Sewings of Fyre: August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Self-Stitched September

So, it's 1039pm on the 31st of August. Which makes tomorrow, the 1st of September, the first day of Self-Stitched-September, once again hosted by the lovely Zoe from 'So, Zo...'. I've been ummming and ahhing about participating, but now, almost at the eleventh hour, I've decided to participate this time around again.

So, here is my pledge:

'I, fyre fairee, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to make at least 6 clothing items, and wear them in September, as well as wearing an additional two self-stitched garments each week for the duration of September 2011'

Now, I know this pledge doesn't have me wearing something everyday, but a decent amount of my self-stitched clothing are for an office environment (I no longer work in an office), or are not quite warm enough. So, I'm aiming to wear something each day, but being realistic with what I actually have.

So, let's see how I go!

And, hopefully, I'm not hindered by this situation too often this month:

Friday, August 12, 2011

Taking Stock - week 16

What I accomplished this week (Friday to Thursday)
* jacket shell for CIT
* red lace look dress

Finished Projects 2011

* Autumn leaf table runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Purple tea-with-the-debutantes dress Work Clothing

* Ruffle dress Work Clothing

* Olive dress Work Clothing

* Maroon Skirt Work Clothing

* White damask skirt Work Clothing

* White Damask blazer Work Clothing

* Magenta stretch dress Work Clothing

* Green stretch dress Work Clothing

* Apron for Nerilee Gifts

* Apron for Robyn Gifts

* Oopsie the Octopus Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Circles Table Runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* A5 art book bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 1950s Apron Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 4 x Baby bibs Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Kyles’ art book messenger bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Adam’s art book messenger bag Christmas 2010

* Wild West dress for stomp Home Clothing

* Embroidery practice Gifts

* Pleated skirt with teal and black design Work Clothing

* 3 x blue cushion covers House Stuff

* little hearts pjs using Tara top patterns and collette mini bloomers pattern Home clothing

* 3 x olive cushion covers House Stuff

* Drafted A-Line Skirt Pattern

* Drafted red ruffle skirt pattern

* Navy swirl skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Lace underskirt Home / Work Clothing

* Beige button skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Teal dress (coffee date dress) Home / Work Clothing

* 4 x cream cushions (and now I’m all done with cushion covers) House Stuff

* Mum’s birthday book

Projects on the go

* Herringbone wool skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Blazer with teal and black design Work Clothing

* Red Ruffle Skirt Home / Work Clothing

Future Projects with fabric already purchased

* 52 weeks of quilt blocks quilt Christmas 2011

* Teal blazer to go with damask skirt Home Clothing

* Black damask dress Work Clothing

* Pink and black damask dress Work Clothing

* Hearts dress (fabric) Home Clothing

* Hearts dress (quilt cover) Home Clothing

* Tara top – floral quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Tara dress – pink quilting fabric, Home Clothing

* Ying Yang gathered top Home / Work Clothing

* Red ruffle skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Blue corset with quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Refashion of black patterned dress from Big W Home Clothing

* Refashion of purple patterned dresses from Big W Home Clothing

* Underskirts / petticoats for summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Hot pink drill dress Home Clothing

* Hot pink check dress with pleats to create pink waist Home Clothing

* Red and Black Wool Skirt Home / Work clothing

* Over skirt with buttons (inspired by pinterest skirt) leaf baby cord Home Clothing

* Hot pink and Aqua skirt with flower/ reverse applique design Home Clothing

Future Project Ideas

* Shorts for pole Home Clothing

* Olive jacket/ coat Home / Work Clothing

* Slips to keep me warm under summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Duro Dress / top Home / Work Clothing

* Over-The-Head 1950s reproduction pattern dress Home / Work Clothing

* Bag thing to cover and carry my baby sewing machine Sewing Gadgets

* bias tape skirt Home Clothing

UFO Projects - or, the sewing basket challenge

This is things that I know I have to do, but just haven't quite gotten to yet

* Hem red and orange long skirt

* Waistband on red satin circle skirt

* Waistband on can can underskirt

* Move debutantes dress zipper to side and lower neckline

* loose lace on stomp wedding dress

* redo waistband on wild west dress

* make red crepe wrap around skirt wearable

* pockets for mums red jacket

* polka dot ruffle skirt

Fabrics in my stash

As I slowly go through my stash, I will keep updating this list. Because honestly, I have no idea what is in my stash at the moment. These are just the things in the boxes I can get to.

