Sewing update

I have to admit I love well made clothing but sadly, anything well made also comes with a hefty price tag and I don't have the budget for that sort of thing. Cheaper clothing in Australia is no longer cheap any more - an average winter weight lined business skirt (made in China) can cost anything from $60 upwards and that won't buy you anything well made or nicely fitted. So this winter I have decided to make my own. I can save money and get what I want. And thanks to Spotlight and their 40% discount on fabric, I can easily make a lined business skirt for around $20 that fits!! 

So far I have made 3 skirts with another one cut out. I have also made one pinafore (jumper) and have plans (and the fabric) to make two more winter dresses. I am finding myself looking at "expensive outfits" and searching for patterns similar so I can make my own. 

I have also discovered the importances of looking at sewing blogs and reading the reviews of patterns I am interested in making.  This really helps to overcome any problems and gives me ideas of finishes.  It is also a really good way of learning new sewing techniques. 

What is your favourite pattern?

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OUTFIT 1

1950's inspired red straight skirt to calf, fully lined with red satin.  

Pattern: Burda 7248: simple to make, easy to follow pattern, made it many times in various lenghts.

This will be great for any season.

OUTFIT 2

Long black straight skirt, fully lined with black satin. 

Pattern: McCalls 3830: its called a "quick and easy" pattern and it lives up to this description.

Comes in five lengths, this is the longest.  Looks very smart and elegant.  Have another one already cut out ready to make in black wool (mid length).  I made a second one of these in a wool fabric which will be great for cold winters days.

OUTFIT 3

Pinafore dress (jumper) - in black with purple lining

Pattern: Simplicity 3673 (1950's retro): I found this one more difficult to make and at times the pattern wasn't as clear as it could have been adding to my frustrations. I found it useful to google reviews and see how other sewers managed some of the steps. This is my hardest outfit so far but felt by the end, the result weren't too bad (of course I know where the errors are but I am not sharing!). Even though the pattern only lined the bodice, I decided to fully line the skirt as well, not too bad but could be better!. The sizing is a bit off (as other reviews have said - too big) and I had fiddled quite lot to get it to fit around the hips and waist nicely. Better next time round. I wore it to work yesterday and know one guessed it was homemade, in fact I even got compliments.

I used a new method (to me) on this dress - I hand sewed the zip to guarantee that it would sit perfectly at the back as it is long and easy to see (and I tend to mess up zips). The method is called "hand-pick" and really did produce a great result. I will use this method many times I think, even if it is far more time consuming.  On the black fabric it is almost impossible to see my stitches which is another positive.

I used very cheap fabric for this pinafore and now that I know I can make it, I plan to use more expensive fabric the next time round. However I will use a small size.

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Patterns in the pipeline: both these patterns are semi-fitted dresses, a design I prefer as the are both elegant and feminine. Waiting for patterns to arrive from eBay in the UK.

McCalls 2401

I was inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge on her recent visit to Australia - doesn't she look beautiful in this dress - very similar to pattern above.

 Simplicity 1568

Another fitted dress that will be fun to make. (with sleeves)

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