Fabric Inheritance!

My wonderful mother-in-law (well, actually, my sister’s MIL, but we like to share!) used to be a very talented sewer, but fell out of habit in the last while. She took a tailoring course back in the 70’s and 80’s, and even built herself a custom dressform… She used to make suits for herself and all kinds of stuff for the family. Lucky for me, she has sent me a huge shopping bag crammed with fabric from her stash! (Technically, ANOTHER bag, since she already gave me some big pieces of lining and wool plaids back in the winter.) 

Look how fun: 

Two jersey knits - The floral is only in little scraps, but I think it would make a great contrast yoke for a Renfrew.

Two or three metres of this polyester, which is completely 80’s… but also really calls my name! It’s black, it’s striped, it has teal and purple - What’s not to like? I think it might become a dress. 

Orange gingham, white linen-look poly, some navy poly and turquoise twill…

This lovely soft light-weight wool tartan, with beautiful colours…

… and several metres of this wool tartan with Olympic rings! We figure it must date back to either the 1978 Olympics in Montreal or the ‘88 Olympics in Calgary. Either way, it’s something I never guessed would exist!

I’m honoured and excited for the fabric, but also for the family memories being shared: My Brother-In-Law remembers being three years old and sitting in his Dad’s lap while his father wore a housecoat made of this fabric. There are only a few scraps left, but I think it needs to become a special gift for my BIL. (Shhh!!!)

Most of all, I’m so grateful to have an extended family who values sewing! Thank you, Lynda, for sharing your stash!

I made a t-shirt!

I made a t-shirt. ImadeatshirtIMADEATSHIRTIMADEATSHIRT! And it took less than an hour. And it’s wearable! (Wearable-ish, at least!) Thank you, Sewaholic Renfrew!

I traced the pattern last night, and cut and sewed it today! It’s a straight size 14, serged up with a rather narrow seam allowance. It’s a big baggy, but not bad! I think with a stretchier knit it would be quite different… and we’ll see what this one is like after I wash it! 

It’s a wee bit long in the back (Or is that a swayback?) Next time I’ll make the bands a bit tighter… But really, who am I kidding? I’m thrilled with this shirt! I thought it was going to be an unwearable muslin, just to dip my toe in the jersey pond. I really can’t believe it’s this easy! I’ll definitely be making more soon! 

Another Truffle Skirt!

Voila! My first finished garment during Me-Made May. 

It’s another skirt inspired by my love for the Colette Ginger skirt! I used the Truffle skirt for the basic shape, but blended out to the more-A-lined shape of a Peony towards the hem. 

For reference, here’s my original, which I wore yesterday for MMM. 

I was worried it would feel strange to wear something so high-waisted, but it was really confortable all day. I love it when clothing stays in place and feel effortless!

Back to the new skirt. I made it with some cotton twill from my mother’s stash (She reckons she’s had it for at least 20 years, since that colour was last popular!) 

It’s fully lined, since I wear leggings or tight with skirt a lot. Last time I carefully drafted a shaped waistband, but this time I just used a straight strip and angled it in at the side seams. It sits at my natural waist, but isn’t tight. 

I even inserted a zipper! Not very invisibly, but I really don’t care. At least I don’t have to shimmy into this one! :P

I moved the zipper from the centre back to the side so that I could cut the back and front both on the fold. Easy peasy! 

I’m really pleased that it goes so well with this version of the Sewaholic Pendrell pattern, which languished in my UFO pile for a while. I made this shirt out of a beautiful Japanese lawn (think Liberty cotton but only $13/m). I love all the colours in it, but I’ve been having a hard time finding the right way to wear it. I like this combination! I even had the perfect me-made necklaces on hand. I made these right when I started blogging (way, way back in the fall! :P) using fabric from a stripy rainbow scarf. (Mini tute here!) 

Making these skirts has really motivated me to look at dress patterns as potential fodder for skirts and tops! Next, I’m hoping to make a couple blouse version of the New Look 6022 dress that I made in denim last month. 

I’m off to a 50% off sale at Fabricland (basically the one and only fabric store in Ontario which can be found outside major cities!) I’m even driving 45min to a bigger location to get a better selection! Sewing is wonderful, isn’t it? Addictive, but wonderful!

MMM/Japanese for Crafters, Day 6-8

Konnichiwa! O genki desu ka? If you’ve been following along my Me-Made May  Japanese for Crafters challenge, then you’ll know that means: Hello! How are you? 

I’m finding my groove now for MMM, and even managing to get some sewing done. I’ve finished another knock-off Ginger skirt, and this one even has a zipper! (Imagine that!) I’m working on a heavily-modified Licorice dress for the les challenge of the Colette Sew-Along. It’s also Mother’s Day this weekend, so I’d better whip something up for that! 

As for Me-Made May, here are my outfits over the last few day: 

Day 6: 

Not only is my husband gaining confidence taking pictures of me, and figuring out what I’m hoping for in an outfit photo, he’s also taken on directorial duties. After a few shots of me joking awkward, he starts pulling faces, shooting crazy angles, and generally trying to make me laugh. And that, my friends, is how we ended up with this pictue of me “falling” down the hill! 

Also how we ended up with this: The devil on my shoulder. 

He’s a drama teacher and loves any kind of performing, so he’s turning up in my pictures more and more often! Works for me - His pictures always make me laugh!

Oh yeah: Wearing a me-made necklace and New Look 6022 in denim. 

Day 7: 

I was just not feeling it this day. It was cold and raining, and I couldn’t figure out how to break out of the rut I’m in for accessorizing this Peony dress! In the end I thought, “Screw it, let’s take some pictures!”

