Drape Drape 2

Drape Drape 2 isn't a new book but I had completely forgotten about it until recently when Ginger makes had a competition to win it.  As soon as I saw some of the patterns I really wanted it, but alas I didn't win...I have Drape Drape 1 which I made only one dress out of, but this one seems to have a lot more patterns that interest me - maybe also the fact that it is in English.  So, when I saw it at the Portrait Gallery Store yesterday (this is conveniently across the road from where I work), and in English (!!)  I knew I had to have it.  I made the excuse of an early birthday present to myself. As if I needed an excuse!

I had only planned to make 3 things* during 'It's all about me November' but now I feel compelled to make a yellow skirt using McCalls 5591 to go with my new shoes (I've changed my mind on the culottes) and now something/s from this book.  I'll be pushing it as there aren't that many days left in November, but I am really taken by some of these patterns.  In particular, I think this dress is super cool for Summer (and I think the stripey fabric my sister gave me here would work perfectly - so that could be a goer).

I love this tshirt and skirt below as well. 

How cool is the tshirt pattern.  I really love interesting pattern pieces like that.

I will have to choose soon - can't make them all by the end of November.

*The wiksten tank is cut out - just need to sew it now.  Oliver has 2 friends coming over today so hopefully they will busy themselves and I will be able to sneak in some sewing. Oh, and we are off to a party tonight so I'll be wearing my drape tree dress for the first time. Hopefully I'll be able to get some photos. 

30 May 2012 revisit day 1

It's cold and foggy outside, so again I'm sitting in my little corner.  I'm revisiting the Liberty shirt from Day 1 of MMM12, but with jeans and boots rather than dressed up for work.  One more day of MMM12...

26 May 2012 - to shir or not to shir

Today I'm wearing a new top I made during the week using Liberty Lucy Daisy A and trying Pattern F from A Stylish Dress Book again.  It was the same pattern for cheap cheap cheep top . I flirted again with shirring for this top, but I don't think shirring and I will have a long term relationship.  I had this material in my stash for a while, trying to work out what to do with it; because of the diagonal pattern of the print I thought something gathered would work best and I think it does. I think I am doing something not quite right with the shirring though.  Oh well.  The top looks ok though and I'm sure I will get lots of wears out of it.  I will now be putting on a big coat as it is pretty cold here today.

14 May 2012 - cheap cheap cheep top

Yesterday, I went out to buy some more interfacing to use for tracing patterns. Given the only success I ever seem to have comes through using Japanese pattern books, tracing paper is an essential part of my tool kit and about 18 months ago, I bought a huge roll of some fantastic stuff which I was hoping to find again.  Unfortunately, they no longer sell it, so was stuck buying packets of 5 metre medium weight interfacing. While out and about, I also had a bit of a browse and came across this cute bird dodgy polyester (chiffony) fabric.  At $9.95 a metre, who was I to say no to it and immediately raced home, tracing paper in hand, ready for a quick bit of afternoon sewing to compensate for the disaster from yesterday.

I used pattern F from A Stylish Dress Book, but shortened it into a top (so probably pattern P) with only 2 rows of shirring rather than the 3 and 1 row of shirring on the sleeves.  I've made a lot of Japanese pattern clothes before, but this was the first time I failed to locate the sleeves on the pattern sheet!!  I even asked Ben to try and help me but not even he could find the sleeves, so I found some lines that I thought might work and traced them out and cut the fabric.  This material was slippery to cut, and today, of course, the cutting of my 'could be' sleeves was also a litte bit off... so it's no surprise that when it came to matching seams and sewing it all up nothing really went together.  After yesterday's defeat I wasn't giving in so quickly.... so, after quite a bit of messing around (and swear words) with the sleeves, I made them fit.  They are not as 'flouncy' as they probably should be and while my rolled hem is not nearly as neat as it should be, for a $10 top it is ok and I'm not ashamed enough not to wear it.   In fact this morning, I have had quite a few compliments on it!

13 May 2012 - little spotty dress

Today for MMM12, I'm wearing a spotty dress from Happy Homemade Vol 1 pattern G (without the sleeves)... at least that's what the envelope with the pattern pieces in it says, but I can't find the book!  I made this dress during the Christmas break in 2011 as a bit of a trial of shirring and so it is a bit uneven and dodgy but overall it's a good casual dress - which I usually wear in summer when we go to the pool.  I added big handy pockets into the sides.   

For MMM 12 I've worked this dress into a bit of a casual autumn outfit, so have paired it with some herringbone tights, my blue Parcours Paris boots and a black patterned cardi by cotelac.  

Oh and as a coincidence, we are off to the pool today, an indoor one though!

9 May 2012 - Willow

Today, for MMM12, I'm wearing a top I made in 2010.  It's one of those tops where I loved the idea of it, but the reality is far from it.  The material is Liberty of London Willow (I think) which is gorgeous - especially the pops of orange in it, but I think the pattern itself is too big for me.  The top, top A from Nani IRO is also a bit swamping, which is why I made a tie for the waist.  Overall it is a bit fussy for me, as usually I like to 'set it and forget it' and with this top I fiddle a lot during the day.  Anyway, I did pledge no repeat outfits, so this one has come out for a run on a glorious autumn day where I'll be locked away in an office for most of it.

6 May 2012

Today, I'm wearing 'Lesson 5' dress from a Japanese Pattern book (don't know title  in a grey chambray material and a dotty pink scarf made by my friend Michelle.  This dress has never been a favourite but it is really good for around the house and I REALLY like the pink stitching I used.  We are back from our weekend away, so I have lots of washing and sorting to do (including my French homework for tomorrow night) so this dress is perfect for such an afternoon.

Painting on our wall is by Vivienne Strauss who I adore.

  

3 May 2012

I made this top C1 from the Japanese pattern book NOOY , back in 2010 and it has seen a lot of wear.  It is made from Liberty of London Strawberry Thief fabric, one of my all time favourite Liberty patterns.  It is Autumn here so it definitely needs to be worn with a cardigan!
I really like the Japanese pattern book NOOY a lot as well.  I will be wearing a few more items from that pattern book as MMM continues.

1 May 2012

First day of Me Made Me!!  And I've jumped out of bed early to get dressed and do this post before getting the boys ready and flying off to work!!!  So, today I'm wearing this Liberty top. The material was bought from Addicted to Fabric in December 2011 and I used pattern W as the base from Les couleurs francaises.  I love this pattern - you will see it more than a few times this month!  It is a lovely pattern and lends itself to lots of changes and a variety of outfits.  This particular version I popped a peter pan type collar on, which I drafted using pattern X in the book.  This was my first time making up a collar so I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing when I drafted it so it sits up a bit - but I like it.  It's a mistake which actually worked.  Added a self covered button (first time for this as well!!).. Oh and I am very proud of my matching of the pattern.  The other change was I used elastic in the sleeves.Ok, off to put my sneakers on!