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

Another t-shirt and MMM '13

Found some breton striped jersey in the scrapbin at my fabric store the other day. Decided I NEEDED it to make another striped t-shirt. Just as well since... I'm in Me-Made-May for the first time!!!!

First, here's my pledge:

'I, Johanna of Projects by me, sign up as a participant of Me-made-May '13. I endeavour to wear one handmade garment each day for the duration of May 2013.'

Read more on the lovely Zoe's blog sozowhatdoyouknow. She's the brain behind this fantastic thing!

OK, back to the t-shirt. I used the pattern from Sömnadsmagasin, the same as this t-shirt:

This time I cut the neckline a little higher and the sleeves a little longer and omitted the gathers on the sleeve top.

I'm quite happy with the fit since I don't like t-shirts to be too tight over the stomach. I decided not to use the twin needle for the hemming, it hasn't turned out well in a long time so now I used a cover stitch on my sewing machine, which turned out great.

Not much to say, but some "cake" that I can use for MMM'13.

Are you in?

xx,
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

A little something to say sorry...

... for being so cranky yesterday. I feel somewhat better about things today and thought I would apologise for my crankiness by letting you know there is a board on my Pinterest page with free sewing patterns. In a situation like this (sick kids, not feeling well yourself and being dead-tired) there's not much to do but to try and absorb the inspiration and energy of others so I have surfed the sewing web a lot. Here's where you can go to see if there's anything free to tempt you: free-sewing-patterns.

I have only pinned what I liked, but if you go on to Burdastyle, there are way more free patterns. And also more if you go to Grosgrainfabulous. You'll see what I mean if you go to the board.

To cheer myself up I downloaded the Kirsten Kimono Tee from MariaDenmark (also FREE!) and I thought I would re-make a knit tunic I made a while ago. I've figured out  I never wear it anyway, so I'll try out the new pattern and maybe get some use out of the fabric. Talking about this tunic:

It's also a kimono-version but bigger... I never liked the neckline which is too tight sort of.

Anyways, hope I haven't scared anyone off from reading my blog. :)

I'll also leave you with another treat, more photos from my sister's house.

Bye for now,

Johanna

My beloved sister, well, one of them. :)

3 x Quick & Easy top

After making my gorgeous coat I felt like something easier and quicker and decided to try Miss Ps self-drafted kimono-sleeve top. I used her directions and made the top to fit me.

Last Friday I made this version in cotton lawn (I guess that's what it is, it's cotton anyway). I didn't have a lot of fabric and there was a big hole in the middle. Because of the hole, I had to arrange the pattern piece (yes, there's only ONE!) so that in the front the stripes are horizontal and in the back they are vertical. I'm totally OK with that, I even think it looks cool.

Here you can see the stripes NOT matching!

On Wednesday I was in town and got some cheap printed jersey to make more versions of this top. One turned out a little longer, more tunic-like.

I added black edges to the last one, to get a different look and it turned out really well.

I very much recommend this pattern if you want a quick and easy top. I adore kimono-sleeves, so this was perfect for me! I used my overlocker for most of the job, which made everything SO easy and fast. Love it!

Until next time,

Johanna

Giraffes and helicopters

I never did anything with those t-shirts for the kids yesterday. Today I've felt like s**t all day, tired, woozy, a bit nauseous, plus I hit my wrist really hard on a doorway... Not a good day...

Anyway, come evening, I felt a smidge of energy and sat down to finish the first t-shirt. It went really well, and when I came down with it, to try on, the other kid screamed for the other t-shirt. So I had no choice but to make that one too, which took about 45 minutes! (I had already traced and cut the pattern pieces.)

I must say that I'm not friends with the overlocker yet, but we're definately getting to know each other. Geez, you can sew fast with that thing....


I LOVE that helicopter fabric...

Some details..

OK, so feeling better about my day and myself now... Should have remembered that sewing makes me feel better whenever... :)

Bye for now,

Johanna

I MADE these! Myself! - An approach to stretchy knits

Yesterday in my post about my new wig, I mentioned that I was venturing into the scary world of sewing in stretchy knits. I had found an easy end cute pattern for a t-shirt in one of my crafts magazines, and had some striped knit in my stash, and after reading this great post by Lauren (Lladybird) with tips about sewing knits, I set out.

I know I should have, but I didn't pre-launder the fabric I used, I don't think it will shrink that much and besides it's really stretchy. It's in black and white stripes. I cut a size EU 46 and the only alteration to the pattern that I made was to lengthen it with an inch.

The instructions were simple and nothing was difficult, but I had to pin carefully because the edges curled otherwise. The instructions called for strips of fusible interfacing around the neckline, before hemming which made it very easy to get a nice, even neckline. I really recommend it. I used zig-zag to sew the pieces together and the twin needle for hemming the neckline, sleeves and bottom.

And here it is, my first me-made T-shirt ever: (Please excuse the lack of make-up on my face... :))

Click the pictures to see bigger pictures and details.

I was so happy with the result, even though I busted my twin needle in the middle of sewing the neckline (I never seem to learn to take out the pins and not just run them over when sewing). So, I just had to make another one straight away, so while I went to the fabric store to pick up a new twin needle I also bought some more knit fabric!

I made some changes for the second T-shirt. I changed the top half to a size EU 42 including the sleeves, which I also lengthened with half an inch.

I almost can't believe that I have MADE my own T-shirts! And they look great too. I'm really glad I dared to sew knits. Maybe I will make some T-shirts for the kids too....

On another note, only a little sewing-related, I bought a new pair of jeans today, since I couldn't be bothered to try to make my own. They are perfect! High waist, stretchy, narrrow legs, nice colour and great pockets that draw attention away from my hips!!!!! I really recommend the store Zizzi if you live in Sweden or anywhere else you might find it. They have clothes from size EU 42, so it's for bigger women, like me... The jeans cost a small fortune, but totally worth it! So I just have to show them off (with new T-shirt tucked in, and please excuse the lack of belt):

Anyone who have actually sewn jeans for themselves? Anyone who have tried, and maybe given up, like me? Does anyone have a favourite T-shirt pattern to recommend?

Well, I'm off to watch the next episode of Alcatraz.

Bye for now,

Johanna