Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Slow and steady wins the race

Despite my best efforts sewing hasn't featured highly on my radar this month.  My six piece wardrobe comprises just two pieces - my dress and my new jacket (Patrones 298).                        
 
But I've run my first marathon - not a great time but better than 49% of the competitors in my age bracket.  I've helped my DD get through HSC trials (Americans think SATs, Brits A levels) and visited some remote Aboriginal communities for my work.  All interesting, character building exercises.

I made a muslin of the jacket for last month's sewing guild workshop with the lovely and talented Anita McAdam at Studio Faro. She suggested reductions in the shoulder width that I hadn't really noticed.  Her workshop on altering commercial patterns was excellent and I can't wait for the two drafting workshops I've signed up for at her studio later in the year.

Now my new jacket is by no means perfect, but I love the fit and the easy feel of a stretchy ponte outer with an equally stretchy jersey lining.  The cut is very flattering and I like the angled seams from the arm towards the lapel.  I inserted a welt pocket just below the seam which isn't visible in this photo.

As for the rest of the planned wardrobe it goes like this:
1) the graphic print skirt in the same fabric as the dress will be underway shortly.  I've recently trialled a pencil skirt drafting instruction sheet for Anita. I've cut and half sewn a test garment in grey wool (a charity shop remnant) which  looks very promising. 
2) the Burda rouched cardigan.  I've gone off this idea as I think a plain long sleeved tshirt will work better as it can be worn alone or under the jacket.
3) the black tshirt - will definitely happen but it can wait.
4) no nobody noticed this, but my original 6 pack only included 5 items!

I'm also working on our "special events outfits''.   I've made a muslin of my daughter's Year 12 formal dress and her valedictory dinner is even closer - 4 weeks!!!  I need an outfit for the dinner too, but have options if I don't manage something new.   Extremely excited about the formal dress - 3mtrs of Tory Burch gun metal grey sequins side split floor length skirt with halter neck top (with sheer chiffon below the waistline so that it tucks into the skirt without bulk and looks cute worn over jeans for a party.  Still negotiating designs for the VD dress.

So happy sewing ladies...and the odd gent.

15 comments:

  1. You have been busy! Great jacket. And good luck with the daughter sewing.
    -Sewingelle

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  2. Some months are just like that! But your new jacket looks great, and I love the color. Hope the rest of the planned wardrobe/formalwear goes well!

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  3. Good luck with the formal and VD dresses. I remember well making my daughters' dresses - always stressful but they turned out well. Your jacket looks great, love the colour.

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  4. Oh, and congratulations on the marathon!! What an achievement

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  5. It sounds like you've been busy. Congratulations on the marathon and good luck with the formal dress sewing!

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  6. Your jacket looks absolutely wonderful - some stretch in the fabric must make it really comfortable to wear.

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  7. It's lovely! That turquoise/blue is one of my favourite colours :)

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  8. Congratulations on the marathon! and your work has taken an interesting turn. I would love to hear more of your thoughts on the remote community. What a wonderful experience!
    You will have great fun sewing for your daughter during this exciting time. I look with great fondness back on the times I made Cassie's ball gowns for those formal events during the last few years of her schooling. It was a lovely bonding time, and a fun girly thing just for the two of us girls in our family of all boys: planning and shopping for fabric and patterns and fitting together. I loved every minute of it :)

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  9. Gorgeous coloured jacket and congratulations on the marathon.

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  10. Love your jacket, it looks great with your dress. I can't wait to see your daughter's formal dress, it sounds interesting. Congratulations on your marathon too!

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  11. Wow, you've been so busy... I'm impressed you sewed at all! I love the jacket, such a lovely color on you. And congrats on the marathon. Have you always been running, I mean all your life? I'm considering taking it up, not sure if it's a good idea at 43 (and certainly no marathons for me :-))!

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  12. Wow! So impressed that you ran a marathon! And here I was feeling pleased with myself for running 5 k...

    Gun metal grey sequins sounds exciting...good luck!!

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  13. YOur outfit looks great. I think you accomplished a lot, congratulations on the marathon. I just finished putting away all the summer patterns I wanted to use, I'm going to finish my dress and start sewing for colder weather.

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  14. Congratulations on your accomplishments Gail. A marathon is no easy feat.
    I can tell you're really enjoying your sewing at the moment and life is taking you to some very special places too.
    Cheers Gail.

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  15. You look amazing. Congrats on the marathon -- what an accomplishment! And I'm looking forward to seeing the formal dress -- sounds like a fun project!

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