Wardrobe Basics Sew-Along: I'm In!

Here is the lovely button that I can't figure out how to add to the side of my blog!

I haven't had much time to sew for myself since November, I don't think that is going to change for a while.  DD1 needs a new dance costume, DD2 wants a new skirt and dress for her birthday.  So that's me, very, very busy till Spring.  I'd also like to get back to some quilting.  I can hear die-hard fashion sewers shuddering at the thought!

So, given the constraints, getting my basics in place makes a lot of sense.  First on Lori's list is black, slim ponte pants/trousers.  I could definitely use some.  What about you?  I've already ordered my ponte from Tissu fabrics.  I think I'll use this month's Burda's slim jersey trousers for my pattern.

Burda 2-2012-120
I really do prefer trousers that sit on my natural waist.

I am sorry I don't know how to put this button no the side of my blog and then link it to Lori's blog.  If you want to check out this sew along, go to Girls in the Garden.

Cheers!

Foray into knitting: Sarah Hatton pattern, Kaffe Fassett yarn

Last summer, I was in the big John Lewis, Oxford street store at opening time.  I think I was exchanging children's shoes.  I was on my own!  No small children to ride herd on.  Children's shoes and haberdashery are on the same floor.  So I scooted over for a look.  There was a huge clearance of yarn.  Pretty yarn, expensive yarn, tempting yarn.  I had first pick!  I'm not a knitter, but I do love buying pretty fibres.  (I know I am not alone in this.)  

Soon the tables were buzzing with knitters sighing, moaning, groaning and generally lamenting their stashes as they proceeded to buy lots more yarn on the basis that wool prices were rising.  Saving money then, you see.

I decided I should buy a few skeins of Kaffe Fassett's Colourscape Chunky yarn.  It was so pretty and made in Britain too.  I found a Sarah Hattan pattern for a simple vest and thought it was a great novice pattern.  Six months, yes months, later I have this:

The vest.  It looks a bit wonky and shapeless.

 I ended up re-knitting half the back because I got the length wrong.  Then, when I was ready to assemble the garment, I realised that I had two left front sides and no right front side.  Again, unravel and re-knit.  After all this fuss.  I ended up with a pretty but rather shapeless piece of wool to drape over myself.  I was a little disappointed.  Wearing it made me feel like an ageing art teacher.  Sigh.

You can see that it is boxy and shapeless on my dress maker's dummy.  I am somebody who needs waist definition, or I look very dumpy.

The vest on my dummy. Still not very promising.

My husband on the other hand, though it was lovely and showed much more enthusiasm for it than anything I had sewn.  Well, at least it was warm.  I'd try wearing it a little, and see how it was.

Layered up as part of a winter ensemble I actually love it!  Instead of being a garment, it seems more like an additional scarf adding extra warmth, texture and a little zing of colour.  It doesn't work the way that I was expecting, but it works!  And I am pleased to have it.

I like to wear it like this with my dark skinny jeans tucked into these boots.

Now I like it!

I have a whole skein of this left, but don't know what I could do with it.  It is very rustic.  It's scratchy and the thickness of it varies.  I don't think a scarf would be a good idea because it would be too scratchy on the neck.

Thinking about sewing, I am feeling tempted by Lori's sewing basics sew along.  I wasn't planning on buying anymore fabric or patterns for a while.  Buying a pattern on short notice in the UK is pretty pricy.  But I have to admit that I feel very, very tempted.  Who couldn't use skinny, black, ponte knit pants?  They would definitely fill a hole in my wardrobe, as would the rest of her list.  Here is a link to Lori's blog, Girls in the Garden.   I think Lynn at Wonderfully Made, is also pitching in with a lot of support for this sew along.

Vogue 1194: DKNY Dress

V1194, DKNY Dress

I love this dress.  It's great on my pear shape.  It skims over the problem areas without looking like a tent and also emphasises my shoulders.  The only niggle I have is that the v-neck is very deep.  Usually a low neck line is no problem for me.  I have very little cleavage, so I can show a lot of decollete without the view getting too exciting.  In this case, the v is deep enough for me to carefully consider my bra choices before getting dressed.

V1194

I sewed this out of some slinky knit fabric that I had ordered from Tissu with the intentions of making V1259.  After reading other sewing bloggers experiences with this pattern, I decided it was not for me.  Although, I am dead impressed with Melissa at Fehrtrade's version.

This pattern is apparently a real challenge to sew, no thanks!

I'd like to sew V1194 again, with a beefier knit.  This time around, I didn't hem the skirt or sleeves!?!  Every time I tried, my machine just chewed the thin slippery fabric up.  In the end I decided a nice clean cut would look better than a scrambled mess.  I have enough of this fabric left over to make a yoga top, so I will give hemming another go.

This dress looks kind of "fancy," but I am intending to wear it as an everyday thing.  My black Butterick dress showed me how an easy care knit dress could be as easy as jeans and a t-shirt.  All I need in the morning is tights and flat, knee-high boots, and I look very smart.  If I get covered in mess, I can just wash and tumble dry it!  Why didn't I see this before?

Burda Russian Preview Up!

Just a quick heads-up, the Burda Russian site has the full February preview up!

I could only copy a teeny tiny picture, but you get the idea!

I am wrangling kids into bed, ok I am supposed to be wrangling kids into bed, so I haven't had a good look yet.  As ever, I am full of hope.  Hope it's a good one!