So It's March...

...And I have been demonstrably absent since September. Life got busy, at points a little too busy.

I have kept up reading blogs, and thinking about this one. I was tempted to just scrap it and start again but there's no point. I do however have to make some changes round here, I clearly cannot just blog about sewing as I make only a small amount of garments a year. I hope that any readers will be ok with a shift to a slightly broader range of topics.

I now do instagram which I am much more frequently posting on than here, and if you'd like to check it out I can be found under the user name of Ms_Melancholy

More posts are in the works, but for now -

Edited because I wrote February and it is actually March - What a dumbass!

Fall Essentials Sew Along (FESA)

I had already half written a post about my sewing plans when the announcement for FESA popped up in my blog roll so I decided to scrap that and join in.

I participated last year (on my old blog) and even though I didn't get all my planned items finished I also didn't do too badly either. For those who aren't familiar, the sew along is the brainchild of Sarah who blogs over at Rhinestones and Telephones which is where you will find out the full details of the sew along categories.

Having had a good think about it, I have decided upon a few definites, and a few "if I get the time" items.


Fabulous Foundations For Frosty Weather:

Closet Case Patterns Ginger Jeans

Simplicity 2700 (source)

I have the denim pre-washed and ready to use for two pairs of Gingers. My remaining full leg length pair finally went pop and wore through at the thighs so replacements are a must. I decided to make two at once since it is most definitely trouser weather here now and I should wash them more often than I do (yeah that's a bit gross I know).

If I get time I will make another pair of the Simplicity 2700 amazing fit trousers. Not sure if I have anything in the stash suitable and I am loathe to use my precious yardage of herringbone linen on them.

Chic Chemises For Cooler Climates:

(source)

I guess this one is a bit of a cheater... I have two blouses basted together that have been dumped in a basket for several months that I will be finishing, they were cut at the same time as my beloved polka dot blouse from the pattern I bodged together.

I also have an unfinished New Look 6212. I have no idea why I thought this was a good pattern to purchase, I was swayed by being able to use up some of my chiffon stash. Aaaand I didn't notice there were no bust darts for shaping. I have the main body of version B sewn up, Just the collar and button plackets left (I don't want the pockets) but I am going to have to do french seamed fish eye darts in the front for a last ditch attempt at salvaging this. I look hideously enormous with no shaping.


Fabulous Frocks:

(Source)

I will make no secret of the fact I will always love this pattern. It may not be the popular shirt dress of the blogosphere but I can't get enough of it! I have made 5 dresses and 3 blouses from it so far - that may not sound like much but I am a more conservative sewist than some so proportionally it is a lot.

I have some black flannel lined up for a 1/2 or 3/4 length puff sleeved, full skirted, cozy winter dress.


Underneath It All:

I intend to make a half slip from some suitable black fabric found lurking in my stash. It must have been hidden there for over 7 years! If I have the yardage in my stash I will pop a lace trim on the bottom, if not it will remain plain.


Tender Tootsies:

I would be optimistic if I said I will knit some socks, but I would like to at least start a pair.


Those Cozy Nights:

Does a hot water bottle cover count? Can't commit to it entirely but it is something I have been meaning to get around to doing. A good way to practice some Intarsia or Fair Isle techniques.


Baby It's Cold Outside:

(source)

(source)

This is the most important category to get done! I have a hoodie, and a thick men's cardigan to serve me as outerwear. I muslined up the Leanne Marshall coat last December and was short on fabric to make the long version. I may see if I can fit the short length version on my existing yardage. If not I will have to look at putting aside some cash for some new fabric, or finding a different pattern.

I have fabric and notions for the Cordova jacket, I just need to print off the pattern and faff around with grading it up and a fba. Which is a less than thrilling series of events. I also intend to lower the neckline into a V, for no reason other than I would prefer it that way.


So those are my grand plans, 10 garments, 2 knitted items. I may add a cardigan or sweater to the list if I have all the correct needles/notions/yarn in my stash. I think a myrna is a possibility, I can always frog my badly fitting one if I need extra yarn. As this is fall essentials I won't include any plans for a Christmas dress, not that I really need one.

