Sewing in 2012 - looking forward.

 ~ Jamie and Sophie - both loving Christmas ~

As life calms down after the Christmas/New Years celebrations and begins to return to normal, I wanted to take a few minutes to record my goals for the year ahead. I don't want to assign numbers to the amount of clothes/ quilts/ gifts I will make this year. Instead I want to set goals based on actions and aspirations, without strict time limits.

For the blog
> A series of posts on using your overlocker/serger. I want to share with you some tips I have learn along the way and different features your overlocker/serger may have.
> Quilting!!! I believe I seriously neglected quilting in 2011 on this blog, so I will get more posts up on 'all things quilty'. Who knows, I might even convince a few of you dressmakers out there to give quilting a try :-)
> How-to's. I have a few how-to's in mind for the blog this year.
> Giveaways. Items other than dressmaking patterns!
> Post more projects. I find I neglect to post about my projects until they are finished. I think this takes away a little from those who read this blog and are learning to sew or are interested in the process of sewing up a pattern. I will try and get better at posting along the way.
> More outdoor photography of my finished garments. We now live less than 500 meters from the ocean, so I should be taking advantage of this amazing backdrop.
> Book reviews. I have a number of books I have purchased that I would love to share with you all.
> Some more Etsy favourite posts.

For myself
> I want to organise my sewing room and fabric stash better. This will take time and thought but I really really need a better system.
> Balance my sewing and quilting time. I feel that I have been spending far more time sewing these days than quilting, and this has to change. I have a number of quilting UFO's waiting for some attention, and they simply are not getting it from me. Need to change this.
> I want to make more clothes using Liberty of London fabrics (don't we all?).
> I want to learn how to use my French Curve ruler... anyone have one of these and use them???
> Knit a scarf for winter this year using good quality wool. Does anyone have any tips where to buy good wool online?
> Make a baby quilt for a friend who is due in June.
> More Skype craft days with friends afar.
> I want to expand my 'cooler weather' wardrobe. I find that living in the climate I do in Australia, that winter for us only gets really cold for less than two months of the year. My winter wardrobe basically consists of jeans (4 pairs) and cardigans (10 of these). I only own three long sleeve shirts! I basically get by on very little in winter, and it can often feel unstylish and repetitive (seriously, how many ways can I wear my cardigans and jeans?). So I would love to make a coat this year, and some pencil skirts that can be teamed with tights.

~ Fireworks on the harbour ~

Before I embark on my 2012 sewing adventure, I just want to take a moment to thank you all for your encouraging comments and emails this year. I love the online sewing community that we are all a part of, and cannot thank you all enough for the feedback I receive through my blog and Burdastyle. As someone who does not have many sewers in their life, I find our online community invaluable. I learn so much from reading other peoples blogs (I need to comment more and share the love), learning from my own mistakes and the successes and challenges of other bloggers. All the knowledge, projects, and ideas that are shared online are inspiring and encourage me to continue to sew. 

As I am sure sewing is for a lot of you, sewing for me is a form of relaxation, a way to escape from the stresses of my everyday life, to focus my energy and thoughts on something other than the demands of my job, relationships, and life worries. The thrill of creating something from a pile of fabric and some thread, for me, cannot be matched.

I hope that in 2012 I can encourage others to pick up a needle and thread and 'give it a go' or tackle a more difficult project. You might find that you like it. :-)

I can't wait to share 2012 with you all. Happy New Year!

Sam xox

Casey's 1920's Chemise Top.

I thought it only fair to show you one of the garments that failed during the Sewing Triathlon. I attempted to make a chemise top following Casey's instructions. Everything was going well, the pattern was easy to draw, the fabric was perfect, and the pin tucks looked great. Unfortunately, once I sewed the lace trim along the top the whole thing was ruined. I had chosen the wrong lace for this kind of project. Ideally I should have purchased a stiff lace with a wide zigzag pattern. Instead the lace I bought was elasticised, straight, too large, and it flopped over itself when the garment was vertical. All in all not a good look.

I have heaps of the fabric left over so I will be making this top again, hopefully with the correct kind of lace this time. I do have a zigzag kind of lace but I am hesitant to use it because I think it is too plain.

My drafted pattern pieces.

The pattern.

My pin tucks and the lace in question.

The two laces I have. The top is the one that didn't work. The bottom I worry is too plain for this top.

