Paco's half circle skirt and Vogue 1261

Photo from In Style Magazine

After finishing Paco's gorgeous skirt I wanted a new top to go with it. I had saved this picture from a In Style magazine and I decided I would replicate the look.

Paco Peralta half circle skirt Pattern Review

Isn't it gorgeous?

 

Working with Paco's patterns makes you feel very special. Paco hand draws every single one and clearly marks all pertinent information, both in Spanish and English. This pattern is drawn whole for single layer cutting, as you can imagine you need a very large surface to cut out the maxi! Once you see the shaping of this pattern you know you will get one fantastic looking skirt.

I cut the skirt before I started working full time on Peter Pan so it has been a while, but I believe I traced the medium and added a bit extra, since my measurements fell between these two sizes.

I used a rayon lycra jersey with a wonderful weight. Because of the weight I made sure that I stabilized the waistline with Seams Great (which gives you stability with a bit of stretch) The waistband I interfaced with weft interfacing. I let the skirt hang overnight but there was no additional stretching so I felt confident inserting the zipper and finishing the waistband once I had a good fit. I referred to Paco's tutorial for the zipper placement into the waistband. I added a lining, a tricot that I hoped would smooth everything out, and it does!

I love my skirt! I could have one in every color! I am planning many more outfits with this skirt, I hope to share them with you as I wear them.

Vogue 1261

I bought this pretty lacy sweatery knit from Gorgeous Fabrics without a plan, I just liked it, and then I knew it would be perfect to replicate the above In Style inspiration.

I had two other patterns with raglan sleeves, Burda which had the ease I was looking for since my knit is not super stretchy but I did not want a cowl and without it the neckline was too high. The other pattern (from Burda Stle magazine) had a boat neckline and very tight fitting, two style features I did not want. I did try to modify the Burda envelope pattern but got myself all confused with matching the seams at the neckline so I gave it up. Then Vogue patterns went on sale online and I found the perfect pattern with raglan sleeves and the pretty round neckline I wanted!

As you can see I did not make the uneven hemline, not that I don't like it but I just wanted a simple hem for this version. I removed some of the flare at the hem and I cut the back on the fold since I did not want to cut up my knit's cable design.

The instructions have you leave raw edges, this is not the kind of fabric for those finishes so all my hems are finished, including the neckline binding.

Looking at the pictures I'm considering taking in the side seams of the tunic for a slightly more fitted look...I'll keep you posted.

And a last picture wearing the coat I made since I left the nurse at my son's school speechless when I told her I had made it after she complemented it.

Winterizing a summer frock

I had planned on wearing this dress (Burda 5/2010 105) with a green tee in the same shade in the print, and blue tights (which I did wear). However when I put on the tee with the dress the neckline pairing did not work (don't you hate it when that happens?)and instead I pulled this lightweight black sweater whose low scooped neckline worked with the dress'. I also own purple Mary Janes that I can wear with this dress and I will get yet another look.

I hope to have something new to show in the next post!

Time to move slower

So the whirlwind that was the Peter Pan project, the family visits preparation and crazy work (Parent/Teacher conferences) has ended.

The Peter Pan performances were a success, the kids really came through and every night they were better than the night before. The flying looked fantastic and so did the sword fights. I saw every performance except one, when I baby-sat my adorable nephew so that my brother and SIL could see the play. I was on hand to fix wardrobe malfunctions and help find "lost" stuff, "my boots! I can't find my boots!", "where is my dagger?"...

And you know what? I was listed as "Seamstress"! And given "special thanks" for my "sewing expertise"! How cool is that?

Here is Peter trying to strike Tootles (aka my son) for shooting Wendy. I made all the leaf print covers in this set and of course Peter's tunic.

When I had some time this past week, well yesterday, I found a pattern I had prepared the fabric for but the weather changed so it had been put away. I did my usual alterations to it and I hope to cut it out today.  Today the sewing room will be available again so I will first sew Paco's skirt.

Here is the pattern

I'm making view B.

Yes there will be fashion sewing coming soon!

Peter Pan is coming!

So tomorrow is opening night for the fall play and I couldn't be more excited. On Tuesday I got to sit in the audience with the director/theater teacher and a couple of other parent volunteers while they ran the whole show for the first time. There were "oops" moments but all in all not bad. Amazing all that goes in these productions!

The set looks wonderful and I'm so proud of what I accomplished. The last bit I did was to add valances to the Darling children headboards using a piece of lace leftover from curtains that used to hang on my living room window. My husband is part of the "flight crew" and he is having fun making the kids fly.

