Teal/green hoodie - Butterick 6101

Another piece of fabric give to me when my mother when she retired her stash was this lovely teal/green merino wool, also from Manawatu Knitting Mills.

Using the same pattern as this, this and this - Butterick 6101 (ca.1980), with all the same adjustments, once again it has a self-lined the hood and body.

Striped T-Shirt dress - vintage '80's Vogue 7338

One of the easiest garment I've made in years.

The striped cotton rugby knit fabric was made at Manawatu Knitting Mills in the 1980's; the pattern from around the same era picked up last year in St Vinnies. My mother gave me this fabric plus two other pieces in different colourways when she retired her stash. I'm tempted to make them all up the same.

Using View C, pin the pockets to the front and back pattern pieces to cut all-in-one, and lengthen the hem and the sleeves as much as the fabric will allow. Instead of using the patterns facings, cut a strip about 4cm wide by 60cm long to use as a neck binding. During construction, ignore the shoulder pleats.

If I do use this pattern again, next time I'll move the pockets up a couple of centimetres. Without a belt or tie they're just a fraction too low.

So basic, yet so comfortable.

Take 4 - the pants edition

Pinstriped pants and matching cat!

During a de-stash last year, (which saw me sell 4 boxes of fabric no longer "sparking joy" at Fabric-a-Brac) I came across three trouser length pieces of lightweight wool - one black, one navy, and one brown with blue pinstripe, each $3 at the Sallies some years earlier, and 5 metres of $5 per metre "fire-damaged" grey wool/cashmere from Pete's Emporium.  (A good wash and line-dry in the wind shortly after purchase got rid of a faint damp/smoky odour).

Desperately needing to replace my black work pants after 6 years of wear, I grabbed my favourite self-made trouser pattern, and promptly cut all four fabrics, plus lining to the knee for each. 

Then they languished for months, until my sewing bee a few weeks ago.

Since returning to work this year, they've all been worn at least once, and will be fabulous when the seasons turn towards the cooler months again.

Each a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

3-tiered maxi dress - New Look 6936

Happy New Year, dear readers!

It's been so windy in Wellington these last few months, I'm reluctant to venture out more than necessary - atmospheric pollen invokes uncontrollable sneezing! Never mind, all this indoor time has given me a chance to make a dent in the stash.

First up this year, is a dress made to wear to Christmas festivities. Technically not stashed fabric, as it was bought early in December. $1 for 4 metres of a lovely cotton lawn from the local St Johns charity shop - couldn't say "No!"

As New Look 6936 is for stretch fabrics (and of course lawn doesn't stretch at all) I cut to the largest size. I'm not fond of overlapped fronts so using view C as a starting point, I placed the centre front line on the fabric fold, creating a v-neck instead.

To make the tiered skirt, I shortened the skirt pattern pieces to 27cm below the waist, cut two middle tier pieces 36cm height × 92cm width, and two lower tier pieces 47cm height × 140cm width, which was two widths of the fabric.

Small brass bells, originally from an Indian bracelet, were added to the tie ends as a finishing touch.

The dress was a breeze to make, and even with the tiers, didn't take much longer than 2 hours. It's lovely to wear too - definitely a winner.

Blue Wool Pintucked Dress - Simplicity 8165

Earlier this year, I made a summery, short sleeved dress in linen and Simplicity 8165. Much loved, upon completion I decided to make a winter edition.

The blue wool crepe is from the stash, another score from Fabric-a-Brac. Following my notes from the first use of this pattern, I cut a size 6(!!) long sleeved version. I elongated the cuffs after seeing this picture of the Duchess of Cambridge, but I wouldn't recommend copying this look - it takes a bit of gymnastics to get all the buttons done up each time. Mostly, I roll the sleeves because I don't have time/can't be bothered.

I'm a bit meh about the dress -  it always feels a bit "Little House on the Prairie" nightgown-ish. But it's comfortable and I wear it often anyway.

Raspberry wool sweater - I knit!

Recently, while provided post-op care to an out-of-town relative, I turned my hand to a craft I've overlooked for many years.

I learnt to knit as a child but always favoured sewing, and was admittedly rusty. However, YouTube provides a wealth of tutorials, and I quickly found my footing, as well as pick up many new tricks and tips.

