Lakeside Grainline Pyjamas, Christmas Style!

When I first started blogging I had to make a tough decision. As a person who hates having their picture taken would I put pictures of me up on my blog? Would I crop off my head? Would I just display them on a mannequin?

In the end I decided to photograph the things I make on me, mainly because I find it very frustrating when people post pictures of their makes on mannequins because everything looks good on a mannequin! [Major kudos to Jo at three stories high who posted pictures in a bra she made for the same reasons!]

So I took the plunge and took pictures of myself in my latest make a very short pair of Lakeside Pyjamas by Grainline Studios! [definitely worn nude pants and a strapless bra for these as well as tights because I'm not that brave!]

Right so details, the top is a loose fitting tank with a split back and bust darts and the shorts are elasticated at the waist and have sort of a 70's running short vibe!

I made a size 12, although I measured as a size 8. Yes I went up two sizes, after reading some blogs by people who had already made them I discovered that the shorts run a lil small, and as I have a lil bit of "ahem" junk in my trunk, I thought it was best to size up , and then I figured as I was making a toile maybe I should size up twice just to be safe.

And I'm really glad I did, the fit on top is good its loose enough to be comfy without the straps falling down and exposing bosom [anyone else have that? wake up in the morning to find both boobs have escaped you pj top? just me? okay then.......] 

And I'm really glad I sized up on the shorts, They are fairly loose on the waist and I took the elastic in by about 2 and a half inches but I'm really happy with them. I think the size 8 and 10 would have been a bit too snug and the last thing I want to be dealing with at 3am is a wedgie.

The pattern is deigned for light woven's, like lawn style cottons. But I used this Christmas fabric by the craft cotton company and it worked nicely. Although I didn't have enough of one fabric to make the full set so the top has a reindeer front and a snow flake back and the shorts have red reindeer print with a white reindeer waistband!

I don't mind the mismatched effect as its a toile but I do have some really lovely gingham cotton lawn to make my next set in! [courtesy of my friend who sent me both this pattern and the fabric as an early wedding present!]  

I actually put off making this pattern because it requires 7 YARDS! of bias binding. And I hate bias binding! But surprisingly I found this quite therapeutic and the instructions are really clear so that made it easier.

On some of the pictures below you can see how the bias binding hides all of the raw edges and gives a really pro finish. Although I got a bit confused when it came to binding the edge of the shorts but I think I know what I need to do next time for a really great finish.

This is the back split which might be my favourite part! It gives a really comfortable fit which I love and its nice to have a lil bit of sexy in the back especially seen as the rest is so loose. 

I also wondered if you could hack the pattern so the wrap over back was at the front and then you might have yourself a nice lil top for breast feeding.

Im starting to dream of a pair of these and a light silky material now! Very 1950s hollywood!

I had a hard time posing for these, hence all the props! oooh harry potter! perfect bedtime reading!

Here's the bias binding straps, the pattern give you a measurement to ct but I think its worth trying them before you stitch them into your top. These were the right length for me but if you bust is slightly bigger you might find the armholes tight.

The instructions are really clear on all points so its definitely worth following them! I love how the binding finishes this! Even if you do need 7 yards of the stuff! It is worth making your own though because pre made bias binding can be quite stiff and you don't want to be uncomfortable at bedtime!

I read on a few blogs that people plan on making these shorts in a knit with minimal stretch for running. I won't be doing that...... I only run on three occasions

1- for fabric

2- for wine

3- away from zombies

Here's the elastic waist, I'm tempted to make a drawstring one on my next pair but then Id have to tie them and stuff and deal with the inevitable my draw strings come undo shorts drop to the floor and expose my bum and foof dilemma! So I might just stick to elastic!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

P.s Definitely not saving these for Christmas!!!

Simple blue velvet jacket

I was given this jacket pattern a few months ago by my penpal, it was actually in a stack of prima patterns all of which focused on very simple clean designs.

The pattern itself is only three pieces, the front , the sleeve and the back. The instructions say to cut out four front pieces to line your jacket front but the idea of only having the front of the jacket lined felt weird to me so I drafted a collar facing. It's worked pretty well, you can't see a messy inside but you don't have the bulk from two layers of velvet.

And speaking of fabric I used some more of the blue velvet I was given its got a woven underside so it looks okay on the inside of a jacket especially since I used bias binding on all of my seams. I'm not sure if they count as Hong Kong seams becuase I bound both sides together but they look very neat so I'm happy. I made my own binding from a blue and white weird microbe looking cotton I had in my stash. I know il never use it as a dress fabric but I didn't want to throw it away. 

