Wednesday 22 May 2013

Me Made May Week 3

I have cut out and and sewn up the basis of a wool coat but its in need of lots of embellishment, which needs a few quiet nights in front of the TV, not sure I will get these before the end of May given small girls birthday on Saturday and my trousers I pledged to make are no nearer (unless I can cheat and claim my 2 pairs of pyjama bottoms).

Day 13

This was the day I wore my Kelly and managed to get some photos for last weeks post.


Day 14

 Wearing my fancy raglan sleeved T.  Its a good one. 

Unfortunately I didn't grow those seedlings although a few of mine have started to come up.











Day 15

Well we got off to a bad start when I got wee (not my own I hasten to add) on my first outfit of the day, before I had a chance to photograph it.  It was Burda Jersey dress picured at the bottom of this post.  Worn with boots and a cosy merino polo neck underneath.

Day 16

In managed to wear 4 things I had made - jumper, hat and two gloves.  Yey.  I was nice and cosy too, must find time to do some knitting too!!??

Day 17


My nice refashion.  The lace top obscured by the poloneck but it was *****y freezinng especailly standing around waiting for a bus, really needed more than a poloneck.  I think I must be turning into an Aussie as I seem totally unprepared for cold weather, amazing what you can forget in 4 years!

The weekend AKA Day 18 & 19

Not sure what happened here or why no photos - think I just wore me made tshirts under thick jumpers....or maybe just my knickers.  No, not just my knickers its far too chilly and a photo of that would not have appeared, not that i did...... but anyway I have made a nice pair of Emmersons that I wear often.  I have also worn my 2 new sets of pyjamas lots so will attempt to get some photos of them to make up for the weekend lack.

Day 20

Discovered this top in my wardrobe.  I'm not wild abou it, its just not that flattering even though I love the fabric and the trim.  I much prefer the dress I made using this pattern.  Nonetheless I felt very comfortable all day in this outfit.


Day 21

Well it worked ok yesterday so why not wear the same thing with a different top today.  I really do like this tank top
 Day 22

My lola again.  I was obviously feeling bright this morning.  Kept me cheerful anyway.


And that's it for this week.  One week to go and I'm wondering what new outfits I can put together...stay tuned.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Curtain Kelly Skirt


So here's my new Kelly Skirt.  Yey.  It started life as a curtain brought at the op shop about 3 years ago.  I loved the print but its been waiting around for the right pattern and here it is.  I love how it turned out.  Most of the Kelly's I've seen have been plain but I think it works brilliantly in a pattern too.  Its a nice heavy cotton drill which holds its shape really well.


Here are the nice back pleats which fall at just the right point of your bottom to make it super flattering.  You can see the pockets too which are great for putting your phone or hands in.  Might seem obvious really but not all pockets are created equal!



In production on my equally flowery ironing board.
I went for yellow top stitching thread and sewed my buttons on with the same thread.  They came from etsy and are simple dark wood.

Top tucked in.
I think its my turn for photos mummy !
Oh those are good button holes.


I would normally go for skirts or shorts that would sit on my hips.  This is definitely a high waister but I like it.  The waistband is wise enough to give it a good solid feeling.  You can wear a big belt over it, tuck your top in or have it out.  I made a size large and it fits absolutely perfectly.


After 3 days of wearing I think its holding up pretty well wrinkle wise.
This pattern is super simple to make.  I have to confess I am actually really amazed that something so simple can turn into something so stylish.   Simple as it is, its obvious a lot of thought and care has gone into its design and its little things like the width of the waist band, placement of the pleats and shape of the pockets that let you know that a give you a great versatile skirt (well less versatile when you make it in big yellow flowers but hey!).

I followed the instruction to a tee and it came together really well.  I have to confess I have not sewn many button holes before but a few practices and 7 later I had got the hang of them, my only problem was that I didn't make the 1st few wide enough, being scared of making them too big.  A fine balance!

Other really exciting news is that I have had a really positive reception to the sewing workshops I am starting in June.  We are going to be sewing...... a Kelly Skirt of course.  I am super excited that I will get to spend some time with 6 lovely ladies who all want to sew and that I can share some of what I have learnt over the past few years.   I hope that I can inspire a love of making clothes in my students and at the least get them walking away with a skirt they like and will be happy to wear!  So thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, including the lovely Megan Nielsen of course.  I think deciding on using this pattern really helped to get these going and I really like that everyone will be learning with a pattern from (sewing)world famous local lady. 

