Blogiversary

Well tomorrow (17th in AUS time) is my second year anniversary for blogging (and a little more time sewing) and I have absolutely loved making world wide friends and especially IRL friends through this little blog.

So - how am I going to celebrate this marvelous milestone.

Well with a gift of course.

Now there are few things in life that gets my goolies - I don't know if this phrase is used outside of OZ but it means gets me riled. I am pretty laid back and happy to let most things flow over me.

Funny - I am more likely to sweat the small stuff than the big. The big stuff - well - you can't really change it and so therefore way out of the circle of influence so I let it go. The small stuff can niggle.

One of the things that really gets my goolies is all the great offers out there "FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY" Banks offer great deals for new customers. Foxtel (cable TV) again - for new customers only etc. Now being a business owner I can understand the need to attract new customers but - hey what about the loyal customers that have been bringing business your way for years... What about me....

Another thing about me is that

 Why do I love StyleArc?

1. There are not many pattern producers that go up to my size so already there is huge lot of pattern alterations just to get it to my size let alone individual alterations
2. The customer service is phenomenal
3. The styles are current and up to date and you can get ANY of their patterns in your size (up to 30) not ones that look like tents
4. There is one size per pattern. Now I know that this is a bone of contention for a lot of people but if there are more than one size I find that I trace the pattern (more work) just in case, where if there is only one size I cut it straight out. 
5. Can I repeat that THEY GO UP TO SIZE 30 FOR EVERY PATTERN
6. They give a free pattern every month with your order

So.... adding my love of StyleArc to my love of my love of blogging and my appreciation for those who read and comment on my blog I am going to give a

to one of the people who comment on my blog. I have calculated that you SHOULD (no responsibility) get one regular pattern plus the month's freebie sent to most places for the $25. If you put it into your cart but not purchase it will tell you the cost. If not - then it should at least cover most anyway.

Now I appreciate all of you who read my blog and *hopefully* enjoy it - and believe me - I lurk on many a blog. However this is for all of those who have IN THE PAST have taken the time and the love and commented on my blog. Yes - this is where the "current customers" rant from earlier comes in to it.

To be in the running all you have to do is have posted a comment on this blog prior to this post date.

This is NOT open to people who comment on this post (although all comments are welcome and who knows what will happen on my 3rd blogiversary).

This is open to all comments prior to this post and every comment will be entered so the more you have commented then the more chance you have of winning.

I will do the massive job of printing out all comments, cutting them up and drawing as soon as I have the time so stay tuned.....

Love and appreciate you all.

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

In the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower - Plans are nothing; planning is everything - and it is that time of year again - Yes - the Artisans Square SWAP 2014 has hit - and plans are popping up and peculating in the bloggershere and in the chat forums.... 

Now I posted my mighty fine ideas for my 2013 SWAP and only got a short ways through it before the period ended - but not one to be discouraged for long - I have decided to set myself up for failure to join in the fun of planning again - because that is what I love to do. Set patterns to fabric and dream!!! (and sometimes sew).

Mind you, this is the 3rd totally different incarnation of my SWAP since I first read the rules about a month ago so you can see how fickle my mind is - it gets caught up with new patterns and fabrics that waft my way and so the plan changes to accommodate.... *sigh*

I already have my first item (Stone coloured StyleArc Barbara Pants) cut out, but sewing has been put on hold whilst I prepare for Christmas visitors but I do hope to have them sewn up before boxing day as this year's swap is very flexible and allows one item to be sewn up prior (and one item to be purchased and one item to be sewn up before the announcement of the rules).

Now you may well ask how this fits in with my garment of the month for Sarah Liz's challenge. Well the stone coloured Bab Pants were originally going to be the muslin for the mint coloured pants - but now they have been promoted to prima donna item of the month and if I can get them done before boxing day my next item will be a top to go with it.

My big worry (so far) is that the greens don't match (the shorts and top). I don't have either fabric yet - both are winging their way to me as we speak - I told you I was fickle - saw fabric - *needed* fabric - bought fabric - changed plan. I will compare them when I get them and change the fabric for the top if need be.

I am thinking of calling it "Put the lime in the coconut and blueberry shake it all up"

It may have to move over and make way for some Animal Print in January too.

I know some of you are participating in the SWAP. What are your plans?

Sales sales everywhere!!!

Ooh I have been a bad girl....

