Butterick 5863 -The reverse Toile - aka - what not to do.

The first cut is the deepest

Before I get into my finished items I want to say I was wowed by the response to my last post.
An amazing 138 people voted on my haircut.... I don't even know 138 people. I apologise to anyone who had a massive time suck playing with hairstyles on Taaz.com after reading my post (along with pinterest, facebook, blogger, twitter etc it is a wonder the world still rotates and things still get done.)

So - did I get my haircut and who am I sporting? Yes the cut has happened......

I really really really wanted Lisa. I have never had my hair in a style like that and haven't had a fringe since I was a teenager...... only a few short years ago....... My hairdresser recommended against it. She said my hair is too curly for that short a cut at the front and it would take maintenance to kept it looking good. That unless I used product and straightened it each wash it would go woolley. I didn't want to risk it as I had never been to this hairdresser before, she is relatively cheap and I have never seen customers in her salon... Hmm as Alison said to me - not very good signs.....

I ended up with a kind of frankencut - a mix of Sarah on the top and Lisa on the bottom,,,, Kind of.

Before and after

I actually really like my cut and once I wash it I will know if I will keep it. Good on the hairdresser. She turned out to be a find I think.

Back to sewing

When my Pretty Grievances Sabertooth Swap partner Barbara Jane sent me this beautiful beefy knit I was drawn to Butterick 5863. I thought it plain enough to let the fabric speak for itself but also have an interesting neckline.

Now - me being me, I decided to "adjust" the one thing that drew it to me - the neckline. I always find necklines too high and narrow for my big neck so I always make them lower and wider...........

Hmm - did you happen to notice how low and wide the neckline is on the model?

This is what it turned out like..... (and haircut after 2 days)

Not bad for a street walker but not exactly the look I was going for. Luckily Addicted to Fabric (where Barbara Jane purchased the fabric) had 1 lonely metre left and waiting just for me - talk about luck! After exchange of emails and phone calls that lonely remnant has a home and is waiting to be a fixed Butterick 5863. I am so glad as I love this top and the fabric is wonderful and the colours really look good on me if I might say so myself. StyleArc had a great khaki bengaline that would match beautifully but it sold out before I could get my grubby mits on it... *sigh* ..... I am hoping for more stock soon.

I did modify the top in other ways too. I made the sleeves longer and added length to the body as well.

I am modelling it with a pair of modified Linda pants in an absolutely gorgeous navy hybrid crepe from Emma One Sock. I LOVE this fabric. I have it in a multitude of colours and it will play a big part in my Artisan Square SWAP. It is not cheap, especially when you factor shipping to Australia into the price, but well worth the cost IMO. It feels divine, hangs beautifully and has my favourite thing in the material world - stretch.

Navy is not what I would normally pair with this top but I was being frugal with my modelling as my visiting sister was taking pics for me. I say these are modified Lindas as I gave them a little flare at the bottom. I like the way they turned out.

Anyhow, after the Gulf of Mexico neckline (or should I call it the Great Australian Bight), I thought I had better do a toile - after the horse has bolted so to speak. I used fabric that I purchased on sale and very cheap from the Remnant Warehouse. It was about half the price it is now when I purchased 5 metres of it.


Being photobombed by Elle

 Back of top and pants - haircut has held up well for 2 days.

Next step will be to add maybe another cm to the neckline and then to remake the Sabretooth top.

I am looking forward to finishing it and adding it to my wardrobe and also seeing how Barbara Jane transformed the fabric I sent her.

Happy sewing.

Jungle January and the Sabertooth Swap.

The drought has broken.

It really took some doing to get my sewjo mojo a flowing. After so long with problems with my knee and our cold winter I lost the momentum with sewing. I did quite a bit of cutting and just a little sewing but really couldn't get my act together.

It took a great day at Tessutis with my sewing buddies (and Jungle January) to re-ignite my mojo. I took 3 items already cut out and ready to sew. At Tessutis I did the sewing of the seams on all 3, so all I had to do was the finishing - binding / hemming etc. The items made up so quickly and it really made me want to sew again.

In a beautiful navy hybrid crepe from EmmaOneSock I cut a Jalie 8 gore skirt and a pair of StyleArc Linda Pants. These are part of my Artisan's Square SWAP. These will be photographed when I finish some matching tops.

In a lovely fabric from Darn Cheap Fabrics I had a cut out dress from McCalls 5890. This is fabric I first saw on the lovely and talented Thornberry and HAD. TO. HAVE! With its fun scales it fits right into the Jungle. If you like anything animal head over to Pretty Grievances and check out the cat walk before the cruise ends. Yes - it's Jungle January.

It is quite a heavy ponte so will be put in the safari suitcase and pulled out in winter.

Of course I will wear it with a jacket or cardigan like below - but I am thinking more of the Orange StyleArc Fiona I have planned. There are touches of orange in the fabric but maybe full on Orange will be too much. I will have to look when I get the Fiona sewn.

Overall I am happy with the dress.

Oh - and btw - look at what Santa brought me.

