Back to Business - November sewing plans

I have now officially finished the KCWC/Fete/Children's party craze and am now gathering my thoughts and energy for a completely selfish month of sewing.  I have quite a few projects in the wings that I want to get finished this month before I start on Christmas. So this month will be NO- new projects/NO new fabrics and sewing for NO-one but me! VEMBER.  Bit of a mouthful but you get the idea.
Lining up for completion in November:
1.  A dress using this material for a party on the 24 November.

2.  Pavot or pleated pants using pink linen bought back here
3.  A top using this liberty fabric.

Frocktober resolution (and a revelation)

For the last few months, after being inspired by the post on how to develop better sewing habits, I have been trying to focus on one part of sewing that I am either not good at or avoid.  August was buttons, September was zip-tember and now October will be all about lining.  OK, it doesn't sound that interesting but there are a few people who are participating in Frocktober raising money for Ovarian cancer so really, what better thing to do in October than make a frock with lining (and donate to Frocktober!).
I read this blog the other day, loved the pussy bow dress and when I saw that she had done a tutorial on how to add lining I knew what I was going to make next.
There are two things I love: Liberty fabric and a pussy bow and so voila, we have it: my October resolution project. I bought this fabric from  Addicted to Fabric back in July so it will finally emerge from the stash and I'll use the same SALME pattern , with the lining tutorial.  I've never done a  dress with lining and the Liberty of London fabrics which I often use for dresses really do need lining, so perfect.

Viola B from the AW12 Embellishment story

I had never heard of Salme patterns before, but there are a couple of really cute patterns, I especially love the playsuit!  Check them out!

Now to my revelation:  By accident I found this post on how to make a continuous strip of binding (5 yards out of a fat quarter).  I didn't quite have a fat quarter left so just used a ratio to work out the measurements..and it worked!! And it was fun (ish)!  Funny I won't now need it for the armholes as the dress will be lined - but there is always a use for binding!!

P.S. I have thought ahead to November.  It will be NO new material or patterns-VEMBER .. I need time to catch up on the projects in the pipeline and if I'm honest I have enough fabric... (except I DO need some fabric for the PAVOT- best purchase that in October! and maybe that playsuit pattern!).  I can see why my boys always want new lego even though they have a room full of it!  There might be a little bit of me in that! Just a little.

The end of Zip-tember

Yesterday was the long awaited 'putting zippers into bags' course at Addicted to Fabric run by Nicole Mallalieu.  I did wonder before going how on earth I was going to spend 5 hours in a course on zippers, but the time flew by and in fact it took me all that time to get 2 zippers done- an exposed zipper pocket and a zipped gusset.  There was a lot of waiting around for the irons you see.  That's my excuse anyway.  So this afternoon instead of going to my first vinyasa yoga class (sorry Michelle!) I finished off the tote bag from the class, so that my new little sewn zippers had a home.  And do you know, I'm pretty proud of this.  I followed the pattern (which obviously helps) and it is easily my best finish - ever - on a bag.

This is a pretty dodgey shot of the innards. You can't see it but there is a nice pocket on the inside and then the whole bag zips up nicely.  I was originally going to give this to my mum but I think I might have someone else in mind.  The material is very 'Australiana' which she would like but I don't think she's really a messenger bag kind of lady.  

So where does that all leave me for Zip-tember.  Pretty darn fine I think.  The course has helped me overcome my zipper phobia - a bit - and I'll aim to make some zippered things for the fete.  This month I made a pair of pants with a zipper, this bag with different types of zippers and I made a little cardi with buttons (to re-enforce August is Buttons).   So I'd call it a success.

What's my improvement project for October!? (Apart from a whole lot of craft stall sewing....!!@? and KCWC)  We will see.,

P.S.  No surprises but I didn't manage to leave the shop empty handed. Still no fabric for the PAVOT but I did find this jersey which I think will look amazing made up into a drape dress.  I'm not sure it's really me but I just loved the electricity of the blue.  The only thing better would be if it was in fluro pink!!

Drape Cardigan no 15 - the obsession begins

I was originally going to start my month of buttons aka "August is Buttons" with the Banksia top - I have the fabric, pattern and buttons... but on closer inspection of Drape Cardigan no 15 from She has a Mannish Style, it was impossible to go past this pattern.  I have become obsessed.  Just look at those shaped pattern pieces!

Last night I pulled out the tracing paper and got to work.  Yeeeesh.  I've traced a lot of patterns before but I had forgotten about this book - rivalled only be the Drape Drape series I think.  I'm all for saving a tree but would it really hurt to put in just one more page so the patterns aren't so hidden!!
I really must also invest in a Seam Allowance Guide!
I'd run out of wool for my dodgy lo-fi blanket, so luckily I was in the mood for some tracing in front of the tv while I watched the Olympics and the last two episodes of Mildred Pierce.  Has anyone seen this by the way and if so what did you think?
The other part of my obsession with this pattern is that I saw this jersey (very soft and very thin - not sure what type it is) at A2F a couple of weeks ago and then got it into my head that this would be the perfect material for this cardigan.  I raced in on the way to the swimming pool (basically leaving the car running with the boys in it) this afternoon and grabbed some.  It is now in the wash and while I'm not as obsessive about it now as I was this morning, I still think it is going to be a winner.  It is a bizarre cross between animal print (can you see that?) and preppy!