Print gore skirt done

The print version of the Loes Hinse gore skirt is finished. This is just the sort of fabric which is lovely for this pattern. I made the 6 gore version without the godets and its great, swishy and full at the hem so i can stride about whilst still looking ladylike, but slim over the hips - a great style.

Another SWAP extra, but goes with so many existing items in my wardrobe I don't regret it for a minute.

Culotte pants/Gauchos/Cropped pants are completed

The culottes are finished. I have no idea the proper term for them these days, culottes, gauchos, cropped pants. Either way they are done.
They are hemmed so when worn they are 33 inches long, the same length as my best skirts.

Having made them though they either seem quite fashion forward (and I'm not sure I am really) or quite dated (like I enjoyed wearing culottes in the 80's and I'm so glad they are back in again).

Whilst its cooler I shall wear them with knee high leather boots and a sweater, and when it warms up with sandals and a tee instead.

They are however a SWAP extra, and so I haven't really moved forward in that side of things.

Under the window in the sewing area I have a small chest with cushions on top (for a feline friend to lounge on) where I keep the SWAP projects not yet started. I removed a some fabrics which were part 2 or otherwise not suitable, but left myself a couple of options as to which tops I am going to sew. I also had a bit of a tidy up of patterns etc so the general sewing area is looking more useable.

Extras added and priorities

The extras which I have already sewn are now at the bottom of the pics.

I got a bit bogged down not sure what to sew next, so I used one of my indecision breaking tactics and pretend I am giving someone else advice.
And my advice to my sewing self, to finish off the zip and waistfacing treatment on the two nearly finished garments, cut out and sew up the print loes hinse 6 gore skirt (without godets) and then move on to knit tops. Maybe some more pics later today.

The jacket options

Morzel asked 'Will you show photos of the jackets (at least the fabric, maybe together with these fabrics here) you are con- sidering ?! '

Here's the RTW jacket with the funny curved lapel and the partly made jacket.
the RTW jacket would need the collar altering and new non glitzy buttons, the UFO jacket needs completing.
Either would be fine with all the other SWAP pieces.

Necklace pic for Cameron

This is a closup picture of the necklace I am wearing in the earlier picture for Cameron.
On the pendant the outer stones are marbled grey and the inner flower marbled teal with a tiny sparkling gem right in the middle. All totally fake of course and only £5 GBP from Hancock and Wood in Warrington.
I think the detailing is a little too intricate for me but I was won over by the size of the pendant (just over 2 inches across) and the colcours.
The doubled chain and chunky beads also give it heft.
Click on the picture itself to see it in even more detail.

Pic for Audrey

As requested by Audrey here is me wearing the gored skirt with the wrap blouse.

Blouse skirt outfit pic coming

I have pressed the print wrap blouse and the gored skirt ready to wear tomorrow.
I will take a picture of the outfit and post it here for you all to see.
As my SWAP jacket is not ready I pulled out a greeny grey RTW jacket I bought on sale and never had anything to wear with it.

Teal culottes

I've been slowed down by another patch of illness (a sore throat bug thingy) and sewing progress is slow. Its probably not helping the SWAP that I am doing yet another SWAP related bottom (teal culottes) even though I have already sewn all my SWAP bottoms. I find it terribly difficult to keep focussed on the official plan. Especially when I want the item and the right colour serger thread is already threaded on LOL I HATE changing serger thread
My knit top experince is close to nil so maybe I am subconciously putting this part of the SWAP off.
I guess I just lack the discipline to stick so rigidly to a plan I first thought of in December.

The culottes are the cropped version of New Look 6054 which I used for the pants in the SWAP.
I have a jacket quandary as well, I have two options
Option 1: This is to complete the dark teal wool jacket I started several years ago. Its a burda pattern, princess seam with V neck and no collar, 2 piece sleeves. This would then be my 'previously made' piece since I at least started it prior to the SWAP
Option 2: I also have a RTW medium teal wool blazer. I don't wear it because it has a very wierd shaped lapel, an alteration to the lapels and a chnage of buttons and this could be the jacket, and be the 'purchased' item.

