Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Brooklyn Hipster Hoodie

Sewing kids clothes is awesome.  After sewing a few adult things and a somewhat tricky backpack, sewing up this hoodie was soooo speedy!  It reminded me of why I love sewing kids clothes, small, quick and super cute!


I've had this hoodie cut out since KCWC last October, but for whatever reason never got around to finish sewing up till last weekend.  And thank goodness I did, it reminded me why I love this pattern (previously seen here and here!).  It's cute and quick and a great way to up-cycle t-shirts.   It's Jessica of Running with Scissors Hipster Hoodie Pattern, made using stash green knit (also seen in both previous versions!) and a XL women's long sleeve t-shirt.


I wasn't sure about the colour of the stripped shirt at first, but I love it made up.  Mr. Ohm says it makes little M look like a Brooklyn hipster with it almost neon greenness.


It's made up in the 2T size, and it fits my teeny 21 month old with some room (but not too much) I see even more of these hoodies in his future!


I'm inspired to cut out a bunch more kiddy clothes again.

But I've also been motivated by Julia Bobbin's Mad Men challenge!  My plan is a bit ambitious, and not my normal style, but I've loved this dress since first seeing it on the show, and I think it just might turn out awesome.

The plan is to use this fabric


with this vintage 1963 pattern (currently in the mail)


to copy this dress!


Wish me luck.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A cozy dress for February

I admit that I love wearing dresses.  They are super easy to wear, and look super cute.  I love not having to find matching pieces, they are outfits in themselves!

So I've decided I'm going to make a dress a month for 2012.   I've already made two and its only mid February, so I figure it's a goal I could actually achieve!  And I already have the pattern and fabric for my next one.

But back to this month's dress then




It's soft and cozy, being made from kind of a brushed cotton I guess, not sure what else to call it.  I bought a bunch on super end of season clearance sale, after using it to make Mr. Ohm (that's my new name for the Husband) a cowl from the fabric for Christmas.

I knew I wanted to make a wintery dress, something with longer sleeves and a high neck.  I almost made this dress, but realize the fabric probably was going to overpower the details and it wasn't so much my style, so I went with the simpler Simplicity 2444 instead.  I had previously pinned this version of the dress and hoped a sleeved version would work with the fabric.

I have to say its probably not the best fabric for certain aspects and the fabric is pretty soft, with no really body or stiffness.  But I think that really just means the pleats in the skirt aren't so obvious.  With interfacing the collar is ok, but it would likely look better being more standupish, but I still like it.



I also attempted to resize the pattern in advance.  In my previous dress making attempts I would just make the closest average size and take side seams in as necessary.  It's worked before, but I thought I'd be more proactive this time.

That meant I had to scale the pattern from a size 12 at the shoulders and for the bodice length (I have broad shoulders for a skinny gal and a long torso) down to a 4 through the bust and bodice, back to a 10 for the waist and for the skirt.   In the end I had to take the bodice and waist in a teensy bit more, but it was pretty close over all!  12 was the largest size and my shoulders just fit, it actually pulls a bit across them, but it's ok (hmm or maybe the sleeves were to skinny?).  But I think the 12 also made the collar too wide for my skinny neck and so it can't stand up like it should.  In hindsight I probably should have scaled back the collar area to an 8.

I did the pattern adjustments based on my actual measurements compared to the measurements of the pattern pieces.  The pattern allows 3 inches of ease, which to me is a lot through the bust and waist, so I only accounted for maybe 1 inch of ease and it made it fit more like I thought it should.  One thing I think I may try with future dresses is a proper small bust adjustment, I'm only an A cup (mind you thanks to a still nursing babe I'm still a tad bit larger than pre-baby) but most dresses expect you to be a B so I think an adjustment would better than just taking in the sides in future.



And with an added belt (it looks blah without it)  I like it!



So that was a longer post than planned.  I always say I'm going to try to write less with posts as I think people probably won't read everything and look at the pictures, but I can't seem to!  I suppose I like writing my thoughts on the patterns down for future reference.

So anyone else have any sewing goals yet for this year?  Anyone else up to making a dress a month?  I wonder if there is some challenge like that, that I could join somewhere in blogland...

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Birthday Cardigan for the Mr.

I'm now officially a sewer of men's clothing.  Care of this little cardigan I made for the Mr's birthday.


And, thanks to the walking foot I got from my sister, I really had no issues at all sewing the knit fabric on my regular machine!

Although I was a bit confused by the ribbing, and had some trouble locating decent buttons, it turned out good I think!  And it fit him perfect! And he likes it!


It was made using the free Andrew Cardigan pattern on BurdaStyle.  Pretty easy, although the instructions definitely were not the clearest.  I did add 1.5 inches to the length as reviews indicated it was a bit on the short side.  But my main issue was the ribbing for the cuffs and bottom.  It was way to wide initially (cut using the pattern piece) but after hacking of an inch or two, it fit the bottom edge and sleeves with a bit of stretching to gave the desired effect.  I'm thinking the pattern just forgot to tell me I was maybe supposed to stretch it when cutting maybe?

Meh, it worked out in the end, and I think it will get lots of wear!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...