Frutti Tutti Lonsdale

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This little number was actually finished up in time for Christmas but I'd since lost the photos and just managed to find them again!

This is the Sewaholic Lonsdale I was working on in the lead up to Christmas. I took the time to make a muslin, which I'm glad I did, as I ended up taking off a bit of room at the bust and centre.

In fact, it was actually very similar adjustments to what Sunni, at The Fashionable Stitch made to her muslin. On another note, I think Sunni and I might be body twins! I discovered this great post on upper should back adjustments and have finally adjusted dresses so I can lift my arms! Hooray!

The fabric was on sale at Spotlight in Nowra a while back, I just couldn't resist the retro fruit vibe. I know so many sewers out there have tried the Lonsdale, but it really is a great pattern. Relatively quick, looks stylish and oh those pockets.Only change I'd like to make next time is to add padding to the bust, I'm not one to often go without a bra. 

And of course I sing this every time I put this dress on!

 

Muslin: Lonsdale Dress

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Sewaholic's Lonsdale dress has been on my 'to do' list for a while and when I discovered A Fashionable Stitch was having a big sale, it seemed like no better time than to buy the pattern (and a few many other bits and pieces).

I started with a muslin just to check sizing round the chest region. Lucky, because there are a few bits and pieces I need to change. First up, I used this wonderful fitting post to help me, and had to make almost the same changes.

The front.

First the tiny bit of bust gaping around the top. I think this is the same adjustment I would have needed to make with the Tiki dress, if only I'd recognised it at the time. I also appear to have an incredibly short waist because I'm seriously removing like an inch from the front and back waist - is that normal?

From previous dresses, I've noticed my upper body seems to be quite short and my legs long.

I also had to remove a chuck from the centre front - I'm not really sure if this is right though?

The back. Yeah, I kinda take short cuts sometimes on muslins.

What do you think? Do you always have to take the waist up? Am I making the right adjustments?

The 20-something dress

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Well well well looking grown-up. I call this the 20-somethings dress, for some reason whenever I wear it I feel just that bit more grown-up. Apologies for the poor pictures but there's only so much photography a boy can be roped into doing. I need to invest in one of those stand things that you can tie to trees and stuff.

Guess what pattern this is??

Not sure what that creepy smiley balloon's about...

Guessed yet? It's the Sewaholic Renfrew! I've had this wool knit in my stash for a while now and was meaning to make a general Renfrew with it. But as usual I got excited and couldn't really see myself wearing a top on it's own so decided to lengthen it into a dress. I didn't actually re-trace the pattern I just keep drawing when I traced the fabric till I hit about the right length. This wool is a bit thin so it could probably use something underneath it, which I will look into. Just a petticoat or something.

The Refrew pattern was SO easy to make. Just whoosh, whoosh, whoosh and volia! There's a top (/dress)!.

I'll definitely be making more of these, probably a few t-shirts come summer, and perhaps using this as a base for some more t-shirt dresses.

The lovely cowl neckline.

Oh, also, loving the neckline on this. Simple but elegant. I've already got lots of comment on this dress from strangers (who have no idea I sew!). I paired it with some bright red tights the other day and it looked great. I think definitely the kind of dress to match with bright tights.

What's that over there?

A chill in the air

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It's heeereeeee. Winter time is setting in (ok it's been pretty warm lately but I'm sure it's on its way). This past weekend my Ben and Megan's Ben both headed off to the coast for a boys weekend, leaving us with plenty of time for sewing, shopping and watching Game of Thrones (8 hours - addictive).

I thought it was time I attempted to plan out a wardrobe and come up with some ideas of what I might actually wear. It was a pretty fun exercise, I trawled through all my patterns, fabric and notions and jotted down what I would attempt to make this autumn/winter.

This season, I will be conquering knits!

I've never sew with anything knitted before, the stretchiness scares me a bit. But after my recent experiences with the Indian dress (to be posted soon), I think I need a break from zippers and lining. I'll be using this nifty self-help guide from Lladybird to get me on my way.

My autumn/winter plan consists mostly of tops with a jacket and dress thrown in for good luck.

Below some mood boards. Excuse my dodgy photo editing skillz but you get the point.

First up we have the simple wrap top.  So versitile, this little baby goes with pants, skirts AND dresses.

Next up a simple, no-zippers found here jersey dress.

Winter just wouldn't be winter without a Sewaholic Renfrew on the cards.

It's about time I attempted a jacket and a Burdastyle pattern. With a flash of colour on the inside. 

Got this pattern from a friend the other day, a nice green jersey wrap top would be a great addition I think.

And just in case... a bonus round...