Boxing Day Sales

Well, I already got sucked in by the first Boxing Day sale & it's not even noon! Wazoodle is having a yard sale and frequent buyers get first pickin'. I ordered the following (hopefully, I get all my choices - sometimes things sell out):

Fleece - Lamb Fleece Chocolate
I really want to make a rag quilt, but I have too much on my plate right now to make that happen. So, I'm going to make this fleece into a throw blanket for my sweetie and me to snuggle under while watching TV. I figure I'll just bind the edges with some coordinating bias cut fabric and, voila - instant cozy cover!
Knits - Quilted Diamond Plate Jet Black, Interlock Teak Brown, Canterbury Knit Black & Jersey Grey Mix
The quilted double knit will either become a light spring jacket or will be used to line a coat. I'm not sure for what I will use the teak and the canterbury knits. The weave of the canterbury knit intrigues me - I'm really looking forward to seeing this fabric so "inspiration" can hit. The grey knit will become T-shirts for the husband.

Wovens - Melton Wool Blasam Green, Melton Wool Forest Green, Crepe Faced Stretch Twill Butter & Crepe Faced Stretch Twill Coral
Both melton wools will become coats - I have recently purchased some vintage patterns that are just crying out for this type of fabric. At $4.40 CDN per yd for a wool/cashmere blend, how could I pass them up? The stretch crepe fabrics will be used to bring to life a couple of 60s patterns that I bought off eBay in the last while. Although I don't love poly crepes, I figure at the very least I will get a couple of cheap wearable muslins.

Butterick 4865 - Wrap Jacket

Pattern: Butterick 4865, view D

Size: XS (4-6) - I normally use a 6 or 8 in tops and jackets and since this jacket is fairly oversized, I decided to go with the XS rather than the S, so that it would not look sloppy.

Fabric: Two Tone Brown Tweed (65% acrylic, 19% polyester, 16% wool) from Timmel Fabrics

Project Photo:


Comments: As soon as I saw this fabric in amongst the fall swatches from Timmel, I knew I had to make this jacket. The pattern is rated "fast and easy", likely due to a lack of lining. I debated back and forth about drafting a lining pattern before I began this project. In the end, I realized that I want to be able to wear this jacket to work over a shirt or light sweater and since I get warm quite easily, I decided against it. In terms of being fast, I figure it took me about 6 hours to complete this, from cutting out the fabric to quite a bit of hand sewing to hem, etc. All the hand sewing is not necessary, but I feel it gives the garment a better finish - besides I like having something to do with my hands when I'm sitting in front of the TV.
This jacket went together quite nicely; all the notches and markings were correct. The instructions were adequate (although I mainly just scanned them as I went). The only mistake I found was that they tell you to insert the sleeves into the jacket body for view A, B & C, but not for view D. I assumed this was just a typo and all views should have the sleeves added at the same point in the instructions.

Conclusion: I really like this jacket. This pattern is certainly not suitable for a couture creation, but I will probably use the other views to make more "casualish" jackets for work. I would only make one change. Next time, I will lengthen the body of the jacket, as it is a bit too cropped for my taste.

I Can Stop Any Time I Want...

I think I have become a vintage pattern junkie. I stalk eBay and Lanetz Living on a daily basis, looking for my latest pattern high. In the past month, I have bought 13 patterns from various sellers on eBay and I, just this minute, succumbed to the 20% off sale at Lanetz Living and made off with another 14 patterns. My eras of choice (obsession) are the 1950s and 1960s. Although I appreciate the designs from the 20s, 30s and 40s, I am too pear shaped to carry them off in real life. On the other end of the century, I am not very partial to most of the 70s clothing and I truly hate the 80s designs - I will know that armageddon is upon us when football player size shoulder pads are back in vogue. When the patterns arrive, I will take pictures to post.

Can You Cut the Cluster Mustard?

