October 2011 – THORNBERRY

children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing

New Look 6477 view F

I’ve used this pattern four times now. That’s what I call good value! Stella has just begun wearing the view F version I made for Clare back in 2007, and it looks so sweet on her that I decided to pull out the pattern and make another one.

Once I pulled out the pattern pieces I discovered that I’d originally sewn this in size 5. Stella is four years old and is skinnier than Clare was at the same age, but she’s taller, so I made size 5 again. It should fit her for a couple of years. It is rather loose across the back at the moment.

The bodice fabric is Kaffe Fassett quilting cotton, and the skirt is stretch denim. The ric-rac trim was crocheted by me, using Kate’s pattern. I attached it with a straight stitch around the front and bottom hem of the skirt and across the front seamline.

This really is a delightful pattern. Unfortunately it is out of print – if you’re looking for it I think you’d need to scour eBay or Etsy – or choose something similar. It’s also a fast sew.

Thursday, 27 October, 2011 by thornberry

adult's clothing, crochet

bolero for Freya

There have been two balls of Bendigo Woollen Mills 16 ply Mystique that I bought on a whim sitting in my stash saying “go on, what will make out of me?” for a little while. Like much of the other yarn in my stash, I suppose. I’m often unsure which comes first, the yarn or the pattern. Maybe it’s a little of both. Anyway, I digress. The pattern is called Sonia’s crochet shrug. Although it was designed for a worsted weight yarn, by going up in hook size to 6.00mm it seemed to work with this 16 ply.

It’s actually for my cousin Freya, but like everything I make, I prefer to photograph it as it will be worn. I think that you get a much better idea of shape, fit and scale. I had a number of difficulties with the lace edging instructions. After working the armhole lace and pulling it out again around seven times (and almost pulling my hair out as well), I just decided to wing it and do it how I thought that it should be done. It’s worked out okay in the end. I have contacted the designer to let her know of the problems that I had.

The lace around the bottom wasn’t in the pattern. I thought that the bolero needed to be a little longer and that repeating the armhole and neckline lace around the bottom would give it a better finish. I’m pleased that I did.

I would consider making this pattern again – it’s a little bit different! I used a brooch to hold it closed in these photos, but since then I’ve sewn on a couple of buttons. There were button loops included in the pattern, but I altered them as well. If you try this pattern be aware that you might have some problems – I’m quite sure that it wasn’t just me but it was the instructions. Otherwise, it’s rather lovely (especially on someone with a tiny waist – that is, the recipient, not me).

Ravelled here.

Wednesday, 26 October, 2011 by thornberry

children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing, vintage patterns

vintage Butterick 3165

Finally I’m using more of the vintage patterns I’ve acquired over the past few years.

We thought that this would be a nice cool option for summer, and that since Clare will be nine years old in January, the size 8 might finally fit her. As it turns out, this outfit is a little big, but wearable.

Because the blouse is only waist length, Clare has actually had to pull the skirt up a bit to meet it! She normally wears her skirts way down low on her hips, so at first she wasn’t at all keen to wear it at waist level as per how it was drafted. But she got there in the end.

The fabrics are lovely light coordinating quilting cottons that I bought three or four years ago. I rather like the combination. I made loads of bias binding for the elastic casing at the waist and for the blouse neck and hem bindings and ties. The top is beautifully drafted – there are curved raglan seams setting the flared sleeves into place. If you look closely you can just see them in this photo (and they are easy to see in the line drawing on the pattern envelope above).

It’s interesting seeing how vintage patterns translate to the current day with a change of fabric and styling. I am often reminded of the slogan that John Kaldor used when I was in my teens and twenties – “fabric makes fashion”. I reckon that they are right!

Monday, 24 October, 2011Tuesday, 14 September, 2021 by thornberry

adult's clothing, crochet

felina skirt

I’ve been wanting to crochet myself a skirt for some time. And now I’ve done it!

This is the Felina skirt, from Doris Chan‘s book Crochet Lace Innovations. I crocheted it in size Medium with a 5.00mm hook. The yarn is Moda Vera Linen Mode, which is 60% cotton and 40% linen. It was a slightly heavier weight yarn than that specified in the pattern, but seemed to work out okay. This skirt is made for twirling!

It’s basically a giant doily with a hole in the centre for my waist. I love, love, love it! I do plan to make some brightly coloured slips to wear underneath, but leggings are also okay.

This really is a fun item to make and wear. It swishes around my knees beautifully as I waslk. Each row was a little different to the previous one, and I enjoyed watching the pattern develop. My Ravelry queue has a number of skirts in it now (mostly also designed by Doris Chan) and I’m wondering just how many crocheted skirts a woman in her early forties can wear…

Ravelled here.

Sunday, 23 October, 2011 by thornberry

medallion quilt-a-long, patchwork

medallion quilt-a-long round 2

Round 2 of Meredithe’s medallion quilt-a-long is all about squares. I really did agonise about what to do for this round. The fabrics that I am using are mostly fat quarters or odd skinny shapes, so I really do have to think outside the square a little (ha ha!) to work out what will highlight the fabrics best while working with the overall (evolving) style of the quilt. It’s a challenge, but I like it! I get out my pencils and graph paper and draft a design out to get an idea of how the finished product might look.

