My Top 5 for 2015

When I looked through my makes for this year I've had quite a few successes. Go me! Of course not of all the fails ended up on the blog - most of them ended up in the bin actually - but they are firmly etched in my memory!

So here we go, my top 5 for 2015

Lady Skater Skirts 

For something so simple, these skirts would easily have to be my current favourite make.  Since finishing these I've worn two of them to death (they even came on a mini-break to Brisbane with me).  One I don't love so much (the one on the right here) as the elastic is not my preferred "comfy elastic" and another I scarified as I wanted the elastic from it to make the skirt on the left. Whilst the bodice of the Lady Skater Dress is still a bit iffy on me - the bottom half of the pattern makes a GREAT skirt. More please!

Grey Linden Sweater 

I've made four Linden Sweaters thus far as this one is my favourite to date. I'm not sure why I love it so much -- I haven't even worn it yet, but it's a combination of the fabric and finally getting the length right on the sleeves and the jumper. It's coming with me to Japan and hopefully I'll get a lot of wear out of it.

I'm not sure if I'll pack my Butterfly Ponti Linden (too long) - but it should get an Honourable Mention for having such a pretty front panel.

Frocktails Gabby Dress

I've made a few Gabby Dresses this year and most of them have worked out quite well - I've had great success with installing neckbands which is a bit sewing win for me (the only ones that didn't work was when I tried to forgo the neckbands and just turn the neck under). I finally realised it's OK to go down a size and actually make a dress that fits properly rather than just sewing ginormous seams. This is a very simple dress but I think the patterned ponti, jewelry and cute shoes made it a winner for me for Frocktails.  Comfy/fancy = winning.

Sydney Jacket 

I feel very proud of this make, but also very mad at myself for trying to skrink it in a hot wash and sort of f**king up the fabric. Derp. The Sydney Jacket really is quite simple but I thought I've had oodles of trouble - there's pockets, overlapping seams and all kids of funny business going on, but I conquered this and feel quite stylish when I wear it. I have another one in mind for next winter using some fabric from Le Stash.

Mabel Skirts

I've made so many of these skirts now that I've lost count, but (despite the last Mabel fail) it's one of my most used patterns. I LOVE the leopard print skirt on the right -- it gets worn VERY often!

Mandy Boat Tee  

This is actually Item #6 (or #7 if you also count the Butterfly Linden), but I'm going to give an Honourable Mention to this mandy boat tee that I made it a thicker fabric and have worn as a jumper. I'm not 100% sure that I love it as my faffing with the neckline on the pattern has resulted in it being a bit of a funny shape in this area and the sleeves are a bit snug as the fabric is not THAT stretchy, but I love the cuffs and the length and it was worn A LOT this winter. Sadly I think I shrunk this in the dryer by mistake so I'm not sure if it'll still be around in 2016.

And that my friends is the end xox

Two more Lady Skater Skirts. That'll do pig!

I've busted out two more Lady Skater Skirts over the weekend - I probably need to stop now otherwise I'll have 55 more of these before the month is out!

I'm a bit under the weather so instead of my pretty self all dressed up in my latest makes you get "floor flat-lay" which I believe is quite the thing with all the young fashion bloggers these days (and sick 40 something year old sewing bloggers).

I found this fabric at Lincraft recently and bought it specifically for this skirt (I also have another piece in the stash for a shift dress). The elastic is 5cm thick, bought from Tessuti. This elastic is not as soft (so not as comfortable) as the elastic from the Remnant Warehouse used on my last Lady Skater Skirt. I used this elastic on my Butterfly Ponti Mabel (that I've only worn once as the waistband bugs me and feels a bit sweaty on a hot day).  The overlocker also skipped a few stitches whilst attaching the waistband and I guess that's also due to it being a bit more...stiff. The hem is rolled on the overlocker, same as before!

