Simple is sometimes more sexy than complicated. Hello gorgeous pencil skirt simplicity in the form of Charlotte, from By Hand London.

Charlotte By Hand London Pattern Envelope

I think stitchers can be guilty of overwhelming ourselves with delicious pleats, tucks, darts, bias cut stripes and more – me included! Coco Chanel is quoted as having once said “before you leave the house take one thing off.” Without the time to trawl the internet for the exact quote, I like the essence of the thought. I’m not saying rip off your blouse by any means, although you might have some followers that works for (who knows!). There is a lot of value in taking a moment to simplify a little, whether it’s accessories, clothing details – or even life.

I have been TRYING to exist on a pattern & fabric diet due to the upcoming London trip in April/May (two months away today!). This has been semi-successful (there have been some major slip-ups but I’m vastly improved on 2012). I had a moment of weakness in January and when I saw Oonaballoona’s fabulous Elisalex, I weakened. Oh, it just looked like FUN! I went to Sew Squirrel to order ASAP. It was OUTTA STOCK. Ah, saved by self-indulgence of other stitchers! Bless you Aussie stitchers. Then I got a DM on Twitter from the By Hand London girls asking if I would like to try their patterns. Yes Ma’am. So here she is – Charlotte.

Charlotte By Hand London package

OMG this is the CUTEST packaging I’ve seen. It comes in an envelope – with this gorgeous little peek-a-boo print on the back of the envelope when you pull the sleeve out. The booklet is cute as a button…

AND you get this label.

By Hand London label

OK enough squeeing and let’s get back to the very serious business of sewing – cos it’s v.serious as we all know. No fun at all… ever… (OK I’ll let you squee just once more…. done yet?).

Do I like it? Yes. Do I love it? Yes.

Oh isn’t there like a million of pencil skirts out there Lizzy?

Well, yes there is. Some of them have tucks, pleats and all manner of wonderous frippery. I have several patterns in my stash and have not got around the making them up, they looked like a lot of work for a pencil skirt silhouette. I saw this and felt inspired.

I just love the simplicity. So simple yet it manages to pack a visual punch. I like the longer pegged length, the eight long shaping darts and I love love love the high high waist. Some have cut it shorter but the length appeals to me. I feel mighty fine. And in some cases sexy as hell. Yes it’s possible to feel this way without hanging my legs out for public viewing.

I’ll admit when Charlotte first popped onto the bloggin’ scene I was like ‘meh it’s a pencil skirt’, then I saw Rachel and Lladybird rockin’ the pencil skirt and I realised that hey Lizzy! Pencil skirts are actually one of your most beloved and worn wardrobe items – maybe you should make one. Durr.

I was once a huge tomboy, it was unusual to see me out of trouser/fitted shirts or jeans(I’m still addicted to jeans, I feel a million bucks in them). Over time I guess my confidence and self-acceptance has grown. I look the way I do and I’m OK with that. Along the road to physical self-acceptance (I think my personality is set in concrete, I fight it to no avail) I learnt to not take clothes too seriously (fabric yes, clothes no), to experiment and have some fun. I discovered dresses where not just ‘special occasion’ items, skirts were kinda cute and even accessories had a place in my life!

It was interesting that my eldest daughter – who is turning 10 next Monday… how did that happen – and she is just under my chin! She’s making me older and shorter every day she is alive!… anyway I digress. She asked me why the Charlotte skirt made me look so much taller than I really was. So we had a discussion about clothing styles, visual wardrobe tricks and more. She’s actually a really snappy little dresser. She’s got a sweet fey boho style which is perfectly appropriate for her age. I have no interest in her growing up too quickly but there is a place for a bit of sage advice. I often wish someone had taught me to master my curly hair…

Charlotte the First – my muslin. Not too shabby for a ‘chinese tablecloth’. No hemming this is an experiment and not wearable. It’s back in the sewing room being re-worked into another vision! The Sewaholic Alma doesn’t ‘go’ but it’s just what I was wearing while sewing!

This is my muslin because I was a little nervous about the fit – needlessly. This fabric is a random shiny upholstery jacquard. No give whatsoever. The Ever-Lovin’ Husband (ELH) commented that while the skirt was nice… but I looked like I was wearing a Chinese tablecloth. Hmmmm! I didn’t put a walking slit in the back and I was walking like a little hobbled but shapely lady! Skirts without walking slits are akin to crippling me. I’m rather famed for my short stature which doesn’t seem to match my stride or walking pace – be warned London ladies – I travel at high speed!

Here is Charlotte The Second (with walking slit) – aka Racy Lacy (I can hear you laughing Boris)

Charlotte The Second: By Hand London

Love.

It kinda looks fancy. It’s just a bonded lace I picked up at Spotlight in a 40% off sale. I really liked the black/black version (much more conservative) but it had no stretch. This base fabric is stretch and perfect for a Charlotte experiment.

The lace was bonded slightly off kilter which made pattern matching the seams tricky. They are not perfect but they are OK. I still need to pull the waistband in a little. The fit is a little roomier than my muslin, I think due to the stretch in this fabric… something to keep in mind for next time. I think I will baste the side seams next time and nip them in as required before committing to ‘serious’ stitches.

Charlotte the Second – the junk trunk (I know it’s not a ladylike expression but it’s stuck with me ever since my Thurlow post…)

I decided to have a little fun with the hem. This stuff doesn’t fray so rather than doing a straight hem I trimmed around the lace motifs. This decision meant the skirt was either going to be long or around knee-length. I like the contrast of long and lacy – a little bit sexy and a little bit conservative.

Charlotte The Second – the hem. Please excuse the blue toenails I always forget I’ve let the kids paint my nails and suddenly remember on Monday morning as I walk out of the door to work…

I didn’t line it. I’m saving that ‘fancy stuff’ for my emerald-green wool crepe. Oh I can’t wait to sew it up! An op/charity shop purchase at $2 for 1.5m of New Zealand Merino Wool Crepe. To Grandma wherever you are – I love you for stashing it. Yes I’m still punching the air with glee… oh and I have the loveliest lace blouse to go with it…

Elisalex… I’m so curious to try this pattern, I’m just waiting on some fabric… I have a vision…

Note: I would love Charlotte even if I had paid for it. In fact I would be stoked I had purchased it. I’m not inclined to make something over and over but this one makes me feel that way. Easy, lovely fit, flattering. Love. Love. Love. Thank you By Hand London for asking me to have a try!

I’ve kinda been in love with the Charlotte version with the quirky hem frill in the floral. *sigh* I think we are meant to be… don’t think I’m a waist peplum girl. I’m old enough to remember it – so I’m not going back there… I’m leaving that for the youngsters…

Charlotte Floral – so cute! Image: By Hand London

Pattern: Charlotte, By Hand London. Available in Australia from Sew Squirrel (where I go to indulge – so much more fun than chocolate). Or the UK types can get it direct from By Hand London.
Top: Grace Hill from Ezibuy (years ago, rarely worn cos it’s too racy and low-cut for demure me)
Shoes: Jane Debster (on sale a few years ago cos I’m a cheapskate who resents full price)

I enjoyed this project so much I’m feeling inspired to run a little sewalong/blog swopfest called “Pick My Pattern.”

What you talkin’ about Lizzy?

Well, here’s the story, Anne from Pretty Grievances sent me this pattern a little while ago. She thought it would look nice on me (clearly getting me into animal print wasn’t enough to satisfy her!). Apart from being the sweetest thing to do, it was lovely to have someone throw a dress into the virtual sewing change room to try!

from my personal stylist – the woman who got me into animal print!

Funnily enough I had looked at this pattern many times and not teetered over the brink with my online cart to purchase it. I suspect slightly more frivolous choices might have won the day… what me buy pretty dress patterns? Never! OK, only every other month…

This whole experience reminds me of going shopping with my friends, or rather when I used to go shopping with my friends! We would all troop into a shop, try on clothes – often trying on clothes that others suggested for us. And sometimes that’s when you find the best clothes of all – the things that you don’t think are you… but your friends know they are…

PICK MY PATTERN CONCEPT

I think maybe a bit later in the year (there are soooo many sewalongs on at present my head is spinning!) and after my trip to London  (did I mention I’m going to London soon LOL), it might be a fun activity. People nominate, I conduct a random draw aka Kris Kringle style and people pick a pattern for another person. One pattern is relatively cheap to mail internationally… compared to fabric anyway!

