Sewing Fuzzball

How to make big beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:37:00 +0000

I was just cleaning up the hallway and spotted an older sweater I *still* had not thrown out. I discovered I had not done this because I still love it in some way. I only wear it once or twice a year when it is *really* cold over here. I love to wear fleece vests and hoodies to keep warm and I decided that I was going to make a vest out of this large and unflattering thing!

So, here is the before look:

I made it into a vest by putting my favorite fleece vest on top and cutting the excess off:

I also removed the border at the hem to re-attach later on and I cut down the center front and inserted a zipper. It took me about 2 hours to do this and for such a lightning fast-refashion, I think it looks fab!

Burda 7942 ...(and mine is white)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:34:00 +0000

Last week I posted I was going to make this blouse from Burda Magazine.

Reason I chose a blouse with a collar is that I want to practice for making a winter coat or a suit or blazer. Those require very nicely done collars with lapels. Do it wrong and the whole blazer is ruined or just looks "cheap" or "off". Another reason I chose a blouse is that they intimidate me. I look much dressier and sharper in a blouse, but never dared making them. In the store they do not appeal to me and they are either too small somewhere or designed for a cup C -which I do not have-. Fashion also tends to give weird prints, weird colors and weird details preference nowadays and a simple, white blouse is hard to find. And the last reason I never tried a blouse before is because I am scared of the buttons, or rather, making the buttonholes. I am really afraid I will not line them up correctly, or make them the wrong length, or that they will just look very crap cause I did not do it well enough and they will drag the whole thing down.

So, my own critique on the whole thing up to this stage is:
The collar does not lay flat on the right side and the problem is on the inner workings of it (no I will not correct it anymore in this stage). The instructions for the collar were very unclear and summarized in like 2 lines. So, I had to get out a sewing book to get a faint idea of what they intended to do with it. Biggest mistake in construction there is the angle of the attachment and not grading(snipping) the seams in the correct way. I think it worked out ok in the end.
I love the sleeve detail :-)

So, I just need to hem it and make the buttons. It looks really nice as it is, so I was thinking maybe snaps would be a better idea? I like the clean line across the front. Any suggestions?

To tackle a blouse

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:21:00 +0000

The reason I re-sign every time on wardrobe refashion is because it really prevents me from buying all those great clothes in those great sales. It also pushes me to start sewing my own clothing. A skill I really want to learn, but it requires time and effort. Both I am unwilling to sacrifice of course, cause there is always something else to do. However, if you are down to your last [insert clothing item here] , then you *are* highly motivated to actually start learning how to make one for yourself!
Right now, I am starting a simple blouse with short sleeves. Princess lines with a little gathering down the front and a nice collar on it. Burda 7942 . Oh, and mine will be white.
I don't know why I've never sewn a blouse before. I guess I was just scared of them - or to be more precise, scared of the collar and the buttonholes! I have now tackled the collar and although I guess I could have done better, I think it is OK-looking. The buttonholes I still have to do. Pictures of the finished project will probably be posted next week, as I will be leaving town this weekend for a nice big family birthday bash!

I-sew-Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:06:00 +0000

It was about time for a new refashion!
I have started a sewing course that will gradually work up from pillows and aprons, to skirts and blouses, pants. etc. So here is the first item: a pillowcase for a pillow. Kitteh loved it! :-)

Later that week I invited over my friend for a sewing party. She just got this nice new machine, but is still a bit afraid to use it - and I needed some shorts, so I suggested a cosy afternoon of sewing together.
She brought a HUGE bag of fabrics, and one lovely vintage print immediately caught my attention. She already made -but not finished- a pillowcase with it and with a bit of adjustment is was done in no-time. Don't you just love this fabric?

Since I needed shorts, and she needed practice, we pulled out some striped flannel from her bag-O-stash and started with New Look 6160. It really is a lovely and easy pattern built for instant succes! I think we look great!

Small adjustment

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:19:00 +0000

So, I have to finally face the truth.... I *have* gotten bigger. I have this nice cameltone skirt I wear occasionally (when I need to be a bit more dressed up), but I noticed it was getting somewhat tight :-) I do like this skirt and really wanted to keep it.
So, last night I went out to a musical with some friends and we decided a neat appearance was wanted. I quickly re-examined this skirt and found there was not a lot of room in the sideseams, but there were 3 darts that could be let out. I quickly took off the waistband, ripped out the stitches, pressed, and put it all back together again. Just an inch more room, but it was all I needed!

