MMM’14 – Days 15 to 21

On By Sharon8 Comments

Here in Sydney we are experiencing unusually warm conditions for Autumn with temperatures above 23c for this last week so it will be interesting to see how much longer the tights stay in the drawer!

Thursday 15 May

How did I manage to get this shot!

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in white/toffee/brown knit, worn previously on Day 3
Skirt: Self Drafted Skirt in brown linen, worn previously on Day 1
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings
Hosiery: Celestial Voodoo
Shoes:  Circa Joan and David Calalilly pumps

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Friday 16 May

Today’s photographic theme is “Too Pretty To Wear Pants”.  This wasn’t hard for me to do as 1 only have one pair of pants/trousers in my wardrobe.  I am happy to make jeans but pants/trousers are proving to be difficult to get the fit I want!

Cardigan worn as a top: Miette in Morris Woollahra wool, colour mint with choc chips (to be blogged)
Skirt: Self drafted TNT skirt pattern changed to a denim style in green twill (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and purchased earrings.
Hosiery:  Voodoo Celestial 
Shoes: Taupe flats

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Saturday 17 May

Today I’m off sewing again with the Australian Sewing Guild at The Remnant Warehouse and am loading up my car whilst waiting for Alison to arrive so we can car pool.

Are you sure I can’t come too!

Top: BWOF 02-2009-108 Boatneck in blue/grey/brown knit, previously worn on day 6.
Jeans: Jalie 2908 Jeans in blue denim,  previously worn on day 9.
Vest:  Shona knitted vest in chartreuse (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made leather handbag (blogged here), purchased necklace and earrings
Hosiery:  Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Taupe flats

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Sunday 18 May

I am heading to Cabramatta today to meet up with Lynn from You Sew Girl who is visiting from Michigan USA with Wendy, Maria, Valerie, Alison and Beverley for a bit of fabric shopping and lunch.

Wendy, Maria, Lynn, Valerie, Alison and Beverley
Photo by Maria

Top: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey (blogged here)
Skirt: BWOF 04-2009-101 in salt and pepper fine cord (blogged here)
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 in a mixture of knits, previously worn on days 1 and 14.
Accessory: Me made crocheted necklace and me mad earrings.
Hosiery: Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Taupe flats

and here are some of the wonderful buttons that Lynn had made as a gift for us.

and my fabric stash has grown again, with these:

1.5 metres for a top

1/2 metre for maybe a sleeve for a cardigan!
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Monday 19 May

Today’s my birthday and my boss game me the day off work!

I have had a lovely weekend  sewing with my friends and then meeting up with other bloggers for fabric shopping.  I have to go into the city for an appointment but when I get back home it will be to get into my sewing room to get organised for our sewing weekend!!

Top: Kiwk.Sew 3740 in brown/grey knit previously worn on Day 7.
Skirt:  Vogue 1247 skirt in brown denim (blogged here)
Accessory: Purchased gold band with purchased glass cream/brown/gold fleck disc and purchased earrings.
Tights: Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Taupe flats

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Tuesday 20 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 with the neckline raised in chartreuse/grey/navy knit, previously worn on Day 5
Skirt: Self Drafted TNT skirt in navy wool (blogged here)
Accessory: Me Made necklace and earrings
Hosiery: Voodoo Celestial 
Shoes: Circa Joan & David Lux slingbacks

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Wednesday 21 May

Sculpture at in front yard at work

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in blue/brown batik knit previously worn on Day 9
Skirt: TNT Self Drafted Skirt in brown suede like fabric, previously worn on Day 6
Accessory: Purchased gold band with purchased ink navy disc and me made earrings.
Hosiery: Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Circa Joan and David Calalilly pumps

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2014 Stash Out: 11.75 m
2014 Stash In: 45.75 m

A new necklace

On By Sharon9 Comments

At the Stitches & Craft show in March at Rosehill, I found a new bead shop at Winston Hills, Zilchbeads so just before we flew out for our trip I booked myself in for a class.

The thing I struggle most with beading is how to co-ordinate the colours, I can do it for my wardrobe but not for the beads, so this is where the lovely Vicki and Janelle at Zilchbeads were so helpful.

I took along this fabric and said I wanted to make a necklace to go with it.

This is the bead combination and pattern that we came up with, I am thrilled!

Now to work out when I can head there again.

MMM ’14 – Days 8 to 14

On By Sharon5 Comments

Another week has passed and I am starting to find a few holes in my wardrobe, more tops and a cardigan or two wouldn’t go astray.

Thursday 8 May

Top: Vogue 8572 in lemon (blogged here)
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in brown wool crepe (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey
Accessory: Me made crocheted necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Tights: Brown tights
Shoes: Brown Joan and David Callalily Pumps

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Friday 9 May

The photo theme for today was blue and that was a pretty good choice for me.

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in a blue/brown batik knit (blogged here)
Jeans: Jalie 2908 in blue denim (blogged here)
Vest: Jalie 3129 in navy linen (blogged here)
Accessory: Me nade necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Hosiery: Celestial Voodoo
Shoes: Taupe flats

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Saturday 10 May

I’m off to the Miss Fisher costume exhibition at Parramatta with some of the Sydney Spoolettes.