MY DRESS

I have not got around to hemming this Pick my Pattern creation yet but here are some pictures to share.

My Little Red Dress: front view

Next time around I think I will lift the neckline a little, as when I put this on I keep doing this…

My Little Red Dress – gape!

I think I need a cut the back a size smaller. It feels a little roomy across my back but fits reasonably well across the bust, waist and hips. I made this in a crepe-type fabric, it’s fairly bulky and I think this has caused issues under the arms, the seam is quite thick and heavy. The sleeves are double thickness – and this fabric is reasonably heavy – making for three fabric thicknesses in the armhole seam. That’s a whole lotta fabric to contend with.

My Little Red Dress: back view

I love love love the skirt pleats – how cute are they! I think next time I might make the sleeveless version in black. I think this is the most work-friendly pattern I’ve made up and I think black would be very practical. I made the very stupid mistake of inserting a slightly smaller zip than suggested (hey it was in the stash – I can hear you tsk tsking Winnie). It’s a bit of a wiggle to get off. Worse I made the mistake of trying it on one morning just after I got after the shower and it was VERY humid. The lining stuck to my skin (I had not catchstitched it down at the waistline, I know I know, more gross stupidity) and the lining tore along the zip as I pulled it off. Stupid weather!

Despite the fititng mishaps (hey not everything is going to be a winner first time! Plus the fabric was on sale so no tears there) I think this pattern is a great shape. I love the shape and the style. I have this tiny sneaking suspicion that the swayback poses of the model have something to do with the neckline of the dress being so low and how the shoulder pleats cause the sides of the neckline to gape a little. It could just be a SewBusyLizzy body flaw… I think having the back slightly more narrow and the neckline a tiny bit higher would alleviate this gaping problem. Then again I checked out the McCalls website and the models have similar fitting issues. I think the depth of the neckline needs to be raised. I don’t think this is a modesty thing. I honestly think the depth & shoulder pleats create an issue together.

I did really like the instructions with this pattern. They are very clear and better still they have quite a good outline of how to tissue fit the pattern.

So thanks Anne for picking my pattern. I think I will be making this one again – always a good sign that it’s a winner!

SEWBUSYLIZZY NEWS UPDATE

I feel like I haven’t had any time to myself lately – which is kinda true. I’ve managed to squeeze in the odd 15 minutes here and there (when you are fitting it in around dinner, bathtime, dressing for work and more it is very frustrating and exhausting) and made a muslin of a vintage dress pattern… out of a doona/duvet cover… and it’s actually not that bad! More on that soon…

Oh and I also made a gorgeous shirtdress… well I like it!

WHATCHA THINK?

And what to you think of the Pick My Pattern concept? Hot or Not? Would you be interested in participating?

I’m no supermodel but I can sew!

Vogue 8028 mash-up – and the Shabby Apple inspiration dress

The hemline doesn’t look even but it is – it was just BLOWING A GALE! More on that later…

I fell madly in love with this dress when I spotted it on LLadybird’s blog for a Shabby Apple promo months ago. Unfortunately when Shabby Apple do promotions via blogs they are only ever for USA residents so I needed to make this myself.Then along came the RTW Challenge on Pattern Review and I could think of no better excuse to make it.

I had grand visions of my blog photo for this dress. Alas, the Blogs Gods were not smiling upon me. In my little corner of the world it has been raining forever (not really but it feels like it!) and we are recovering from one of our biggest floods in decades. I’ve had to ‘make do’.

I’m SoSadLizzy as I really really really wanted to win this competition. First prize $200 Mood Fabrics voucher, second prize $100 Mood Fabrics voucher. My lust is insatiable – before this was announced I had been drooling over my dream Anise fabric. Alas our river is in full flood, our jetties surrounded by flood debris, our glorious beaches are trashed and the rain continues to fall. Boo. Sob. Howl. Life can be so unjust!! If that’s the worst I’ll ever suffer in a flood I can live with that.

Many of the entries so far are fancy – and I respect that and no doubt they will smash me in the voting stakes, lace and couture stuff is sexy. That’s OK, I love this dress, I will wear it alot and I’ve been dying to make it for months. I’d rather make a dress that I love and wear often than a statement piece that I wear once. Oh dear I’ve become so practical…

I think my dress is similiar in spirit but (ahem) better than Shabby Apple’s. When I really really looked at the Overboard dress, I really didn’t like the collar – it had no band, it wasn’t notched. The button placket makes my eyeballs cranky as the pattern matching is poor. I also didn’t like how the skirt pleats created a visual mess at the waistline. My alterations addressed this, don’t we always gloat that made-by-me is better, so why slavishly copy an original? Improve it!

I used the top of Vogue 8028 (this is out of print, I got it on ebay for about $5). This pattern is a full shirt dress, buttons to the hem – Overboard is not, it’s a shirtmaker dress – buttons just to the waist with a zip under the arm. This Vogue pattern also does not include a pleated skirt. In the end I just used the top pattern pieces.

I changed the construction order to suit my alterations. I made up the front and back as instructed and attached them at the shoulders. I inserted the sleeves flat. I did not sew up the sides at this point. First I created pleated skirt panels. Pleating gingham is super easy – you just use the checks as a guideline. I pleated so the navy gingham check forms a visual waistband – the pleats point inwards. I then attached skirt panels to the tops. Without the sash my dress looks like this at the waistline…

Vogue 8028 mash-up – waistline

I then inserted an invisible zipper under one arm (which broke the first time I tried on the dress! Growl!). I sewed up the sides and hemmed the dress. Yes, it really was that easy!

I only made the top button a ‘real’ buttonhole. Shirtmaker dresses are great if buttonholes and buttons scare you. I sewed the buttonholes through all layers of the fabric – with the exception of the top buttonhole so I can leave it open & casual. The buttonholes secure the front, there is less chance of the buttons pulling and gaping. I simply sew the buttons over the top of the buttonhole, noone can tell and the dress front sits nice and flat. You escape the dress via an invisible zip under your arm!

I made the sash from scrap red lawn I had. Buttons were $2.99 at Lincraft.

I think my check matching was reasonable, not perfect but better than Shabby Apple by a long shot.

So in a few days I will probably be back, begging, crying, pleading for your vote on Pattern Review… I’m totally cool if you are not a fan or you prefer the other entries (I may cry for weeks but sewing therapy will get me through – and there are a stack of other things on Shabby Apple I want to make up). You can only vote if you are a Pattern Review Member for at least the last 3 months. I like Pattern Review and use it a lot, it is a good solid resource to check any potential pattern purchases against – it’s the first place I check out. (Note to self: get over there in the next two days and load up your review, images and entry – stop talking about it and start typing!)

What makes me most proud is that I modified pattern significantly – I never imagined I could achieve this sort of customised result when I started blogging last April.

THE 15 POUND AUSSIE

In January I was contacted by Will of Abakhan Fabric via Twitter, he asked if I would like to be part of a budget bloggers’ project. Invited bloggers can select goods to the value of 15 pounds from their website once a month and make anything they choose. I pointed out that I lived in Australia but Will said that was OK. I have quite a lot of UK readers/followers so it made sense to me – and what a fun challenge!

This is great project for me, I’m a budget stitcher. The majority of my makes come from the bargain table, yes I’m picky and they are often beautiful voiles and lawn, but I freak out at paying a fortune for anything. Must be my ancestral Scottish blood (or the Welsh or English bits of me – or it could just be the cheeky cheapskate Aussie) can be blamed (or credited) for this!

Ten Pound Poms is Aussie slang to describe the British who migrated to Australia after the Second World War under an assisted passage scheme run by the Australian Government. Adults could migrate for 10 pounds sterling and children for free. So I’ve called myself the 15 Pound Aussie. Any of these Abakhan Fabric projects I’m going to tag as 15 Pound Aussie on my blog. Keep an eye out for them and if you are in the UK especially, don’t underestimate their range, it took me DAYS to choose! When I’ve over in the UK in 1 month and 17 days (not counting, really I’m not) I shall be buying up their bias binding range!

I made this dress from fabric sent to me by Abakan Fabrics in the UK.

This is my first project from this blogging challenge. An enormously wearable dress which used less than 2 metres of fabric at the princely sum of £3.35 pounds a metre, so £7.70 for the fabric plus $3 Aussie for the buttons. The RTW dress is currently on sale for $US 86. Bargain I say.