My French seams - these worked!

Pluses:

- I loved that Casey's instructions were so clear and easy to follow. The pattern drafting was very easy and was a perfect fit.

- I learn how to sew pin tucks and French seams, both of which I had never sewn before.

- The fabric I chose was perfect for this top, and I know it will look great once it has the right lace to match.

Minuses:

- Choosing the correct lace seems key to the success of this garment. My lace failed.

- I had a little trouble with one of the French seams (I didn't clip it close enough to the first lot of stitches).

- This pattern may become addictive to make. It's so easy with beautiful results.

I would recommend this pattern! Click here to print one for yourself.

Sam xox

My Pendrell blouse was featured by Tasia.

I'm so excited! The Pendrell blouse I made last week was featured by Tasia on her blog Sewaholic (you can see it here)! It was such a nice surprise to see my photos on her blog. I am so thrilled Tasia likes it :-)

The Pendrell blouse pattern was honestly very easy to sew and fits beautifully. I can't wait to see what the next pattern is that Tasia publishes.

For anyone who has found me via Tasia's blog post, welcome! Feel free to have a look around my blog and if you want to say 'hi'. I'm very excited to meet new sewers/lovers of sewing.

Sam xox

Capes.

I just had to share this amazing vintage cape creation made by the very clever sewer Molly! I came across her blog when she posted about this cute cape on the vintage blog SewRetro. I absolutely fell in love with it and knew I had to try making my own! The swing style of the cape is such a nice alternative to most jacket patterns I have found. I love the collar and the way the arm holes are sewn into the sides. And I love the choice of colour and buttons Molly has used on hers :-)

It did not take me long to find the vintage pattern for sale on Etsy (how good is Etsy?!) and it is now on its way to me.

As my sister-in-law Ally pointed out to me over our Skype chat last week, it is smart to plan and sew for the coming season, rather than for the one you are currently in - Ally has learnt this recently as she rushes to knit enough warm clothes to dress her family suitably for their very first winter in Germany!

Finally, a big thank you to Molly for allowing me to use her photo and share her beautiful cape on my blog. You can visit her lovely blog Molly's Sewing and Garage Sale Adventures by clicking here.

Psst! I have finished my retro quilt top. Will post photos later this week...

Sam xox

Partnership marriage.

This is just too sweet I just had to share it! Over at Millie Motts Visual Serendipity blog, you will find a feast of vintage images. The most recent are images from a 1940's American magazine called "Young Wife" with a feature article on Betty and Bob, praised by the magazine as an exceptional husband-wife team, who not only share a home but work together also. They call this a 'partnership-marriage'. I love a good party with my friends at my house, but never have we had a party quite like the ones Betty and Bob had.

Maybe next time my girlfriends come over I should bring out the trumpet! To see more images click here.

Sam xox

Liberty quilt along.

I know I promised a Christmas post, but I just had to share this first! You all remember Helene from my Parcels. blog entry? Well, she is organising a Liberty of London quilt along on her blog 25reasons! You can read about it here.

The basics:

Diamond start quilt

8 x 8 blocks

74" x 74"

Tana Lawn (or similar) fabrics

Hand or machine piecing

Here are some of the blocks Helene has made so far...

I absolutely love the contrast of light and dark fabric that Helene is using. If you want to buy a bulk order of a variety of Liberty fabrics, you can always browse Shaukat, as I think their prices are very competitive when it comes to Liberty prints, and their service is first class.

Have fun and let me know how you all go! Thanks Helene for organising such a fun quilt-along.

Sam xox

100th blog post & giveaway.

This is my 100th post!

It will be short and sweet.

To celebrate I am holding a giveaway!

(I have seen others do this and it seems like fun!)

* * * * * * *

How does it work? Simply leave me a comment in this post, and on Sunday 8th August at 9am Sydney time, I will draw a winner using an online random number generator. I will then announce the winner on this blog and also contact them on theirs.

The winner can then choose a 8x12 inch photograph from my Etsy store Buckingham Road and I will package it up and send it to them for free!

{Click here to visit Buckingham Road}

Thanks so much to each and everyone of you who I have connected with through this blog. I am so grateful to have this space to share my ideas, obsessions, successes, and milestones, but most importantly to be able to connect with people from across the globe who encourage and inspire me every day!

Sam xox