Table: McCalls 6611 Drape Jacket

I love seeing what other people are working on so I thought I'd start posting what's on my sewing table. I'm going to call it Table. Simple.

I'm working on McCalls 6611 which is a drape front jacket with a peplum. I cut out the pattern yesterday afternoon and altered it a fair bit. Today I'm going to draft the lining pattern pieces using Grainline's tutorial.

I'm really excited about this jacket! So much so, it might skip past these projects which have been waiting patiently...

Knit: Progress Report

One of the good things, if there is such a thing, about breaking my foot is that I've started on one of my aims for 2013. Knitting! After a full day of work my foot aches so I've been sitting on the couch with my circular needle and yarn, watching You Tube videos about casting on, knit stitch and purl stitch. I've decided to start with the GAP-tastic Cowl. And boy, is knitting more complicated than I thought. I bought the wrong yarn and learnt the hard way. It involved scissors to get myself out of the mess. It wasn't pretty but I'm persevering and I've order some new chunky yarn and a longer circular needle.

Wish me luck!!

L x

Sew: Floral Collette Dinnigan Cambie Dress

Another birthday party, another party dress!! Mr N turns 4 tomorrow so we held his birthday party this morning. It was all about Lightning McQueen.

For the occasion I made my first Sewaholic Cambie and used a prized piece of Collette Dinnigan cotton floral that I've been sitting on for a while waiting for the perfect project. A total match made in heaven. I love this dress. The fabric is gorgeous. It feels like good quality bed linen that has been washed a million times, soft and lovely. I used a white silk cotton lining from Tessuti which is my fave fabric to line summer dresses.

I took a chance and did a swayback adjustment without a toile. Every dress I've made in the last 6 months has required this alteration and all my old dresses probably should have had this alteration. I removed a 1.5cm fold (3cm total) from above and below the waistband. To re-align the grainline I removed 1.5cm from the centre back (again 3cm total), which removes the back necline gape issue. I was spot on with this alteration.

The colours of the dress are lovely and soft without being pastel. Here we are "controlling" pass the parcel with a bunch of 4 year olds. It's a good photo of the true colours of the dress.

Project Details
Pattern: Sewaholic Cambie Dress, View A
Fabric: Collette Dinnigan floral cotton from Rathdowne Fabrics, silk cotton lining from Tessuti
Alterations: Swayback adjustment (above & below waistband), size 14 bodice grading to size 16 waistband and skirt

I am so glad I jumped on to the Cambie bandwagon! I am also super glad that our Festive Season is now officially done and dusted for the year. December and January birthdays certainly take it out of you.

Check out the birthday cake I made!!

L x

Meet: Sydney - February 9

The husbands and flights are booked. The accommodation is sorted. Prepare yourselves people!!
Rachel and I are coming to Sydney!

We're staying in Surry Hills, close to Tessuti and The Fabric Store and we'd love to catch up on Saturday 9th February. It would be good to meet at Tessuti for a spot of shopping and then find somewhere that serves good food and chilled champagne! Let us know if you're keen or if you have any suggestions. Christy, I know you're keen and full of ideas! 

Can you tell we're excited?!

L x

Celebrate: The New Year

 

Happy New Year! We had a lovely quiet night at home with friends. It was all over and done by 9.30pm as the kids were going feral and were completely freaked out by the fireworks. It was still a nice way to see out 2012 and enjoy a bottle of bubbles.

 

Earlier in the day, I found out that I had broken my foot! I am now accessorising with a "Moon Boot" that thankfully I only have to wear if I'm walking around a lot.

 

 

No running or walking for exercise for 6 weeks! There goes my New Year's resolution of running the 15km Run for the Kids and losing the next 7kg.

 

And it's my sewing foot!! I hope it doesn't slow down the sewing production too much. I did go and buy some knitting needles and yarn to start on my knitting resolution...

 

L x