Sewaholic Lonsdale Polka Dot Dress

 I finally got some useable pictures of my Lonsdale Dress, which I made last summer. I wasn't quite drawn in by this pattern when it was released, to be honest. It didn't do much for me. But then I started to see more and more wonderful versions of this dress and thought I would give it a try. Boy, do I love this dress!!

The fabric is a very cheap polyester from Fabric.com. It looked so cute on the website. But the thing with ordering fabric online is one can't touch it to feel the quality. This fabric feels very cheap, so I decided to use it as a wearable muslin for this dress. What can I say, it actually turned out awesome. It is one of my favorite summer dresses now. Especially worn with a petticoat. I love petticoats!

It has pockets, even thou I don't care for pockets in my dresses. The next one will be without. 

Pattern Description:

The Lonsdale Dress is the perfect summer sundress. It’s fitted on top with a flared skirt, with your choice of a flattering knee-length or dramatic, full-length dress.

This dress is designed with a pear-shaped figure in mind. Knotted bodice and halter neckline draw attention to the shoulders, while the narrow waistband highlights the waist. The skirt is softly flared from the waistline to create a flattering silhouette. Pockets in the skirt are easy to sew and add a practical touch to this pretty dress. Sizing is proportioned for a pear-shaped figure: smaller bust and waist, larger hips.

Change the look by tying a half-knot or a full knot in the front. Shoulder straps are completely adjustable, tying in a bow at centre back. Just untie the bow and pull the straps tighter as needed. Bodice is self-lined, skirt is unlined, with a centre back zipper closure.
 

Pattern Sizing:

0 - 16, I made a size 8
 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? 

Yes
 

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, as with all Sewaholic patterns
 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

There is nothing to dislike. I like that the bodice is lined and easily adjustable with the straps.
 

Fabric Used:

Polyester Charmeuse
 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I didn't make any alterations or changes.
 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

It is on my list projects for this year. I absolutely recommend it.
 

Conclusion: 

Lovely summer dress, easy to fit, fast project.

The Cordova Jacket

Long time no blogging. But I finally finished something and got around taking some pictures. Here is my Cordova Jacket by Sewaholic Patterns.

I didn't jump on the bandwagon when the pattern came out, because I wasn't sure if it would be a style for me. But after seeing so many versions I was sold. I still don't like Version A with the double peplum, but Version B is just my style. 

I wanted a simple jacket for fall when it gets chilly enough to wear a light jacket, but not cold enough yet for my coat. And I wanted it in a dark brown suede. I found just the right fabric on Fabric.com and it was on sale too.

And my stash provided me with just the right shade of Rayon Bemberg! I changed the pleats in the lining for gathering. It made it easier working with the rayon and I don't mind that it looks different than the outside, nobody is going to see it anyway. 

I wouldn't mind some pockets. There seems to be this trend where dresses and skirts have pockets, but jackets and coats don't. I don't understand it!

 And you might have noticed that I have a new dressform. It was a lucky find on eBay. It is a PGM Professional Dressform in size 4. I still have to pad it to my exact measurements. It doesn't have the stand with it, but it was only $89 so who am I to complain.

Pattern Description: (from Sewaholic website)

A feminine fitted jacket that creates an instant hourglass figure! This great-fitting modern jacket is perfect for work, weekend or a special night out.

Princess seams and peplum seaming form a flattering silhouette. Choose from a flirty double peplum, or keep things simple with flat peplum seaming instead. The collarless neckline allows you to wear your favourite scarves easily! Jacket is fully lined, with pleated sleeve cap detail and zip front closure.

Pattern Sizing:
0 - 16
I made a size 6. With a measurement of 34" a size 8 would be 1/2 inch too big. I decided to go down a size and it fits perfect.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Just as the other Sewaholic patterns, this jacket has short, but easy to understand instructions.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I am not a fan of Version A with the double peplum. This is was kept me away from the jacket for too long. But this has nothing to do with the quality of the pattern, it's just a personal preference.

Version B is just up my alley. I love the simple style of the jacket. No collar, simple lines at hems and zipper. I wouldn't mind pockets.

Fabric Used:
Outside: Vintage Suede (Microsuede) in Espresso from Fabric.com
Lining: Rayon Bemberg

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 

I didn't pleat the lining sleeves, but set them in gathered.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I would sew it again, and absolutely recommend it!

Conclusion: 
I love my stylish suede jacket. I get a lot of compliments for it, and that feels good!

Cambie Dress No 3

My third Cambie dress is finished, and I already wore it out for dinner. Pictures of the other two versions are here and here.

The fabric is a buttery soft voile by Anna Maria Horner from her Little Folks collection. It's Baby Bouquet in Sweet. I just love her designs!!!

The construction of this dress was, as all Sewaholic patterns, very easy and straightforward. Did I mention that I am a big fan of Sewaholic patterns. I just finished the Lonsdale dress (blog post to follow) and have the Cordova Jacket pattern waiting in my pattern stash.

Here the back. Those wrinkles look weird, it must be the way I am standing. And the dress is a bit wrinkly because I had worn it once out and then it was hanging in my slightly stuffed closet.

I made a size 6 straight out of the envelope. No alterations needed.

My dress form modeling it. The fabric was a pleasure to work with. Especially thanks to my straight stitch needle plate and foot. 

Another back view.

I lined the dress with china silk which a bought at Dharma Trading. My new go to lining for about everything. 

I hand stitched the lining to the shell at the waistband with a slip stitch.

