SarahLizSewStyle

 My winter basics of black polar fleece leggings and corduroy skirts were also planned to go with a selection of me made handknits. I made this red cowl neck jumper about two years ago, out of a yarn I purchased at Spotlight - it's a mix of wool, mohair and soya fibre.  It was strange to knit with and doesn't handle the same as mohair - it's got a bit of bounce to it. I just love the cowl neck - it's flattering, but not so deep and saggy that it gets in the way (or catches too many toast crumbs from winter lunches !) This is my black version - and although a similar yarn, it knitted up quite differently.  I love both of these jumpers though, and the odd idiosyncratic happening just adds to the me made charm. The cowl on the black version is more like an oversized roll neck collar - but it is still smart to wear. As you know, I have made three skirts recently out of corduroy - a straight skirt and two A-Line skirts. Straight skirt

I'm very much a planner when it comes to sewing.  I do try and make all of my garments work with each other.  This winter I have made a polar fleece jacket, a polar fleece vest, and three corduroy skirts. Polar fleece vest The polar fleece vest can be worn with any of my three new skirts.  As can my polar fleece jacket. Polar fleece jacket Two skirts are A line corduroy skirts and the third is a straight skirt with godet pleat at the back. Black A-Line Corduroy skirt Grey Corduroy A Line Skirt I've paired the vest with the black corduroy straight skirt: Vest with skirt And I've paired the jacket with the black corduroy straight skirt: Jacket with skirt I've also made two pairs of polar fleece leggings - always planned to go with casual cardigans.  I could also put them with casual jumpers. That is all the winter sewing I plan to do this year.  I'm going to get a head start on spring/summer sewing - or maybe, just catc

Hello everyone - it's my Sunday again - some of you will still be in Saturday.  It's 3.30 pm here and I am having a cup of coffee while enjoying both writing my blog and commenting on yours. I also use this time each week to welcome new followers to my blog - so hi and welcome to Lyn J, Lyn P and Claudia - all of you following with Bloglovin. * This week saw the end of a block of work I did not enjoy so now I shall have a little more energy for my blog - which I want to rework and get into some sort of order (organisation being something I love!). I am also looking forward to catching up on some sewing - and with winter half way through here it's time to think about spring/summer sewing. I'll start with making practical, classic, casual basics that I can wear around the house or out and about in more relaxed situations.  I like plain cotton as I live in a humid climate - and cotton breathes and lets perspiration evaporate, which allows the body to cool. 

I've been working for half an hour a day on making this simple A-Line skirt.  I finished it today - and I finished my end of year bookwork yesterday, so I'll soon get back to normal with sewing (I hope - a bit low in the mojo today - that can happen after a demanding stint of tedious work you don't really like). My original inspiration came from seeing this skirt by Margaret Howell. This is from her Autumn/Winter 2010 range.  I love her practical, classic, casual designs.  I'm sorry the picture is such a small one, but if I enlarge it, the picture becomes far too blurry to see much detail.  At least the line of the skirt is clear in this picture. I have made this skirt (and two corduroy skirts) in the new below knee length that has been creeping in.   I also ease the area between the darts under the waistband to accomodate a rounded tummy. Grey A Line Skirt it Baby Corduroy.  I wanted a slightly sporty finish, so I used two rows of stitching at the hem

 Hello everyone - a very short post today, as I am getting ready for the dreaded day finalising the accounts tomorrow.  But I did want to talk to you about my last two posts - choosing pattern sizes. I am not a trained professional by any means and refer to books frequently to learn - and I thought I should pass on bits that might be of interest to you as I think we are all in much the same boat of teaching ourselves. Whatever size pattern you choose, do make a muslin - or at the very least check the fit of the pattern against something you know works for you and fits you.  It does save heartbreak and tears.  I'm reading a book at the moment that is used in design schools and the emphasis is on making muslins to test every concept. For those of you making pants, my post yesterday was about Nancy Zieman's suggestion about using a smaller pant size as commercial patterns are often baggy in the leg.  This means you alter the top part of the pant to fit - she claims it is

