Autumn sewing list: semi-posh tops and cocktail dresses

The weather in the UK is pretty chilly at the moment and it definitely feels like autumn is on its way. All the lightweight tops and sundresses will be packed away in the not too distant future, which means a new season of sewing can begin. I don't have any concrete plans for autumnal sewing, but there are a few gaps in my wardrobe that I'm keen to fill. One of them is for semi-posh going out clothes. I don't need many as I'm not constantly out on the lash, but it would be good to have a nice choice for the few occasions I do get to escape!

Top of my list are evening tops that can be worn with slim trousers (or a pencil skirt) and heels. A current favourite in this category is my Sew Over It Anita Tie Top, which is dressy, comfortable and absolutely perfect for glamming up a pair of skinny jeans. 

I can see at least one more version in the making, perhaps using another Liberty print as it worked so well last time. I've also just bought Sew Over It's Anderson Blouse pattern. 

I'm optimistically hoping that sewing it will magically transform me into its classy and sexy namesake - Gillian Anderson. Highly unlikely, but I'll give it a whirl. I think rayon would be perfect for this kind of drapey top and I've seen several lovely ones recently….

I think this navy viscose print is so elegant. It also comes in a red or black colourway. 

I love the colours in this bright floral rayon challis print.

Or maybe I should go for a big, blousey floral print instead? Like this Joel Dewberry rayon challis.

On the cocktail dress front, I'd still like to use the skirt and bodice blocks I made on last year's pattern cutting weekend to make myself a little black dress. I don't actually own such a thing, and although black isn't the greatest colour on me, I think I need one in my life. I have in mind a princess seamed dress with slight cap sleeves that I'm planning to make with Prada crepe-backed satin. The fabric is self lined which means I can really concentrate on getting the fit right.

I'd also like to make the lace cocktail dress which has been dancing around in my brain ever since I first clapped eyes on Karen's red lace dress. Sadly, the lace dress class that she took isn't held at a time that suits me, so I'll be teaching myself as I go along. This could turn out well or it could be a total disaster, there's only one way of finding out isn't there?!

I'll probably use a combination of my bodice and skirt blocks and this Amazing Fit pattern which I picked up in a Weaver Dee sale last month. 

I really like the style lines of View B, with the lace overlay shown in View C (but not the long, flouncy bit). I'm also going to treat myself to a Craftsy online course - The Essential Guide to Sewing with Lace, which just received a good review by Fabrikate. I think it could be the ideal stepping stone between attending a course in person and trying to work things out for myself!

Of course, I'll need to keep warm alongside swanning around in drapey tops and cocktail dresses, so I'll still be sewing myself a few basics. But that's another blog post! Have a good week. x

Autumn sewing

For me, autumn is even more of a new start than January. There's a definite change in climate and it's the start of a brand, spanking new season. I love sewing for different seasons and I'm looking forward to working with different weights of fabric, longer sleeves, new styles etc. The downside is that I've also got to fit in lots of craft fair sewing as I've committed to three Xmas fairs, two of which are enormous. So my autumnal sewing list is realistically an autumn AND winter list. Here goes….

Abbey coat

Top of the list and something I've been keen to get my teeth into all summer. My fabric and lining are cut and I've prepped the front coat piece to start working on my bound buttonholes.  As soon as school begins next week it's all systems go.

Alma blouse

I'm planning on using this beautiful, grey double gauze fabric from Misformake. 

I've sewn with double gauze before, here and here and really like the texture.  Plus it's a magic fabric, it keeps you cool in summer and cosy in winter. I think it will be a perfect match for the Alma blouse. If I get the fit right, I may try a long sleeved version too, but in a less expensive fabric, long sleeves demand a ton of fabric and double gauze isn't a cheap option!

A skirt (or two)

I've been mightily swayed by all the lovely Kelly skirts popping up on blogs recently, but also have my eye on this one seam skirt pattern. 

I bought the pattern after seeing Kestrel Finds and Make's cord version and am sorely tempted by this red polka dot cord from Dragonfly Fabrics.  

It's expensive though, which is why I'm thinking a skirt. I'll have to shorten it by about a foot, so could probably get away with just buying one metre.