All seams of the skirt but the back seam are done in french seams. I bound the back seam which holds the zipper with Hug Snug rayon seam binding. This red is the only color I have. Gotta order other colors like black and white.

My Minoru Jacket

Finally some pictures of my Minoru Jacket. I finished it last October, and I absolutely love it!!! The outer fabric is distressed twill in clay. I didn't interline it, because it doesn't really get that cold here and I wanted a light jacket for the fall. The one thing I didn't like is that it doesn't have pockets. After looking through a whole lot of blogs I decided to attach square pockets on top.

 

 

The collar is quite high. A scarf fits nicely in there.

It was, like all the Sewaholic patterns I've sewn so far, very easy to make. I bought the zipper and lining fabric at a local fabric store. They had a sale of fabric from an older lady who collected fabric her whole life. The guys who run this store are going through her fabric stash since two years now to get it organized, and to sort out the fabric to sell. I got two bags of fabric by the pound. It was incredibly cheap, because I only bought very lightweight silky fabrics. 

The lining for the horse lover :) Isn't that the most awesome lining fabric? Ok, I might be a little biased here :)

 The two inside pockets are from the lining fabric as well. I didn't want to have the quite heavy twill hanging on the light lining. And I don't intend to stuff anything heavy in these little inside pockets, since I have the two big outside pockets.

Alma Blouse

My first go on the Alma Blouse, another great pattern from Sewaholic. It offers so many different options.

When the pattern arrived I was really excited to try it out. I knew exactly what fabric I would use, and went straight ahead to cut it. After I had cut most of the pieces already I realized, that the chosen fabric was a knit. Yay for not having to put a zipper in. I am glad for this mistake, because I absolutely love the knit version. More to follow for sure.

 I used fold over elastic for the binding. It stretched out a little too much on the left sleeve.

 Here it is with the belt.

 It is a very nice pattern for some stash busting, since it doesn't require a lot of fabric. Here is my seersucker version. The fabric was left over from my Crepe Dress.

 Invisible zip

I have two more in the making. This time around with the peter pan collar.

My first Sew-Along

Lauren from Lladybird is hosting a Thurlow Trousers sew-along and I will participate! I am very excited and  looking forward to my first sew-along. I already made two pairs of Thurlows. The first one was too small. The second one turned out pretty nice, only needs some little adjustment with the back crotch length. My skills of a cleaner finished inside of the pants still needs some fine tuning, which I am looking forward of improving with the help of Lauren and her sew-along.

I will post pictures of my two pairs of Thurlows soon. Instead two pictures of a skirt I made two weeks ago. It's really nothing special. I bought the fabric at a small local sewing supply store. A huge pile of all kinds of nice fabric for $3/pound. This seems to me to be some kind of moleskin fabric, but I am not sure. It is very soft with a nice drape. The idea for this skirt is from the book "Improv Sewing", which I absolutely love!!! The hem is three wavy lines of stitching, and fold over elastic around the waist. And some improv free motion drawing.

 Here a close up of the lines. It is a nice skirt for casual wear. It was really fun and quick to make . I am looking forward to more projects from the book.

Another Renfrew

Just a quick post where I wanted to show you my newest Renfrew. This time with cowl neck. I bought the fabric in the sales section of Denver Fabrics (the store, which has nothing to do with the website of the same name). Anyway, it is a very nice and soft knit fabric.

I just love this pattern. It is an absolute must-have!! And sooooo easy to make. If you are a little intimidated to sew with knit fabrics, you should buy this pattern and your fears will be gone. And Tasia from Sewaholic will have some kind of sew-along. Just go here and check it out.

My second Cambie Dress

Did I mention how much I love this pattern? Well, here is my second Cambie Dress, and I already plan the third one. Which will be version A. For this one I used Velvet Vine in Grape from the Gypsy Caravan collection by Amy Butler. The lining is Ambiance Bemberg in burgundy. 

 In between I had time to whip up this reversible cover for my sewing machine. The construction is very simple, but it really leaves room to bring out the cute prints. Right now my favorite side is the animal print :)

My Cambie Dress

I finally got around taking some pictures of my Cambie Dress. I absolutely love this pattern and the finished dress. Although the making of this dress was interrupted by some frustration. After I had completely finished to sew in the 22" long zipper (fabric and lining, mind you), and tried it on, the zipper broke!!! Aaaargh! 

My first thought was to throw the whole thing out and start all over again, silly me! But even thou it took me a couple of days to be in the mood to replace it, I am very happy I did! In this version I didn't add the pockets. I am not a huge fan of light summer dresses with pockets.

This is for sure one of my all time favorites! And more Cambie dresses to follow! I already ordered the fabric for two or three more :)

My Renfrew Tops

I just ordered three patterns from Sewaholic, and absolutely LOVE them!! I cannot recommend them enough! First patterns I tried was the Renfrew Top. This is my first try. The fabric is Rayon-Jersey. It's also the first time that I worked with this kind of fabric, and it wasn't all that bad. It took me a while to find the straight, and I had to be careful while pinning because of its lightweight, but in the end it turned out quite well. But I don't think I will use this kind of fabric again for this top. It is just too flimsy. And this was meant to be a wearable muslin anyway.

According to the pattern envelope I would be an 8, but because I was using stretch knit I cut out a size 6 and it fits perfectly. My second try is from Organic Cotton Jersey. Thicker than the Rayon Jersey, a breeze to sew with and very comfortable to wear. There is already some Cotton Jersey in dark blue and Tencel Jersey in gray waiting in my stash to become a Renfrew Top.