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

I'm kind of late on the cambie bandwagon, but I finally downloaded it and made it up! Fabric is from the clearance table at spotlight, its a cotton voile. Lining is a cotton poplin. Adjustments: I started with a sz 16 and changed the front to a princess seam using the bodice from Colette 1020 (which already had a FBA of 1") Added a side panel that was shirred (I did this by taking an inch off the side seams on the front and back bodice then made up a shirred panel that measured 2"+seam allowances when it was done), the skirt has enough gathers that I didn't worry about adding any width to it, I just gathered it a bit less. Took a wedge out of the back neckline of about 1" tapering down to nothing at the waistline. Added 1/2" to the shoulder height. Petited the bodice by 1" and took an extra 1/2" out as a swayback adjustment. I've got some rippling at the princess seams, every time I sew with voile I get thi...

I've seen some great jeans pop up in the blogging world lately and it reminded me I need another pair! The last pair I made have shrunk in length (even after prewashing the denim twice) and are now in my refashion pile to be cut down into shorts. The pattern is my TNT -  Sewaholic Thurlow legs onto the waist/hips of Vogue 8774 adjusted with my pants block. I added 1.5cm to the front inner leg with this pair as the last version had some pulling at the front. This denim is from Spotlight tagged as Bradmill denim. Surprisingly nice, firm but still with some stretch. I bought a craftsy class back at Christmas called Sewing Designer Jeans. I highly recommend it, Angela Wolf is great in the videos and I found it really interesting about how to distress denim. I'm not sure how successful I was at it, the denim went a different colour blue instead of fading it out but I'm hoping the look will soften after a few washes. I don't think I took it...

I've had this pattern since it came out but seeing Julia Bobbins gorgeous skirt made me get it out and get started! After making the vogue 1247 skirt I really like a straight waistband on me, it makes the skirt hang better and doesn't give the fitting nightmares that I've had on skirts before. All this is missing is some pockets, with all those seam lines on the yoke its crying out for a hidden pocket or two....next time! Size wise: I used the size 16 and graded up at the waist to about a sz 20. I think this has to be the most easiest skirt to fit I've ever made because I made no other adjustments. The blue fabric is a rayon from Spotlight, I didn't have quite enough (2.5m of 112cm wide) so I made the skirt side panels less flared at the bottom and used a black cotton poplin for the yoke inserts and waistband. I do wish I'd used a more thicker fabric on the yoke and waistband, it does feel a bit flimsy and could do with a bit more heft. Its show...

I was lucky enough to pattern test this and I've been wanting to show it off since! Its the new Sewaholic Yaletown dress and blouse. I made the dress mainly because I had enough fabric but I do want to make the blouse at a later date. Fabric is a rayon from Darn Cheap Fabrics in Melbourne. I made a sz16 with a couple of adjustments; Graded out to a sz 18 at the bust/waist  1" FBA rotated down into gathers  1" wide back adjustment  Took out 3cm of bodice length  Shaped the bottom of the bodice (Once I had the bodice sewn I put it on, pinned out the gathers then marked a straight line around) For once I didn't have to enlarge the sleeves so they are quite generous in size.  I love this dress, it has pockets and an elastic waist that's hidden by the belt. I like that the facings are topstitched down so cant flip out and I like the added button at centre front to stop the wrap gaping. It such a pretty spring dress, just need some n...

These ones are for my daughter, they're a sz12 with the front crotch scooped out and the hem shortened by 4". The material is flannelette from spotlight and some red quilting cotton I had that matched the flannel pretty close. I added pockets to the pants (tutorial coming tomorrow!) perfect size for phone/ipod when you're lounging around on the weekend. I learnt something when I made my pair, you don't need the elastic that tight, the tie works a bit like a drawstring so you can get away with the elastic a lot looser than you might normally. Anyway they turned out really cute, they fit her fine and she likes them - win! Plus I cleared more of my stash out!

  This jumper makes me so happy! I found this fleece fabric in Spotlight on a day trip to Warrnambool , its been sitting on my sewing desk for a few weeks now while I've been thinking about it. I had ideas of a hoodie or a peacoat but seeing Bobbin and Baste's top helped me simplify and make a basic jumper. I've made the Renfrew top before but I wanted a lot more ease in this top so its a sz16 at the shoulders and graded out to approximately a 22-24 from the armholes down, plus added an extra 1" to upper arm width and did a 1" FBA which I eased into the side seam. I made a muslin out of stash fleece and wore it around yesterday and then also added 2" to the length, forward shoulder of 1", lowered the neckline by 1" and dropped the armhole down by 1". The pocket is a patch pocket traced from a hoodie I have. I twin-needled the neck band and wristbands. Insides are all overlocked. The hem band could be a little tighter, I haven't worked with...

The first thing my daughter requested when I made her these pants were some pockets. These were quite simple to add on and I thought I'd show how I did it; Firstly, get the side pattern piece Then work out where you'd like the top of the pocket to fall, we went with 6" from the top of the pattern piece and how deep you'd like the pockets, ours are 8" deep. Next, put some tracing paper over the pattern and trace the pocket out, adding 1.5cm seam allowance to the bottom and 1" for a fold over to the top. I sloped the top to add some interest but you don't need to do that. Don't forget to add grain lines and notches to the pocket pattern! Cut out the pockets, turn over and interface the top 1.5-2" for some added stability to the pocket opening. Finish the top and bottom of the pocket (I serged it) Then turn under the seam allowances on the top and bottom and press. Top stitch the top of the pocket. Line up the pocket using the notches and then baste...