How is everyone else doing with their plans?

"Lady Skater" Style Dress From SBCC Tonic Tee

Happy Friday folks!

Last week I finally got round to taking some photos of my Lady Skater rip off dress, and of the billion taken a few were not entirely terrible even if I do have a touch of the "about to start impersonating Michael Flatley" kinda vibe in them.

I made this dress in April, I wanted a new dress to wear for my birthday so most likely I started it in good time....the day before ;)

Sleeping or looking at something interesting on the floor - you decide!

I lightened the pics to aid in actually seeing a black garment, and yes, knickers and bra also match...

So I started off with the SBCC Tonic Tee pattern and scooped out the neck at the front and back, then shortened it to hit at my natural waist. I may have measured it, or just put a bodice pattern on top to compare lengths, it was a while ago and I can't remember exactly.

I feel like the princess of darkness with these glorious sleeves!

There look to be drag lines in this pic but I'm not sure if it is the position of my arm. I drafted some facings for the neck and it sits pretty well. I sewed down the back facing but not the front and it stays in place fine without flipping. I have noticed a bit of gaping in the neckline in some positions so I would consider a bit of clear elastic in the seam in future. I used the sleeves I made up for some other garment, possibly for the Lisette Traveller dress. I really need to invest in some hilarious 80's patterns for some statement sleeve goodness, I L-O-V-E puffy, gathered, ruched, layered, pleated, bold sleeves. It's just a thing...I cant help it! I put a little lace over the shoulder seams for added interest too.

Is that a donut over there?

I believe I used the skirt pieces for the Lisette Traveller dress which is just a gathered A line. I will have shortened it from the top to increase the gathers and keeping the width at the bottom. I used clear elastic in the waist seam but my overlocker just seemed to push it out from under the foot whenever possible, and my sewing machine hates it too. I would try using a regular elastic next time perhaps. I'm not sure if there is better clear elastic available but the "Hemline" brand stuff which is all I seem to be able to get my hands on is pretty wide and a bit rubbery, not like the stuff I have seen used in RTW. If youknow of a UK source for that type of clear elastic please tell me!

This kinky shot reveals the special surprise of this fabric - it is grey on the other side! The fabric is a double sided ponte, gloriously thick and soft, and had I known how nice it was I would have ordered more! If I had put more thought into it I could have made the dress reversible, but lets face it, I would not wear such a light grey! As you can see I just overlocked the edge and sewed a small hem.

Overall I am thrilled with this dress, and now the temperature has dropped again I look forwards to wearing it more often - although really in England it is only July and perhaps a week either side where it is too hot for anything other than a flimsy sun dress. It could do with being taken in an inch either side of the bodice, but now it is in my wardrobe I am less inclined to mess about with it, a belt suffices to be honest.

This was an easy "hack", and I recommend it wholeheartedly if you haven't purchased the Lady Skater and don't mind a tiny bit of work making the facing pattern pieces....and y'know it's cheaper!

Enjoy your weekend!

Project Wardrobe: The (Late) Half Year Update

Well 3 months late isn't too shoddy hey?! I will only talk about items here that were made, to the best of my knowledge, before June. After that the items will feature in my S/A plans.



Where we left off earlier this year I detailed the current state of my wardrobe, and also my W/S sewing plans. I actually got through most of those with the exception of the Bruyere rip off and the gingham dress refashion. I also had additional projects planned out because of an unexpected holiday to Turkey. A quick survey of my wardrobe suggests I have made the following:

1 x polka dot blouse
4 x SBCC tonic tee
14 x Rosy Lady Shorts (including 3 "sexy" pairs)
1 x Lady Skater style dress
1 x Ginger Jeans
1x Ginger Jeans capri length
1 x Lace trim tank
1 x Hippo dress to lace trim tank refashion
1 x dress to skirt refashion
2 x cropped length leggings

A total of 27 new items! I think I need to sit down with shock!