15 Pound Aussie win. Thanks Abakhan Fabrics!

Images credits: Shabby Apple and Sewbusylizzy.

I tend to talk and write a lot. What can I say I talk, I type and words just come out!

So I’m attempting to rattle on less tonight, it’s getting late and I need to sleep otherwise I end up SewCrankyLizzy.

PATTERN REVIEW RTW

Voting is now open on the Pattern Review website for the RTW competition. I’m quite sure that there are a few entries there that are going to smash my humble little gingham shirtdress but I’ve decided that if by some miracle I do win the $200 Mood voucher, I’m going to buy something (in addition to my dream Anise fabric) to giveaway on my blog. I figure you all want something from Mood Fabrics just as much as me – so part of being happy is about sharing it around You are all so generous and kind to me, I would like to give a little back in the form of Mood fabulousness if possible. I guess that would be interpreted as an enticement but it’s not intended that way. A lot of what I have achieved has been inspired by your kind words and encouragement, you are all as much a part of my sewing as me. Maybe I should have wait til after the competition. Ah, I prefer to be upfront and just say things like they are. It’s just something I want to do & it’s not an afterthought Read more about this project here.

My Shabby Apple RTW inspired dress – I love it with my dark red belt, patent red slingbacks. I have worn this A LOT. Making it a sewing win regardless of Pattern Review competition outcome.

VINTAGE DRESS

I’ve also made up a vintage pattern – see if you can pick which one…. Thank you SuzyBeeSews! The bodice of this is very much like the Peony but it fits without alteration. I made this from an old doona cover from a charity shop – I as nervous about the fit but it fitted perfectly. The skirt is a little too gathered for the dress, I just used all the leftover fabric once I cut out the fabric. I didn’t have enough doona cover for the flared skirt in the original. I love this bodice. I want to make the dress again – sleeveless version.

Vintage McCalls. That’s one of my beloved pieces of furniture, a early 1900s settee, from my childhood bedroom.

DISTRACTED

I’ve been distracted by Sewalongs. I can’t help myself. I have almost finished my New Look 6000 for Scruffy Badger’s Polka Dot NL 6000 sewalong. It’s more splodge-a-dot but I like it. I love this pattern. I confess I had been put off it because the envelope was so thick LOL. The neckline on this is not playing nice, it looks smashing but the facing does not want to stay put – damn you drapey fabric… although the pleats look lovely… I want to make it in a ponti fabric for work. Love this pattern.

New Look 6000

Despite having the perfect pattern for the Sew for Victory Sewalong…

Sew for Victory. An original 1044 pattern.

YEAR OF THE JACKET RESUMES

I’ve decided that my London trip is too close and I would like to attempt to make a jacket to take. Hmmmm, I know ambitious….

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

I also got this raspberry stretch lace and would love this little cardigan from the latest Burda magazine. Don’t you think it would look fabulous with a black Charlotte skirt and a skinny belt…

Burda 03/2013 lacy cardigan

Focus Lizzie. Focus!

Oh and my Tessuti competition fabric arrived…

Tessuti package – how awesome is that packaging!!

Am I suffering from maker’ s bias (unintentional pun!) or is this totally twee AND squee at the same time? This is the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress.

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress

I made this for Aislinn, my one & only niece (I have four nephews). The fact it’s so cute will hopefully make up for the fact her baptism was last weekend. Oops.

This is a downloadable pattern – I believe it is no longer in print. That’s a shame as it’s a lovely age-appropriate (ie not old-fashioned daggy) dress for little girls. This is a size 12 months-18 months. Tiny! The pattern is sized 6-12 months to 3 years and you can also download it as age 4-8. My daughters both want shirtdresses now, fortunately I won a magazine from The Perfect Nose and I have a shirtdress in the queue from that.

Unfortunately I could not find a shop that would print the large format sheet on the weekend (it provides a tiled pattern as well as a large format pattern sheet) so I tiled the pages myself. The logic of the PDF layout of Oliver + S is outstanding and putting them together was a breeze.

This itty bitty little shirtmaker dress has a Peter Pan style collar and a button placket. I had never constructed a placket before but the instructions are very clear and it was easy. Fiddly but easy.

The one thing that threw me was the 1/2 inch seam allowance – instead of 5/8 seam allowance. I chanted it to myself every time I went to the machine LOL.

I stuck to the pattern with just a few little SewBusy touches…

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress sleeve tab

• I used press studs rather than buttons on the placket. They seemed more practical and less swallowable than buttons.
• I attached little white flower buttons on the contrast sleeve tabs and pocket flaps (with some little bits of green contrast stitching)
• Added a little lace trim to the hem, cos a gal can’t be over-trimmed.

Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress pocket

And the finishing touch? My own little label – courtesy of ELH, the Ever Lovin’ Husband. It seemed appropriate to use the first one on his god-daughter/niece’s dress.

SewBusyLizzy Label – the slip stitching is a bit messy – I was excited at this point!

It’s actually our 13th wedding anniversary tomorrow.

One of my friends once said I should blog my wedding dress. I didn’t make it but she said it’s so lovely I should share it with you. It’s fairly simple in style. What do you think? It still fits

Pattern Review RTW Competition
The RTW Pattern Review competition voting is about to close. I’m pretty confident that I’m not going to win in fact I think one of my blog followers will! when I saw her dress I thought ‘yup that’s the winner!‘. That’s cool. I realised when I decided to make the dress that it wasn’t the ‘showstopper’ ‘prize winner’ type, it’s too ‘everyday’ however I wanted to create an everyday dress that I would adore wearing and that’s exactly what I did. I continue to wear my gingham 15 pound Aussie shirtdress a lot and it always receives high compliments, in fact my hairdresser complimented me. I mentioned I had made it and she laughed “I was just thinking… I should get some fabric I think I could make that“. It really is the best knock-off yet – people want to knock-off my knock-off! LOL

And back @ SewBusy Headquarters…
I’m thread-tracing my jacket pattern. Yes, it’s time-consuming and intense… but it’s relaxing & fun… yes, I’m not kidding! I don’t joke about sewing. This is serious stuff.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

Jump Rope Dress details
Pattern from here.
Fabric: Japanese lawn from Spotlight (Australia).

I really need to get started on my Tessuti fabric challenge.

I’m ‘almost’ settled on this fabric becoming a jacket – and I will make a skirt to pair with it.

I can’t imagine wearing this as a suit – that said, I think I Heart Fabric’s Tessuti outfit is fabulous – yup I never make any sense. I am shorter than average (yes really – there seems to be a wonderful blog mythconception out there that I am much taller than I really am, that’s OK people let’s stick with that). I tend not to wear too much pattern, particularly darker ones, as I think it visually shortens me – when you have an excessively tall husband you think about these things!

My original plan had been to make up a dress with a bolero. A Simplicity 2444 dress style and a figure hugging bolero using the reverse side of the fabric for trim around the neckline etc.  However after much fabric patting and excessive amounts of umming and ahhing, I just don’t think it’s ‘me’. I just can’t comfortably wear that amount of ‘matchy matchy’.

I think it’s going to be a casual jacket with a skirt with trim, I’m not participating in sewing challenges or competitions unless I can do them the SewBusyLizzy way, I’m interested in makign things which are ‘me’, a reflection of my style, taste and lifestyle. Anything else feels like a sellout.

I’ve narrowed it down my jacket choices to four. Yesterday it was two, the indecision is killing me!!

The contenders

Burda Style 7401

I’ve had a crush on this pattern ever since Handmade by Carolyn made it for her daughter – I love the slouchy style of it. I can imagine wearing it and loving it – with a short skirt or coloured skinny jeans. I’m just worried the fabric is a bit ‘busy’ for it, then again sometimes those visual conflicts work a treat. Love the soft flippy peplum. Would make the long sleeve version.

McCalls 6611

I’ve made this before and really love the jacket. I like the peplum and the cropped style.

Burda Style 7495

Clearly I’m developing a peplum obsession (and excuse me that chick looks like she wielding a riding crop – so stern!). I’m small and I like the shape peplums create, a bit of curvy illusion is good for a skinny wench. I like both the short-sleeved and long-sleeved version. Worried it’s a bit mother-of-the-bride in a so much pattern, not creating it as a suit.