Keep your eyes peeled for Kellys if you find yourself in Dunsborough in July!






Monday 13 May 2013

MMM part 2


So into the next week of MeMadeness.  Its been stormy wet weather

 Day 8.

Warm and cosy in my Lola.  Its perfect for this time of year and I really like wearing it with my long boots and bright tights.   Keep forgetting to take photos in the day so these are blurry evening ones.




Day 9

My Burda Style wrap top.   Doing a reasonable job keeping me cosy although it spent most of the day covered up by a thick jumper as the rain continued.


Day 10

I'm realising that I really need some other bottom halves and long sleeved dresses and tops if I am to make it through the month feeling warm.  My me made wardrobe is definitely weighted towards summer.  On Friday I wore my pleated skirt with a nice cosy cashmere jumper (not knitted by me).

The pleat makes it great for cycling.
Day 11

Another cold day which started off warmer.  I should have taken a photo early on.  I looked neat and quite chic and had a great necklace on and no coffee down my front!  Here I am standing in a field, looking a bit bedragled with coffee spilt down my front, and no necklace, wondering if we can get the photo done before it pours with rain.  Warmer jumper promptly put on over the top and not removed until bedtime.  Wearing my peplum top and my favourite pair of red boots which didn't make it into a photo.


Day 12

There is a new climbing wall in town, we've been a few times, its lots of fun so we got to go again for mother's day.   I wore a red kimono sleeved T shirt made by me but not blogged.  I adapted a vintage woven pattern for this.  Its useful, practical and I really like the scoop neckline I drafted. All in all pretty good.  Today I have very tiff back and shoulders!


That's all for the moment.
  See you soon.


Wednesday 8 May 2013

MMM - The Start

Well I've got off to a reasonable start.  The weather has turned wild wet and windy and this has limited my options somewhat.  My sewing wardrobe is heavily swayed towards summer dresses and tops but nonetheless I've found a few things to wear.

Day 1


Tie necked summer blouse.  One of the 1st few things I made when I discovered Burda Magazine in the Library (then I got the magazine for 20c when they sold it on.  Bargain!). Its a pretty top but I don't wear it often, I think I am going to shorten it as the long length means I need to tuck it in.

Day 2


The colder weather continued so I pulled on my fleece.  I've not blogged about this one but it's an adaptation of Victory patterns Lola dress.  Shorter obviously, with a pocket added in the middle and longer sleeves.  I also added a turtleneck type collar made out of ribbing.  I initially brought the white fleece to make one for my wedding as we planned to paraglide off after our ceremony.  We did fly off the hill we got married on but I didn't make the fleece in time.  This fleece is super cosy and even though the colour isn't super practical I wear it often.

I was also wearing a me made red dolman sleeve t shirt underneath but didn't get a photo.

Day 3

I wore my new Kelly Skirt (and green raglan T).  I love it but didn't get any photos as I was feeling ill and grotty and my chief photographer was off finishing off his Permaculture Design Course.  Will post about it soon.

Day 4

We headed down to Fair Harvest in Margaret River where The Husband was finishing his course.  We hung out round the fire, drinking coffee and eating home made bread (me), visiting the chooks and geese (kids) and met some very lovely people (all of us).  Practicality was the name of the game and I wore my fleece again and my blue liberty tank.


Day 5

Well I wore the same clothes again, we had been camping after all.  Here I am back at home with the only squash I managed to grow this year.  I'm pretty pleased with it none the less.  What shall I make with it?

Day 6

A white linen tunic that I made when I was in my early 20s.  I like it and its held up well.  This is probably because being white and linen it requires washing often and then a good iron.  Neither of these happen that often round here.... hence the crinkly look, this is its second day of wear I wore it last week too and thought it would do another day.  Its lovely heavy high quality linen.  I am also really pleased with the neat finish I achieved with this.  It was Burda Pattern and its a size 14 so a little big but it works ok in this tunic style.


Double layered cuffs and hem.
I love the button.


 Day7

My lovely Roxanne Top by Victory Patterns.  Its great to wear although I am not sure what to wear with it to keep warm.  

 

You will notice I wear my jeans A LOT if I am not wearing a dress.  I must start thinking about the other part of my pledge which was to make some trousers.  Stay tuned.