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News from the sewing room. Before I started sewing for the theater I cut out this gorgeous skirt by Paco Peralta

I used a rayon knit in a yummy chocolate brown. I won't get any sewing done until after Thanksgiving since I'm having company for the next couple of weeks and the sewing room will become a guest room.

Happy Sewing!

Sewing for theater

I'm still very much involved sewing for Peter Pan at my son's high school. Here is the tunic Peter will wear. It looks great on with leather boots and belt and sword. It also looks fantastic when Peter flies, the leaves fluttering along!

I picked up leaves from my backyard and made the templates and cut the shapes out of three different color synthetic suede and attached them to the faux leather tunic (pattern from a Simplicity costume, I think a Roman tunic?). Peter's mom (one of the directors and a professional actress) and I ripped the hem and the sleeves. They don't want to do a "Disney production" so costumes and props are earthy and old looking.

The closure looks a bit wonky, it is velcro and it's not closed properly =)

I am now working on the covers for the props that turn the nursery into Never Never Land. It is going to be a wonderful show!!

The swing cardigan

I finished knitting this cardigan (Bergere de France Swing Cardigan) in the spring so I put it away to be sewn until the fall, therefore it is now making its appearance.

I like it but I was disappointed with the sleeves I thought they would be more bell like. I really couldn't make many changes to this because I was very limited by the amount of yarn I had. As it was I had to send away for an extra skein, after having paid quite a price for this kit; I found I didn't have enough yarn to finish the collar. It is simple to knit, the designs on the sleeves are purl stitches that you incorporate following a chart.

Here is the project page in Ravelry

Butterick 4080 and what I'm knitting

I hope this is the last apron I show you for a while! =). This apron had the big ruffles on the shoulder straps that the Peter Pan director (drama teacher) had requested. I changed the pockets to make them practical, since Nana (the nanny/dog) carries stuff around and she needed a place to put it. The pocket tops are finished with purchased bias binding.

The fabric I used for the ruffles and ties was lightweight so I doubled the ruffles and I used a stiff netting sandwiched between the layers to make the ruffles to "perk up".

how shoulder straps attach to waistband

 

 

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I have a number of knitting projects all on the finishing stage. Since I can't have some knitting when watching tv and I am bored with the Missoni scarf currently in progress, I started a new project. It is a dress from Phildar in a yummy merino wool yarn.

The Victorian Apron

Butterick 5509

Yesterday I delivered the apron and the two caps for the play. They were very happy with them.

The eyelet fabric and ruffle were in my stash, I bought a bit of bleached muslin to use as lining and interfacing since I did not want to use fuseable interfacing on the eyelet. I also used muslin for the collar because I ran out of eyelet.

I used the border as the hem.

This is a good pattern if you need a Victorian era apron =)

The caps are from Butterick 3071

I spent yesterday afternoon going around with one of the assistant directors looking for props for the show. We were amazed at the generosity of our local businesses!, where we didn't get a discount it was because the items we needed were donated or given on loan. I have my van packed with stuff that I will deliver this morning to the school where once again we are gathering to put the set together.

Have a wonderful weekend and as always happy sewing!

Aprons and caps, oh boy!

So I have managed to cut and interface all the pieces for these two patterns.

I am making the one in the middle and it will be worn by the maid in Peter Pan.

The teacher/director wanted an apron with ruffles on the shoulders for Nana (the nanny/dog)so I'm making a large size and I hope it will fit around the dog outfit the student will be wearing.

I dug into my stash of white fabrics and I also purchased some bleached muslin. I made the caps which are from Butterick 3071 which I made a few years ago.

I have Paco's maxi skirt cut and waiting to be sewn but it has to wait =( . After I'm done with the aprons I will tackle the Peter Pan tunic, and by then I will be helping with the fabric to cover the stage props.

I'm trying to keep up with the blog reading, forgive me if I'm not leaving as many comments as I usually do!

Burda Style 5/2010 Knit dress 105

This dress has been reviewed many times, it is a very easy to make pattern and very easy to wear. Since my fabric, a rayon knit is lightweight I added a lining to the skirt.

As you can see this is a very large print and I tried to space out the flower centers as well as I could, considering that I had very little fabric to play around with (note to self, when buying large prints always get a little more!)

I wanted to show you this dress when I had some time to take pictures, so this was a quick session (no accessories and flip flops =0 !) I will not be sewing for me in the next couple of weeks since I'm rather involved making costumes for my oldest son theater production of Peter Pan. He is playing one of the Lost Boys and he is super excited to be on stage for the first time since his involvement before had been as part of the tech crew. So far it has been lots of fun! I will share what I end up making with you.

