Watch this Lace

Have you been following Marie's Watch this Lace series over at A Stitching Odyssey? If for some bizarre reason you haven't, then please hot foot it over there immediately. Thank you. Marie very generously gifted five metres of beautiful vintage lace each to eight sewing bloggers, challenging them to incorporate it into whatever took their fancy. The series is about half way through now and it's been amazing, with some truly beautiful and inspirational makes. And today's seamstress is none other than me!!! The construction details and finished pics are on Marie's blog, but I thought I'd go into a bit more detail here about what inspired me. I'll probably repeat some of the finished blouse shots too, just because.

Apart from trimming a hem, I've never used lace in my sewing before so I needed to think long and hard about how to use it. As I'm not a particular lover of frills and flounces, my version was always going to be a bit reserved. I initially wanted to used the lace around the neck, but visions of Lord Percy from Blackadder kept popping into my head. 

If you're a Tudor Lord then you can clearly pull this look off, especially if you have a spare set of doublet and hose to hand. Sadly, it wasn't a look that was going to work for me. I also wanted the finished garment to fit in with the rest of my wardrobe and be something I'd want to wear. So I decided to use the lace as a border/edging on a collar.

I was inspired by this picture of a Modcloth dress that I'd pinned to my yellow board on Pinterest, and decided that I could use the Alma blouse pattern as the collar has quite a similar shape. To get the look I made a fake placket, using the method from the Colette Sorbetto pattern. But instead of just attaching the placket at the top and bottom as per the Sorbetto, I top stitched down each lace trimmed placket edge.

The final amount of lace is just right in my book: not too frilly but having enough peeking out to draw the eye. Attaching the lace to the collar edge was a little more involved, but still pretty straight forward. I took some pictures as I went along and I think I can remember how I did it...(!) so if anybody's interested in a tutorial, just shout and I'll make myself remember.

I loved being involved with this challenge, and challenge me it did! So often, I take the easy way out of a sewing project, but this time I had to fiddle around with a few techniques and ideas before I achieved what I wanted. There are so many inspirational pictures and projects I've collected on Pinterest, but up until now they've just been pretty pictures to look. With this blouse under my belt, I'm now more than tempted to try and bring a few more of them to life. Happy Sunday. x

The Sorbetto/Ginger Dress

I had one final holiday sewing project to complete before getting carried away with autumn sewing and my requirements were pretty clear:

• a light dress/cover up to wear over my swimsuit
• simple and quick to make
• an inexpensive make as I’d only be wearing it for one week this year

Hhhmm, what could I make?  In my head I’d been thinking of my red gingham cover up dress from 1974.  

My bikini wearing days are well and truly over, but I wanted to make something that would remind me of that happy holiday.  What pattern(s) could possibly fulfil this tough list of requirements?  Enter the Sorbetto/Ginger dress.  Or should that be the Sorbinger?  Or the Gingetto?…..

Anyway, I’d seen versions of the Colette Patterns Sorbetto as a dress before, and was quite taken with the idea.  Sarah’s shift version was a great inspiration, but I wanted mine to have more shape to the skirt section, so I simply used my Ginger skirt pattern for the skirt part.  It’s basically a Sorbetto top and Ginger skirt merged together.  It was a very satisfying make: all the top edges are neatly bias bound and the sides and shoulders have French seams so everything is super neat.  

The fabric was two metres of a textured, very lightweight gingham which I managed to buy on a recent clandestine visit to the Goldhawk Road (I was supposed to be sorting out a day trip for my children).  At £2.50 a metre I was happy to muck around with two different patterns and not be gutted if it all went horribly wrong.

Like my Sorbetto top before it, this dress looks more flattering on me when it’s nipped in at the waist, as the boxiness of the design simply doesn’t suit my shape.  Hence the belt…

Once I’d cut out the pattern pieces, I managed to whip it together in the time it took my husband to bath the kids.  I had to sew on the bias binding at a later date, but I'd estimate the total time to complete the project, including drafting and cutting out, to be about two hours. I'm not kidding myself - I know it's a very plain, simple make - but that's exactly what I wanted.  Now, all I need is a co-ordinating polka dot bucket and I’m ready for my hols…. x

Sleeveless Top Challenge

After making my first Sorbetto top recently, I decided to do a sleeveless top challenge: the Sorbetto versus the Pendrell.  I felt that the princess seams of the Pendrell would be more flattering to my shape than the basic vest shape of the Sorbetto.  So away I went….

I’ve had some Anna Maria Horner voile in my stash for a while but keep changing my mind about what to make with it.  I struck whilst the iron was hot (literally) and quickly cut out the sleeveless version of the Pendrell (version three). Once sewn though, it was surprising to see just how plain a top the sleeveless Pendrell really is.  On me, it was verging on the frumpy. I didn’t take any photos of the Pendrell in its frumpsville phase, you’ll just have to take my word for it.   

I didn’t want to waste my precious voile, so I needed to do a bit of re-jigging. Hhhmm, what to do? In the end I added a Peter Pan collar and I think it saved the day.  Inspired by ooobop’s lovely dress in this post, I drafted my own collar using this tutorial. To stop the neckline looking too bulky (it was already bias bound) I top stitched the collar down.  It's not perfect, but it still works and at least the collar lies flat. The addition of a collar definitely makes it more wearable.  Overall, I’m pretty pleased with it.

I couldn't resist adding a button

Now that I’ve sewn the two patterns within a week of each other, here’s my list of what does and doesn't work for me with each pattern.

Sorbetto

Barely 0.5 metres of fabric needed

Very quick to sew

Free download!           