I also made the white binding that runs around the edge of the jacket, I applied this by hand for a nice finish and added beads as i went to make the jacket feel a bit more special.

These photos are awful sorry the spare room is still in pre Christmas chaos and lil knitwit was napping whilst I took these. Bless him he's ended up with another cold and hasn't been his usual self. He went to nursery Monday morning with a sniffle and by afternoon had collected the entire classes germs.

Here's a picture of my seam binding isn't it neat and lovely? I even bound around the pockets so they would look nice too and then I tacked the pocket binding to the front facing binding so they wouldn't flap about. I'm not sure if its the proper way of doing things but its how I did it.

You can wear the collar up or folding down but I think I prefer it up. I think it made the coat look more classy even if I think it could have done with being as bit smaller.

The facing fabric was given to me by a friend , its a great texture but its much too itchy to make a entire garment out of. I think the grey blue and white work nicely together. And I'm quite tempted to make a fully lined version but in a red and black scheme.

Overall im impressed its nice to have another jacket option for going out and I really do think the beads add something even if they did take bleeding ages to apply, luckily I was in a patient mood.

I could have done with taking an inch off the sleeves but it doesn't bother me enough to redo the binding and beading. Although the beading on the cuffs is only on the outside whereas the beading on the main coat is on both sides because the collar flips back.

It all feels very grown up and it basically means that I now have a blue velvet dress suit because of my blue velvet shift dress. The idea of being able to match my dress and jacket makes me feel like the wife of a rich business man in the fifties. You know the kind who doesn't bayt an eyelid when she catches her husband screwing his secretary ( well actually I'd turn fifty shades of crazy but you know what I mean)

A better look at my inside binding and pockets, I used the same material for my pockets as my facing.

And a close up of my labour of love with those pesky beads! Even if it did take less beads bthan I thought it would.

In other news I started another slef drafted project, which is going quite well even if I am having to add nin Godet's becuase I miscalculated my backside measurement.

And I've started the run up to Christmas we went out yesterday and picked up some alcohol and some nuts aswell as a nutcracker, neither of us eat nuts so no think they might end up being more ornamental than anything. But its nice to have them for other people and if all else fails they can go on our bird table.

And I've started to give my wardrobe a proper clear out again. I know I nseem nto do this a lot but making my own stuff means I seem to accumulate a lot of stuff! Itndoesnt help that I'm always happy to take other people's castoffs aswell for refashioning and stuff! This time I didn't get rid of much just a few dresses that after looking at them didn't suit me. Well I nsay get rid of I think I'm going to refashion them into tops which should be cool they have pretty cool prints non and I'm in dire need of some more slouchy tops for the school run.

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx

Baby dungarees!

Okay so I wanted a quick project for today, I needed something completely mindless to work on. 

I turned to this pattern from the great British sewing bees "sew your own wardrobe" 

I've never actually sewn anything from this book (I traced a pattern and realised I didn't have enough fabric and tried the eek the fabric and basically wasted my fabric and time) 

Anyway the patterns sheets look like this 

Like an acid trip from the eighties , not that I was alive in the eighties , or have ever had an acid trip come to think of it. 

Anyway after a lil tiny bit of swearing I finally found all the peices and traced the little sod! 

Three pieces isn't too much work! 

This is the fabric I chose for the main body, I have no idea what it's called as it's from my grandmas stash, but I like it becuase it looks like bacteria. I like fun fabrics for babies! Can't stand it when lil children look like adults they should be comfy and FREE!!!! 

I followed most of the instructions regarding the sewing of the seams! 

I hemmed the armholes and much to my surprise found that placing the pins this was worked far better on the curves! 

Then I used bias binding (which I made myself- insert smug face) for the crotch area and the legs. 

Now here's my problem, I need to add buttons, but I'm stuck on which ones to use!!!! 

Funky red gingham? 

(Oh yeah I forgot to mention the pocket I added at the front!)

Green spotty? 

Green gingham? 

Green khaki? 

Black? 

I'm totally lost!!!! I think it's a hard fabric to work with because it's so busy (to be honest there's a small part of me that thinks it might be a little bit hideous!).

Anyway what have I learnt:

•bias binding is easier than I thought

•ironing makes everything easier! 

•some fabrics work better for children than adults! 

•tracing pattern pieces is never as painful as I think it's going to be! 

Anyway what do you think about buttons! ???

Much love

Frankie

Xxx