A quick refashion......

From a very boring navy blue long sleeve t-shirt from Big W (it was $6)

 Add 1.5 metres of red and white bias binding

And it's not so boring anymore.

Kathryn. xx

Onesie one and onesie two......

Meet 'Onesie One'.

Master 11 really, really, really wanted a Bear Onesie for his birthday, yes that IS what he wanted.

I managed to buy the polar fleece half price at Spotlight just before his birthday and was able to whip it up from a vintage pattern a friend lent me (Thanks Deb!).

It was easy to make especially on the overlocker.

He was thrilled to bits when he opened the package and put it on straight away....

 

OK, now let's meet 'Onesie Two', the Leopard. 

 This is Master 12 (soon to be 13).

The whole Onesie idea was actually his months and months ago, in fact I think it may have been last year. He was so green with envy that I took pity on him and we went shopping.......

I had the fur in my stash, so he scored! But now 'Onesie one' needs fur on his ears....

 Would you look at that tail!!!

He is offering belly rubs for $1 if you are so inclined; he made $2 the other day when the Grandparents were here!! Yes, he is selling his belly for money.

And, when he is at school or not looking I can wear it!!!

Kathryn. xx

Style Arc Laura dress......

Thanks to Rachel I have finally made a Laura Dress from Style Arc Patterns and I absolutely love it!

Super comfy, gotta love that!

Made with a lovely weight navy Ponte, it only took an hour and a bit from cutting to finishing.

 Should have ironed it before master 11 took the photos but just couldn't wait to wear it.

I topstitched all the seams and I think it turned out really well. I know I am sure to make a few more of this great pattern.

Kathryn. xx

The Kelly skirt..or the Kathryn skirt.....

I really loved the versions of the Kelly Skirt by Megan Nielson going around the web....

 

so I made my own.......

 I 'like' it but don't love it; I think it's the flat, no shape waist band that doesn't feel very comfortable (it's ok standing, but not when I sit down - must be the middle bulge thing.....

 And I think it needs to be a bit shorter? However, I do like my contrasting red polka dot pockets!

So I decided to make a different version because I really like the silhouette of the Kelly with the pleats and the front pockets......

Maybe I could call it the 'Kathryn'?

Nikki's A-Line skirt pattern came in handy for this because I used the waist pattern pieces because I know it sits well and is comfortable wearing.

I just cut them down so they weren't as deep. I put a back zipper in so I didn't have to do all those button holes.

The fabric was offcuts from my Mum who made some work overalls for Dad about oh, um, 35 years ago....Whaaaat?

Then I saw this fabulous skirt on ModCloth and had to make another in green!! 

 It's a lovely light weight silky fabric (half price at Lincraft a while back) which I had to line so I didn't have to wear a petticoat.

(so old fashioned but there is nothing worse than seeing straight through someone's dress, yes?)

 I added the tie and the tie catchers and did the invisible zip at the back, Nikki would be proud!!!

So I have quite a few Spring/Summer wardrobe pieces now; they all mix and match and cost next to nothing. Yay!

Kathryn. xx

 



Simplicity 1808...pants

YES! Bring on the Spring wardrobe!!! No more black for me....

 

I bought Simplicity 1808 months ago, when Spotlight had Simplicity patterns on sale for $5, and from the moment I saw it I just had to make the pants.

But what's not to like about the jacket, the knit top and the knit dress too?

Mix and Match comfort pieces is a winner in my book. 

 

Since making up the pants I have seen this style in the shops, in catalogues and blogs but in some really great prints.

I made them up in a very light weight denim; they crease quite a bit but I'm OK with that.

The elasticated waist is wonderfully comfy. I love the construction of the pockets and the instructions were easy to follow.

If I made them again I would omit the front ties, I had to stitch them down to make it sit nicely - otherwise they'd bulge and nobody wants a bulge if they don't have to right?

 The back is not all that appealing (could be my derrier!) but I'll be wearing a top over it so it won't be a drama.
I would definitely make these again, perhaps in a crazy print?
Kathryn. xx

 

Simplicity 2654, Alma, Sorbetto, Ottobre....

Another great weekend was had by the girls and myself at the wonderful Sewjourn last month. And wow, so many amazing garments were made by everyone!

Here are some of the pieces that I completed.....

Simplicity 2654 High waisted Sailor style pants made with a really lovely light weight garberdine. It's hard getting used to the wide leg after living in skinny leg jeans for ages, but I must say I really love them. I've also made the shorts, but you'll have to wait for warmer weather for those!

with Ottobre long sleeve top (blue and white polka dot stretch,bow added). I love these tops and have made a few now; they're a great staple for the wardrobe.

 From left to right:

Sewaholic ALMA Blouse - cotton, butter yellow and white polka dots. I'm still not sure about this top yet, the darts are a bit weird on me. Also, the upper and under collar was a real pain to fit and sit properly. I think I prefer Simplicity 2599 for fit. I don't think I'll make this one again.

 

Colette Sorbetto top, Linen, not a big fan of this one - it's a free download from the Colette website and I used fabric from the stash so not really bothered. HUGE armholes. It was VERY short even for me.

It'll be good for summer though I guess. I won't make this again.

 

Butterick 3524 blouse made with cotton Darla fabric. This one I do like, I know come spring/summer that it will be worn a lot.

 I came home from the Spotlight sale this morning with a nice stash of new sewing patterns. All New Look patterns were only $3 and Simplicity $5 - you can't go wrong!

And this is one of the buttons I chose to finish off my Cynthia Rowley shirt dress I started at Sewjourn.

