So.....

I come in to do my end of year round-up only to discovered I haven't blogged since September. Oops!

Convention was fabulous as usual. It was in Brisbane this year. Not as hot as I expected which was a surprise. My clothes worked well so I'm happy about that. Oh & I WON one of the categories of the Convention Challenge with my tropical silk-cotton top & lime linen/cotton pants. Part of my prize was one of those Guterman thread albums with 42 reels of thread. Ooooooh.....love. Everyone who came up to me to see what I'd won oohed & ahhed over that baby. Hilarious!

I managed to get an almost there TNT pants pattern with Roberta Thompson at Convention. Pretty happy about that. Turns out that most of my problems were the front thigh. That in turn created wrinkles at the back. Who knew? So I have been making pants like some mad woman, still trying to get them "perfect". At this stage, they are not but I'm still wearing them. I made two cargo style pairs based on New Look 6005 for work but I have no photo of those. I need to review them too so will put that on my 2016 to-do list!

What I can show you is the cardigan I made for the sweater knit contest on PR and the colour blocked top I made for DD for another contest.

McCalls 6996 Size L

Fabric from All About Fabric, Tamworth

$25.50 per metre

I probably picked the wrong fabric for this particular cardigan as I don't think the stripes are suitable, especially for the back. I don't think it's that flattering on my bum either but ha!...I don't have to look at it!

New Look 6875 size M

Red & print fabric from 2 RTW T-shirts

Stripe from stash

DD has been waiting months for this top which I promised her in early August. We saw the Tshirts on spesh at a fat woman's store for $10 each so we bought the biggest ones and I cut them up. There will be another Tshirt coming when I get my A into gear. :)

Something else I made recently was this bag from Little Moo designs. ASG did a sew along on their FB page so I got sucked in. Let me just say that there were issues with this pattern! As I am discovering with bag patterns......ergh.

The last thing to show is a bag I made last week for my mother. I realised that I only had 1 present for her for Christmas so whipped this baby up quick smart. I have to admit it's pretty good. :) But the pattern is pretty good too. As above, I realised you get what you pay for with PDF patterns. DUMD patterns may be a little more exxy than others, but you get FABULOUS directions.

Date Night bag from Dog Under My Desk

Fabric: Vera Bradley purchased from China

Cost US$10 per yard

It's only been a month

But it feels like longer! I thought I'd been sewing lots in that time but when I look at my finished items, it turns out I haven't. Eep!

So what have I sewn? Well it started with this Vogue 9057 Marcy Tilton top that I made in merino. 3 different pieces of merino at that. I cut it out in Tamworth...oh...did I mention Tamworth?? A few of the downunder girls from PR got together in Tamworth. Anyway....I cut out the merino in Tamworth and actually sewed it together there although most of the girls there didn't see me sew it. Hmmm...

The fitting is a bit tricky. I'm still not 100% sure of the top half cos it slips off my shoulders and seems to be too big. I may yet try & take it in a bit.

Then I had a thought that this top fitted into the Plus Size Pattern Contest on PR. But I had to make an outfit. Poo. So I whipped up these New Look 6950 pants which I've made before. I'm still trying to get the fitting right so they're a tiny bit tight in the knee area (of all places!) and they want to fall down. I think the weight of the pockets is pulling them down. Whatever. I do love the pockets though. I don't really love this view though.

So I entered the contest but didn't win. Pity because the prize was actually a good one! LOL. And I sure as hell AM plus sized in that photo!

After that I did some obligation sewing for my mother. A fleece jacket from a pattern I adjusted way back in 2002. My husband sacrificed the polar fleece I'd brought back from the US for him. I'm just not sure he knows that. He he he. It's not actually finished in the photo but if I don't take one now, I'll never see it again.

Then yesterday, I whipped up a mesh top for DD. She needed something to wear to a family party so we popped into The Remnant Warehouse on Friday and she picked out this mesh. It's gorgeous but I would never have picked it for her!

Simplicity 2148 View B

Size 12

Mesh fabric from The Remnant Warehouse 

$5.95 per metre

Meanwhile I am planning this Marcy Tilton raincoat in teal raincoat fabric. Just gorgeous. I'll keep you posted on that baby.

