Morning all.  January was a bit of a bust for me, in the sewing department.  I do so much prior to xmas, that I get a bit burnt out over xmas.  So I focussed on other things, and gave myself a break.

Aside from some little things, this was my first foray back into sewing for the year. 

KwikSew 3707 - XL with modifications - in poplin and a self stripe cotton.

I made this tunic quite a few years ago, and it was a comical thing.  It hung off me like a sack, and looked appalling.  I thrifted the finished top, and stuffed the pattern back into the file.  This year, I decided to give it another go, because I like the cross over aspect, and wanted some crisp looking tunics for work.  I assume my previous failure was because I need to make petite alterations to the pattern. 

The first version was basically my toile, in a cotton poplin.  For this one, I took 1inch off the shoulders (shortening the bodice), and shortened the front skirt and back by 2inches at the lengthen/shorten line.  On the dress form, it looks fine, but on me, you can see that the bodice doesn't sit well, and the neckline is bobbly. 

Kwiksew tunic by Dani, on Flickr

Kwiksew tunic by Dani, on Flickr

So, for the next version, I did an FBA.  Its not so much for the width, as the bodice was wide enough, but just a structure choice, to encourage the bodice to wrap around the bust, and under the arms. The dart encourages the bodice to turn at the bust apex, rather than pulling the point of the bust flat.  We think that fabric is flexible, but in reality, sometimes we need structural features to make it behave better. 

Kwiksew tunic by Dani, on Flickr

Kwiksew tunic by Dani, on Flickr

D'oh (forehead slapping moment) .... I did however, forget to take the 2inches off the length, so its too long.  That is easily fixed though. 

BigGirl decided to throw her timing, thankfully after I had finished the top, so she has gone to sewing machine hospital for a service.  So I won't be able to finish shortening the top, or make any more for while, but oh well, we will get there. 

A massive day today.  Next weekend we will be heading off to the wedding, and hubby's mother is coming back with us and will be staying for at least 3 weeks, maybe more.  The normal situation is to put visitors downstairs in the spare room, however she is in her 70's, the room is a cold one, and I am worried about her getting up and down polished wood stairs.

So, we needed to reorganise.  Partially stripped out my sewing room.  I don't want to give up sewing for the whole time she is here, so I shifted out the cutting table to the living room (off the kitchen).  The small lounges will just need to be moved slightly, to give me access to the table if I want to cut.

Sewing room reorganised by Dani, on Flickr

Took advantage of the table being gone, to give the carpet and edges a really good vacuum. 

Sewing room reorganised by Dani, on Flickr

And shifted in the convertible couch from downstairs, with a king single mattress on top (couch is too low on its own for an oldie to sleep on).   I have already fallen prey to flat surface syndrome and its only been in there a little while. 

Sewing room reorganised by Dani, on Flickr

I will probably have to move my dress form out of the room when she is visiting, as I imagine having a headless woman loom over you would be just a bit disturbing.   

Schedule, plan, prepare  ...... and craft.

Its another year, and its time to start prepping for xmas.  (I know I freaked people out with starting in June last year, so I held off until the second half of the year ......  well technically).  Its a long way from xmas I know.  For me in Australia its freezing cold, and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, you are feeling the unfamiliar experience of a summer heatwave. 

This year I have decided that I will be implementing a policy of "mindful spending". Rather than banning myself from buying things, I will look at how and when I spend. So my first step, is to continue a habit I have had for quite a few years, and that is planning crafty gifts for a large portion of my xmas gift list. But, in order to be successful at a crafty xmas, you need to plan well ahead, and start sewing early.

So for recording sake, I have decided on my gifts for work friends this year. They will be getting a cafe quality drill apron, with embroidery on the bib, or a matched set of embroidered potholder and tea towels. I recently invested in some xmas napkin embroideries, so maybe a few sets of table napkins too.  I will probably do more thread lace bauble covers, as they were popular. I am also planning a new angel (embroidered thread lace and organza) for the tree, and depending on how complex that is, I may do one for my MIL. I think a silky nightie and robe for my daughter and niece, and perhaps satin boxer shorts for hubby, my boy and the nephews. Its my brother's turn for a quilt, and I really need to get my own quilt done. Well, thats probably enough.

I have also decided to make simple gift bags this year, using fabric I already have, to cut back the amount of rubbish I create. 

