SarahLizSewStyle

Here is my version of the Very Popular Butterick 5917 which I made up as my December Garment of the Month.  I'm sure a lot of you are already know this dress pattern, but if not, here is the pattern envelope: I decided to make the dress out of midnight navy seersucker cotton, which I purchased at Spotlight for $8.99 a metre.  The bodice is lined and I used a scrap of black voile that was in my leftovers stash.  I did apply interfacing along the neck edges of the self lining, although the pattern did not stipulate this- I thought it would help to stabilize the bias edge of the front neck especially. I did make a muslin of this dress - if you are interested in fitting, please read these two posts which you will find  here . This is the front of my finished dress: The side view (and for once I am using the trick used by actresses - that sort of half way sideways frontways pose  - it always looks good, so it you are a bit photo shy - try it :).  It's a pose that

Hello everyone, December has flown by and some of you have actually managed to make a garment this month - and some of you haven't - but that's okay, December is one of those sorts of months where sewing sometimes doesn't happen.  Sadly. I'm sure we all miss sewing when we can't do it.  I find it very grounding and relaxing. As you all know, the Make a Garment a Month Challenge now has it's own blog.  So, from January 2014 please post your plans and the completed garment directly to this blog, as well as your own blog of course.  The rules of the challenge are posted in the top bar of the blog.  So do check them again.  You can find the blog here. And for those of you currently completing your garments, why not post them directly on the new blog?  Some of you have already done that.  The 2013 gallery has also been posted on the new blog. ***** I have an embarrassing confession to make - I forgot to post Marianne's plans for December.  Lucki

I was busy on Boxing Day and for part of today - I decided I needed another shift dress to wear on very hot days, and decided to make one.  New Look 6095 fits the bill.  I've made it recently, so the current traced and altered pattern still fits.  it is quite a loose dress with lots of design ease, so air can easily circulate around the body.  I had a cheerful cotton poplin (from Spotlight) in this bright pattern - as the dominant colours are blue and aqua, I thought it was just right for hot days.  If you want a fitted dress, this pattern is not right - it has no front darts so is loose over the tummy.  Just what I want in the heat... Now the pictures: Front Side And lastly: Back Well, that's it for today - a very quick and simple post to match the quick and simple dress :) Sarah Liz

What a lovely gift from DH - two gift vouchers from Tessuti.  DH said that he thought that one gift voucher wouldn't be enough as Tessuti is quite expensive. DH thought of this gift all by himself with no prompting from me.  Isn't that clever of him? My DH is very shy and very camera shy so I can't introduce you to him personally - but he joked today that he was important enough to have a statue made of him.  Then he said, or is it so you remember who I am (he usually works long hours!). I don't think this is a very good likeness at all - one of his patients made it, and gave it to him - we don't know what to do with it, so it just sits in a corner.  He doesn't look nearly as serious as that - he usually has a very cheery countenance :).  I think he needs a good dusting...(as does the skirting board behind him - on tomorrow's list...). I do hope you all had a lovely Christmas :) Sarah Liz

It's Christmas Eve in Australia and so it is time for me to wish you all, wherever you are, a Merry Christmas. Sarah Liz :)

Hello Everyone, I should think many of us are busy at the moment with preparations for Christmas and Holidays.  Certainly it has  been harder to sew recently, but I did manage to make something to do - or rather, quickly refashion something.  I'll show you later in the post. I'd like to thank you all for your lovely comments this week about my new summer pants: As some of you said, these are practical sorts of pants - the sort of everyday garment we all need.  I do tend to make a lot of basic garments - I'm afraid my blog is not full of highly inspirational and creative garments, because I tend to lead a very ordinary life doing ordinary every day things.  And so it seems do so many of you - not for most of us the glamorous, airbrushed celebrity sort of life!  It's my goal to create a wardrobe of everyday wearable basics with some smart garments to work back with them, so that I always look neat and well dressed, but in a way that is entirely appropriate fo

