There has been sewing....

 and lots of it. Just not all this weekend. Many of these are from last year but never talked about.These little capes are new.
 I just loved the little cape from Silhouette patterns #85. I made this first one before I had the good sense to go over to Pattern Review and see what others thought. I had exactly the same thing happen with the sleeves. Sausage casings!! I did not have a huge amount of fabric to muck with so the piece I had cut out for the belt got inserted in the slash I made from wrist to wrist. Success. It now fits. I then added that same amount (15cm) to the long edge of the sleeve when I cut out the second one.

#85

Bit hard to see but the extra piece added in.

 I got a bit creative with this one. There are 9 body sections in this cape, 2 the same for the cb and 7 others that make up the rest of the donut. I sewed the 2 cb and 4 of the others the right way out then sewed the remaining 3 the other way out. This was so the fabric would show the same way out when the front sections were flipped back. Worked like a charm. It is a really cool little cape and I am sure I will wear it a lot. If you are going to make it remember to turn the sleeve so you cut with the stretch running around your arm and increase the width if you have normal sized arms. Stick insect arms will be fine as per pattern.


 Another Silhouette pattern is Georgio's Top #312. I  made three of these before I came up for air and then I lent the pattern to a friend who made about 6 of them before she stopped. This is an excellent pattern but you must watch the fabric choice. It MUST be a very stretchy knit. This blue one is an el cheapo fabric which looks fab with denim. Miranda is not modelling it very well which is unusual for her but it is easy to wear and moves nicely when on.

#312

 This brown version is a tighter knit and fits a bit snugger. The sleeves are a bit tight but that is a fabric problem not a pattern error. My cutting could have been a lot better too but from memory I didn't have a lot of choice as fabric was limited. To me it looks like there is a placket at cf. I still love it tho and wear it a lot.

#312

 This red one is the first one I made and the reason I made 2 more. It is an exxy ITY knit that is just beautiful. I have worn this heaps and still love it. I think this must be the fabric Peggy had in mind when she drafted this pattern.










Vogue 8793.
I must always remember to look at the body shape of the person drafting the pattern!!!! This Tilton top has skinny arms, I mean stick insect thin. Now, if I go and look at those talented Tilton sisters guess what I see? Skinny arms on the both of them. Now if I stand in front of a mirror what do I see? Not skinny arms that's for sure. Not skinny anything really, oh except for hair. I really could do with fat hair. Anyway, I innocently cut this pattern out and sewed her up and came to try it on. It works everywhere else except the arms. Fortunately it is only the forearms that are really tight but I have learnt my lesson. Draft fatter arms on the Tilton patterns. The neckline is supposed to have a zip finish but I thought that might be a bit scratchy for me so I used a couple of different fabrics instead. I have this really cool zebra short pile velour that I have made a skirt from in the past and I also had a contrasting blue interlock.

 Butterick 5480
I was watching breakfast TV one morning which is very unusual for me and this newsreader came on wearing this fabulous red top that I knew I had to have. I found this pattern that day in a bargain bin for $3.00. Easy to make and easy to wear. The pics on the pattern envelope are just horrid so don't let that put you off. I always feel a bit like a pirate in this top but I love it nonetheless.

Add caption

This is the first one I made before I cut into the good stuff.




 Hmmm. This one is a mystery. I just had a look for the pattern and cannot locate it. I have made it up a couple of times now with a variety of necklines. This blue is just so pretty. A sheer with a silver glitter line all over it. Not photographing well.

Fairy fabric

Silver glitter

Another version with a cowl neckline

Very groovy fabric

 

Bra keepers

 I saw a top very similar to this on a friend and decided to have a go at it myself. I cannot remember what pattern I used but all I did was to enlarge the cowl so it would drop lower. Having done that it would not stay on my shoulders so I used the age old remedy of bra keepers. I think that's what they are called. Probably not but you can see the job they do. A small piece of ribbon is sewn into the shoulder seam and then one half of a snap fastener is sewn onto the free end. Sew the other half of the snap onto the seam. Hook it under your bra strap then go cross eyed trying to do it up. Oh for a maid to dress me! The fabric is a beautiful sheer mesh which drapes beautifully.

 This black top I made ages ago from Simplicity 2283. Another pattern where the pic on the front does nothing to sell the pattern. They have a silly vest over the top and it hides the lovely detail in the shoulder yoke. The fabric is a black burn out that looks great with a hot colour underneath.

I am flying to NZ on Wednesday so no sewing for at least a couple of weeks. I will update with photos of beautiful scenery instead and markets and food and fabric shops and other kiwi type things.

Keep pedaling!