Crossover blazer – Burda Style

Just love this one. Would have to buy it online and tiled it all together… and no seam allowances make things more complicated again…

I’m interested in your thoughts, I think ELH is sick of hearing about it…

I often find hearing people’s thoughts help me clarify my own. And quite frankly having mental conversations with myself has been going on for weeks, I’m getting quite sick of the little person in my head prattling on endlessly! Let’s shut her up.

Have you seen Karen’s (Did You Make That) fabulous Minoru in the Tessuti challenge? That girl can sew!

IN OTHER SEWBUSY NEWS

I’ve started this jacket. Looking nice… so far… I’m up to the fringing. I wish Burda Style had more patterns starting at 32 or 34. So many of them start at 36.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

So I searched the Burda site again and found this jacket which could be contender No.5.

Stop looking Lizzy and sew something!!! SOMEBODY STOP ME.

Yes, this is all I have to show you today! My scrap pile!

I’m staggered towards the end of my Tessuti project. There was much umming and ahhing along the way but all shall be revealed soon.

Thank you to fabulous readers – all your comments were enormously helpful. In particular thank you to Trish who has been become an excellent email consultant/sewing buddy, we have had lots of emails as I dragged myself through the creative process and having someone to bounce an idea off has been fun.

I find people’s creative processes really interesting. I thought I might write up a post on how I get/drag/inspire myself from A to B when I sew. I’m sure we all have different ways of thinking and doing things.

I feel like I’ve been neglecting the blog – this project is just taking up all of my spare time. It’s amazing how much I miss the comments and writing to you. My sewing IRL is a very individual pursuit, no-one really to talk to and throw ideas around with. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the London meet-up on April 20 (Wow that’s come around fast!!). It’s funny that I haven’t met an Aussie sewing blogger but I am about to meet a huge bunch of UK gals! A huge thank you to Rachel of House of Pinheiro who has been organising the meet-up. Thank you gorgeous girl!

The gorgeous Rachel of House of Pinheiro (IRL I probably only come up to her kneecap)

In the meantime I need to get some sleep and try to finish Stage 1 Project Tessuti tomorrow. This is a fierce competition - there are some fabulous entries – check out the peplum jacket!!

I’ll have some photos soon of Project Tessuti, I promise! Were you the kid that tried to peek under the wrapping paper of your Christmas presents? LOL I was!

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I did this a couple of months ago… but just in case you missed it…

Hello it’s me – world’s most boring sewing blogger (at least at the moment, Tessuti Gridlock has me in a headlock).

I am STILL working on the never-ending project. I WILL (must) finish soon (I pray). I have nothing of interest to show off today, however all is not lost! You can check out my Desert Island Sewing post over on the ever-delightful Winnie of Scruffy Badger… who I will meet in IRL very very soon!

Desert Island Sewing with Scruffy Badger (aka Winnie)

My epic Tessuti Gridlock project continues. I swear it’s not that epic or amazing but it is taking ages… I don’t know why… I wish I did know… I just want it to be over… (sob)

Tessuti teaser

Ah, I need a holiday… hang on… I seem to recall I am jetting off somewhere soon… London? Paris? Madrid?

This project has been an endurance sport. I feel like that little athlete from an unknown country who staggers into the Olympic stadium about 3 hours after the winner of the marathon has crossed the line. A little nobody with no energy but simply determined to finish.

GRIDLOCK POP

The original post from Tessuti was to “design an outfit incorporating this fabric. Make it up however you like but make it just for you! Our brief is simply to create something stylish and appropriate as day wear.” That later seemed to morph into ‘garment’ but I had this ‘outfit’ concept stuck in my head.

I spent ages looking at this fabric. It sat next to me on the lounge some nights and I draped it over myself quite a bit. I learnt about the fabric, how it draped and felt against my skin. This fabric is hot to wear – it’s 21% cotton, 77% poly and 2% polyurethane – there is no way I would make this to wear as a ‘daywear’ dress in my climate. I would ‘glisten’ terribly at any time of the year (that’s sweat in ladylike terms). It’s ‘breathing’ properties are limited. It’s a great jacket fabric though.

I chose my trusty Fashion Star jacket in the end. Like everyone I loved the Burda Crossover Blazer and Burda 7491 came in a close second (I even traced Burda 7491 and purchased the Crossover Blazer pattern). Those jackets are lovely but I don’t think Gridlock would have done them justice. Thank you Trish & Felicity for their advice.

The fabric had arrived wrapped in an old McCalls pattern – it seemed like fate.

The colour, while being a very beautiful blue, looked dead against the cream background. It needed a ‘pick-me-up’ so I decided a burst of colour was required.

My first choice was dusty pink but when I visited the fabric store this cerise cotton linen leapt from the pile of bolts, saying ‘Whattaboutme?’. It made the Gridlock POP so I found some matching lining and away I went.

Tessuti Gridlock – POP

I think the temptation with this competition is to clad yourself from head to toe in Gridlock. I decided to create a statement piece (the jacket) and a dress is to complement the statement piece. They complement each other without being ‘matchy-matchy’. The items can be worn by themselves or together as an ‘outfit’. I wore the jacket today with my jeans for a TV interview!

That was the EASY PART.

THE JACKET – MCCALLS 6611

The optional extras that I inflicted on myself:-

• Continuous bias binding
• Made-by-me piping
• Topstitching. Not just the jacket shell but also the lining – in contrasting thread (pink on blue and blue on pink)
• Covered buttons

THE DRESS – MCCALLS 6699

As I prefer to make my life as difficult as possible, I made up Fashion Star pattern (6699) to pair with the jacket. It’s got cute contrast pockets, skirt vent and waistband. The Gridlock fabric is quite bulky so I chose to add strips of it to the pocket lining.

To the dress I added:-

• Topstitching to the neckline and armhole.
• Piping to the waistband (self made as for the jacket). I’ve really proud of the zipper as the piping is pretty close to perfect.
• Underlined the skirt, I was concerned the pockets would show through the skirt.

I will write up a post later in the week about how I did a few things with this project – right now I’m too tired and over it to say much more (except I want to make a t-shirt for therapy).

There are some seriously awesome entrants now for this competition – which you would expect with $1000 on the line.

SHUT UP LIZZY & SHOW US THE PICTURES.

OK. Let the pictures speak for themselves. A little creased due to car travel – no ironing facilities at the lighthouse!

I can’t help but point out – how perfect are these shoes for this outfit!!?? The right colour and even a bit ‘Gridlocky’, it was pure luck, I’ve had these for years!

Even the ominous clouds seem to be the right colour. I have not colour altered these pictures at all.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – alternate view

Tessuti Gridlock. The dress – Cerise with contrasting Gridlock elements

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – sleeves rolled back.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – back view

Tessuti Gridlock – back view. Alas cotton linen is very ‘crushable’.

Some detail pictures…

Tessuti Gridlock: lapel, button, piping, topstitching

Tessuti Gridlock – pocket

Tessuti Gridlock – zipper

Tessuti Gridlock. Shell – construction

Tessuti Gridlock. Lining – construction. Please note I’ve top stitched the lining with contrasting thread!

THANK YOU!
Thank you in particular to Trish, she endured regular random emails from me – which I am sure made little or no sense some days – I even inflicted progress shots on her. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This stopped what was a hard project from also being a long & lonely project.

Thank you also to the Tweeples who checked on my progress and cheered me on, especially Bimble&Pimble with her derby cheers and pom poms.

Good Luck Tessuti Gridlock contestants…

Thank goodness I am on holidays for a month at the end of this week, I am dead on my feet from exhaustion!

I have been super busy making/knitting things but need to take some pictures and finish some projects off in the next couple of days. I’m working on two skirts – one of which is my next Abakahan Fabrics 15 Pound Aussie project. The other I’m hoping to wear to the meet-up. How fabulous does this day out in London sound?? Thank you Rachel of House of Pinheiro who has done all the organising – can’t wait to meet you!

The gorgeous Rachel of House of Pinheiro (IRL I probably only come up to her kneecap)

CONFESSIONS OF SEWBUSYLIZZY

Like all truly hopeless marathon runners, I hit the wall of exhaustion hard after the Tessuti competition.

TESSUTI GRIDLOCK – sleeves rolled back.