Per Una Skirts

I posted about the first of these Per Una skirts on artisans square.com but wanted to show you some more I saw when I visited the store today.


The second in yellow green and cream is very springlike and only uses 3 fabrics.



The one all in pink would be easy to recreate, just machine dye a whole lot of cotton fabrics with white backgrounds with a strong colour of your choice.


The brown one has strips of crochet trim as well as uneven width panels.


I didn't bother trying any of them on as RTW bottoms almost never fit me, which is why I sew more bottoms than tops. But the inspiration is free!

Butterick 6768 review

Pattern Description:
Butterick Decription:
MISSES' TOP
Semi-fitted, wrap top has collar/sleeve/length variations, tie ends and narrow hem. A,B: tucks, side slits. B: above-elbow sleeves. A,C: collar, long sleeves. D: below-elbow sleeves. A,C,D: button cuffs. Purchased bottom.
My description
Wrap blouse with sleeve, collar and wrap options
Pattern Sizing:
(6 8 10) (12 14 16) (18 20 22)
I had the 12 to 16 and used the 16 which was quite snug, I probably needed the next size.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Reasonably given how much I deviated!
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions show the different options side by side which is useful if you have chosen a different combination from one of their views but is a little hard to follow if you are doing one view.
I did not like their back neck method for the collared blouses and repalced it with a clean serged seam.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love wrap over styles. I have a rectangular upper body with wide shoulder, smallish bust and a bit of a tummy.Wrap tops can be really flattering for this shape as the wrappy bits hide the tum, the crossover makes the most of the bust and the diagonal lines add more curves than are there.
Fabric Used:
A high quality print polyester blouse/dress fabric. I don't usually go for polyester but the print is lovely and the fabric has a lovely mottled finish with a sheen.
It was tough to iron on the interfacing though and quite a challenge to press. I also used twice as many pins as usual when sewing it as the lower layer crept a lot and the edges went to one side. The upside of this is I won't ever look crumpled and I think it will turn out to be very hardwearing.
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
I chose a combination of elements which is not on any of the views and this caused me some trouble!
I wanted the collar, 3/4 length sleeves, longer wrapped front and the wide ties. It took me a long time to find a working pattern layout on the fabric as I was not following any of their views. And then when sewing I reapplied the wide tie 3+ times to the front as I had to work out my own pleating and placing instructions. I also found the longer tie is not long enough with the other views fronts as they are not as wide (maybe this was worse as it was a snug fit). The longer tie which wraps all around the back therefore became the buckle strap instead and I then threaded the shorter tie through the buckle. This give a flattering look which I am happy about.
I found the non buckle side of the wrap gaped slightly so I added a couple of hidden tucks and shortened the facing accordingly. The other side was less critical as you can pull any excess into the buckle to get a snug fit.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Even the slightly longer version is shorter than I would like, so I will sew it again but I will lengthen the body. I think wrap over blouses work on lots of bodyshapes amd give a nice feminine look. There are no buttons and no zips just the tie so could be good for a beginner wanting a slightly more complex project.
Conclusion
This is part of my Timmel 2007 SWAP and also co-ordinates with loads of other stuff in my wardrobe. I plan to make a simple matching skirt so I can also have a dress look as well woo hoo.

Wrap blouse completed

The print wrap blouse using Butterick 6768 is complete.
I have modified this quite a lot but I am pleased with the outcome.

Sidetrack again

Complete sidetrack today as I bought 5 New Look patterns (they are on sale at £2.95 each at the moment in the UK) from the Widnes Sewing Centre, plus 2 metres of print stretch knit in turquoise/green/brown/gold which might well work with my SWAP.
And onto Borders at Speke where I got the current Burda Magazine (they had Threads and Sew Today as well but I wasn't thrilled by them).
The patterns Dress 6674, Skirts/Pants/Culottes 6626, Top and Skirt 6546, Dress 6429 and Skirt 6177.

