Day: 31 January 2016

family

January school holidays

And just like that, the long summer school holidays are over.  Clare has had almost two whole months off; Stella and I have had five weeks.  We had a staycation this year, spending our days at home with only a couple of short trips to the country to visit my parents.  I had a list a mile long of things that I wanted to do.  As it happens, I’ve ticked off most of the items on the list, which is a very satisfying feeling.  I’ve also rested – something that was very much needed after an intense 18 months of pretty much full-time work.  We’ve also enjoyed being tourists in our own city.

January School Holidays 2016 #1 January School Holidays 2016 #2

There has been rock climbing, gallery visiting, cricket matches, live theatre, playdates with friends, the local pool, restaurants, bike riding, shopping, a 13th birthday party, sleeping in, blue sky, and lots and lots of screen time.  It’s been great.  I love school holidays and am more than a little sad to be back at school and work tomorrow.  At the same time, I do enjoy routine.   So let’s get back into the swing of things!

by thornberry
children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing, tween

sewing fail – McCalls 7151

I always benefit from reading about other people’s sewing fails, which is why I blog pretty much absolutely everything that I sew.  Often I have a niggle in the back of my mind when I start to sew something that might not work out.  It’s not always right, but plenty of times it is.

McCalls 7151 view A sewing fail in cotton voile

Lovely fabric, cute pattern. This is McCalls 7151. They describe it as follows: GIRLS’ TOP, DRESS, JUMPSUIT AND SHORTS: Pullover top, dress and jumpsuit have shoulder strap extending into back band, and narrow hem finish. A: Ruffles. B: Insets. A and B: Gathers. C: Self-bow and button shoulder straps. Shorts and waist C have elastic and stitched hems.
Designed for lightweight to medium-weight wovens and moderate stretch knits.
FABRICS: Cotton Interlock, Cotton Jersey. D: Also Denim, Broadcloth, Cotton Blends.

m7151

McCalls 7151 view A sewing fail in cotton voile

We used a lightweight woven – it’s a cotton voile from Thailand – and I sewed size 10. I felt however that the front of the dress was going to look too “flat” in this fabric, and as it turned out there were definitely problems with the top of the bodice. It was too low and showed too much upper chest, and the binding gaped a bit as the fabric was too crisp. I folded over the straps to raise the bodice front, but then the front armholes were too high. It just wasn’t working.

McCalls 7151 view A sewing fail in cotton voile

The back however is rather lovely. I really like the way that the straps are shaped and join the back bodice in a point. That element is a definite win!  It also drapes nicely when looked at from the back.  But the front?  Nope.

McCalls 7151 view A sewing fail in cotton voile

This dress is going to the shop of opportunity. However, it was a useful exercise, because the garment that Clare REALLY wants from this pattern is the long legged jumpsuit. I have already cut it out, with a raised front neckline, and in a woven viscose. The fabric has much more softness and drape, and the top of the jumpsuit is more blouson with waist elastic. The straps of the jumpsuit button up on the front so that you can get in and out of it, but that will also allow for some more fitting adjustability. There is always something to learn from your sewing fails!

by thornberry