The animal in me

Interview with self

So tell me about your latest project?

I've just completed another version of Simplicity 2648 from the amazing fit collection working with some lovely black and creme crepe animal print.

Are you happy with it?

You bet! This version is fully lined and I managed to overcome some of the fitting issues I had last time round. It is almost perfect.

Almost?

Well you know we sewers are perfectionists. If I make this dress again, I think I will add a fraction more wearing ease around the rib cage. The underarms could be cut a little deeper. Or maybe I should just shed a few excess kilos! I do like the lining and the lace edging on the zip and hem.

You've been reflecting on your personal style recently. Where does this garment fit?

I originally planned this dress for business, but its too 'va va boom' if you know what I mean. I'll wear it to the theatre and I have a cocktail party in early February. In terms of personal style, it doesn't break any of the rules I set - it's well cut, the print is low key, the colour palette is within the limits.

So what will you be working on next?

I have two items already cut and ready to go: a sleeveless trench dress, based on Burda 4/2008 107 and a cropped jacket Vogue 8604 (pictured below) cut from the leftover fabric from the dress. I doubt that I'll wear them together, but you never know. After that I have a head full of ideas, but I really need casual summer tops.

Anything else to share?

Had such a fabulous afternoon with husbie and the girls celebrating husbie's birthday at the Deckhouse Restuarant. Perfect Sydney day and my silk dress had another outing. It was quite windy and the top half is billowing out with the seabreeze. I am not that big!!

Defining my image

Thank you for the encouraging comments on my summer kaftan. I'm equally pleased with my new Burda 1/2009 105B skirt from black and white plaid silk dupone which I wore last night to the Sydney Theatre Company.

This skirt is very quick and easy to construct. I made two alterations. The hembands are cut on the bias and I had only a small amount of fabric - left over from a friends curtains!! I cut the front band in one piece on the bias as per the pattern. The back band had to be cut in three pieces from the remaining scraps of fabric.

My other deviation was to include a lining, made without the pleats for a smoother fit. I will definitely make this skirt again in winter from a good wool and would consider interfacing the hem band. I didn't think to do this and it is a little lightweight in comparison to the rest of the garment.

I love my Israeli silver earring - a present from my DD who returned home

last night.

I have been giving quite a bit of consideration to my 'fashion image' for want of a better way of putting it. This was prompted in part by a newspaper rant from an 80 year old woman who wanted to buy smart casual clothes for a cruise trip. She was still looking for stylish clothing and was unable to find well fitting, age appropriate clothing that flattered the "shape I had struggled all my life to retain". It raised two questions in my mind "Would I still be interested in fashion at 80?" ANSWER probably yes and "What is age age appropriate for a woman of 52? I was a little less definitive about this.

The answers I came up with were:

• Block colours and low key prints
• A minimal palette for business - black, white, neutrals, red
• A little more adventure for casual wear - hence my journey into green for the kaftan.
• Well cut clothing with clean lines, not too body but no baggy sacks either
• Good quality accessories - people notice your shoes - they should be stylish, leather if possible and in good repair.
• Statement jewellery, but used sparingly.

This is me!

Delete any images of me from the past. This is me!

I love my summer kaftan made of the softest green and white cotton voile (with perhaps a wisp of rayon?) from Simplicity 2696. I thoroughly recommend this pattern, it ticks all the boxes in terms of fit, cut and ease of construction. The only alteration I made was to leave the cuffs off the sleeve, opting for an a bell shaped sleeve.

Even before I finished I was planning a number of other versions, including using my leopard print habitae silk in dress length. DD says no, but what would she know.

I match my garden well, don't I?

Burda success

Things are desperate when you resort to photographing yourself in the mirror! This is my test run of Burda 06/09 105, a pattern not for the faint hearted. I had so much trouble fitting this tshirt due to the mad instructions that I've written my own.

