Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Return to the machine


Last weekend was the Anzac Day long weekend, during which Australian's honour their war dead. I don't get involved in the commemorations. Like many of my generation, I'm very conflicted about it. My father was a World War 2 veteran who eschewed Anzac Day. Until his 85th birthday he refused to march or his words "participate in the glorification of war".

I used the weekend as an opportunity to sew. Anxious to get back to the machine, I decided to work on simple projects. The striped t-shirt is self drafted and is made from very good quality Mela Purdie jersey from Tessutis. I absolutely love it and wore it all weekend. The floral t-shirt is from Simplicity 4076. This pattern is highly recommended and I've made several versions of this over the years. My only gripe with this one is that jersey is very shiny and looks a little cheap - which it wasn't. While I bought it off the remnant table at Tessutis it was originally $26 a metre! I prefer it worn under a black jacket.
I have joined the Australian Sewing Guild and on Saturday participated in my first workshop on inserting lapped and invisible zips with facings. It was revelationary. We learned a technique for lapped zips which involves completing the facing first, then inserting the zip. The finish for a dress or skirt seam is very good. Our next workshops are on fitting and constructing a Chanel jacket - which excites me very much. It is also fantastic to find so many professional women there. I sat between a doctor and a lawyer, and was delighted to meet up with a professor of history who gave me my first job out of university.

I have a mountain of fabric and patterns at the moment, so am trying to work methodically through them. I have four pieces that I've made firm decisions about. All I have to decide is which to do first!

14 comments:

  1. Welcome back! Can't wait to see your version of simplicity 2724. And I need that stripe shirt! Love navy and white stripe!

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  2. Great new shirts and how fun the your Sewing Guild workshop sounds. Have fun with the next one.

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  3. Two fantastic tops!!! That Sewing Guild workshop sounds wonderful - I'd really love to do something like that.

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  4. Terrifit Ts. I like both of them. I've been looking for B/W stripes for Ts.

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  5. Every once in a while I get the urge to move back to Sydney and when I hear about groups like this I wonder why I live here!

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  6. Great t-shirts and yes the workshop was good and can't wait for next month LOL.

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  7. Both tops look like great additions to a wardrobe. I love stripes so that one is my favorite.
    Lucky you to be able to join a guild where they have workshops on something besides quilting which is all we have here.I'm intrigued about the process for invisible zips. I'll have to search the web to see if I can find out how to do it.

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  8. I'm thinking of joining the ASG too, but don't know how I could fit it in... I love your Breton stripe Tshirt. Both shirts look very professional. Beautifully finished around the neckline, which is the really difficult area. Any tips on getting that binding nice and flat?
    And thankyou for your lovely comment!

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  9. Welcome back from your trip! I hope it was wonderful --- I've always wanted to go to that part of the world (Israel and Jordan). It must be nice to get back to sewing --- both tops are very cute.

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  10. I had always put off joining the ASG because I assumed it would be full of older ladies doing quilting (nothing with that of course, just not my thing), but now you have me very interested. I love how your tshirts turned out so well, it's definately worth the cost of the fabric when you get such good results

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  11. Great wardrobe builders. I could use about ten of them. lol

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  12. Love the striped top. Lucky you to find the good quality jersey.

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