Project 2

Lydia Top - The Sequel

So I found some more Jersey fabric I had stashed away from when I first got my sewing machine and decided to put it to good use by making another Lydia Top. This one's got long sleeves like the pattern intended and will come in handy seeing as it's heading into winter now.

I followed the pattern exactly as before but again hit a wall trying to get the armholes to make any kind of sense when pinning and sewing them. I decided the pattern wouldn't get the better of me and cut off about 2 or 3 centimetres of extra fabric around the shoulder of the sleeve and voila! It sewed up perfectly first time. No puffiness, no swearing, just plain old flat shoulder seams. Hooray!

Here tis.

Project 1

After stumbling upon BurdaStyle I realised that there were so many patterns that I could start out on that, funnily enough, only required me to sew in a straight line. Being the fearless sewer that I am I downloaded some free patterns and even splurged on a $1 Lydia Top which I shall be showing you today. It's an instant download pattern so it means you can purchase it on your credit card, download it and print it through your printer in a matter of minutes.

The thing that I liked most about this site, apart from all the cheap (and free!) patterns, was the fact that you could create your own account. Within this account you can upload each of your sewing projects for other users to see and comment on. Ultimately it means people that are much better sewers than I could post their interpretations of patterns or things they had simply made by looking at fabric. Very inspiring.

So let's talk about this Lydia Top. I printed off all the A4 sheets of paper and cut up the various shapes to make the top, sticky taping together any bits that crossed multiple sheets of paper. Not knowing what the word "baste" meant or how to do it I simply pinned the different sections up and tried them on. This meant I could adjust the sides to fit properly. It also meant I could take a couple of centimetres off the neckline to create a round neck which sat better.

The sewing itself was fine until I got to the armholes. It was a nightmare! I ended up with one puffy looking sleeve and one almost smoothly sewn sleeve. Although it's not too noticable and I wear it anyway. Also I thought it looked a bit bare after putting it on so I handsewed a scrap of fabric on as a bow.

The fabric is a light blue striped Jersey that I got for $3 at a fabric store in Cabramatta. Score!

Stay tuned for another project made by a girl who can certifiably sew in straight lines.

The little sewing machine that could

Once upon a time there was a little sewing machine that could. It was given to a young(ish) girl for her birthday so that she might sew wonderful things with it. But alas, it did not happen. This sewing machine sat on her shelf for over 2 years, hunched in its cheap plastic cover just waiting to be used. Despite the years of neglect this sewing machine did not lose hope in her owner and one day all her wildest dreams would come true.

The little sewing machine that could, would.

April 16th 2010 saw her taken out of that stuffy plastic cover, thrust onto a large wooden table to be poked, prodded, and tentatively switched on. Her owner managed to wind up a bobbin, thread the needle and, for the very first time, sew in a straight line.

From that day forth she really was the little sewing machine that could.

10 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me

1. I wear my watch on my right wrist even though I’m right handed. Many people find this odd and it has lead to such discussions as ‘ did you used to wear it on your left wrist and swap one day?’, ‘isn’t it uncomfortable?’ and my favourite ‘doesn’t it bother you when you’re writing in an exam and you have to stop writing so that you can turn your wrist to see your watch?’. In case you’re wondering, dear reader, the answer to all of the above is No.

2. I used to despair when I went shopping because I’d try things on that didn’t quite fit right or they’d sit too tight somewhere. Now I find myself fabric and a pattern and I can make it right to my measurements. Goodbye shopping angst.

3. I love sewing at night. I get into a rhythm and just sew and pin and curse and sew and fix things up and sew until really late. By the time I look up at the time (yes I have to turn my wrist to do this) it’s much, much later than I thought.

4. I love chocolate.

5. I go shopping sometimes simply to find clothes that I would normally buy. I pretend to be casually glancing at them as I’m secretly turning them inside out and figuring out how they made such a wonderful thing. 

6. I love exercising. I walk, bike ride, hula hoop or run. It makes me happy.

7. I want to make my own shoes. I bought a great book on how to make them and I have all the intentions in the world of making some of my own. Soon.

8. I procrastinate. A lot.

9. I’m hugely inspired by other sew-ers on BurdaStyle and the plethora of sewing blogs I’ve found. You rock my world.

10. I’m really honoured that people come here to read what I’ve written and see what I’ve made. I love this stuff.

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