suessewbyme

EditI had a llittle break from my sewing for a few days this week when I had to drive to collect my mother after she had spend some time with famnily. Distances in Australia are a fact of life we live in a country that  is larEditEditge and getting around it takes time. My Mother was staying some 600kms away in Walgett,  so I drove up to her on Friday , and back home Saturday. The drive is a good oppportunity to see the state of the the changing landscape 

The lovely mountain vistas , this is at Hartley about 1 .5 hours into the drive.

I decided to take photos on my trip just to record the  landscape this is a trip I do infrequenlty but its a trip into my past. 



The change was so striking the lovely rolling hills gave way to the barren dry Walgett  region. 

When I got onto the last piece of road to my destination I was horrified at the carnage I saw . Where kangaroos that had been hit by( I am assuming trucks) littered the road and then swarms of bugs sacrificed themselves on the front of my car. A big change from busy city driving . 

The time spent with people who have known me forever in a place that holds so many memories is one thing that feeds my soul . Sewing and creating is another. What are the things that are important for your creative process  ?

A long trip allows for lots of thought.Reflection is often  helpful I find ,and spending time with family is wonderful, and always enriching . The trip home was uneventful my mother was also astounded at the change in the landscape. The First thing I did when I got home was take the car to the car wash to rid of bugs.

I will post my next creation soon . 

Happy creating,

Sue 🙂

My husband and I on the weekend drove our son back to College in Melbourne as his University course started today. It is a 9 hour drive so I took a few pictures from the window (of the side mirror) in between my turns at driving and sketching and reading. I have always liked long drives and the opportunity for contemplation it gives me, I spend my driving time planning  the things I will do when time permits. Its a little like swimming I think although in the pool no one talks to you so there is a seamless quality to thoughts when I am swimming.

In between running around getting our son set up for another year in another state we went to dinner at a lovely restaurant in Carlton called ILVicolo. The food is fabulous I recommend it. Whilst there we met up again with a lovely young German designer Maria Decker you can see her website here. She is improving her English and studying business in Australia.

I managed to find the grey fabric I have been searching for while in Melbourne so I can now start my draft for the dress I hope to make. A few things to finish and hopefully I will have photos to show you in the next post.

Happy creating,

Sue 🙂

The weather here is still so warm its hard to think about the items needed for Autumn and Winter so I am still making up summer items to take advantage of the blue skies and balmy temperatures.

I am constantly looking at my stash trying to get some order and an accurate listing of what I have, but as well I also love to keep sewing as much as I can to bring my vision into reality.

I had been looking at my stash and the  patterns that I had and I decided to make up this lovely striped satin. I have had it for a while in my stash just waiting for the right design idea. I decided to use Burda Style pattern 6936.

I felt that this is a fairly forgiving style so I could get away without the muslin.

Grey stripe love this

The pattern is a very straightforward make, not terribly tricky . I really liked the use of bias tape to add interest on the wrap part of the dress. It is very easy to wear and looks good on. I made the longer version this time although I didn’t follow the pattern exactly so that I could have the effect I wanted I had to make some changes and I did my usual adjustments for my lack of height.

The Back View

The Front view when worn.

I don’t have any pictures of myself in this yet but I just love it. The fabric was one of those purchases that (I am sure I am not alone in this) I just had to buy. It is in the colors I love, it is soft and hangs really well. I discovered because of my changes to the pattern after I had finished it that the lower inside seam could be seen when it is tied. So I  used grey bias tape and encased the seam on both sides for a more attractive result.

Closeup of seam detail.

This was a great pattern to make , so much so my mother wants to come over and sew one with me for herself. It is really nice to wear as well, I have cut it out to make it in a few other different fabrics one sheer with a under slip dress. I will post that when it is done.

Happy Sewing ,

Sue

Hi ,

A few days ago I saw on Rhondas blog a pattern that I just found encapsulated exactly the look I wanted for a dress I need to make for one of two black tie events I have coming up. I had bought some gorgeous grey chiffon and have been searching for the perfect pattern .

I know that is not the way I should approach my sewing. The pattern should come first, but the fabric is the inspiration a lot of the time for me . I fall in love with the color, texture drape or some other element and I have to have it.

Then I need to find the perfect design and hope that I have enough fabric to make it. This I think adds a little more to the excitement and the challenge if you are a little short to be a  more creative . The process of developing a loved piece of fabric into a garment that will fill a void in the wardrobe or just add to what is there is so enjoyable, and incredibly satisfying.

I am at present attempting to imagine the pattern for this design and draft it myself we shall see if it works. This silver chiffon is not my only evening option but it is the one I am most excited by. I have a few other creations to share with you but my photographer cannot take pictures until later today so I will post again soon.

Happy Creating,

Sue 🙂

I was inspired to again  to self draft a garment recently. My sister in law had arrived for our family Christmas gathering in a lovely dress that she declared I could easily make.I had a really good look at her dress , and I agreed with her assessment and sketched the details of the dress. Firstly I looked at the patterns I own and picked the one I felt I could modify successfully.

The lucky winner was New look 6119 that I had previously made in the short style early in 2014. The fabric I used before is in the picture. It is a really beautiful suede silk. My plan in this instance was to make a muslin.

New look pattern 6119

The first step was to draft up a pattern.

Then to find fabric for the muslin. I had bought a bolt of lining fabric from Tessutis fabrics in Surry Hills, Sydney a while ago . It is a gorgeuos chocolate color with a slightly different colour on the wrong side.

I found some great synthetic fabric that looks like  leather type armadillo print at spotlight so I brought enough to make a skirt and it also seemed the ideal neckband fabric for the dress.
The neckband made up well and complimented the dress so well that I decided this would be a wearable muslin.
I used press studs for the collar fastening.

The dress turned out well and I am very happy with it. It is another really comfortable addition to my wardrobe. I don’t know if you can tell but I used the wrong side of the fabric for the back and over panel at the front and used the right side for the under front . In reality the difference is not stark but it is interesting , I like to add quirky interest when I can.

.

Front view

Movement of front panel.

Back view

After wearing this I realised that I need to modify the pattern . The original dress has a straighter skirt and a split at the inner side seam between the under front and back pieces for movement. My muslin has a wider skirt like the pattern I drafted it from . I will take away some of the flare in the skirt make the elastic a little more snug in the back and make it next time with an actual leather collar piece and the split. This  is a great dress to wear it moves well and feels delicious .

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