Monday, August 10, 2015

Jedediah Baby

Hugo is in his last year of school.
Can you believe it?
That is Tildy in the basket!
I had hoped his school trousers would see him out,
 But, no, he split the backside out of all three pairs in one week.
So new trousers were required but nothing too 'schoolish'.
Thread Theory Jedediah trousers to the rescue 
I have made Hugo the shorts before.
And jeans for Jed.
So I was reasonably confident.
Stretch cotton moleskin with jeans style topstitching.
(fabric from Eliza's $2/m)
Just a hint of copper stitching 
Japanese lawn facings and pocket bags.
The facings are simply another back yoke cut with the two yokes sewn as one.
I used the French seam finish on the bottom of the pocket bag this time. It looks good and stops the bag riding up.
Just to make me happy.
I shortened the legs by 18 cm using the lengthen/shorten line.
Navy is so hard to photograph.
One groovy pair of trousers.
For my gorgeous boy.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Back to Reality

Our holiday is over.....
Our gorgeous accommodation, Blanc Palissade in Bendigo.
We can't wait to go back next year.
And I am back to my sewing.
For Hugo, as it is his turn on the rota.
The Thread Theory Finlayson sweater.
A very neat and tidy grown up hooded top.
Hugo's measurements put him in the small ( it goes down to extra-small). Like most teenagers, he loves grey marl and I picked up some really nice stuff from Eliza's fabric store, unbrushed, extra-wide and very very cheap.
I had cut this out before we went on hols (and when I was extremely tired) and I cut both the cowl neck and the hood. You use one or the other.
I didn't realise this until I started to sew it up, I had been wondering how it all worked.....
I was concerned Hugo may find the cowl neck a bit 'Grandpa-ish'

He prefers the hood but quite likes the cowl too.
I used matching ribbing for the cowl neck, cuffs and waist band.
And some very cute wren printed cotton webbing to finish off the neck seam.
I knew Hugo really wanted the hooded version.
So I made him another.
Same unbrushed cotton fleece but this time I used the main fabric for the wrist cuffs and hem band.
I will let you know how it wears.
A little custom stencilling at the back.
And again, a beautiful neck finish.
The front pocket has cotton webbing reinforced openings.
Smart!
The nitty-gritty, Kitty......

Awesome pattern, AWESOME.
$11 for the PDF and $20+p&h for the tissue.
I cannot express in words how much I loathe 'hoodies'. Hugo has one from school ( a year 12 'thing') and every time I wash it I poke a pantyhose in the front pocket. He finally asked me why and I explained it was to make it easier to disguise his face when pulling a job.
But I really like this one.
It is just as the pattern description states, it is a socially acceptable hoodie (I hate even typing that word).

A well put together PDF. It does make a big sheet but I prefer the paper then tissue for tracing off. I fold mine, in a concertina fashion, and it fits nicely in a large ziplock bag.

Hugo measured in between the extra-small and small so we went with the larger size. As a jumper it works great, as a tee I would size back.

My only detours from the instructions was to press the shoulder seam to the front (evened out the bulky seams better IMO) and I pressed the waistband up and top stitched.

I did baste the neck cowl and hood in place and then stitched in in sections and had to do a little unpicking to remove tucks.
Well worth it for the professional finish.

I really like these patterns. The instructions look brief but they are not, they are just not fluffy. I appreciate the attention to detail, your garment does not look home sewn.
Teenagers like that.

I think this sweater would work equally well in a textured knit, as a more elegant sweater for an older gent.
Father's Day perhaps?

Thanks for popping in!

xx N

PS Next up Jedediah trousers again.




Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Check it out

Apologies for the mixed up postings.....
Back to Elsa.
I made her the coat.
Which was a big job.
The deal is, four items of clothing unless your item is a big job.
Really, the coat should have been it.
But she asked me so nicely to make a few more things.
Next, a shirt.
The same as Zara's.
One I made many times for me when they were babies.
One slight problem, E&Z are rather more blessed in the botty department then I was.
So a FBA was needed ( a full botty adjustment )
I tapered the seam allowance out from the waist.
Adding a good 3 cm to the hips.
I basted and checked the fit and it was spot on.
Elsa chose some fine black and white gingham from my stash and used some scraps from Matilda's dress  for pockets, collar and placket trim.
Smoked MoP buttons stitched with red thread.
The check gives some interest as a collar stand, as does the back yoke cut on the bias.
The basic placket is a fun contrast.
And I staggered the cuff so some gingham peeked out when the cuff is worn folded back.
I wasn't sure about this combo, but I think it works.
Elsa is very light on for 'bottoms' for Summer so she decided to get organised early.
Item#3, a skort.
I also made a pair of these for Zara and totally stuffed up the measurement and made them too tight.
This time, I measured twice and cut once.
Elsa chose a light weight canvas I had purchased from Spotters to make Matilda this coat.
I can get more.
I tried really hard to match all the checks but it was not going to happen.
This is a seriously nice pattern. The pockets are a nice touch and the curved waistband gives a nice fit.
The built in short means no knickers on display.
I cut the size 12, as per Elsa's hips, and then fitted them in at her tiny waist.
The pattern is definitely a slim fit, no sizing down.
'One more item please Mum'?
City Gym shorts by Purl Soho.
Using a remnant of woven check with binding cut from soft denim which should fade and age nicely.

Love this pattern, start to finish sewing time under an hour.

Zara and Elsa purchased some really fun fabrics from Eliza's in Sunshine , to make more of these for Summer.

Next up, Hugo and more Thread Theory.