The Yaletown Dress

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a tester for Sewaholics newest pattern. The Yaletown dress and blouse.

The Yaletown is a loose fit dress or blouse with short sleeves. It is designed for soft drapey fabrics.

As with all Sewaholic patterns, this one had very detailed and easy to follow instructions.

I had great fun making this, I am not sure what the actual fabric is. It was some left over piece I found on sale at Fabricland a while ago, and when I saw this pattern, knew it would be ideal.

The pattern features a mock wrap top and pockets in the skirt. I love pockets! (I also love how it was moving in the breeze in this photo)

This is a very easy wearing dress, and I am also going to try the top as well as I can see that being a very useful addition to my wardrobe.

As with all Sewaholic patterns, this one is named for an area in the Vancouver region. I Googled it and apparently Yaletown has been revitalized over the years and is now one of Vancouver's hippest neighbourhoods. I am adding to my list of places to visits when I am in Vancouver at the end of August!

When these photos were taken it was spring and that is blossom on the ground behind me not snow! Although with the late start we had to spring in Southern Ontario, you would be forgiven for thinking it was snow!!

Mabel Skirt

I have finished my first Colette Patterns Mabel skirt.

Even though I am short, I added on a couple of inches to the length and am happy with it. I love red and haven't had a red skirt for a while.

I think it took me an hour to whip this up on Sunday afternoon. How nice to have such a quick and easy sew for a change!

I used a double knit and my over locker ( serger) for everything except the hem. I used a twin needle for that.

This is the first piece for my Knitcation challenge. Another mabel this week in a camel coloured knit and then one or two Monetas 

I took the photos with my phone this evening, as I know i am going to be so busy the rest of the week, won't have time to do nice outside photos.

McCalls M6801 - Dress

I bought this pattern last year when McCalls had one of their big sales. I actualy bought several patterns and forgot about this one.

When I was reading the April/May issue of Threads magazine a few weeks ago I saw the pattern had been reviewed and it reminded me of my purchase.

 I used a very thin knit. In hindsight probably too thin, but I did line it so it is not too see through!

It was all done except for the hems, and I put off doing those as they can easily stretch and ruin the look of a garment. Luckily I bought The Colette Guide to Sewing Knits the other day (wonderful book) and used a suggested technique of  a twin needle (after ironing a strip of interfacing tape on to stabilize). Even if I say so myself the hems look very professional!

I am happy with my new dress!

Robson Coat

Very exciting day today! I finally finished my Sewaholic Robson Coat.

I purchased the fabric in March last year on a trip to Seattle, at a fabric store called Nancy's Sewing Basket. Instead of souvenirs I like to bring home some fabric or yarn from a trip!

It is a light weight twill type fabric in dove grey. I added a black and white contrast fabric for the tabs, belt and under the storm flaps.

It wasn't a difficult sew, it is just that I got side tracked on other projects. But I made a determined effort to get this UFO finished before I started on anything else.

Excuse the shadows!

Even though it is still cold here in Ontario, it was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky. Great for the photos!

I used a canary yellow bias binding for all the seams and really like how the inside of my coat looks.

 
Close up of the wrist tabs and the black and grey buttons I chose for the coat.

I love my new Trench Coat!

Pastille Dress - Worn at last!

What do you wear to a summer wedding when you are on a RTW Fast and you have had no time to sew? And of course you want to wear something new!

You thank goodness for a green linen Pastille dress  that you made in summer 2012, from the Colette Patterns Sewing Book, and have never worn!!

Being linen it was the perfect fabric for a hot day in Australia!

I loved making this dress but then never seemed to have the opportunity to wear it. This seemed the ideal opportunity.

It was a total coincidence that I matched the bridesmaids!

I paired the dress with copper coloured accessories and a wrap.

Caught with my hand in the sweetie jar!!

I will definitely be wearing this dress again!

Butterick 3126 Sundress

My first finished item for 2014.

Excuse quality of photo. Inside and late at night!!

I picked up both the pattern and the fabric from the Toronto sewing meet-up in November in Hamilton.

I needed another dress for my trip to Australia and this was quick and easy to sew. I omitted the side slit and ruffle as I did not have enough fabric for that. Also, as this was a knit fabric I omitted the darts.

The fabric was a huge piece that I shared with both Gillian (Crafting a Rainbow) and  Gjeometry, it will be interesting to see their creations with the same fabric!

Thurlow Trousers

I finished the Sewaholic Thurlow trousers the other day. An item for FESA.