I thought about covering the little "gap" on the inside facing that resulted from this adjustment, but I was rushed for time and I don't think I will do it anytime soon. It does not bother me that much anyway :-)
Below you can see the skirt on my lovely assistant and some details of the "refashion". You can see where I let out the darts, but I am confident those marks will slowly disappear when washed and pressed a few times more.

Summer is coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:14:00 +0000

Finally, some sunshine over here. And warm weather :-) This weekend is going to be exceptionally nice with 25+ degrees and all sunny! So, time to get some serious summer tops going. I made the Azalea from Burdastyle.com as a top. I had the blue voile for a long time and always wanted to make a top like this with it. When cleaning out some of my stash I found it again and immediately knew what to do with it!
I did not have enough of the blue tricot to make a belt out of it as the pattern calls for. It really was a scrap that was barely big enough for the top and facing. So, I am using a ribbon from my stash for now. I do think it needs to be a bit wider, but I cannot be bothered to go ribbon-hunting right now. It is ice-cream time! :-D

Too busy!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:33:00 +0000

I haven't been posting here for a while. The reason is not that I have fallen off the wagon. I have been a good girl and stuck to my pledge. With all the re-signing I have done I think I have been coming up to nearly a year and a half of being a refashionista!

I have bought some clothes in that period. But you are allowed to for a few times. Once was at the beginning of the pledge - I had bought some new sportsclothes, sweatpants, t-shirt you know, for my dancing. I kindof think it is specialty clothing and wasn't sure if it counted, but hey....
Then I bought 2 pairs of jeans after New Year. I really, really tried to make pants myself, but I was so busy with dresses and all. And I had no jeans left... So I bought only two (cause it was two for the price of one).
And the latest splurge was last march. 2 blouses and one top from Primark in Belfast. I figured I deserved those, as I had thrown out about 30% of my wardrobe at that time and donated to charity.

So, there ya go. 3 buying events in 16 months. I don't think that is bad at all, even if I do say so myself. I am still in dire need of pants, but summer is creeping up on us and I do have enough skirts to wear. I just don't do skirts in winter... even with tights and all I still think it's too chilly!

I really should work on the making of stuff, but as I mentioned earlier, I really am sewing irish dancing dresses non-stop. I am not even updating my blog! But soon, soon, I will make some shorts from a Burdastyle pattern, and soon soon, will I make myself a nice sleeveless top. I have all the fabrics. I really should start on it!

Easy Rib Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:07:00 +0000

This is a last-minute birthday gift. It is a cotton yarn made up of about 18-20 lace weight strands. Very nice and soft. The yarn is so beautiful it does not really need a fancy pattern. For the scarf it's just a simple 3x3 rib +1 alternate stitch on each edge. I slipped the first stitch on each row and knitted each last one. Added a little tag to show off my work :-) The recipient seemed to be very pleased with it.

Size: about 150 cm long, excl. fringe. Knitted on 7.0 mm needles.
Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Bazar
2 skeins - 242 yards

Warm wrists!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:35:00 +0000

While waiting for the new year to happen I decided to do tackle some knitting. I always wanted some fingerless mitts and I always wanted to try cable knitting, but was too afraid. I recently joined Ravelry.com and I found a GREAT pattern! And it is free!
The cables are very easy to do and the result is quite classy and elegant. I used a cheap acrylic yarn for the first try-out, but I will surely make many more versions in the near future.
The pattern is called "irish hiking wristwarmers" by Delia and can be found here:

http://wineandneedles.blogspot.com/2004/12/wrist-warmer-pattern.html

Thank you Delia for your great pattern.

Busy with gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:00:00 +0000

Long time since I posted.

I have had a lot of dress-orders and had nearly no time to sew anything for myself. I did not really need a lot (except pants/jeans) so I was ok. I got some clothing from friends to replace old and worn out items. I brought some too goodwill because I simply could not fit into it anymore, and.....I bought some.

Yes I am very ashamed, I bought 2 pairs of jeans. I really was going to make some, but time was running out and I spotted a great sale of 2 pair for 55 euro. So I got 2 pair. Needless to say I am very happy with them :-)

Now the gift season is upon me and I need to get some birthday and Christmas gifts going. I already got some books and stuff for my family and this weekend I will attend a housewarming a.k.a. birthdayparty of a friend. She only wanted oven mitts. So I got her oven mitts. But instead of buying, I made some!

