Day: 22 January 2014

adult's clothing, sewing, tessuti patterns

meow

Some of you suspected that it wouldn’t be long before the creepy cat fabric that I used for Clare’s and Stella’s Modkid Melanie dresses would turn up on a garment for me.  You were right.

Tessuti Lola tee

See what happens when the school holidays enter their fifth week! I do slightly nutty things, like making a Lola tee from cat fabric. Oh well.

Tessuti Lola tee

Like last time, I sewed this up as a straight size Medium, but about three inches shorter than the pattern. Since I had red thread in the overlocker and sewing machine, I did all the construction in red and twin needle topstitching in red as well. Just adds that extra detail that isn’t terribly noticeable, but I know is there!

Tessuti Lola tee - with contrast stitching

I used some black/white stripe from stash for the neck band, rather than more of the creepy cat fabric. I had envisaged eyes all around the neckline, but luckily for everyone else I changed my mind. And why was there red thread in the overlocker and machine?

Tessuti Lola tee with Grainline Moss mini

Because I finally finished sewing another Grainline Moss mini, this time in red. I am very happy with it! I sized down to a 10, learning from my last make, and did a small sway back alteration by removing a wedge from the centre of the back yoke panels.

grainline moss mini - back view

This is really hard to see in the red, and the fit still isn’t perfect, but the skirt is very comfortable and highly wearable.

Grainline Moss mini

The fabric is stretch cotton drill. I used a contrast print for the inside of the pockets, the waistband facing, and the hem band facing.  I really love the way that the pockets extend to the centre front seam!  The angled edges of the pockets were stabilised before sewing, since they are cut on the bias and I really didn’t want them to stretch out.

Grainline moss mini

I was very pleased with the zipper insertion, and found a vintage button from stash to complete the skirt. No-one will ever see it, because I wear my tops over my waistbands, but I know that it is there!

Grainline moss mini

I did try the skirt on without the hem band, but felt that it was a bit too short for me to feel comfortable in at the shorter length. I’m not concerned about the look of my (very pale) legs, but I really couldn’t bend over without showing far more than I wanted to show. So I added the hem band, but cut it a bit narrower than the pattern. This length should be perfect. I’m also quite impressed with the waistband fit this time around, and how well the skirt sits when viewed from the front.

grainline moss mini - front

There is another Moss mini in my future, for my SWAP. I have a few other items that I want to complete first, however! I have managed to sew a garment each day over the past couple of weeks, which has been highly enjoyable for me. As a consequence I am behind on blogging all those garments, but when school and work go back soon my sewing output will slow down considerably. Sob!  Have to make the most of available sewing time while I can!

Tessuti Lola tee with Grainline Moss mini

And did you notice my porch table?

Tessuti Lola tee with Grainline Moss mini

Highly appropriate for deliveries of patterns or fabric, I think….

children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing

class picnic blouse

The Class Picnic blouse is an Oliver + S pattern that has been in my stash for quite some time.  Now that I have finally used it, I am wondering what took me so long!

Oliver + S Class Picnic blouse

As per the Oliver + S pattern description: the raglan-sleeve pull-on blouse includes gathers at the yokes, elastic at the shoulders, three-quarter-length sleeves, and wide hems.

Oliver + S Class Picnic blouse

The only real difference between the front and back of this blouse is that the back is ever so slightly higher. I sewed a label inside the back yoke to make it easier for Clare to know which way around to wear it. The fabric is Denyse Schmidt Greenfield Hill voile, and it was beautiful to sew. It is super smooth and silky to the touch with a tight weave, much like Liberty tana lawn really, so required a new sharps needle and a freshly cleaned sewing machine (wow, what a difference oiling your machine occasionally makes).

Oliver + S Class Picnic blouse

This is quite a roomy design and I sewed up size 8 for Clare (134 cm tall, aged 11 years). This is a straightforward style to construct. I really do wonder how it is that Liesl Gibson comes up with such lovely and individual designs while keeping them so straightforward to make and with such clear instructions! Definitely a special talent.  I reckon that she could upsize this blouse and add it to her women’s range.  Maybe I should suggest it?

Oliver + S Class Picnic blouse

I’ll be making this pattern again. And maybe the coordinating shorts, that look really sweet on the pattern envelope. In the meantime, I’m wondering how to track down some more of that Greenfield Hill voile. It’s quite a few seasons old now, but I really do love it. And last but not least, thank you for your beautiful (and educational) comments on Clare’s vintage Butterick dress! It seems that this has been a satisfying make for all of us.