However, I am not sure if this is a pattern for me.  I have made trousers before, I have made two pairs of Jalie jeans, both with stretch denim which is very forgiving.  I used blue twill from my stash for these, so not sure if I have got the fit quite right or whether the twill is too heavy a fabric for these trousers. Something is just not right!

I also think that at my height (or lack thereof!) I should stick to straight leg trousers for a more flattering look.

But I have to say that this was another great Sewaholic pattern to sew. Clear and precise instructions.

I love the individual features such as the welt back pockets ( a first for me) and the nice front pockets. I lined the waistband and did the pockets with a lovely blue floral fabric that I have had in my stash for years

So all in all if nothing else, this was a great wearable muslin and I will actually be worn! 

Moss Skirt

I finished a Grainline Moss skirt last week. What a nice pattern! It was a pleasure to sew and I really like the fit. I happened to be in Niagara Falls on the weekend, so couldn't resist the opportunity for a photo op on location!

I sewed a size 6 and it fits perfectly, I did not need to do any alterations. I used a medium weight denim that has a bit of stretch to it. I picked the denim up a few weeks ago on a trip to Len Mills Store in Hamilton.

I added the "modesty" hem band onto the bottom as I am way beyond the age when I can wear my skirts up to there! It now sits just on the knee.

This is going to look nice in winter with stockings and boots and a little sweater.

I did a lot of top stitching using orange thread to finish things off. I will definitely be making this again, in fact I picked up a piece of brown twill type fabric at value Village the other day which will look very nice as a Moss skirt.

Burda 8072

I cut this out a couple of weeks ago, but then only got to finish sewing it when I started to follow Kayoticsewings's "20 minutes a day Sewalong" on Artisan's Square. I have been saying how busy I am, but really who can't find 20 minutes a day for something you enjoy?

So here's proof that all you need is 20 minutes a day...........

I had seen a dropped waist dress in a boutique that I passed while out running a while ago. I like to multi-task, window shop and run!! When I got home I searched through my pattern stash with no luck, so went out and purchased this Burda pattern at my local Fabricland.

I made View A and used a cotton fabric that has a little stretch to it. It is very easy to sew.

I used a plain black fabric for the flaps for the contrast.

The push to get it finished was also the fact that the temperatures are set to drop here in Toronto, so I wanted to wear it at least once this year.

The Pencil Skirt

To me a black pencil skirt is the staple of a working wardrobe. So why for the last year has my wardrobe not had one? Good question. Something to do with my last one shrinking. Yes, strange, after wearing it happily for a couple of years it just shrank. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

When I opened up Gerties New Book For Better Sewing, and saw the pencil skirt I knew it was for me. I cut it out a while ago, but seem to have been so busy this summer that I have hardly had time to sew. Plus I am also training for a Marathon in the Fall and the extra time training in the evenings takes away from my sewing time, (yes I know, excuses, excuses!!).

The skirt was easy to construct, I especially like the fact that you sew the back seam and then baste fit the sides so that you can get the exact fitting that you want.

I used a vintage closure from my stash for the back of the waistband instead of doing a button hole.

I lined the skirt with black Bemberg and I also added boning to the waistband as I had boning left over from the Polka Dot party dress I made at the end of May.

I am planning many ways to wear my new pencil skirt to the office:

1. Plain white blouse Mathilde Blouse

2. Portrait blouse 

3. Black and White Pendrell

4. Other versions of the Pendrell

5. Red Turtle neck

6. Cream silk blouse

7. White Long Sleeve tee and a scarf

8. Red leather jacket

9. Grey sweater

10. Black and white striped shirt

Etc, Etc, Etc........

The Portrait Blouse

I have finished something. Yeah! First time in a while!

This is my version of the Portrait Blouse from Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing.

The fabric is a soft lawn like fabric that drapes nicely. I picked it up for about $3/m on sale at the Peterborough Fabricland a while ago when we were visiting friends at their cottage. I originally had a blouse with ruffles in mind, but then remembered I am not a ruffles person, so when I saw the Portrait Blouse, I knew it would be a better style for me.

With side bust darts and two tucks at the front and two at the back, this sleeveless blouse is very quick and easy to stitch up. For the sleeves and bottom edge I did a very narrow hem and the neck has a facing.

I tried it both untucked and tucked in and both ways look good I think. I will be able to wear it with trousers or a skirt for work, under a little jacket

Now off to finish the Pencil Skirt, also from Gerties Book! Just the hand stitched hem to go.