Charlotte skirt - lining

Bought my lining fabric - a simple grey. Knocked together the basic shell of the skirt very quickly. Machine stitched round the top and then hand blind stitched round the zip, all as By Hand London instructed.

Charlotte Skirt 2

Well step two has taken quite some time! Simple stitching of darts and seams. My challenge came when it got to finishing the seams. When I made the  Victoria blazer I wished I had put more thought into fin7shing the seams. Not having an overlocker (yet!) I just used pinking shears, but it doesn't look great. So I decided to bind the seams. Bizarrely I seem to have purchased about 50cm of bias binding, which is no good to man nor beast.

So first attempt at proper fitting. I tries on the skirt and it fits well at the waist (yay!) But is way too baggy at the hips (boo!) Essentially meaning there is about 2 sizes difference between my waist and hips.  Two attempts later and I think it now fits. As recommended by the lovely ladies at By Hand London I tried it inside out and pinned the excess, sewing new side seams. Hopefully this is gonna work!

So I spent ages making binding from the offcuts of the fabric ... and then having used them on the centre back seam I think itnis way too bulky, so scrap that! Although, I used the binding on centre back before inserting my zipper so I've left those ones, but the other seams I have just folded under the raw edge and sewn them to neaten.

And now I've decided I want to line the skirt so another pause whilst I purchase that.

Charlotte skirt 1

I'm not doing this sew-along 'live' but as one exists I thought I'd blog along.  I bought the Charlotte Skirt pattern from By Hand London a while back and the fabric I've got is from Pumpkin Patch in Hailsham, again, bought a while back. I've decided to do the variation without ruffle or peplum. That all feels a little too girly for me.

Step one is sizing, pattern and cutting. I haven't had a lot of success in getting sizing right for clothing so far. The only thing that seems tk have been right is hubby's trousers. For this skirt, having measured myself, I've gone for the biggest size, although the waist is too small, so I've added some more on at the waist ... we'll see if that was a sensible plan!

Placing the pieces and cutting out is all very simple when it's just three pieces. So onto part 2!

Victoria Blazer 5.2

Well the sleeves are in! A few minor hiccips with easing them in  ... as easing isn't easy! Very pleased I've done the contrasting cuff - think it looks fab.

The grand unveiling of the final product will be with you shortly.

Victoria Blazer sewalong 5.1

So the next episode is sleeves, but tonight I've only managed cuffs. they are very exciting though. I'm pleased I went for the contrasting cuff - I think it looks super spesh. What I do wish I had done is got some white bias binding to finish off the inside sleeve. I've used pinking shears to finish the seam, which is fine, but I just think it would look nicer with the seams bound.

Onwards and upwards - probably the weekend before I can finish the sleeves now though.

Victoria sewalong 4 - prepping the collars and cuffs

Where's post 3 I hear you cry? Well, post #3 on the sew along is for versions 1 & 3 only, and as I'm doing v2 I got a break. So straight to step 4 - prepping collar, cuffs and lapels. I've decided to go for a contrast cuff using the lining fabric - that zebra is too fab to stay on the inside. But this does mean the collar and cuffs don't match  ...

There's not a lot to say about this step - very simple. So I would like to share my favourite turning implement. For the collar, cuffs and lapels you want sharp corners. My new item of preference for this is the propelling pencil (no lead!). It's got a small point which helps for sharpness but isn't sharp itself, meaning I don't go through the fabric - bonza. It's the small things  ...

On a roll

Well, whilst I'm waiting for the next sew along post I'm desperate to get sewing something else. I've put an orde in for some fabric for another project  ... more on that when it comes through. But wait, what's that? Brother-in-law moving house in less than a week? Well I must make a house warming gift! So I had a rummage in some old Sew Hip magazines and found a cute pattern for house shaped coasters  that will be a great stash buster too.

Victoria Blazer SewAlong - 2

Well  ... Already it's got some shape and it looks like a jacket. I was quite anxious about creating the front dart but it was actually quite easy, especially with the pictures and extra instruction from the sewalong.

I'm a little anxious about the length. It's a cropped jacket; my original intention was to make the full length but there was only enough zebra fabric for the cropped so that was decision made. I did add an extra inch to the length when cutting out but I'm wondring if I should have gone for another one as well. We shall wait and see.

Victoria Blazer Sewalong - 1

Exciting times. A new project and I'm not doing it alone! I'm joining in with a sewalong so hopefully I'll get a bit of guidance as we go. I was put onto By Hand London by an old friend via Facebook. The Victoria who designed this blazer is her niece. I'm not really a suit kinda gal but sometimes you want something to throw over an outfit to go to an event and I thought this might do the job.

I was very excited to get the patten through - it is beautifully presented in a little cardboard wallet and you even get a label to sew into the item once finished. I got my fabric from Pumpkin Patch in Hailsham. I saw the zebra print and knew straight awy I wanted it. i'm not quite bold enough to have that as the main fabric (maybe one day  ...) and they only had a limited amount of it so with that as my lining I went for a plain black outer. I had intended to make vesion 1 - full length - but my limited fabric means I'm going for cropped.

So sewalong episode 1 is tracing and cutting - all good so far. Looking forward to getting stuck into this.