For a while I considered doing simple large squares in as many fabrics from the blue/green colourway as possible. Then I changed my mind and ended up with a square in a square, and mixed up the border fabrics and the inside squares. No two are exactly the same. The next challenge – how best to balance the design in terms of value. I’m happy with the finished result.

Even though they are squares, the changing fabric combinations keep a sense of movement around the quilt. Here are some of my favourites:

Because there are only one or two colours in each fabric, I think each round needs to be kept simple. I’m not being especially challenged in terms of piecing (although it’s not perfect: don’t look too closely at those points) but I am being challenged in terms of design. Meredithe, this is loads of fun!

If you’re interested in joining in, you can! The next round will be announced in November. Just pop over and visit Meredithe’s blog and/or check out the flickr group.

Saturday, 22 October, 2011 by thornberry

vintage crochet

vintage crochet Friday #90

I have been wondering lately about the marriage of crochet and design in clothing, and whether crochet fabric is always used to its best advantage. I think that crochet works best in wearables when it’s inherent properties of texture or lace are fully exploited. Where you want expanses of flat fabric, I think that you’re better off sticking to knitting, with row upon row of stocking stitch. I just don’t think that row upon row of single or double crochet works as well (others may well disagree with me). But where you want interest or texture or pattern or lace or the interplay of light and shade – crochet is just perfect! As I think both these suits demonstrate beautifully.

Friday, 21 October, 2011 by thornberry

family, miscellaneous

things I like

Macarons and a cup of coffee with a long-time friend

Entertaining coasters

Peacock and Butterfly

The most ethereal kid mohair scarf (thanks Mum)

My big girl stitching

Fabric awaiting the scissors

My little girl singing to me from the back seat of the car

You know, there is so much to like and be thankful for!

Thursday, 20 October, 2011 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

cascade-cozy shrug

In general, I’m not a big fan of downloadable patterns. Sewing patterns that is, not crochet ones (I love downloadable crochet patterns and purchase them often). All that printing off loads of sheets of paper then sticky-taping them all together. It’s not really my scene. But then I was alerted to a number of free downloadable sewing patterns by Hot Patterns available at Fabric.com. I figured that if they were free patterns then I couldn’t really complain about the printing and sticky-taping. This is one of them: the cascade-cozy shrug.

The fabric is an extremely drapey modal that I’ve had for a little time. It was a perfect choice for this shrug. I think that learning about getting the right mix of pattern and fabric is a lifelong process! Modal is so fluid that it really does need to be used in garments that flow and drape.

It took me longer to assemble the pieces of paper that made up the pattern than it did to sew the shrug together. All assembly was done on my overlocker and the edges are just roll hemmed on the overlocker as well.

I think that I made the size medium, but due to the nature of this style it’s a very flexible pattern. Well worth a go as a layering piece. I wore it tied at the front, but you could probably play around with it a bit and find a few different ways to wear it. The front ties are very long.

Wednesday, 19 October, 2011 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

jarmies

The days are warming up (sort of) but the nights are still cold. It’s a good thing that at the beginning of winter I made myself a couple of pairs of flannelette pyjamas pants.

I used my very old out of print pyjama pattern. They’re a basic elastic waisted pyjama pant, with a fairly long rise. Very comfortable! The fabrics are Anna Maria Horner Folksy Flannels – divine! Beautiful colours and wonderful quality. They wash and dry so well! I also made the blue t-shirt top to go with the above pair. It’s just a basic long-sleeved and scoop necked t-shirt. The pink long-sleeved t-shirt below was bought (very cheaply).

The combination of flannelette pj pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt works very well for me in winter. But now it’s almost summer! And time for some new warm weather jarmies. I’m thinking shorts or knee-length pants with light cool sleeveless tops. And maybe a nightie or two from one of my vintage patterns. Always planning!

Monday, 17 October, 2011 by thornberry

children's clothing, crochet, kids clothing

floreal

I told you I’d been hooking! Here’s my Stella, finally modelling floreal (Ravelry link) for us.

This was finished during the school holidays, but I have only just been able to persuade Stella to put it on. The threat of giving it to Clare instead convinced her! I followed the pattern for size 2, but used 8 ply Bendigo cotton rather than the 4 ply cotton that the pattern was written for. Correspondingly, I used a larger hook as well (5.0 mm) and the pattern definitely upsized to fit my 4 year old, as a tunic. It also fits 8 year old Clare as a top – and yes, she does want to “share” it with her younger sister!

This pattern was well written and fun to do. I lengthened it by working 2 rows in each of the contrast colours. All the colours were chosen by Stella. The pattern has a top and a tunic version – this is the top, but lengthened.

I wonder if I can remember all the colour names? Let’s see: teal, pink, lime, heather, new ochre, and maybe latte? Some of these are discontinued colours. Bendigo does beautiful cottons – actually, we’re planning a trip to Bendigo next weekend to visit the White Dress exhibition and I may just need to call in to the factory shop as well.

Saturday, 15 October, 2011 by thornberry

Month: October 2011