weekly photo challenge: fleeting, or what a difference a button makes

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Last week’s photo challenge was fleeting…

Fleet”ing, a. Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments. Syn. — Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient.

What’s fleeting about sewing? We spend our time creating fashion that is durable, classic, unique, that fits us & our lifestyle. Fleeting???  Hmm… evanescent?… ephemeral… ah — buttons!

What do we do when we want to update a blouse? If it’s got buttons, we consider changing them. A blazer/jacket needs updating? Change those buttons!

Maybe that’s why we collect them – hee-hee!   🙂

burda challenge completed!

completed blouse

will definitely wear casually!

Making this 4-piece Burda pattern has been interesting.  It’s the first time I remember making a sample using an old sheet – always wanted to use an old sheet!

That gave me a healthy sense of freedom, knowing I wasn’t working on expensive fabric, or having to come up with a usable piece of clothing. Should I do some piping? Maybe add lace to the sleeve or hem?  Finally, I decided to add another set of tucks at the neckline, and do a seam up the back, using a button closure.

However, in this case I eventually felt the sheet had a little too much body for the style. I should have used a single knit – like the lovely bamboo jersey I originally planned for this project.  But as the overall style isn’t particularly flattering, I’m glad I stuck with the sheet!

Veddy veddy interesting to finally work on a Burda pattern, and I’m grateful I kept at it and completed this challenge!

learning to speak burda

see that facing to the right of salad

can you find all 4 pieces?

beginning to trace

final step: cutting out

Finally got blackout curtains up, in my attempt to combat the high heat & humidity pouring thru woefully inadequate single-glazed windows far too early in the season.  That’s a subject for another post… blackout fabric, that is.

Finally time for Burda!  Over lunch – one needs sustenance when tackling A Major Project.  It was that time anyway. A reread of the vitals confirmed my pattern pieces would be in green, so a salad would coordinate nicely. Might keep me on track instead of wandering into the kitchen to look for a snack instead of sticking to it. (It worked.)

Would you believe it took me several days to figure out what to outline with?  I don’t have soft-leaded pencils, except for smeary charcoal, and didn’t want to use highlighters because they bleed straight through the paper.  I know because I tested.   And just in case I actually succeed and want to use more of the patterns, I didn’t want to muck up the other side, with all those other pieces I might want someday!

Then I remembered I’d had coloured pencils, which I might not have tossed before moving, and went in search… sure enough. Even had green.

Did you do those follow-the-dot drawings when you were little?  I did, and loved ‘em.  Burda’s the same thing, but for grown-ups.  Once I stopped trying to do itty-bitty sections at a time, leaning on a book, and cleared my sewing table for a firm surface, things went quickly.  Must say Mel’s post & video was great prep… and I’m dying to get to a hardware store so I can buy some huge nuts just like she uses for pattern weights.

I am still very much a beginner, so I took the time and did  some extra steps not included in Mel’s super-duper lickety-split video. Example: Decided to outline all the sizes, as I always have to do some adjusting, and it’s easier to see the pieces.

Thus endeth today’s report.

a wee bit more sewing bee!

from the BBC-2 web site

Note-This shoulda been a monday or tuesday post, but was too busy to put it up – apologies for not feeling like writing this week, & saving them all up for today – my bad !  On a brighter note, you’ve the whole weekend to catch up.   he-he!❤

There’s just something about the camaraderie all 8 contestants displayed that’s knocked a big hole in many people’s hearts around the globe.  If you’re one of those with withdrawal pangs, here’s a wee bit more detail. And lots more piccies!

❤❤  Faithful Readers know I’m a fan of Debi over at My Happy Sewing Place.  Her partner, David, has written a beautiful guest post of his observations of the show, having accompanied Debi to Lauren’s Grand Opening last weekend, when many of the contestants also came to help out. As a man who doesn’t sew, he had time to observe and reflect on what was happening. It’s inspiring reading!  ❤❤

the sewers, in alpha order

• Ann is on Ravelry, and has ventured into quilting
• Jane’s gorgeous handbags are available online
• Lauren’s shop sells online & has just opened in Birmingham, U.K.
• Mark & his wife spend their evenings making historic costumes for themselves
• Michelle is a young mum & makes unique fashions for herself & her baby
• Sandra continues to sew for herself & her 3 daughters… and has started her own label
• Stuart writes a quilting column for a monthly magazine, and holds quilting workshops around the U.K., including at Lauren’s store
• Tilly is publishing her own patterns, has a very popular blog, and also does workshops at Lauren’s store

judges & presenter

• May Martin has taught at Denman College (Women’s Institute Academy) since 1995
• Savile Row’s Patrick Grant is a director of a bespoke menswear firm and has absorbed their high level of workmanship
• Claudia Winkleman is well-known for hosting BBC programmes, including Strictly Come Dancing & The Arts Show with Claudia Winkleman

BBC-2 aired the programmes, and this is their site. Note that I’ve tried several times to view clips on their site and have only gotten to see 1 or 2.  Not certain if it’s because I’m not in England, or if the site was overloaded with requests to view.

free pattern!

