Planning to Sew.

I'm feeling quite chuffed after finding out one of my drawings has been featured on Odosketch! Unfortunately I can't claim the design as my own. It's based on an old matchbox cover I saw on Flickr.



Ah, the excitement! Honestly, anything would seem exciting to me after spending hours in a biochemistry prac. Although I am starting to find Gilson pipetting quite therapeutic :)

Anyway, I am in desperate need of a new Burda magazine. Especially seeing as the few I own are my mother's from the mid 80's. Here's a Burda skirt she made about 25 years ago, which I have stolen from the dress-ups.


I made the stripey shirt from a bundle of stretch cotton I picked up for $3 at Red Cross. Comfiest shirt in existence, but sadly needs to be worn with a singlet underneath (the photos don't show just how revealing it is...).

I would very much like to make this blouse:


But I should try and draft it myself for a challenge. Only another 2 months before I'm back home with a machine!

Return to college life.

I'm back in Brisbane for my second year of uni! I'm very excited, however I will be without a sewing machine for a few months. Very sad stuff, especially considering I've left my gorgeous 1930s Singer treadle machine at home (a recent purchase, but more on that later!). If anyone knows anything about treadle machines, let me know because I'm eager to get mine working :)

To fill the crafty void in my life, I'm teaching myself crochet. It is very addictive and is a good way to make my hands sore. I also have no idea what I'm doing. My first project is this chain mesh beret by millionish. Halfway through I ran out of the ugly pink wool I found in the back of the cupboard at home. So now it looks like a clown collar! I'll go searching for some other pink wool - I think it will soon find a home in my little cousin's dress-up box :)



I've moved into an ensuite room at college this year! It's massive compared to my old room, so I am enjoying it a great deal!



I also have a little art station now...



Despite my room being quite large, there isn't a great deal of storage space. This means my textbooks are left balanced precariously on this little dresser...



More sewing posts to come soon - I feel compelled to show off my treadle machine :D

Nancy Drew wouldn't wear this.

Here's the lowdown: I have no nice shirts for uni, but heaps of dresses. I cannot wear dresses to pracs. Despite this, I continue sewing dresses. I'm slowing starting to crawl my way out of this predicament thank goodness! Here's my first effort. Is it a success? Maybe. Comfy? Mildly. Does it exude a strong pyjama-top vibe? Definitely.


I disciplined myself on Australia Day to sit down and make a comfy top from an old sheet I thrifted for $2 from Red Cross. I dug up McCall's 7562 "Make it Tonight, Wear it Tomorrow" Pattern and set about altering View A.



First off I copied the bodice onto greaseproof paper and extended it down past the natural waistline to about hip-level. I (stupidly) forgot to flare the bodice out around the hips, so it sits a little snug. No matter, it's a good learning process to go through.

See the flappy-thing at the front? This had to go, so I restructured the neckline to allow for the bib. I quickly drew out the shape for the bib and began to pintuck it. I actually love to pintuck! Weird, I know, but I find it really soothing. It was a bit fiddly sewing the bib and lace onto the bodice, but I managed to get it done without tears.


Everything else was pretty smooth sailing thank goodness! The instructions for the pattern didn't really produce the neatest garment, so next time I use it I'll probably make it up myself. Here's the front:



The back isn't as nice. It looks a bit saggy:


All in all, it's not too bad. I think it treads a very fine line between a casual blouse and a daggy pyjama top. But hey, I have another top to wear to uni :D