Vest

A quick post to show you what I sewed yesterday, a little black vest from this Japanese book. I used very thick linen because I didn't want it to sag despite not lining it. And since it was pretty simple and quick to sew (you have 3 pieces to attach together^^) I finished the hem and facing with a cute white bias with black hearts.

Emergency garment

First, it bugs me that I haven't posted in quite a long time but it seemed everything I sewed turned wrong :( I had a bad cold for a week too so maybe it didn't help but on the whole I was really unhappy with what I did during this period.
Anyway, at last I think I have something cute to show today! The reason behind today's top starts like this: if you read the short description on the top right corner you know I live in France. Actually it would be more accurate to say that I live in a French overseas department, a tropical island where it is currently Summer. And what a Summer! It's stiffling! So on Sunday I went to a picnic in the mountain and I got horribly sunburnt. I was wearing a teeshirt and shorts (I must show my linen shorts later, they too are too cute^^) so I got burnt on my neck, arms and legs. I had to sew something that wouldn't stick to my skin and that would cover the burnt areas. Hence this top:



The pattern is from this book but I made a number of changes: I put pleats and a little removable bow in the front, I reduced the width of the back, I lengthened the sleeves and put elastic bands in the wrist bias tape. The fabric is satin and therefore it's soft against my poor skin :D. I still had to wear a cotton scarf to protect my throat but the top really helped sooth my pain while I was in class!

Stitching

It's my last day off before going back to work and I've got a cold :( Talk about somatizing! I can't sew since I'm too tired so I tried my hand at embroidery. I used this book which I purchased at Kinokuniya last month:


There are 365 easy projects to keep you busy all along the year^^: hand stitching, felting, labels, appliques... There are also good explanations on the different sorts of stiches and how to make them regular and neat. My first results are definitely not very good but I had a lot of fun doing them and I'll keep on practising!

Checks!

While going through my fabric stash I noticed that I have quite a lot of check, plaid and gingham fabrics piling up. I love them so I buy them but then I'm afraid of sewing them because of the pattern matching! I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to overcome my fears^^ and sew my checks. I made a basic shirt from a Japanese magazine: easy, cute, blabla I've already spoken about my love for these patterns.
I was careful with matching checks and everything went well!




I've copied a diagram that explains how to make a quick and neat collar with stand:


As for the wrist slit, here's a link to a very efficient video.


I also made a cardigan from plaid wool that I had kept for 2 years, the pattern comes from the same magazine as the shirt. As I didn't use knit I had to sew hems (by hand!) along the collar, at the bottom of course and for the sleeves. I think this design has a little retro vibe, like the box jackets from the 50's.

Nightgown

Even though I've been using quite a lot of American or Burda patterns lately, I still love to whip up a quick project with a Japanese pattern. They're incredibly simple and more importantly everything falls into place effortlessly! It took me one evening to make this electric blue nightgown as a birthday present for my beautiful friend Marie. It's one of her favorite colours and I love to combine this shade of blue with bright yellow, so I added a little lace. I used French seams (which we call "English seams" in French by the way^^) and hand hemmed the gown.





I used model 20 from this book to make the nightgown.

Headband

Hi there! I made a light pink crochet headband for a brunette friend I'm seeing on Friday. I had already tried before, using a crochet band to cover a plastic headband and the result was... horrible :D.
This time I think it turned out quite sweet, with the two simple flowers. I used tiny plastic loops to join the crocheted part with the bias-covered elastic band, I checked and the loops are so small you don't feel them behind your ears (which can be a sensitive zone!). The elastic feels comfortable too, I even wonder if it's not a little too long. Well, I'll ask my friend after she's worn it.

Flower shirt

A quick post to show (from afar!) a shirt I made a little while ago. The pattern is McCall's 5664, view B.


I used this soft black cotton printed with tiny flowers bouquets to make it:


Sewing was fairly simple and I finished it in a day. I used black bias tape to finish the short sleeves and for the hem. And the ties are not made of contrasting fabric!



I wear it with my new incredibly smoooooth Uniqlo leggings, I'm so glad the shop opened in Singapore before I went :)

Chinese top and an update

First I want to thank Rüta for leaving the first comment ever on this blog, it made me so happy^^! Then I have quite a good deal of things to show you today, starting with this Chinese top I made a few weeks ago. With its off-white background and big blue flowers the fabric made me think of a china vase so I thought it was only fitting to use it to make a Chinese top! The construction wasn't difficult but I have a problem with the bust panel: the snaps open if I make an effort with my arm. That's why I did the Qipao with a back zipper and I think I'll use this variation everytime I sew this type of garment.






I also made a skirt and a dress for my mama using the new Japanese books I bought in Singapore. The skirt's fabric is a heavy, almost silky cotton plaid and for the dress I used plain lilac cotton. As usual with Japanese patterns everything went perfectly and it took only 1 day to make the two garments.






To finish with sewing news, yesterday I walked past a super old haberdasher's which had been closed for at least 15 years and it was open and had a clearance! I was so glad, can you believe I had actually dreamt of this event a few months ago^^? I'm definitely a sewing geek :p I bought vintage buttons and buckle belts.