One More Addiction

This next creation is taken out of BWoF 2009-01. It’s a simple top, I think, however the sleeves makes it interesting. It wasn’t very hard to do, which was good, since I’m using these simple tops to get comfortable working with jersey and knits.

I used simple white cotton jersey, interfacing and threads. That’s it. It was quick to cut and sew, once the pattern was cut it took me 2 hours.

OK, I’m starting with the creation I did today, a star t-shirt. I combined to patterns from Burda WoF 01/09 namely this top and this top; the bodice from the first and the sleeves from the second. I have made both of those tops, so today’s adventure was a quickie.

The fabric is a navy (very dark navy) jersey with white stars (further details here). It was a simple top to put together, just side seams, shoulder seams, interfacing and then the sleeves. Although I did mess up with the interfacing, putting it in the wrong direction so it got stuck to the iron in stead of the fabric. And there was an incident when I threaded the machine wrong, but nothing serious. And still I finished the t-shirt in one day and I didn’t even work very hard.

Enough talk, here’s the pictures!

aka. “what happens when you’re not paying attention”.

My top is finally done! Again. After assembling one sleeve upside down I’ve now taken it out and put it back, the right way this time. I hate ripping seams and I hate it even more in fine jerseys, when the seam is overlocked. Ah, an evening spent with my seam ripper.

I plan on wearing the top tomorrow so I will photograph it on then, in the mean time enjoy this sneak peak. Or see the stupidity that was me!

What happens when you're not paying attention

…and I’m stupid.

You won’t get a picture of my new mock wrap top today. I put it on this morning to wear it today and noticed that it was bulky in the let armpit. Turns out I’ve put in the sleeve upside down. SIGH!

I hate using the seam ripper. It’s bad enough that I’ve made mistakes that mean I must use it, now the mistake is in an overlocked seam in jersey, which is even harder. I’m so tired with myself for making these mistakes.

All I can do is go back, and do over. The sleeve in the right position this time.

My top is really making a slow progress. Yesterday I decided to take some time to sew, so I finished the neckline (no casulties regarding needles). Then I was going to baste the part where the gathers go. True to form (my form, that is) I used the baste function on the sewing machine. The thread went crazy and a bit into the sewing the fabric just clogged the machine.

I realised that I had the wrong thread tension so obviously I corrected that (the problem of having an automatic sewing machine that adjust certain things on its own, but not everything). Then it got even worse! The bobbin thread was totally mucked up (so I didn’t see it and glady started pulling the threads – they snapped immediately). OK, that the machine doesn’t do it right when I don’t do what it tells me to. But when I do exactly as I tell it, then it should follow my lead. Maybe there was something else I overlooked.

Anyway, after ripping seams more than putting them together, my motivation failed me. It didn’t feel constructive anymore and I didn’t feel like going on a trouble-shooting hunt. At least I finished the neckline on my novelty vest, hopefully I can figure out my machine and get further today. Fingers crossed! (Don’t know what they’re crossed for, that I shall begin thinking?)

Thought I’d do something different today, although this post has been on my mind for a while – today seemed like a good day. My day in pictures:

The one good thing about waking up before six

Getting up early isn’t always great, but at least I can enjoy beautiful sunrises (until it’s just dark in the morning).

Nice to look at but darn jealousy of the people there

The view from my office. There’s a park right across the road and it’s nice to just sit and watch it. And be jealous of the people in the park while I’m stuck in my office.

Just the pain, no good deed for me

There was a blood drive at work today and since I’m a blood donor I thought I’d go. But my veins were in hiding today, they thought they’d found one, but not. After it began to hurt when they were looking, we called off the search. They didn’t even bother trying with my right arm. Good thing I chose charity (Children’s Cancer Foundation) as my reward today, it would have felt stupid to recieve a gift certificate or a t-shirt for just a thought. In these cases it’s not just the thought that matters.

Totally girly; stockings and makeup.

Some after work shopping. Three pairs of stockings, eyeshadow and two lip glosses. I was also browsing through clothes since I need clothes, but I didn’t find anything. Good thing because I realised that I need to do a warderobe inventory and identify my needs first.

Once I get going, I want to do everything at once

I can’t do just one thing. On my computer I’m downloading OpenOffice, talking to my Mum on MSN and checking blogs. With my other hand hand I’m setting up the sewing machine to get started on my fall collection, the wrap top. Sewing went well until my one and only twin needle broke.

