Lekala #S4108 Dress with button placket for Matilda (and Lidia)

 

Trixie wearing Liddy's dress 

I picked up a pretty rayon remnant for Elsa but Tildy got in first!

Tildy knew the sort of dress she wanted and Lekala #S4180 was closest to the inspiration.

We omitted the collar and I drafted a collar stand. The back zipper wasn't needed and Tilly requested that I  add a sleeve ruffle and waist tie.

I do like sewing with rayon and it falls so nicely.

Mother of pearl button for the win!

The waist tie nips it in nicely but could also be tied loosely for a swingy dress.

I drafted the ruffle by measuring the sleeve cuff and making the ruffle 1 1/2 times width. I finished it with a narrow hem.

Lidia rather likes it too... 

She 'borrows' it all the time.

For some weird reason, my back ruffles and front ruffles did not line up. I am not sure if this is a flaw with the pattern or I put in incorrect measurements but something to be aware of.

Tilly is very hard to sew for so it is nice to have a win.

In conclusion, a pretty dress pattern but I don't know that I will sew it again. I think there are better dress patterns out there and the non matching ruffles is definitely problematic. 

Thank you for reading and have a lovely day xx

Lisette B6296 and Sweet Dreams pajamas for Elsa and Izzie, Christmas 2024

 

How beautiful are these two girlies?

Elsa has started a sweet tradition of having her photo taken by our Christmas tree with her latest 'baby'. This year she had a real baby to pose with. Matching pjs were required!

My goto pj pattern for ladies is B6296 with a few adjustments for our family ie, shorten leg and remove some shoulder width.

I have made them a few times 

For Miss Iz Biz I had a wee google and came up with this pattern as per her chest measurement I went with the 6 months size.

Look at that tiny wee pocket!

I sewed the baby pjs as I sewed Elsa's so I omitted the back neck facing and used the same method to attach the collar as the Lisette pattern. (Hiding the seam inside the collar)

The piping was fiddly, I am not going to lie to you.

I went with the shortie versions of both bottoms and added elastic to the legs of Izzie's to create bloomers.

I worked all day and got them finished at midnight, just in time!

Elsa purchased the fabric from Spotlight. The piping is from my stash, I purchased a bulk lot a few years back from eBay. The buttons Elsa chose also from my stash, a mushroom pink plastic, hard wearing and subtle.

The photo shoot was a little more chaotic this year, who said never work with animals or children?

Because they will steal the show!

In conclusion, as always, I love the Lisette pj pattern. The Peekaboo pattern company is new to me but I like the drafting. There was not a sleeve cuff so I drafted one myself but that was pretty easy. 

I always use my method of hiding the cuff seam, neater all round and it makes me happy!

The baby pjs cuff was bonkers to sew, it was so tiny!

I wonder how many pairs I will be sewing next year?

Thank you for reading xx Nicole 

Lekala pants with elastic waistband #2222 for Lidia

 Please vote for me here , thank you!

I swear, Lidia is like my own sweet Barbie doll, she lets me sew whatever I wish for her. I am so lucky!

That said... Lidia has started placements at a GP clinic and had a special request. Trousers, groovy and cute but needed elastic back for comfort, pockets for a hanky and spare mask and long legs to cover her support socks. They also had to look good with her comfortable shoes, Not Nana!

Lekala #2222 looked great!

Please note, these photos were taken after a day at work

This pattern is lovely, it honestly looks like a neat trouser. If added belt loops, you could wear a belt and disguise the elastic completely.

A little trick I use on trousers is to press a centre pleat and then top stitch in place, looks tidy and with the correct fabric, the pant can almost become wash and wear.

The pockets are generous and Liddy says her phone stays put!

The back is a little baggy but Lids doesn't mind it, she was really after comfort with these. I chose to do a full elastic rather than partial for ultimate comfort.

Its not that noticeable from a distance...

Lidia likes an untucked shirt anyway.

Pretty bow shirt (my favourite sew) here

In conclusion, another lovely Lekala pattern. The sizing was spot on for Lids and I quite fancy a pair of these myself. They fall nicely in a fabric with a good hand but I do wonder if the leg is a bit straight for a flowy fabric? These will definitely be a tried and true for her.