Actually, I finished it but decided when I came home that I did not like a lot of it so, I have chopped, taken in and re-hemmed too! I'll show you that one another day...

Kathryn. xx



Leave it to the Professionals.....

Recently, I bought this for an upcoming holiday.

Now that I've hit 40, I feel like I want to be a bit 'modest' when it comes to swimwear.

I'm sure a lot of you still have the confidence of youth and just bare it all, but as for me I just don't want everyone and sundry spying my orange peel......Plus, that whole pinup 1950's vibe is so up my alley.

 

Image courtesy of Red Dolly Swimwear on Etsy

The swimsuit I purchased is just amazing; Heather makes everything to order and it fits like a glove.

She even made the costumes for a Glee Episode, how cool is that! (see the second pic in the listing)

I was so in love with it that I wanted another, but the budget only stretches so far, so, I made a swimskirt to go with a tankini that I already have in black.

It is made from a scuba stretch from Lincraft.

But, there was no way I was going to model this for blogland!!! Ha ha.

 



I'll leave the swimsuit modelling to the pro's.

Kathryn. xx

Autumnal Dress...

  What do you all think of my Autumnal Dress?

I actually made this last year from my stash of 'Trees' fabric (remember this post?)

It has been the perfect dress to wear today, (it is actually a little warm) so it's a good opportunity to get it blogged!

It's the same pattern as the watercolour dress I made a few weeks ago.

 

 

I really like this style because it is so comfortable to wear and it covers all the lumps and bumps too.

 

 

And it's the simple things in life that make it easier.......a full length mirror in my sewing room!

Can you believe that I have been making clothes for years and have been trying them on and running back and forth between our Bedroom and the Sewing room! CRAZY! 

 

Kathryn. xx

Collared.....

I love a good fancy collar, it just adds 'something' to an outfit.

So I made a few; here are two that I finished yesterday.

 This one is a structured collar made from tracing a shirt collar in my wardrobe.....

This was by far the easier of the two, hard to believe but true.

And  a Peter Pan collar, this took me ages to get it to fit and sit just right.

This was the fourth attempt! It looks so easy but it was a real pain to get right.

Now that it fits just right I will be making a few more.

Kathryn. xx 

Watercolour Dress.....

Last week I walked into Spotlight wanting some wool blend suiting fabric for a cape I've had in mind for a while.

I didn't buy the wool fabric (not a very good range - unlike the vast range in the catalogue) but I did come out with the most amazing fabric I've seen in ages. It was stacked with the blue/beige end on show and when I pulled it out I was gobsmacked!!

So, 2 metres of fabric and a few hours of sewing I have a wonderful new dress to show for it.

The pattern is a vintage 'STYLE' pattern, I'm not even sure you can still buy this brand?

 It will be perfect for our Autumnal weather.

Very happy.

Kathryn. XX

Collars....and a wardobe

I am loving the trend towards collars at the moment, I find they finish off this Simplicity 2599 top so nicely.

It is a pity the pattern doesn't come with a collared version.

I had to make this one up myself, by using the facings as a guide.

And, I have added the sleeves this time too; which I love as they seem to sit better than adding binding around the armholes to finish off (and they cover up the chunky arms). 

 I have made this top so many times the pattern has well and truly paid for itself. You can see the other versions here, here and here.

 Master 12 chose this fabric when he was with me at Spotlight. He said "This is really cool, buy this". So I did and it has been one of my favourite tops lately. Good job Master 12!

 I mentioned in my last post that we were having our wardrobes finally fitted after 3 years and here they are!

I'm only showing my side which has a lot more hanging space than Mr OSC's side and a lot more room for shoes!

Voila! I keep pinching myself every time I walk in!

Kathryn. xx

Sewjourn Part 2, tops and skirt....

 Yet another Simplicity 2599, plain with no ruffles or frills.

 And another, this time I added a Peter Pan collar, just at the front.

And a cute pleated skirt.

I used Nicole Mallalieu's A-Line skirt pattern for the yoke, then added pleats and the fake pockets at the front. I really should have ironed it first before taking the photos!

Dresses to come next....

I started my Christmas shopping yesterday, and I think everyone else it Ballarat was doing the same thing.....silly season has well and truly started!

Kathryn.xx

Sewjourn Part 1...

What a wonderful weekend away I had with a fab group of girls at Sewjourn.

Yes, it seems like no time at all since we were all there last time in May.

Where has the year gone?

Lot's of sewing was had, of course, along with plentiful amounts of laughter, eating and drinking!

Sew....on with part 1 of my Sewjourn Sewathon....

This is another option on New Look 6803, the tunic top.

I started this one but didn't get to finish it until yesterday and I am wearing it today, hence it gets first showing.

 I have had this fabric for a couple of years and didn't quite know what to do with it - too much going on for a dress I thought, but this top seems to cope with the pattern.

 It was very easy to make although, I would make some changes if I were to make it again; 

I would put the pockets a bit further down, they seem a bit high,

 I also had to put 'splits' in the side seams as it was a bit tight around my hips.

The front facing actually turns to the front to make a really nice feature, however it was very low cut so I have had to put a few stitches in the lower opening so I don't flash everyone!

It would be nice in a contrasting colour too.

Overall, I am really happy with this top and it is really cool and comfortable. Just right for a spring day.

I am finally designing my wardrobe today, after 3 years with 'make do' hanging and bags of clothes in our WIR, it will be nice to be organised. Any tips for me?

Kathryn. XX