Top: Vogue 8572 in cream silk crepe de chine (blogged here)
Jeans: Jalie 2908 in brown denim (blogged here) 
Jacket:  Vogue 7975 in brown/blue/cream cotton tweed (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace worn on Day 1 and purchased earrings
Hosiery:  Celestial Voodoo
Shoes: Charles Keith brown pumps.

During the queue for the exhibition Melanie mentioned that she had seen some lovely wool jersey at MyHung and this one just had to follow me home.

Deep camel
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Sunday 11 May

Today consisted of the household chores and then headed off to get the groceries.

Where is my treat?

Top: Jalie 2566 in animal print (blogged here)
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 in animal print (blogged here)
Skirt:  BWOF 04-2009-101 skirt in brown cord (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Tights:  Celestial Voodoo
Shoes:  Taupe flats

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Monday 12 May

Back to work and my cold office!

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in blue/gold swirl knit (blogged here)
Skirt: Self drafted TNT straight skirt in brown wooL (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Brown Joan and David Callalily Pumps
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Tuesday 13 May

Top: Vogue 8572 in brown/gold silk (blogged here)
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in navy linen (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey worn previously on Day 8.
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Brown Joan and David Callalily Pumps

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Wednesday 14 May

Today’s temperature is expected to reach 24c so I am hoping that my office has had a chance to warm up with it being occupied for the past two days.

Dress: Simplicity 2648 in navy linen (blogged here)
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 in a mixture of knits, worn previously on Day 1.
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Hosiery: Celestial Voodoo 
Shoes: Navy Circa Joan and David Luxe 

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2014 Stash Out: 10.45 m
2014 Stash In: 43.75 m

SWAP 2014 Viewing and Voting

On By SharonLeave a comment

Viewing and voting is now open for SWAP 2014 and you can find the details here and the photos here.

There are 12 fantastic collections to view and do have a look at them, they are certainly amazing.

If you are a member of Stitcher’s Guild you can vote for First, Second and Third which I will be doing before 17 May!

Dress A Girl Around the World

On By Sharon5 Comments

As part of the ASG’s initiative for SewMayhem, some of us from the Alexandria Achievers ASG Group held at the Remnant Warehouse made some dresses for the charity Dress A Girl Around the World – Dress a Girl Sydney & Australia.

I remember very clearly purchasing this fabric, it was on my first visit to Kerryn’s Fabric World back in 2003.  I have tried to work with this fabric for a number of years however it has an uneven stripe and the multitude of colours keeps seeing me putting it back in my stash.

This seemed the perfect way to use the fabric.

I made a size 8 and 3 from 1.5 metres of fabric.

Now to get these in the post.

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2014 Stash Out: 10.45 m
2014 Stash In: 40.75 m

Make a Garment a Month – May Plans

On By Sharon5 Comments

I have been trying to work out what to make this month, as I am attending a sewing weekend with my Rhodes ASG Group on the 2nd last weekend of the month and have quite a lot of garment ideas running around in my head.

So to make sure I do finish my garment this month, I am committing to this top.

It will be my boatneck pattern that I have used before from Burda World of Fashion, 02-2009-108 using some of the lovely cream Mercury Jersey that I have in my stash.

There is no binding on this top,so it should be fairly quick to make, fingers crossed.

MMM ’14 – Days 2 to 7 May

On By Sharon5 Comments

I have survived the first week of May even with the weather getting quite cold very quickly.

Friday 2 May

Dress: McCalls 5433 Shirt lengthened into a Shirtmaker in orange linen (blogged here)
Accessory: Purchased silk scarf, necklace and earrings.
Tights: Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Tahari Melanie shoes

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Saturday 3 May – this is one of my Australian Sewing Guild Days and the forecast is for 16c but the wind chill factor is forecast for 10c

Photo by Alison

Top: KwikSew 3740 in white/toffee/brown knit (blogged here)
Jeans:  Jalie 2908 in white denim (blogged here)
Accessory: Purchased gold band choker with burgundy stone drop pendant and purchased earrings.
Tights: Voodoo Celestial
Shoes: Taupe flats

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Sunday 4 May – a day at home

Top: Butterick 3344 in a multi striped knit (blogged here)
Jeans:  Vogue 9537 modified to jeans in black denim (blogged here)
Shoes: Puma sneakers

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Monday 5 May – back to work!

Top:  Kwik.Sew 3740 with neckline raised in chartruese/grey/navy knit (blogged here)
Skirt: McCalls 7244 in grey wool flannel, made pre blog
Accessory: Me Made necklace (blogged here) and purchased earrings
Tights: Black tights
Shoes: Black Joan & David Callalily Pumps

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Tuesday 6 May

Top: BWOF 02-2009-108 boatneck in blue/green/brown knit (blogged here)
Skirt: Self-drafted TNT skirt in brown suede like fabric (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Tights: Brown tights
Shoes: Brown Joan & David Callalily Pumps

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Wednesday 7 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 cowl neck in a coffee/grey/cream knit (blogged here)
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in black wool (blogged here)
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings.
Tights: Black tights.
Shoes:  Black Joan & David Callalily Pumps

It has been a fun week and I have found one garment that is leaving my wardrobe and when I think about it, it should have done this a while ago!

