line up

line up

28 Jan 2014

Sticking to my new year's resolutions

Bonjour tout le monde !

As you know, I have vowed to create more current pieces. I felt that the clothes I was making, were a bit old looking, and this is not how I picture myself. So here we go, here is my take on a very current trend in fashion: leather!

new shirt and pants made by me.
My inspiration came from the series "Under the Dome". One of the characters had a nice wardrobe and this shirt struck me as being at the same time elegant and sexy (maybe because of the cleavage:-)).


The shirt has no visible darts and two patched pockets.  Soooo, I tried to make a pattern with no bust dart.

Yes, I roll my eyes! Let me tell you this: it was a nightmare. I don't drape, I create my pattern directly on paper, and the method I know to avoid having a bust dart was not working here, and as I don't know how else to do, I struggled quite a lot to find a way to make it work. Here is the technical drawing of the shirt:

And because a first draft can always be a bit, how can I say it? Challenging. Of course I made a rooky mistake: I didn't measure my side seams and guess what happened? Yep, the front was longer than the back :-(


But you can't see it don't you? Haha, I might not be right each time, but a few years of sewing and a fabulous wool fabric saved me. Did I tell you I realized my error when everything was already cut and partially sewn?

This is how I hid my forgetfulness:
 

First I had a fabulous fabric, bought in Rennes at TOTO soldes, back in November. It's a light wool, a bit sheer, soft, and really warm to wear in winter.

I gathered the front and attached it to the back, then sewed without making any folds. And then, I used my iron to flatten the gathers, and it worked. But I think it's only because the fabric was wool. As we say in French: "ça rentre". Meaning it takes the form that you want. Thank you marvellous fabric!


I decided to cut the collar in only one piece. As it is fake leather it holds on itself fine, Afterwards, I thought I could have done the same for the button hole plackets and the wrist band. But maybe because of the buttons it's better to have two layers.

I don't know why but I wanted to have pockets, but not patched pockets. So this is what I did.

 
I thought that maybe the pockets would show through the fabric, but no, so good for me. I don't think I should put something inside though!
wrist band
I have decided that I should have more shirts. But not like this one, I didn't keep the pattern, because of the problem with the side seams. I will make a basic pattern ( with bust darts!) that I can reuse over and over. A working lady never has enough shirt in my opinion :-)


In conclusion, I really want to make the most of this last months of freedom to built a collection of basic pattern who will be easy to reuse when I'll be back to work. Pants are also on the list. I already have a pattern for my bathing suits (I know, indispensable for work!), I finally have the sleeve ( also a nightmare, must have weird arms), underwear, shorts, Chanel vest. That's not too bad. Now I just have to focus on my goal!
I wonder if other people also built a collection of basic patterns?

à plus tard!

15 Jan 2014

New year, new beginnings

Bonjour tout le monde!

Last November when I went back to France, I did a tour of my favourite shops to gather some ideas.
One thing I noticed, and liked, was strass. Yes, strass on clothes!
So I bought some back home, and finally made a DRESS!!!




I bought the strasses (?) at La Droguerie, it was really fun to make. I have already washed the dress and they hold perfectly. 
I love this shop, you can find there everything you need to make jewels, ribbons, buttons, you name it, this shop is a dream. I MISS YOU!


Here is an image of the pattern I made:


The dress was intended for the holidays, to have something pretty and warm to wear.


As you can notice the shape is pretty loose in the front, I have two darts in the back because I don't like to look like I'm wearing a bag.


I thought it could be also a good garment for when I go back to work. I tried to balance the large shape by making it a short dress.

I added two pockets on the front, I love having pockets in my dresses.


The fabric is a nice wool, purple... I know, again purple. I suppose I got a little obsessed by this colour this winter. The dress is lined except for the arms.


The dress looks really good when I move, yes, yes, trust me!


I thought that the zipper would make the dress look more current. It is this year's goal, I am trying to be more on the trend. Not because I want to be trendy. But because I happen to like this year trends. It's also nice to have some guideline to my creativity.

Oh, another great advantage to this kind of shape: you can eat and eat and no one will see it! It's the perfect Holidays dress. I can tell you that I didn't deprive myself from cake. And no one could tell!! Yeah!!


Still tying to make up for all I have made lately and had no time to blogg about. What a life :-)

A bientôt.

4 Jan 2014

2013: busy or lazy?

Happy new year everyone!

I thought it would be funny to make a final round-up of 2013. I have never counted the number of clothes I make in a year, and I really like reading about other people achievements. So here we go ! 
Have I been super productive or lazy in 2013 ?


11 garment for Winter, mostly tops, only 1 dress and 1 skirt (I added some I didn't have time to blogg about).
The hat is your favourite of all of my post, maybe because I gave the pattern to make it. You doesn't love free patterns?
As I am not currently working I find myself in need of very few garments. And also last winter was really cold here so dresses were not really needed.


Oh yay!!! Summer! I miss you dear warm sun.
12 garments. Hum, knowing that summer only lasted 2 months, I should revise my plans for this year, and sew more for winter.
But there is a bias here: summer clothes are faster to make, no sleeves, no long stitches. And funnier shapes. I am guilty, I really prefer sewing clothes for summer, what can I do?
I made two bathing suits that fit properly and were worn almost every day. 


For the first time I made underwear and I really enjoyed it. I am still tweaking the pattern for the bottom, but the last tangas I made were OK.
I have not made a lot of bra, but I plan on making a dress with a nice bra top. 
And of course my trusted camies. They are really useful, if I had some silk on hand I would totally make some out of it! So chic!

Most worn piece: 
I said when I made them, that white shorts were a basic in my summer wardrobe and it was true. Those are made of stretchy fabric and don't have any sort of closure. 

Most controversial:
This ensemble is really funny and eye catching! I am thinking of making the key hole a bit bigger. And yes, I did wear it in front of people.

Summer colours:


White is THE base of my summer wardrobe, always. I use more and more fabrics with flowers but still no geometric prints.









 Winter colours:





It seems that purple is the dominant colour here. It's funny, I kind of noticed it already, because, well I wear the clothes I make! But now it seems a bit silly. I should try something new no?
A total of 30 pieces, not counting the ones I made for my friend's babies and my niece and nephew (mostly because I forgot to take pictures:-)), and those I forgot about!

Looking back on what I made is a fun exercise. 
I didn't make an excessive amount of garments, but I don't really need that much clothes. I need a purpose to make clothes: for the beach, cycling, for work, for gardening, weddings... But what can you make when you don't do this things anymore? I would almost miss work, almost.

I didn't have a really busy year, and yes I have been a little lazy. I bought some fabric to make my husband clothes, but did nothing with it, hihi.  
Being away from a decent fabric store, forced me to change my creative process in a way I don't like, so, that's an excuse.

But hey, I still appreciate my stash! I had also the good idea to stack notions witch made my sewing life easier. 


In conclusion I think that what I enjoyed doing the most  this year, is the bathing suits. I had so much fun doing them and wearing them, I will certainly make some more this year, because guess what? I have what I need in my stash!!


A bientôt.