The pattern is from Burdastyle #8125 B. Really easy to make and don't they look great! The fabric is a great find I got from the USA (contemporaryfabric.com I believe ). I already used part of it in a dress and what I had left was perfect for these babies :-) They turned out so well that I am thinking of making a few more to give away during Christmas season. It's the perfect gift for encouraging your friends to bake more of those lovely cookies!

Continuing the wardrobe plan...with pants.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:31:00 +0000

Recently I killed yet another pair of jeans and I really need to start replacing my old pants with new ones. Pants are tricky to do, however... I was pretty happy with the lilac pair in linnen fabric, but I need something more sturdy that will keep out the oncoming chill of autumn. This is a more fitted model in a denim-like fabric. It is not cotton, however and has a lovely no-crease quality to it. I picked up this fabric for 4 euro from a stall and thought it perfect for a try-out! The model is ok. I had to really, really shave off from the sides of the legs as it was WAY too wide for me, eventhough the pattern was for a size 36. I have a problem with getting the crotch right on the front and this time I was able to get it really nicely done. I tried my hand at an invisible zipper, but it is not really invisible....Still happy with it though.

I do like the back, the fake-welted pocket shamelessly gives away my inexperience, but again, I am happy with the result. I am sure I will do better next time. It really is a "you-have-to-do-it-a few-times-to-get-it-right" thing.

The only thing that bugs me is the diagonal lines in the back when standing still. I looked it up in my sewing book and I cannot find the cause of the problem. I can see there is tension and too much fabric under the bum (ooo I wish I had a bum!). I will really need to correct the pattern for this next time, but I have no idea where!?!?!? If any of you might have an idea or answer, please let me know....I still need to make jeans and another pair for winter!

******Update*****
I thank all the readers that posted comments on how to fix my pants! You were all very helpful and I have a good idea of how to fix the pattern now before I start in true jeans fabric. I had alread sewn this pair and am not willing to do major reconstruction on it, but I have opted for deepening out the crotch curve. As you can see, it does not fix all of the roominess in the back, but it does get rid of those sharp diagonal lines! Thank you so much all!

Granny shawl

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:38:00 +0000

I used to have a triangle shawl from my granny. I loved it very much as it could be used as a shawl and a wrap. ....it disappeared when I moved in with my boyfriend 3 years ago. Since then I forgot about it as crochet items were not in fashion anymore and hey, one oughtta keep up with fashion right? Wrong. I loved that shawl dearly and when I noticed these triangle wraps were coming into fashion again and crochet is now the *hot* thing to do apparently, my thoughts dwindled on my old black wrap and it's comfort. So, nothing to do about it: I had to learn to crochet and make myself one. I had already started knitting simple scarves and I figured crochet was not that different from it. I bumped into this pattern for a triangle shawl in one of those shops where they sell all kinds of wool and knick-knacks for knitting and sewing. It was hanging on a dressform and I just loved it soooooo much! The kind lady of the shop saw me gazing at it and told me: "You know, if you know how to crochet, single crochet and double crochet, it is really easy to make. And if you don't know how to, I'll show you -no problem". And I did. It was really easy to follow the pattern, it only took me a week doing a few rows every evening sitting in front of the telly with my boyfriend. AND I LOVE IT!!! 6 euro worth of skins and I am sooooo much happier now :-) I can't wait to show my Grandma!

Sleeves all set in :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:05:00 +0000

I told you about this dress before. I have made this design together with my friend Jiska. I did change it a bit after seeing it on her. I shortened the sleeves and the hemline to give it a bit 'younger' look. I was thinking of adding some lace or ruffles around the neckline, but I'm not completely sure. Maybe I'll ponder on it for a while longer...

Coming up: this same dress in a gorgeous sequinned white linnen. Perhaps I'll leave that one sleeveless....hmmmm.

Finally something finished!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:21:00 +0000

It has been a while since I was able to post. Too busy, you ask? Well, yes and no. I just did not seem to get anything finished lately, but I do have a lot of projects *nearly* finished :-)

This dress was made for an irish dance recital. It is not really a re-fashion, but it is all handmade. We have several of these red dresses for our group. The girls of this group are in their teens and have been growing a lot since we first made these. So, we had to make some new ones and re-fit some older ones. This made me try out a new concept: a two piece ensemble. The skirt and top are separate, so that with future growthspurts, we can more easily adjust skirts that are too short and tops that need more room. It will also be possible to swap skirts and tops more easily within the group.
The sleeves were cut from an older dress that was too small. They are not perfect, but they did the job.
The underskirt is also separate and simply lining fabric with a ruffle of tulle attached. I think it enhances the "fairy-like" quality these dresses have. It also helps hide the fact that some skirts are too short :-D.