1. stitch darts into front bodice and bodice lining
2. fold pleats in place, baste and iron in place. If they will not hold in place, top-stitch in place (as per my illustration).
3. stitch front and back sleeves together and self line, stitching the two pieces together at the hem.
4. attach sleeves to front and back bodice
5. attach front lining to back facing and stitch to bodice and sleeves with right sides together.
6. attach waist band to peplum front and back
7. join pieces to bodice
8. stitch side seams from sleeves to peplum, ensuring that seams match at waist and peplum.
9. sew a lining for waist and peplum, joing side seams together.
10. stitch the lining to the hem of the peplum and handstitch in place at the top of the waist band.

I must confess that I didn't use this method. The instruction said to sew up the side seams before attaching the sleeves. This led to fit problems, endless unpicking of serged seams. I think the weight of the waistband and peplum is too light above the lined bodice, hence my suggestion to line it too. The sleeves should be lined because they are difficult to hem at the seam join.

In the end I have a top that I quite like, although this colour from my stash is way to bright for my taste. I want to make this top again in a less strident colour, if only to test my proposed method. If I could find black stretch lace with a scalloped edge I'd make it without lining the sleeves or peplum, but a full lining in the back.

Happy sewing...my black and white skirt is cut and ready to roll.

From Frocktober to No-sew-vember!

Well not quite no sew but close to! I have been swamped with paid and voluntary work, supervising mini-me's end of year final exam preparation and having some work done on my house. Not much time for me in all that.

I did manage to finish two items. This lovely silk dress from New Look 6892 was made very quickly for a cocktail function when I had that I've got nothing to wear feeling two days before the event. I was hoping for a photo of me wearing it with my orange sandals but no-one can find the time. The belt was $4 from St Vincent de Paul.

I've loved the pattern since I saw Eugenia's top here. I extended the length using my TNT skirt extension from Simplicity 2614. I will be making a few tops from this pattern this summer.

I also completed mini-me's made to order black strapless (with safety strap for swimming) twist-top bikini. It looks much better on, but there is no way I will parade pictures of a not quite 15 year old girl in a bikini to the world. Letting her wear them on Bondi Beach is hard enough for me!

At present I'm struggling with BWOF 6/2009 105. I've concluded that Burda's knit patterns are not great - crazy order of work in the instructions, the addition of facings that don't work and designs are so fabric weight specific that they frustrate sewers. Like others who have sewn this top, my lightweight red jersey was too light to hold the pleats so I needed to stitch them down like pintucks. I'm busily unpicking the side seams now, first it was too big, then I overcompensated and it is a tad tight at the waist and hips. The top half looked good so I am determined to make it work.

Next up a skirt in black and white plaid silk duponi using BWOF 1/2009 105B. I'm after a skirt that I can dress up with heels and a blouse or down with flat sandals and a t-shirt.

And what not to wear!

A picture speaks a thousand words!

Melbourne Cup Fashion on the Field

Melbourne Cup is an Australian tradition - the race that stops the nation - when everyone has a flutter on the horses and even women without the slightest interest in fashion frock up and don a fascinator for the races or a luncheon.

Thought I'd share the winners of the Fashion on the Field competition at the Cup. The gorgeous woman in red was the winner - wearing a self designed dress inspired by a visit to the Valentino Exhibition in Brisbane. Runner up was to woman in grey - a cheat in my mind - spending $5000 on Chanel!

I wore my black and cream dress with a new belt and matching shoes. It was unseasonably cold so I topped it with a black three quarter sleeved bolero jacket and a black fascinator. Didn't take any pictures to share, but several friends (who don't know I sew) complemented my look.

Next year I am being brave and going for drama - Red dress and a hat! The prize for the best outfit and the best hat at my charity do makes it worthwhile.

Frocktober 3 - A lazy girl's guide to BWOF 6-2010-102

I have completed my 'Frocktober' challenge - three dresses by end of October. I have one to work in, one to lunch in and now one simply to relax.

