Mirroring Suzy Bee Sews - Life So Strange It Should Be Fiction

I feel like I've totally lost my sewing mojo lately so this is an attempt to sew some nice easy basics that I know I'll wear and hopefully kickstart sewing again. I've made this a few times now (first, second, third) so it was a easy sew. Material is a blue ponte from Spotlight that I got at the last sale. Adjustment wise, its a sz M (it has heaps of ease, my measurements put me in an XL), with a centre back seam added for shaping, extra width at the hips, 1" FBA rotated out in the front gathers, 2" added to the arm width and about 3" cut off the length. This is such a flattering cardigan and I wear all the versions so much in winter, they are nice and warm and mega comfy!

I think this summer's uniform is going to be the maxi skirt for me! I've been wearing my Gabriola skirt heaps lately so it just seemed natural to make a maxi dress as well. This pattern has a few variations, I made Amber the hi-lo hem version and this is View D with the maxi skirt. So the adjustments; sz20 with d cup 1" fba 1" wedge from back neck alongside of the zipper 2" petite bodice 1" wedge out of bustline length shirring panel on side lowered neckline added waistband added pockets from Simplicity 2588 I'm not overly happy with the bodice, it took 1 tissue fitting and 2 muslins and I'm still not completely happy. Every time I try one of these cup size patterns I end up adjusting the fit more than if I'd started with a basic B cup bodice. This time I started with a d-cup bodice and had to do a 1" fba on the first muslin then had to take a big wedge out of length on the second - its like I need the width but n...

 I always seem to need cropped work pants for warmer days, it seems to be a staple I am always sewing! I got this pattern at the last big Spotlight sale, its one of the fashion star patterns (I haven't watched that show I have to admit). I've had a mixed run with the fashion star patterns but I can class this one as a win. Pattern Details: View A Size 22 Dropped front rise 2" Raised rear 1" Changed the waistband to a folded over band Added 2" to the calf as a hyperextended calf adjustment.  On that last adjustment - I made my first pair which fit fine through the waist/hips but my calves were pulling the side seams backwards terribly. I did a hyperextended calf adjustment like Cation Design showed  here to fix it. The first pair I also did a proper zipper fly and button like the pattern directs you to, but the benglene I used was so stretchy I could pull them on without using the zipper so the final pair I left off the fly an...

I am a sucker for a drapy knit cardi and McCalls really do seem to do the best ones. The sizing is pretty predictable though, I always have to size down a few sizes (I think I'm a 20 or a 22 on the size chart and I made a sz16 here), the arms are always too short and way too tight. There's something a little funky going on at the back of the armhole, I want to wash it a few times though and see if its the fabric being a bit stiff or if I need to trim some off next time. Adjustments; Size 16 2" FBA 3" bicep width 1" to arm length 1" to armscye height 1" back width 1" to hips I like the seam lines on the back especially and I really want to make a contrasting version eventually. I read in the only review on patternreview that the weight of the facings dragged the top forward when wearing so I decided to leave the facings out and left the front edge unhemmed. This meant I stitched the back neck seam the other way ...

I've been a bit obsessed with mixed fabric dresses lately, I love a knit bodice and a woven skirt, seems the best of both worlds! Pattern detailsn (same as last time I made this dress ); sz20 with d cup 1" fba 1" wedge from back neck alongside of the zipper 2" petite bodice 1" wedge out of bustline length lowered neckline added waistband added pockets from Simplicity 2588 There were a couple added adjustments since the bodice is a knit; Took in the sides by a total of 4" Took out length in the bodice of about 2" Cut the back on the fold Gathered the skirt instead of pleating it so I could make the dress a pull-on. Bound the neckline instead of lining the dress. Added a 4" facing to the hem to help weigh it down I do need to take some length out of the upper chest as its buckling slightly. It looks like the princess seams are ripply too but in real life they sit flat. Fabric: Cotton spandex knit for the bodice fro...

Inspired by Rachels great jumper my daughter wanted a similar one made, so we came up with this one. The fabrics are from Spotlight. I'm not overly happy with the quality of the fox fleece, its faded out after prewashing and has some spots where its missing colour, not big enough to worry about but for a so called premium fleece who's full price is $16.99pm its pretty crappy. Size wise - Its a sz 14, with the arms lengthened by 1" and the body shortened by 2" plus a swayback adjustment of 1" (she's about 5'4"). 5/8" FBA which was eased into the side seams. Otherwise its straight from the pattern and its fits her really well. I overlocked all the seams and then topstitched the bindings down. I asked her if this was her Fonzie pose and got asked who's that...sigh, I'm feeling old! Not much more to say, its a good basic pattern and I'd recommend it.

I'm calling this an Owl jacket but I actually think its meant to be a fox! Lots easier to sew the second time around, I followed my own tips from last time plus used the accufeed foot/walking foot on my machine to make it sew up even easier! One thing I didn't really notice last time it that the front button band is a bit offset, its meant to be topstitched onto the front as a separate piece of fabric but I like the look and neatness (plus the ease to bag out the lining) of a proper sewn on band. I unpicked and changed this one and have adjusted the pattern for next time (taken some off the fronts and added a front band on both sides instead of just the left side.....Hope that makes sense!) This is another gift, its for the 1st birthday of a little girl whose Grandma I work with. Happy birthday Rubee!

After having such a frustrating run of wadders I finally made something wearable! I'm still not completely over peplums yet so even though I like the basic cardigan version of this pattern I had a go at View C first. I found the sizing quite generous, according to the finished measurements I should have been in between XL and XXL but this is a L with some adjustments. I narrowed the shoulders by about 1/2", widened the upper sleeve by 2", shortened the bodice by 1.5" and lengthened the peplum by about 2" and took in the back  waist seam by a couple of inches (more about that further down). I got a few metres of this plaid ponte from Spotlight awhile ago on clearance so I made a quick muslin to check sizes and I'm glad I did with how much I had to take the original one in and shorten/lengthen it. I changed the front band, originally it was about double the width of this one and is meant to create a bit of a folded over collar effect but I d...