My therapy; this book holds my most inner thoughts

I love writing. I have this blog, two penpals and my journal which I update daily. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But I need to write.

Well, this day 090909 in pictures. Maybe I’ll do this again sometime, but I want to do it when there’s something ’special’, not just an ordinary day in the office. I hope that anyone who might read this enjoyed it.

It’s raining. It’s windy. This is definitely one of fall’s first days. They (as in meteorlogists) say it will be summer weather next weekend, but for now it’s fall. So how does one spend this day, this first fall day?

Cutting fabrics

Yes I use the floor. No table big enough in this household (and those tables would not be comfortable working on)

This is the last piece (excluding the facing, which isn’t a big piece) I’m cutting, and there’s plenty of fabric left. But not enough to make something else. Why do they over-estimate the fabric so much? I now have all this fabric and nothing to use it for.

Shoe shopping

I guess it's impossible to buy just one pair of shoes, right?

For weekdays I live in sneakers. The ones I currently use broke and I needed to buy new ones. I like the white ones, but white doesn’t seem very practtical for fall so I chose the black ones, a bit more sturdy sneaker than I’m used to. However, the whites were really cheap so I bought them as well, they will rest in my closet until spring (or next weekend should “they” be right). I notice now, as I preview the post, that the picture is not the best, but believe me, the black ones are sneakers as well. Very shiny sneakers, and they go a bit higher than normal, which I liked since that makes them more autmn-y.

Listening to music

Guns ‘n Roses was my music choice du jour, the Greatest hits album which we got as a house warming gift in January.

Tonight we’re attending a drink party at the friend of a friend. I might only do virgin drinks though, I haven’t decided. Since the weather is not very nice I’m not in the mood for a late night walk and having to fit bus schedule so I might drive. And then I must do virgin drinks. I’m thinking I will, hoping that people don’t get too drunk so it’s a pain being sober.

What will tomorrow bring? I’m hoping to start sewing my top (didn’t feel like breaking out the machine today), I will vacuum, if the weather’s not too bad I might go for a run. I like weekends!

While reading other people’s blogs about style and fashion, I usually end up cursing myself. Why haven’t cared before? Why can’t I find the lovely pieces?

Well, it’s not like I haven’t cared, it’s just that I haven’t had a style. I have just bought separates that look good invidually without thinking of “outfits”. I need to start bringing my warderobe together. Another thing is, I do care what others think. I wish I didn’t. I don’t want to feel to over-dressed. Therefore I have usually ended up wearing one piece that is eye-cathing while I’ve left the other neutral, for example a nice blouse with regular pants or a nice skirt with just a plain T-shirt.

I want to define me more. The problem is I don’t know what is me. My style changes with season, maybe I’m not the only one doing this, but I want my warderobe to feel more cohesive.

Anyway, with all of this in mind yesterday, I set out for the fabric store. Realising I wanted a bit more “rocker” inspired than “hippie” inspired, my purchases went that way. I’m not saying that I’m going to dress totally rocker, I still work in the corporate world, but I wish to draw elements from there and make them my own and appropriate.

Plaid and leather:

I was thinking of a plaid skirt with and assymetric waistline, but instead decided to do the plaid as a wrap skirt. I bought the faux leather intended to be belts on the wrap skirt, but I’m having a bit of doubts; I might make into a regular belt in stead, I need belts.

Soft sand knit:

This will be a cardigan, I think I might do Esther (and then I need a belt!). It’s really soft and cozy, so I’m sure this will be a very comfortable cardigan and hopefully still stylish.

Purple poplin:

This will be a Maddy top, which I will wear as a pullover. I wished to find a skirt fabric to match, the A-line assymetric waistband skirt, but I couldn’t find any at this time.

Star jersey:

This is definitely rocker influenced. The label says it’s navy, but it’s a very dark navy which almost looks black. This will be a regular t-shirt. This will be perfect top to spice up an outfit and I already see it under my sand cardigan, even for work.

I’m also thinking of doing some DIY accessories, but so far that’s just an idea. It would also be fun to do DIY Christmas gift (I picked up the Christmas catalogue at the fabric yesterday, that’s why my mind went there), but I’ll see how it goes. So many ideas this fall, I’m going to be busy.

OK, I really wanted to add pictures of how I imagine my garments. But I suck at sketching. I can draw a picture for myself to remind myself of the look I want, but there’s no way I’m sharing. Not for fear of theft of my designs (which aren’t that unique, anyway) but I am that bad at drawing. It won’t help any more than the text descriptions. You are just going to have to wait and hopefully see.