I have been stalking Butterick 5998 on sewingpatterns.com which is where I purchase most of my patterns (seeing as how expensive they can be in Australia). Alas - the new Buttericks are not showing up there yet - however they had a Simplicity sale - $2.99 so I just had to buy one or two or ten.... Then - guess what - Buttericks went on Sale at the Butterick McCall Vogue site at $2.99. Not only the Buttericks are on Sale, but Vogue and McCalls too - sooo - several more patterns are flying the friendly skies to Aus.

Lucky the holidays are coming up soon - It is going to be a true sewcation for me. Sister and BIL are coming for a visit but apart from that I will be sewing up a storm.

I have decided that the last week in December will be dedicated to UFOs and fixits so that I can start 2014 fresh. Then I started thinking about it - I have 4 items that need fixing and at least 5 UFOs.... hmmm - maybe more than a week. This will be after I finish my planned item for December's One Garment Per Month Challenge of course.

What will you be doing over Christmas?

On my post about my Pia Top I mentioned that I thought Suzanne Gray may be right about sewing sleeves in instead of doing them flat from hem of top to hem  of wrist and I had a couple of questions regarding that.

Now - I may be wrong but I feel that the sleeves would be more defined if it is sewn in (sorry - I can never get the right terminology)

The photos highlighted it for me - but then again - maybe it is just that the armhole is too low.

 

 

To me - it looks like the curve of the uninterrupted seam.. Anyway - I will do some experimental sewing with the next Pia and see if it makes a difference.

Next post I hope to have the StyleArc Barb pants done.

Stalking the Plus Sized Pattern Pyramid??

Well if you are you are in for a real treat.

It now resides with 3 bloggers that I know of so the chances of winning are BIG..

Check out these blogs

Sewing with Cats - Have your comment in by 30th November to be in to win Alison's loot.

Bea's Sewing Adventure - Bea's draw finishes on 1st December so get in to have a shot.

Chris Lucas - Chris has another PS Pyramid drawn on 1st December on her blog.

This is a great opportunity to get your mitts on a pattern you don't have and also to spread the plus sized love!

New Buttericks and December One Garment a Month Plans

I don't normally do new pattern release posts. A lot of the people I follow do them and I just enjoy their posts - however there is a dress pattern I. MUST. HAVE. MUST. HAVE. MUST. HAVE. MUST. HAVE (better stop before they come and take me away ho ho he he ha ha)

Look at the lines

I even know what I am going to do with it........ (imaging dreamy face with a thought bubble)

Now on to December Plans for the Sarah Liz Make a Garment a Month Challenge.

I actually finished 2 garments in November - my tea dress (official challenge garment) which still needs a few tweaks and the StyleArc Pleated Pia top.

My December plans also include StyleArc (what else!!)

I purchased some of the Mint coloured Bengaline from StyleArc which will be transformed by the magic of sewing (hopefully) into the StyleArc Barb Pants

That is my official Garment for December. I also want to make (time permitting) a tunic top and depending on what colour the mint bengaline looks in life (Aus Post has it in their custody at the moment) the tunic will either be in white linen or in a gorgeous blue chiffon I purchased from Denver Fabrics about 2 years ago.

Till the end of November I will be finishing off some pillow cases for Rhonda's wonderful drive.

Have a good one.

Pleasing peerless Pleated Pia

I LOVE my new StyleArc Pleated Pia top. It is just lovely and I am so happy with how the neckline ended up and really like the "scoop" shape of the neckline.

Here it is on Babs

Close up of neckline

The pleats kind of get swallowed up by the fabric - but they are there.

I purchased the fabric from Sawyer Brook's online. It is called eco tourist and if you look closely at the pattern you can see why.

I can't decide if it looks like a whole lot of amoebas:

Or some hot mud springs

But whatever - it looks alive - organic. It is lighter weight than I was expecting. It is a viscose / elastane jersey knit. It will be great for our summer but I would have liked a bit more substance to it. Maybe that is my ignorance over what a viscose / elastane jersey knit is. It does feel nice on. I shall make more Pia's I am sure.

Here it is on.

BTW - thanks for all of the nice comments on my haircut. Unfortunately the rain has got to it and it has gone FRIZZ.

I started this top on Saturday at Tessuti's Sewing Day but was having trouble with the neckband. I always have trouble with the neckband. The fabric is quite a fine knit and it kept getting swallowed by the feed dogs (hungry little critters they were). After unpicking it 3 times I decided to have a break from it and I finished it successfully last night by using my walking foot.

