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Monday, November 24, 2014

Rigel Bomber Planzzzzzz


(If this post isn't showing the photos in your email, click HERE!)

oh helloooo beauty! 



This pattern has been out for a while. I looked at it, then kept moving. Then all of these amazing Rigel's started popping up everywhere. (Click the pics to go to their respective sources!)


http://thequirkypeach.blogspot.com/2014/01/floral-bomber-jacket.html

http://www.bimbleandpimble.com/amanda-vs-rigel-bomber-jacket/

https://lecoussindusinge.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/rigel-bomber-forever/

http://lilysageandco.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-rigel-floral-bomber.html

And then the Gap started schilling them (which I was going to link to but I guess they're not on sale anymore, so whatever), and I'm not really one for "on trend" but I loves me a jacket, so now this pattern is mine.

And then what really sealed the deal was Lauren went and posted a photo on instagram and listed her ribbing source. GAME OVER YA'LL. I ordered two kinds of ribbing from Pacific Trimming in NYC.
Super fast shipping, and the ribbing I got is super high quality. 


SILVER and GOLD! Girl, you so fancy!

I have a potentially suitable coating for a little more substance, but I also have several great floral cottons in my stash (that I need to whittle down so that I can buy more fabric) so I'm still contemplating what I'll actually make it out of.

I really, really, like the weight and substance of the Papercut Patterns. For those that don't know - they come printed on a sturdier recycled brown paper. I just assembled my instruction booklet last night. Posts for a work in progress soon!




Friday, November 21, 2014

Completed: Renfrew the Cozy!

When I first traced off the Renfrew, I used a size 0 with some modifications. I removed 1" from the bodice front and back, 1/2" from the sleeve length (3/4 length sleeves) and did a weird sleeve sizing experiment (which failed spectacularly, by the way) where I traced a 2 but didn't accommodate the sleeve cap change in the armscye in the bodice. As you can imagine, that was fun to figure out.

I made some alterations again last night, this time adding back the 1" and 1/2" chunks I originally removed, and extending the bands a bit. I've found when using slinkier knits, the bands don't tend to hold their shape (they kind of bunch up a little?) so I heightened those by 1-2", depending on how much fabric I have to work with. It's really arbitrary, but doesn't matter much since they're just rectangles.
The other thing I've been doing is just cutting the cowl with one layer. You really don't have to finish the edges because knits don't unravel or fray, and often times with lighterweight knits, it's a little weird to have a double layer in just that one area. Also saves on fabric, so you can get away with much less yardage than is "required". I've made this top on less than a yard. Seriously!

Last night, I made a Renfrew out of....fleece!


 
 
I originally picked up this fleece as a remnant at JoAnns. I think it was just over a yard and probably like $3-$6. Super Amaze.


The guts are SO PRETTY. I used my serger for the entire thing (normally I use my machine and then finish with the serger)


Here is it right side out. Boring, but so warm and inviting!


My crowning achievement - those seams are super lined-up! Especially on the serger, this has been something I've had a hard time with. I use a walking foot on my regular machine, which does help some, but I've been trying to improve this particular skill.

When you make a particular style over and over, do you notice techniques or particular things that you want to work on/fix? 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Fabric shopping in San Francisco

 
 
I went to San Francisco a couple weeks ago for a work conference, and stayed through the weekend so I could get my fabric hunt on. 


The selection at Britex Fabrics is insane, and unlike anything I've seen in Seattle. It was absolutely overwhelming in the best way. I ended up going home with one remnant piece of 4 way stretch nylon spandex, to become hiking leggings. Britex had a great selection of more traditional fabrics (wools, cottons, silks) and there was a smaller table of knits.


I also went to Fabric Outlet in the Mission, which was a little more my speed. Get thee to Fabric Outlet, you guys. so. many. colorful. knits.


Selection!
Here is what I left with. All of these knits are destined to become leggings and/or skirts. So excited!


from Britex




Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Halloween 2014 - Little Red Riding Hood

Oops! Well, this post is a little overdue! 
For Halloween, Will & I Dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf. 
 For his costume, we hit up GoodWill and picked out an old lady housedress, complete with tassles. We got glasses that we punched the lenses out of, and I made a slapdash sleeping hat out of a remnant of quilting cotton I had laying around.  (Stash bustin' - YESSSSSSS!!)


For my costume, I sewed up a quick full circle skirt using the ever handy Circle Skirt App from the fabulous Ladies at By Hand London. I had this red cotton on hand, and I've been trying to whittle away at my stash. I'm pretty sure it was an "as-is" buy from Ikea, and was born into this world as a sheet set. Does anyone else look for sheet sets for fun projects like this? 
I finished the hem of the skirt with a red horse hair braid that I ordered from this seller on Etsy - fast, excellent shipping. I highly recommend!


 

For the hood, I used that same cotton and based the hood off of a vintage pattern I have (and can't remember the name of right this second).

Found it!


For the bodice of the cape, I basically drew out the length of the edge of the hood, and cut it on the bias and attached the two. I fully lined the red cape with red and white gingham I found at Goodwill (I think a yard length was $5??) so no seams showed at the neckline.

I finished the edge of the cape with the rest of the horsehair braid I had. Ties were made with red grosgrain ribbon I had on hand - easy peasy!


The silly little apron was made with another stash piece - a 100% modal sheet. I basically made a long waist tie, a middle piece and a longer ruffle for the bottom. Modal is a bitch cut out. It is super, super drapey and shifty, so the ruffle ended up uneven, but Halloween so who cares!

Total cost of my costume: $20.95
$14.95 - horsehair braid
$  5.00 - gingham fabric
$  1.00 - basket

Will's Costume: $22.98
$9.99 Granny Housedress
$4.99 Glasses
$8.00 Mask

 
 
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