* Purple/red/blue knitted fabric

* Fan fabric

* Striped (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Fish (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – scraps

* White/Cream stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 150cm wide

* Hearts in straight line (white base) stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Green leaves fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 115 wide

* Green and white Michael miller dandy damask – 100% cotton – 3 yards, 150cm wide

* Red with blue and white whales fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Navy blue acrylic felt – .6m, 80cm wide

* Rose pink stretch drill - Cotton lycra - 4.9m, 150cm wide

* Rose bed sheets

* Black satin bed sheets

* green micheal miller fabric

* Japanese leaf fabric

* More black sating than I know what to do with

* black shot with navy blue pleated/crinkled satin. - 100% manmade, 1m, 150cm wide

* lilac tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* hot pink tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* pink tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* purple tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* hot pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* light pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* grey knit with red design, 10m, 150cm wide

* red organza, 3m, 150cm wide (has flaws)

* white fabric with flowers, tshirt weight stretch, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: purple striped t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* small pieces: hearts on blue t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* white with yellow polka dots t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm

* small pieces: black t shirt weight knit

* baby blue t shirt weight knit, 1 m, 150cm wide

* green paisley satin, 2m, 150cm wide

* yellow with butterflies, quilting weight cotton, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: red with pink stars polar fleece

* small pieces: purple with sparkle quilting weight cotton

* with with stripes (d of e skirt and pants) t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm wide

* purple slinky lycra, 2m, 150cm wide

* baby yellow with small white spots t shirt wight knit, small piece

* small piece: plain lavender cotton

* small piece: green with flowers quilting weight cotton

* burnt orange flowers corduroy

* burnt orange cheese cloth

8 in 28 ideas

* Red Crepe Ruffle Skirt

* Green and black damask skirt (COMPLETED)

* Pink and black piped dress

* Tara Dress (pink fabric)

* Tara top (quilting fabric)

* Duro Dress

* 1950s Wrap Dress

* Button Skirt and Cream underskirts (COMPLETED)

* Black and red wool Skirt

* Blue Cushion Covers (COMPLETED)

* Baby cord leaf skirt

Stash Busting Ideas

* Top with purple/red/blue knitted fabric Home / Work Clothing

* 1950s inspired swim suit from purple lycra Home Clothing

Red lace look dress

I've had this fabric in my stash for probably five years now. It's a dense knit, probably some sort of synthetic. I love the red colour (finding a good red is really hard), with a printed black lace pattern.

Using McCalls 6244 (which is meant for a bias cut fabric, but given I was using a stretch fabric, I moved the grainline so that it was on the straight, not the bias).

I really liked the look of the inserts over the hips, even if they were a pain to sew.

Cute, no?

My tails - a shell

I have started taking a TAFE (technical college) Clothing production courses in the evenings. For the sewing part of the course, I am making a jacket. I had a few ideas about what I wanted to make, and narrowed it down to the following two:

I couldn't choose between the two, so I decided to combine the elements of each that I liked. I love the fitted tails look of the first, and the stripes look of the second. So, using Vogue 8061, I traced the pattern and altered the front piece to give the shape that I want. Then, I changed the grain lines so that I could see the way the stripes would of the second. Then after spending ages drawing the stripes on the calico, I cut it out, and sewed it up to make my shell, and check the fit. (Which is awesome).

I'm really happy with how it looks, so now I feel comfortable to cut the expensive wool fabric that I'm planning to use for the jacket. And, the fit is great - nice and form fitting, not too loose anywhere, and the shoulders sit well.

Taking Stock - week 14 and 15

What I accomplished this week (Friday to Thursday)

*Mum’s birthday book

Finished Projects 2011

* Autumn leaf table runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Purple tea-with-the-debutantes dress Work Clothing

* Ruffle dress Work Clothing

* Olive dress Work Clothing

* Maroon Skirt Work Clothing

* White damask skirt Work Clothing

* White Damask blazer Work Clothing

* Magenta stretch dress Work Clothing

* Green stretch dress Work Clothing

* Apron for Nerilee Gifts

* Apron for Robyn Gifts

* Oopsie the Octopus Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Circles Table Runner Gifts (Tarof Family)

* A5 art book bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 1950s Apron Gifts (Tarof Family)

* 4 x Baby bibs Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Kyles’ art book messenger bag Gifts (Tarof Family)

* Adam’s art book messenger bag Christmas 2010

* Wild West dress for stomp Home Clothing

* Embroidery practice Gifts

* Pleated skirt with teal and black design Work Clothing

* 2 x blue cushion covers House Stuff

* little hearts pjs using Tara top patterns and collette mini bloomers pattern Home clothing

* 1 olive cushion House Stuff

* Drafted A-Line Skirt Pattern

* Drafted red ruffle skirt pattern

* Navy swirl skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Lace underskirt Home / Work Clothing

* Beige button skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Teal dress (coffee date dress) Home / Work Clothing

* 4 x cream cushions (and now I’m all done with cushion covers) House Stuff

Projects on the go

* Herringbone wool skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Blazer with teal and black design Work Clothing

* Red Ruffle Skirt Home / Work Clothing

Future Projects with fabric already purchased

* 52 weeks of quilt blocks quilt Christmas 2011

* Teal blazer to go with damask skirt Home Clothing

* Black damask dress Work Clothing

* Pink and black damask dress Work Clothing

* Hearts dress (fabric) Home Clothing

* Hearts dress (quilt cover) Home Clothing

* Tara top – floral quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Tara dress – pink quilting fabric, Home Clothing

