Sewing Top 5: Goals

Last up in my sewcialist inspired posts - My sewing goals for the coming year. I've already written about the hits and misses, if you want to check those out and I have a post brewing all about the two main things I've been sewing this year.

During the summer months I sewed and created quite a bit, but as the night's have drawn in. I've been less productive. I've done a couple of refashions. but the light in my sewing room is poor and it's much better to work with natural daylight. This has put a hold on bigger projects and art work as I really need good light. I need to invest in a good daylight lamp for the room.

I have a few things that I'd like to try and challenge myself to next year, but not many specific plans in regards to patterns -As it stands these are my top 5 goals for 2021.

Underwired bra

I want to nail a well fitting underwire bra. I have the Cloth habit Watson Bra pretty much sorted now and I think it's time to get an underwire bra to fit well too. I'd like to try the Black Beauty Bra by Emeral Erin as it has some great reviews and I like the style. I'm also not adverse to drafting my own and I have the Bare Essentials Bra drafting course book to have a go at too. I love the challenge of drafting!

Swimwear

I bought a swimwear pattern back in the summer, but when our holiday was cancelled I decided to leave sewing it until next year. I've never made a swimsuit and would love to have a go. I have this pattern - If you've made it do let me know how you got on?

A quilt

Despite getting rid of a binbag full of scraps i still have loads of cotton offcuts that would be perfect for a quilt. My hubby would like a king size one for our bed and I think I'll get started on it - I might not finish it though, my last two took ages!!!!

The Kalle Shirt

I must be the only person in the sewing blogosphere to have not yet made this. This will be rectified this year - not sure if I'll make the shirt or dress version yet. The Kalle pattern is from Closet Core patterns

A Velvet Dress

Many years ago I bought a cotton stretch velvet dress on ebay. It's a Monsoon dress and is fit and flare, empire line and midi length. It's well past it's best and starting to develop holes, so I am on the look out for some suitable fabric to make a replacement. I'm sure it's form the 90's. I could buy another on etsy, which is where this image is from, but I think I'd rather make one. Mine is like this:-

Sewing top 5: Misses

 

Second post inspired by the Sewcialists sewing tops hashtag -  #sewingtop5. This one is the misses, those items that weren't quite right. Thankfully there have not been too many of these this year.

First up.

Gathered back tank

This was a free pattern and I tried it twice, it was just huge and gapey and I didn't like it.

 

Simplicity 8436

This is a Madalynne underwired bra. I love the design. I managed to get these to fit, but there is just something about it that is off. I made 3 versions. first up a cream lace version. I think my wires were too short here and they really dig into the chest wall. I think it's the poor qulaity channeling. I also had issues with the underarm edge. The second version I tried in a stretch woven and it was just horrific and went in the scrap pile. For verion 3 I tried a bigger wire size and invested in better underwire chanelling. It's better, but now I think I want to widen the back band as it's very narrow and not supportive.

 

Cleo Dungaree dress

There is nothing wrong with this. I'm just not going to wear it. I'm not sure the fabric choice is really me. It's modelled here by my daughter. I just don't find myself choosing this, which is a shame.

Faux Jumpsuit

This is a hit and a miss. I really thought I wanted a wrap style jumpsuit. I really loved this fabric. I made this in two pieces, both free patterns from peppermint magazine. I love the wide leg pants. I'm not 100% sure about the top, but it's quite nice, but together it's just way off!!!!

Denim Wrap skirt

I didn't lose anything with this one. It's ok, the fabric was a scrap I had in my stash and the pattern was one I recieved from a lady on Freecycle. Again, nothing wrong with it, but I think it needs a bit of tweaking to make it a really good option. I might make this again. I might wear it again, but again, I'm just not choosing to wear it.

So What are your misses for 2020? 

Next Up: goals for 2021

Sewing top 5 - Hits

Well it's certainly been an interesting year, but in search of some normality I decided to take part in the Sewcialists sewing top 5's of 2020 and today it's the hits!!!!

These are the sewing wins of 2020. Those Items that have recieved a lot of love or I feel have challenged my sewing skills in a good way, (Links will take you to the original post), so here goes...

First up

Hoodie Parka

This is a great pattern from The Assembly Line. It's an unlined coat, but I added a lining and despite not wearing it much when I first made it (thanks Lockdown) I have worn it almost daily since September and haven't yet swiched into true winterwear as this is perfect for work.

Solina Dress 

This is from the Breaking the Pattern book from Named clothing. I'd seen a few of these made up last year and loved the midi length and the slight fullness - not going complete wilder gown over here as I know it won't suit me, but this dress has been a firm favourite and worn weekly since it was made in the spring. It's been a great addition to my work wardrobe.

Lago Tank

This freebie from Itch to stitch patterns was a scrap buster and got a boat load of wear over the summer. I didn't expect it to be great, but I've loved wearing it - yes I know the back neckline puckers a bit, but it's been perfect for pairing with my tatty refashioned jean shorts and hanging around in the garden.

