Saturday, November 30, 2024

Flowery Silk Jersey Dress


 I've wanted to make this dress since the day I saw it in a BurdaStyle magazine I bought back in September, 12 years ago! That is the time I've needed to find the perfect fabric for it. And it has been really worth it. I found it in Sherwood Fabrics, an online shop that I presume is home to the English designer Lady MacElroy. Now I see it is permanently closed. Sadly, I have the suspicion this fabric is not silk, as it was marketed, and for the price, it was more viscose than silk, but anyhow, the pattern design is gorgeous, and it has the perfect hang and feel. In that same order, I felt forced to complain on another fabric that promised to be wool and was obviously poly; they were good enough as to reimburse half of my money, but they lost my trust. I've sewn silk jersey before, and this feels more viscose than silk, but a very good viscose jersey. 

The pattern proved out to be as beautiful as I thought, perfect for my non-existent waist, and becoming to my figure, although I had to make the sleeves (a little too) narrower. 

The rest was a smooth process, and as I anticipated, it was pure pleasure to join and match all those black cotton jersey pieces, which combined with the flowery jersey handsomely. 

All in all, it is an awesome dress that I wear proudly with my new black leather (too high-heeled) boots. 






Sunday, November 17, 2024

Navy Linen Blazer

This is another of the linen fabrics I bought in Porto's Amazém dos Linhos


It's a lovely shade of navy blue, middle weight Portuguese linen.


I chose a Pattern from BurdaStyle magazine (March 2024). I have a good jacket pattern made to measure, but it has princess seams to the middle shoulder, and I am experimenting with other cuts. This is beautiful, but not perfect. For some fabrics, I would prefer it more fitted, although it is perfect for a linen informal blazer. This pattern has a small bust dart, that could be ugly in other fabrics.


So, for my next formal black blazer, I will be testing another Burda pattern with underbust darts. We'll see, the quest continues. 

The only special issue about the making of this jacket was the no-lining element. I finished all the seams self-encasing them, made a double turned bottom hem and also finished the front facing to be beautiful when seen the inside of the jacket. 

For the next jacket, I will also try to make a smaller size with a FBA, since I want it more fitted. 

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Frida Blouse

 This fabric was a present from Ana, my friend's mum. She is a retiring professional home sewist, who wanted to get rid of her small stash. I got some wonderful pieces from her… Some of them have gone to the Primary school where I work. They are lovely for theatre or other performances and presentations. Quite a bunch of them were great for making chick clothes and this is the first one I made. 


This is an old pattern from Burda. I got inspired last Carnaval season, when I thought about becoming Frida Kahlo. Finally, I decided to go as Banksy, but I already had made the blouse by then, so it became known as the Frida blouse.