[Masha Richart]

I think brocade would be great for a Brave costume!

I woke up early (well actually the baby woke me up early and then he decided to go back to sleep but I was wide awake) – and sewed up the Plantain tshirt I cut last night. I used some synthetic-feeling jersey I had been given by a friend awhile ago just to check fit. I’ll go down a size for my next one, but this one is still wearable! Yay!

[Tamara]

Good for you RTWG, if it still fits then make use of it. Lucky you to know it is too big rather than too small.

It has suddenly decided to rain (not a sprinkle on the roof neither) and I am contemplating further alterations to this passport dress. I made it up in an old cotton print I had laying around because as I had guessed I didn’t have enough calico to do the muslin skirt in. Nevermind, I got to see what it looks like on me in a large print and quite honestly I don’t like it! And for those of you who have made it who happen to be blessed with a waistline you can see, I wish I had my waist back to obvious visibility. I look rather rectangular in this dress but if I chose something different to make it up for real in it would probably give a different result. I just need to alter the skirt part a little more and I think I will have a great result. And then I will go about sticking scrap paper together to do the next pattern (because I have even run out of tracing paper) – it is a sorry and desperate situation when this happens!

[with love Heidi]

Your sewing so much for yourself RTWG, well done!

Congratulations on getting the muslin done Tamara! Would a half circle skirt rather than a gathered skirt help the waist issue? I’m not sure if it would just that I change almost all gathered skirts into half, three quarters or full circle skirts as the gathered waist doesn’t help either my wiast or hips 🙁

[Robin]

I hear you about gathered skirts! Congratulations on altering the Passport dress. I can’t figure out where to start with that one.

This week I would like to sew a Zinnia skirt from Collette Patterns, messenger bag from Michelle Patterns and the Cosmo Bag from Amy Butler. Looks like a rather selfish list to me! Hoping that by posting it, it will come true.

[Masha Richart]

Thanks, Heidi – I am starting to feel like it is a sickness! I may need to implement Nicole’s rota system or the kids will never get anything anymore!

Though last night older daughter’s school called and informed me that she needed a white long-sleeved tshirt to wear under her costume for their big performance (which is tomorrow). They seemed surprised when I mentioned that she doesn’t actually own a white tshirt. Maybe the kids here are not as sloppy as mine, or maybe their mothers are better at laundry than I am, but I gave up dressing my kids in white long ago! Anyway, today I ran out and bought a women’s white tshirt, and using the Hopscotch pattern, whipped up a girl-sized shirt out of it. I cut two backs, one with a lowered neckline, and used the large shirt’s existing hem for the sleeves and shirt hem. Made quick work. My machine is refusing to twin-needle the neckline, though 🙁 That has been happening a lot lately. if I didn’t have a serger I wouldn’t be able to sew knits at all anymore.

That didn’t stop me, though, from cutting another Plantain (smaller size) for myself tonight. Selfish, selfish, selfish!

[Tamara]

Oh my goodness talk about short notice! They need to send notes out about costume changes at least a week in advance. All I can say is thankfully you were able to get a white shirt by sewing one!

Yes gathers and me don’t mix but this dress doesn’t have gathers, just small pleats and they don’t go on the actual hip which is beneficial. I think because I did so many alterations to the measurement of the waist and through to the hip (because I as much as I don’t think it is a big issue still have a bit of a tummy) it has changed the cutting line of the skirt somewhat to a more square look. And because of that the pleats looked strained and not very long – they actually looked more like puckers more than anything – on the front that is.

I didn’t have to do much to the back though except the length but I still have to go back and re situate the length and put some of it up above the hip. This will even out the skirt at the back and make the small rudder go away.

I am also thinking of adding more room for the pleats at the back too. The photos Imogen took with the ipad were blurry so I couldn’t really see what they were doing at the back so well but the front is where the action is and where most of the changes had to be made.

The dress is comfortable. I have plenty of wiggle room but the skirt just needs a bit of extra work to rectify the look a bit.

Robin in terms of making the passport it is really very straight forward. I didn’t do the traditional format for the fba I went back to watching my fast track fitting craftsy class and went through slowly and carefully to get it looking just right. I also used the 20 not the 22 which is what I would normally gravitate toward but it fit so much better (because I based it all on the upper bust measurement). Finding the bust point on the pattern was a little tricky to start but other than that there was no real need to alter the pleats or the armscye. It didn’t turn out to be as confusing as I first thought.

What I like about the zinnia skirt is that the pleats are slightly dropped. I hope you get it done.

So what colour is this plantain shirt then RTWG?

[Tamara]

Made the second muslin and the skirt is much better. It gives a much nicer silhouette.

Now I am going to test out the diplomat and make a muslin (or two) for that one.