My dress was made with Sydney summer in mind, a light silk billowy sort of dress that catches the sea breeze. I used silk bought from the Remnant Warehouse for $2.50 a metre.

The old adage "you get what you pay for" is true you know. The fabric I can only describe as Lohanic. Like its namesake Lindsay it is beautiful but cheap and difficult to control. Also like its namesake my Lohanic dress has gone through several style changes. I made one bodice, beaded it with bronze pieces and shook my head. Mini-me said it looked cheap and tacky. I agreed with her. I bought deep red rickrack for a new bodice I cut, but decided to reserve it for another use. I made the ruffles and loved them. Mini me and I were in rare agreement on style issues.

Initially I made the pintucks prescribed by the pattern. They were as crooked as Lindsay on a Saturday night. I couldn't bring myself to go through all that pinning and basting again, so I shirred the front. Hence the lazy girl tag.

I intended to make a maxi dress. I've not worn a maxi since the 70s and felt silly and fat in that riot of red and orange. Mini-me said leave it long but subconsciously I didn't agree and had a cutting accident with the hem that forced me to crop it mid calf. Much more flattering for me.

Will I make this again? You bet! Next time a top in high quality indigo coloured linen bought from Tessutis. With pintucks!

Next up I have promised Mini-me two new bikinis, but don't expect pictures.

Its the second of Frocktober

This is the second of three dresses for Frocktober. As you can see I've joined the McCalls 6069 bandwagon. This is an easy dress to sew but takes longer than the one hour recommended on the pattern jacket.

I plan to wear it to a Melbourne Cup luncheon next week. The fabric is so perfect for this dress, purchased on line for $7 a metre.

I'm nearly finished a more complicated project, so am on target to complete my Frocktober challenge.

First of Frocktoctober

This is first of my three Frocktoctober dresses using the 'Amazing Fit' pattern Simplicity 2648. Originally I'd intended to make a muslin of this dress until I remembered that my fabric (a polyester crepe?) was purchased for only $3 a metre at the Remnant Warehouse and my muslin cost just as much. So I settled for a tissue fit and fitting as I went.

Despite a few hiccups, I'm reasonably happy with my dress. The pattern includes different cup sizes and a curvy option for the skirt. Unfortunately I ran into difficulty right at the end. The dress fitted around the neck without the facing, but once I attached it it flopped and gaped open. I must have stretched it when steaming the interfacing down. I also suggest interfacing the sleeve caps. I didn't and the result is rather floppy - more like a ruffle than a cap. Still I don't mind this.

My quick fix was to hand stitch in two darts and add covered buttons to match the ones on the belt I made. I didn't like the simple buttoned tab at the front, and after forgetting to sew the buckle front bands into the front bodice, decided a belt was the way to go.

Next time I make this dress, I will line the top rather than use facings. This is a summer dress and an acetate lining will not do in Sydney's climate. So rather than put a silk lining in a cheap dress I opted for Hong Kong seams throughout. Much less comfortable than a soft silk.

The second of Frocktober is coming up. Think old kimono scarf, and gun metal grey duponi.
I also want to thank my two latest followers for finally getting beyond 99 followers! I have a give away planned to celebrate. Will post on this shortly.

Its Frocktober

While Mini-me and her Dad were failing in their attempt to scale Mount Solitary with 15 kg backpacks and no ropes, I was failing my attempt to have a few fabulous, uninterrupted sewing evenings. I did sew, but the results left me feeling well ...meh.




















The best of my three finished tops is this one from embroidered Swiss voile using Simplicity 3887. I found this pattern ran very large and I had some trouble fitting the neck pieces were I made adjustments.
Next was my 'bland basic tshirt' using a remnant of Mela Purdie jersey and Vogue 8392. This is not strictly speaking a knit pattern so the fit is not as snug as you might want in a tshirt. For a summer business top it works tucked into my khaki pencil skirt. I hand finished the neckline, hem and the sleeves with blind heming stitches so it doesn't look too casual.

