'Singin' in the Rain'

I started writing this post back in June, aaaannd... I have finally gotten (Is that a word?) around to showing you.

I made another Renfrew!  Did I mention how much I love this pattern.  Oh. Yes. That's right.  I did.  Well I made another one.  The first one was so easy to sew I made a second one immediately after.  I wanted long sleeves this time around and was thinking of using a cotton t-shirt knit in a solid colour but when I saw this jumper knit in my stash it called out "Pick me! Pick me!"  I've had this fabric for a couple of years now waiting to find the right pattern and this was it.

This is my first attempt at sewing with a jumper knit which in itself wasn't too bad.  Being a lacy knit the fabric was very loose and stretchy and I feared it would stretch out of shape.  It did a little around the band on the body, however it didn't really seem to anywhere else.  I'm still worried that it will lose it's shape when I wash it though.  Mmm... we'll have to wait and see, I guess!

I know as sewists that we are always learning new things and the first thing I learnt with this project is that I really need to buy some T pins, U pins or at least something that will stay put in lace type fabrics.  I've only got regular dressmaking pins and it was a nightmare getting them to stay put while I was assembling this top.  Marking notches was an absolute waste of time too, I couldn't see where they were so I just went with it and matched the seams as best I could given the amount of stretch I was working with.  So the second thing I learnt - I need to use different methods of marking.  How do you pin and mark your lace fabrics?  Any helpful hints for sewing lacy fabrics would be gratefully accepted and appreciated.

The end result.  I still love the Renfrew pattern, it's easy to sew and the fit is fabulous even in this stretchy knit fabric.  I do like the colour and the appearance of the fabric but not the fabric itself so much.  Another plus, I can count this towards my Stashbusting goal which is going along slowly and it also fills my Sewlutions in the Jar commitment, neither of which is being fulfilled completely but at least it's keeping me sewing.  Yay!!

The sun was out the morning these photos were taken but by the time I got around to taking them it had started to rain.  Then the inevitable happened, I started dancing around like Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in the 1952 musical 'Singin' in the Rain' so I leave you with a few snaps of me being silly :-)

Goodnight; sleep tight

After my last post, I must say I was really itching to get some sewing done.  Actually, I've been feeling this way for a while, but time has been a scarce commodity of late.  Anyhoo, I wanted a nice quick project to get me going and at the same time I wanted to work on my stash. 

With the weather cooling down quite a bit at night recently I found I was in desperate need of some new winter pj's, several pairs actually.  I found the perfect piece of fabric; a piece of flannelette I've had for around 12 months bought especially to make some pajamas.  I laid it out; placed my pattern on... oh no! Not enough fabric.  I know I'm short but what was I thinking when I bought it; must've been having a senior moment, duh!  Everyone does that don't they?  No?  Oh well...!  I couldn't be bothered trying to figure out how to make it work so back it goes and another search ensues resulting in more flannelette.  Now this fabric, also bought for pj's, has been in the stash for...I dunno, maybe 10 - 15 years.  I bought it back in a previous sewing life.  Will there be enough this time?  Oh I hope so, I really want to get sewing.  The fabric was so skinny I wasn't sure I could use this one either.   Luckily I could.  

The pattern I used is Simplicity 7071 and I've had it even longer than the fabric.  I didn't want just plain pj's, I wanted to do something a little different and I've got an old pair with a faux fly front so I copied the idea and just eyeballed the shape.  I didn't get it quite right but it's not bad.  It'll do, after all they're just pajamas, right?

They went together so quickly and easily I thought what the heck, I can make the other fabric work so out it came again and I ended up with this pair as well.  Pattern matching was a nightmare (no pun intended. He he!)  It's a printed pattern not a woven one and it wasn't straight so with the shortage of fabric I didn't get too fussy.   I added an unfilled piping and a band around the bottom of the leg to get the length I needed.  For the tops; what do you like?  I like the comfort of t-shirt tops and I'm just using some old ones that are being downgraded.

I'm pretty happy with that. Two items in one week - yay!  I also reckon this qualifies as my stashbusting for the month too, maybe even sewlutions.  Now I can sleep in warmth and comfort.

Good night; sleep tight!

In the pink

The Stashbusting challenge to use itty bits from my stash proved to be quite difficult.  When I moved twelve months ago I cleaned out all my sewing paraphernalia and as we all know my sewing productivity during 2012 was less than impressive, resulting in NO SCRAPS.   I searched through my stash with gusto trying to find something less that 1 yard in size but to no avail.  I didn't have any scraps that little except for one small piece left over from a knit top I made about 18 months ago. (not blogged)

Thinking cap on...  What could I make with this small piece of knit fabric?  Ahh!  That's it!  I can make some undies.  I've made heaps of them years ago and several people in the blogosphere have been posting about their undie makes recently so yes, that's what I will do.  It's a really quick make and I don't have much time till the end of January.  I search through my patterns. Where's my pattern?   I can't find it anywhere.  Where can it be?  I've made so many in the past, it's got to be somewhere.  Ahh!  There's the kids one; mine has to be there with it.  Alas, no!  This got me thinking again (oooh, my head is starting to hurt now!  hehe.) Thinking back I remember making undies for my kids but it would seem I've never made any for myself.

I headed down to Spotlight and returned with Kwik Sew 2908.  I was running out of time now, so I quickly prepare the pattern cut and sew.  Phew!  I just made it.

So, in all, a very small make but at least I did use something from my stash and it was an itty bit of fabric.  January stashbusting complete!

Stashbusting sewasaurus rex

How awesome is this button!   I knew the minute I saw it I just had to have it.    In order for it to be added to my blog I was required to make a commitment.  A commitment which shouldn't be too hard to stick to, but then part of it would be extremely difficult for me to do.  As I've said previously I have trouble sticking to plans so I've only committed to the first part to see if I can take something on and stay with it till it's finished.  After all 12 months is a long time.

Oh!...  You want to know what it is?  Really?

Well then, let me tell you.  Emsewcrazy from Tumbleweeds In The Wind has started a Stashbusting Sewalong challenge along with Cindy from Cation Designs.  (The artwork is by Jen Sy.)

The idea is to use only fabric from your stash thus reducing it's magnitude.  Just for fun there are themes to follow each month which I'm not so good at sticking to things like that but I'll try.  You don't have to follow them just as long as you use your stash.  There's also a flickr group you can join to show off your progress and a Pinterest board for inspiration.

So, now my pledge...

"I, Shelly of Shelly's DIY Style commit to using one piece of fabric from my stash per month for the next 12 months."

The second part  is to also commit to not buying any new fabric/patterns/notions except for _______ until ______.  Now, I know I could never commit to that part, so instead of shaming myself when the inevitable happens and I fall from the bandwagon next week (or the week after) I felt it better not to take on that part of the challenge.

So... Are you interested?  Do you feel like reducing your stash?  Are you up for a challenge?  Then head on over to see emsewcrazy or Cindy and join in the fun.

Heading off to see what I can find for January's theme...