I have opened up this topic, to inspire and records.  Feel free to contribute, not just sewing, but any craft you use to gift to others (or yourself).

Yep, 1 jelly roll (+yardage) and 5 quilts.

I had one jelly roll, purchased many many moons ago, somewhere.  The range was called Summertime, and it was a sea of pastels.  Thankfully, a friend had the matching yardage, so I purchased a selection from her, and started the process of putting together two baby quilts.  I started (because its always good to start) with using the jellyroll into a jelly roll race quilt top.  From there, I cut that top, into columns 8.5in wide. 

I then split a couple of the columns into blocks of 4 rows. These I backed with matching yardage (different colours), which I then used my embroidery machine to quilt a design for me.  I then joined them together using a QAYG method.   

Completed baby quilt by Dani, on Flickr

The back.

Back by Dani, on Flickr

Quilt two:  Left with yet more columns, I used these on their sides, and with a matching yardage for sashing, I constructed rows of vertical strips.  This was quilted normally, using wavy lines. 

Brad's quilt by Dani, on Flickr

Brad's quilt by Dani, on Flickr

...... to be continued.

In reality, this skirt has little in common with the pattern it is based on. Basically I used the pattern for its shape. Its KwikSew 3118, the pattern being for an unlined pencil skirt with a centre back zip. My measurements came in above the largest size, so I added 10cm in total to the width.

The fabric is a vintage piece of polyester double knit, in a herringbone pattern. I interlined it with a heavyweight knit tricot, omitted the zip (can't stand the things they dig in too much), and inserted an invisible elastic waist (yep folks, that there is an elastic waist). It helps that because my waist isn't much smaller than my hips, the band sits flat. I will be trialing this in a stretch suiting next, in order to update my work skirts to something that doesn't cut me in half when i sit down.

Herringbone work skirt by Dani, on Flickr

This pattern has been in my stash for yonks ..... more than 20 years at least.  I would regularly pick it up, flip it over to look at the size table, realise that I didn't fall into the measurement table perfectly (and throw a tantrum), and then stuff it back into the pattern drawer.  I have done plenty of pattern purges, but this one seemed to survive each one. 

Grey crinkle cotton pants by Dani, on Flickr

So last weekend I dug out some crinkle effect cotton (or maybe linen) out of the stash.  This fabric is well marinated, having been in the stash through at least 3 house moves.  I really must get into the habit of labelling my fabric. 

I decided to cut a straight size 24.  Looking at the finished hip measurement, I figured this would give me the ease that I needed, and then I could adjust the rest, as I would be treating this as a wearable muslin.   I didn't even shorten the legs, something I usually have to do.  I cut it out last weekend, and sewed it up yesterday.  Well I was pleasantly surprised.  The hips and waist fit just how I like them, the legs are as baggy as I want (I am aiming for a lagenlook without falling for the Tina Givens hype) without being too baggy.  They are long, but I like the fact that they don't ride up when I sit.  I will probably shorten the front crotch a little bit, but overall, I am very happy with the result. 

Grey crinkle cotton pants by Dani, on Flickr

I don't normally wear just a singlet and pants, but do so for the sake of an accurate photo.  These will be worn with a long tunic top, or perhaps even a dress.

Grey crinkle cotton pants by Dani, on Flickr

Grey crinkle cotton pants by Dani, on Flickr

Well despite being unwell, I finished this dress. There has been a fair number of changes since the muslin.

The pattern is the Bootstrap Fashion Fitted Bodice Dress with Pleats and Pockets (nothing frothy about that name). I made a pretty rookie error with my measurements, and so had to adjust the pattern. A extra dart was inserted in the front, and the back dart widened. I could probably take the back in a bit more at the waist. I lengthened the skirt panels. Firstly, because the muslin was uncomfortably short, at least for me. And I wanted to really showcase the print; the whole point of this dress.

Teal dress by Dani, on Flickr

Despite purchasing a generous amount of fabric, that skirt sucks up fabric, and I had to finickle around to fit the bodice in. It has meant that I have ended up with a blue bird at the centre of my chest, but it could have been two of them in pastie position     so I figure work with what you have.

Teal dress by Dani, on Flickr

I am really pleased with this one, and can see myself using it as a pseudo-block, for future dresses.