Hi Everyone, As you all probably know, the Make a Garment a Month Challenge is moving to a new dedicated blog in January and participants will post their own plans and garments.  Most of you have sent me an email so that you can join the blog. And some of you are posting there already - which is great.  If you haven't and want to be included, please email me, stylishsarah251@gmail.com. This has been quite a month - some of you are only just starting your garments, and some of you have finished.  I guess that's December though - everyone is busy with Holidays and Christmas. Plans for December  that have come in this week: Hana: www.velvetribbonsew.blogspot.com  Hana is making a tunic dress from BurdaStyle 11/2013.  She plans to sew pearl beads around the neck opening.  This should look stunning. ***** Candyce - www.thesewcialite.com Candyce is planning to make a red dress - at this time of year, what could be better ? ***** I'm still amazed at how

This week I am finally posting garments I have been making slowly - and I mean, slowly, following my principle of doing a little sewing every day.  It's really a good approach to making those simple basics that everyone needs in their wardrobe. Today I will be showing you my version of New Look 6216, the trousers. I made them in cotton broadcloth, as I like natural fibres - they are much cooler in the  heat. The trousers are designed to sit just below the natural waistline and have an elastic waist with drawstrings. I used size 8 and just added a tiny bit at the front side waist. I didn't alter the pattern much at all except for raising the waistline an inch/2 cms.  I also made the back rise half an inch higher, as I have a long back rise.  I decided not to worry too much about fit as these are just knock around, casual trousers.  I did my standard baggy under seat alteration, and shortened the pants by 1 inch/2 cms.  The trousers have front pockets which were quite f

Finally I have made up this pattern - I was a little half hearted about it, and I'm sure I only bought the pattern out of curiosity, and because every other sewer in the blogosphere seems to have made it !  So I have now made mine :) I didn't use a good fabric for the skirt.  I had a piece of black calico and thought I would use that up - and really, what is the difference between calico and a lightweight linen in hang?  Especially when it is black - no-one will really know what it is. I cut extra length - I am not sure how much because I just cut to the amount of fabric available.  If I make it again, I will measure the skirt I have made to see what to add :) I decided to insert an ordinary lapped zipper instead of an invisible zipper - the fabric is not good enough to warrant an expensive invisible zipper, and I have a stash of ordinary zippers to use up.  I found that the pockets gaped on me a bit - I think because my hips don't fill out the skirt at all well.

Hello everyone, It was only yesterday December started, and now Christmas is only ten days away.  Which means 2014 is around the corner.  Which means new sewing goals will be needed. Before I start listing them, I would like to welcome four new followers to this blog - and they are Geannenek, Kate, Diane, and Anne who are following  via bloglovin and Fran, who is following via this blog.  ***** Have you noticed how many sewing bloggers are talking about their sewing goals for 2014?  I guess the New Year is a time of re-assessment and resolution.  I have certainly been thinking about what I want to make in 2014.    I hadn't been sewing much for the decade or so prior to 2013 so I was a bit rusty.  So this year I got back into practice by making a lot of very basic garments that are boring to make, but certainly got me back into the sewing mode.  And, having got the boring basics out of the way (you know the sort of thing - the trousers for casual around the house,

Hi Everyone, The news this week is that the Make a Garment a Month Challenge has a new home.  The challenge has been so successful that a separate blog is needed.   The rules for participation are simple - basically, make a garment for yourself, post your plans on your blog and the Make a Garment a Month blog at the beginning of the month (which may be half way through the month for some of you !!) and then make the garment.  When you have finished at the end of the month, write your post and post your garment to the  Make a Garment a Month Challenge blog. Lots of you have already emailed me - if you haven't, please do so, and I will send you an invitation to join the Make a Garment a Month Challenge blog.  It is easier if you email me, because I need your email address to send the invite to.  My email is stylishsarah251@gmail.com. Before I start the rest of the December plans (and some went up last week )   another completed November garment has been posted from Mon