Dress fest

On the other hand, if I do well at my craft fairs, maybe I could stretch to a couple of metres of it... In which case, it would be perfect for version A of this cute as a button dress pattern, gifted to me by Debi. 

I'm also swayed by the fact that the girl in view A looks like me too…

And finally, I'd like to sew something with a knit fabric, but something a bit more casual than my red Joan dress this time. Maybe this simple, classic dress pattern which Casey kindly sent me? 

That's my list and it should keep me out of trouble for a few months!  Any more autumnal sewing plans out there?  As you know, I love stealing being inspired by other people's plans, so tell me, tell me! x

Looking ahead to 2012

Before I look ahead, I'd like to very briefly look back.  In terms of making my own clothes, 2011 far surpassed my expectations.  From an initial optimistic list of just over half a dozen garments at the beginning of the year, I ended up making:

Seven dresses

Ten tops

Two pairs of trousers

Five skirts

One jacket

Total: 25 garments!  

I blogged recently about the five items in my wardrobe that I turn to again and again, which seem to sum up my personal style.  However, the item that wasn't on that list, probably because it was a bit too special-occasion, was my Oolong dress and I think it deserves a mention.

I struggled with both the silk lining (soon abandoned for a muslin underlining) and the bias cut on this dress.  But on both counts, I received amazing feedback and advice from my readers, enabling me to finish the dress and giving me a much needed lesson in patience.  I've worn it on three occasions, and every time I've known that it's the most perfect dress I could have chosen.  Praise indeed!  

So what else has been going on this year?  Well, the main change I've made is to have kept to my initial six month Wardrobe Refashion pledge for virtually the whole year.  The exceptions being a few items of knitwear and one pair of trousers I bought with a birthday voucher (does that count?)  As a result, the distance between the items in my wardrobe which are handmade and those that are shop-bought has narrowed considerably.  I'm also pretty ruthless about throwing out shop bought garments that don't make the grade. I'd really like to continue in this vein for 2012, so here's a rough list of plans (not resolutions!) for the coming year:

To use as much of my stash as I can

A no brainer really but perhaps writing it down will actually help me keep to it!

To refashion the handmade garments that haven't quite worked

There are one or two things that haven't been a success for one reason or another, so if I can, I'll be refashioning them to get them to work.

To give away the garments that I've never worn

In a few rare instances, the item I've made is just wrong for me and will never be worn (I'm thinking of my ladylike dress here) so I'll be giving them away.  Far better to let somebody else get some use out of it, than have it sadly neglected in the wardrobe, never seeing the light of day.  So watch out for a New Year giveaway along these lines.  

To treat my vintage patterns with a bit more care and respect  

Ahem. Yes I really need to work on this one.  Buying them all nice new plastic covers would be a good start.  I'd also like to try to date the elusive ones.  

To try a few new sewing techniques  

I'm thinking specifically of piping here though I'll try anything that takes my fancy.

To get to grips with my overlocker

This really should be top of my list as it's non-negotiable!  The lovely Lauren recommended this book which is FAB - it goes through all the basics, as well as demonstrating all the other uses an overlocker has.  It's perfect and I'm hoping it will help me to use my overlocker for more than just neatening seams. 

To really think about what I want to make and what I'm likely to wear  

This will almost certainly result in me making fewer garments, but I'd like to really take my time with them, perfecting the fit and finish as much as I possibly can.  In terms of what I make, I'll be keeping the faith with Colette patterns and fully intend to dabble with vintage patterns again.  I'll choose carefully next year though - only making the garments I really lust after.  Like this Economy Print dress on the right hand side.  

And this McCall's 6245 top, which Roobeedoo very kindly let me borrow and copy. Don't you just love sewing bloggers?!  

To make more dresses  

Yes, I know I made seven last year, but I do love dresses, and having met Roisin from Dolly Clackett and swapped dress notes, I feel that a few more than seven is a mere drop in the ocean.....!