A baby quilt

Today I mailed the package with this quilt which is going to good friends' baby girl born the weekend of Irene (so glad she didn't get named after the storm!). Like I said before I thought it would have gone faster but I got a little fancy with the quilting, really it was more that you had to maneuver the quilt all around the needle to make the rectangles inside the blocks. I love how it turned out and I hope they enjoy the bright cheery colors I picked for them!

I have been wanting to make a modern backing and I thought this design went well with the quilt top, just pieced left overs from the top and used a pretty Kona solid. The binding is a Kaffe Fassett print that I found at a local shop.

Here is the tutorial I used for the quilt top.

Next up the Burda dress. I'm feeling much better and I am ready to sew again!

Where did September go?

So much for September being (at least in the US) Sewing Month! Things have been slow around here, as far as sewing.

On Friday I managed to cut the Burda dress above. The temperatures around my area have gone up again so I decided to go ahead and make a sleeveless dress.

I have been trying to finish a quilt which is a gift for a newborn baby. I decided to quilt inside the rectangles and while I like how it is turning out it is taking longer to finish than I thought. Of course it doesn't help that I have been having a flare up with the back/leg pain; it's time to have some diagnostics tests done.

Stay well and happy sewing!

How visible are you?

I recently discovered a new (to me) blog Not Dead Yet Style, catchy name no? I have enjoyed reading it so I decided to participate in Visible Monday.

The dress above I made last summer and I love it. I have always loved red (and orange as well) and while I feel very visible in this color, I also feel very me when wearing it. How many things stay constant through the years? not many.

My first thought when I started to write this post is that as sewers, knitters/crocheters of garments we want to be noticed, but always in a good way! We are proud of producing one of a kind and well fitted garments. I enjoyed the creative process and everything in between that leads to a garment I can be proud to wear and say "I made it!" if complemented on it.

How do you feel visible?

Verena Knitting Summer 2009 #6 Apricot A line tank

Here it is this very simple to knit tank top with a swingy hem which you get with uniformly adding stitches. One thing I love about Verena Knitting magazine patterns is the finishing details, in this case you are instructed to finish the armholes and neckline with crochet, it makes all the difference in my opinion to a well constructed knitted garment.

This picture taken before blocking

The magazine shows this top being worn over a breezy blouse; I plan to extend the wearability by also using it as a layering piece once it gets cooler.

I used a linen yarn, more details at Ravelry.

This morning I had a very early appointment and it put me in a neutral color mood, I also wore a light tan cardigan for the cooler temperatures earlier.

A quick turn around

My son had been asking me to make him a cloak to wear to the Renaissance Festival for a while and I had procastinated, so when the time came I had to hustle. The fabric, 6 yards of a wool/poly blend crepe from Fabric Mart Fabrics arrived on Friday at 3:00. It went into the dryer to pretreat as I prepared the pattern and readied the floor for cutting since my table was not big enough for cutting this full length cloak. The cloak was done Saturday afternoon in time for my son and his friends to attend the festival on Sunday morning.

I used McCalls 5957 and cut a men's medium, my son is 13 years old and 5'11". The shoulder pad was added as per his design; I have used this pad shape many times before out of this Simplicity pattern reduced in size for his smaller shoulders. He made the pattern for the hand appliqued to the pad. The closure I found of all places at Michael's craft store. Except for hems all construction was done on the serger for speed.

It gives me great joy to be able to render my son's vision for his costume. Every year he has a new idea which becomes a wonderful collaboration to bring the project to its ta-dah! moment.

Vogue 1179

This dress has been made many times by many sewists but mine is super special because the fabric was given to me by my friend Andrea =)

I knew right away that this was the pattern for this rayon blend knit. The fabric feels great, very "buttery" and the colors were so summery I hurried up and used it so I could wear it this summer.

The pattern is simple to make, comfy to wear and stylish (I think!). I was having trouble with the side seams puckering and not hanging right, so I stabilized them as I was sewing them with Seams Great(as were the shoulder seams). The hem I stabilized with a strip of fusible tricot interfacing.

One thing to note is that the armscye in this pattern is very high, which is very different for Big Four patterns.

I have one more summery garment to show you (knitted top) and then I will start on cooler weather projects. First I have to make a baby quilt for a gift and quickly (hopefully!) make up a cloak for my youngest who with his friends is attending the Maryland Renaissance Festival in costume.

Happy Sewing!