to attach the front skirt to the front bodice and the same to the back. Then to sew up the side seams. I made up the bodice, took in the side seams around the hip, then cut the skirt pieces after. So I stitched the side seams on the skirt and attached the skirt to the bodice that way.

The skirt hem is actually finished on the machine. I love deep hand-stitched hems, but on a short circle skirt they just don't work. It was easier to add a short hem and machine sew it. All other seams have been finished on my overlocker.

So this is my first Salme pattern and although I had a couple of fitting issues (to be expected) I really enjoyed the make. The pattern and instructions were clear and easy to follow. There were pictures to keep me happy. Admittedly it's not really a difficult make, but even so, I felt it was clear and easy to follow.

The details

Fabric:  Linen with orange leaves from Fabric Warehouse, I think bought at the end of January 2015. I used a fine white cotton for the facings.

Notions:  Thread and an invisible zip.

 

Pattern:  Salme Flounced Hem dress # 156

Changes made:  The bust darts were shifted own by about an inch an a half and the hips graded out by about half inch each side altogether.

First worn:  For afternoon tea with a view at One80 (a hotel restaurant) with Mel, Kat and Jenna ( as a possibly unimpressed young Fox!) Photos here after across the road at the boat sheds.

Another one/recommendations:  I certainly recommend the pattern. The dress is a great make and really easy to wear. I don't know if I'll make another - too many other fab patterns to make up. But I am certainly happy with the dress. I feels really girlie, but it's great for wearing out to dinner, there's room to eat! :-) 

 

As usual when a friend takes your photos there are always some which wouldn't normally make it to a bog post :-)

A Bouquet of Belcarras

I've made a few Belcarras recently, but hey why not when they are easy to make and the fit is great? So here's another! There's not much to say, so I'm going to let the photos do the talking. A picture paints a thousand words so they say...

This is my bouquet of Belcarras made in June...

I think this must have been the worst of the lot to make, but knowing the pattern made it a whole lot easier, but yes, I was swearing sometimes!

This fine polyester something came from Fabric-a-Brac sometime ago, I think, although it might have been a WSBN swap. I'm sure I bought it because I loved the pattern, I can't imagine I'd have bought it for the fabric! :-) Cutting out was a pain, I tried both using scissors and my rotary cutter. I'm still on the fence as to which was the best.

Lots of pins, use lots of pins with fabric as fine as this. Don't leave anything to chance. It was really odd sewing with see-through fabric too!

All the seams on this one are finished using French seams. Yes it means you can see the seams on the raglan sleeves, but with this fabric it was better.

The cuffs took a while, I inadvertently cut one the wrong length then wondered why it was too big! I finished the underside of the cuff using my overlocker.

The bias binding around the neck had to be pieced adding to the difficulty of adding to the blouse, but I'm pretty happy with the result.

The details

Fabric: Fine polyester something from Fabric-a-Brac, I think, unless it was from a WSBN swap, which is equally likely! It was in my stash! :-)

Notions: Thread.

Pattern: Sewaholic Belcarra, view A, size 12. 
Changes made: None

First worn: The middle of June for the LIANZA Children's Book Awards. Worn here for photos in Carrara Park, Newtown with a Sewaholic Gabriola made a year ago.

Another one/recommendations: Need I go on? How many times have I said how great the pattern is? Yeah OK, broken record time. I'll just shut up ;-)

 

I've now made three Belcarras for Indie Pattern Month, that'll be One Pattern, Three Takes then!

Ninacarralindy the 2nd

This is the second version of the outfit I put together a couple of weeks ago, the Ninacarralindy, aka the StyleArc Nina cardigan, Sewaholic Belcarra and Itch to Stitch Lindy Petal skirt.

This is now my third Nina cardigan, the first made in May. And if that doesn't say anything about how good the pattern is, I don't know what does! I honestly don't know what to say that's different! I cut it out one afternoon and made it up the next!

This version drapes really well. This third one I made from some black merino, and the drape is so much better than the other two versions. It's also so easy to wear. I've lost count of how many times I've worn it since making it!

The details

Fabric: Black merino, from Levana, May 2015.

Notions: Thread and some tape to stabilise the shoulder seams and back of the neck.

Pattern: Style Arc Nina Cardigan, size 12

Changes made: None
First worn: Middle of June at some point for work. These photos taken at Truby King Gardens in Wellington

Another one/Recommendations: I've made three in the space of around six weeks, surely that says something? Not enough of a hint? OK, this pattern is fab. Quick and easy to make up and so easy to wear. I'm sure this is not my last, although I might have a break for a bit and make something different up!

The Belcarra top, another great pattern. This is my third one of these and I think actually my favourite. Number four has been made and no doubt another will find it's way into my wardrobe.

I thought I would ring the changes slightly with this version. I made up view B, which has the tucks on the shoulders. I'm really pleased how these turned out. I don't have one of those fancy edging feet for my machine, so I actually put drafting tape on my machine and line the fabric up against that. It works a treat and is so much cheaper than a machine foot!

The fabric is a really soft fine cotton which I got from Spotlight. It's one of those rare treats that you find if you look carefully! I like it! It's also the perfect fabric for this top.

The details

Fabric: Pale blue cotton lawn from Spotlight, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington, April 2015.

Notions: Thread.

Pattern: Sewaholic Belcarra, view B, size 12.

Changes made: None
First worn: About the middle of June.

Another one/recommendations: Yep, this is recommended. The pattern is easy to make up and the fit is great. I really like this version, but it's been too chilly to wear it recently :-( Never mind, the shortest day has now gone and we can look forward to the summer! I know we've still got some grotty weather months to come... Back to the matter in hand - yes, this pattern is great, quick to make and easy to wear dressed up or dressed own.

Finally, it's time for Lindy Petal skirt number 2. I made the first one of these at the end of May, I knew another one was needed and I went on the hunt for some fabric. The WSBN went out for high tea with a bit of fabric shopping included and I found this great black with a kind of texture to one side. I'm not sure it shows up in the photos though.

I lengthened the skirt by about an inch this time, but I still like the length and it's certainly not indecent!

The details

Fabric: Black double knit with a texture on one side from the Fabric Warehouse, May 2015. Sorry, the fabric won't photograph well for a close up!

Notions: Thread and knitted elastic for the waistband. 

Pattern: Itch to Stitch Lindy Petal skirt, size M

Changes made: Lengthened by about an inch.
First worn: I couldn't resist wearing as soon as it was made. I think I finished it the day before these photos at Truby King gardens here in Wellington.
Another one/Recommendations: Do I really need to say how fab the pattern is? It's a fantastic pattern, so easy to put together, clear instructions. The finished skirt is so easy to wear and has had so much wear already.

This means I've also managed to make up something for the last week of The Monthly Stitch Indie Pattern Month, except I've done three patterns two takes :-)