So there you have my plans, they're a bit all over the place but I think that makes them a little more attainable.  Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to read my blog and to comment or correspond with me during the past year - I really have loved every minute of it.  I'd like to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.  Enjoy your new sewing year, wherever you are. x

Last sewing of the year

When I was little, one of the things I really looked forward to at Christmas was getting brand new pyjamas on Christmas Eve.  To me, they were a signal that Father Christmas was almost here.  I've kept the same tradition with my own boys, but this year decided to make their PJ bottoms myself.

10 points if you can identify who's on the bike in the picture

I used flannel because it's so cosy and managed to find fabric for both boys on the Goldhawk Road.  I got some cute as a button digger fabric for Charlie for £2.50 a metre and slightly more grown up tartan fabric for Louis at £4 a metre.

To make them,  I copied a pair of their existing PJ bottoms, using this easy tutorial which  I first saw on Stitch and Witter's blog. Sadly, the easy bit was making them, trying to get a decent picture of my two was the difficult bit.  This was what 99% of the photos ended up looking like....

.... and forget asking them to smile....

Despite all their gurning, they both really love them (I'm sure it's the cosiness of flannel) but I don't think they'll be brand new and pristine on Christmas Eve.  Having strong armed them into modelling them for me, they now flatly refuse to take them off!

That's my last sewing of the year, I'll be back with a round-up after the Christmas frenzy has calmed down. Enjoy your time off during the festive period everybody.  Looking forward to catching up in the New Year. x

Autumn Sewing Plans

Thank you all for your encouraging comments on my last post.  It’s good to know it’s not just me that gets excited by a fast bit of sewing trickery! And hello to everybody who’s hopped over to read my blog for the first time – nice to meet you!

With one more week of the summer holidays left, I’ve been thinking about autumn sewing a lot recently.  I’ve got a busy couple of months ahead.  I’m selling my wares at two craft fairs and have a large order of wash bags to fulfil!  Although pre-Christmas is probably the most lucrative time to sell, I’m trying to be realistic about how much time I’ll have to make stock AND make myself some autumn clothes.  Consequently, my autumn sewing list has had to be realistic too.  I’m keeping it simple and trying to use up as much of my fabric stash as I can….

Autumn shirt dress

I’ve only ever read good things from other sewing bloggers about Lisette patterns and view A of this shirt dress is definitely the one with my name on it.  I’m taking a bit of a gamble and using my 1930’s look flowered charity shop fabric.  

It could be a floral overload and some of the colours aren't really me (purple and orange?!) but I'll give it a go….

Sailor trousers

I desperately need another pair of trousers as my 1940’s wide legged ones are starting to get a bit bobbly with overuse.  As soon as I saw this Flickr picture of Christi’s I knew I had to have a pair.  I’m using Simplicity 2654, which looks a bit frumpy, but I’m hoping that once I’ve shamelessly copied Christi and added buttons it will have more of a retro look. 

Fabric-wise I’m going to use a blue/black twill (or is that drill? I’m not sure) which I bought because of its lovely drape.  When I washed it recently though, it came out of the machine practically dry – just like a football kit – which makes me think there’s more than a little polyester in the mix!  Hopefully they won’t look too shiny.  And before you pull me up on it, I'm not making another pair of navy trousers, blue/black is a different colour entirely.…

Grey wool jacket

I’m going to use my charity shop grey wool for my first attempt at a jacket, matched with a lovely teal coloured lining fabric.  

I’ll probably only get round to making the muslin this side of Christmas but that’s fine.

I’m planning to make a plain collared jacket with princess seams using a pattern from this Built by Wendy book.  I've been so impressed with this book and hopefully it will be a good starting point for a jacket rookie like myself.  It goes through each step in a really thorough way: from tracing your initial pattern to sewing each seam and adding the lining.  There’s also a troubleshooting section for fitting which will be useful.

On the reserve list is a black Beignet and a cord Ginger skirt but they can also wait until the other side of Christmas.  It's now official, I'm getting an overlocker for Christmas (hoorah, hoorah, hoorah!!!) so there’s a whole different list of knit and stretch projects lined up for after I’ve worked out how to use it (gulp).

I’ve had the most lovely, chilled out summer with my boys, but after the initial wrench of them going back to school, I’ll be very pleased to get back to my machine!  Have a good week. x