Wednesday 22 May 2013

Me Made May Weeks 2-3: Everything Else

Self photography is a tricky business so what follows is mainly a selection of dodgy selfie iphone shots with some of my weeks 2/3 Me Made May 13 outfits.  I made this Airelle top a few weeks back with some Grayson Perry Liberty lawn which was an ebay bargain.  It needs a proper photo as it is a lovely slightly fitted blouse and has really given me a new pattern company to love- Deer and Doe.
I made a size 38 (UK 10) and altered the bust.  Although I am narrow in the chest I hate any sort of restriction in the sleeves or shoulders so I find this size and taking in the sides and the chest works best and is my standard adjustment for lots of tops.  There are waist and back darts for gentle shaping and the shoulder line is created by front and back yoke.  The sleeves are a lovely fit, especially around the armscye/armhole.  I did manage randomly place two of the central flower motifs rather creatively placed like pasties on my front! 
 It's a little gappy around the V so on the next one I will adjust it on the front at the shoulder by the neck so this lies flat. I reduced a little fullness on the pattern piece by taping down with washi tape. I generally use Swedish tracing paper for pattern pieces.  Tracing is not my favourite part of dress making and this makes life easier.  It is soft and strong, does't crinkle and tea like paper and take up loads of room flapping around.  Its popular stuff and hard to get in the UK, Annie has had some in and it has already sold but more is coming.
I made this Wiksten tank a couple of months back using Field Study Rayon bought here.   The fabric practically falls on the body, it clings and flows in a very flattering way.  It is also tricky to cut- scissors rather than my usual rotary cutter preference.  It needs gentle handling and sharp pins as it will snag easily.  
As a result, I went with an easy pattern shape.  No darts so good for a small bust, although  I found that as rayon drapes so well, the tank came up looking a little big and I could have gone down a size- I can't wear it without something underneath as it looks too loose but the print is so pretty and the flow of the fabric is such a pleasure to wear, I am happy to layer it.
Sometimes I can persuade my daughter to take pics.  This is my latest Lonsdale skirt made again with Anna Maria Horner Field Study but this time linen/cotton from here.
This is incredible fabric to work with, quite heavy but with lovely drape and flow.  It holds a crease from the iron but doesn't crease when you are sitting or holding it and the pattern works in both directions so the 60" wide fabric is perfect for an A-line maxi like this.  Size 6 with the waist sitting low, no pattern alterations. Mmmm, swishy...
I made these PJ pants in preparation for my Fat Quarterly retreat class.  I have 3 pairs, all a little different and a 4th pair planned to show the construction techniques involved.  There area few alternations to the original Simplicity pattern which are part of the class- adding leg hem cuffs, adding a wider part elastic/ part draw waist tie.  These were made entirely from thrifted fabric, soft twill weave florals.
And finally a dress from last year, Simplicity Cynthia Rowley 1801.  I like this dress, good pockets, the right length, gathers front and back and not at the sides on the skirt all works well but I do lack the fun bags at the front and if I fitted this really well it would not be flattering.  I wore this on a little shopping trip with my sis.  We tried on stacks of clothes in a local dress agency and gave each other honest opinion- yay or nay on how we looked.  I came out from the changing room in this dress and she shook her head- no not that one.  I had to point out this is what I came in.  Its alright, she's my sis, I forgive her and she has a point!
sib blog

18 comments:

  1. Such lovely makes Kerry! I love the Airelle top and your AMH skirt is just perfect!

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  2. All so gorgeous, although I think your latest Lonsdale skirt is my favourite - can't go wrong with a swishy skirt! And LOL at your sister!

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  3. Ha ha your sister's faux pas is very funny! Good thing you can forgive her easily :)

    I am hoping to get your PJ pants class at FQR - although I am not ridiculously tall, I do find that PJ pants are always annoyingly short on me and I would love to make my own pair with that extra couple of inches at the bottom hem.

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  4. You are going crazy sewing clothes! Great mix of patterns and fabrics you are trying. Too funny about your Sis and the dress too ;)

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  5. Goodness, you have been so busy! I particularly love the skirt - the linen looks amazing. And those pyjamas. Sigh. They're gorgeous - although it's always slightly heartbreaking to find a fabric is thrifted when you're excitedly thinking there might be a supplier for such a thing! What a lucky find - it looks so snuggly. x

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  6. How fun to go dress shopping with your sister. Some of my best memories are from shopping trips with the women in my life.

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  7. Thanks for the lesson on pasties, turns out there's a whole world of underwear out there I'd never even imagined! Also your feather skirt is to die for! Love it!

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  8. You should be the model and spokeswoman for championing sewing! Your selections are wonderful and you look beautiful in your clothing. That linen skirt - just flawless!

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  9. Oh I just love all of your handmade clothes. Your sister is too funny! I was going to say that your Cynthia Rowley dress was my favorite :)
    I'm going to try to draft my first skirt pattern today for Me Made May and Summer of No Pants. Ohhh and I love your maxi skirt! I wish I could make something like that, but I'm starting with a simple A-line skirt first!

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  10. These look great, but making a mental note never to go shopping with your sister ;o)

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  11. I am just cutting out the pieces for my first piece of clothing (a dress)... I see that your pattern has little triangles on it as well... what do I do with those? cut them out?

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    1. The triangles are known as notching and they act as markers for when you join pieces together to give much greater accuracy. On sleeve heads (the top bit that goes into the armhole) the front always has 1 notch and the back has 2 so you can tell front from back, You can cut them out as you cut round the pattern but it is fiddly to do. It is generally recommended not to cut them inwards as it weakens the seam. A quick approach is to cut a little snip through the triangle instead of cutting out the notch into the seam allowance by about 1/8". This is often trimmed off or covered by stitching when the seam allowances are finished with zig zag/serger etc.

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  12. Fabulous, Ms Kerry! And I too had been thinking that the Cynthia Rowley dress looked particularly wonderful on you -- I think it accentuates your tiny waist and looks very, very flattering :) xxx

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  13. Everything looks good on you. Especially the maxi skirt.

    Perhaps I'm going to make to tank top for myself, it seems safe enough (both to sew and to wear)

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  14. Obviously I made a spelling mistake: I'm going to make THE tank top...

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  15. lovely Kerry, your field study maxi skirt is just lovely. xo

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  16. I have to say the Cynthia Rowley dress was my favourite! Got to love sisters and their opinions :)

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