Nicole

Well I managed to double dip and get Sarvi’s size 5 project covered as well with my monochrome swingset.
I’ve always thought a lovely sewing community idea would be a “skill swap”. In the way that quilters swap quilt blocks, or people swap handmade gifts. In my swap idea (which I’m not volunteering to organise cause I think it could get really…[Read more]

I haven’t done it but I think it will work really well. Whether you put elastic in will depend on how good the recovery of your ribbing is, and how much faith you have in it not stretching out over time.

@aprilshowers firstly, that is one fabulous idea for a costume. What a smart kid.
I’d start with a raglan sleeve pattern and then cut and split the front and back and sleeves to widen them. Then use elastic inside a casing around the neck to bring it all back in.
The art smock in Little Things To Sew is much like this. Or you could do it with the…[Read more]

I’ve got enthused. I’ve drafted a doll version of the below dress based on the dolls Popover dress:)

I’ve got some great ideas, using Popover/badminton/swingset/garden party dresses as the base. I love working out how to make what’s in kids imaginations 🙂 Off to draw some pictures then I’ll be back.

Yeah that’s what I am thinking.

I should say, the 4s have been short for awhile…..but it was summer and didnt matter lol. She is mostly all legs.

After consulting the finished measurements with her measurements, I think I should go with a 6, but double check the cuff as you said. Her outseam is running 24inches, where size 5 is 25.25…[Read more]

Agreed, I don’t always have time to do all the challenges but enjoy thinking about them and bouncing ideas off other folks just the same. It sometimes takes ages to get from concept to execution.

I love the idea of challenges. I haven’t had the time to do what I planned, but I loved thinking about it and planning it, and I will make Lady E the outfit I had planned later in the year.

It’s nice to be encouraged to think about something which may not be your own norm and see what you come up with. It was great that this idea evolved…[Read more]

That’s the beauty of these challenges, they aren’t required. If you don’t have the time or the will to join, then don’t:)

I loved the color theme, I tend to go bright, so it was fun to try out a monochrome look. Maybe a holiday theme? Christmas dresses and dapper boy outfits will be right around the corner.

Hmmm… a fabric challenge? Make something from the new line when it comes out? And ugly fabric challenge? A selfish sewing challenge? A inspired by a picture/catalog image challenge? A particular pattern? A wacky pants challenge? A skills challenge, specifically picking a pattern that has a skill you fear/need to learn/improve? Mimicking a…[Read more]

@georgeandizzy

I really like the idea of a challenge every quarter that isn’t too all the way. Doing LTTW was too much, or the size 5 project. Those are awesome, but out of my league in terms of time to sew.

The color challenge here was neat because I think we all naturally eschew b&W for children as either boring or too sophisticated. The…[Read more]

I will go back and tag mine with the oliver and s….

Yes, you’ve got it, Heidi. Generally that additional width is handled with the combination of a dart and more contouring at the side seam. I hope that helps, Rebecca!

I really enjoyed getting outside my box and trying this challenge. I think it would be fun every other month, or maybe once a quarter?, to have some sort of thing like this. Whether it is a color challenge or pattern challenge, or whatever else your creative minds think up. Just me thinking out loud here 😉

One option is to incorporate the excess fabric into a dart.
http://www.idlefancy.com/2014/11/full-bust-adjustment-on-darted-bodice.html
Another option is to remove it from the seams. I tend to remove it from the princess seam itself as that’s where I need the projection.
http://www.idlefancy.com/2014/01/sewing-curve-fba-for-princess-seams.html

Can I ask you to use the tag #oliverandsmonochrome that way I can easily round up our monochrome sewing rather than see thousands of Ansel Adams wannabe landscape photos!

How’s it going? I haven’t had much time to browse Flickr yet, but I’ve been watching instagram.
I’ve got a swingset blouse that is close to done and then photos needed before I…[Read more]

Great idea, I’ll go back and tag mine.

@dubhels2003 that sounds incredible, you must get to it at some point! I have a similar project in the works, blouse and slacks, though a little bit different silhouette. Pleated slacks and a long-sleeved wool jersey tee, but also with a velvet or silk ribbon at the neck.