Self Stitched September: Week 2

Saturday 8th September, a trip to the Paralympics to watch the wheelchair fencing, wearing JJ 6009. This blouse has so much potential, but everytime I wear it I end up feeling so frustrated. The button keeps popping open and the collar is just so annoying. I think it'll be going to a clothes swap as soon as I can get over the hours of frustration that went into making it! At least the sport was good, and so inspirational - I really want to give fencing a go soon!

Monday 10th September, my last full week on placement, wearing the Try again dress (Project Runway 2588), with a bright orange cardigan. This was a rushed photo as I was running late for work, whoops!

Give me a shout if you're taking part in Self-Stitched September, would love to see everyone's makes!

Me Made (Saturdays in) May! Week 2

Well it's Week 2 of Me Made May. Today's been spent mostly essay writing and sewing, however there's only so much of one room I can take before I go a little stir crazy! So here's Week 2's entry, shots taken in my local park. The blouse is my JJ goes girly blouse, based on a Burda pattern. This shirt has so many problems, straining at the bust, random creases - luckily you can't see any of them in these shots. Time to finally fix the issues I think!

What do you think - how would you wear this blouse?

JJ and I

After a lot of blood, sweat and tears of frustration JJ is now done! I've mentioned the fabric before, but the buttons are silver heart shaped ones from Coats, aren't they lovely? I bought them at HobbyCraft.

I'm so relieved that it's finished, and in the end I think it looks pretty nice, though there are a few little issues: strange collar creasing, bust straining etc. But given that it was a real nightmare to make I can cope!
 
I've worn the shirt for university and a couple of meals out so far, both times with jeans. I'd love any suggestions you have about how to style it up!

Getting shirty about shirts

I had started to write a step by step guide to sewing the Burda JJ 6009 pattern because so many people had noted how complex / unhelpful the instrutions are. I had made a really good start, but then every bit I did has been wrong when I've taken it back to my dressmaking class, so I've given up. Only on the tutorial though, I'll leave that for someone far more adept than me!

In the meantime I thought it'd be a good time to post up another one of my shirts, another 'challenge'! This one was made using New Look 6693. I was attracted to the label of 'Easy', and the informal styling.

In the end I went for view C - It looks shorter in the body, and is a little more my style. I ended up chosing a heavy weight cotton, Itsy Bits by Andover Fabrics - I think it's a craft cotton. I paid a fortune at John Lewis, £18 p/m but it's been a learning experience... Half the price on the internet! I've never bought from Tudor Rose, but they're selling it for £9 p/m at the moment.

I also chose some mother of pearl buttons from John Lewis, though they don't match perfectly, I think they work! Back then I hadn't realised the importance of doing pre-washing to prevent shrinkage, but luckily I'd made it a little looser and it doesn't seem to have shrunk in the wash.

I've been told it's very 1940s, which sounds good to me! The cotton is so soft, the shape is relaxed, but formal enough for work - actually it's one of my favourite makes so far. Hopefully I'll get a better photo of it soon, styled up but until then here's just a snap on my little camera :) What do you think of the final product?

Next project

So, I've already made one of the items on my list, a gift for my friend's little girl. Details will have to wait though as her mum may come across this little blog!

I've started to work on my next project, a blouse based on the Burda free pattern JJ #6009. I bought this beautiful fabric from Shaukat back in November last year, and I've been eager to find the right pattern ever since! It's a beautiful poplin in pale blue, with cream flowers. Hopefully this fairly weighty cotton will be ok...

I've decided to stick fairly close to the pattern, but I think I'm going to drop the ruffles because there's just so much detail in the fabric. I've left enough fabric though, just in case I change my mind later.
It's taken me a whole day to cut the pattern, stick it back together and cut out the fabric. Hopefully sewing will go more quickly than the other blouse I've made! (Photos will come at some point)