Is shattered too strong a word …

On By Sharon12 Comments

I reached into my closest pulled out my skirt and put it on, then again for my blouse, did up the buttons and then bent over to get my shoes, oh no (the polite version), over to the mirror and this is what I saw.

I’m at a loss as to what happened.

This blouse has been toiled, and had a test fitting again before I cut out the silk where we did some minor adjustments to the sleeve depth, that is all. After I put in the sleeves it did feel a bit snug, but then the blouse I am wearing today, feels the same. I even checked the centre back seam and armholes to see if any of the stitching is strained, but I can’t see any.

DH’s comment was that I could make another, true but no more silk in the stash so do you think that he has given me permission to purchase some, sounds like it to me.

So this is what I wore to work instead:

Blouse: Marfy 2254 (blogged here)
Skirt: Self Drafted Skirt in brown linen, interlined (to help stop the wrinkles) and lined in Sun Silky
Jacket: Purchased Chanel style jacket in brown, tan and lemon tweed
Shoes: Diana Ferrari

We are heading south for the long weekend and I’m not sure I will have Internet connection so you may not see me until Tuesday.

Have a great long weekend (sorry WA but enjoy your weekend as well) and be safe on the roads.

More Trousers

On By Sharon2 Comments

Today is forecast to be one of the coldest days so far this year in Sydney and I am not taking any chances as we are also going out tonight straight after work and I don’t want to get cold.

Jumper/Sweater: Purchased from Country Road in Oyster colour.
Trouser: Vogue 9537 (again) in a black medium weight wool made in 2008.
Jacket: Leather jacket (again)
Accessory: Scarf in plums/pinks/greys and Me-Made earrings
Boots: Nine West

I did take a photo of the back this morning as well, but the boots are catching on the leg again, don’t worry I will show you how it looks as soon as I wear any pair of these pants without boots.

MMJ Day 7

On By Sharon8 Comments

Today I’m wearing one of my short sleeve tops to work in my cold office.

Top: Vogue 8572 in chartreuse linen/Polyester/Rayon blend (blogged here)
Trouser: Vogue 9537 in brown fine wool and fully lined with Sunsilky made in 2006. This is the same fabric as my skirt on Day 2.
Jacket: Vogue 7975 (again)
Accessory: Diva
Boots: Nine West

I find with my jacket on all day (yes I can drive, type and file in this jacket) I am very comfortable and usually only need a singlet as well (am I showing my age) to make my day very comfortable.

The trousers have been worn for a few hours in this photo so all those lovely creases are due to sitting, but I hope the vertical pulls on the leg is from the boots catching the trousers, will need to look at this. I have used this pattern for all my trousers you will see and as my body shape has changed, they are starting to look not as good (from the back, but a lot lot better than RTW) as I would like them to.

I have a pattern from a Wild Ginger ready for me to cut out a toile and see how they go as my results on my previous attempt showed me that I need to do a bit more work.

However I still need to make a few more tops.

MMJ Day 6

On By Sharon6 Comments

Well it is back to work after a very sewing based weekend.

My office is in a heritage building so there is no air conditioning and the only heating we have is gas heaters that take up to 3 days to heat up the sandstone so my usual outfit for Monday at least is trousers.

What no trousers available, um how am I going to keep warm. Out to the back room and raided the ski bag and pulled out my thermals leggings. These are under the black tights and I have been very comfortable all day.

Top: Diana Ferrari burgundy top purchased in 2009
Skirt: McCall’s 7244 in a grey wool flannel made in 2007
Jacket/Cardigan: Purchased Burgundy leather jacket
Accessory: Me-Made jewellery
Boots: Nine West

The beauty of TNT’s

On By Sharon4 Comments

As I mentioned yesterday I finished two tops.

The first is BWOF 02-2009-108 which I first made here and was another garment that was supposed to go the USA with me.

So during last week, I had stabilised the shoulders, turned and cover stitched the neck edges, sewed the shoulder seams and pinned in the sleeves. It didn’t take long to get this to the hemming stage on Saturday.

I didn’t take my cover stitch machine to the Guild Meeting so the hems were left until I got home.

Even though I have made this before I hadn’t realised the fit issues and when I make it again (yes I love the style) I will adjust the shoulder width and add more depth to the armholes.

The second is Kwik Sew 3740 which I first made here and this top gets worn a lot, I just love it.

This fabric I purchased from Joann’s during my trip to the USA this year, and it is the 3rd piece of fabric from the right on the bottom row. What you can’t see is the large circles that are on this fabric. This took a bit of careful cutting and I hope I am happy with the placement when I finally wear this top.