Starting sewing the wrap blouse

I have cut out the wrap front leaf print blouse and started sewing it up.
I found I still have 4 metres left. This print tones with so many plain things already in my wardrobe it is really surprising.

I am wondering what the best use would be for the rest of this fabric, I'm thinking a fairly simple skirt (to wear with the blouse to give a dress look), then maybe culottes or a shell top and a scarf. I'm avoiding a dress as I have not got a woven dress which I like only 2 knit ones.

Are print culottes which look like a skirt 'in' or just plain ones in pants fabrics?

no progress

This pic is of the print fabric (right side) taken yesterday.
No progress today as I stayed late at work, watched TV with DH and went to the supermarket (what exciting lives we sewists lead).
Tomorrow I am babysitting and then going on to my church mid week group, so next time of progress will be Thursday when I hope to finish cutting out the blouse.

Wrap blouse cutting out

I have started cutting out the wrap blouse. Just to make life difficult I've decided I want to have:-

• the longer bodyshape
• the 3/4 sleeves with cuff (may morph the cuff to be a split no button cuff)
• the collar
• the wide ties ( double layer, not single layer as theirs)

this is a combination of several views which will make construction more difficult.
I have run out of time for tonight, but got DH to confirm which he thinks is the right side, so tomorrow I can cut out the fronts in single layer.

I have more than 5 metres of this fabric it turns out so more than enough for this blouse the gore skirt and maybe even a scarf or shell top.

P.S. The photo several posts down therefore turns out to be of the wrong side of the print fabric.

print skirt????

I have enough bottoms now for the SWAP, but bottoms are very hard to me to buy (unlike tops/jackets) so I may make some extra.
The large leaf print (see previous post) should have enough fabric for both a blouse and a skirt.
The fabric co-ordinates with 4 jackets I own so a skirt is worth doing even if not as part of the SWAP. They are dark green, dark bluey grey, chocolate brown RTW jackets and also the teal SWAP jacket. The dark green and dark bluey grey jackets are 'orphans' in need of co-ordinating bottoms so definitely a big plus to sew this skirt.

For beginners who want to do a SWAP taking a RTW jacket (tailored or casual) and making the other items to work with it might be a good approach.

I also have an orphan dark navy blue jacket and could not work out what to wear with it at all.
A rummage through one of my fabric boxes turned up three fabrics which could be made to co-ordinate, a herringbone weave (saying slouchy pants), a navy and blue print (maybe the gore skirt?) and a navy/cream/turquoise/blue print which would need to be sewn in a simple style skirt (and maybe blouse) the last two being distinctly summer weight projects.

Butterick 6768 is next

Butterick 6768 is next and I am thinking about using the longer blouse with the wider ties, and maybe having 3/4 sleeves without a cuff.
Cuffs bug me. I catch them on door handles and dip them in food/paint/ink and the buttoms ping off across the room never to be seen again.
Yes 3/4 sleeves will be safest!
This is the print I am using for the blouse.

Teal Loes Hinse 6 gore skirt finished.

Teal Loes Hinse 6 gore skirt finished.
This view is looser than I would like as well, so I think I will definitely sew thw next size down the next time I make it

6 gore skirt - cut out

The Loes Hinse 6 gore skirt with 6 godets is now cut out. This is from the new dark teal fabric I bought. This one is slightly variegated between black and teal to give the dark teal colour and will co-ordinate nicely with the rest of the SWAP. A lot of folding of the fabric and cutting out later I have 6 panels and 6 gores.
I hope that in this drapey fabric and the more shaped 6 gore pattern this will be more flattering than the dark brown 4 gore cotton skirt I made earlier.

teal pants complete

The teal pants are now finished, though could do with a final press.
They are from my old favourite pattern, New Look 6054 View C, wide leg pants with faced waist and side zip.

I had intended the leftover fabric for the Loes Hinse Gore Skirt but there was not enough, so instead I cut out the cropped pants (View D) as well, which I shall wear as culottes/gauchos as they are so wide. Great with knee high boots in winter or with backless sandals in summer.

I already have loads of teal based tops in my wardrobe so these dark teal bottoms should get plenty of wear.