Thank you for reading, stay safe and well, xx Nicole 

Kara dress by Patterncouture for Lidia, for Zara and Connor's Wedding

 More special wedding sewing...

It was a very special day and Lidia needed a very special posh frock.

I found the Kara dress on Etsy and loved the sleeve, the drama!!!!

We decided to sew a calico muslin as the fabric was quite expensive and it was a new to us pattern company. It is just as well we did as although Lidia's measurements put her in the size S the bottom did not fit at all!

I unpicked the back skirt and recut it adding width in increments up to 5cm on each side at the widest.

Lidia is rather small busted so we like to add padding to the lining. I didn't have any new ones left so I cut up an old bra and covered the foam with scraps of fabric and attached them to the lining. The original dress did not have a lining so I cut one same as main, sewed the two dresses right sides together and then treated them as one.

This worked okay but not great. I feel like you can see a subtle shape on the finished dress. Next time I will use a thin nude jersey or tricot.

The brocade was lovely to sew. It was a dead stock I purchased from an online store in Australia. I would have loved to tell you about them but the owner left me on read when I requested permission to share the website. I always check first and they were only people who have not responded to me in all my blogging.

I added a sleeve next, just basting it to check the fit. It was very snug but wearable as one doesn't exactly do manual labour in a posh frock.

The sleeves are left unlined. I chose to press a narrow, double hem and then hand sew that in place. It took an age but was well worth it. 

I attached the facing and understitched by machine but hand sewed the edges down, catching it mainly to the lining and only to the main every 10 cm or so. I also bound the sleeve seam, continuing that binding under the arm so it was neatly finished.

There was a lot of hand sewing on this dress. Luckily Jerry and I had an interstate trip and did 18 hours driving over two days so I was able to do that then. Car sewing has the best light.

I finished the lining with a nice deep hem. This dress is very, very short and I hoped the deeper hem would help the lining stay in place. I also sewed thread chains at each seam.

I thoroughly enjoyed sewing this dress. It was a challenge and the instructions were adequate but I did sew it my own way due to seam finishes and adding the lining. 

As I said before I adore the drama  of this frock, the backless style, the sleeves, the uber short hem.

The perfect sparkly button from my stash.

Lidia looked incredible.

The peach brocade set of her milky white skin and dark brown curls.

Lidia and Airlie, and up and coming designer with her own label here

Ben and Lidia made a striking couple.

It was a very special day.

Thank you so much for reading ... xx Nicole 

Lekala Blouse with Decorative Bow #2693 for Lidia

 Please be so kind as to vote for me (I won, second prize, thank you)!

I think this may the prettiest thing I have ever sewn.

I have been working my way through the Lekala patterns, sewing Clinical Placement outfits for Lidia. The criteria is professional, modest, short or 3/4 sleeve for hygiene, no bows or ties that can be grabbed and preferably natural fibres (the last one is Lidia's request). 

I am having so much fun and Liddy has left me to choose and make what I like. It's rather like having a life size Barbie doll. Lekala #2693 is a very pretty fitted blouse with a bow sewed into each placket. It fastens with a side zipper and the front is actually sewn together once completed.

I decided against the side zip and just sewed buttons instead of stitching the front up. The original pattern has a strip of fabric sewn to the front to stabilise the bow but that pattern piece blew of my cutting table and I didn't find it until I had finished. The fabric I used, a blissful embroidered cotton organdie is light enough I got away with out it but I would definitely add that next time.

The shirt has short sleeves that fit neatly and I finished them with a narrow, double hem.

The shirt has a two piece collar and stand which always looks professional in my opinion. The cotton organdie was a delight to sew. I purchased it from a clothes designer in Melbourne.

I decided to self line the back yoke as I find this stabilises the collar and sleeves nicely. I finished this using the burrito method.

The delicate shaping gives a delightful shape to the blouse without being constrictive.

The fit was perfect, no alteration necessary.

The custom fit nature of Lekala (and its sister website Sewist.com ) is a big reason I choose patterns from them. The hassle of catching up with the girls, to make sure the garment fits, is reduced and often eliminated all together.

As I said previously, one of the prettiest blouses I have ever sewn.

Thank you for reading... stay safe and healthy.

xx Nicole