The striped tshirt is another re-run of Simplicity 2614 which has definely become my TNT pattern. To test the capabilities of my new overlocker I did rolled hems on the sleeves and the base. The stripes are a bit overwhelming for me and I can only wear this tucked into a black pencil skirt or trousers. I think it needs a black or grey narrow ruffle around the neck and down the front seam - so consider this a work in progress.

I also traced and fitted 4 more Burda patterns for my next projects. So all in all, my time was not wasted.

I'm over tops for now...this month is FROCKTOBER! Perhaps you want to sew along and complete three frocks by 31 October.

There is nothing like rumpled linen

This is the latest of the Spring/Summer wardrobe pieces from Burda June 2008 115. It is made from beautiful Italian linen from Tessutis - seriously the most cooperative fabric on the planet. It is charcoal grey with creme and black back threads in the great weight that still looks good even if a little rumpled.

One tip if you are making this jacket, trim the curve on the top of the shoulders down a fraction. I didn't do this, and wonder if I should add small raglan sleeved shoulder pads to fill in the shoulders.

Overall I'm very pleased with the way it came out. I used Hong Kong and French seams on the inside and top stitching on my new machine is a dream.

My husband doesn't like this jacket at all - he suggests that the short boxy style doesn't flatter. "Its too short and why would you put pockets to accentuate your widest part?". Well thanks honey!! Personally I'm happy in it, provided it is worn with slim fitted pants or shirt and a longer t-shirt fitting closely over the hips.

Husbie and Mini-me are going camping for three nights, so I hope that I can start some new projects while they are away. It is becoming very warm, so I definitely want to start with two or three quick short sleeved t-shirts. Summer t-shirts t are in desperately short supply in my wardrobe. Then I should begin thinking about an outfit for a November cocktail party. In typical Sydney fashion, the style for this event is classy but casual. I am thinking of a maxi dress.

First of Spring Summer

This is my first of spring summer outfits. The skirt is from Simplicity 2475 which I fully lined because of the colour. Great pattern that achieves a very good fit. Next time I make it I have to change my adjustments to the waist band slightly as I kept too much of the curve resulting in a distinct inverted v at the side zip.

Astute readers of my blog will also notice that I have retrieved my blouse from Mini-me! I want to fix this blouse again to get it right. It looks quite nice, but the shoulders don't fit well. I think I need to widen the arm hole at the underarm.

I also want to thank Rosie from http://sewingadicta.blogspot.com/2010/09/blogger-award.html and Rebecca from http://uglycutedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/beautiful-blogger-award-yay.htmlutm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UglycuteDesigns+%28UglyCute+Designs%29
for this Beautiful blogger Award. According to the rules I'm meant to tell something about myself and nominate some other bloggers, so here goes.

I am the wrong side of 50

I like to travel

I quit my job in the city to return to my consultancy practice

I have recently acquired a huge stash of patterns and fabric (this is not like me!)

My children are my greatest blessing.

I am nominating three stylish women who make clothes that I want to wear:

Eugenia from http://theworldofeugenia.blogspot.com/ and

Alison at http://allisoncsewinggallery.blogspot.com/

A J Kaori from http://jkaori.blogspot.com/2010/08/batik-on-my-mind.html

One for the pyre

It seems the whole world is in an incendiary mood. I do not support book burning of any sort, but am about to start a bonfire of my own. The bad frock pyre.

I am so cross that I spent over a week making this dress for the Jewish New Year. The pattern is Simplicity 2724 and while it is quite well made, it doesn't suit me at all. The silky top and ruffle accentuates my full bust-not in a Christina Henricks way-and the high waisted skirt is just unflattering. My new mantra is make a muslin first, because tissue fitting will only tell that the garment will fit. The pyre is imaginary only - I will take off the bottom half to make a skirt and am pondering the impossibilities for rescuing the top half. What would you throw onto the bad frock pyre? - bad patterns would help stoke the embers too.

