Sewing

Random Project Generator

27th Aug 202127th Aug 2021 yorkiemouse4 Comments

Hello! Today, I’m a woman with a plan. Do you ever have “creative overload”? Recently I’ve had so many ideas swimming around in my brain that I don’t really know where to start. It’s a lovely “problem” to have but it seems to have resulted in analysis paralysis (a term I first heard on the Love to Sew Podcast that applies to many aspects of my life!) and I’m spending a lot of creative time procrastinating.

As well as some personal wardrobe gaps, we’re perilously close to autumn which means my mind is turning to what presents to make for the festive* season. I don’t tend to make too many gifts for December* because it’s a busy enough time without the additional pressure of sewing deadlines. However, most years I make a few gifts if I have time to plan. (*Strategically avoiding the C word)

As I mentioned in my recent post, I love following Evie La Luve‘s Let the Dice Design stories on Instagram. Whilst watching a few weeks ago, I started thinking about a “random project generator” for myself. Maybe if I let fate decide what order to make things, I’ll enjoy the process and actually get something done?!

Random project generator

I have a theory that, even as grown-ups we gravitate towards academic terms. In England, our school terms run from September to August and I always have a yearning for fresh starts and new ideas as the autumn approaches. As my indecision struck during August, it seemed like the perfect timing to turn my random project generator into a reality.

Let’s be clear, there’s nothing particularly fancy about this, I’m going to put post-it notes into a tin, shake it about, close my eyes and pick one out!

Final list

Looking at my initial list, I decided to take the quilts out as I’m planning on making the tops of them whilst on holiday – hurrah for portable sewing projects! I have also taken out the Polaris top. I’ve already cut it out but the UK weather has decided we’ve had enough of the sun so there’s no hurry for a summer top. I may sew the Polaris at my leisure when my “completer finisher” instinct kicks in.

I added the Lyra dress from Tilly and the Buttons into the mix. I recently bought the pattern and have a feeling it will make a great transitional dress, which makes it ideal for this autumn challenge.

In choosing my final list, I was mindful of being realistic about time and picking projects for myself that I have an immediate need for. In order to keep the presents a surprise, I’ve written on the back on the post-its which present it is. So my final list looks like this:

Five presents – these are all relatively small projects
TATB Lyra dress
Papercut Patterns Aura dress
Helen’s Closet Avery leggings
Nina Lee Portobello trousers

My plan is to blog about each one when I can…hopefully I won’t get 5 presents in a row out first!

First up is…..

Let the games begin! Wish me luck and thanks for reading :o)

Sewing

How much is “too much”?

18th Aug 202118th Aug 2021 yorkiemouse1 Comment

Hello all! This blog post started as a Lotta blog, then I realised I had two other double-gauze items either cut out or queued up. Musing on my queue, I began to wonder…

How much double-gauze is “too much”?

A lot of sewists say that they struggle with double-gauze – some can’t get the tension and/or needles right, some say that it generally misbehaves for them. Personally, I’ve never had any problems and love sewing with, and wearing, double-gauze. In particularly, crinkly double-gauze – the joy of not having to press a length of fabric after its pre-wash, or iron the eventual garment every time it comes out of the washer is enough to keep me happy!

As well as low maintenance, I find double-gauze lovely to wear in both hot and cooler weather. In short, I’m a fan.

How it all began

The two types of ‘DG’ that I’ve used are “crinkly” and “non-crinkly” which probably aren’t the technical terms! For proper explanations, I recommend this Tilly and the Buttons blog post.

In preparation for my blog, I cast my mind back and thought I’d identified my first double-gauze garment. In actual fact but, I identified my fifth then kept thinking of earlier makes!

My first make in ‘DG’ turned out to be a “non crinkly” Nina Lee Fleet top in Nani Iro fabric, and I subsequently made another with an added sleeve ruffle.

Nani Iro is fantastic for simple tops as the designs are so beautiful that they can shine. I’ve worn these Fleet tops so many times with shorts and skirts since I made them and they’re wearing and washing really well.

On the crinkly side of things, I was introduced to this type by a Sew Hayley Jane subscription box. I received a light blue crinkly ‘DG’ with dandelions on it, which I made into my first Myosotis dress and wear all the time in the summer. A bright teal with gold dots Myosotis quickly followed as it’s a great fabric to pair with this pattern.