Blue and Gold swirls

On By Sharon12 Comments

I have a new top and have again used Kwik Sew 3740 view A without the cowl and raised the neckline by 3cm.

The fabric is called “Sandra Printed Knit” from Knitwit which I purchased in June 2012, I am loving the gold looking swirls.

My purls are making the neckline stick out!

I cut this top out on Anzac Day and took it to my ASG meeting on Saturday along with my Coverpro machine and knit binders as I wanted to try to do the neckline binding.

Here are some not so clear iPhone pictures more for my reference for future.

Neck binding has been threaded through and under the needles
Here the neckline is being fed into the binder

Maybe it was because I was jet lagged but with Alison’s reminders about setting it up, I was rather surprised when it worked first time, even calling the rest of the group over to have a look which was probably why I ran off the neckline at the very end, but thankfully Coverstitch is very easy to pull out.

It did take a few more goes to get the binding on, I also spray starched the neckband once which seemed to make a difference.

Here is a close-up of the bound neckline and I still have some work to do to get the stitching to sit correctly on the back of the binding.

You will see a lot more of this top during May worn with various skirts and jeans!

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2014 Stash Out: 8.95 m
2014 Stash In:  40.75m

Me Made May 2014

On By Sharon7 Comments

It is that time of year again, when a large number of people across the world are all proudly wear our hand-made clothes.  My pledge is no different to last year as I know my month is going to very busy and taking on any new challenges would not be a good idea.

I, Sharon of Petite and Sewing sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’14. I will wear handmade clothing (excluding lingerie) every day for the duration of May 2014.

This morning there was a definite chill in the air.

Top: Vogue 8752 (OOP) in Off White Damask (blogged here)
Skirt: Self Drafted Skirt in brown linen, underlined in Sunsilky (to help stop the wrinkles) and lined in Sunsilky.
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 in a mixture of knits (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace (blogged here) and purchased earrings
Tights:  Voodoo Celestial
Boots:  Brown Joan & David Callalily Pumps

This year I am not going to upload my garments every day, probably once a week to try and give myself more time to sew!

A travel wardrobe

On By Sharon10 Comments

We have just arrived home from a fantastic whirlwind trip to Dublin and the United Kingdom and I thought I would share my travel wardrobe.

Time away:
11 days

Where to:
Dublin and the United Kingdom

Season:
One month into Spring and looking at the weather forecasts it was still going to be cool with temperature ranges from 1c to 18c being the warmest during the day.  The weather really turned it on for us, sunshine every day and only 1 day of rain and then I wouldn’t call it that much rain, grey and overcast with some drizzle and this was on our last day.  York even managed to turn the heat on reaching 22c but the mornings and evenings were still quite cool.

Expected Activities:
This trip was to visit my mother-in-law who is not in the best of health and do some sightseeing whilst we were there, so the wardrobe needed to be comfortable to do a lot of walking on cobblestone streets and sightseeing as well as being comfortable sitting about with family.

Colour scheme:
brown, navy, cream, burgundy, grey and a little bit of chartreuse.

What I packed:
(each garment is linked to its original construction post -top to bottom, left to right)

Taupe flats
Brown boots

Burgundy coat McCall’s 8522 made prior to blogging
Burgundy track pants Simplicity 3640 made for the trip, to be blogged.

Verdict:
This wardrobe worked very well, I didn’t feel as if I was in the same outfit as all the tops went will all the bottoms so at no time did I wear the same combination.  We managed to do laundry half way thorough the trip and a couple of tops got washed whilst we were on the road sightseeing.

I took two outer layers, my brown merino cardi that worked with all outfits and my burgundy coat went well with the jeans and this was worn early morning or during the evening when we were wondering about.   I also had a collection of jewellery that changed the look of the tops.  I’m sorry I didn’t take a second pair of winter shoes, the boots worked fine but my feet got a bit sick of them and the taupe flats didn’t work with the tights I took and were only worn on the flights.

My mother-in-law is in northern Wales and I had worked out that Linton Tweed was a 3 hour trip from her home so my darling husband made sure it was included in our sightseeing itinerary.  Of course two pieces of fabric followed me home:

2 metres for a jacket

2 skirt lengths of 1 metre each.

Then on our last day we visited Abakhan fabrics and I purchased 2 pieces of linen by the pound totalling 5 metres for AUS$18, which I thought was a very good price.

This colour is in the top tweed.

This trip managed to put a stop to the completion of my  2014 SWAP entry, I still had 3 pieces to sew before today, however work and jet lag has not been conducive to getting these completed.  No matter I have 8 new garments in my wardrobe and I love all of them!