SarahLizSewStyle

Simplicity 4032 The 2013 Style the Stash Sew A Long starts tomorrow on the 1st June.  For those of you new to this blog, this is a small sew-a-long for stashists and stashaholics who want some encouragement to use their stashes.  To see what we are up to, visit: www.stylethestashsewalong.blogspot.com I really need to make a basic casual wardrobe capsule and thought I would start with a casual jacket. This pattern is sized for knits and  I am going to use a lightweight polar fleece.  I'm not that familiar with sewing knits so I am going to make up a muslin first out of the scraps left over from the warm cosy pants. I also don't know how Simplicity's sizes work with my shape, so that is another good reason to test the pattern. Although it's not fun, I traced the pattern pieces in the size I wanted - that way, if I am way off track, I still have the pattern to retrace in another size. Facing traced off and cut I have marked the waistline on back and

A walk on the wild side Hello everybody, It's well known that I am a very classic and conservative dresser.  I do not do trends.  I can't even bring myself to make a red skirt, even though I have  the  fabric in my stash. So why have I succumbed to the patterned pants trend? I somehow like this tribal look meets kaleidoscope print.  It's really a bit bright for me, but I am going to throw caution to the wind and live dangerously for once in my life. I don't think I would make this fabric up in a tailored trouser, but I think I am rather tempted by the Cut and Sew and Go in One Hour approach, after months of making tedious trouser muslins.  A little bit of instant gratification is called for. And any fitting imperfections are going to be lost in the busyness of this print... I'm going to use a McCall's  legging pattern again, cut larger so that these become slim fitting pants.  The front and back are in one piece - which will work well with

Yesterday I quickly made some lounge pants - very warm, cosy, snuggly, polar fleece rug up pants for cooler winter nights - my joints do feel the cold :). I used a pattern for leggings as the basis of these pants.  My logic for this choice was - my legs are thin, all pants patterns are too large in the legs, why not use skinny leggings to get a slim fit pant. McCalls M6173 Leggings are not what I wear, for a variety of reasons, but I am glad I used them for these trousers as the version I made did not have any side seams!  One less piece of cutting and sewing... Front and Back in one piece. As you can see, this means that the side is completely straight - which is good for me, because I am also completely straight from the hips down.  I began to feel quite optimistic that these would be okay. As I did not want a tight legging look, I cut out a size bigger than my measurements would suggest.  I also knew that polar fleece is quite thick and would take up a little bi

Every evening for the last fortnight I have come home and wished I had comfy, warm, pants to wear for relaxing.  Come to think of that, I think I said that last year as well. So I decided to get on with it and  managed to make two pairs of comfy house/lounging pants today.   They are really wearable muslins because I wanted to test a new pattern.  I made them both out of polar fleece.  I used a leggings pattern as I thought a larger size would just turn out to be slim fitting trousers on me.  I was right.  This was the pattern I used: McCalls 6173 The pants look better on than the photo above suggests, but as it is getting late here and I haven't had dinner, I'll take a photo with me in them tomorrow. For those of you in the 2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long the blog is up and running.  This is the link: www.stylethestashsewalong.blogspot.com I'll post more tomorrow, Do have a good day or evening wherever you are< Sarah Liz :)

As some of you know I am facilitating a Stash Busting Sew-A-Long - the 2013 Style the Stash Sew-A-Long - which needed a button so you can add it to your sidebar and connect through to see what we are up to - or join us, if you want to.  I'll give you details at the end of the post. You wouldn't think that such a simple little text button like this could have caused me hours and hours and hours of headaches.  Yes, I spent about two working days (about 16 hours) on working out how to make and code and image button for the 2013 Style The Stash Sew-A-Long which I am facilitating: Link: www.stylethestashsewalong.blogspot.com This was my first attempt at making a button.  I had never used photoshop before and had no idea how to make an image button or how to code it. So I had several attempts and several woeful failures. I decided to keep the first button simple, text and that's it .  How simple that should be.  I knew I needed an image file and I knew