I can explain the 14 pairs of pants, or 11 not including the three experimental lace pairs, as a holiday necessity...it was an 8 day holiday, plus I needed a pair for the day either side, and a pair for the day after we got back and my other pants were in the wash. So I made 7 pairs of knickers specifically to make up this number. I have also rag bagged the old RTW knickers that were all ill fitting/had holes. It makes me laugh that I now only have plain black knickers (with different coloured elastics) in my undie drawer, even if it was only because I was using black jersey from my stash.

The cropped leggings were sadly too short in the waist, and a little tight. Made for holiday, well traveled, never worn. I will wait until I have shed a few pounds and then remove the existing elastic and add some more jersey and a new waistband. Nobody will be looking at that part of them so I'm not worried about weird seaming.

The full length Gingers are almost worn through at the thighs now, the capris were a juicy bonus as I made them using the leftover denim from my first and second gingers (same denim from the same place) so they felt like a freebie! I didn't have enough to put back pockets on but I don't mind. They fit a bit snug in the waist due to the combined effects of woven facing and the waistband being cut on the non stretch grain. I thought that it wouldn't matter as I always used a non stretch facing before, but it does make them a little bit tighter.

Wearing my black lace strap tank and Ginger capris in Turkey. Trying to surreptitiously get photo with the camel!

I'm super pleased with the grey dress refashion, that jersey has made a lovely tank, so slinky, very flattering to wear. The dress to skirt refashion is not so hot. Considering donating it.

The Lady Skater style dress is well worn, not for the warmer months, and would change a  few things if I made another. The SBCC tees are 50-50. the two I made first were in a bad choice of jersey and a little short in front. I think it looks quite trendy, but I prefer more coverage. Second two were made longer but I would actually still add a bit more length.

Star of the show is the blouse. I bodged a pattern for it out of the New Look pattern my tartan dress was made from. It wasn't precise, or perfect, but the resulting blouse is in constant rotation. Only problem is I forgot to interface the button bands and two of the lower buttons come open occasionally. I could sew the placket up to eliminate this if I wanted to as I can get the blouse on and off without undoing it.

Terrible mirror selfie on holiday! Love my blouse though <3

As far as existing wardrobe items are concerned, there are a few I am considering getting rid of, but not a huge amount. I think that a sizable amount will go in the new year though. A few of my RTW tops are now getting to the past it entirely stage, I also purchased a kaftan from Sainsburys which was ok in Turkey, but is too holiday item looking for me to put on at home. They had no black the buttheads. I have also purchased a fine knit cardigan as an emergency item for a job. I like it a lot so actually have little buyers remorse. I can't knit a cardi that fine, and sewing one would probably look like a dogs dinner for my first few attempts.

How is every one else doing with following sewing plans?

101 Things In 1001 Days

There will shortly be a separate little tab up top to house the master list of 100 things and showing completed items, provided I remember to update it.

I had a go at doing this challenge before, but I didn't make a very good list, I was in a different place/lifestyle to now, and I think it is one of those things where you are doing it because the act of completing the 101 things is a beneficial process for oneself. I did end up doing some of the things on it anyway such as going blonde (I know, super profound there) but I picked some stupid ass things and I was rolling my eyes in a massive way when that was rediscovered and thrown out a few years ago!
This time I not only want to do it, I *need* to do it. I ain't gonna get all personal here, I like to keep parts of myself to myself, but I think there comes a time in life where you just have to have a little more chicken soup for your soul. I might talk a little bit more about each item as I complete it, not everything warrants it - some things are silly things added just because. So with no further wafflage, here is the list in original format, the permanent version is in useful categories.

