Ottobre Autumn/ Winter 2009

I just got this magazine, a late Christmas present. It is the first Ottobre magazine I've had a chance to look at.

It has a few cute patterns, particularly the tunic in this pic:

Tea Wallet

I did end up making some Christmas presents - I made this cute tea wallet.


I used this tutorial at Is it Naptime Yet?.
It was really clear and easy to follow.

I bought a sample pack of amazing T2 tea, but when I opened it to put some in the wallet, realised their packs are bigger than normal ones. Bugger!

Oh well, it still looked pretty!
Empty:

and closed:

New Look 6803

Pattern Description:
Loose tunic dress with a obi-style belt. I made view A with E (the belt).

Pattern Sizing:
10 - 22, I used size 16

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Mostly!

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes, very easy, even the pockets.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
It was really fast and easy, it is the first thing I've completed and actually worn! It IS a lot bigger and loose than the picture indicates, but once worn with belt looked quite good, as that style with over-emphasized hips is quite trendy at the moment.

Fabric Used:
A cotton blend from Lincraft

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
None. I did use a silver satin to make the back ofthe belt, it shows as a contrast around the edging.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I want to try view D, the kaftan one as a beach cover-up.

Conclusion:
I was really pleased with the way it turned out. I know it's not perfect, but I made it in one day and wore it to Ladies Day at the races. The best thing is, I told my friends I was making a dress, and they didn't realise for quite a while that I was wearing it!

Summer Wardrobe 2009-10

These are the things I'd like to make for my Summer wardrobe, I'd like to get at least a couple done before we go to Hawaii on 23rd of November!

• The Maxi dress I've already mentioned a couple of times on this blog, Simplicity 3503



• A beach bag, maybe blue and white stripes?



• I'd like to make at least one pretty dress for one or two of the special events I have coming up: good friends wedding- semi formal, beach wedding - casual, 60th birthday, 30th birthday, and Races. Also my own 30th is in December, but I'm not sure what I will do to celebrate yet! I'm thinking of one of the dresses from Burda in Burda 06/2009, dress 128



• Denim shorts refashioned from a pair of jeans



• A casual jersey/knit dress based on pattern from Sew U Home stretch by Wendy Mullin



• A few cute cotton skirts, using A-line skirt pattern from Sew U by Wendy Mullin, including a plain black knee-length for work, and a weekend one, maybe out of some echino fabric like this one

Well, I think that is sufficiently ambitious!

Sew Hip skirt

I finished this skirt last week, it is from the Sew Hip magazine, in issue 8.

I'm fairly pleased with it as it is the first thing I've sewn that I could actually wear. It is the first time I've made button holes on my sewing machine and the first time to do pleats. I did stuff up the pleats by only making them half the size, which meant there were twice as many. I also think the skirt would half fit better if I had fit the waist band to my waist, instead of my hips (which is where I would usually wear my skirts). It is a bit boofy around the hips, which I really don't need, but I think that is caused from the extra pleats.

The instructions from Sew Hip were set out well and were very clear. There was no actual pattern, you just cut the fabric to measurements.

I used a fabric from a local fabric shop - My Hung in Hurstville. I think it was $7.50/metre and the pattern asked for 1 metre. It is bright and colourful, and has a shine to it. The buttons are plain navy and from My Hung too.

Hopefully I'll be brave enough to wear it, despite the mistakes, because it is still a pretty skirt.

Here is a full length pic, excuse my white legs and sock marks!

Spring! Well, actually, Autumn

Here is my Bobble Blue, unblocked:




I bought these buttons on Saturday at Spotlight, I wasn't sure if they were too much, but I think they are absolutely gorgeous. I asked the Boy and my mum, they both thought they looked good on the Bobble Blue, so I'll sew them on, and see what it looks like. They were only $1 each. I also bought some plain grey buttons, in case I needed them ,and tried different combinations, such as using one bird button as a feature, or alternating them with plain buttons.




I made this tote bag on Saturday, it is lined with a pink fabic, it is so bright and cheery! All the American blogs and websites seem excited by Spring, so even though we are heading into Autumn, with this bag, I can pretend.

I'm actually looking forward to Autumn this year, hoping to spend more time knitting and sewing. Last year I read a lot of books, but I get to read an hour every day on the train, so I would like to spend my home time more creatively.

Tote Bag

I sewed this tote bag out of the gorgeous Echino fabric. I absolutely love this fabric - the colours, the texture (it feels coarser, like linen), and the graphics, especially the tiger.

This bag will be used for all the stuff that doesn't fit in my handbag! I always need an extra bag for work, to put in my book, lunch, and travel mug of coffee.

I also put a little pocket in, for my weekly train ticket. For the pattern, I just traced the size of my tote bag I already use, and sewed it up. I used some plain pink cotton I had as lining - this fabic is from my university days, I wore it as a toga at a toga party! I finally found another use for it!

My Package Arrives!

Today my order from Kelani Fabric arrived. It is the first time I've ordered fabric online, and I'm really pleased. The fabrics are beautiful, and I've already been busy sewing with one of them...

Camera Cozy

Today I finished the camera cozy I started a couple of weeks ago. I used this tutorial from Sew Mad. Although it wasn't too difficult, there were a few bits that I didnt understand, and took a while to work out. But finally, it is finished!





I used some quilting cotton that I bought from Spotlight for the outside, and the good ol' apron fabric for the lining.

Overall, I'm fairly pleased, I think this was a step up in my sewing skills. A few things I would change for next time:

1. Use thinner batting if possible
2. Make the closing flap longer (mine isn't long enough, and you can see the velcro)



I've also been working on Bobble Blue, the sweater I'm knitting. I was happily knitting away, thinking about how I should get back to knitting more, especially as I'm now at the stage where I can usually follow the pattern without having to stop and check how to do things all the time. And then, of course, I had to do buttonholes, which I've never done before. I tried to follow the instructions in the Interweave glossary, but it looks wrong the way I'm doing it, so I might look in my other books tomorrow.

Kitchen

Here are the gifts I made for my sister.





The Apron is made with the same pattern I used to make The Boy's, and the oven mit is from a book I got for Christmas - Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. It's a great book with lots of lovely, simple projects.

Water Bottle Carrier

We had a really busy Christmas and New Year, so today I took advantage of my free time, and made a water bottle carrier today, using this tutorial at Pink Chalk Studio

I had bought a new Sigg water bottle, and have wanted to make a cover for it since stumbling on that website.

It was relatively quick and easy, I used bits from the apron I made my sister, and other scraps from bag linings.

The handle is made out of a trimming I found at my local fabric store, which is where I also bought the main fabric.

I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out.

First sewing project

Last weekend I bought a sewing machine, a Brother PS 53 from Spotlight Rockdale. So far I am finding it easy to use. While I was at Spotlight, I also bought some notions, a pattern for aprons and some fabric.


I started with an apron for The Boy, made out of this cool beer label print. The pattern was Mcalls 2947 and I used view F. It was pretty easy and quick – I started it on Sunday and finished it Monday evening after work. It fits well and looks good!

Now I’ve started another view from the same pattern, in a cute cupcake fabric for myself. This version is a little more difficult, and will take me longer.



This evening, while I was taking a break from the cutting, I made a cute little cupcake pincushion, based on these pincushions.


I have so many ideas and things I want to make!