Meanwhile, I've had a better start to my summer sewing with my white skirt using the fabulous Simplicity 2475. I cut the curvy and it fitted with only a very minor adjustment to the waist band. I am making view B. Should be finished in a day or so, as I decided that I needed to add a white lining to avoid show through.

Theft!

Here is the finished blouse which mini-me has stolen from me. It is suitably vintage for her taste and looks much better on her. I wasn't that happy with the fit on the shoulders. If I ever get it back, I'll turn it into a sleeveless dress by taking the sleeves off and adding a black skirt.

Tonight I'm tracing patterns and testing fit. I need to have at least one garment ready to sew for my guild meeting on Saturday.

Moving from the back burner

I'm annoyed that I have so little to show for myself - an unfinished blouse that I hope will be ready to wear to my friend's 50th on the weekend. The sleeve is only pinned in, and the other is ready to go.


This blouse is sewn from Vogue 7316 OOP from the 80s, which includes two tunics and a great frilled wrap blouse that I plan to use for my leopard print. Initially I'd planned a longer length tunic but the panel ended up looking like a giant cross on a medieval crusader! So I lopped off the bottom and will make an elastic casing for the base. This fabric is very tricky to cut as it is made from panels that are quite narrow. As I was using leftovers from another garment, I had to break all the rules - I cut across rather than down the grain and used the fabric inside out as I'm over shiny satin. A word of warning on this approach when using polyester fabric. The inside is generally smooth and fairly stable to make sewing easier, so when you reverse it, it is VERY slippery. Super sharp needles and patience are absolutely essential.

Sewing has been on slotted in around other things these last few over committed weeks. I've had reports due, new clients to smooze and a house guest from China. I lost most of Saturday looking for reasonably priced fabric for mini-me's formal dress and Sunday to a music festival (a feast for the ears!).

The net results:
Mini-me bought a very cute formal dress for $40 - having been unable to find navy blue silk for under $40 a metre and completely unwilling to compromise.

I went into a sewing shop with my blouse frill pieces asking to test the Babylock Imagine on my garment. I loved the results so much that I ordered one on the spot. Having recently had the pleasure of sewing on a quality sewing machine I borrowed from a friend, I thought go for broke and also ordered a Janome Memorycraft 5200 that was on sale. I pick up the overlocker on Friday, but have to layby the sewing machine.

My Chanel jacket has bound edges and trims, but still needs sleeves. I bought fabric to line the sleeves. Now that the cherry blossoms are out, I think I've lost motivation.

I have tidied my sewing cupboard and planned my spring/summer wardrobe using pieces from my stash, plus newly purchased white cotton and a beautiful navy and gold shirt panel. My plans are overly ambitious and to avoid the embarrassment of non-completion I will not share the entire SWAP. The base items are a crisp white cotton skirt, white linen trousers, black ponte pants, and unlined jackets in black and white stripes, mustard linen and burnt orange ponte. There is a new dress for Rosh Hashana using the navy and gold skirt panel, 2 party dresses, as well as some t-shirts and blouses to wear with the base items. Lets see how much I complete by January!!

Chanel progress before the darling buds of Spring overtake me...

Romantic title. Well yes, a title to match my romantic notion that I could create the perfect faux Chanel jacket!

While I am not entirely displeased with the results, my jacket is far from perfect. The outside binding and pocket welts are still pinned in place and will be handstitched in place tonight. I have not yet cut the sleeves as I wanted to match up the horizontal stripes correctly. The sleeves and sleeve linings will be inserted by hand.

My favourite things about the jacket are the black boucle trim and the lovingly handstitched lining which gives a soft luxurious feel. It is rather heavy - Sydney winters are not particularly cold - there maybe only 10 days a year I could wear it!


