Selfish sewing 2014

I suppose I should be jumping on the ‘year in review’ bandwagon that is prevalent in blogland.  I thought I’d been completely useless at blogging this year but looking back that’s really only been towards the second half of the year. I didn't make as much for some reason and what I did make didn’t get blogged. I think that’s mainly because I struggle with taking photos of my makes. Luckily I have two birthday/Christmas presents that will help with that situation – my dressmakers dummy and my new camera! The first is still in the garage waiting to be built and fitted to me (once we've got the New Year visiting out of the way), and the second just needs Remote control – hopefully photos will be a bit more relaxed and in focus now!

So on to this year’s makes, I think the list is as follows:

Named Blair batwing

Sewaholic Renfrew

Deer & Doe Chardon

Deer & Doe Sureau

Deer & Doe Belladone

BHL Victoria Blazer

BHL Anna dress – midi and maxi

Kwik Sew 3764 jacket – and one for sis

Tilly’s Mathilde blouse #2

Deer & Doe Datura top

Tilly’s Miette skirt #2

Grainline Moss skirt

McCalls 6515 trousers – shorts and long version (no photo!)

Colette Moneta dress

Colette Sorbetto – x2 (no photos!)

So all in all, not really a bad year!

My #1 favourite of all time is the Kwik Sew jacket – I have worn that baby constantly since it was made. The wool was pretty cheap though, so it’s not looking it’s best and I have grand plans for another version next year (warning: may involve pleather…). 

In no particular order my other favourites are

1.       Both BHL Anna dresses – the midi is on constant Work rotation, and the maxi I wore pretty much every evening on our Indochina holiday (and got lots of compliments from travel companions!).

2.       Grainline Moss skirt – was always a little big, and as I've lost weight is now too baggy to wear. I’m not sure I can be bothered to alter it but I do have some brown corduroy to make another one!

3.       Colette Moneta – such an easy make, and another on constant rotation. Only problem is it’s a bit low on the back for me and I need a bit more warmth on my neck in the evil work air-con. Next one will probably be a Moneta Renfrew frankenpattern…..

4.       Tilly’s Miette skirt (summer edition) – I just love the bright summery yellowness of this skirt!

By Hand London Anna, again? Surely not!

Yep, not satisfied with two (here) I decided another one was in order. This started with the fabric - I was in Abakhan buying supplies off the list and desperately trying not to purchase anything that wasn't included. However I spotted this wax cotton in the fabric bins and it was meant to be! Bonus - when I got it to the tills it was only £10 and there was about 5.5 metres there!!

We're off on holiday in a couple of weeks time, so what I really needed was a maxi dress, and this fabric paired with the Anna dress was perfect.

I cut a 12 grading out to 14 at the waist (as previously), but as I've lost weight this version feels a little loose around the waist. No bad thing for the forthcoming holiday binges.... I also think I need to add half an inch or so to the bodice length for it to sit on my waist a bit better.  If I remember I might do that next time!

I love this pattern, but being comparatively short (I took 6 inches off the skirt length!) I'm not sure if the maxi length works for me. I think I prefer how my midi one looks.

This cotton is quite stiff and I wasn't sure how it would feel against my skin, so I lined the bodice with cotton lawn. I used french seams everywhere, and bias binding around the waist.  I even hand stitched the hem, skirt split and around the armsycle.

I'm quite proud of how the lining turned out. I didn't want to have any white peaking out of the neckline so I used the provided facing pieces attached to the lining.

It does swoosh quite well too....

But you don't get any fluffy cat pictures, as he scarpered...

(nb. neighbours cat not ours, and he likes our garden because there are lots of wild bits with small rodents to torture...)

BHL Anna, trying again...

I didn't really like my first Anna dress, so much so that it never made it to the blog.  I think it was the fabric - some cheap polyester that I bought in Goldhawk Road that was a bit too clingy for me.  I tried to add arms to the pattern like the tutorial on the By Hand London blog, but I mucked up the sizing and they were way too tight, so I had to cut them off.  See, hideous!!

I wanted to give Anna a second shot and thought that a nicer fabric would be the way to go.  This is quilting weight cotton - Cuzco Plumage by Kate Spain for Moda, and I've lined the whole dress with some polyester Habotai. I cut a 12 at the bust and hips, graded to 14 at the waist, and added an inch to the bodice length.

I love this dress, I've worn it pretty much every week since it was finished!!! And because it's lined, I can pair it with cardie/tights/boots for the winter!