Wardrobe Architect challenge

my next focus

my next focus

wardrobe-architect-2015

I am undertaking to follow the wardrobe architect challenge from Coletterie.

My plan is to be more proactive in my wardrobe choices and hopefully use this year to give my wardrobe more of an cohesive feel. I am sure I am not alone in allowing my wardrobe to just expand without plan. I find when I make something it is really difficult for me to toss it if I no longer use it . Invariably I add past creations to the reuse bin as I have purchased the fabrics because I love something about them and cannot just discard them.

I need help to organize it so this challenge will enable me to do that .

Happy Sewing ,

Sue

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Self Drafted inspiration

My drawing of the pattern

My drawing of the pattern

I have made  my interpretation of a dress that  my sister in law owns.

I had taken it up for her and drafted up a version for myself.

My initial sketch with design details is pictured here.

I will set the scene.

My husband and I took a mini vacation by the beach early in the new year and since it was to be short I agreed to leave my sewing machine at home. After a lovely time eating and reading we encountered a few days of rain so I had to engage in some retail therapy and as I am on a Ready To Wear Fast a fabric store was my goal. I ended up in Spotlight and luckily of course they were having a great sale so I found some lovely stretch among other things to add to my collection .I also picked up some thread to leave at our holiday unit.

dress fabric I found the sketch I had made of my sister-inlaws dress in the sketch book I had bought away with me. While admiring my fabric and being somewhat obsessed with making things from fabric. I thought I would have a go by hand with a needle and thread while on holiday, sad I know, but I had to do something the fabric was calling to me.

Do you ever have that absolute need to do something with fabric even when the practical side of you or the person with you (in this case my husband)tells you that really you should wait till you are with your machine. The result was wearable but I wasn’t happy with the look not smooth enough and for me the drape didn’t seem to give the effect I wanted. So when I got home I sewed it up on the machine and changed the armhole position to the folded side making it  more flattering I think.
elasticneck edge front Cath dress

Front view one shoulder dress

Front view one shoulder dress

I love the feel of this dress its great for summer.
Happy Sewing
Sue 😉

back view Cath dress

Back View

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A Draped Shift Take 1

I was inspired by a pattern puzzle on the Studiofaro facebook page and have made a draped shift dress following the instructions on the studiofaro website. http://studiofaro-wellsuited.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/pattern-puzzle-drape-shift.html.

selfdrafted shift dress

selfdrafted shift dress

The instructions on the website led me to creating this pattern. I decided to sew it in a stretch jersey with a plan for a wearable muslin as the finished garment.closeup of drape dress notes patternThese are some of the of the notes made on the pattern .

the fabricThis is the fabric I have used for the dress an animal print with a a lovely vivid blue accent. I have used a satin bias tape on the neck and the sleeve edges to finish it off.

I didn’t get the result that I hoped for but was very happy with what I got. This is a very comfortable garment, and I love wearing it.

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂

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Reversible fun

reversiblereversible.1 contrastThe Blue fabrics

Red reversible Print

From my stash

From my stash

The Red Fabrics

I found this pattern in 2014 and had been searching for the right combination of fabrics.

The Red linen was a fabric that I had in my stash for quite a while waiting for the right garment. The print was also in the stash waiting for the perfect design. This pattern seemed the answer , except the print was a little short so I needed to look for a complimentary color for the border strip on my shopping expedition . While searching I found the additional fabrics and wanted another border fabric as I thought it would add impact.

This is a great pattern to make, it was easy and for the blue combination I added cotton voile between the layers so that the fabric prints were not visible through the other side. The red combination is very dressy on the red side I feel and very casual on the print these will be great dresses for travel.

Happy Sewing

Sue 🙂

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A challenge of Checks

In October 2014 ,I won a pattern from Graca , one of the RTW Fasters 2014 on her blog SewEssentiallySew. It is a great pattern .

IMG_1696

I have some beautiful silk to make it in Silk fabric with contrast for pockets but I had decided to make a muslin in fabric from my stash to see how it fits before I cut the silk.

The vest is made in a check polyester fabric and I think that this fabric doesn’t really have the right weight for the vest . I do like wearing it it is cool and very comfortable . I am however starting on the silk so will post when it is finished.

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂

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Colors of life

I felt in order to better plan this year I would start with a palette of my most used and loved colors those that make me feel good and I think work for me.

I found the how to instructions on http;//crafting-a-rainbow.tumblr.com/post/61163429028/create-your-personal-colour-palette

I made up my most used colors into a palette.

I made up my most used colors into a palette.

It is a great way to crystallize my creative direction and also ensure that I don’t give into the allure of prints in colors that don’t work for me.

Happy Creating,

Sue 🙂

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RTW 2015

The 2015 fast has started and I am excited by the challenge . Last year was my first and I was quietly terrified that I may not be up to the task . I surprised myself, I loved the freedom of not having to settle for what I could buy. To be able to choose the quality look and feel of my garments fabric and make it as I wanted to fit me is incredibly freeing. I rediscovered my love of creative sewing and it is quite possibly my favourite addiction.

Happy sewing,
Sue

😉NEW-2015-badge

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Happy New Year

As I settle into the new year I have decided to continue with the RTW fast. I am excited to see all the creations of those that are continuing from last year with me and the new contributors. It is so wonderfully inspiring. As I made this decision I decided this year before rushing headlong into it I will org

anise my work room a little better and I wanted to share the wonderful covers that my Mother made for my overlocker and sewing machine .

They are treasured and truly protect my machines beautifully.

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A challenge in White

A White Occasion

A White Occasion

My husband and I recently took part in the Sydney Dinner EnBlanc, it was a fun night but the dress requirements were that we wear white.

As this was our first and I don’t own anything that worked, I wanted to make something from my fabric stash if I could. The white fabric I found was a randomly pleated white polyester that I had bought to make an evening gown many years before. I was inspired by the many posts from Studiofaro using draping so I wanted to add cowl neck details.

Using my standard shift pattern I removed the darts and added an insert of chiffon for the cowl neck. The first fitting showed me that I should have made allowances for the stretch in the pleating as it was quite big. I had to reduce the sides so that it looked less like a sack. It is something that I will now definitely remember.

As this is a fairly loose shaped dress the cowl can be worn at the front or back. I like versatility in my designs and clothes that I wear.

I love that if I can change the way I wear an item it gives me  more occasions to use it.

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂

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Summer Fun

The accent fabric, beautiful colours

The accent fabric, beautiful colours

Lovely quilting /patchwork cotton fabric.

Lovely quilting /patchwork cotton fabric.

.image of style

A Lovely use for patchwork fabric.
I found this wonderful patchwork fabric on a recent visit to Spotlight. The cotton quilting fabric I have used had a wonderful complimentary fabric that I have used as accents in the shoulder and at the waist for the belt.IMG_2294

I used this Cyntia Rowley pattern making the illustrated sleeveless style.This dress has side pockets so is very comfortable and can be casual or dressy as the occasion demands.
It is a really easy dress to wear.
The fabric is completely lined in cotton voile so it wears really well and it is cool and comfortable
I used the voile as pattern pieces for the dress . It was really good to sew and I was really pleased with the neck edge and the finished dress.
I overlocked the seams

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