Another knit

Yay!! By the size of this picture you can tell that my technial problems are solved. I have to say a big thank you to Katie Kadiddlehopper for pointing me in the right direction. Check out her comment in my previous post if you are having the same problems. 

And also thank you to Baking Soda from Bake My Day. I might give posting via Windows Live Writer a go one day but now I can go back to my usual way I think I'm gonna stick to that a bit longer. And to be honest, I have a big fear of losing my blog if I change anything, so..... But I will remember the advise.

Now, about the picture. What you're looking at is pattern #3 from KnipMode 08/2008.

It's the second time this one has seen the light. It is só easy to make. I like the fact that with minimal effort you have a great effect.

I must admit that the fit is quite snug. Especially on the arms but also in other places. It's wearable if I just make sure I wear the right things underneath. (For this picture I wore a blue camisole. In real life it doesn't shine through as much as in the picture).

I'm not sewing because it's cheaper than RTW. Wait, let me rephrase that: it cán be much cheaper (it all depends on the price of the fabric of course) but I do get a certain amount of satisfaction out of the fact that I made this top for the price of € 1,65.

The fabric is one of the 3 remnant pieces I bought for € 5.

I don't know about you but I call that fun!

* * *

The black trousers I was talking about earlier are cut out and ready to go. 

So it's back to the sewing-room for me. Shouldn't take too long before I can show that one too.

Happy sewing everyone.

Lilian



Moving on with KnipMode 09/2000-13 Cardigan

Thank you soooo much, everyone of you who left a nice and very encouraging comment on my last post. I felt like I opened a window by posting about my blogging-troubles and was finally able to look outside, but it felt even more like I finally let you look inside. Sometimes it's good to ventilate what you're going through, because there will always be people kind enough to lend a 'helping hand'. And your comments were helpful and proof of the fact that there áre people out there enjoying my writing. You sometimes forget that. Which is kind of strange because I myself read and enjoy so many blogs you all are writing.

So one more time an heartfelt: Thank You!

Now, moving on to the sewing:

This was truly an easy job which is not surprising as it's an easy pattern.
The fabric was great to work with. I did a bit of handwork on the ties that go around the front and the neckline but otherwise this was sewn in no time. Most of it on the serger.













I'm glad I decided to put in the darts in the back and to take in the sideseams a bit. This gave the effect I was looking for. Otherwise it would be hanging to loose which makes it look rather unflattering. I like to emphasize my waist (or what's left of it...)

Blogger....what the he**!!
I don't know what happened to Blogger recently but things have changed and not for the better. When I'm typing my post I can import pictures but they are translated to 'html'. And once I've done that, I don't see how I can replace my picture to the left, centre or right side of the page. Or how to make the picture bigger or smaller. (The first picture in this post is actually the largest I can get, which is way too small for my taste).
There is an 'html' button at the top but it does nothing when I click on it.
I've been checking and trying out all the options Blogger gives you, but with no effect.

Owwww...this is really bugging me. I just want to see what I'm doing when I'm constructing my blogpost. Not a load of computer-language!
>:-(

Does anyone have any suggestions how to solve this? It would be highly appreciated.

Sewing and blogging, 's not always easy..

Finally I've decided what my next project will be. Black trousers! It's been a while since I sewed my last pair of trousers and I'm kind of excited to make another pair. I cut out some patternpieces tonight but was then cruelly interrupted by a cat that needed attention. Lots of attention.

Anyway, I'll pick it up later. There was something else I still had to do: take care of the fit of my burgundy cardigan. I took in the sideseams a bit and placed darts in the back. And now I'm totally happy with it. Pictures will follow soon. I will also show you the creme sweater I made after the cardigan and the details of both projects.

That's right folks, my blog has been sort of silent, but my sewing-machine and I spent some quality-time lately.
I did make a picture of the creme sweater before it was finished, so I'll give you that as a sneak peek. Maybe you recognise it as I made it earlier in a grey knit.

So there you have it. I'm actually quite productive lately, but blogwise there is room for improvement. It seems like I'm finding it harder to blog than when I started. I seem to weigh every word and feel very insecure about my writing in English (not my native language). When I started I wanted to share every story with you (and I remember being enthusiastic about them. Even making the odd joke here and there). Now I feel that my stories aren't interesting enough for you to read which is very discouraging. I don't like my pictures and the layout of my posts are bland and boring. And when writing less you loose readers, which is very logical and understandable.
It's probably just a phase I'm going through. At least I hope that that's the case.

Wow, I didn't mean to sound so negative, but it's just how I feel about my blogging at the moment.
But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere and I'll do my best to find joy in blogging again.

