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

Slender pencil trousers from Burdastyle x 2

Lately I've been sewing a lot trousers it seems, maybe not a lot, but at least two pair and one pair of shorts too. I've been chasing a TNT pattern for slim trousers and I finally found one!

Perfect slim trousers!

Source: burdastyle.com via Johanna on Pinterest

I had been thinking about these trousers from Burdastyle for a while, but didn't think it would be any use to try since I'm a size EU46 and they only go up to EU44. But after making the pattern below in size EU46 and they turned out way too big, I thought I might give it a go.

Turned out oh so big, not tight in one place...

Source: burdastyle.com via Johanna on Pinterest

So I made two pairs in denim fabric, dark blue and neon pink!

I know there are some wrinkles and stuff in the back, but I don't care, I'm super happy with my new trousers! The blue ones turned out a bit too big at first so I took them in down the sides 1-4 centimetres. On the pink pair I overdid it a bit and they turned out too tight... But that's fixed too now!

The alerations I made was to add 7 centimetres to the length (the patterns in Burdastyle are made for women of 168 cm and I'm 175 cm) and instead of adding 1 cm seam allowance I added 1,5 cm. I also put exposed zippers in the back instead of invisible zippers in the side. I tried two different techniques for that which was fun.

This is technique one!

Yes, the trousers are cat inspected and cat approved! :)

Zipper technique two!

For the first zipper I used this video tutorial by FashionSewingBlogTv. For the second zipper I used a tutorial from Pattern Runway. Both tutorials were excellent!

What I like especially about this Burdastyle pattern is that the waist is kind of high, I have figured out that I prefer high-waisted trousers. For the second pair, the neon pink one, I raised the waist even more in the back, about 2 cm.

Anyway, I would totally recommend this pattern, just remember that the trousers aren't as slim as they look in the photo on Burdastyle. What are you working on?

Bye for now,

Johanna

MMM '13 - week 1

It really is only half a week so far in MMM '13, but so far it's a breeze! My commitment was to wear at least one handmade garment everyday, so it's not very hard, but May has 31 days so we'll see how I feel towards the end of the month... :)

Wednesday 1 May

Burdastyle t-shirt,  recently finished Burdastyle trousers (to be blogged later) and Vacation head scarf. Free from work, celebrating May 1st.

Thursday 2 May

Cropped trousers. Normal workday.

Friday 3 May

Onion jersey dress and Ottobre cardigan. Visiting my sister's.

Saturday 4 May

Laurel dress. Celebrating mum's 60th birthday.

Sunday 5 May

Ottobre cardigan, Kirsten kimono tee (which I noticed right now I haven't posted about) and Burdastyle trousers (same as May 1).

I hope all the participants of MMM '13 are feeling as good about their decision to join as I do.

Bye for now,

Johanna

Burdastyle t-shirt

I finally got some sewing done this past weekend. I had seen this cute t-shirt pattern in Burdastyle magazine 02/2013 and I wanted to try it out.

Source: assets.burdastyle.com viaJohanna on Pinterest

Since the pattern only went to EU size 42 I decided to frankenpattern it with another t-shirt pattern I have that fits really well. I made it 42 over the bust and 46 over the waist and hips.

I shouldn't have... The t-shirt turned out way too big, everywhere! Iif I make it again I think I will make it size 40 over the bust and 42 over the waist and hips.

Or it could have been the fabric that wasn't compatible with the pattern, but I don't know why that should be, because the fabric is just some viscose jersey.

Anyway, I had to take it in about 5 cm/2 inches on each side at the hips, to get a decent fit.

I added bands to the sleeves and made them and the band at the neckline a solid colour to add some interest. I think the result turned out good.

I would like to make the t-shirt again in a striped jersey, but I have to get some first! :)

I have loads of other plans but I keep seeing great new things all the time, so it's hard to decide what to do next. I have seen some cropped trousers in hot pink cotton sateen which I can't take my mind of, maybe those are next on my sewing list.

So did you get any sewing done this weekend? Do you have spring sewing plans?

Bye for now,

Johanna