Vogue Wrap Dress

This is my second and improved attempt to the wrap dress. When I made the first version of this pattern, I still did not know Americans included seam allowances in their patterns, so I made it 1.5 cm wider all around. After reading some books, watching some videos and following some blogs, I figured out how other civilizations sew. Having seam allowances included, they tend to pin and sew the pieces together in the machine. I learned to sew from my mom, and all the women sewers around me follow the same method. We cut the pattern without seam allowances, pin it to the fabric, and cut this with wide seam allowances, specailly in the doubious places. Then we mark it with tailor tucks, take the tissue away, cut the tucks and baste the pieces together by hand for the first try. Only when it is perfect and ready, having made all the necessary adjustments, we sew it by the machine. After that, we take the basting thread out and proceed to finish the garment. Having followed this method all my sewing life -more than 20 years- I am not for change now. Besides, I believe this method makes more sense than simply pin the pieces together and machine sew it by imaginary lines.
Anyways, here is the seocnd version of the wrap dress, now in my perfect size. It feels wonderful, I think, because the fabric, a soft brown knit has a wonderful hang to the body and great movement when I walk.
Hope you like it. I have yet another version of this dress in mind for next winter.

Blue Assimetrical Jersey

This is yet another example of the possibilities of my T-Shirt Universal pattern. This time, I decides to cut a shoulder lower than the other and give some movement to this piece, which otherwise would be too classic. The result is really nice and wearable now in the spring, with a blue tank top under it and a pair of blue jeans. It received a lot of compliments when I wore to school, specially for the colours and texture of the knit, which I found in an opshop. How do you like it?

Who Wears the Pants?

Well, the answer is obvious, isn't it?
I was so enthusiastic about Aldrich's book for women that I decided to buy the masculine version:

What I had in mind was to make a new and better version of the corduroy trousers I had made for my boyfriend, which after being redimensioned form a magazine pattern, did not look as good as they should. With my own patterns, the result was as good as this:

I took measures, I draw the basic block, and made a  muslim from there. I had to make some minor adjustments to the muslim, and now I have the perfect pattern for corduroy pants, if my sweetheart does not gain any volume!
Some parts, like the zipper, o the belt loops are delicate and you need some practice to do them well. In fact these are my first perfect belt loops so far!

Well, my boyfriend is so happy with the result that he has decided to reserve them for dressing up occasions, when they were meant for work. He finds the corduroy mustard yellow perfect, so I am very happy with the job done.

Since I started constructing my own patterns, I am moving away from magazines' The fit is so perfect I can only recommend every seamstress to go for it.

We are now in December 2013. I've made a second version of this pattern, since I kept my toile fo further occasions. It is a cinamon corduroy this time, and the result, as good as the firts one, of course:

Animal Jumper

Last winter I made this dress in this spotted grey wool and I got some fabric left. I decided to use my unviersal T-shirt pattern again, because I know it is just perfect.

I had the nasty surprise of itchiness as soon as I tried it on the first time, so I decided to underline it all with a very thin beige fabric with a lot of give. I sew it around the neck, right to right, and turn it to the inside, sewing then the bottom of the sleeves and body. 

Now, it is confortable and nice to wear, so I consider it a good solution. It wears well with jeans.

Here I am wearing it with minishorts and my grey UGGS, which have proved really wearable (and of course comfortable!) in the cold Lleidatan winters.

Wrap T-shirt

I have always liked wrap dresses and t-shirts, and this is one of many many tries I've made, and a very good one, likely to be recreated, I think. It is a Burda pattern, and it became perfect for my mauve elastic cotton fabric:

Black Lace Back Dress

Here is the product of three correlative mistakes in the process of sewing myself a little.. well, first, I bought the lace to make a panelled skirt. I draw the pattern just to find out the fabric was so scarce for that design! (1st mistake). Then I decided to make a dress inspired in:

but (and 2nd mistake, due to poor light) I cut the dress in this black cotton/lycra just across the grain. Now my options, with the sleeves cut, and half the cotton/lycra gone, where fewer and fewer, so I had to be brave and take this as an oportunity to dare (no much choice neither). Finally I used the left lace to make the back of the dress. I could look better, but the dress is quite nice. What do you think?

Here wearing it with my Timberland lace-ups, my favourite boots of all times. Too bright tights, at least in the picture, I hope they were not that glittering in real :-(!

Sewing for Others

This time it was not for me, but for my mother in law. I must say, once I have started drawing my own patterns, it will be difficult to go back to using magazines' patterns.

I took measurements, draw the simple jersey block and ... wow, it was perfect at the first fit. Considreing she is a 68 year old lady, with not a perfect figure (who is???), it was wonderful not to have to modify anything. And now I have a perfect block for her.