Delicious aprons

After a streak of disastreous projects, I was all up for some successes. I had planned on making aprons as Mother’s Day presents for my mom and my grand-mother after seeing this pattern from Barbara Brunson. Aren’t they the cutest aprons ever?

I think they turned out pretty well, and I can’t wait to give them to their recipients. Yes, I know, Mother’s Day was like… weeks ago, but since I’ll be visiting the said recipients in about 3 weeks, I decided to wait a bit and hand them in person instead of shipping them.

Here’s a few photos:

I really love the fabric I’ve found for these aprons. It makes me salivate just by looking at them!

I’ll probably give the pattern another go, for myself this time

Projects going into the bin

I know I promised pictures and updates on projects, I’m sorry! Pictures of the t-shirt are coming this weekend but the updates on projects… uh? What? What projects? Here’s a recap on my now-unexistant projects…

So it all started with a jacket. This jacket (view C) to be precise. I planned on using a fabric that had been in my stash forEVER, some polyester/cotton blend with a great drape despite it’s relative thickness (in comparison with a regular poplin). Great olive green color, perfect for my current wardrobe and my wardrobe-to-be. For lining, my choice went to a lime green poplin that was just too thin and seethrough to use for a shirt, but seemed perfect for lining. I assembled most of the jacket (sleeves and lining missing only) and tried it on. Ugh #1. Yes, it fitted: shoulders were fine, front and back upper bits fitted fine. But the lower sections made me look absolutely HORRIBLE. Think 9 months pregnant front and back. And the overal length was way too short (I’m 10 cm shorter than the standard pattern length, how is that possible??).

I had the face the evidence: this is not a pattern for my bodyshape. Finishing the project made no sense, so I just binned everything. What a waste of fabric, but I remember paying something like 1 euro/meter for both fabrics. So I won’t really cry over it… what is out of my stash leaves room for new fabric anyway

So I moved on to my next project, my first ever attempt at sewing a 100% lycra garment. During my hiatus I got myself a new addiction: running. And being somewhat a girly girl, I thought it’d be great to have a few running skirts for the summer! Last week I bought some great lycra fabric, or at least so I thought. I admit not being very knowledgeable when it comes to lycra (100% lycra that is) and I thought that a thicker version of it would offer me great support (I might have lost weight but there are still plenty of jiggly bits on me) when running. What I didn’t take into consideration is that this particular fabric was also quite shiny and sleek. More on this later. So I got my Jalie pattern out and cut all the pieces for the skirt. Assembling didn’t go like a charm because I didn’t realise that I had to go on their website to get written instructions. The only ‘instructions’ included were illustrations Nice, but difficult to interpret sometimes. And illustrations doesn’t give you how much you need to fold (1 cm or 1,5 cm or even 2 cm?) for the hems of the sides and front and back skirt panels. So it ended up being a lot of guessing, but I was still quite pleased with the result. And the skirt fitted fine! Except that the compression shorts with their shiny side on top makes the skirt slide upwards and bunch up at the waist. Ugh #2. Plus the lycra actually didn’t have enough stretch to make it comfortable to wear, even though it had enough stretch according to the ’stretch indicator’ at the back of the pattern. So all in all, I cannot wear this skirt for running… It didn’t totally end up into the bin because I’ll consider this one as muslin. This weekend there’s another of those fabric fairs in my hometown and I’ll get myself some more lycra - less shiny and more stretchy that is.

My last project attempt was a shirt. While cleaning up my sewing room/attic, I found a pattern from 1995 (can we consider a pattern from 1995 as being vintage?) that I remembered making quite a few times during my last university years. It was one of those Simplicity patterns ‘Design your own shirt’ with endless combinations of sleeves, collars and necklines. Sweet! It was already cut to a size 20, which I remembered as being a tad small way back when. I decided that making a size 22 would be the smart thing to do, especially after checking the finished garment measurements. So I traced what would be the equivalent of a 22. I assembled the shirt and half-way into the project I tried it on to check sizing. Ugh #3. IT WAS TOO BIG. And I do mean, WAY too big. I was of course annoyed with this, but at the same, I was quite pleased. Does that mean I’ve lost that much weight, so much that my body is now smaller than what it used to be 13 years ago?? And so landed the project in the bin. No shame. I used a very cheapo fabric and it was actually more like a muslin project than a real project. I still love the style of the shirt, I will definitely double-check the sizing and make it using this great embroided beige cotton I bought last year…

