Sunday 28 April 2013

Handmade spring clean


As spring seems to be making an appearance here in London (sort of), I decided that today was the day to sort out my spring wardrobe, particularly my handmade wardrobe. When it comes to culling clothes, possessions, children's toys, you name it, I'm spectacularly ruthless. Anything that hasn't been worn in the past year is under serious review. Some items just never seemed to work from the outset, for others, it's more a case of my personal taste changing - things that seemed a good idea at the time just don't fit in with the rest of my wardrobe any longer. So there are more than a few casualties strewn by the roadside… 

I've decided to be charitable and give three handmade skirts a second chance - I'll be shortening them and/or fiddling with their waistbands. But if they still don't impress me they'll be flung out too. I'll let you know the outcome of that experiment in a couple of days time i.e. when I can be arsed to alter them.  A few items just look plain tatty and have been shown the door, whereas others are lovely garments made with decent fabric - they're just never going to be worn again. So I've decided to give this last category of garments away - if any sewists out there like the look of the items listed below, I'll happily post them out free of charge to a good home! 

In the interests of being fair - it's just one item per person, so please leave a comment by midnight GMT on Tuesday 30th April if you've got your eye on anything. If more than one person likes a particular item I'll draw names out of a hat, and if an item isn't commented on, it's going to the charity shop on Wednesday. I've given fabric and size details and anything else I can remember. Please also be aware that some items were made right at the start of my sewing life so may not be the prettiest of sights on the inside….


Colette Sencha Blouse

Made from medium-weight Kaffe Fassett quilting cotton. Colette size 8 with the tucks increased for a more fitted look. Self covered buttons down the back. Worn twice.

Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress
Made from Denyse Schmidt lighter weight quilting cotton. Size medium (pattern sizes here) with no modifications. Looser fit so can be worn with a belt. Worn a lot.

Colette Sorbetto Top
Made from Ikea floral linen. Colette size 8 and probably taken in a bit at the sides. Worn a few times.

Sewaholic Pendrell Blouse
Made with Anna Maria Horner voile (gorgeous fabric). Sewaholic size 10 bust with a small hip adjustment (PDF of pattern sizes here). I never seemed to be able to get this blouse right. It started life sleeveless and I've added sleeves at a later date (these can easily be removed though). 

Those sleeves still aren't doing it for me...

It also has a Peter Pan collar, not very expertly added, again, this can easily be removed. Worn twice.

Megan Nielsen Banksia Top
Made from vintage curtains (!) and vintage buttons. Megan Nielsen size small. The placket has been inserted upside down but you can't really notice! Worn a few times.

Right, on with the spring cleaning… x

54 comments:

  1. Ooooh, I love the Sencha blouse! Thanks for the opportunity, dear Jane!

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  2. The Pendrell please. It would be a lovely welcome to Spring. Thank you for sharing your talents with the sewing community!

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  3. I adore the Sencha blouse, Jane!!

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  4. I would love the Sencha or the Banksia! They're both so cute. What a great idea and a fun opportunity. :) Thanks!

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  5. Yes, it is very true. We sew, we are enthsiast, we want more - as we think it is cheaper... as a reasult we have a wardrobe full of cloths we are wearing or not - again.
    Nethertheless ... these wardrobe pieces are wonderful!

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  6. Wow! I would be thrilled with any of them!
    Thank you!

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  7. What a lovely wardrobe! I'd love to have the Sencha blouse! Thank you!

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  8. Please put my name in the hat for that Banksia, it's stunning :)

    I'm impressed with how you can say goodbye to your handmade garments, I need some of your strength!

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  9. I love the Socialite dress Jane. I would definitely get a lot of wear out of it x

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  10. What a lovely idea. I love the socialite or the banksia.

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  11. Ooh, how generous. Please could you add me to the list for the Anna Maria Horner socialite dress, it looks lovely. Incidentally, no bullshit, but I couldn't believe the number you've just celebrated, I'd have guessed at ten years younger. Maybe you've photoshopped your pics!
    I've been having a wardrobe sort this weekend too, but mostly to work out the handmade outfits to wear through May. I wonder how many times I can get away with underwear or jewellery?? Gill

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    1. I might just frame your comment and put it on my wall - thank you! x

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  12. That sencha blouse is stunning - I love spots anyway, but that is great!

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  13. What lovely clothes, I aspire to be able to create something like that. If they arent taken can you not use the fabric for some other project?

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    1. I did think of that, but I've already made tons of purses and make-up bags from leftover fabric from the Sencha blouse and Socialite dress! x

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  14. Are you picking names or giving to first? As if picking names can you put me in for the pendrell please? Gorgeous fabric!

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    1. Picking names if there's more than one comment for an item. Will certainly put your name in for he Pendrel! x

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  15. Jane, You and I are the same size. I would love any of your hand-me-downs (the Sencha is my fav).

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  16. Your makes are lovely. I'd love to be thrown in the hat for the Socialite Dress, it's just stunning. I'm struggling with early steps in dressmaking. I do hope I stick at it, as your makes are an inspiration.