I thought it was a pretty neat entry. Thought out, well executed, highly wearable and stood out from the crowd, an imaginative use of the fabric. The photos were well styled and the backdrop was awesome! Unfortunately Tessuti did not agree – or at least not in a winning or honorable mention kinda way. The winner was an outstanding creation and they also decided to award five runners-ups with $100 Tessuti vouchers. And no, I didn’t make that short list either. They are all great projects, there some in particular I really liked right from when they were posted.

I never ‘expect’ to win these comps. I’m fairly uncompromising person at times, I make something I will wear and suits the fabric – that’s not going to win me accolades – but I’d rather be ‘me’ and someone else’s version of ‘me’. At some point in our lives we all get caught up in being the someone other people want us to be or think that we are, I’m past being that person. I simply am who I am. Take me or leave me. I’ve never been a fan of reptiles of any shape or size – so my chameleon qualities are non-existent. My conclusion was that either:-

1. my stitching is not up to scratch; or/and
2. my fitting is not top-notch; or/and
3. my style is not ‘Tessuti Style’; or…
4. it actually doesnt mean much at all…

I admit, I felt quite despondent about entire process. It was one of those ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ moments. The feeling you get when you know it doesn’t matter what the dumper says to the dumpee, it’s simply a sugar-coated version of the truth.

Then I came back and read all the comments on this post, read the comments on the Tessuti post, the Twitter feedback and realised that to humble old me it’s your opinion that counts more. I might not be a stitcher to attract Tessuti applause but you gave me a standing ovation.

Thank you.

I’m annoyed with myself for being distracted by the Tessuti project and thinking about the outcomes and what that meant about me, my style, my ability. It took me a few days to realise it meant precisely nothing. I’m just me and I’m happy with that. $1K would have been nice or just a pat on the back – but you gave me truckloads of encouragement and admiration. That’s more than enough for me. I sew & blog because it makes me happy. That’s all.

My disappointment is no criticism of the Tessuti winners, the judges or anything else. It’s simply an interesting reflection about me & the process. And I’m tired, very very tired and that never helps.

It even manged to stop me stitching (it can and does happen LOL) while I gazed at my bellybutton in long sorrowful moments of self reflection & doubt. So much so that I lost faith that I could make my pink jacket. Stupid I know.

Burda 03/2013 jacket. A pretty wool blend.

I have these wonderfully perfect buttons from Buttonmania in Melbourne - thanks to the ever-wonderful Rachel of My Messings. I could finish the jacket before I leave but I would botch the finish. And that’s not worth it. So it shall now wait for my return. I feel really bad about as Rachel made a huge effort to get them to me on time. Thank you Rachel you are fabulous.

I had a go at making my own buttons, they were horrendous. The fabric was thick and frayed awfully. I wish I’d taken a picture of my efforts but I tossed them aside in disgust and outrage! This buttons are perfection. You need buttons? Check out Buttonmania in Melbourne, Australia. Go on spoil yourself. I know you want to.

Perfection: Buttons from Buttonmania

Me? I’ve gotta go. Sew & pack for London, Paris & Madrid. Yes, sucks to be me.

Thanks for hanging around with me and putting up with my random rumblings and sewing creations.

Love Lizzy.

Firstly thank you so very much for all your lovely comments on my last post. It was surprisingly cathartic to write and I really appreciate your comments. I never expected to win, I suspect my reaction/thoughts are simply the outcome of working in a highly regulated environment where opinion, personality & relationships cease to exist. Everything is done by ‘due process’… and I sew to escape it. So rather than looking for reasons, explanations, criteria – I’m just going to except there isn’t always going to be those things in my sewing world and that’s what I need.

£15 AUSSIE RETURNS: Abakhan Fabrics
I finished my £15 Aussie project for Abakhan Fabricsbefore I left for London. This month I chose a lovely grey wool suiting and I must say I was rather taken with it!

I used Simplicity 2451 – a skirt much beloved by bloggers. I added a lining and hand stitched the zipper in.

For £15 this is a brilliant work skirt. I loved wearing it. There will be more – no time for detail pictures, I had to fly to London! I should not have put my hands in the pocket for this picture, it looks like it pulls and it doesn’t.

And I’ve been busy sewing and knitting other things…

a detail shot of my just-finished Vine Bolero (Ravelry)

And a Japanese rayon knit Sewaholic Renfrew

and I’ve managed to squeeze a skirt out of this.

Must go. I’ve got to pack a bag for Paris…

PS: Abakhan sent me a ‘few’ things for the meet-up…

An evening in Paris…

Just a quick post to let you know I’m back and will be blogging again soon. I am slightly jet-lagged after the epic 30+ hour journey home.

I did consider blogging while I was away. The thought of tapping out posts on my iPhone did not fill me with joy so I decided to wait.

Madrid – I fell completely in love with this city.

I do have soooo much to tell you. Rather than write a huge post, I might break it up into several posts over the next couple of weeks.

In a nutshell in the past three weeks:-

• I’ve been to London, Paris, Madrid.
• I’ve bought fabric, patterns, notions, yarn.
• I attended The EPIC London Bloggers Meet-up.
• I went to the theatre, had a back stage tour and saw Helen Mirren in The Audience.
• I met many gorgeous bloggers and stitchers.
• I finished a skirt.
• I started & finished knitting a jumper.
• I’m participating in Me Made May 2013.
• I’ve got a gorgeous Nautical Craft Swop to share.
• and a Sewing Surprises Swop to share!

Is that ALL you have been doing in the past three weeks Lizzy??

You are a tough crowd to please! I personally thought finishing a jumper in less than three weeks while travelling between four countries was quite a feat! Never mind I will tell you more soon.

I’ve missed you!

Pimms at a London pub. You have to enjoy the good weather when you can!

I promise I will blog about my travels – however today I was a little excited to finish my ‘nearly’ Elisalex… she’s a fickle lass. She woke up on Saturday and announced that she was going to be Elisalotte – thank you every much.

The gorgeous girls (yes they seriously are gorgeous – I met them at the EPIC London meet-up – more on that soon) from By Hand London contacted me in January and offered to send me a copy of their Charlotte & Elisalex patterns. Remember my Charlotte skirt?

Charlotte The Second: By Hand London

I saw several gorgeous Elisalexs at the London meet-up including Dolly Clackett and Taracat. This made me more determined than ever that I WOULD make this dress! Then Oopbop posted a floral delight very soon after I hit Aussie soils. ARGH – time to start sewing!

I’m a little OCD about fabric and pattern matches and sent myself barmy looking since January for Elisalex.

Turns out I needed to head to downtown Brixton, London to find my match. For the non-UK residents, Brixton is located in south London, it has sizable African & Caribbean populations so it’s little wonder that I discovered African wax fabrics there!

And I found this…

African wax fabric from Brixton.

I had made a bodice muslin in January. I decided to re-purpose the muslin side panels into the new dress. I love the colour block effect. I think it just enhances the visual impact that the princess seams of this dress create.

I made up the Elisalex skirt in all its glory. It is a gorgeous tulip shape – however I just looked like a scrawny toothpick arising from a circus big top. I just don’t have the ‘oo la la’ to carry it off. So I became reacquainted with the seam ripper and scissors – and ‘lex’ became ‘lotte’.

I was happily amazed at how easily the Elisalex bodice and Charlotte skirt went together, I simply changed the skirt seam allowances to 10mm instead of 15mm. I was amazed at how beautifully the entire dress came together!

and well… this is how Elisalotte looks…

Elisalotte dress – bodice

Elisalotte dress – front view

Elisalotte dress – back view. I think what makes this dress gorgeous is the wide neckline and back. It creates shape, balances out hips and chisels the waist. Love it.

My pattern matching is slightly askew. I blame the jet lag – which has been rather hideous! I admit, I quite like this creation, it’s striking, ’tis all I have to say on the matter…

oh, and you really should give this pattern a whirl. It’s fun to make, easy and packs a punch. The bodice is well drafted. My back does gape just a little – I’m not sure of the pattern fitting fix for scrawny upper backs.

Note: the By Hand London girls have just put their rather fabulous Victoria blazer on sale… waiting, waiting, waiting for it to hit Aussie soils (and you can buy your Aussie ones from SewSquirrel!).

and one more just for fun (thanks ELH for the pictures xox)

Elisalotte dress – action shot

PS forgive me any spelling errors etc I blame ket lag (how long can I use that excuse?)