Verdict = I like this skirt, but I don't love it like I love my other floral Lady Skater Skirt as it's not as comfortable and the fabric is not as "floaty". That said I wore it out of the house today and it served its purpose.

This fabric was bought at Tessuti well over a year ago and is a swimsuit fabric that I intended to use for a swimsuit class (that I obviously never went to).  I think it might be Tigerlily, but I'm not sure.  I figured sewing swimsuits is not in my distant future SO I sacrificed this for another skirt.

I LOVE this skirt - the fabric is so pretty and I love that it has Australian flora printed on it (I have Kangaroo Paws right below my lady garden - what could be better than that)? The fabric is quite drapey and has a bit of a shine to it. The fabric really works as a skirt (I wasn't sure how swimsuit fabric would work as a pierce of "dry land" clothing), but as a dress it would be sweat city. I'm liking the idea of wearing this sort of fabric as a floaty skirt with a cotton t-shirt for summer; a departure from my usual summer garb of knit dresses made from not-so-breathable fabric.

I haven't rolled the hem on this...I'm not sure if I will as it hangs so nicely left as is. I just have to be careful that the sides don't unravel as I cut the overlocker threads too short to sew back in.

I'm looking forward to wearing both of these makes over summer, but especially this second one.

Pattern: "Lady Skater Skirt" by Kitschy Coo
Size: 8, sewn with 3/8" seam allowance
Modifications: elastic waistband and skirt piece lengthened by 7.5cm
Fabric: as mentioned above
Changes for next time: nothing

Grey Linden Sweater

Yes yes, another Linden! I wasn't 100% happy with my last Linden so I wanted to make another one so I have options for what to pack on my upcoming holiday to Japan.

I really like this make, well as much I ever like anything I make. This time I removed all the additional length I had added to previous versions (which was about 5cm) and added back 3cm to the length. I also removed 1" from the sleeve length. I think both of these small changes have worked out quite well - the sleeves are a much more normal length now!

The fabric is from The Remnant Warehouse - somewhere I don't go very often as it's a bit of a schlep from my house.  It's a poly/viscose/elastane knit that feels a little bit like wool so I thought it would be warmer than the butterfly ponti Linden for Japan.  The price was great at $12/pm - bargain!  The white print on the fabric feels like puffy paint and is raised up off the material. I had to iron this with a pressing cloth (translation: a chux cloth) as otherwise the iron would've melted my fabric! I also sewed in all my overlocking tails so I'm getting much more neat with my sewing - go me.

I got a bit lazy with the sleeve band and didn't want to add it "in the round" after I'd sewn up the sleeves as it's a bit of pain and things do tend to get a bit stretched out of shape. This time I sewed them onto the end of the sleeves before I sewed the sleeves up. I think it's worked out fine, but I can feel the exposed seam on the inside of wrist (where as with the other method the seams are all nicely sandwiched between the two pieces of material).

After extolling the virtues of the Linden neckband in my last post I had a bit of trouble with this one. It turned out it was too short for the sweater (no idea why as the fabric is pretty stretchy) and I had to unpick my overlocking (or the 3/4 of this that I had done) - there goes a good 90 minutes of my life I'll never get back. I then recut a longer neckband (added about 3cm) but I think it could be smidge tighter - as evidenced by it lifting up on the shoulder. I also added 1cm to the width of the neckband just so I had a bit more width to play with.

...and the view from the back...sufficient butt coverage I think...

The Linden is such a great pattern and the possibilities from changing it up each time are endless. I could've had contrasting sleeve/neck/hem bands this time, but also really wanted a sweater that was 100% the same all over. I'd like to go a bit fancy next time and use some lace on the front panel somehow.

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Pattern: "Linden Sweatshirt" by Grainline Studios
Size: 16
Modifications: lengthened by 3cm; sleeves shortened by 2.5cm, different method of attaching sleeve bands
Fabric: Knit from The Remnant Warehouse
Changes for next time: none.