Steam Punk Quilt

Blocks 2-4.

McCalls 4769

The sewing mojo seems to be hanging around and so does the hot weather so I thought I would make one more summer dress.

This is McCalls 4769 which is sadly out of print now. I'd read quite a few reviews that talked about the difficult collar and facing, but I read through the instructions, followed each step and didn't have a problem.

The only changes I made were binding the armholes instead of using facing and using 7 buttons instead of 6. If I make it again next summer I'll make a couple of small fitting changes to the bodice. I really like this pattern, it didn't take log to make and it's really comfortable to wear.

The fabric is a quilting cotton by Rebecca Bischoff for Robert Kaufmann.

Sorry about the slightly blurry photos, had 2 minutes before school drop for the girls to take a few photos.

 

Vogue 1323

 After making Chris a shirt I thought my wardrobe could do with a couple. I had originally planed to make McCalls 7094, but after getting the pattern, looking at the pattern pieces and seeing some reviews I realized it was just going to be too tent like. I went through the pattern stash and found Vogue 1323.

 I left off the pockets and the collar and added 1 1/2" inches to the length after holding the pattern up on me. I also took about 1 1/2" off the sleeve length and they are probably still just a little too long.

I will probably just wear the sleeves rolled up so I am considering cutting them off to 3/4 length, but I took my time and did a good job on the cuffs so I can't bring myself to do it yet.

It's comfortable to wear, I like the fabric, but it's not one of my favourite things I have made. I like loose fitting voile tops so if I want another one I think I'll make another Tova.

Night Sky in Teal

I've been playing around with my Night Sky pattern from Strip Savvy.

I love how changing the background of a quilt gives it a completely different feeling.

Sock Yarn Shawls

We've had typical February weather the past few weeks, hot, hot and a little humid. I keep dreaming of winter and being able to knit by the fire. I wore a shawl nearly every day last winter and I think I might need a few more in different colours and patterns for the coming winter.

So it's lucky I just got a copy of Sock Yarn Shawls II. 

The first two that caught my eye were Juniper

 and Cinder. These are both in the small shawl section. Both are perfect for a single skein of sock weight yarn.

 I also have Sparrow on my to make list. I like the different construction of this one and how it drapes nicely over the shoulders.

I wound two skeins of Madelinetosh the other day so I am all prepared when the weather gets a little cooler. I just need to decide which pattern I will make with each colour.

Moss Skirt and McCalls 6963

I'm a bit late to the Grainline Moss party, I think I was put off by the mini bit. I'm glad I finally made it, I am impressed by this pattern. The pattern went together perfectly and the pockets are excellent. I did have to rip out the zip twice, but now I have done it I think it will be easy the next time I do it. It is quite a short pattern, I'm not tall at all and I added a few inches so it just hits my knee. 

I used some denim with no stretch from my stash and lined the pockets and waistband facing with Liberty. I cut out my size according to the size chart, but ended up taking it in one size after I sewed the side seams.

 I have a few bits of canvas/drill from Spotlight in my stash so expect to see a few more of these.

 This black top was a quick sew when I had an hour a few weekends ago. It is McCalls 6963. I used some very drapey fabric from the stash, probably a bit too drapey and clingy. After 4 children it's better to use fabric that skims over my stomach rather than clings to it! And this fabric does have a tendency to not sit right at the neckline, it flicks out (which is has done a bit on these photos) and I have to keep tucking it in. If I made another I might also add some clear elastic to the back neckline. Other than fabric choice this is a great pattern, it doesn't take long and the instructions made sense. I'd like to make one with sleeves for winter.

McCalls 6044

A little unselfish sewing, another McCalls 6044. I have made this before and I made the same changes. While browsing the McCalls site I noticed McCalls 6613 which looks very similar, but is has a yoke so I might wait for a sale and get it to compare the two. I used some fabric I bought at B&J Fabrics in New York last year, I thought it was excessive at the time buying enough for three shirts, but I wish I had bought twice as much. It was a dream to sew and I imagine it is the same to wear.

 

Sutton Blouse

There are some lovely woven tee patterns out there, but I'm pretty sure they aren't made for my shape. When I saw the True Bias Sutton Blouse I thought there might be enough shape in it so it didn't look like I was wearing a cotton box.

The pattern states there is a lot of ease and I had read a few reviews  saying the same thing so I sized down from my measurements. I made a muslin and realized I could size down even further (it is a little tricky to adjust the size after you make it as it is all French seamed). The instructions are great and very clear. The fabric is a lawn from Spotlight. There is a seam at the centre front which so you do have to be careful cutting the front pieces if you have patterned fabric and you want the pattern to match - I was running out of fabric so I did what I could.

I love how the back is a bit lower than the front. I can see quite a few wrinkles on the back, but I think with these sleeves you will always have a bit of this problem (please let me know if I am wrong!).

 I had plans to try the Stylearc Maggie Shirt, but I cut out the pattern pieces and they are pretty big. I haven't made a Stylearc pattern yet and bought the size that matched my measurements so I'm not sure if the sizing runs large or if it's meant to be a very very loose fitting shirt. I'm not too sure if I want to make a lot of changes to make it fit. I think I might just make another Sutton Blouse.

Steampunkalong

Jen Kingwell's Steam Punk quilt has been on my to do list since I first saw it so when Nicole and Danielle started a quilt-a-long on instagram I was in.

Block one is finished.

A few more are cut out (the templates from Amitie are great).

Hand sewing wasn't an option, I know I do want to eventually finish it!
I pulled out the curve master foot and have had some success, but it is a bit hit and miss. It worked really well the other day, but this morning it just wasn't working.

 So I am back pinning, which really isn't that hard or time consuming, but I am impatient and really want the curve master foot to work every time!

Ottobre Jumpsuit

I've made the Ottobre jumpsuit from issue 4/2011 a few times and while I love it it is not the quickest thing to make for a 2 year old. While flicking through my stack of Ottobre magazines yesterday I noticed one in issue 4/2014.

It was traced and sewn before lunch. This is a very quick sew, a few rolled hems (I'm very thankful my Bernina Overlocker does this with the flick of a lever), some shirring, a few seams, four ties and that is it.

 I used a bit of voile from the stash (I think I used less than 60cm). Perfect for the hot weather.

Pia Dress

As soon as I saw the pockets on the Tessuti Pia Dress I knew I wanted to make one. I was slightly put off by the amount of pages I would have to print out, but then I discovered that you can print A0 pages at Officeworks and that the Pia dress came with A0 PDF as well as a print at home PDF. I think it cost $4 a page which was well worth it.

I used some black fabric from the stash which I think came from Spotlight on the clearance rack a while ago, I am not sure what is it, but it is not cotton, maybe viscose or rayon. I made a few changes to the pattern. I knew it would be too long so I cut off about  inches before I started. After I had sewn all the seams  I tried it on and added a couple of darts under the arm as there was a lot of fabric there and was was gaping. I took a bit off the shoulders as they were too wide for me (I really should have cut a smaller size and done an FBA) and then I made a long dart either side of the centre back seam to give it a little bit of shape.

I am not sure it is the most flattering dress, but it is so comfortable and perfect to wear in the really hot weather we have been having and I really do love the pockets and it is a very clever pattern with good instructions.