PPS just noticed I typed ket lag instead of jet lag. So hilarious I’m leaving it as is!

One thing I often get asked is: ‘how do you find time to do everything?’. Right now I’m wondering that myself.

Settling back into ‘life’ has been more challenging than I thought. My travelling life for three weeks was a whirlwind of planes, trains, places and faces. The last three weeks back at home has been a whirlwind of school fete, dance eisteddfod, dentist visits and oh… work…

The First Week

My April/May travels took me to London, Paris and Madrid. Was it great? Yes. Did I buy much? Yes – I’m sure I could have got more – except the thought of dragging it home stopped me many times!

I arrived in London (via Dubai in a huge A380 plane) on Saturday 13 April after 26 hours of flying (trip was much longer if you count the trip to the Sydney airport from home and into the city). It was COLD! I didn’t have much time to acclimatise as 7.30am Monday morning I was on a train to Paris.

Paris!

I was in Paris for just three days – I had some work to do while I was there.

I arrive Monday lunchtime and had a little wander around Paris in the afternoon. I then had dinner with my husband’s cousin who has lived in Paris for 12 years now. We had a lovely night and it was such a great opportunity to get to know her better. Thank you Emma xox

I did manage to squash in some shopping with Barbara of Stitching up Paris. Barbara is a Kiwi (New Zealander) who has lived in Paris for 25 years. She’s a stitcher/knitter and knows all the places to take you in Paris – ALL OF THEM. she took me to lots and then left me with a list of more! Did I buy lots of fabric? No, not a scrap. Why? I knew Goldhawk Road was in my near future, courtesy of the Mega London Blogger’s Meet-up so I decided to focus on yarn and trims. I did visit the famous Montmartre fabric shops but if you want stories of fabric decadence then you better head to Roisin or Kim’s corner of the blogsphere.

Here are some of the things I got…

Barbara was fantastic, she was suggested to me by Busy Lizzie in Brissy. Thanks Lizzie! Paris and Parisians have slightly different shopping customs to Australia and also the language barrier was significant for me as a complete non-French speaker (it wasn’t compulsory at school – and I’m ok with that, this is the only time I’ve had to call on my v.limited French) - Barbara looked after all that for me!

I’m a bit of a second-hand clothes and charity/thrift/op shop nut. When Barbara discovered this over a cup of coffee, she took me along to one of best second-hand clothing charity shops in Paris where I found this Tara Jarmon jacket. I’m completely in love with it. I love it’s military styling, the silk patches, the rough stitching, the naïve embroidery, the zip gathered patch pockets. I’m definitely be going to make a jacket inspired by this piece in my future…

I love this jacket, it’s unique and fits perfectly.

My little room in Paris

I stayed with a lovely and generous French lady Agnes, a place which I discovered via Airbnb. She was so helpful and I felt like I’d found myself a new aunt by the time I left! I think I enjoy her company as much as I enjoyed Paris itself.

After my work-related appointment on Wednesday morning (more on that later) I hopped on a train to London and was back mid evening. Friday I spent at home and in downtown Brixton – where you can get the most AMAZING burgers at Honest Burgers in the Brixton Market. Then I went to the theatre on Friday – squee! I love theatre and this was a real treat – it was The Audience and starred Helen Mirren.Via Twitter, I had ‘bumped’ into Claire-Louise Hardie, a professional theatrical costumier and sewing consultant to The Great British Sewing Bee. I tweeted the fact I work in a theatre and shortly after she got in touch and asked if I would like to see The Audience while I was in London. Yes please! She organised seats for myself and a friend at a fabulous price and we sat right under the nose of Helen Mirren, smack bang in the middle of the front row.

Claire-Louise Hardie & me outside the theatre: I’m not dressed very flash as I was cold and rather too tired to get fancy this night!

I met-up with Claire-Louise pre-show and had a little backstage tour and got to see the costumes, wigs, meet some of the cast and some of the costumes up close. This is a stellar show and a must-see. Apart from the legendary Helen Mirren and fabulous cast, the costumes are fascinating. A huge proportion of Helen Mirren’s costume/wig changes happen on stage (including wigs), she moves seamlessly from age to age and era to era - the trickery of dressing and undressing Ms Mirren on stage is genius. All I can say is Ms Hardie is quite brilliant – oh and she’s lovely. If you are thinking about sewing lessons, then this is the girl for you, she runs a sewing studio called the Thrifty Stitcher and has small group sewing classes in North London. I don’t have the opportunity to do these sorts of things where I live – but if I were you and lived in London what a fabulous way to improve your skills – with an expert AND in a working studio. Yes please!

I confess the first week was exhausting and I was slightly mad to attempt to do so much in such a short period after the mammoth flight from Down Under – but you live and learn!

The next day I was dragging a mammoth case (thank you Abakhan Fabrics!) across London to the V&A to meet up with Rachel of House of Pinheiro and another 50 or so bloggers… but that’s another blog post about the next 7 days…

And I have some blogger gifts to show you – just got to take pictures!

MORE SEWBUSYLIZZY NEWS…

I have projects to share including a jumper, cowl and a soon-to-be-completed First Communion dress… soon…

and I’m mid-fabric search for this project…

By Hand London Victoria Blazer

And many many thanks for all your kind comments on my Elisalotte dress. It’s been facebooked, tweeted and popped up all over the web. It’s given me a real buzz!

Sorry, it’s been awhile!

Life has been BUSY. I have been swamped by domesticity but am slowing emerging. I found myself cooking dinner, putting on laundry, running a bath, cutting out fabric and knitting a row here and there (all at the same time it seemed) last Friday and thought “Aha! Almost back to ‘normal’“.

I decided to blog about the fabrics this post and people the next. So many things to show! I thought it best to show the fabrics so you can sit back and fan yourselves in case it all gets too exciting. So it’s mainly pictures tonight!

I don’t think I got spectacularly exciting fabrics. I got a few special pieces and the rest I liked the colour or had a ‘vision’ in my head… yes, heavens about – practical stuff!!

French Brocade – I got this at a Berwick Street sale (fancy place to buy fabrics) I got 2.8m for 40 pounds, it would have cost me 160 pounds at full price. I think it needs to be a fancy evening coat. ELH suggested that it would look great as feature patches on a military style jacket aka my French designer op shop jacket (quite an inspired suggestion I thought!)

Maybe a Pavot? I’m open to fancy jacket suggestions!

Italian linen from Goldhawk Road. This does not photograph well but it’s a lovely flecked denim colour. I had the Burda Crossover Blazer in my head when I got this.

Maybe a Burdastyle crossover blazer. Or the lovely Burda 7401. Could be a lovely Victoria…

Lace from Goldhawk Road. I have no idea. I thought it was going to be a top. Now I think it might be a dress with a lace overlay bodice…

Mauve wool blend from Goldhawk Road. I liked the weave in this fabric… I have no idea what to do with it. I don’t know what I was thinking…

Purple knit from Goldhawk Road. I really need more knit tops. I can squeeze a cowl-necked Renfrew and a Maria Denmark day-to-night top out of this.

Rolls & Rems blue knit. I got this shopping with Clare of SewDixieLou. She’s gorgeous – more on this next post! This was a princely 3 pounds. I love it.

From Rolls & Rems with Clare of SewDixieLou. I think this has a lot of polyester but I love it. It might be a Deer & Doe Datura…

Silk Cotton from Goldhawk Road. At just 5 pounds a metre I could not resist this. Beautiful…

Silk Cotton from Goldhawk Road. This is another 5 pound a metre wonder. Lovely stuff.

Teal Ponti from Goldhawk Road. This is one of my favourite colours, it’s a much more vivid teal than it appears in this photo. I have a Vogue 8593 in my head

Is that enough fabric for today?

INTERNATIONAL IDLEWOOD

I’m terrible at sitting still… outstandingly so. So what to do while on holidays?

Clearly packing my sewing machine to go overseas was not an option (remember all that fabric?), I packed my knitting needles instead. For those of you concerned about getting through international security with knitting needles, don’t be. I got them through security in my hand luggage in Sydney, Dubai, London, Paris, Madrid and Singapore. I think we can safely say I did a pretty thorough investigation of international knitting & airport security and came up trumps.

I decided that whatever I knitted needed to be easy and not require constant reference to a knitting graph or pattern. Not to mention survive jet-lag induced exhaustion idiot brain syndrome.