1. Make a "weather blanket" - like a weather scarf. Decide if temp or weather.
2. Do Santa Run for Nomad Trust
3. Have a computer game theme 30th and be Lara Croft
4. Make FF VII the board game a reality.
5. Pay off at least 50% of debt not including student loan
6. Make an OTT full on embroidered item of clothing
7. Make a bra
8. Make my own shoes
9. Finish Giger embroidery
10. Teach a sewing lesson
11. Have a hat art exhibition
12. Have fake eyelashes done at a salon
13. Make 5 craftivist pieces & place round town
14. Make successful macarons
15. No MacDo for a year
16. No plastic bags for a year
17. Do 100 hours of volunteering
18. Give blood again
19. Go for a smear test
20. Use elliptical to go distance from Lands End to John O'Groats
21. Visit Brighton
22. Visit Whitby Goth Weekend
23. Do the steampunk festival
24. Knit a proper cardi that fits
25. Finish Pat's cardi
26. Make a constellation blanket
27. Grow an edible plant (and eat something from it)
28. Eat 100% clean for a month
29. Make cheese
30. Knit a pair of socks
31. Finish my hexi quilt
32. Visit Iceland
33. Visit Budapest
34. Make a scrapbook
35. Crochet giant minion
36. Make up 50 "period packs" for the Nomad Trust
37. Make 10 yellow ducks for YDP
38. Pay for a stranger's drink/food
39. Buy £100 of stuff for Lincoln Cat Care
40. Leave a note in a book for a stranger
41. Make a beekeepers quilt
42. Eat GF, DF & Low GI for 3 months
43. Get at least a 2:1 in my degree
44. Make a proper sewing notebook
45. Make a properly tailored jacket
46. Go for 300 walks (at least 20 minutes each)
47. Go for a mani-pedi
48. Visit Nana and Grandad's graves
49. Make a Matrix jumper
50. Kick the Pepsi Max habit
51. Sew an outfit for B
52. Knit more scarves/gloves/hats/blankets for Nomads Trust
53. Do the 30 day squat challenge again
54. Make Lying Cat and The Stalk crochet toys
55. Make 100 Big Knit hats
56. Stand up for an hour a day for 100 days
57. Volunteer for Lincoln conservation group
58. Donate a box of handmade items to New Life Charity
59. Make 10 donkeys for the Donkey Trust
60. Make a box of woolly items for seafarers (Apostleship of the Sea)
61. Do my impossipuzzle
62. Set up a birthday cake baker scheme like in WI Life
63. Volunteer for Lincoln Contact Club
64. Make a croquembouche
65. Volunteer at Age UK Xmas party
66. Paint nails at a nursing home
67. Feed the homeless on Xmas day
68. Donate 100 items to Nomad Trust
69. Donate 100 items to the food larder
70. Make a crochet nativity
71. Go to bed by 10:30pm and get up by 7:30am every day for 1 month
72. Do the Parkrun
73. Make something with a cockatiel on it
74. Have a LOTR marathon
75. Make a chair dance routine to Big Spender
76. Save 100 "pennies" for friendship (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p)
77. Go to a comicon (or similar event)
78. Save £1 for each completed item on this list
79. Successfully do a pinterest hairstyle
80. Make a crochet flower blanket
81. Have a board game night
82. Visit a beach new to me
83. Participate in a yarnbombing
84. Make a stop motion animation
85. Send all 5/6 neighbours a Xmas card
86. Buy popcorn at the cinema
87. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years from the date of writing
88. Spend nothing for a week per month for 12 months
89. Make and display a "craftydermy" piece
90. Milk a cow
91. Have afternoon tea
92. Take my contact lenses out 5/7 days for 6 months
93. *Private*
94. Do 10 things I have pinned (recipe/craft/nail art etc)
95. Enter a competition
96. Learn the basics of a new language
97. Sew a coat
98. Sell 50 items on eBay
99. Take an online class (Not OU)
100. Have a day out with my sister
101. Write an e-book

I am a procrastinator by nature, so when I was aiming to have this list completed by a 11th July to make the 1001 days end on my 31st Birthday. I will now count this as officially ending in 1001 days from now (MAY 19th 2018), but it would be a nice bonus to hit my original target if possible.

Whilst looking online for some ideas when I was stuck, it would appear (as you would probably expect) that most people never finish their lists, most tending to cross out a small proportion of things then abandon it entirely. I am determined not to do so, and will attempt to record progress even if I fail miserably - obviously hoping failure will be more along the lines of good effort!

Have you done one of these lists? Did you complete it, or abandon it?

Is That A Tumbleweed I See Before Me...?

Attack of the absentee blogger strikes again ;)

Life has been a bit insane.

It still is.