This is so much better than the little cutting mats that I used before. Longer than my dining table. No more shuffling little boards around. It was purchased here and is 1.8m x 0.9m (or 71" X 36" for those not in cms). I was able to pick it up at Yagoona so even saved on the shipping.

On the cutting table....

I have some gorgeous fabric from The Remnant Warehouse. It is a Spirograph bengaline. It is more of a wedgwood colour than the aqua in the picture and quite beefy. The feel is lovely and it is a reversible jacquard - although I am only going to use one side (Can't decide which one though). I did purchase some of the red (which is less orange than in the pic on their website) for a dress and may use both sides of that one.

Although this is a departure from my A.S. SWAP, I can't help it - the fabric is crying out to be a pair of summer capris.

Also on the table is a lacy (from the remnants warehouse) little jardi. Short sleeved for summer. You can see the fabric in the pic of the cutting board but if you want a closer look you can find it here.

The lovely Anne at Pretty Grievances also gave me my Sabertooth SWAP partner. This is where we swap animal print fabric with a partner who then makes an item with it.

It was really exciting to receive fabric from Barbara at Barbara Jane Made. (And great to find another Aussie sewist). Barbara gifted me this lovely knit (and 2 spools of matching cotton - oh yeah!) and now I am deciding on what to make of it. It is thick without being too hot like ponte and has a nice recovery.

These are my picks. I can either make a top or use it for panels in a dress. I am leaning towards the top in the lower left corner.

Wish me luck.

Now before I go I want to share a tip I read on Sewing on the Edge. This tip is sure to CHANGE MY LIFE!!!!!! At the moment I and sitting in the loungeroom having a rest after the mammoth task of ironing steam a seam on the neckline and armholes of a dress (believe me - it is a mammoth task - especially in today's heat). Using Barbara's tip I shouldn't have to do that anymore. If you are one of the few who don't follow her or if you missed the post -  check it out.

P.S. I wrote this yesterday but hadn't taken the pics. The temperature has dropped 18 degrees celsius today (that is over 64 degrees fahrenheit) and it is actually cool - hallelujah.

Happy Australia Day to my fellow Aussies

Have a good sewing day.

It is that time of the year again..... SWAP

First let me say sewing has happened here at Chez BeaJay but haven't had the opportunity to take pics. I am doing small amounts of sewing at a time and managed to finish a few things. Will post as soon as I can.

Over at Artisans Square it is the annual SWAP - sewing with a plan. I have entered for 2 years now.

I was eagerly awaiting the posting of the rules this year and now they are up *sigh* - not what I was hoping for.


***** Edited to add - after some suggestions over at Artisan's Square - especially a brilliant easy one from Ruthie - I am IN *********


The first year I didn't get much done. Finished a few items, but didn't get near 11 items done. But I did learn that the items I chose, I did so just to fit my idea of what the "wardrobe" should be. I looked in my stash and chose fabrics that would go together and items that met the rules. One of the reasons I didn't finish is that I was "stuck" with my plan. My base colour was teal and when I had a couple of wadders I couldn't fit anything else in.

Last year the rules were more flexible and although I didn't finish it was more because I ran out of energy and time.. but I made quite a bit of way through it and came up with clothes that I wear on a regular basis and have built on.

I liked the flexible rules but they have gone back to basics and on top of that added a "twist" and while this may suit a lot of people - not so much me.

I have been thinking about SWAP since I saw the fantastic plan from Sharon at Petite and Sewing. It has lots of neutrals in so I have learnt from that and decided to give myself a palette that I can work colour into instead of basing it on colour.

This year I have planned out 2 SWAPs - don't know which one I will go with - but I am going to go ahead with one on my own. Whether or not I make changes to fit into the Artisan Square SWAP or not - I haven't decided.

I am very pleased with both choices and that is the main thing - that what I sew works for me - not for a contest.

Both have very basic neutrals to build on. The first one navy and oat and the second one oat, butter and brown. They have some cross over items. There are also lots of choices I can have if things don't work out. I am learning.


Option 1 has 12 items. If I go out on my own I don't need to change this but if I do change for Artisan's Square then I will take out an item.

Option 1

Most of the navy is Hi-tech matte hybrid stretch crepe from EmmaOneSock with the exception of the top which will be linen. The oat is a lightweight tropical wool and the hounds-tooth is a raw silk. At the end is a lovely brushed cotton / lycra from EmmaOneSock. The other fabrics are ity jersey, viscose knit and a rayon spandex.

Option 2

This one has the same oat tropical wool, a linen dress, a chocolate tropical wool dress, a raw silk dress, a divine chocolate and butter silk caftan, a blouse in a lovely silk from Remnants Warehouse and a shell top in a gorgeous georgette from Gorgeous Fabrics and a jersey cardi.

This is how both will work as wardrobes.

Gee- neutrals are starting to rock my world.

And now I just need to be all grown up and pick a plan and stick to the neutrals.

What about you? Are you going with a plan - be it the Artisan's Square SWAP or one of your own.

The good thing about going out on my own is that I can start and end it when ever I like.


***** Edited to add - after some suggestions over at Artisan's Square - especially a brilliant easy one from Ruthie - I am IN *********