I chose Idlewood from Ravelry. It was perfect. I got some needles in Paris (I only packed the size for the body. Doh!). Knit Pro Symphonie needles. They are heaven.

Meet International Idlewood. Yarn from USA. Needles from Paris. Knitted in London, Madrid, Singapore, Sydney and Port Macquarie!

Yes, I arrived home to wet weather! Rambling about in a jet lag fog after lunch

This is essentially a tube. You start at the top and knit the cowl. Change needles, knit the yoke. Leave stitches live on waste yarn or holders for the sleeves. Knit the body (a tube with minor shaping). Then knit a few rows on the sleeves and you are done! There are a few rows of purl on the bands but other than that it’s plain knitting all the way! Perfect beginner knit & being a worsted weight it knits up quickly.

I started knitting Idlewood in London and finished the morning I arrived in Port Macquarie. These pictures were taken after lunch with ELH. If I look tired and sloppy…. I was… this is after 30 hours of travel and very little sleep!

The pattern includes patch pockets which I’ve omitted, I felt it looked a little hippy (in shape & lifestyle choice). I prefer it’s simplicity.

Idlewood – post international long haul flight from hell.

I wear this A LOT. I totally get that it’s not going to be everyone’s style – it’s not lacy, floral or pretty – heck it’s not even a girly colour! However I love a bit of grunge. This is totally my style on a casual weekend. And hello? COWL! Monster cowl! It’s snuggly and warm. The cowl is so big it can be pulled over and worn like a hood, that look isn’t for me I feel like an Ewok.

Now THAT’S what I call a cowl!

I’d love another one sometime. I would knit it on a smaller needle as this is the smallest size and it could do with just being a smidge smaller.

Wool: Malabrigo Worsted. I buy mine from yarn.com. This yarn is delightful. Buy it. Buy it now!
Skirt: Vogue 1247. It’s ridiculous how much I wear this skirt.
Boots: Flore from Duo. These boots are gorgeous. I ordered these in London from the Duo shop in Convent Garden – they shipped them direct to Australia for me for free – minus the VAT. Awesome – and you can get the same deal on the website. I was served by the delightful Laura and guess what!? She’s a sewing blogger too – a newbie – go and say hi!
What is so amazing about these boots is they come in calf sizes as well as foot sizes – so there is a perfect fit for everyone. I struggle to get boots to fit my toothpicks. Worth every penny. I also got a pair of Aralia - which I wear to work almost everyday…
Bag: from Madrid – another perfect match for my less-girly grunge days. It’s a little weather-beaten looking like me. Love this bag!

And I also knitted…

ZuZu Petals for Mum. Knitted with Malabrigo Worsted

I knitted this for my mum with the leftovers from Idlewood. It’s Zuzu Petals Cowl by Carina Spencer- also from Ravelry. This has a 32 row pattern and I had to concentrate (and not drink at night LOL). it’s not hard but there is a lot of pattern!

On the needles now…

Marion by Andi Satterlund. It’s also on Tasia of Sewaholic’s needles and Leila of Three Dresses is swatching her Marion after all my tweetin’ about it! I’m on my second sleeve now…

Marion – I love my Whole Wheat cardigan so much I wanted another cream one with longer sleeves

Of all the things I enjoyed most about my trip was the people. I’ve travelled a bit, taken photographs, done tours, seen amazing things, hell I’ve even done an epic abseil and black water rafting in the spirit of travel and adventure over the years. What did I enjoy most on my recent trip? Believe it or not it wasn’t the fabric shopping (stop choking now – it was fun). It was the people I met.

People makes places special. Even the most beautiful buildings, churches and galleries all have people at the heart of them. People that have lived, created, loved and laughed within their walls. The Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, galleries, museums and parks – all these places are bursting with stories of people – otherwise they are simply bricks and mortar – nothing more. It’s people that make places special.

THE BEYOND EPIC MEET-UP

I was kinda AMAZED at how many people turned up – I think everyone was! I was so very very tired after my first week of travelling, flying over, tackling Paris etc. I wish I hadn’t been quite so tired and been more ‘Lizzy’ for everyone. Maybe in New York 2014!

The Epic Sewing Meet-up

RACHEL
This girl is the bombshell of the sewing blog world. She’s tall, elegant, creative, intelligent, thoughtful and amazingly well organised! Not only did Rachel organise the epic Bloggers’ Meet-up of the Century, she also invited me out to her hometown the following Tuesday – which was lovely as we actually got to talk – which was a challenge on the epic meet-up day! I got so busy talking, eating and wandering about that I forgot to get a picture – but here is one from the meet-up with me looking like a derp face.

Rachel & Me

And at the meet-up there was…

Karen of Did You Make That? Yes, she’s a real person not just a blogging Rock Star – don’t know if you have ever noticed but the fabric of the dress in her blog header is the same as the fabric of the dress in mine! I find that amazing considering we are in different hemispheres.

Karen from Did You Make That?

Dibs of Dibs & the Machine … this girl is delightful, I wanted to pop her in my suitcase and take her home…

Dibs – she’s just delightful

Roisin of Dolly Clackett … and yes, she is that cute and cool in real life…

Roisin of Dolly Clackett. I had a special piece of ‘happy’ fabric for this girl. Sydney Harbour fabric, I thought it would make her smile x

Kim of Kim-ing… Kim has been around since the early days of my blog. She is sweet – and I wanted her Pavot!

Kim of Kim-ing

The By Hand London girls… super glam, super lovely… I am just waiting on some fabric for my Victoria Blazer…

By Hand London girls

Tasmin of Pimp My Curtains (had a lovely chat), Catherine Daze of Cyberdaze (I was rather in awe as I love her style) & Amy of Sylkotwist (so lovely to meet her, she’s as gorgeous as I thought she would be)

Tasmin of Pimp my Curtains, Catherine Daze of Cyberdaze, Amy of Sylkotwist

There are more people to mention but I’ll save that for my next post… or I will never publish this!

AGNES LE PONT
The very French & very delightful host of my little BnB accommodation in Paris. I was terrified of tackling Paris on my lonesome but she was amazing. Kind, helpful, friendly, full of advice – and she drank beer (gotta love a beer-drinking woman!)

BARBARA of Stitching up Paris
I don’t think I would have been able to navigate Paris and all its fabulous little shops and shopping eccentricities without the professional help of Barbara!

CARLA COULSON
I went to Paris for work. To interview Carla Coulson, a photographer who spent some of her teenage years in Port Macquarie. She is a beautiful person and one of the most fascinating and inspiring people I have met. At 35 she was a Sydney businesswomen with all the trappings of success – but deeply unhappy – rather than accept it, she totally changed her life. Carla’s blog is a great source of inspiration for photography or just read her amazing story on her blog.

CLARE OF SEW DIXIE LOU

Clare of SewDixieLou

Clare is gorgeous in every way. We met up in Lewisham and had a HUGE chat about life, the universe, sewing and everything over a cup of coffee. She took me to her favourite fabric shop, Rolls & Rems, in Lewisham and I LOVED it! I spent the huge sum of 6 pounds 50 pence and went home feeling like a champion!

THE DINNER & DRINKS CREW
Oh my lord, this was fun. Organised by the astonishing gorgeous and lovely Clare, along came Emma of My Oh Sew Vintage Life, Janene of Ooobop, Hannah of Sinbad & Sailor, Nicole of Nicole Needles, Jo of SewLittleTime & Clare of SewDixieLou. I swear I don’t often drink that much – but it was fun. Thank you girls for a great night! I swear one of these girls kept filling up my glass because I’m not quite sure how I managed to drink so much all by myself!

Ummmm, just press the button, yes that one…

Has he taken it yet? No I don’t think so…

It seems the camera wasn’t French…

WINNIE of SCRUFFY BADGER
Now I didn’t get to meet Winnie in the flesh but we have a little email friendship going on and it’s like we met in spirit. I think she’s actually my long-lost sister (she’s just the funnier groovier one).

Now I’m in Sydney and off to my first Aussie meet-up – even though I haven’t quite finished this post I’m going to publish it and write another one soon about the two swops I’ve been part of & a few other things. Life has been frantic since I got back & it’s been hard to find any free time to blog

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT MARVELLOUS PEOPLE

My life has its fair share of ‘challenging’ and, at times, really unpleasant people. The sort that make you grind your teeth in frustration while you smile until your face aches. The ones that like to quietly whittle away at your self esteem and pick at everything you say and do. You know the ones… in fact I bet you are thinking of someone right now and thinking ‘yep, that’s the sort Lizzy is talking about’.