[Masha Richart]

There is a lot of work going into that dress, Tamara! I am rather impatient to see it 😉

This Plantain is a white and navy stripe. I cut out elbow patches this time, from some purple interlock scraps I had. But I doubt the patches will make it on – my sewing machine really hates knits – even using a walking foot and a ballpoint or stretch needle, I get awful skipped stitches. I will have to topstitch the neckline by hand this time I think.

[Tamara]

Oh dear! Your machine sounds very sick RTWG! Are you able to get it serviced at all? Has it always been oppositional to knits? My previous machine was a bit like that but only when it really needed looking at did it get very cranky with my sewing knits. I love the elbow patch feature of that top. I am very tempted to download and sew one (or a dozen) but that is where a huge online knit fabric shopping spree will have to happen prior to it.

Yes there has been quite a bit of rigmarole with this dress. I am currently thinking about what to use for the final dress. Because of some of my features being on the hefty side I need to be selective. Mind you I used an old print from the cupboard to make the skirt part of the last muslin (because of running out of calico) and the kids thought it was very fancy – it had frangipanis all over it! I’d like to use something from the stash if I can as I have lots but they are mostly prints. I want to buy some linen blend when i go to Spotlight on tuesday. So I am tossing up between the small blue dot print and the blue and white (looks like fans?) print from the latest Lisette range, both of which I have. The check would also look great but I am saving that just in case I can’t get anymore for Sharon.

I promise (hand on heart) to take pictures of me wearing it once it is done but it could take a little while as hubby is shearing for some of this week and we have commitments the beginning. The aim is to make it and wear it shopping or once I have the Diplomat done make that and wear it. Well either way one or t’other will be worn to church next weekend so will grab the chance for a picture taking session then (hopefully). Then you can see me hopefully successfully hiding all my hefty bits and wearing something that actually fits!

I haven’t started the diplomat alterations yet. I have been watching my freebie lesson from craftsy (because I complained about the amount of time my parcel (which still hasn’t turned up) was taking. I selected the pattern making bodices class which is extremely interesting. It will help me to understand pattern anatomy better I think.

So now to make a cuppa and go stick bits of paper together so I have something to alter this pattern on. Looking forward to this one.

[Nicole]

I finished the Bucket hat, awesome pattern!

My only grumble is that Tilly’s big noggin fits the large.

[Masha Richart]

This is definitely a newish development. I did manage to get the elbow patches on with the stretch stitch – but any form of zigzag (regular, or twin needle, which makes a zigzag on the underside of the fabric) is a no go. I don’t know the first thing about servicing it myself (though as it is a metal mechanical machine I feel like it shouldn’t be too hard). The problem here is that it’s an American 110v machine, and any shops here would be 220v. I could probably find someone to look at it if I brought my own voltage converter but I’m a little wary.

Top is done and I love it, though.

[meleliza]

I have found that teachers and schools sometimes don’t actually know a lot about raising children. They may know how to teach them their ABC’s, but that is such a small part of the equation. I’m sure they thought a long sleeved white t is a basic everyone has. Thing is, stores don’t sell a lot of white in the children’s department and they also don’t sell a lot of basics either. Everything has patterns or graphics on it. In fact, I have the hardest time finding layering pieces for the jumpers and dresses I make baby girl. I made her a really lovely pink cord music box jumper but she never wears it because so few of her shirts looks nice with it. 🙁 Does anyone else have trouble finding matching rtw basics?

I finished the Library dress last night and she’s wearing it this morning for church. She does have a long sleeved black T to wear underneath. It won’t be above freezing here for the foreseeable future, so layers are important. It’s a cute pattern, but kind of fiddly to make. It actually goes over her head with out unbuttoning, so I think I may skip all those facings and buttonholes if I were to make it again. It might need a little opening in back, but that’s it. I’ll experiment and let you know. The fabric is black lawn with tiny red flowers all over. I underlined the whole thing because I liked the extra heft to the fabric and finished it all with French seams. That was a little much at the front waistband, but I trimmed them very selectively. I just like it all neatly finished. Probably she won’t even take her coat off. 🙂

[Masha Richart]

That was exactly the problem, Melanie – there simply were no white shirts to be had, so it is a good thing I can sew. The modified hopscotch was so easy and quick that I think I may just use that to make basic tees from now on.

So today … I go back to sewing kids’ clothes. Maybe I can knock out that dress. I also need to make a jacket for my oldest, and both girls could use some leggings for spring.

[Lightning McStitch]

After going on a January Bender and churning out lots of stuff for the kids (1 dress, 4 pairs shorts, 2 pairs trousers, 2 shirts and a vest) I went on holiday for a week, rode my bike a bit, and now I’m back home doing some very slow hand sewing for my secret valentine

http://sanaeishida.com/?p=8152

[meleliza]

That sounds like fun! I need to come up with some Valentines fun for the kids. I’ve been awfully busy though and am still going.