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    1. Aw thank you, please do stick at the dressmaking, you won't look back! x

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    2. Thank you. I'm nearly finished with my first dress. Lots of mistakes, though. x

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  17. What a lovely thing to do finding your blog has given me the kick up the bum to stop talking about that dress making course and actually do it. The dress is my favourite and if i could be added to its list that would be fab. Wish me luck; i have two sewing machines gifted to me by a friend and first up is a few pillow cases to practice sewing in a 'hopefully' straight line :) many thanks Charlie.xx

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    1. Go Charlie! Funnily enough if I'm having a particularly sticky dressmaking moment (like putting a zip in upside down!) I put it all aside and make a few cushions! I find sewing in straight lines for a while really calms me down! Good luck. x

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  18. Well done for being ruthless Jane, sometimes it's the only way ;o) If my hips weren't about 3 times wider than yours then I would definitely have put my name in the hat for a number of those beautiful blouses! Sadly, I don't think they'd fit :o(

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  19. All of the items are lovely but I think the Socialite is gorgeous. Please can you throw my name into the hat for that?

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  20. I would love to be put in the hat for the Banksia! What a great idea,I find it really hard to get rid of anything I've made,even if it doesn't fit,I'm just too attached after spending hours making something to get rid of it. It's silly tho,they end up hanging unworn,making you feel guilty. If I win I'm definitely going to steal this idea and do a handmade spring clean! Somehow giving things I've made away to fellow crafters seems much more doable!

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  21. Ooooh, I'd love to win the Banksia! And if you're selling your copy of the pattern, I'll take that too, let me know your price. It's been on my list. I'm moving house and spring cleaning at the same time, but I actually need more blouses! Thanks for hosting this hand made giveaway. :)

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  22. Jane, I love all your stuff but unfortunatly its all so totsy small!!

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  23. We are cut from the same cloth! I too find it deeply satifying to cull possessions on a semi regular basis, especially the wardrobe - it's a great excuse to reinvent ones look and keep it fresh!

    That being said, I'd appreciate my name being tossed into (and pulled from would be even better) the hat for the polka dot Sencha please! Thanks, very kind of you to offer these up!

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  24. The Banksia! Or the Sencha! Or the Socialite! I can't decide lol. They are all very cute. So if you could throw my name in there for one of those that would be awesome! Unless you're not shipping to the States that is. :)

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  25. Hello Jane!!! I am impressed with you giving away such lovely handmade garnments, if I could ever make any of them Im not sure I'd part with them no matter what !!! I am a 'secret' follower of yours, and your blog (and others, including Tilly's) have made me think of taking up sewing but quite frankly I think I'd be a disaster!! In any case I love the Socialite too, would love to be considered for it .... Congrats on all your wonderful makes! I love them all, and I have a polka dot obsession too!!!! :). Looking fw to seeing your upcoming creations ...

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  26. Lovely! Sencha blouse is my favourite. You are very talented!

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  27. Oh what a lovely thing to do. I know it's proving popular but I'd love to be in the mix for Sencha, it is so pretty!

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  28. Pendrell please! It's lovely - sleeves or no sleeves :)

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  29. Ooh can I put my name in the hat for the sencha and the banksia. What a lovely thing to do! Your makes are gorgeous.

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  30. I would love that Banksia! It's beautiful...I love the fabric!

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  31. I would love the Socialite dress. So pretty!

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  32. Wow! I wish I had the guts to be so ruthless in getting rid of things... I love love love the Banksia blouse!

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  33. It's been said a hundred times already, but please put my name in for the Pendrall blouse. It's so lovely!

    And I love this way of getting rid of old handmades - much nicer idea than just sending it to the op shop.

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  34. Jane, what a nice idea? To giveaway is very nice but actually send to someone is lovely. I'd love the Socialite dress. Its absolutely beautiful! Love your blog.

    Karen Marie

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  35. Love your work Jane, keep on making more! Won't put up my hands for your teensy outfits though... I'll just continue to admire from the side:)

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  36. Ooh I would love the Banksia top please! So pretty! xxx

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  37. Hi Jane, I would so love the Sorbetto or and I'm sure that the
    Sewaholic Pendrell Blouse would look great too. Your handmade clothes are so amazing to a learner like me. Can u put my name down for either one of these please.
    Rosie

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  38. Everything is lovely! It's funny, as I was going through all of my clothes in preparation for Me-Made-May, I had the same idea as you to give away some of my clothes (I'm just a bit behind in the execution). There are several things that I've only worn once. Anyway, I'll leave your beautiful items to the rest of the commenters. I just wanted to say, great idea!

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  39. Oh my! I love all of it, but would love to enter the draw for the Colette Sorbetto Top and the Socialite Dress. I think we must be the exact same size, lol!

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  40. Wow. The Sencha blouse is lovely, but so is the Banksia and the Pendrell! Any of those would be fabulous. What a great way of decluttering!

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  41. I love your version of the sorbetto blouse. Put me down for that one please!

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  42. Hi. Could I please be put in the draw for the Sencha. I love that green.

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  43. Please could I go in the draw for the socialite dress. It would be perfect for work,

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  46. Third time is the charm...

    You are amazing! Everything I've tried making or mending by myself has ended up being a total disaster - a military tent if you like.
    Have you thought about making this your business? All the blouses are made with great taste and expertise.

    P.S You look great in the red skirt!

    Best Regards
    John @ http://www.cleaningservicesruislip.co.uk

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