Back in Mid July

I realised I forgot a little blog housekeeping
I am overseas for week 74 through 77 and will post with lots of craft news as soon as I am settled back home.

Week Seventy Three

A very quick sewing update.

I completed three of the four outstanding cotton dresses.

Each is from the Liberty Lifestyle Range. Either the Bloomsbury or Stiles collection.

I used contrasting (purchased) bias binding on the neckline, armholes and bottom hem.

This full length view isn't as clear as the other images but it shows the overall length of the dress. 

Its a simple dress with stitched down front pleats.

I have made good progress on the dark blue Sundara Aran Silky Merino "Rincleau" sweater. I will try to make a late post before we leave for holiday early next week.

Week Seventy Two

I finished Lightweight Pullover over the weekend. I love it. It is definitely my favourite sweater project to knit (and wear) soft and drapey, easy towear under a coat and in the right yarn surprisingly warm even by itself.

This is in Madelinetosh TML in the colour Blue Gingham.

I quickly assembled a sleeveless dress for taking on holiday.

One of my regular Vogue pattern. (I think this might be dress number five). Its V8319 but seems to be out of print.

Its a Ponti Knit from Tessuti Fabrics. Called Red Mazetto.

I topstitched every seam because I do get carried away sometimes.

I started making summer holiday dresses for my daughter.

The first one is a tie shoulder sun dress from the Japanese sewing book "Sewing Recipe for Girls"

I used the gorgeous Liberty Tana Lawn in a design from Spring 2011. This particular art design comes from the Hello Kitty team. I bought the fabric a year ago from Calico and Ivy. I used the 25mm bias binding gadget to make the shoulder ties. (Cut on straight grain)

 Then I switched to the (slightly) cheaper Liberty Lifestyle cotton range for a new sundress.

This is Oliver + S, Seashore Sundress. I have cut out, but not assembled.

I then cut into three other Liberty Lifestyle cottons for my go-to Burda 9885 pattern. (Online link for reference. I bought my pattern from Lincraft.) 

These will be simple sleeveless dresses. Finished with contrasting bias binding. 

Next week is a busy crafting week. I will be posting the finished dresses and also deciding what knitting projects I will be travelling with. 

We will be enjoying summer weather in the US after that. Far from cold, wintery Sydney. 

The blog will be taking a holiday too (no posting in weeks 74, 75 or 76. But the good news is there will be lots to report the first week of July. That will be Week 77.

Week Seventy One

I have been working on a sleeveless dress with a new (to me) pattern.

Butterick B5603. The fabric was bought in a Tessuti sale back in January (Week Fifty One)

Here's the pattern envelope. I cut out the yellow view A.

Here's the dress, still in progress.

Its quite a busy print, which is why I omitted the bands and bow decorations.

Its lined in cream silk. I still have to do the neckline finishing and some hand-stitching in the lining. But otherwise its close to being finished.

Another small craft project this weekend.

My daughter plays violin. Its the most popular instrument in her junior school and it seems that each child has a very similar looking violin case.

I bought some cotton canvas webbing and got my daughter painting.

Then I sewed the new straps on to the existing hooks.

And she has a personalised violin case. Less chance of someone else picking it up by mistake now.

Week Seventy - Update

A good friend had a birthday, I made her this book 'envelope' to accompany the gift of a lovely coffee-table sized fashion book.

The fabric is a screen printed cotton linen blend by Auntie Cookie on Etsy. Cable Knit in grey on white. The design represents knitted cables, which I thought was a nice reference to our shared interests in knitting and sewing.

As it was the fabric was very soft, so I fused a supporting Vilene batting layer to it to give it a firmer plushness. I lined the back in plain white linen.

The owl button was bought from "Buttons Buttons Buttons" in The Rocks, in Sydney. Its an enamelled, metal owl. I bought it shopping with my birthday friend several years ago.

Here is a better picture.

I used one of the very basic machine embroidery stitches to finish the front inside edge.

I have an Elna sewing machine. It is basic but for the most part has been very reliable. I don't even use many of its features, the last time I used this stitch might have been when I bought the machine, twenty five years ago! I was so excited by the novelty of "embroidery" then. Now machines are much more advanced.

The book fitted very well and the fabric envelope is deep enough to be very roomy.

Week Seventy

This weeks post will be a few days late as it includes a little secret crafting.
I can't show until I'm sure the recipient has received their birthday parcel.

Week Sixty Nine

Still working on the sewing queue.
I finished this silk crepe de chine dress. The fabric was bought from Tessuti last summer.

I used  DKNY V1179 and lengthened it to knee. French seamed inside and hand hemming around the armholes and bottom. The cowl is folded in on itself and slip stitched around the neckline.
All in all a very simple pattern.
I've made this several times before, both as sleeveless tops and with my own drafted sleeves. Its very quick to make.

Here's a full view.

I am still adjusting the Anita pant pattern for myself. This is using the leftover Ponti knit from the dress I made in week fifty eight.

The only modification from last week's plain black version is to widen the leg from the knee down. It still has the side split.

I have more Ponti fabric in the stash cupboard. Like the earlier black ponti, my other fabric is 100% wool knit but in navy and charcoal. Because the wool versions are more expensive than this printed synthetic, I wanted an extra trial before I cut more fabric.


I have lost motivation to work on Flo. This week I've been knitting the repetitive rounds on the Blue Gingham colour Lightweight Sweater. It still has a long way to go before I can cast off the body and pick up the sleeve stitches to knit them down.