 I could tell tales of new jobs, no jobs, creepy as fuck bosses (that one's a goodun), relationship issues, holidays sponsored by Dante, body image meltdowns, degree deferrals, epic chub rub, and a little piece of myself which has died inside, or at least become comatose.

But whatever, if you want those stories it will require gin and probably some sort of cake.

It is now August, and I have been sewing, and I have things for sharing in relation to that. I also will be sharing my 100 things in 1000 days, mostly to keep track of it for myself, and maybe to inspire someone googleing for ideas for their own (I did that, and some peoples lists read more like my weekly to do list - no offence intended - and didn't really inspire me to challenge myself). It is essentially a silly bucket list with a more imminent (hopefully) end date than death. Of course some items are silly or trivial but you need to have a few easy achievers in with the longer term stuff.

Anyway I can't promise much, especially since Netflix came into my life, but I will try not to leave things so empty here.*







*Famous last words hey?!

Winter/Spring Sewing Plans

I appreciate it should be A/W and S/S but seriously, in the UK winter and spring are colder and wetter, and summer and autumn much more temperate. It was still warm in October ffs! So I decided to go with W/S and S/A as my sewing seasons. Deal.

Moving on... I firstly wanted to share with you a list that is on my sewing room pin board. It is nothing I do not know, but it serves as a reminder when OMG-CUTEFABRIC might strike, or if an OMG-AMAZEBALLSPATTERN comes to town. It happens to the best of us.

I thought I would save you my raggedy scrawl and give you a boring but legible version.
These are just things that will really make or break something for me, and I don't like to make things I know I won't wear. Mostly sleeves is because I generally prefer them, but will make an exception for a vest top, or a summer dress if necessary. Buttons>zips is because having made a dress with a back zip, and worn one with a side zip, they are not my friends! I do not like needing assistance in dressing/undressing, and my t-rex arms combined with a boob mountain mean I cannot contort to do up a long back zip, and I find it tough to get hold of a side zip. For some reason I never encounter one that easily goes up and down using one hand (picture a monkey like arm movement). Is it just me being unlucky?! This also means I can't comfortably play an acoustic guitar should I want to inflict my lack of musical talent on anyone...first world problems hey ;)

So with these points in mind, I have made a brief outline of my projects for the coming weeks/months.

1) A new pair of Ginger Jeans. I need to wash the pair I have more often, so another pair is a priority!
2) New pants. I'm going with the rosy ladyshorts. I would like utilitarian practical versions for every day, and some sexy pairs for those occasions.
3) A rip off lady skater style dress. Black ponte.
4) Black tshirts, I'm giving the SBCC Tonic Tee a whirl. It's free, liked the look more than the other free t-shirt patterns available.
5) Sleeveless blouse - gingham dress recycling.
6) Another Bruyere blouse rip off
7) Black ponte dress refashion into skirt

There are a few other projects floating about in my head, but these are the ones I've settled on. I desperately wanted to make the Leanne Marshall coat, I have the pattern all muslined up and everything...but the fabric is short by a meter. I bought the fabric intending it for something else, the something else was not going to work in the fabric, so I thought it would make a nice coat. If it wasn't for the damn collar/shawl I would have enough! The lady I got the fabric from hasn't got any more, and so I really don't know if I should find a contrast fabric in the same colour (black) or just get whole new yardage of something else for it. It makes me sad. I did in fact burst into tears when I discovered I didn't have enough fabric - I was having one of those days!

Ginger Jeans - Closet Case Patterns

Rosy Ladyshorts - Cloth Habit

Tonic Tee - SBCC

Simplicity 1254 - Leanne Marshall

I have the line drawings for my current plans drawn out and on my pin board. I find this is a useful way to keep a check on what I'm doing, but the drawings are a bit dodgy so no sharing them here. I got a book out of the library that is aimed at fashion students, "Technical Drawing For Fashion" by Basia Szkutnicka, to try and improve my line drawing. I think it would be useful when imagining franken patterns and new designs, and just a nice skill to have, I certainly have no desire to design patterns for commercial sale, far too lazy! I have been thinking about having a couple of sketchbooks, one for ideas, and one for documenting patterns made with the info about alterations/fit issues etc. Anyone else do this? Is it useful to you?