My next project was a retro apron (view A) for my mother as a present for Mother’s Day. Except that after three projects landing in the bin in a row, I didn’t even dare touching my pattern and fabric (isn’it just the cutest fabric ever??) with a ten-feet pole!!! I’ll give it a go this weekend, after a bit of a rest

Back after a (too) long hiatus

Gosh, it feels weird to be writing something again. It’s been so long! Where have I been since November? Well, I never really went away, I just got caught up in everything except sewing. Of course, my sewing room being a total mess didn’t help. I’m about half-way through the cleaning bit, enough to clear up access to my sewing machine (yes, it was that bad!!) and my cutting table. What I still need to do is matching pattern instructions, envelopes and pieces that are all over the place. Ugh. But I’ll get there… Tonight I’ll buy A5 sized envelopes to help with this process. Some pattern envelopes are just too dammaged.

Last Monday I’ve made my first project in a looooooooooong time. A t-shirt from Kwik Sew. I’ll post a picture this weekend when I get the chance. It turned out really well, I am really pleased.

On the projects list are now a skirt and a jacket. Stay tuned

Making time for sewing

And I thought that joining a sewing class would help me make some time for sewing… NOT! Especially when the schedule of that sewing class comes in conflict with work and other activities that cannot be rescheduled. Which means that I basically haven’t been able to go to class for over a month! I’m disappointed with myself but at the same time, I do feel out of place whenever I go there. I signed up to be able to learn further complicated techniques, challenge myself with something that would be a bit more “couture” than what I usually do, learn about pattern drafting and modifying. But I’m the only one with some sewing experience in class, so I’m always just doing my thing in my little corner when the others learn to thread their machine. This shouldn’t stop me anyway, right? Well, it does. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t quite like to draw attention to herself in a group and if I start a project like, let’s say, an evening gown for a friend of mine (which is something that my friend actually asked me to make for her!), I know that I’ll get a few stares. Of course, getting compliments is always nice, but I don’t want them to think that I’m doing it to ’show off my skills’ and give them complexes!

Anyway, I’ve done a few projects lately, I just didn’t have time to take pictures yet. I made another version of the HotPatterns Deco Vibe Cosmopolitan dress - three sizes smaller this time! And got tons of compliments from collegues when I wore it to work. So this pattern is definitely turning into a TNT pattern and I can’t wait to get the chance to actually make it again! Pictures are coming up, I promise!

Also, a little announcement from Jalie, hiding somewhere in a comment on this page:

Good news! We will have a new lycra skort pattern soon (the number will be 2796). It should be available online around the third week of November.

That is indeed great news!! :) I can’t wait for the pattern to be out, I’m looking forward to sew some cycling/running clothes for this summer! (when I’ll be all skinny and fit… haha dream on!)

Projects in the pipeline

First of all, thank you so much for all your comments on my previous post! They all acted as a wonderful confidence and motivational boost to help me go further in my weight loss!

I can now officially say it: I’m out of my sewing slump. When I start ordering fabric, patterns and make a projects list, it’s because I’m finally seeing the light again! I’ve received some patterns I had ordered the past weeks (mostly from the new Simplicity collection, but there are a few Buttericks here and there as well) and I’ve started to “shop my stash” to find suitable fabric. And winter is coming, so I want to wear skirts. Yes, I know. I am weird. There’s nothing I like more than a nice skirt with high boots and thick tights in the winter. You can say it: Marie-Claude, you’re weeeeiiird!!!

So I’ve opened up my Ottobre Woman from September and I decided to make different variations on the A-line skirt (4) (click here for a review). I have a olive green light stretch babycord fabric that I’ve had in my stash for more than 2 years now and that would be perfect for it. Then I have this great wool mix tweed-ish fabric in dark green with burgundy flowers, complete with assorted burgundy ribbon, perfect for a more dressed up outfit (and I bought a cute top at H&M last week that will fit absolutely perfectlywith this skirt!). And last but not least, I have 2 matching babycord fabric: one with an embroided floral design, one plain. Both are in brown/olive colors (sort of a tie-and-dye effect… but without the usual tacky tie-and-dye).