The pattern and pure NZ wool yarn are both from KnitWorld. Of course, I couldn't just follow the pattern, could I?! Straight away, I changed from single to double rib for all the cuffs and bands, then, when the back was finished, I decided to mix it up a little and add a cable twist at centre front. (5/5 stitch instead of usual 3/3 stitch, hence the 10 rows mentioned in a moment...)

Unfortunately, I made the rookie mistake of not buying enough yarn (especially as I was altering the pattern), which I realised while knitting the sleeves. So I unravelled 10 rows from the front and back - I'd much rather the sleeves be a good length with a slightly too short body than the other way around.

(Looking a little rumpled, photos taken before a good press and steam!)

Even though I made many, many mistakes, I'm pleased I persevered because I love the result, which has already been worn several times. I've already started on the next project - a sweater for SunnyJim. Should be finished in time for next winter (hee, hee).

Vintage 60's Butterick 3012 and the blue wool jacket

While spring cleaning my computer, I found a file of old garment photos which hadn't been posted about for one reason or other.

I planned to do a re-shoot of this blue wool blend jacket because the original images weren't particularly flattering. However, a year down the track, said jacket has been thoroughly worn, so I'm posting just the best image.

Made in wool blend fabric unused from another project, it's really a trial of vintage 1960's pattern Butterick 3012, which was gifted to me. In hindsight, I should have graded it down a couple of sizes as I knew it was too big. I didn't, and as a result I've lost the funnel-neck collar because it needed taking in so much. It's now a regular collarless jacket with funky raglan seams.

Oh well, that's why you trial.

I wear it anyway, it's a great colour, warm and the Pucci-inspired lining always brightens my day (left-over from a pre-blog coat).

Silk chiffon tunic for summer - New Look 6803

Not usually a fan of chiffon, $6 for 2+ metres of green and black silk seemed like a bargain at Fabric-a-Brac. Belatedly, I discovered why - there was a white mis-print stripe right down in the middle, more than 20cm long. Had to be crafty cutting around it.

After stiffening the silk with gelatin, making it much easier to handle, I cut New Look 6803 view D, plus some button-back tabs to hold the sleeves when rolled up (although now the gelatin has washed out, they don't stay rolled for long).

Definitely another success, however, if I use this pattern again I'll shorten the centre front opening by about 12cm - not because it was indecent, but because the big open edges flap about in my peripheral vision like a moth! Adding a dickie (or modesty panel) closed the gap this time, putting an end to swatting at 'moths' under my chin.

Graphania plena (Green Carpet Owlet) image from here - http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/moths.html

Blue Linen Pintucked Dress - Simplicity 8165

Hands-down my favourite make so far this year has to be this blue linen pintucked dress.

Inspired by a dress I tried on last spring (a weird fit, gapping armholes, and too short for my liking), from then on I had a hankering for a pintucked dress. Boy, I hunted high and low for the perfect pattern, all the fabric shops and opshops, but nothing was quite right. Finally, on the soon-to-be-extinct patterns table at Morelands Fabrics, I found Simplicity 8165.

Because I intended to use linen already in 'the stash', a few adjustments to the pattern were necessary to accommodate the fabric meterage. The hem and sleeve lengths were both shortened, and I eliminated the centre front seam (and binding), instead cutting a facing.

This pattern sizing runs LARGE. After the first fitting, I cut 10cm (4 inches) off each side seam, which was a shame, because I also felt I need to add a 8cm false hem. Had I known I could have cut 2 sizes smaller, which would have allowed the patterns pieces to overlap in the lay a little more, giving me the extra length.

Never mind, I still love the results, and have worn it often this past summer.

At present I'm considering making a long-sleeved winter version, and will 'shop the stash' this coming Easter break to hopefully find suitable fabric.

Green wool shirt - Butterick 9899

One blouse I do love is this one. Made from a left-over piece of lightweight wool from the stash (last used for this) dyed solid green.

Butterick 9899 was a gift from a friend who - like me - loves opshopping, and knows my passion for 'rescuing' old patterns. (Heard a story of them being used instead of newspaper to wrap breakables - the horror!) Using just the body and sleeve A pattern pieces, I lenghtened the front and back 20cm, curving up to the side seams, and extended the sleeve by 12cm plus cut a cuff 3cm finished width.

Shell buttons from Pete's Emporium.