Tag: Roscoe

Trench progress

On By Sharon11 Comments

I’m happy to report that since my last post I have managed to achieve all that was on my list:

  • Trace the pattern from the magazine.
  • Make a toile to ensure all is right.
  • Decide if I want it to be double breasted as my RTW isn’t?
  • Decide on what zips I want to use and place my order with Zipperstop.
  • Gather my bedtime reading from a number of Threads magazines to figure what else I need to do.
During my bedtime reading I read Threads Issue # 19, page 30 where David Page Coffin talks about “Stalking the Perfect Raincoat” and this made me realise that I wanted a hidden-button fly front as my closure as this is what is on my RTW Trench and I really like the clean lines.

So the I traced off the pattern and then found quite a few places that showed me how to do a concealed button front for a shirt, so using my RTW Trench as a guide I made the folds 5cm each.  At the same time I also drafted the back storm panel.

Then it was time to cut out the Trench in calico to make sure it fitted and also to see if could understand the lovely Burda instructions.

A couple of notes I did make during construction were:
  • Is there a better way to do the pockets?  You sew the seam first and then fiddle with the pocket bags.
  • Is there a better way to do the collar?
  • Looks like the sleeve head has too much fullness in it for this type of fabric.

and this is how it looks so far.

I’ve decided that I don’t like the gap between the centre front and the collar and I’m also not so sure about the collar extension or how it sits when the Trench is open?

Last weekend my sewing buddies and I got to spend some more quality time with Angie Zimmerman getting our patterns fitted and this is what we have decided to do with the Trench:

  • I can put the pockets in first (before I sew the seam), but I need to ensure that they line up perfectly when I sew the side seams.
  • Well the way Burda does the collar is the tailored way, you live and learn.  Angie did give me some more information for a better finish than the brief Burda instructions do.
  • Angie did think that I got the sleeves in very well in the calico version and suggested I leave them as they are but looking at the large tuck on the sleeve in the first picture above I’m not so sure.

The toile is missing the little bits that are part of a Trench but they will be included.

I’m still reading magazines/books and watching DVD’s however it now looks like I’m ready to cut out my fabric, but first I need to make the lining pattern as I didn’t want to do this until I had checked the fit.

Back to reality

On By Sharon5 Comments

saw this morning running around doing errands and the grocery shopping.

Any goodies for me?

Top: Simplicity 2603 top with long sleeves in brown merino (blogged here)
Skirt: BWOF 04-2009-101 in salt and pepper cord (blogged here) 
Accessory: Purchased gold band choker with cream disc and purchased earrings and Roscoe checking out the contents of each bag as it is taken out of the car, searching for treats.
Tights:  Brown tights.
Boots: Betts 2 Buckles.

In the afternoon I changed the skirt for a pair of old Levis and boots for sneakers for the remainder of the day.

Big tin sheds

On By SharonLeave a comment

is where I will be spending most of my day today with a work colleague inspecting some of the properties that we manage, so warmth was a major requirement.

Do you have to go to work?

Top: Diana Ferrari burgundy top purchased in 2009
Trousers: Vogue 9537 in a black medium weight wool made in 2008 previously worn on Days 8 & 16.
Cardigan: Me-Made knitted Shawl Collar Jacket in Touch Possum Yarn (blogged here)
Accessory: Me-made necklace and earrings. 
Boots: Betts Marathon

MMM ’12 – Day 10

On By Sharon6 Comments

It is a beautiful autumn day today and there is a client luncheon that I need to attend, so

Top: Vogue 8572 Blue/gold/brown silk blouse (blogged here).
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in dark brown wool crepe which you saw on Day 2.
Jacket: Vogue 7975 in brown and blue tweed (blogged here).
Accessory: Necklace and earrings made by a friend for me.
Hosiery/Nylons: Voodoo Celestial.
Shoes: Joan & David Callalily Pumps.

Roscoe decided to join me today.

PS:  I’ve updated yesterday’s outfit with a closer picture of the crocheted necklace.

One Week, One Pattern

On By Sharon7 Comments

This is the last day of OWOP that Tilly and the buttons organised and I chose to work with Vogue 8572 (OOP), my go to blouse .  Luckily this year I have made two more blouses so I had 4  to work with over the 7 days – 3 x  short sleeves and 1 x 3/4 sleeve.

Here are the 7 days of wearing blouse Vogue 8572.

Even though I have said this after each Me Made month, I still don’t have enough necklaces or scarves to help make my outfits look different, this is something I really do need to work harder on getting organised.

On Monday I couldn’t help but notice these guys,

two Rainbow Lorikeets, aren’t they beautiful.  Thankfully Roscoe doesn’t mind these birds, but chases the Indian Miners that invade the yard.

Not sure why my sewing assistant was so determined to get in the photos this week, maybe he has been checking out Sienna.

Presenting SWAP Item No. 7

On By Sharon9 Comments

Shorts!

I live in shorts in the summer around the house and dog walking and the shorts I do have need replacing but with my sway back I do not find this easy to do with RTW.

At Christmas my DDS wanted to give me a gift of the Sure Fit pants pattern,but first she needed to take my measurements. So in January I received a pants pattern and a pair of pants (excluding the waistband) made up in this very loud fabric.