Gr.
Lilian

KnipMode 2003-02 / 18a - Skirt finished (Pretty picture vs dirty picture)

When will I ever learn. Ending almost every post with a promise for the next one. And most of the time I change my mind and write about something else instead. But hey, that's a bloggers prerogative, I guess.
This one is no exception. So no cardigan yet, but a skirt that I meant to show you for quite some time now.

As I wrote earlier, this skirt was part of a little SWAP. But I never told you that I changed my mind about the pattern. My original choice was a skirt with rounded sideseams but I must say I shied away from that when the time came to cut the fabric. So I switched to another pattern. A pattern I like very much. And I can say that in all honesty because I used that pattern some years ago for a jeans skirt. It got a lot of wear and I remember feeling great in it. I also remember feeling sad when it no longer fit. Since then I went from a size 42 to a size 46. Mmm..yeah well I'm working on that. OK??
But it fits, I love it and I'm very happy with it.

It's just a shame that all the details of the skirt get lost when I try to take a 'pretty' picture with the flashlight on.
So I'll give you the 'dirty' picture and the linedrawing as well, just to make sure you get the whole idea. (The rounded side-pockets on the hips are just hidden in both pictures, and there are 2 backpockets).

It was great fun to make this skirt. I loved putting together all the pockets (8!), pocketflaps and the topstitching.
When I look at this outfit I remember why I'm sewing my own clothes. And it's a good feeling.

Gr.
Lilian

Fabric Feast

A few posts back I promised you pictures of my new fabric. 'New' is maybe not the correct word as some of them are already a few months in my posession.

So here goes.

(click on the pictures to get a closer look at the fabric)

Online shopping at "De Stoffenstunter". I was very, very pleasantly surprised when I opened my package. You can never tell for sure what you are gonna receive with online shopping but this was GOOD!

1. Blue pinstripe for a narrow skirt
2. Gorgeous velvet-jersey for a top  (is it possible to be in love with a fabric?)
3. Plain simple black jeans for a skirt

1.                                                                 2.

 

3.

Fabric Market near my home. At a certain point I remembered I also had planned to go to the fabric market in Nieuwegein, and stopped buying. Or else.....

1. Lovely velvet-jersey which I plan to use for a wrap-dress (to my surprise this fabric is used in the
    KnipMode January 2012)
2. Softly spotted suede-like fabric for a skirt
3. Brown, very fine checks. Great trouser-fabric
4. Another brown, fine herringbone for trousers

1.                                                                   2.

   

 3.                                                                  4.

  


Fabric Market in Nieuwegein. I also met a lovely group of fellow-sewists there and bought the following lovelies.

1. Soft lilac knit, for a cardigan
2. Super-soft fake-fur. I'll use this for the collar of a cardigan. Still have to find a matching white knit for
    that.
3. Great Chanel-fabric. No, not the real stuff....duh... I love the colours in it. Plans are to make a skirt
    with it.
4. The blue/black fabric is a heavier cotton with a bit of shine. I planned to make a skirt with it but I'm leaning
    more towards a little jacket every time I look at it.
5. A thin cotton with a mille-fleur print. Perfect for a little blouse.

1.                                                                    2.

3.                                                                    4.


5

So, there you have it. Tons of fabric and lots of plans.

It's not that I haven't sewn anything lately. After the white blouse I showed you in my last post, I made the creme ribcord skirt (which was part of this project and therefore long overdue) and I made a cardigan this week. It's finished though I'm still thinking of putting some darts in the back to make it a bit more body-hugging. I'll show you the outcome in a next post, with or without the darts.

Have a great weekend everyone and a very, very good 2012!!

Gr.
Lilian



Merry Christmas

everyone

White blouse finished

Done!! It felt like it took forever to finish this blouse. I'm glad it's finished so I can start on something new.

But I'm very happy with the end-result.
The pattern is from KnipMode 10/2006.

It's quite a simple, basic blouse, but the pleats just below the collar are a great feature. It is not close-fitting but it's not too loose also. It's just right. I can wear it just like this, tucked in or with a belt. 

The fabric was a remnant I picked up from the market. I bought 3 pieces for the price of € 5. You do the maths!
I love the fact that it's not a see-through fabric. It's hard to find great fabric for a white blouse but this one fits the bill just right.

A closer look at the pleats and collar with stand:

I planned to use 3 smaller buttons to close the cuffs. But the only buttons I could find this week (during the only opportunity I had this week to go shopping) came in one size only, so I had to change my plan and decided to use 2 buttons on the cuffs. 3 of this size would have been too much.
It's ok. But next time I'll try a bit harder to find what I really want, so I can stick to my original plan.

It's hard to decide what I will pick up next. I have a lot of lovely fabric waiting for me and tons of ideas. I'll show you my goodies in a next post. By that time I hope I have decided on my next project, or even better, started on it!

gr.
Lilian