The beauty of this top is that I cut it out on Saturday morning while I was waiting for my sewing buddy to arrive so we could travel together. I will admit that trying to pin the cowl on at 2pm in the afternoon is not a good idea, however with my sewing buddies giving that small tip, it suddenly became very clear. This top was also finished up to hemming stage by the time we left on Saturday.

So tonight after dinner (confession time, I fell asleep on the lounge last night) I pressed and glued the hems in place and then cover stitched them in place.

My apologies for the hanger shot, however it won’t be long before you see them being worn in Me-Made-June.

MMJ Day 5

On By Sharon2 Comments

What happens when a bunch of sewing ladies get together, they organise to meet up the next day and visit the Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW and see the exhibition “Style, Scissors and a Fantasy: the Alina Galasso retrospective”. *

Alina Galasso played an important role in introducing European fabrics to the Australian fashion market through her company, Fabric Fantasy.

We all remembered visiting Fabric Fantasy in Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, it is where Tessuti is located today.

So this morning we met at The TAFE to admire the beautiful garments that were made for Alina Galasso and others from the fabrics that Alina had imported to Australia which were amazing.

Photo taken by another sewing buddy

Top: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey (blogged here)
Jeans: Levi 550
Jacket: Vogue 7975 in brown and blue tweed (blogged here)
Accessory: Belt borrowed from DH and Made-by-Me jewellery
Boots: Betts 2 buckles

This is my 2nd piece of jewellery that I did at the beading course, and the colours where chosen to work with the tops that I took away to the USA in February this year.


When I got home I changed my top to McCall’s 9080 in a grey stable knit which I made too many years ago to remember.


*This exhibition is on from 3-10 June 2011.

MMJ Day 4

On By Sharon8 Comments

Today I attended the ASG Group that is held at The Remnant Warehouse in Alexandria and this photo was taken outside the shop by my sewing buddy.

Top: Jalie 2921 in brown/coffee circle knit (blogged here)
Skirt: BWOF 04-2009-101 in salt and pepper fine corduroy (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown merino wool (blogged here)
Boots: Betts 2 buckle boots.

It was a very successful day of sewing with 2 knit tops only needing their hems done and I plan on doing those tonight.

MMJ Day 3

On By Sharon3 Comments

Claudine one of the participants from Me-Made-June has suggested that each Friday we all have our pictures taken doing the same thing, so today we are all spinning.

When this was first mentioned, I knew I didn’t have a full winter skirt made by me, then realised I had purchased one with a co-ordinating top from Diana Ferrari which is one of my usual combination of garments. So seeing I couldn’t wear them together, it took a little while standing in front of the wardrobe, for this outfit to appear.

Top: Simplicity 2603 top with sleeves added (blogged here) in a brown merino wool
Skirt: Diana Ferrari purchased in 2009
Accessories: Necklace and earrings Made-by-Me this year: belt purchased from Diana Ferrari.
Boots: Betts 2 Buckles in brown leather.

Wish the fence would stopped moving


This year I signed up for a beading course and have made a few pieces in class and need to get organised to make a few more at home. This was my first class which consisted of a necklace, earrings and bracelet (the necklace was too long so a bonus bracelet) and it is what I am wearing in the above photos.


Today was the first day that I had to really think about mixing up the usual combination of my outfits and I am very happy with the outcome.

MMJ Day 2

On By Sharon6 Comments

There are some amazing members in the Me-Made-June Flicker Group who I’m sure will give me plenty of inspiration for future sewing, I have already noted one pattern for purchase

So here is my outfit for Day 2 and I have managed 2 self-stitched pieces today:


Blouse/Top: Butterick 3344 (Blogged here)
Skirt: Vogue 7937 View C, made 2006
Boots: Nine West, purchased in the USA
Accessory: Flat white by DH

Here is the back view, so you can see the pleats which is the main feature of this skirt (and I stood still so a pat is expected).

Maybe I should find where I have put the Shawl Collar jacket that is 3/4 made and finish it as it matches this skirt and the pants that I showed you yesterday.

Me-Made-June – Day 1

On By Sharon6 Comments

Thinking about Me-Made-June has made me realise a couple of things:

1. I do wear a self made garment pretty much every day, and
2. I don’t have a large wardrobe and really can’t justify having a huge amount of clothing.

So this has created an additional challenge for me, instead of picking out the usual combination of garments, I am hoping to style these garments differently so you don’t see the exact same outfit during the month of June fingers crossed.

Now to get the ball rolling.

For a change today is quite mild, 19c at 7.30am, but I don’t expect it to get much warmer as the day progresses.

Blouse/Top: Vogue 8572 (OOP)

Trouser: Custom made for me whilst in China in 2008.

Accessory: Made by a friend for the June Capsule Contest at Stitchers Guild

Shoes Diana Ferrari