At the Angie fitting weekend where I sorted out the Minoru Jacket, Angie also tweaked this pants pattern.

  • reduced the waist height by 2.5cm (1″).
  •  centre back gaposis (you can see the excess above) 1.5cm (6/8″) back to nothing 9cm (3 1/2″) below. 

  • added 1cm to the back crotch length. 

  •  and dropped the back crotch curve by 5mm.
  • added extra width to the centre front.

    I then traced off a new pattern (fixing that centre back seam line) for some shorts and proceeded to cut out the navy twill that I had with me for a wearable toile of the pattern.  The fly front was sewn and all the other seams were basted together for a quick review by Angie, where we took another scoop out of the back crotch curve by 0.5cm (1/4″).

    When I got home I dug through my patterns to find one that had pockets (essential for dog walking) that I could use and found KS3614 fit the bill.

    So after all that, here they are:

    Not sure about the front wrinkles, it looks like I have more than the colourful toile, but I do know I was a bit slapdash with the pockets and associated seams.

    The back looks better, only has a slight break and wondering if I need to do the flat seat adjustment?

    Even with those I am very happy with this version and will definitely make some more, maybe next time add cargo pockets so I don’t mess with the side/waist seams.

    I’m estatic …

    On By Sharon14 Comments

    I’ve got jeans that fit, no back gaposis, YES!!

    After being worn all day

     I have joined the ever increasing number of ladies who are loving the Jalie Stretch Jeans pattern 2908.

    Over at PatternReview.com they had an online course back in August “Blue Prints to Blue Jeans” by Jennifer Stern, J. Stern Designs, this is just what I needed to get me organised to make up the Jalie Jeans pattern that has been in my stash for a while. 

    The amount of information that Jennifer has available for the course is amazing and her knowledge and willingness to assist with fitting issue to the course attendees on line was incredible.

    One of my sewing buddies from Alexandria Achievers was also doing the course and as I was away she offered to find some “toile” denim for us both and found these amazing remnants of white stretch denim from the Remnant Warehouse for both of us.

    I had these cut out in Size R when we had our “fitting session” with Angie Zimmerman back in August, so I took along my coverstitch machine and used the chain stitch to whip these up so Angie could fine tune them for me.

    The adjustments that Angie made were minor:
    –  take 1.5cm from the top of the back yoke back to the original pattern at the centre back notch (with the pattern pieces pinned together on the stitching lines)
    – deepen the back crotch curve

     and then the back waistband looks like this

    I also took 1cm off the width from the hem to the knee on both sides of the front and back patterns.

    Note:  I used 1.5cm seam allowances as I didn’t’ read the instructions !!

    It then took me to November to stitch these up when I packed them up to attend the ASG Bribie Island Sewing Retreat with my DM for my DS’s special birthday (how perfect time with family and sewing).

    They didn’t get finished at the weekend but at the ASG meeting at Rhodes a week later they were all but finished.  Hems done and dropped them into Mick’s for the buttonhole and rivets and here they are at the end of a days wear.

    Here is the pocket design which I copied the idea from the review that susiestitcher has on PatternReview.com

    You will definitely be seeing more of the Jalie 2908 Jeans in the future, as well as the rascal below!!

    Comfortable

    On By Sharon1 Comment

    Today I was in the office all alone, and my priority was to archive, a word that I am not particularly fond of, so I made myself very comfortable.

    Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in blue/brown tie die knit from Spotlight worn on Day 17.
    Jeans: Levis 553 purchased a few years ago.
    Accessory: Purchased gold band choker with ink navy disc and purchased earrings
    Hosiery/Nylons: Brown Tights.
    Boots: Betts brown boots.

    I’ve just collected the empty yoghurt containers from around the yard, here is how they are cleaned –

    SSS Day 23 – Summer and Winter

    On By Sharon1 Comment

    Today started out quite mild and reached 29C by lunchtime, then by 3pm it had dropped to 19c with a bitter wind.

    This is this morning before I headed to work.

    Top: Butterick 3344 in multi striped knit which you saw on Day 5.
    Skirt: Brown wool with a fine stripe custom made for me whilst in China in 2008.
    Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey (in my bag)
    Accessory: Purchased gold band choker with pearl disc and purchased earrings
    Hosiery/Nylons: Voodoo Celestial
    Shoes: Chocolate Diana Ferrari

    Roscoe wants to know why he can’t come inside, look at the colour of his socks!!

    This afternoon the cardigan was definitely being worn.

    Um drinking or eating …

    On By Sharon3 Comments

    Today’s photo challenge was to be either drinking or eating or I suppose it could be both.

    As DH makes us a flat white each morning, this was the natural choice for me.

    Dress: Simplicity 2648 made in brown linen and fully lined with sun silky that I wore for the water challenge on Day 14.
    Cardigan: Purchased rust cashmere cardigan whilst in China in 2008 which you saw on Day 2.
    Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings made by a friend.
    Shoes: Circa Joan & David Callalily Pumps purchased during my USA trip this year.

    Roscoe is wondering where his coffee (frothed milk) is.