Star Wars

I LOVE the fabrics from http://www.makeithobbyncraft.com.au/

This is one of a few fabrics I bought at Supanova and

the Stitches and Craft show recently. 

The shirt (for my son) was inspired by one on display at Supanova.

The pattern is Burda 9524.

I widened the shoulders, and added about 10cm to the length.

I also reduced the seam allowances to 6mm as I had just made

a Kwik Sew shirt and found them much easier to work with

especially around the collar and stand. Try it sometime.

I used 1m of each fabric. The collar and pocket are

fussy cut to show off the print.

I love using Steam a Seam - to position the pocket

so it won't move while sewing around it, and also

on the front hems (because they are narrow and edge to edge).

If the collar gave me any grief, I was planning 

on using it there too, but didn't need to.

Very pleased with the results.

3 Fat Quarters and a Skirt

At the Boonah Guides Quilt & Craft Show recently,

I bought 3 fat quarters from http://www.apatchyquilting.com.au/ 

and set myself the challenge of making a skirt from them.

I kept it simple - a 6 gore straight self drafted skirt.

The right front and back panels are contrast to the other 4 panels.

I made sure I planned the pattern layout carefully before cutting out, because I wanted the right front & right back panels to be yellow.

Remember to measure twice and cut once.

 

Sigh, vanity makes you unpick.

The master pattern was drafted a couple of years ago, and

it seems a centimetre or two as well. The skirt was a bit snug with

15mm seams so I restitched them using a 4-thread overlock

and unpicked the machine stitching. Much better.

Of course then the facings didn't fit, so I lined the skirt

without a facing and under stitched it at the waistline.

I love under stitching - it's the perfect finish for linings and facings.

I pressed the seams away from the centre panels and

topstitched using a yellow/gold rayon embroidery thread

and my ditch stitch foot.

Hems are so easy on straight skirts.

I overlocked the raw edges and turned up a 1" hem, and also tucked

under the overlocking (just because I felt like it) making it a 3/4" finished hem.

If you are going to finish the hem this way (no visible raw edges) it is not necessary to overlock first. It was a last minute decision.

The easiest way to measure a straight hem is to place the

skirt wrong sides up over the end of the ironing board.

Then measure 2" (twice the finished hem width) from the

overlocked/raw edge and poke a pin into the ironing board.

Fold the raw edge up to the pin, move the pin to secure hem,

and press before sewing.

I used an invisible zipper in the side seam.

The sewing up was relatively quick and easy. It just takes a little

time to plan something not straight out of the box.

A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Australia Day long weekend

Managed to get some sewing done over the long weekend.

Both fabrics were gifted and of some unknown vintage.

The skirt is drafted to my personal measurements featuring a centre back invisible zip, waist facing and lining. Due to the nature of the print,

I spent a bit of time playing with the layout so as not to have

focal points in the wrong places.

The top is a Lutterloh pattern, tweaked a little.

I inserted an invisible zip in the side seam as per the pattern, though it is roomy enough to take on and off without opening it to do so. If I make another of similar weight fabric I would eliminate the zip, however if the fabric was heavier I would be inclined to leave it in.

Very pleased with this outfit.