One of the major difficulties I've had making the jacket is the fabric - which is a very loose weave wool acrylic mix that literally unravels under your finger tips. I had to add about 3 inches to the seam allowances to accommodate fraying, trimming them back just before joining the quilted seams together. Next time I will use a good quality wool. Unfortunately I did not have enough of this Japanese silk to line the sleeves. A plain lining in very pale grey satin will have to do.

This long cardigan coat also was completed and worn several times since my last post. It is self drafted except for the pleated sleeves from are from a woven jacket BWOF 11/08. I love this coat, worn over dresses. It is made from beautiful Mela Purdie double layer crushed jersey. The sleeve cuffs and pocket trim were cut off a moth eaten jumper that belonged to one the girls.

I'm also fond of the faux leather buttons that look rather like raffia place mats. I wanted to post a photo of me wearing it, but mini-me always has better things to do. Note...learn to use the self-timer!


Next up. Mini-me (who is now taller than me when I wear heels) has been invited to a Year 10 Formal at a boys school. This is the Aussie equivalent of a Junior Prom. I have drafted a pattern for a short dress with low cowl back, draped cross-over front and short gathered skirt. The test fit for the bodice fitted well, so we are fabric hunting on the weekend. Her dream is navy blue or steel grey silk, but dreams can change can't they? I have the whole of August to finish it.

Still dreaming of Spring

This is my second dreaming of Spring, chanelling Leona dress for a weekend in Melbourne that is coming up. I'm attending a Bat Mitzvah, so need outfits for the Synagogue and the party. Two dinner parties over the weekend to cover as well.

Now I know that I have plenty of things on the hanger that would suit, but I'm attracted to the idea of a totally self sewn weekend.

This dress is made from black Mela Purdie jersey from my stash and a vibrant jersey print bought at the Tessuti sale. I love how vibrant the print is without being over the top. The pattern is a combination of my self-drafted plain tee-shirt cut to midriff length and the skirt from my previous dress, narrowed to allow for less fabric width. I added black satin piping to the front, and faux pockets with self covered buttons using the orange colour from the print.

Next up I'm making a long black buttoned cardigan from a quilted Mela Purdie black jersey. I'm drafting the pattern from a store-bought long cardigan in a sheer fabric. I wear this to death in Spring/early Summer and have always wanted a heavier version for the cooler months.

If I have time I'll finish some silk trousers I started making last year and a tunic blouse to match for the party. If not, I'm sure there is something to wear in my overflowing closet.

Perhaps I should finish my Chanel jacket?!!

Dreaming of spring dress and Chanel progress

I am almost as passionate about
Simplicity 2614 as I am about this fabric bought at the Tessutis sale. It is such a versatile pattern. This dress is a modified version of the pattern including a self drafted flounce collar. To create the line for the dress I simply added the pattern piece for the skirt at the waistline mark on the blouse pattern. It works like a treat.

My dress is not copy but does pay homage to the Queen of the jersey frock, Australian designer Leona Edmiston. I made it to wear to a party in Melbourne - good thinking 99 - Melbourne is even colder than Sydney at the moment. It does look nice under my red wool overcoat!

I quite proud of what I achieved in terms of pattern matching. It took over an hour to lay out and cut. The picture below shows a centre front seam that is barely visible. I'm particularly grateful to the lovely assistant at Tessutis who persuaded me to buy more fabric than I originally intended. I needed every bit. Tessutis have a huge sale on so I came away with 6 metres of jersey and silk 30% off the original price.

I am still making slow progress on my Chanel style jacket. I've included a sneak preview shot of my first ever welt pocket which I'm trimming with a spidery black trim bought at the Dongdaemun fabric market in Korea. The black boucle self covered buttons have been rescued from a hideous pink and purple jacket found in the thrift shop. I've also completed quilting the back of the jacket. I'm seeing the jacket more as a hobby project to fit in around other projects that provide more instant gratification.