* Ying Yang gathered top Home / Work Clothing

* Red ruffle skirt Home / Work Clothing

* Blue corset with quilting fabric Home Clothing

* Refashion of black patterned dress from Big W Home Clothing

* Refashion of purple patterned dresses from Big W Home Clothing

* Underskirts / petticoats for summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Hot pink drill dress Home Clothing

* Hot pink check dress with pleats to create pink waist Home Clothing

* Red and Black Wool Skirt Home / Work clothing

* Over skirt with buttons (inspired by pinterest skirt) leaf baby cord Home Clothing

* Hot pink and Aqua skirt with flower/ reverse applique design Home Clothing

Future Project Ideas

* Shorts for pole Home Clothing

* Olive jacket/ coat Home / Work Clothing

* Slips to keep me warm under summer dresses Home / Work Clothing

* Duro Dress / top Home / Work Clothing

* Over-The-Head 1950s reproduction pattern dress Home / Work Clothing

* Bag thing to cover and carry my baby sewing machine Sewing Gadgets

* bias tape skirt Home Clothing

UFO Projects - or, the sewing basket challenge

This is things that I know I have to do, but just haven't quite gotten to yet

* Hem red and orange long skirt

* Waistband on red satin circle skirt

* Waistband on can can underskirt

* Move debutantes dress zipper to side and lower neckline

* loose lace on stomp wedding dress

* redo waistband on wild west dress

* make red crepe wrap around skirt wearable

* pockets for mums red jacket

* polka dot ruffle skirt

Fabrics in my stash

As I slowly go through my stash, I will keep updating this list. Because honestly, I have no idea what is in my stash at the moment. These are just the things in the boxes I can get to.

* Purple/red/blue knitted fabric

* Fan fabric

* Striped (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Fish (white base) terry towelling – polycotton – scraps

* White/Cream stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 150cm wide

* Hearts in straight line (white base) stretch fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Green leaves fabric – 100% cotton – 1m, 115 wide

* Green and white Michael miller dandy damask – 100% cotton – 3 yards, 150cm wide

* Red with blue and white whales fabric – 100% cotton – 1.5m, 150cm wide

* Navy blue acrylic felt – .6m, 80cm wide

* Rose pink stretch drill - Cotton lycra - 4.9m, 150cm wide

* Rose bed sheets

* Black satin bed sheets

* green micheal miller fabric

* Japanese leaf fabric

* More black sating than I know what to do with

* black shot with navy blue pleated/crinkled satin. - 100% manmade, 1m, 150cm wide

* lilac tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* hot pink tulle knit, - 100% man made, 1m, 150cm wide

* pink tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* purple tshirt weight knit, unknown fibre, .5m, 150cm wide

* hot pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* light pink fleece (hoodie material), 1m, 150cm wide

* grey knit with red design, 10m, 150cm wide

* red organza, 3m, 150cm wide (has flaws)

* white fabric with flowers, tshirt weight stretch, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: purple striped t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* small pieces: hearts on blue t shirt weight knit (used for d of e skirts)

* white with yellow polka dots t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm

* small pieces: black t shirt weight knit

* baby blue t shirt weight knit, 1 m, 150cm wide

* green paisley satin, 2m, 150cm wide

* yellow with butterflies, quilting weight cotton, 1m, 150cm wide

* small pieces: red with pink stars polar fleece

* small pieces: purple with sparkle quilting weight cotton

* with with stripes (d of e skirt and pants) t shirt weight knit, 1m, 150cm wide

* purple slinky lycra, 2m, 150cm wide

* baby yellow with small white spots t shirt wight knit, small piece

* small piece: plain lavender cotton

* small piece: green with flowers quilting weight cotton

* burnt orange flowers corduroy

* burnt orange cheese cloth

8 in 28 ideas

* Red Crepe Ruffle Skirt

* Green and black damask skirt (COMPLETED)

* Pink and black piped dress

* Tara Dress (pink fabric)

* Tara top (quilting fabric)

* Duro Dress

* 1950s Wrap Dress

* Button Skirt and Cream underskirts (COMPLETED)

* Black and red wool Skirt

* Blue Cushion Covers (COMPLETED)

* Baby cord leaf skirt

Stash Busting Ideas

* Top with purple/red/blue knitted fabric Home / Work Clothing

* 1950s inspired swim suit from purple lycra Home Clothing

Mum's birthday present book

For her birthday this year, I gave my mother an embellished book. I recovered and re-bound it, and embellished some of the pages. Not as many as I originally wanted, but you have to sleep, sadly.

(This is a very image heavy post)

Front Cover

Inside Front Cover - the book is 'Crusts and Crusades' that I picked up from an op-shop (thrift store). It was written by the Right Honourable William (Bill) Hughes, who was one of Australia's war time Prime Ministers.