Winter 2003

Black Pinstripe skirt Pattern: Kwik Sew 3003 view B (a 4-gore bias cut elastic waist skirt) Fabric: Poly/rayon suiting. This material was used for pants also, with the total fabric costing $16.50. There is still about half a metre left.

Fuchsia tee Pattern: Kwik Sew 2306 (OOP raglan sleeve top) Fabric: A fuchsia cotton lycra from Terry Textile Cost: $6 for 90cm of material but I used less than 75cm.

Hot pink tee Pattern: I adapted Kwik Sew 3003 so that it had a jewel neck and long sleeves (I used the neckline of KS2900). Fabric: A hot pink mystery belnd (probably poly/cotton) Cost: I bought 1.2 meters for $3.60.

3 Pink tops
Patterns: Kwik Sew 3003 View B (Turtleneck top with cuffed half sleeves); Kwik Sew 2306 (OOP raglan sleeve top) and Kwik Sew 3032 View A (singlet top with bust gathers)
Fabric: A pale pink rayon/poly/cotton knit.
Cost:I bought 2.2 meter for a few dollars...this was enough for the three tops.
I used a purple ribbing with Kwik Sew 2306 as I did not have another suitale colour. I love all these patterns.

Autumn 2003

PJs
Pattern: Kwik Sew 2900 for the top and Vogue 2565 for the pants
Fabric: Purple cotton/poly ribbed knit and a pink "silk." The fabric was bought at a local store. As I suspected, the pants look much better made in a drapey material. I made another top in a light blue knit and intended to make a second pair of pants in a navy "silk." However, I am yet to cut out the navy pants, and they may become some regular pants.

Winter coat Pattern: Kwik Sew 3096, view B. Fabric: Black polar fleece This is a very simple and stylish coat. It was made up in less than a day, including cutting out and using a decorative stitch (I used a hot pink thread to contrast with the black). As the sleeves and collar turn back, I used the "fluffier" side of this particular kind of fleece on the inside.

White top
Pattern: Kwik Sew 2856
Fabric: White ribbing (probably cotton and polyester)
I made the mistake of washing this material and it refused to lay flat. So I used it to road test this pattern. The pattern is great (as can be expected from KS) and it is fine to wear inside the house. In the future I may make this in a slightly warmer material, as the collar does not sit nicely under a jacket (making it suitable to be made into a jumper).

Summer 2003

Dress for Wedding
Pattern: Vogue 2153, an OOP Vogue Marc Jacobs pattern. View C was used, and is described as being a bias cut, mid-knee, loose fitting dress, with vee neck and front neckline pleat.
Fabric: Silver with chinese flower-print "satin"
Problems: I had a hard time with the neckline. The upper front facing is an extension of the front piece. There is a slash that is spread to form a straightline and attached to the (also straight) side of the lower facing. I didn't like this at all, as I find there is always a little material that wants to form a fold. I didn't worry to much about getting it perfect, as part of the design is to form a pleat at the vee neck, which hides mysewing sins!

Another area I do not like is the shoulder/armhole seams (sew part of the armhole seam, turn right side out and sew shoulder seams then hand stitch the rest of the armhole). There is not a lot of room to be flexible.

Despite these issues, I love the designs. I will most probably sew it again, because I love the way the dress looks when finished. I would like to try it in a light weight linen. It was such a breeze when I made it in a cotton/linen, and I think a dress would be better!

White tops Pattern: Kwik Sew 3032, View A top (V-neck singlet with gathers at bust); Burda 2564 Fabric: White poly/rayon knit Problems: The only change I made to the first top was to use clear elastic instead of seam tape (it gathered like a dream). Also, when topstitching the armhole hems, I like to add some small clips so that the fabric sits flat where the armhole is very curved.

Navy floral skirt
Pattern: Traced from Burda WOF (108 in 3/2001). A very elegant pattern - a below knee skirt with diagonal flounce.
Fabric: I used a navy floral rayon. A drapey fabric is a must so that the hem hangs nicely.
Alterations to pattern: I made some alterations: I used a normal zipper as I didn't have a navy invisible zipper on hand. I also used a different technique to finish the hems than the one used (zig zag finish). The instructions were above average for Burda WOF, as it was one of those specially reviewed patterns.

I will probably use this pattern again, as it is so elegant. The pattern lends itself to be colour-blocked.

Pink tee
Pattern: Kwik Sew 3003, view A top. This is a close fitting V-neck top, with ¾ sleeves
Fabric: Pink (think musk lollies) cotton jersey.
Excellent directions, as usual, and excellent fit.

Pink top Pattern: Kwik Sew 3032, view A top. Fabric: Pink cotton jersey. Probably not the best fabric to use, as the neckline stretched out a bit while sewing (but sits correctly on the body). This was using leftover material from another project, and it is still wearable.

Black tee
Pattern: Kwik Sew 3003, view A top (again)
Fabric: Black cotton/lycra, leftover from last year.
I used a blind stitch to hem, to save on thread (not time).With 3 metres of fabric, I mananged to sew 2 tees, a tank top and a top with draped collar. Excellent value.

White singlet
Pattern: New Look 6845
Fabric: Leftover white poly/rayon knit.
The top was perfectly sewn yet it looks like a sack on (though very much like the drawing). Good thing this garment was intended for use as a camisole.

White linen shirt Pattern: Traced from Burda WOF (118 of 7/2000) - A shirt with cap sleeves, collar and stand. Fabric: I used a lightweight white linen. Alterations: The only alteration I made to the pattern was to cut off some of the overall length. It was too unflattering otherwise. I also added an extra buttonhole as I did not space them out enough (there was no guide). So that the shirt was not too plain, I used silver buttons, which just give the shirt that "lift." I really impressed myself with the collar. I did not follow the instructions (actually, I had returned the magazine to the library already so I did not have them to follow!) I used my Reader's Digest to find a suitable collar treatment. The shirt looks very much like the line drawing of the shirt. I may make it again, but I have other shirt patterns that I am willing to try so it may be awhile before I sew it again.

Kids Band Costumes/accessories
I made some accessories to be worn by the members of the "Ribbeats" band for kids chruch. I ended up making 4 ties in the frog material, two black ties with frogs on the end, two sarongs and one head scarf.
Pattern: I used an old tie for the tie pattern. The sarongs did not require a pattern.
Fabric: I very cute frog print blue twill.

Black Pants
Pattern: Vogue 2565, View I
Fabric: I again used a cotton/nylon fabric. I am thinking that these pants look best in a more drapey material, but you have to work with the fabricss that you have avaliable to you and I am just happy to have some black casual pants.

Cord skirt
Pattern: Kwik Sew 3003, view B skirt. This is a bias cut, below the knee, A-line skirt with a centre seam.
Fabric: I used a black pinwale corduroy. Even though corduroy is one of the recommended fabrics, I would probably not use it on the future. First of all, the pattern didn't take into account the nap, and having no experience with cutting bias with nap, I have ended up with a (slightly) two-toned skirt. Also, the fabric is slightly thicker and less drapey than the other fabric that I used and as a result it "sticks out" a lot more.

Bias plaid skirt Pattern: Kwik Sew 3003, view A skirt. This is a bias cut, below the knee, A-line skirt. Fabric: A poly/rayon, mainly pink plaid Not counting leaving it to hang, this is a very fast skirt to sew. I ended up making some black binding, intending to give the skirt's hem a Hong Kong finish. I left the binding showing though, as I liked the look of the black with the contrast (plus it was easy not to hem!)

2002 | Before 2002