I've been tagged too

Judy over at Just Sew Everything tagged me. I've enjoyed reading other bloggers responses so I thought that I would have a go.

Which pattern/vintage style have you been thinking about lately?
A few actually. In moments of weakness I’ve bought vintage patterns on Ebay and I also have a few in my stash that have matured into vintage items through years of idleness. Three I want to highlight are Vogue 1688 a Vogue Couturier Design by Pucci from the 1960s. I’m not sure about the ensemble, but I definitely will make the coat in jersey ponte. I’ve found the right aubergine, now looking for a paler contrast. I’ll do the dress in summer with a Japanese cotton floral center and the rest in black. Next one of my mature patterns, Vogue 2176 wardrobe. I found some wild animal print velvetine in the stash that was bought to make a jacket and skirt for Rachel when she was nine. Am I brave enough to wear a long coat in animal print with a plain black dress under. Still mulling that one over in my mind. The skirt is the perfect partner for a secret project soon to emerge from my blog. Finally, a recent ebay purchase Butterick 3893. Originally, I thought it might be suitable for the leopard print, but I have some other ideas for that cloth now.
What's the one place you want to visit that you've never been to before?
One place? Come off it, I’m a traveller with big dreams and a half empty wallet. My next dream holiday is Spain, Portugal and Morocco. I also have retirement plans, a round trip from Greece through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and back to Greece. A spell in the Greek islands would be civilised. I’m also up for a road trip around America visiting my blogging friends. I’ve got a friend in Chicago who is documentary film maker. Great concept just need a financer.
How do you relax?
Sewing is definitely part of my down time. I also read, go the theatre, and walk my dog. I’m blessed to live in one of the world’s most beautiful cities and have special places here – Balmoral Beach, Waverton Reserve and Centennial Park. I love dining at home or outdoors with friends – especially with a few bottles of good Australian chardonnay or shiraz.
What is your favourite holiday?
The best holiday I ever had I took on my own. My daughter was on an exchange scholarship to a private girl’s school on the Upper East Side of New York. I had eight glorious days in New York visiting. My days I had to myself, wandering wherever I wanted, seeing all the galleries and shops I wanted at my own pace. By night, I teamed up with my daughter, met her friends and her friends’ parents. We went to Broadway shows, ate in great restaurants and in some pretty swanky private homes. Perfect.
What is one sewing skill you want to learn/try out?
I am working on a new Chanel jacket using couture techniques. I’m learning quilted lining, and welt pockets and couture button holes. We had a workshop on the weekend at the sewing guild that helped a lot
Can you knit? Crochet? Other crafting talents?
I don’t knit or crochet. I do embroider. My proudest embroidery achievements were my daughter’s tallits (prayer shawls) made for their Bat Mitzvahs. I don’t have photographs of the younger daughter’s one which uses appliqué techniques. I’d love to try fabric art, but while the inclination is strong, I definitely don’t have time.
What garment/accessory do you wear the most?
My black ponte skirt - I've literally worn it out. My favourite accessories are a silver pendant I bought in Jordan, my collection of pashmina scarves (It’s been cold). I’m also fond of some red wooden beads on leather made by Elk.
How much time do you spend reading blogs? (Per day or per week?)
Too much. I follow too many sewer and don’t have the heart to unfollow anyone.
Your motto/mantra?
What the human mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
I’m also quite fond of “Life is too short to be idle”, but both husbie and the DD’s tell me that I sound totally manic when I say it.

I think at this point I’m meant to tag others. Like Judy, a lot of the sewers I admire have already been tagged or are always chosen. So I’m choose
j.kaori designs Who sews the most incredible, unique garments with style and finesse
Jorth A fellow Aussie sewer from the other end of this wide brown land who deserves more attention than she gets, and
Miss Muslin An Aussie of style who went to the US to beat the Yanks at their own game. She says it was for love, but we know!
Sadly, I’m all out of blogging time.