But that’s for this afternoon and next weekend. For now I need to finish a translation assignment If there’s still a bit of time this morning, I’ll trace up the pattern, ready for sewing this afternoon. I’ll start with the wool mix fabric first, I think. Or the stretch babycord. Or the mix and match babycord. So much choice, what to choose, what to choose?

The red dress, 15 kilograms later (lighter)…

before_after

Originally uploaded by Marie-Claude2007

For fun, I tried on the red dress I made in May, now that I’m 15 kilograms lighter. Wow. The difference is amazing! I definitely cannot wear it anymore, notice the huge gaposis around the waist area, and how the wrap part is just basically hanging there?

I guess I’ll have to make a size 18 next time I try the pattern! (I had made a 24, if I remember well…)

This is precisely the motivation boost I needed, now that the cold, dark days of Fall and Winter are coming…

Out of my sewing slump?

Nah, I still haven’t cleaned up my sewing “attic”. I’ve been too busy with freelance contracts on the side, that occupied my evenings and my weekends of the last 2 months. But now that I’ve started my sewing lessons (more on that later), I think I’ll have to take some time to clean up my attic! I need to put the patterns back into their envelopes, WITH their instructions. I need to take a look at my pattern inventory to see what I could make in the coming months. I’m now 12 kilos lighter than in June, I’ve dropped 2 full dress sizes and that opens up a whole new range of sewing opportunities! I have patterns in many sizes, so now is the time to try them… before they get too big.

As I said, I have started with my sewing classes, every Monday. Of course, the classes are aimed at beginners, but the teacher said that sewists of all levels are welcomed and I see these classes as the perfect place to learn how to make a jacket or vest that fits, or how to put an invisible zipper properly (I still can’t do that… shame on me!), or in my particular case, how to adapt existing garments to my everchanging weight… Last Monday, we learned how to make a simple pincushion… erm, I’m a bit further than that, but anyway, I went with the flow and made a nice pincushion I needed one anyway!! Perhaps next week I’ll skip the baby pants lesson and start straight away with the winter jacket I’d like to make. I’ll have a look at the fabric in my stash during the weekend and dig in the mess in my attic for the pattern I’m looking for…

I have signed up for classes!

Everybody looked at me in utter shock when I mentionned that I signed up for sewing classes at one of my local neighborhood centers. “Sewing classes? Why? You can make a wedding dress, you don’t need classes!”

Well, I still think I need classes. Because there are so many techniques that I don’t master yet, and it’s never too late to learn them. Plus, improving what you already know is always good. And it’s a nice way to getting to know people who love sewing as much as I do!

Classes start at the end of September, I can’t wait!

Absolutely -no- time for sewing…

If you’re wondering, I just don’t have time to do any sewing lately, let alone blog about it. Freelance contracts are taking up my free time, and the tiny bit of free time left is spent trying to relax!

And just to add insult to the injury, the weather is horrible and we cannot go cycling! Grrrrr

Next time I get a bit more breathing room, I’ll start by cleaning up my sewing room or should I say “sewing attic”. It’s a mess up there and I need to get a grip back, or else it’ll just get worse. Pattern sheets out of their envelopes, lonely instructions scattered all over… *sigh* Then only I’ll be ready to sew again.

Until then…

Cycling and girly girls…

Let’s twist a non-sewing topic into a sewing one again, shall we?

As you might have guessed, I love cycling. I’m in no way the sporty kind, I’m actually more of a couch potato, or a sewing potato for that matter. But since regular exercise is part of any weight loss program… But the thing is, I am actually quite girly. And I love wearing skirts. Summer, winter, doesn’t matter: gimme a skirt and I’ll wear it gladly! During my vacation in France, I’ve often found myself a bit out-of-place wearing my cycling shorts while visiting fancy castles or enjoying a fine dinner at a restaurant. Yesterday, I thought to myself: why aren’t there any cycling skirts/skorts around?

The reality is, they do exist, I’ve just never seen any in the Netherlands. A quick search on the Internet has confirmed that they are available, in the US for example, but I refuse to pay 50$ + high costs for shipping ordering a cycling skirt from an online store!

I am not on a quest: finding patterns that will lead me to the perfectly fitting cycling skirt for next summer’s vacation. I think I could combine Jalie’s cycling shorts pattern with this skirt pattern, only a tad longer. I’m not ordering anything for now (yeah right!) as I want to see how much weight I will lose in the course of the year and so on, but I am curious about experimenting!

To be continued!