Category: Portland fabric shopping

Alexa: winter versions

~ velosews ~ 9 Comments

There’s not much of our mild Winter left so I grabbed Alexa (Tessuti pattern) and made a few Winter versions. Making knit tees is what I do when I’m preparing for another big project. Knit sewing is fun and quick to do while I ponder the details of the ‘next big thing’.

TNT Tee Contest


My earlier Alexa top versions are here, as a jacket base here, experimenting with prints here and here are the handy dress versions I used while travelling earlier this year. So this is certainly a TNT tee.

Fire: Red lace knit
This is the v-neck version and lined with tricot. I was trying for a pretty Winter version.


This fabric was bought at a fabric store in New Zealand a few years ago. 

Mmmm. Not sure the tricot underlayer works. I’ll wear it ‘out’ one night and see how it goes.


Moving on…

Coat of arms: Ribbon knit
I’ve made this style before in jaywalk fabric for a few summer polo tops.

This time I’ve used ribbon fabric bought in Portland a few years ago.


Here’s how the neckline looks now. This is definitely a winter top.


Mustard: wool knit hoodie
This time I’ve added a wrap hood to these two versions using the Avocado hood pattern.

Mustard wool hoodie – dummy view


‘On me’ view looking chuffed with new Jalie Jeans


Dummy view

‘On me’ back view showing off my new Jalie jeans with zippers at the hem.

Tangerine: wool knit hoodie

dummy view
‘on me’ view worn with brown spandex Anita pants pattern from Tessutis ($10 table special)


dummy view
‘On me’ view worn with Brown spandex Tessuti Anita pants.

Both of these wool knit fabrics for these two tops were bought at My Hung in May. They were $7/m and I’ve worn these a lot from day 1. These are soft and warm. I can still wear a thermal layer underneath these for when it’s really chilly.

Date night: Silver knit 
I tried to draft a collar but the points are a bit wing collar style.

Dummy view of Silver version
‘On me’ view worn with Chorizo Anita pants from Tessutis


Dummy back view
Back view on me

I bought this silver knit from Tessuti’s and this knit is soft against my skin. I tried to create soft gathers at the wrist but you can’t really see it.

These are all tunic length because I want to stay warm. 

Ta dah view wearing my grey test Anita ponte pants


I’ll show you the Anita ponte pants story soon – my other Winter staple.

Pattern Review has 51 participants in this contest. It finishes today and voting starts next week. Take a look at the entrants and the variety of TNT tees they’ve used. They’re a creative bunch!

keeping promises

~ velosews ~ 10 Comments

It’s cold and I realised last week I still had my SIL’s coat to do.

This is the test coat I made SIL last year.

The pattern is designed for stretch wovens so I added 1/2 cm to the seams as I cut it out. The fabric is a plain woven with no stretch.

 

The fabric is from The Remnant Warehouse and the lining is from Allanah Hill, Melbourne.

The front view before the fitting. Then I’ll finish the coat off.
The main fabric is interfaced for better shaping and I’ve used piping on the collar and yokes.

There’s a gold sheen to the fabric that shows up at night.

A closer neckline shot

I recut the centre back lining and added in some wiggle room. This pattern isn’t lined so I’ve drafted a front lining piece and used the rest of the pattern as lining, adding wiggle room in the back pieces. I can still hear ripping noise in my head when I think back to one of the first lined jackets I made with no wiggle room. It still makes me shudder.

The back

Next week she will try it on for size and that’s when I’ll readjust the fit and finally hem the coat and add the buttons. The buttons were bought in New York with Kyle.

Here’s an inside peek at the finishing details.
I have other pieces that I’ve finished to show you, once I get the ok from the pattern designers. Until then, I have to be patient and just keep sewing.
 
Janis, I’ll make something from the fabric I bought with you in Portland soon. Thanks for reminding me of that amazing day fabric shopping with you. You were really generous with your time.

Portland fabric shopping

~ velosews ~ 2 Comments

Here’s where we’ve shopped so far:
Fabric Depot – first stop on Sunday. This was a great experience courtesy of Janis.
Mill End – second stop on Sunday. Another huge fabric retailer. I never knew there were so many flannel options.
Now the list gets blurry.
JoAnnes – This was a smaller store but handy to keep in mind.
Michaels – A Spotlight kinda store. This had lots of every craft.
Rose City Textiles – Tuesday. The customer service was fabulous. There were lots of goretex, fleece, wickeaway etc fabric and notions. And they have all sorts of notions.
Bolt – This was closed so we may try to get there today, on our way out to Seattle.

I’ve kept to my non-list of green, blues and burgundy fabrics.
Hopefully we’ll get to as many retailers at expo tomorrow, to find the notions that we’ve never heard of or only dreamed of.

Janis was really generous with her time.