Can I say that the walking foot is never coming off my machine. If ever I have to do a zip or a button I will have to buy a new machine. I love the walking foot. I purchased it for a sewing workshop on knits that I attended (it was on the required equipment list) but really didn't get it until yesterday when it fed this fine knit through like it was linen. That foot was certainly made for walking. Love it.

And the Pia - as you can see in the title - I didn't have any successful me made tees in my wardrobe. I can't count the StyleArc Creative Cate as it doesn't have a neckband and the sleeves are cut on the front and back. Not really a tee and very easy peasy. That is why I am calling the Pia peerless - so far.

Adjustments to Pattern:

- Purchased one a size too small and added 2 cms to each side seam = 8 cms in total. That way the shoulders and arms fit better. It is still a bit big in these areas but it could be the soft knit used too. Found out about different knits the hard way!

You can just see the 2 cms added to the side of the sleeve to match the 2 cms I add to the side of the pattern. I then grade that down to zero about half way down the sleeve.

- Added 2 inches in length to cover tum tum.

- Cut some off the sleeve length. Next time I will another inch or so on the sleeve. I don't like short sleeves and not keen on long. I like 3/4 sleeves.

- I made the neckband a tad wider - about 1 cm.

No other adjustments (which is really great for someone my size).

Overall - very happy.

Things I learnt during this project:

- Even if your fabric is a very fine knit - using interfacing on the neckband is not a good idea if you want to stretch it between the quarters!

- Every good sewing machine deserves feet - and a walking foot is worth the money. I am going to check out if I can get one for the Elna Overlocker....

- Suzanne Gray says you should always sew a sleeve in and not sew it in one go from the hem to cuff. I am starting to think she may be on to something there.

Review on Pattern Review

Next post will be details on the tea dress.                                                                                                                                                         .  

Sit and Sew at Tessuti's Sew Inn

Well what a day yesterday was. Seven dedicated sewists landed on the doorstep of Tessuti Fabrics in Surry Hills (at their invitation - thanks Dilliander for organising it with Tessutis) for a wonderful day of sitting, sewing and chatting and of course - fabric shopping!!!

Above are Kristy on left, moi in middle, Sharon on the end with Wendy at the cutting table. Velosewer and Margaret are missing in action from the photo - probably roaming the aisles drooling at the fabric - I know that is what I was doing in a Zombie like trance when I first arrived). Dilliander (from Pattern Review - and winner of Tessuti's gridlock competition) took the photo.

It was a great set up - no need to lug our machines as Tessuti's had Berninas set up for us and a couple of overlockers. This is the area where they normally hold classes. They will be putting up next year's classes soon and I am hoping to join the "bring your own project" class. It was amazing how many customers came over to check us out and see what was going on - and asking us for advice!

The stunning Colette from Tessuti Fabrics made us feel more than welcome. Check out the blog she and Lisa write about Tessuti, their fabrics and patterns. We really couldn't have had a better hostess. She was on hand to help if there were any questions about the machines, showed us where we could get tea and coffee, chatted to us about our sewing and offered us a lovely on the day discount.... as if the fabric wasn't tempting enough..... and yes *sigh* a couple of gorgeous pieces came home with me. (And I know I wasn't the only one from our group who had a little splurge or two) I really had to restrain myself. Their fabric is of such a fine quality. This is what I purchased.

On the top is a most exquisite 100% silk chiffon with a self stripe. Underneath is an amazing faux suede. I say amazing as it feels so much like suede I can't believe it isn't. It has a wonderful weight to it and was initially going to be a skirt - however there was a bit left on the roll so Colette threw that in too so I am thinking my TNT dress may get another edition.

I was initially drawn to the silk as I was lucky enough to get in quick and get some of the paprika coloured stretch bengaline from StyleArc before it sold out (yes - it went in the blink of an eye) and I wanted some fabric to match the Barb pants I am going to make with the Bengaline. Then I saw the suede and I was in LURVE. So these items have been re-homed in my stash until my skills are up to using them....

I managed to finish a Style Arc Fay skirt and half of a Style Arc Pia top at Tessuti's and am hoping to finish the top today (if I can drag myself away from stroking the suede!!)

BTW - Anne over at Pretty Grievances has announced Jungle January mark 2 ... how exciting. Purr Purr. I did look at a beautiful peach leopard silk at Tessuti's. Glad I hadn't heard the announcement before going as I am not sure I could have resisted it had I known..

What are you up to today?