There has been much talk on sewing discussion boards over the years on the best basic pieces required in one's wardrobe. The conversation has centred around the articles of clothing and how they relate to one another. Of course, there is the SWAP concept (originally introduced by Australian Stitches magazine), which, for me, was a life-altering revelation - no more orphans in my closet, thank you very much! I recently have run across another approach to wardrobing, referred to as "clusters". There are two basic clusters which can be followed (below are my interpretations - see the previous link for all the info):

The Cluster with Separates
2 jackets + 3 skirts + 4 blouses + 2 sweaters = 48 looks

• Jacket #1 - dark solid colour
• Jacket #2 - patterned fabric (tweed, herringbone or houndstooth)
• Skirt #1 - matches jacket #1 to create a suit, as well as being used as a separate
  
• Skirt #2 - matches jacket #2 to create a suit, as well as being used as a separate
• Skirt #3 - softer in look and texture (pair this with one of the blouses for a dress look)
• Blouse #1 - long sleeved in white or off-white silky fabric
• Blouse #2 - in a light, solid shade
• Blouse #3 - in a solid colour or pattern to match skirt #3
• Blouse #4 - a T-shirt in an accent colour
• Sweater #1 - solid colour cardigan
• Sweater #2 - V-neck or jewel-neck pullover
  

The Dress Option
5 dresses + 2 jackets = 15 looks

• Dress #1 - light bodice with dark skirt to combine with a dark jacket for a suit look
• Dress #2 - another neutral in a lighter colour
• Dress #3 - small pattern
• Dress #4 - another neutral again, in a different style then the previous 3 dresses
• Dress #5 - another pattern or accent colour
• Jacket #1 - dark jacket to work with dress #1 (cardigan or blazer)
  
• Jacket #2 - a colour that work with the dresses above (cardigan or blazer)

The article also goes on to discuss accessories, such as scarves, belts, shoes, bags and jewellery. All in all, another interesting way of approaching the creation of a coordinated wardrobe.

You Have to Start at the Bottoms to Get to the SWAP

Hi all! I haven't posted this week, because, in all honesty, I had nothing interesting to say. Now that I finally have some progress to report - I'm back.

I have been working on a muslin for the Loes Hinse Oxford pants for the last couple of days. I know, I know - I should be working on my SWAP (believe me, my collected pile of fabric and patterns is staring at me and working the most effective silent guilt trip you could ever imagine). However, I am desperate for some new pants for work. Now that the weather has cooled down considerably here (it has been hovering around 0 Celsius, with windchills as low as -14 Celsius), I really don't want to be wearing skirts and dresses as much. Basically skirts are off-limits for me in the winter because I HATE pantyhose and tights. I can never find a pair that fits properly - they are usually too long in the legs and I can't stand the diaper-like feeling one gets when the excess fabric bunches up in the nether regions (if you get my drift). So, anyhow, I am already pleased with the fit of my Euros, so I thought I would get the Oxfords up to speed, too. I have about 8 fabrics just waiting to be transformed into one or the other of these pants.

Then, it's onto the SWAP sewing. At this point, I am unsure of where to start. The plans that I posted earlier have changed and evolved a fair amount. I think I will keep you all in suspense and post each item as I begin to sew it.

North of the 49th Parallel

You are 100% Canuck!

You rock, you are an almighty Canadian through and through. You have proven your worthiness and have won the elite prize of living in a country as awesome as Canada. Yes I know other countries think they are better, but we let them have that cuz we know better than they do, eh?

How Canadian Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Well, look at that - I'm a proud Canuck. I live in a glorious country where we drink pop & beer (that's not watered down), eat back bacon & butter tarts, support gay marriage, pay with loonies & toonies and the last letter of our alphabet is "zed". For more information on what it's like to be Canadian, check out this site.

Now, just to set the record straight, I actually live farther south than quite a bit of the U.S. (I am at the same latitude as Northern California) and I don't really say "eh" all that much.

We Have Photographic Evidence

I got many compliments on the velvet Christmas party dress. I was asked by one person where I bought it. When I told her I made it, she was amazed. I find it interesting that so many people seem to think sewing is akin to brain surgery. When ever I tell someone that creating a garment is not as tricky as they think it is, inevitably, they respond that they "could never do it." I always tell them that they will never know until they try.
Anyhow, here is a photo of me as we were leaving the party:
Here is another closer photo showing the dress a little better:

Let the Games Begin

Today is the offifical start date for the Timmel SWAP. Ladies, start your sewing machines...

In other news, I did not manage to get much done on my Christmas party dress this week. Thank goodness I only had a half day of work today. I will be spending the rest of the afternoon working on the dress. The party is at 7 p.m., so hopefully I can finish up the dress before then. Why, oh why, do I procrastinate most when I have a deadline? I have it all cut out, the shoulder seams sewn and the sleeves set in - I guess it could be worse.

Update: The velvet dress is done. I did not get a chance to sew up the plum under-dress. However, I have another tank dress that I can use in place of the planned one.