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!!