PR Travel Wardrobe

It's been a while but I've been sewing this wardrobe for the PR Travel Wardrobe contest. Most of the fabric came from my stash with the exception of the white lace. But more about that later.

It's not often that I make a wadder and I never share them if I do but here is my first one for the new year! It's the Christine Jonson Keyhole top and while I kept it as part of the wardrobe, I will not be wearing it. I'll be unpicking it and re-making. You see, the top is reversible which I thought was a good idea. But the fabrics I chose weren't really suitable as it's really heavy and hot to wear. Bummer. Nor was I happy with the keyhole (& no, I won't be showing you a closeup!). I also look like ten ton tess wearing it.

It's a stripe on one side and a plain red on the other. Can I just say "Boobs"??

My other pieces were another version of the New Look T shirt 6735, colour blocked with all my fabrics; a white lace cardi which has a whole story of its own and a red print gorgeous gorgeous mesh overshirt that can be tied.

I adore the mesh top and that WILL be worn. The lace cardi I'm meh about but it will probably work on the cruise. I do love the colour blocked top although something is going on with the sleeve. Anyway, here's the contest collage:

Now I promised Kristy some GOMI worthy shots so here they are:

Don't know what I'd do without that tree in our yard!

I love yous all!

I discovered there were ants on the tree....and on me!

I'm wiping the sweat from my brow cos it was SOOOO hot.

 Note the pigeon toed stance.

Oh that one is my photographer who always manages a selfie!

It's been a while....

Apologies for the lack of posts. After sewing up a frenzy for the ASG Convention, I was all sewn out and haven't touched my machine since the beginning of October!

So to make up for all that, I'm here to show you a myriad of photos. They are mostly items I made for the Convention and the Convention Challenge. You've already seen the purple cami top and mesh overshirt so I'll spare you those. First up is the outfit I wore in the fashion parade on the Challenge awards night. It consists of ponte pants, rayon top and the vest which had 2 pairs of removable lapels.

Here is a collage of close-ups of the vest. I used Snap Source snaps to affix the lapels to the vest. This worked really well. The snaps don't show on the outside of the aqua lapels but they do on the felt ones so I used an aqua snap rather than a silver one. The lapel above is just various embroidery and pearl thread fed through the overlocker and held down with random straight stitching. I then used my Bejeweller to add some more bling via swarovski crystals. I'm quite happy with how the lapels turned out.

Here are some closeups.

This is another of the tops I made for the Challenge. It's Simplicity 1592 (as is the vest) made from a Kaffe Fasset quilting cotton. The cardigan over the top is my new fave, Simplicity 2148. I love the pockets! Apologies for the quality of these shots...my daughter didn't want to venture onto the grass so shot them from a loooong way away!

This top and cardigan were not part of my Collection. I made them just to wear at Convention when I decided to wear aqua and purple all week. The top is Simplicity 2148 again but I made the sleeves short instead of long. The cardigan is New Look 2759 without the front band. I simply turned the fabric over and coverstitched it. It's a DKNY jersey I bought in Auckland, wool/rayon/spandex blend. Very yummy and a different colour purple on the inside!

Oh & I wanted to show you a closeup of the neckline of that rayon top in the first photo. I used my coverstitch machine and a bias binder attachment to do the neck. I absolutely adore it and it was really easy.

Last but not least are the 2 leather bags I made at Convention. The first one is a larger version of the bag I made at Adelaide Convention in 2012. I originally was going to give it to my mother but I may yet change my mind in that regard. :)

And this, dear readers, is the bag I made in the second part of the week. It's just gorgeous! But...as I am finding the more I use it, it's a little big for me. A bit too deep and stuff gets lost in the bottom. But gorgeous just the same.

I couldn't resist buying these 2 little coin purses from our tutor to match my bags. They are so cute. It was only when I got home I realised the top one is actually navy blue not black. Oh well.

So that ends my photo wrap up of what I've been doing with myself for the past few months.The Convention went really well, the food was good, the classes were good and the company was great. I highly recommend you all try and go once in your lives. I will leave you with the view from my room that I had for the week. I can't guarantee you will get a view like this but I can guarantee you will have a fabulous time!

It's been a while

Don't for one moment think that just because I haven't been blogging that I haven't been sewing! I'm just sewing secret women's business.

But here are some things I *can* show you.

