Outfit Put Together

I'm trying to overcome my dislike of having my picture taken.  I don't recognise myself anymore!!!  Who is that old woman?

"Put your head up!"

"Ok, clever clog!"

 

 

Well, I suppose these pictures aren't too bad, thanks Graham for taking them!

 

I wanted to show how my latest sewing efforts looked on.  Well, they feel very comfortable.  The trousers are very comfy, they don't crush my kneecaps, something I find very painful these days.  The top is very baggy but I think that is because I'm not used to really baggy tops.  I teamed it with this cardi and it is altogether a comfortable outfit.

Butterick 5610

I started this blouse a couple of weeks ago.  It shouldn't have taken me this long to finish it but I had a horrible cold all last week so no sewing got done at all.  Yesterday I felt well enough to finish it off...

 

I liked the look of this blouse on the pattern and it was fairly easy to make.  It does feel a bit baggy when I tried it on.  It doesn't have any waist shaping so I curved the side seam slightly to reduce the bagginess.  I'll have to wear it a few times before I decide if it is just something to wear around the house or if it is suitable to be seen in public.  I do intend to make the other version of it but will probably go a size down.

This fabric that I used is from Boyes .  Boyes is a very useful shop, they sell everything!  They have now even started selling dressmaking patterns.  I will go there this week and check that out.  The fabric is cotton and is nice and light, it might have some polyester in it, I'm not sure but it feels like cotton to me and irons at quite a high temperature.

 



More Wide Leg Trousers

This pair of palazzo pants are just about as perfect as I can get them...

 

 

They are elasticated at the back and have the drawstring front.  This will allow for the fluctuations in my waist size that can happen over a day.  The body is nice and long so feels really comfortable, I don't like waistbands that don't reach my waist.  Also, once again, they cost me nothing, this was a flat sheet that came with a duvet cover and wasn't used.

 

I've sent for a blouse pattern that will go nicely with these trousers.  I thought it might come today so was disappointed when it didn't arrive.

 

One thing I've learnt recently is not to go by my dress size with patterns.  When I was a 10 or 12 (UK)  the patterns fit me.  Now that I am a dress size 14 (UK) I have to use the size 18 on the pattern.  No wonder I was having difficulty.  I didn't know this and, thanks once again to the internet, I was able to look up the facts on the difference between patterns and ready to wear clothes.

 

 



Tunic Tops

In January the group I belong to started a monthly stitch-along (SAL).  Each month a different member has hosted one of these SALs.  For the month of May our member from Mexico came up with a dress/tunic top for us to have a go at.  I went for the tunic top.  Here are my efforts...

 

I wasn't sure how they would fit so decided to use recycled fabric, namely a duvet cover that I kept because I just knew it would come in handy sometime.  I like the one on the right best.  I still haven't got the shoulder fit correct but they are both wearable.  Not bad for nothing.



More Trousers

Here is the third version of the palazzo pants.  I'm pleased with these and will make notes on what alterations I made to the pattern...

 

I did think I wouldn't like wearing patterned trousers but I feel ok in these.  They are very comfortable and cool.

 

Originally I was going to make a dress, then I thought maybe a skirt.  It suddenly occurred to me that I rarely wear skirts and dresses.  I know why, I like to wear socks because my feet get cold.  Even if I wear tights my feet still get cold.  A skirt looks terrible with socks!  And it rarely gets warm enough to wear skirts and dresses regularly.  So, why not have some colourful trousers?  The next pair will be yellow, looking forward to making those.



Palazzo Trousers

I've been watching Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries on tv recently and fell completely in love with her clothes - they are gorgeous.  I thought I would be able to make myself a pair of palazzo trousers quite easily from a 1970s pattern.  I did make some in flannelette first and they looked just what I wanted and made great pyjama trousers.  Anyway, I bought some black and white polka dot fabric that is quite flimsy and drapes well.  I made the trousers and for some reason they turned out a lot smaller than the flannelette ones.  Why, I do not know.  It was impossible to squeeze into them as the fabric was too flimsy for a lot of tugging and pulling and frayed at the seams.  I ended up inserting a wider piece over the hip area that I reinforced with some cotton fabric.  They fit now but I have to disguise the join by wearing a long tunic top with them...

 

 

Also, the seams are a bit puckered.  I will use cotton tape on the seams when I make something with this type of fabric in future.  I did use the cotton tape on the hems and it worked great.  If I make a top with this fabric I'll line it.  I don't really know what the fabric is, probably some sort of polyester/rayon, not sure.



Blouse

This is the blouse I made using New Look 6187.  I used cotton poplin for the main body and a patterned cotton for the trim...

 

 

I shortened the length by four inches, I don't like blouses that come too low over my hips.  I'm not sure that I'll ever wear it.  Firstly, I don't like the colour.  Also, I don't like cotton blouses.  And lastly, even though I made the size 14 (UK) it feels a bit tight across the shoulders.  Finally, why the hell did I make it!!!  All I can say is, it was good practise and I enjoyed the process.  I will probably make another one in a drapier fabric but I won't do this type of collar, there is a boat neck version in the pattern.

 

Ok, so on to the next project.  I have some polyester crepe that is more my type of blouse fabric.