Hello everyone; This is the time of week I stop and sit down with a cup of coffee and review last week's blogs and write up next weeks schedule. It's also the time of week where I welcome new followers.  This week I would like to welcome Stephen. ***** Last week I wrote about body shapes and the styles that would work best for those shapes so that the positive aspects of your shape is enhanced, and the negative aspects diminished.  This is an introductory guide only  and from your spirited comments it seems more discussions are needed in the future.  I won't be able to do that next week because I have to work on the 2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long Blog.  But I will return to this subject in future posts.  I am thrilled you enjoyed them :) *****  Next week I will have to spend some time working on the site for the stash busting sew-a-long that I am hosting. A separate blog has been established: www.stylethestashsewalong.blogspot.com This means I will not

Another week has gone by and I don't seem to have got much sewing done - but then I have been busy organising the 2013 Style The Stash Sew-A-Long which starts on June 1st and runs until December 31st.  The blog is up although it is still under construction you are welcome to post - if you have indicated that you would like to participate please email me with your email address so that I can add you to the blog contributors.  My email is stylishsarah251@gmail.com.  This is the link for the 2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long: www.stylethestashsewalong.blogspot.com . I've also been working on my knitting - I started a big, warm, woolly cardigan in January because I knew it would take me a while to finish it - by which time winter would be here ( I live in Australia).  I was right, it has taken time, and I've got lots of bits.  I'm working on the collar now, then it will be finished except for all the darning in of ends and sewing up.  Not my favourite job :) The back

AN UPDATE ON THE STYLE THE STASH SEW-A-LONG: Hi Everyone, We have some new participants in the 2013 Style The Stash Sew-A-Long: Natalea :http:// thefearlessseamstress.blogspot.com Christysews: http://beezekneesfashions.blogspot.com Marjorie: http://appliqueaddict.blogspot.com Shawntasews: http://shawntasews.wordpress.com Lisa Garcia is also joining us - I don't think Lisa has a blog - let me know if you do Lisa. Another Mary would also like to join us privately, and she does not have a blog. I'll be posting the full list of participants on the 1st June. Faye wondered how to post pictures of finished stash projects and wondered if I would have a separate blog or whether pictures should be emailed to me.  I thought setting up a separate blog (hosted by me on behalf of us all) was a wonderful idea - thank you, Faye. I have set up a blog with a very basic introduction and instructions on how to post directly to the blog. To directly post to the bl

Hello Everyone I've had quite a few comments about body shapes - some of you can see your own shape, and some are not so easily seeing their own shapes, so I thought a little discussion might help. The last series has introduced the concept of body shape.  I haven't totally finished yet but every so often will be introducing new posts to further clarify shape analysis - along with other aspects of style.  I plan to do this throughout the rest of the year when time permits. ***** Every one has their own unique combination of curves and angles - and not one shape template can accommodate all the different shapes and size combinations in the world. They are meant as a guide only - really you can break the shapes down into 3 main categories: Bottom Heavy                Top Heavy                        Strai ght er Shape Plus - Sh o rt (Petite, has a sligh tly different s hap e ) Average Tall   Plus-  Scale  - Frame size an d w eig

Today I am going to talk about the Petite figure.  Petite means that your height is 5'4"(162.5 cm)  or under.  If you are a petite you figure is subtly different from that of a taller lady - you have broadish shoulders and have a compact shape.  You may also have characteristics of the 5 body shapes already mentioned - in which case use the appropriate body shape style suggestions  in addition to the guidelines I am about to give you here. The main goal for the Petite is to create the illusion of height while at the same time not overwhelming the figure with too much fullness or fabric. Petites often have problems being taken seriously, so these guidelines are also useful in situations where you want to create more authority in your persona. WHAT TO WEAR One colour from head to feet will create length and proportion and give you a better silhouette. Dark neutrals head to toe will make you look taller and thinner. You will need slightly shorter tops and jackets.

This is the last figure shape I will be discussing in this series - although I will be posting some ideas for petite (under 5'4") figures tomorrow. The rectangle is the straight up and down figure, with minimal waist.  She can be quite slender and boyish or a stockier build.  Hips and shoulders are in line and bust, waist and hip measurements are quite similar - although some rectangles can have a larger bust.  In short, she doesn't have much of a defined waistline.  The body is angular and legs can be quite long. Her bottom and hips are usually flat. This figure looks great in trousers (pants), although they are usually too small at the waist if they fit her hips.  Her biggest challenge is to add curves to her shape. I'll do this figure type  in two sections, because I think the slim athletic boyish rectangle is vastly different from the mature rectangle figure who tends to carry weight around her mid section.  That's the midlife figure, ladies! WHAT T