In May I went away for a sewing weekend where I made some of the secret things. So no photos of that. But I did have a great time and there is another sewing retreat scheduled for August. He he he.

The weekend after that retreat, I did a felting workshop in Woy Woy with NZ felting tutor, Raewyn Penrose. She was one of our tutors at the ASG Convention in Auckland last year and I was very envious of the lucky girls who did her class. So when I was told she was coming over, I jumped at the chance to do the class.

The class was to make this felt and then create a bag but I decided to just keep the fabric as is and use it later. Here's a photo of the finished piece (excuse my tomatoes in the background LOL).

Here are some closeups of some of my favourite bits

Then I decided in order to get the technique of bag-making, I would make this little pouch. No plans for what to do with it though! I used a different background colour and absolutely adore it. So yummy.

I've also been making some underwear. I bought this fabric about 18 months ago when Target decided to change the undies I liked. Grrrr. I got 7 pairs out of 1 metre - one was a toile. I ran out of elastic at the end & needed to sub so just used some cream. I think it looks fine. And besides, who is gonna see it???

The pattern is Kwik Sew 3881, size XL. I did a cross between the full brief and the bikini. I just measured my RTW side seams to get the preferred length. I also used the RTW for elastic measurements and I made the leg openings a bit higher.

A closeup of the elastic attachment using a 3 step zig zag, length 3 width 2.5.

This garment is part of my ASG Convention Sewing Challenge entry.  It's New Look 6082. I've been working on this one for a while cos it was so gapey and low on my body. Anyway, it's now fixed and is fine. The colour is not true to life here - it's more a grape colour.

Last but not least, is a present I made for my best friend. It's a waterproof bag for her to use with her wet sponge/washcloth/whatever you call it. The fabric came from The Remnant Warehouse and is a laminated cotton. The inside (no photo) is just remnants of my much hated Minoru jacket.  I used that old familiar Nicole Mallalieu pattern but didn't box the bottom out.

So that's it for now. I will be back with some more stuff I promise! I'm currently making DD a ponte dress and a merino top for myself. I can definitely show you them!

2 tops, obligation sewing & a catch up

I've just realised I haven't blogged about the few things I've finished this year.

I used to have a nice TNT sleeveless top that I wear around the house. I decided to make another version for my cruise but discovered it's no longer a TNT due to body changes. Anyway, here it is. Apologies for the hanger shot but the fit is not that good plus my photographer is out.

McCalls 8050

Lizette cotton sateen fabric from Spotlight

$5 per metre bought on 8 December 2013

Here is the second top - also sleeveless and using another pattern that I've sewn before. This one is New Look 6895. I made 2 of the sleeved versions way back in 2011. This one fits better but I had to play with the neckline *a lot* cos it was very low and wide. I finally got a photo that shows the true colour of the fabric. You can see the difference between the first & the second photos. It's the first one that shows the correct colour of the fabric.

New Look 6895

View A

Cotton voile from The Remnant Warehouse

$5.95 per metre purchased on 2 November 2013

Close up of gathered front detail

My obligation sewing has ended with the finish of this gown for my mother. She calls it a brunch coat...not sure what Americans call it. She asked me to make it as she couldn't get one in the shops for love or money. They all tie around the waist which mother hates. Her alternative was to pay $70+ in David Jones. Anyway, it's made of the most gorgeous Cambridge lawn that I've had in my stash since the 90s. Back when Lincraft used to sell beautiful fabric. Sigh. I knew that I would never use it as it's not my colours plus I don't do floral much. But for a brunch coat it's perfect. It just needs the buttons & buttonholes (no buttons in the stash that matched). Oh & I added a patch pocket which was requested by mother.

Kwik Sew 3106

Size XL

Fabric from Lincraft

Close up of the front yoke

Also sewn for the cruise was a swimming costume for myself. Of course, this has to be a hanger shot...there's no way I'm exposing my body to you all! I'm considering buying a dressmakers dummy for better displaying these type of items. The hanger does nothing for it!

Kwik Sew 2333

Fabric from The Remnant Warehouse

$10 p/metre

Back view

Last but not least were 2 lanyards. Necessary items for the cruise. I made 2 but DD's has disappeared into the void so I could only photograph mine. Vera Bradley fabric (what else?) and I just made it using a 2.5" strip of fabric.