Still pursuing my endeavour to use up large scraps, I managed to eke an Alice top from some leftover Stella cotton/lycra knit (from Crafty Mamas).  I suspect that the gathered sleeve is rapidly going out of fashion again (it’s been overtaken by the peplum as the trend that you see everywhere) but I find them rather flattering and a nice detail.

This was a size 12, cut slightly straighter through the waist. I sew on elastic to create the gathering in the centre front and down the centre of the sleeves. Rather than cutting the elastic at the recommended length then attaching it, I mark the start and end point on the elastic in pen so that I have something to hold on to (both behind the needle as well as in front of it) then stretch it like made to ensure that the marks line up where they should. This technique seems to work quite well.

I think that this will be a versatile top – I really like the colour, and the fabric is delicious quality. While I was at it, I made a pair of Kerry (cargo) pants, but without the cargo pockets. I did retain pockets in the side seams. I was looking to make a pair of comfortable pants that would be cool in summer – these fit the bill.

When I first made these I added the side tabs from the pattern and rolled up the legs, forgetting that I’d overlocked the seam edges in a different colour. There was also too much bulk. So to salvage the situation I unpicked the side tabs, hacked a whole lot of fabric from the hem, and rehemmed the pants to a finished, unrolled length. I actually rather like them now – simple in style, but a knock-you-out colour. And I’m very happy with the fit (size 10).

These have a simple drawstring waist, but you could use elastic as an alternative. There isn’t much bulk around the waist since the pants are fairly slim-fitting through the bottom and hips, just enough room to get the pants on. The pants legs are loose but not too wide. It’s just what I was looking for. The fabric came from Rathdowne Fabrics, and I’m unsure about the composition. It is a shot woven, with turquoise threads running one way and metallic bronze the other. They’re rather light and have worn well, and don’t need a great deal of ironing.

Another cool outfit for hot summer days – we had a real doozy here in Melbourne yesterday, almost 40 degrees! I’m really not too good at the heat, despite growing up in country Victoria where it hovered around those temperatures for weeks on end, not even cooling down much at night. I have grown soft – I love our refrigerated air conditioning.

Usually after I’ve been to Sewjourn I don’t touch my sewing machine or overlocker for more than a week.  This time has been no exception, although I do have some pre-Christmas sewing plans.  I’d like to make Christmas dresses for myself, Stella, Clare, a shirt for my husband, and a top and skirt for my cousin Freya.  That is, let’s see, six items.  In less than five weeks, which will also involve a weekend camping trip, a visit to my parents, assorted work Christmas functions, and the odd meeting or two. Eeeeeeek!

Anyway, back to Sewjourn sewing.  Rachel kindly gave me Simplicity 2254 last time that we were at Sewjourn, so this time I made it!  I used scraps of mystery knit left over from another project.  There was very little fabric but I managed to squeeze out View D, the shorter length and shorter sleeves, with no fancy embellishments or details.

This top turned out much more nicely than I’d anticipated. It’s actually drafted for wovens, but I figured that it would be fine in a knit. As you know, I like an empire line top; it flows over my middle rolls better than something fitted, which just tends to highlight them with a sausage casing effect. I know that many people worry about looking pregnant in empire lines – I figure that at my age, most people won’t make that assumption. And comfort wins out. There is elastic threaded through a casing made from the seam allowances in the back, between the upper and the skirt portion of the top. It brings the top in nicely to hug the body and give it more definition.

My only criticism of this top is that the neck band doesn’t completely hug the body through the front neckline, but stands away slightly in a couple of places. This is probably because I cut the facing on the cross grain, due to fabric limitations. In retrospect, I should have probably just cut the facing from a coordinating fabric – but I didn’t think of that at the time. Ah, hindsight, you’re such a wonderful thing! I really like this top with my StyleARC Elle pants.

Although I haven’t done any sewing over the past week, I did enjoy some sewing related activity. I joined seven other Melbourne sewing bloggers for a meet at The Fabric Store (where some bright orange cotton/lycra may have been purchased for another pair of Elle pants) and then on to the Alannah Hill clearance store (where some – gasp – LIBERTY floral cotton/lycra may have been purchased for tops for Clare and Stella). Of course, after all that fabric perusal we need to sit down and refresh ourselves with a beer/cider/champage at Little Creatures.

(Rachel, me, Anna, Leigh and Steph – the others had to depart before this was taken.  Photo blatantly stolen from Rachel)

As always, it was so much fun to talk fabric and patterns and construction with other women who care about it! Thanks to all of you for a fun afternoon.  I felt a little younger and hipper and groovier being out with you all, and enjoyed all the people watching along Brunswick St and Johnston St as I wandered back to the tram in the spring afternoon sunshine.  It reminded my of my long-ago uni days…

Has anyone been wondering about my bedroom renovation? The wardrobes have been installed, and they are now FULL.

Oh my goodness. So many clothes. Too many clothes.  I need to get rid of some of them, but find it SO difficult to give away clothes that I have made, and clothes that I like. I’m also grappling with giving away the clothes that don’t currently fit me. I’ve put on well over five kilograms since this time last year, and many of my clothes either don’t fit at all or aren’t comfortable. Shall I just get rid of them and keep what fits now, planning to make more if/when I lose the extra weight, or do I hang on to them waiting for them to fit again? This is an ongoing issue for me, and is part of the reason why I own so many clothes – I have my fat clothes and my thin clothes, because weight fluctuations are a common thing for me. What to do? But I have to say, it is wonderful having everything where I can see it.  And let me add, I do share this wardrobe with my husband – he gets two and a bit doors worth – it is not ALL mine!

Now there is the carpet to go in, then new curtains to replace the old ones that shredded when I washed them. Oops.