You can choose to let these people’s misery infect you, dominant your thinking or you can choose to find and focus on the fabulous people – people like you. People that have encouraging things to say, jokes that make you laugh til you cry, send you something special from across the globe ‘just because’. People who celebrate your individuality and quirkiness – rather than grooming you to conform.

It’s not an easy thing to do. Once someone said to me “but it’s easy for you – you don’t care what people think!”. Well actually, (I hate to admit it) I do care. However I’ve reached that point in my life when I’ve realised that while I might care, I can’t actually change what other people think. So why waste energy on it? I choose to define myself- no it’s not easy, it’s a daily battle I’ve come to love/hate waging and I can’t declare a truce. Love me, like me or loathe me. I’m just me. Plain old Lizzy for better or for worse (and trust me I have my ‘worst days’ more often than I would like). The only thing I can do is work on being the best version of me. And that’s a much more interesting way to live than trying to be the ‘someone’ people think you should be.

Thank you for coming to the Bloggers’ Meet-up. Thanks for helping carry my bags. Thanks for sharing a meal, a drink, a laugh, your fabulous town. You are all epic, beautiful, creative women and the world deserves more of you. Mwah.

Oh look SewBusyLizzy – she’s awake!

Agreed. I’m a notoriously busy person. If I’m awake I’m working, exercising, reading, writing, knitting, driving ‘mum’s taxi’, cleaning (not so much…), cooking, talking, laughing,making exceptionally bad jokes, tweeting, facebooking, blogging… and of course sewing!

Every now and then I sleep. Yes really, I DO sleep. Sometimes.

I confess I do sometimes wake up & if I can’t sleep I check Twitter & Facebook… Clearly I find it very hard to ‘stop’. If I’m conscious, my brain starts whirring. I can’t handle yoga, mood lighting & candles horrify me, and don’t even start me on rainforest / whale-singing relaxing tapes.

Since I started sewing my brain has been happily whirring with colours, patterns, design ideas – which has been infinitely more happy to endure than work stress & other stuff. Sewing doesn’t make me sick with anxiety, if my brain is going to be busy – well sewing ain’t such a bad thing to be thinking about, yes?. These days my brain is blissfully happy with creative ideas in spare moments. No brainer right? Sew more people!

So when Karen from Did You Make That? launched the 2013 Pyjama Party I decided perhaps a little more sleeping was in order.

And we all know I like… (OK LOVE) Sewaholic patterns so it was necessary I join in! I jumped online and ordered my Tofinos from Sew Squirrel.

Ta da! Tofino pants!

Sewaholic Tofino Pants

These are black voile Swiss dot with pale pink piping. I opted to use a double-sided satin ribbon for the waist sash rather then fabric and I think it’s rather cute. I wanted something a little ‘fancy’, ‘evening wear’, ‘tuxedo’ style.

Paired them with my favorite old concert tshirt – (Chris Isaak, I still love you MWAH).

I had planned to sew a top to go with the pants but my old Chris Isaak tshirt seemed perfect. Can you believe this was sold as a one size fits all?? I guess if it didn’t fit, you could just use it to wipe drool from your chin while watching Chris Isaak perform… (Lizzy enough of the celebrity crush….! ENOUGH).

What can I say? It’s another well-drafted pattern by Tasia. It’s easy to sew. Goes together quickly. It’s got simple yet effective design features… mock fly front, piping to make your pins seem longer, little details to make your PJ bots more than just ‘daks’.

I like the impact of the pink and the black, it’s kinda girly, dressy, masculine all at the same time.

Me being a dork (this happens with all too frequently)

I did think about turning up the cuffs and hemming with more piping. HOWEVER! That piping makes stumpy pins look longer. So no external piped cuffs for me. Elle MacPhearson move over. SewBusyLizzy is in da house.

Sewaholic Tofino Pants – lotsa piping

I have a deep loathing of tracksuit pants – even if they are warm… however I’m seriously tempted to make these in fleece… somebody stop me!

Me likely. Tofino THUMBS UP. Thank you Tasia MWAH!

I know BEST.SLIPPERS.EVER. Sheepskin from NZ. Love

BTW. I’ve nearly finished Cambie no.4 & Cambie no.5 is in progress…

BTW2. My Abakhan fabrics 15 Pound Aussie project is also nearly completed. It’s cool! Watch this space!

BTW3. My By Hand London Victoria Blazer is also in progress (yes I’m a stitcher with ADHD at the moment) and its looking WICKED. Silk dupioni, vintage sari… patience people!

Thanks Karen!

I’ve been amazed at how frantic life has been since my return from holidays. I should have posted this when I got home – however it was so sweet and lovely I wanted to take lovely pictures… thank you Sparkly Super Nova for organising this! On the upside this post has been lost in the tidal wave of posts following a swop!

Sewing Surprises from Musings of a Seamstress

First up – check out these lovely hair bows that Sarah sent to me for my girls. I know – soooo cute. You can buy these from Sarah Etsy’s shop which will help fund her adoption project – please take some time to read about it here…

Bows for Adoption – my girls love these!

She also sent me this necklace which is just perfection. I love love love love it. I know – green with envy? I’m not sure where Sarah got this but it’s perfect and I love it. Even the chain is beautiful and dainty.

Sewing Surprises Swop – necklace

And watcha wearing with that Lizzy?

Sewaholic Cambie – Little Skulls. Note to self: iron dress before photos next time Lizzy!

ummmmmm, it might be Cambie No.4…. OK stop laughing. Cambie 1, Cambie 2 & Cambie 3 are all much loved members of my dress family and they wanted a little sister. She’s a bit naughtier than the others… if you look closely…

Skulls Sewaholic Cambie

I love the sweetness of the Sewaholic Cambie shape combined with the quirky little aqua skulls. When I started knitting the cardigan I had an immediate vision the Little Skulls Cambie with it.

There really isn’t much I can’t tell you about Cambie that I haven’t already. It’s a lovely shape, well drafted and by far the easiest full lined dress I’ve made so far.

ICECREAM MARION

Sewaholic Cambie – Little Skulls with Icecream Marion

Cute cardie… did you make that too? Yes I did! I’ve been a bit ‘knit obsessed’ this year. this delightful little monster is Marion by Andi Satterlund. It’s a new release and I just HAD to knit it as soon as I saw it. I adore the cables and I really wanted a longer sleeved cardigan as I wear my Whole Wheat cardigan a lot - cream goes with just about everything. When this cream Malabrigo arrived from yarn.com I was a little disappointed with the colour. Fortunately as soon as I started to knit it up, I fell in love. The colour reminds me of icecream and hence I call this cardigan my Icecream Marion.

It’s perfection with Cambie as it finishes right on the waistband… and Tasia of Sewaholic fame is in fact also knitting this, I spied her over on Ravelry with Marion WIP.

Marion by Andi Satterlund – available on Ravelry

I love the buttons, they are coconut shell. The shop only had one card of four buttons and the pattern said I needed five. Then I read the pattern (I know, novel idea) and I only needed four for the smaller size. If I knit this again (and I’m tempted to in red) I will just do three button holes.

At the Historical Cemetery

It just seemed perfect to photograph this dress in our Historical Cemetery. It is no longer used as a cemetery but it is where the free settlers were buried in the early days of European settlement in Port Macquarie, the graves are scattered randomly through beautiful grass and trees, it’s quite serene (this from a girl that freaks out at the idea of serenity). It’s now a beautiful park at the end of our main street.

Dress: Sewaholic Cambie (purchased from Sew Squirrel)
Cardigan: Marion by Andi Satterlund from Ravelry. Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted from yarn.com

I’ve been fearsomely tired this weekend with a crashing headache for two days. Not great pictures but hopefully I’m not looking so drained for my By Hand London Victoria Blazer – which is not far off being finished!!

And my hair is HORRID. Off to get that fixed this Tuesday!

AND! I went to the recent Sydney meet-up organised by Kristy of Lower Your Press Foot - you can check out all the pictures here at Little Betty’s blog… I felt like I cheated but my 1950 vintage lace dress just seemed the perfect choice for High Tea!

The Sydney Meet-up outfit – 1950s lace…