Sewing plans

I’m trying to get back to blogging get more regularly but because I’ve been spending so much time at the computer working the past few months I find it hard to bring myself to do it for fun. I’ve started using my phone to type up my posts whenever I have a few spare minutes and it’s working out great. I typed most of my previous post and this one in snippets here and there.

Let this be the signal to be more productive blogwise.

Ok. So. Sewing plans…..

These were my early summer sewing plans back in June or thereabouts:

Tillys Miette skirt ✔

Made with blue linen but unfortunately have no photos of it and its put away for now!

Sewaholic Crescent skirt✔

Made with tie dyed stretch denim type fabric from Minerva Crafts

Dixie DIY Ballet dress✔

Made with cheap market fabric from Holland. This dress cost €5. I had to gather a rectangle for the skirt as 2M wasn’t enough, (must go back to buying 3M at the market). I lined the bodice with some nice Black Cotton Lycra from Tia Knight for a bit of support and warmth. I tried gathering the skirt with clear elastic but could not manage it so got some regular thin woven elastic and it worked with much less stress. The sizing I’ve been using to make this dress (my third so far) is small at shoulders, medium at waist and grading out to large at hips. Cos I’m a big pear.

 

 

 

 

 

Hudson pants✔

As last post

 

Julia cardigan✔

 

 

Made with striped Ponte knit I can’t remember where I got it from. Its a nice squishy soft knit with grey / black stripes. This is my first attempt at this cardi, I didn’t muslin just went ahead and made the Size L. Next time I will make the size xl for a bit more room, this one is quite fitted on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So 5 completed projects wasn’t bad for my busy summer of although 3 of the five were made in September!

I’ve made a list on a whiteboard in my sewing room for my current autumn sewing plans. It looks realistic:

So far I have muslined the Named Dakota bodice. I like the fit and I’ve discovered Named patterns are designed for taller women. The only fit adjustment I’m making is my usual full back adjustment and in this case raising the armhole a cm.

I want to make it in ponte but my stash has run out so I’ll have to wait til I feel I can order more fabric. My last credit card bill was a wake up call. I went a bit bananas ordering stuff in August and a lot of bad decisions were made. But it’s in the stash for a rainy day. I will make this dress during October as part of  Froctober but maybe not according to the official schedule. (Depends on fabric shopping ability)

 

I’ve made the purple workout tshirt for my Pilates class over the weekend.

 

Next up is the Ottobre jacket in a flocked ponte (above) I picked up last spring from Minerva Crafts. A girl in my book club gave me a pile of Ottobre magazines to mind for her (use as i wish) as she won’t have time to use them at the moment. I prefer the A/W issues as the clothes are more practical. There’s a good few items I’d like to make mostly out of one magazine.

So if the day job doesn’t take up too much time and energy I should be able to keep to my plans, it also doesn’t take account of possible deviations like another Ballet dress in fabric I have in the stash for some instant gratification.

 

Anyone out there have any solid sewing plans??

 

Autumnal sewing plans

Well hey there dear readers. It’s been a while but I’m plotting away on my sewing plans for the coming weeks and months. I’ve had a good clear out of my wardrobe after reading Paris Letters by Janice Macleod.  I highly recommend this book, it’s basically a story of how one burnt out advertising executive decided to pack her one suitcase, leave the rat race and end up living a quaint life in Paris.  How she whittled her belongings down to one suitcase and bolster her bank account is inspiring.
Back on planet Maeve meanwhile, during said clearout,  jeans were relocated that still actually fit (yippee), and lots of room was made for new garments to be produced in the little old shed.

So I’ve already made a couple of basic patterns such as Capital Chic sweatshirt and True Bias Hudson Pants.

 

 

The sweatshirt I made from some cornflower sweatshirt fabric I picked up from Minerva Crafts in the Spring.

 

 

I finished the cuffs and bands in midnight ribbing I ordered from Plush Addict. I had also ordered the ribbing in cornflower but it was a few shades off the main fabric colour and I thought the contrast of the midnight colour looked better. The sweater turned out a bit big but is super cosy for wearing around the house etc. If I make it again I’ll make it a size smaller ( I have a striped knit in the stash in mind for the next one).

 

 

 

Hudson pants – I made these in size 16 and lengthened the legs by 4 inches and the crotch to waist by 2 inches. I used a heavyweight sweatshirt fabric also from Minerva Crafts. I ended up taking them down at least one size at the waist and hips. I left the width of the legs as is as I liked them a bit roomy. Next time I will take one of those inches off at the waist.

 

The seams at the waist and pockets were very bulky and nearly banjaxed my overlocker – I ended up sewing these areas with just the machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Overall I love these pants. They are just regular track pants but fit very well however I’ve been told by my darling hubbie that I should stick to wearing them in the confines of the house. Probably not the ideal pants for my shape but they are very practical and functional.  I’ll wear them to Pilates class and at home.

 

Apologies for lack of me modelling photos but I’ve caught the man flu from hubbie and am really not in the mood for it.
So that’s me caught up with new makes. What’s in the pipeline?? Well check back in later to find out…..

 

For now here is a nice blue sky Irish country scene with bonus dog photo:

 

Other business : I will do my Liebster award post soon. Just need to have a think about it.