White Eyelet Hazel

In case you haven't noticed, things have been pretty slow around Chez Makizy.  We're currently packing up and moving to temporary digs at the end of the month, which unfortunately doesn't leave me with too much quality sewing time. Oh well, it's just a step toward our dream of owning our own house and me having my own sewing room! Things should pick back up in August.

Ms Macy is always ready to take time off from packing and supervise whatever sewing takes place.

The other good news, my laptop is finally back up an running. I have a sweet new hard drive and reinstalled Adobe, so I'm ready to blog!

This poor Hazel has been in a state of being almost done for about 2 weeks now. I finally finished yesterday:

I have to say that I had the hardest time photographing this dress! There is nothing clean in my apartment at the moment because of my packing. Also my back porch, where I've been taking most of my pictures lately, is being painted and off limits.  This was my best picture, taken before the dress was hemmed.

Pattern: Colette's Hazel 

Fabric: White cotton eyelet with a mint green cotton underlying (quilting cotton and proud of it), both from Joann Fabric

Size and Modifications: For the bodice I cut a size 2 in width, but cut the length of a size 6 (if that makes sense). I really wanted to avoid the bodice appearing too short. I know that's how the pattern is drafted, and I do have a higher waist, but I didn't want to appear cut off or have the dress be too baby-doll like. I cut a size 6 for the skirt but cut the size 18 length. I needed extra length and know I'd never wear it if it was too short.

Instead of gathers, I went with pleats for the skirt. Since my fabric was a bit stiff, I wanted to cut down on some of the bulk at the waist and figured that pleats would work better.

Mint Green Underlining

Thoughts: I still don't think Colette patterns are quite "me". I love them on people, and I am still going to keep trying, but not sure I'm in love with this. I'm definitely "in like" with it.

See how happy I look?  I wasn't kidding when I said earlier that I had a hard time taking good photos of this. This is probably the best front facing shot of me wearing the finished dress.

Guess I'm just more photogenic from the back :)

I read a lot of reviews about the pointy bust darts and yep, those suckers are pointy! I may have to do some further adjustments here.  I also should have cut a larger size skirt.  This one is my fault. It's not tight, but I don't like the way it puffs so much around my hips.  Not that I am against that, in the right dress, but this one should have been more flowy.

I think if I make this again, and I probably will, I'll add a waist band to further lengthen the bodice. I'm happy with the length, but want more. I'll also either cut a larger size skirt or try using a skirt from a different pattern.

Winter in June

Winter is Coming.

Yes, I am aware of the fact that we've had multiple days of warm, humid, rainy weather in Chicago with no sign that it will drastically cool off anytime soon.  What better time to sew up a pair of winter-themed lounge pants!

I've actually had the fabric cut out for a few months. I had the privilege of being a Tofino pattern tester earlier this year. At the time I had thoughts of making four of five pairs of Tofinos, but that was before I got sidetracked with life and other projects. This week I needed a break from over thinking my Hazel muslin, and this project fit the bill.

Pattern: Tofino by Sewaholic

Fabric: Blue snowflake flannel from Joann Fabrics, purchased piping, and thick blue knit fabric that I had lying around for the belt.

Construction notes: I cut out a size 8 with no additional modifications. They're lounge pants. I don't need to get fancy with them.

I'm absolutely in love with the piping detail. I think it makes the finished pants look so professional.

On a bittersweet note. I used this same fabric earlier this year to make my grandmother a house dress.  Unfortunately she passed away back in February, shortly after I gave her the dress. I happened upon the same fabric on clearance at Joann Fabrics. It brought back a lot of good memories, and made me remember how much she loved the dress, if only for a short time. I wanted to make a little something for myself out of the same fabric in remembrance, even if it was something as simple as lounge pants.

Finished Yellow Eyelet Lonsdale

My new camera charger finally arrived! It officially beat the return of my good camera from downstate. And, I was finally able to get my finished Lonsdale photos. (Unfortunately, now my computer with all of my photo editing software is on the fritz, and trying to use Photoshop in safe mode is a pain! Oh well, the show must go on.)

Here are the details:

Pattern: Sewaholic's Lonsdale

Fabric: 1 3/8 yards of yellow cotton eyelet from Joann Fabrics. I'm so proud of myself for getting a Lonsdale out of this. The underlining was white mystery fabric from Vogue Fabrics and the lining was combination of assorted white muslin fabrics.

Size and modifications: I cut a size 6 at the top and scaled to an 8 at the waist. I also made a swayback adjustment and pinched the bodice in a bit.   I made these modifications about two years ago when I made my first Lonsdale (back in my pre-blog days), and blindly followed the pattern this time. Luckily, it still fit perfectly!

I did not have enough fabric for the slash pockets. I really love that design feature, but it did need to be sacrificed. Instead I used the Cambie pocket (View B), but any pocket would work.  In hindsight, I should have checked out Sewaholic's tips for using less fabric.  She suggests making facings for the pockets as an alternative, and I probably would have had enough fabric to do that.

I also had to piece together a few pattern pieces since I was working with so little fabric.  The fashion fabric straps were just too long to layout in one piece, so those are pieced together. The same went for the lining and underlining. I used up a lot of muslin that was lying around, and feel pretty happy with myself for doing that.

Finally, I had to shorten the skirt quite a bit in order to get it to fit on the eyelet. I used the View A skirt pieces, and then shortened by another 4 inches.  I'm very happy with the results.  Still long enough to make me feel comfortable, but short enough to feel very summery.

What I learned trying to piece together a pattern with too little fabric:
1. Non-directional prints are your friend. Or, just don't be too picky about matching patterns.
2. Omit or modify pockets.
3. Splice together long pieces. No one will notice and the sewing police won't haul you away.
4. Shorten the skirt.
5. Keep your fingers crossed that the hack job you're about to do actually works.

Home Stretch - Lonsdale Progress

Almost finished!

I'm so happy with the progress on my Lonsdale.  I just have a few tasks remaining: cut out and sew a skirt lining because the eyelet and underlining is still too sheer for comfort, sew the zipper and hem everything.  Depending on how much sewing time I can fit in today, it should be ready in another day or two.

I recycled and pieced together all I could from muslin that I had lying around for the lining and underling. I still did not have enough for a skirt lining and had to make a trek to Joann Fabric. I know, poor me had to go to the fabric store.

I'm so glad I did! There was a 50% off sale! (I know, when do they not have a sale?) I was so appalled by the evil conditions that the fabric was being kept in that I had to liberate some from Joann's. (And by evil conditions, I mean it wasn't home with me yet.)

LOOK! EYELET!!!!

I usually try to stay away from all white because I'm afraid it will get dirty, but I just couldn't say no to this! I've been staring longingly at the Hazel's that have been popping up in the blog world and think this would be perfect for one.  Check out the amazingly blue eyelet Hazel made by Gail at Today's Agenda, or the white embroidered Hazel on the Colette blog.  When the time comes, I'll be underlining this with the light green fabric pictured above.

Also, I this beautiful Swiss Dot needed a good home.

I'm sure I've seen this fabric on at least one blogger's site already. (I'm sorry I can't remember where, but I remember it being beautiful!)  I don't know what's to become of it yet, but I think I might be starting a Lonsdale phase. Or maybe another Cambie? Or, can I squeeze a Chantilly from this?  So many choices, which is such a good problem to have :)