Which led to this: 

Frowning and pissed off. Definitely not living up the the word “kawaii” (cute) that I was teaching that day! At which point, Jamie started threatening to, um… moon the parking lot next door, which brought me to this: 

A highly-entertained and much happier me! (And no, his pants stayed on!)

It was a good reminder for me not to fixate on styling and being stylish. I’m much happier when I’m focused on the people and activities I love, instead of trying to live up to someone else’s imaginary standards. 

Wearing: Floral Peony, me-made belt. Flower pin that used to be on hair elastic.

Day 8: 

Today, I’m keeping it simple with a me-made scarf. What can I say? Sometimes I just really want to wear jeans and t-shirt. (And look who shows up again!)

This scarf is actually made of two different navy stripe fabrics, although it’s a bit hard to tell. It’s great to teach in because I don’t have to worry about it falling off or getting lopsided during the day!

After a great suggestion from Magpie Mimi on my last post, I sat down on Sunday to plan out my outfits for the week. It turns out that almost every outfit requires a cardigan - so the most challenging part was figuring out which cardigan to wear when and with what! It’s already making getting dressed in the morning quicker and easier. Thanks, Mimi!

Hope your month continues to go well!

MMM Thoughts / Japanese for Crafters, Day 4 and 5

Oh boy. I totally underestimated how much work Me-Made May would be! Getting dressed takes more thought, and then there’s a quick photoshoot before work… and then editing, posting to Flickr, blogging… Of course it’s fun, and I’m enjoying it, but geez. I feel like I don’t have mental space or actual time for sewing or real blogging! 

Is anyone else in the same boat? (Please tell me that you are!) A month is looking like a long time right now!

(Lovely free desktop calendar from SarahHearts.com)

Here’s my new plan: I think I was naive to want to blog MMM every day.. so I’m bumping it down to once or twice a week. The flickr pools is really fun and active, so I’ll stick with that most days. 

I’m also actively trying to use the Flickr pool for more than just compliments. I mean, EVERYONE’S stuff is lovely! That’s really a given. Of course we’re all tickled pink when people compliment our stuff, and I think that’s an important part of gaining confidence in our sewing and personal style… but I also think it’s a missed opportunity if we don’t bring the discussion deeper than that. I’ve really enjoyed asking questions about patterns and techniques, and getting to know some new sewers through their thoughtful responses. 

Finally, I’m making more work for myself (but in a fun way!) by incorporating a Japanese word a day into my MMM pictures. It’s just a little pet project, but it’s making me feel less self-conscious about posing! :) 

Enough talking - More Me-Made May! Here are my pictures from Day 4 and 5: 

Day 4: Yoroshiku = Nice to meet you! (Well, sort of. This one is a very indirect translation… but after you say “Hello/Konnichiwa”, and introduce yourself “Watashi wa ___ desu.”, this is the next part! The polite version is “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu”, but let’s not be too formal!)

i.e. “Konnichiwa! Watashi wa Gillian desu. Yoroshiku!” 

Heading off to teaching kindergarten in a me-made double knit skirt (copied from a RTW) and jersey cowl. (Even though the weather is getting warmer, I’m still addicted to wearing leggings or tights under skirts. I spend part of every day with a class full of kids  sitting on a carpet while I sit on a chair, and they are right at knee hight as I sit! I don’t want to have to worry to much about what they see! :P)

Day 5: Yes = Hai!

(Sounds like Hi or high! ;) And it should be a short sound… almost like you are getting punched in the stomach while you say it! Of course, if you want to be more ladylike, you could say a nice, soft “Ehhhhh” … or you could sound manly and say “Unh” like a grunt! 

For example: 

         Q: Do you have a fabric stash?

         A: Hai! My stash is big, but somehow I’m always buying for fabric…

Wearing: Colette Truffle, in honour of my Mother-In-Law’s birthday lunch!

So here’s a question for you to answer in the comments (in Japanese or English!): 

Are you enjoying getting dressed for MMM each day?

MMM/Japanese for Crafters, Day 3

Konnichiwa! Hope you are well today, and still enjoying Me-Made May!

It’s Day 3 of Japanese for Crafters:

Today’s phrase is “My name is ______. / Watashi wa _____ desu!”

Wearing: Glass pendant necklace.

i.e. Konnichiwa! Watashi wa Gillian desu. I’m for Canada, and this month I’m showing a Japanese word or phrase each day in Tezukuri no go-gatsu!

(Hello! I’m Gillian. I’m from Canada, and this month I’m showing a Japanese word or phrase each day in Me-Made May!)

Try it in the comments, and you’ll make my day! ;)

MMM/Japanese for Crafters, Day 2

It’s the second day of Me-Made May, which also means that it’s the second day of…

In an attempt to spice up my daily photos for MMM, I’ll be including a Japanese word or phrase every day that would help you chat with a crafter should you find yourself in Japan! (I’m sure we all wish that was more likely!) Fair warning though: I’m a Canadian who has spent 5 years living in Japan, so if you spot a grammar mistake in my nihongo, please forgive me!

Today’s word is that start of every good conversation: Hello! 

(Wearing Colette Peony dress made in fabrics from Alexander Henry’s Larkspur line. Bonus: There’s a wild bunny somewhere on the lawn behind me!)

i.e. “Konnichiwa! Nice to meet you! My name is Gillian. What is yours?”

Now, if you are going to remember a new word, it’s always good to use it right away… so I dare you to say "Konnichiwa" in the comments! 

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In non-MMM news, I bought and downloaded the Pattern Runway Kimono pattern yesterday… and it turns out that while my bodice fits the biggest size, my hips and waist are 4 inches too big for the Large! Seriously guys, I’m not tiny, but neither am I giant. Maybe they could have made an XL as well as an XS and XXS? I can adapt the pattern easily, but I feel like I shouldn’t have to!