Pancakes and patterns

Its Shrove Tuesday and that means one thing Pancakes!!!

I don’t think my culinary skills are quite up to the standard where I’m willing to post pictures of my food on the blog but we had pancakes with maple syrup, pecans and vanilla ice cream. Yum!

My progress with the Craftsy Jean-ius course is slow but steady, I’ve watched all the videos and I must say I’m happy with the course everything is explained clearly, although the actual jeans construction lessons don’t cover more advanced ‘jeans styling’ techniques such as flat felled seams and rivets, I brought this course to learn how to get a pattern from my jeans without having to rip them apart (my previous method) and the other techniques are available elsewhere.

My progress has been slow due to two reasons. Firstly I was waiting for my silk organza to arrive, as this was only going to be drawn all over I wasn’t too worried about the quality, I brought it form ebay and it was shipped from China. The second reason it that I’m copying my favourite jeans and as they are my favourites I’m usually wearing them.

But last weekend I took them off, laundered them and Saturday set about my thread tracing I used doubled up silk thread, I wanted to make sure it was visible, it didn’t take as long as I’d expected, I watched Elizabeth Taylor in the Taming of the Shrew as I worked, and traced off my pattern onto the organza. Sunday I copied of my draft and set about trueing up the pattern. I really wasn’t looking forwards to this part and considered skipping it but reminded myself that if it’s worth doing it’s worth doing it right :)

So now I have a pattern the next stage is to create and toile and check the fit.

One Pattern, Many Looks Version 4 The Final...For Now..

Version 4 hooorrraaayyy... Finally!!!

Version 4 and I was running out of time so no real pattern changes, this version is the same as version 3 minus the faux placket and extended and extra 4cm, making it 8cm longer than the pattern straight out the envelope.

Yeah, I'm rubbish at drawing ric rac

This version is made from some navy poly blend twill (I seem to be drawn towards polyester in a navy tone) that has only been in my stash for about a year; I had originally brought it to make a pair of sailor trousers but decided it didn’t have enough weight.

 

To funk it up I added rows of red and white ric rac I found in my stash that again I didn’t know I had. I decided to hand stitch on the ric rac, a decision I was regretting when I was sewing in my lunch break to make sure it was finished in time. But in hind sight I don’t regret at all as it looks great.

Teeny tiny stitches.

Barely visible from the right side

Obligatory lining shot...

I lined again using the same maroon lining as version 3 I wasn’t sure the colour would look right but as it was all I had that was suitable so I didn’t have much choice.

I think this is the best lining attempt so far, the stitching around the zip is much better on this one.

SShhh, Von in wearing heels shocker!

During the hours I spent sewing on the ric rac I was wondering if maybe I was over-doing it but I think the outcome is well balanced. I think the ric rac makes the skirt pop and adds just the right amount of interest and I think it can still be worn in and outfit without drawing too much attention.

So that is my final make for the One Pattern, Many Looks contest. I’m really glad I entered the contest it's really kick stared 2013 as my year for sewing and blogging, I think I started out stronger with one than the other but I’ve finally caught up.

I managed to stick by myself imposed stash only rule and I now have 4 new ‘free’ skirts to wear Although I don’t expect to do particularly well in the contest it feels great to finally be putting my work ‘out there’ in the world where feedback can be given, something I’ve not really had to do since Uni. All the feedback I’ve had has been great and I think this is spurring me on to put myself ‘out there’ some more.

My plans for February are a little more sedate, I’m planning on following Kenneth D Kings Craftsy class Jean-ius to make myself some jeans, I’ve had trouble making fitted trousers so hopefully this class will provide some wearable results.

Whats that you say?

What about Version 5 the version that didn’t quite make it?

Well I plan on finishing that during February too.  It a short pocket-less version in satin backed duppion.

Oh yeah, you can see my review here and see all the entries of the contest and vote over at pattern review.