PTB

PTB (projects to be), on-going projects, what's on my sewing table... Whatever you like to call it, here are some sneak peeks of what I'm working on at the moment...

Be back soon,

Johanna

Another denim Ginger skirt

I really like my denim Ginger that I made last year, it's just that it's kind of big...

So I decided to make another one a size smaller, size 14 this time. I also added pockets and I made them like on these shorts:

The pocket edge is interfaced and then the pocket piece is attached by a visible seam. I read Sunni's post about her denim Ginger skirt, to figure things out about the pockets. Very helpful.

Aside from the pockets, nothing was really hard about putting the skirt together, which goes to prove that I have learned a lot since the last time I made this pattern.

This time I used an invisible zipper, which isn't very invisible since it's green and my machine doesn't sew invisble zippers that invisibly. But I'm fine with it, what's not to love about green?! :)

I also shortened this version since the other one feels a little matronly, and we all know (well, at least if you have watched Project Runway) that that isn't a good thing.

I had some top-stitching thread that I was going to use for a pair of jeans, but the fabric for those jeans is now said skirt and these trousers, so I felt it was OK to use it on my Ginger. :) Though I should have used another twin needle since my jersey (!!!) one had a hard time. But, that's how it is when you're too lazy to go to the store and get another one. At least it didn't break! :)

See you later,

Johanna

Ideas for autumn/winter sewing

Autumn is closing in, even though the weather isn't making me feel it. We still have warm and sunny weather though the mornings are a bit on the chilly side. One thing to make me feel the autumn coming is all the catalogues with autumn clothing, like H&M or the fabric store Stoff och stil ("Tissue and style").

I got inspired by both of those catalogues and I even ordered some sewing patterns from Stoff och stil:

Source, all images above: stoffochstil.se

Other inspiration for my autumn/winter sewing plans comes from the latest issues of Burdastyle magazine, no. 8/2013 and 9/2013.

Source, all images above: burdastyle.com

I do want to use fabric from my stash as much as possible, because I can't afford to buy a lot of new fabric and I have to learn to use what I have and also decrease my stash (I'm starting to have difficulties in where to put new fabric, I don't want to be one of those sewists who has boxes or bags of fabric everywhere).

I have loads of dark blue/navy blue jersey fabric of different qualities (fine jersey, double knit etc.) and that should be something I could use for autumn/winter sewing. But something I would like more of is viscose (rayon?) fabric, I like the drape of viscose for blouses and dresses.

I would also like to be able to make those nice moodboards I see on other people's blogs, like Clotilde. Does anyone have a tip or advice for me on how to do that?

Do you have sewing plans or do you make sewing plans at all? Or are you more of the spontaneous kind?

Hopefully back soon with some FOs,

Johanna

A ton of bricks

Sorry for not posting in such a long time, but I've started work again after the vacation and it kind of hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been totally knackered each day after work and have only had the energy for the most necessary stuff, like cooking dinner.

I haven't been sewing, obviously, but I did get an order for a giraffe dress from one of friends. She wants a pink one and I've already bought the fabric and cut it, now I only have to sew it up, which I will do this weekend.

Well, I promise to try to be back soon with an FO that I've talked about before.

Bye for now,

Johanna

Unselfish sewing part 5 - Striped giraffe dress for one of my sister

I did some unselfish sewing the other day, Sunday actually. I had already cut out a giraffe dress from the same fabric as my striped maxi dress, but when my sister really liked my giraffe dress and the fit was good, I decided to sew it up for her instead. It was a very nice coincidence that she haad thought of buying some striped fabric so that I could make her a dress, and then I already had a dress cut out! :)

It was fast and easy to sew up the dress and I used only my sewing machine, and not the overlocker, so I can show her that she also can sew with knits/jersey fabrics using her loaner sewing machine (one of mine, a fairly useless plastic Singer).

I also cut out a rather big heart out of a scrap of fushia jersey and put it near the hem with my label inside it. It turned out pretty well and my sister really liked it!

I only have one photo to post, but here it is (I think she's wearing two(?) tank tops underneath):

BTW, my sister had surgery, a gastric bypass, in September ans since she has lost like 35 kilos!!!!! She now weighs less than me, which hasn't happened since we were toddlers! I'm so glad that she feels better and that she's in less danger of different health issues. I love you Lottis!!!

On a totally not different note, my other sister and her family is coming to visit us tomorrow and will be staying for a few days. Let's see what she would like me to make for her (I have to be fair!). I love you too Emmis!

I'll be back soon with a new version of Simplicity 1699.

Bye for now,

Johanna

Maxi dress (Butterick's 5837)

A while ago I saw the lovely maxi Tiramisu made by Cation Designs and found that I wanted a striped maxi dress too! A maxi Tira would be a great idea, but instead I found  Butterick's See and Sew 5837 and decided to try it. This is how it turned out!

This dress is über-comfy and it feels (and maybe looks) like you're wearing a nightie all day long. It's perfect when the weather's a bit on the chilly side (even though we're having great weather at the moment) because it covers the legs.

I think the detail in the back is really cute, but for next time I would make it more round instead of oval. The instructions were easy to follow, but to avoid hand-stitching (SO tedious!) I followed a tutorial for another maxi dress I found here at Melly Sews. This tutorial made it very easy to get away from said hand-stitching.

The arm holes are a little big, but it doesn't bother me much, so I'll just keep them as they are.

The bodice is lined, to get a nice finish, I guess. I just used what I had in my scrap bin, but of course you can use your "good" fabric. It was just that I had enough fabric left for another dress if I used other fabric for the lining, so that's what I did! White in the front and flowery in the back. :)

I already have fabric lined up for another maxi dress from this pattern, so of course I recommend the pattern if someone's thinking of using it! Size-wise I cut a US16 for the bodice and a US18 for the skirt, it is no problem matching up different sizes for the top and bottom since the skirt is gathered. I also cut the length of the pattern and didn't hem the skirt and that turned out to be the perfect length for me, I'm 175 cm (on a good day :)) which I think is like 5 feet 10 inches (correct me, please, if I'm wrong).

Well, that's all folks, thanks for stopping by,

Johanna

Giraffe dress

Have you ever walked in to the fabric store and felt the sudden and compelling urge to have a black and white giraffe dress?

I have...

Went to the fabric store to get something completely different, can't even remember what now, and saw and touched this fabulous black and white giraffe-print jersey. And I just had to have it as a dress.

This is THE most comfy summer dress and I've worn it so much since I made it. The pattern is the same as the blue House of Lola-inspired dress. I just moved the gathers up about 10 centimetre/4 inches, which turned out to be about 2 centimetres/an inch too high, but I'll fix that on the next dress!

Bye for now,

Johanna