I also have 2 wrap dresses that I need to finish off. They only need...sleeves. (I do hate setting in sleeves....)

Sewing together is so much more fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:04:00 +0000

My friend Jiska and I decided we needed to start sewing together. This was quite a lot of fun as Jiska had almost never sewn before. We had bought this flowery fabric at the latest fabric market and really wanted to make a wrap dress from it. After searching a few pattern magazines we found the right (simple enough) model and went for it! It was really nice going step by step and explaining why you do something a certain way. I had almost forgotten how much I have already learnt in all those sewing years!
We started in the afternoon and after much talking, chatting, some tea, more chatting and finally some sewing we got the dress finished 'round eleven at night. And doesn't it look cute!
My boyfriend commented it looked like a "granny dress" (don't you just love guys?) and we think it might be the effect of the color of the flowery fabric. We're thinking about spicing it up a bit by adding some colorful ribbon around the collar/neckline and around the hemline and/or shortening the sleeves into cap-sleeves to make it look 'younger'. Please leave your thoughts about these ideas!

Oh, and I will make myself an exact copy of this one, as we bought 6 meters of the fabric! :-D

Lovely lilac top

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:36:00 +0000

I had a yard of fabric left from the pants and really wanted to do something with it. I have been wanting a wrap shirt for ages. I have been looking at all the women wearing them and they always look so nice, romantic and cute! I don't know why I never made one...(ow yeah, that is right...I did make one a while ago but it kinda sucked...that's why). I guess practice makes perfect :-)
I might make something like this again, but then a real full wrap. Perhaps also with a blouse collar on it. But that is a whole new project...

Pants!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Well, the title says it all...I made pants! I am really happy with the way they turned out. I made, or to be more precise, *tried* to make pants before and they never quite worked for me. I needed more pants for summer and I chose a lilac linnen for this model. It closes at the side with a zip. No pockets, just darts in front and back. So, a really, really easy model to try out the pattern. I did have to change the crotch a bit. Apparently I have no bum, or not the size of bum that comes with this size of pattern. I have finally figured out how to adapt for that and I think I will now try another pattern soon. I still have loads of jeans and other fabrics left....

The knitting bug bit me

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:24:00 +0000

Every knitter has to start with something simple like a scarf...and so I did. The first one in the previous post was easy enough and I thought I might want to try my hand at a more difficult yarn. I chose a really soft and fluffly yarn in blues, that is quite popular for scarves these days. I really love the way it turned out and it gave me a good idea on how to work this type of yarn. It is short, as I wanted it to be (I already have enough "winter" scarves) and this is perfect to keep the neckline warm in and around the house whilst not getting long, loose ends in the way when working.
I love the yarn so much I might try and make a sweater from it, but I am not sure if I am brave enough to try! :-D

Off the wagon...

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:19:00 +0000

Okayokay, I fell off the wagon:

I just had to buy some stuff at penneys in ireland. I mean, it doesn't get any cheaper than that!
To make up for it, I started knitting a nice shawl:

And that is three....

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:34:00 +0000

I forgot to post these. I was struck by flu last week and this top was made just before. I somehow thought I posted...anyhooo... As you can see, it's my favorite pattern again! This is the original neckline from the pattern, round with a slit. The pictures aren't that great but I guess you get the idea by now. Knit fabric, popular pattern top, rinse, repeat.

Popular pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:28:00 +0000

Again, a little knit shirt from the pattern I used before. I mean, why change a good thing? I used a remnant of knit fabric I have lying round my stash. The pattern is really easy, just three parts. I cut out the parts, I do the necklines front and back, hemline if need be and then the sleeve hem. After that I just serge the sucker together! These knit fabrics have a nice edge that does not need hemming. So to make my life easier, I used it as a hemline on the body parts. I need to learn a thing or two about V-necks though. I keep fiddling with the point and I have to make a little dart at the point to keep it nice. I have seen many shirts in the shop use the same method, so I am not *that* worried about it. The pattern also has a rounded bottom edge. I do not care for this, so I straightened it out (just followed the fabric edge).
More to come from this pattern.....

Something for summer

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:46:00 +0000

I have had my eye on this fabric for a while... I liked it as it reminded me to the typical "Missoni" look. Of course, Missoni is not something I can afford :-)
This top is lovely and light and the pattern was just too easy: front, back and sleeves. Only works for stretchy knits, but I have a lot of those lying around. I also added my own label, just for fun.
I will be making more copies of this pattern in different materials!