Anyway yesterday I drafted the wrap skirt pattern, but I don’t have any fabric for it so it will have to wait. I also drew the mock wrap top from the pattern sheet, I have a fabric for that, so it’ll probably be my first project.

This is the jersey I will use for the wrap top. Hopefully it’ll work well with the pattern. It might be more winter than fall, but I have the fabric so I can get started.

I’ve had this Pucci-esque fabric for a very long time. I bought back when I just began sewing and knew nothing about fabrics. It’s a curtain fabric, but my stupid self thought I could use it for clothes. I haven’t found proper use of since, I’ve thought of selling it, but it seemed like more work than gain.

Anyway, I have now figured out what to do with it. I’m going to make an apron for myself. I haven’t really decided on the style, I’m checking out tutorials on the net. I, obviously, have an apron which, to be honest, is quite ugly. It would be fun to have a more personalised, flattering apron. So that’ll be a project too, also not necessarily season bound.

Last year I didn’t have a proper fall collection since I was moving. This year I’m filled with inspiration, I drafted my first pattern today even though I don’t have a fabric for that garment yet. What I have on my wish list so far:

Wrap Skirt
This skirt is actually inspired by a skirt I had in my early teens. I still think it would work. A wrap skirt in an autumn-fabric (I haven’t been to a fabric store yet). The closure will be leather/fake leather belts, two or three, connecting the under- and overlaps. I think I will have a zipper in the back to make the skirt easier to get in and out of. Knee-length. This was the pattern I drafted today, actually.

Plaid Skirt
Since I’m not good at pattern-making (the above mentioned skirt was made using my pattern drafting book) this can be challenge, or not. I want an A-line skirt in plaid with an assymetric yoke around the waist. I will check the internet for pattern or tutorial, but it doesn’t seem like a hard skirt to draft.

Mock Wrap Top
I liked this pattern in BWoF 1/2009 and I have a fabric for it as well. However, I was not in the mood of making a fall/winter garment this spring so I have saved it for now. Since I have both the fabric and the pattern it might just be my first project.

Cardigan/Cape
I’m seeing a cape-like cardigan before me. I will close it with a belt. I have the Esther pattern at home so I might do that in a lightweight knit.

Fitted vest
I did the Franzi vest last year, but I was not pleased with much about it. I had chosen a fabric I didn’t really care for and my execution was off. The fit was not good in the end. I do want to give the pattern, and myself, a new chance at making this into a fitted vest.

Pullover Top
Once upon a time I made the Celeste dress. As with Franzi the fit was off. I’m going to give this pattern a new chance as well, but making it into a pullover top (which would be the Maddy).

Seeing this list, and reminding myself that I would go for a romantic/modern hippie look, well, I think I was off then. I think I like everyday/casual rocker better. I’m not going to dress like a rocker, obviously, but I think I like those elements better. It’s so hard when you want different styles for different seasons. Let’s see how long I can stick with the rocker element style.

That’s what I have on my wish list so far for my fall collection. Stay tuned for fabric shopping, execution and, hopefully, final creations!

Today is the last day of vacation, meaning starting Monday, no matter the weather, I know we are going towards fall. I don’t really mind fall, just the rain. I do like cozying up inside with a warm drink, a good book, a project. Also I do like fall fashion. The deep, rich colours, the layering, I’m kind of looking forward to it.

The problem though, is that I don’t know how I want to look this fall. I’m not particularly happy with my current fall warderobe and I don’t know what I want. I’m a bit happy with myself, with the clothes I found for summer. They were not that many, but in a way I felt they were cohesive and represented one style. This opposed to previous years when I’ve bought several pieces that looked great individually but I could not make “outfits”. I still have problems with that, but I’m getting there. Another “problem” I have is that my friends and family don’t care too much about fashion and I always end up feeling overdressed.

The two style icons I like are Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. They always look so nice and I want to try and mimic that. Now with the weather getting colder I hope I will be more inspired to make clothes. Too bad about the clothes I’ve already cut, but hopefully my size won’t change too much because summer will come again. I’m looking at different free patterns right now, finding some interesting clothes, but it’s also about finding the perfect fabric to go with each piece. I would like to try different things for my daily warderobe I hope I can get there.

Fall thinking begins today. I might even pop into a fabric store just to get the ball rolling.