Yesterday I told you about Sandra Betzina's recommendations about choosing a pattern size using either bust measurement or high bust measurement. For those of you who missed this post: http://sarahlizsewstyle.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/what-size-pattern-should-you-use.html Quite a few of you confirmed these findings - thank you Regina, Giggles,BeaJay, Godsgirl IT, Nanna (Helen) and Sew Blessed Maw (Judy) for your comments. Giggles mentioned that many patterns have quite a bit of ease built into them, and that she goes down some sizes. Regina, Godsgirl IT and Sew Blessed Maw (Judy)  find the patterns too largein the shoulders and neck - I'm assuming you are talking about the Big 4 here.  I also find them too large in the shoulders and neck, so will be using the high bust measurement in the future. BeaJay thought that she always had to take this measurement, and BeaJay, I think that this is a good idea - a full set of measurements is always a good thing to do. I would not

Choosing a pattern size seems to be easy - the pattern companies tell you to measure your bust, waist and hips and choose a pattern size that is nearest these.  For jackets, coats, tops, and blouses it is recommended to use bust measurement.  For trousers/pants it is recommended to use the hip measurement. I often find garments far too large in the neck and shoulder, while still being firm around my bust.  I figure the bust bit is easy to work out - I have a small back, so I need to make the front a little bigger than the back.  But it isn't so easy to make the neck, armscye and shoulders smaller. Sandra Betzina, in her book "Fast Fit - Easy Pattern Alterations for Every Figure"  writes that for the Big $ (Simplicity, Butterick, McCall's and Vogue - you should use the high bust measurements as the upper chest area in these patterns is large.  The exception to this is with the Today's Fit range from Vogue patterns.  For the other companies - Kwik Sew, Neue

Yesterday I found a comment waiting on my blog from a post that was a few weeks old.  I want to thank Angel for her comment and would like to share it all with you... You actually made that yourself? Impressive! It's beautiful. I love fleece jackets, i have a few but i bought them. I'm not really good in sewing. i'm really impressed with what you've made. It's really beautiful. I really thought you got them in department stores or online stores. (the jacket Angel is referring to is my polar fleece jacket.  The jacket and comment can be found here: http://sarahlizsewstyle.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/my-new-jacket-blurry-out-of-focus-self.html ) Blog friends and sewers, are you like me, do you sometimes take your skills for granted?  I know I do, and also often chastise myself for not "being good enough" at sewing - of course, really, I'm still learning, and will do so for the rest of my life. I think we should all think about what Angel says

 Sunday already - and I have been sitting down with a cup of coffee and reading a few blogs - something I always enjoy on Sunday afternoons. I also enjoy welcoming new followers to my blog - and this week it's time to welcome Andrea, Me (Anna) and EbtehhR (I am sorry I do not have your language on my keyboard, I think you may be from somewhere around the USSR). As you all know, I'm in the middle of a tedious patch at work, but next week should see this thorn in the side over.  So I'm a bit edgy and irritable - that's what happens when you can't get your sewing fix.  I'm sure quite a few of you suffer sewing withdrawals when life demands other things from you :). I did decide it was a good opportunity to clean my overlocker though.  I have used some fluffy fabrics recently - corduroy and polar fleece - both black.   Fluff was all through the machine.  I use a soft brush to remove it: The brush is a cheap cosmetic brush - it has very soft hairs and pi

Today I needed some stress relief so I quickly made up this skirt - it only takes a couple of hours to make up, as it is very basic and also unlined.  I can't tell you what pattern it is, because it is one of my tracings labelled "A-Line Skirt".  In any case, all A-Lines are much the same :).  This one is made from baby wale cord. I really like simple clothes and have wanted this style of skirt for some time, after seeing this one by English designer Margaret Howell.  Her focus is on simple styles in basic fabrics, all traditional and classic cuts. Margaret Howell Fall/Winter 2010-2011 I tend to keep pictures of things I like - and I still like this skirt in 2013, so it must be fairly timeless. I can wear it with my recently made polar fleece jacket: And my recently made polar fleece vest: I really should model the skirt, but time has run away with me today so I will do that another day - after I've finished the tedious project I'm stuck wit

I've been making a lot of trouser muslins recently.  I usually have a muslin making binge when I have other life activities that preclude the sort of sewing where you have to concentrate.  At the moment it is end of financial year bookkeeping/accounting issues, and I'm thoroughly fed up - hope to have most of it done by end of next week. A year or so ago I also had one of these life patches (probably essays and exams) - and I made up a lot of jacket muslins. I stored them away in a container, and had almost forgotten about them. I then thought that it would be a good idea to actually document all my muslins on this blog in my muslin gallery. That way I will have a good reference place and can see what I have.  I had four jacket muslins in my container.  The first was M5063. M5063.  I've had this pattern for years, and like it as much now as I did when I purchased it.  I like all the garments shown, but have only made a jacket muslin: Front, M5063 Ba