Oh, just to be clear, the fabric came from my stash! (Bought for 4 euro per meter- so I guess that makes this top worth 4 euro)

Same idea, new material - decision made.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:25:00 +0000

Thanks everyone who posted a comment to vote on the sleeves! Most of you voted for the patterned insert. However, one of you answered the following:

" [...] in a weird kind of way I thought of "vest" as "veste" in French which means jacket......and somehow I twisted the meaning in my mind so I thought you meant a sleeveless jacket.
I also thought that it looked great and I couldn't understand the problem since it looked finished... [...]
In my mind you have 3 solutions:
1. make it a sleeveless jacket; it already looks great
2. make 3/4 length sleeves (or whatever you can cover with your too short sleeves)
3. insert a really contrasting patch (colour/texture/pattern)to elongate the sleeve so it looks like it's done on purpose."

I really tried all options. The original patch-idea looked funny, the 3/4 sleeve only looks ok when wearing a long sleeve t-shirt but wasn't really doing anything for me. Inserting a completely new sleeve of a different material seemed to be the only option left. But then I figured: "why confine the vest to one sleeve option?" If I make it sleeveless I can wear it over any color I like! And Christina was right, it looked great already!
Thank you Christina, for your thoughts...

Same idea, new material

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:55:00 +0000

Today I was window-shopping and spotted this lovely knitted vest with a zipper in the front. You know, just your ordinary cable-knitted sweater, only more fitted and in the form of a vest. I have seen this before a few times and I really like the way it looks.
So what did I do? I found myself a huge sweater! This big white thing has been lying in my wardrobe for years and years. I get cold very easily and I guess this is the reason I have never thrown it out...too many memories of me sitting on the couch covered competely in this sweater :-)

I figured the same method as for the fleece sweater would work, so I measured it and put an item that that fits me nicely on top.
I did not want to take it out at the sides as those have the nice cablework. Instead, I decided to take out the center part as it wasn't as interesting as the rest of the pattern. The center part was just about the amount I would need to remove to make it fit. How lucky can you be! :-)

I cut off the neck part and saved it to re-attach it later on. I cut the bottom rim off to the correct length. (I figured I'd better save this too as I might re-attach it later on)
I then cut off the sleeve, corrected the sides and made the armhole a bit smaller. I roughly cut the sleeves to match the armhole again.

Time to put it back together!
Sewn the sides and center back. Pressed a new hemline and pinned in the zip, checked the length. Sewn the neck/collar back on and sewn the zip in. Sewn the hemline. Checked if everything was ok and it looked pretty good already!

Now the problem part: The sleeves.

The original sleeves were set very off-the-shoulder and because I fiddled with the placement of the armholes they are now too short. I have 2 strips of fabric I got from the center back and center front that I can use to lengthen them, and I decided to use the 'old' hemline to create a nice hemline for the sleeve - wrist piece? (or whatever you call that?!?!)

The only bummer is that these pieces don't match with the cable pattern on the sleeve. AND HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN!
YES, your opinion matters to me as I cannot choose for myself :-)

Please, look at the pictures below and tell me which option you prefer, the insert with or without pattern? You can leave a comment on the wardrobe refashion post or at my own blog . I would really appreciate it!

Staying with fleece...

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline) — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:41:00 +0000

As I mentioned in the earlier post: I need more sportsclothes. Preferably something that comes close to my beloved green fleece vest. I spotted this DIY clothing magazine with a lovely hoodie on the front cover. I fell instantly in love and decided that I was gonna make it.

I did not want a two-way zip though, and I wanted fleece (for obvious reasons by now). It was gonna be easy just to cut the zip straight at the hemline, instead of the curve in the pattern. I thought the vest had a lot of seams, but it turned out they "cheated" and have sewn a lot on with a coverstitch. I do not own a coverstich machine, but my normal sewing machine can fake an overlockstitch and that would be good enough for me :-)

To get the nice 'coverstitch' hems I just used a fleece blanket that was already finished this way. The blanket has cost me 3 or 4 euro once, don't remember. I have a pile of fleece blankies, but this was the only one with the nicely finished edge.

So, I cut out the pattern pieces, made the hoodie and am very happy with it!
(sorry for the crappy pictures, but my digital camera is an 8-year-old-first-generation digital camera)