Great for a holiday wardrobe           

Way too short (this is easily remedied though)           

Quite boxy in shape on me

Needs to be tucked in on me to look good 

Cool pleat down the middle            

Pendrell

More like 1.5 metres of fabric needed

Still quick to sew but not in the Sorbetto's league

Pattern is good value, considering this is my third make from it

Too plain on me without added collar or sleeves

Nice and long

Princess seams extremely flattering

Can be worn tucked or untucked on me

Two sleeve options available

In conclusion, I think they’re more or less neck and neck. I think the Sorbetto is better as a casual

holiday top, whereas the Pendrell is a more elegant style.  They’re both great patterns and I’m sure 

I’ll make more versions of each one.  It was a fruitful experiment though – I’ve now got two very

wearable tops for my holidays. Result!          

                                     

MMJ: Days 23, 24, 25 and 26

So, what's been happening for the past few days?....

Day 23

MMJ: Day 23

Top: Pendrell blouse

Trousers: Banana Republic

Sandals: Camper

Me-Made Category: A

This is a pretty easy combination and was exactly what I wore on Day 12 too.

Day 24

MMJ: Day 24

Top: 1950's wrap top

Skirt: Japanese one pleat skirt

Shoes: Kew

Me-Made Category: Both verging on A

After languishing in my wardrobe unworn since its birth, this top has received the most compliments of all my me-made clothes this month.  Very strange.

Day 25

MMJ: Day 25

Cardigan: John Smedley

Dress: Crepe dress

Shoes: Marks and Spencer

Me-Made category: B

I wore this for my son's school fair and it was a big hit.  Lots of people asked me where I bought it from!!! I think it was the fabric which got them all so excited.  It's still a pain to get it to sit right, especially the wrap bit at the back, but I can live with it because it's such a lovely dress for summer.  In fact, I was tempted to skip off and pick flowers in the adjoining meadow as I was wearing just the right get-up.  You'll be relieved to know I didn't...

Day 26

MMJ: Day 26

Top: Sorbetto

Skirt: Beignet

Shoes: Clarks

Me-Made Category: Top, C as it's fresh off the machine, Skirt, A

Today was hot, hot, hot so I decided to give my new Sorbetto a spin.  I made this top with the intention of taking it on holiday so today's hot weather was a good practice run. Verdict?  Perfect, really cool in hot weather.  

I can't believe a whole month has almost gone by, every day of which I've been clad in my hand stitched clothes!  Happy Monday. x

Just one Sorbetto?

Along with the entire sewing world, I’ve been very tempted by the Colette Patterns new, free download, the Sorbetto. And who wouldn’t be tempted? All the irresistible elements were there: free pattern, only two pattern pieces, easy peasy and quick to make. It was Karen’s assurance that she barely used half a yard of fabric that finally lured me in. I promptly e-mailed Karen for sizing advice and she wisely suggested adding an extra inch to the two inches she’s already lengthened her version by. Good advice - in its original state, the Sorbetto is virtually a crop top.

I originally bought this Ikea fabric with the intention of making a skirt, but it was soon usurped by a whole load of other skirt contenders and I forgot about it. I rediscovered it again recently and it was the perfect fabric for a muslin/first attempt – very light and summery.

The fit was fine, although still a bit boxy for me so I took in the side seams a little. I also followed Karen’s advice to use French seams which means no raw edges are on display (the neck and armholes are bias bound). Once cut out, the entire thing took barely an hour to sew – definitely my kind of top.

I tried wearing it with all different kinds of bottom halves, tucked in, untucked, belted etc and this was the combination I liked the best.

For me, it’s definitely a holiday top as it’s a bit too vest-like for everyday wear. But hey, give me a linen vest with front pleat and bias edges over a shop bought vest any day of the week. It’s tempting to make another one for my holiday because it’s so quick to make and uses so little fabric, but I think a sleeveless version of the Pendrell is probably more me. I’m going to make another Pendrell and see which looks the best… a sleeveless top version of the Pepsi challenge if you will.

So, have you made a Sorbetto yet? Do tell, as I love seeing all the endlessly inventive ways of bringing this great little pattern to life. x

MMJ: Days 19, 20, 21 and 22

This is a quick catch up to bring me right up to date with Me-Made-June…

Day 19

Blouse: Newly me-made Violet 

Skirt: The very first thing I ever made! It's New Look 6843, before I had a blog

Shoes: Hobbs

Me-Made Category: Blouse, C as it's only just been born, skirt, A

This skirt is a winter wool skirt which I had to retrieve from its packed-away state to combat the weather.  I've worn it to death, it's very plain but a really good fit, and it goes with everything.

Day 20

Blouse: Me-made Rabbit blouse

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Marks and Spencer

Me-Made Category: B

I really like this blouse and will try to wear it more.  Not necessarily with this skirt though, I think just on the knee is a more flattering length for me.

Day 21

Blouse: Boden

Skirt: Me-made Beignet

Shoes: Clarks

Me-Made Category: A

My Beignet is fast becoming the skirt equivalent of my 1940's trousers.  A second version is right at the top of my list after MMJ is finished.

Day 22

Cardigan: John Smedley

Necklace: Superdrug (!)

Skirt: Another pre-blog make from New Look 6843

Shoes: Clarks

Me-Made Category: A

I made this skirt as an in-between project on my dressmaking course (we were supposed to make one garment per term but you know me, I wanted to gallop ahead.)  I'm amazed by how well made it is: perfectly constructed lining, invisible zip, cool waistband made from bias tape etc.  Beginner's luck I think!

In other news, I made my first Sorbetto top yesterday!  No photos yet, as London was engulfed in torrential rain all morning - so any pics would have come out pitch black.  And finally, I finished my Oolong Dress!!!!!   I'm just leaving it to hang before taking photos but I'm VERY pleased with it! x