Layered Shirt

This was my first ambitious project of the year. I'd had this design pinned for ages and the instructions/ pattern layout are from Studio Faro. I drafted it using the Saraste shirt as a basic block and was incredibly happy that it turned out so well. I wore it until the weather cooled and sleeveless cotton tops are just a bit unseasonal - but I'm sure it will be worn next year.

Finally, my most recent make

Wool coat

I used proper tailoring techniques and really took my time with this. I really love it, but haven't had cause to wear it yet. Maybe when Covid restrictions ease it will get some wear. its way too good for tramping around in the rain and mud - which is all I seem to do at the moment!!!

What are your top 5 things of 2020?

Next Up: Sewing Misses - I'll be hard pressed to keep it to 5!!!!

Sewing top 5 of 2019 and plans

This year I have made 23 items. Quite a few have been reviews for Mineva crafts but there are some that I've made for others and many that I haven't blogged yet.

So here are my top 5 makes, the fails and my plans for 2020 (also includes a bit of crochet).

Top 5
1. Saraste shirt dress  - red floral cotton.
I had Breaking the Pattern from my mum last Christmas and the fabric was from my sister-in-law. Despite not being a floral sort of person I loved this print. I managed to squeeze a slightly shortened Saraste dress from the fabric and Imore have worn this one more than any other dress in my wardrobe.

2. Sugar Skull Saraste 
Same pattern, but this is the full-length version - no sleeves. The fabric is from Minerva. the buttons were from a local haberdashery.

3. Ginger Jeans - Closet Case Patterns
Again - fabric from Minerva, a lovely slub stretch denim. I wasn't too convinced when I first made these, but they have had more wear than any other trousers over the year.

4. Pink Lace Dress
This was a labour of love and time consuming to cut and make, despite being quite a simple design. I'd made this pattern years ago when I first started sewing - It was a free pattern on the old Burdastyle website and I'd adapted it to suit my style. The simple lines made it the perfect option for this heavy cotton lace. I was surprised how much I've worn this - I didn't expect to wear it as much as I have - but it looks fab and is easy to throw on - doesn't really look creased either!

5. Burdastyle Men's shirt
Over 2019 my hubby had lost some weight, which meant that for the first time I could use a standard pattern. I chose one from the Burdastyle Magazine - can't remember which one and initially I made him a short sleeve shirt from some light cotton lawn, but it was very light. So on his request, I made him a long sleeve version from cotton from The Sewing Machine Guy in Ashington. This shirt has had a lot of wear and I now need to make him some more.

5 Fails
Most of these aren't truly fails but don't get quite as much wear as they should. I don't like waste and will not throw stuff out unless it's a disaster - some things need alterations, some just need to be worn more.

1. Skull Top
I quite like this, but it has some issues. It's the Sade Blouse from Breaking the pattern. It's an easy top to make in regular fabric, but in the chiffon, it was challenging. The issues with this are - wrist ties - difficult to do up and get in the way - I need to replace them with elastic; the sleeve gapes - needs a catch stitch to fix and it's a bit short!

2. Faux stretch leather pinafore.
This was all kinds of wrong. the fabric was very light and very stretchy. Not suitable for the pattern at all. It was supposed to be dungarees but it just didn't work. One of the buttonholes went wrong and was too big for the button. My daughter still wears it, but I'm not impressed. Choose the right fabric for the pattern next time!

3. Assembly Line Hoodie Dress - summer version
I love this pattern. My cord version of this gets plenty of wear, but my summer version - not so much. I omitted the hood and the elastic hem. cut the sleeves short. The style is fine, the fabric is fine, but in this light chambray, it just feels a bit too much like a set of scrubs! It still gets worn though.

4. Tencel Shirtdress.
Nothing wrong with this that a bit of length wouldn't fix. The pattern is a hacked Burdastyle magazine pattern.

5. Sequin top.
I thought I would love this and get loads of wear over the holiday period. Nothing wrong with the top, apart from it being too short. I just felt uncomfortable. I haven't worn the skirt or trousers much either. The top was given away.

So What's next? I don't really do Make 9, but I do have a list of things I would like to make. Coming up are...

1. Burnside Bibs - almost done.

2. SOI pussy-bow blouse - cut out in some dragonfly fabric before I try it in my silk bamboo from Raystitch.

3. Burda 6856 Trousers. I was planning on making the pegged version but after a muslin, I realised that they were a bit too poofy for the fabric I had, so the wide-legged version it is. I might try the other version later.

4. Wedding Dress for Fliss - almost done - no pics yet.

5. The Assembly Line - Hoodie Coat
I had the pattern for Christmas, but might make a slightly shorter version and line it too.

6. A royal blue shirt dress - Hobbs style - something like this, but with a mandarin collar:-

7. Wool coat/ Jacket/ poncho - Fabric I had last year, still not decided on a pattern.

8. Upcycling - using up my scraps - probably some bag making and some reroll fashion in the style of ZWD.

9. Mending my Pink seamed dress - I managed to tear it at the CF hem, I also want to alter the neckline shape which I have bought some bias binding for as I don't have any fabric the correct colour in the stash.