Free blouse pattern from Martha Stewart (photo courtesy marthastewart.com)

Martha Stewart has a dress/blouse pattern & instructions on her website here. See photo above (courtesy her site) for one version, and her web site for variations.  Directions/instructions are lower on page, so scroll down.

Remember, if you don’t understand a term, just google the word or phrase. Chances are you’ll find all manner of tutorials, blogs, and YouTube videos to show you/teach you whatever, and lots of encouragement & sympathy as you’re learning, too!  I know I have!    😉

later ~

ACK! I am brain-dead!! My huuuge apologies to Katherine over at Pillows-a-la-Mode because it was HER blog announcement that alerted me to the pattern.  Kudos & thanks to Katherine!

photo chalenge: colour (or, Spring sewing projects)

Couldn’t resist these 2 polyesters, but can’t decide what to DO with them…

Upper RT green challis may at last become an easy shift dress!

from LT to RT, probably a dress, a blouse, a dress

Solid blue at RT a stretchy wrap dress? wrap blouse?

brown’s already cut out as skirt…

solid red’s gonna be a skirt~ and blouses?

thinking jacket for this larger print med wt cotton

As weather turns into Spring am trying to get inspired to get sewing done.

Thank goodness Good Friend Karen’s coming to blast me out of the doldrums… and help get something bigger than current teeny 20-inch diameter “sewing table” set up.

Have need to get lots of things at least cut out, so trolled thru stash and above is what I’ve seen thus far.

Colour? You betcha! Love wearing it 24 months of the year.  😉

Original WordPress post here.

still stalling…

can’t help myself – insanity reigned when i couldn’t resist this slightly vintage piece!

Last week I had an opportunity to get gussied up a bit, and literally dug out this pin to wear with a scarf.  Isn’t it wonderfully tacky?!  It glitters like $1,000 bucks, despite missing stones. Don’t mind – wear it anyway.

Have another outing this week, and am tempted to wear it again.  But also have a store-bought (discount) dark green blouse that I glitzed up with these buttons.  Can wear either the blouse or the pin, but not both.

love this blouse – lots of ruffles frills & bows ~ might look like mutton dressed as lamb in it, but feel like a million dollars!

these are faceted glass buttons with metal shank & foiled backs; they glitter like crazy

I hand wash the blouse without the buttons, which are pinned on with these little pins ~ got the idea from knitters!

As it was St. Patrick’s Day yesterday, I  had an even gaudier pin to wear.

Ain’t bling fun sometimes?  Lol!

stalling

the best i could do from the dvd – thanks to producers of Poiret

one of mine own humble versions

secretary from same Poiret ~ really, can this print be real???

I think it all stated while I was watching a recent (relatively) Poiret, “Cat Among the Pigeons.”  It begins with a close-up floor shot of a woman walking in a pair of what I call Spanish heels.

I absolutely a-d-o-r-e the shape.  And have several pair.  🙂

Later there was a scene with the new secretary.  Instant Pause while I went went gaga over the blouse fabric.  Can you be-ieve that print??? And it’s greeen, too.

Now fast forward to the discovery of that box of sewing goodies. It contained another rayon fabric that immediately reminded me of the Poiret blouse.

While not too much like the blouse fabric (read more normal), it is a greeny teal shade.  Just might get made into a similar blouse, once I locate a pattern.  Summer is a-comin’ in, so would want short sleeves, lowered, but still with a bow, neck. Now where have I seen just that pattern…

missing sew grateful week–ack!

Lovely Debi, over at My Happy Sewing Place… is having Sew Grateful Week this week.  And I’ve missed participating in just about all of it.

One of the things I’m grateful for, in addition to you, Lovely Readers, are her delectable posts, chock-a-block full of information!

For example: Anybody ever heard of Dutch pockets?  Nor I.  Debi’s got an excellent photo from 1940 here to illustrate.

Note that the photo is also a great example of something I mentioned, mixing dark & light fabrics together in a blouse.  If done correctly, as in Debi’s example, it has slimming effect.

Sew grateful for you all!

another view…

drawing courtesy of Vogue/McCall’s web site

This line drawing is easier to look at and see the pieces of the pattern.  It’s from the Vogue/McCall’s web site.  Just click the pattern photo in the previous entry or this one & scroll down the page to see it.

Sometimes photos and/or drawings just don’t show clearly what’s what, so I find I usually go to these drawings before buying a pattern.  Wonder how the pattern companies evolved these?  Might be interesting marketing history!