The beginning of full appreciation

On reflection, I think my coral Sagebrush top was probably the beginning of my full appreciation for the crinkly stuff. The statement sleeve looks very different in double gauze to a drapey viscose. My shadow looks like an American footballer in full kit because of the way the fabric holds its own weight! My only complaint about a ‘DG’ Sagebrush is that it’s a bit of a nightmare to get a cardigan over the sleeves – it’s a top for guaranteed sunny days, or to pair with the I Am Lion jumper.

Continuing my love affair with the crinkly stuff

Now we (finally) come to the original reason for this blog – a Tilly and the Buttons Lotta dress. During MeMadeMay2021, I realised that I was lacking in summer dresses that are comfortable to sit in all day whilst working. The versatile Lotta, which I’ve previously made in jersey, can also be made in woven fabric.

With the loose bodice and A-line skirt, this is the perfect dress for sitting in all day.

This mauve fabric was from Bugweeds, which is a relatively new ‘bricks and mortar’ shop in York. I found this a refreshingly quick sew. Simple pattern pieces, plain fabric, no notions (except for a bit of elastic) and TATB’s great instructions meant I whipped this dress up in a few leisurely evenings. A “palate cleanser” after a few more involved makes.

As my previous dress was in jersey, I checked the final garment measurements to make sure I hadn’t sized down to account for the stretch. In the end, I used the same pattern pieces.

Double ruffle on double gauze

And finally, I bought this dark teal from The Sewist Fabric Shop with a voucher that I received as payment for a blog post.

I added a double ruffle with a remnant of one of my favourite fabrics and also put an elastic channel a few inches up from the bottom of the sleeve to create a different silhouette.

I’m really pleased with the hacks which have added a bit of personalisation to a favourite pattern of mine.

Thanks for reading. Full disclosure, there’s another ‘DG’ garment in my queue! :o)

Uncategorized

Sophia cami

8th Aug 2021 yorkiemouse1 Comment

Hello! It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. With my new sewing set up, I’ve been batch cutting, which is more effective. However, that means batch sewing, batch photographing and batch blogging!

Today I’m writing about some nightwear that I sewed up in an afternoon and has a touch of decadence about it. It’s also hot off the machine, which is always fun to write about.

I have been following Evie La Luve on Instagram for a while now and absolutely love her “Let the Dice Design” stories. Whilst I don’t have any current desire to sew lingerie (never say never), I wanted to buy a pattern to support her business. The Sophia cami is a two layered top that I’m planning on wearing for bed so I wanted material with a lot of drape.

I bought this mink coloured sandwashed satin from Sew Me Sunshine ages ago with “fancy pjs” in mind but it’s been sitting in my stash for some time now. The drape on it is amazing but it’s a slippery sucker (to quote Pretty Woman!). I also had some gold remnants from my liquid gold Kew dress which I thought would compliment the mink for the bows. If you’re going to have huge bows, they may as well stand out.

Fitting and cutting

As I am only planning on wearing my Sophia cami for bed, I took my bust measurement without a bra. The finished garment is quite a relaxed fit, with a generous waist so the bust is the important part to fit.

I cut a straight Small but I wish I had added a few inches to the length, or maybe another even a third layer. I have a short torso and the cami sits just above my tummy button. I should say that is how this pattern is designed, and it’s my personal preference to want it a bit longer. Yet again, I was reminded of the importance of a toile. The top still fits, it’s just not something I’ll answer the door to the postie in!

The fabric was challenging to cut out with it being sooooooo slippery. One of the main pieces needed the hem levelling up after cutting, but the ties needed a lot of levelling up when I pinned them together in pairs. By some miracle, they all looked fairly uniform after I turned them through which was a relief.

Photo showing off the points of the ties

Sewing

The Sophia cami came together really quickly. If I had made in a more stable fabric, it probably would have taken half the time! There are some really lovely details, like French seams on the side seams which I would have done even if the pattern hadn’t suggested as this fabric frays. As with a lot of lingerie patterns, the seam allowances are small which is great for using less fabric.

Finishing

Apart from wanting a bit more length, the top fits well and I’m looking forward to wearing it to bed. I’m tempted to topstitch the ties as, in general, they can be unruly when trying to iron. I also think that if the ties are topstitched, I might get away without ironing it at all! Always a bonus :o)

I think my tension was a bit too tight for the topstitching on the cami as it’s sitting slightly “proud”. I think understitching the neck and underarms instead of topstitching would sort that out, but also keep everything where it should be.

All it needs now is some Tap pants to match! I still have some of the main fabric so I’m hoping to make some bottoms to go with my new pj top.

Thanks for reading :o)