Toga tube dress

So, I've been poncing about in rectangles of fabric again... calling them clothes....

 

 

This idea (which is based on a Pattern Magic 3 idea)...

 

...got me thinking about dresses.

 

And in usual fashion, this is the toile (muslin) for the idea, made in fabric that I bought for $1 per metre (although it's actually ex-(swanky)-designer fabric).

 

I tried it in the double-sided knit that I bought at Addicted To Fabric, but I didn't have quite enough to get the right drapey effect.... and I didn't photograph it.  It'll be recycled into something fabulous, at a later date...as is the way of things not-quite-right around here....

..and I'm wearing the toile.

 

Since it's actually winter here, this dress has only seen the light of day under this wrap cardigan... and usually a scarf and coat on top of that. Shame... I quite like the toga effect, and nobody sees it.

 

There was much knitting of green cotton yarn to make a dress-length version like the knitted top in the photo up there... but it all ended in tears (and the undoing of nearly 3 metres of machine knitted fabric).  One dropped stitch..... I won't dwell on it... But I haven't had the heart to start again yet.

 

I'll be playing with more pattern-free design over the next few weeks, in preparation for my Pattern-Free Garment workshop at GJ's fabrics at the end on the month and for my 4-day workshop extravaganza scheduled for Grampians Texture next year.  Gosh, I may even get around to blogging it.

 

I'm fully aware that this particular style isn't for everyone, and I want to assure you that there are many, many other options for pattern-free stylin'... It's all about working with the fabric around your own shape, making designs that fit and flatter, and you can make skirts, tops, dresses, jackets and wraps.  It's quite endless, once you get a feel for it, and it's LOADS of fun. 

Square

A recent sorting of the yarn stash has inspired a bit of a knit-a-thon in these parts.  It was decided that several birdies could be knocked senseless by the same stone, so to speak. 

THE BIRDIES:

• I want to get to grips with gauge and tension and make the best of my very simple little knitting machine.  It does a mean stockingette.
• I have a ridiculous amount of inherited yarn-stash, which is lovely but not too precious.
• I have a lot of ideas about garments* based on squares and rectangles, which I'm itching to explore. 
• I've recycled lots of clothes into a rag rag and can justify restocking the wardrobe with a whole heap more.

*I also have a lot of ideas for using recycled knits for bags and purses, in the case of unwearable experimentation.

THE STONE:

I've been knitting squares and rectangles with the yarn I have to hand and seeing what I can make from them. The pieces are just machine stitched together with a small zigzag.  It's all about instant gratification and the learning processes along the way.  Nothing to do with finish.

This one is a bit rough.... well, quite rough....with a different size rectangle used for each sleeve (lesson learned about writing notes on exactly how many stitches cast on and how many rows knit).  I like the general look and feel and think it'll be a wearable toile (muslin), in a kind of comfy-around-the-house sort of way.... once I fix up the back a bit....

If all else fails, it's a huge gauge swatch that will be recycled into purses. 

I have ideas for an improved version.

 

 The green scrunchy cotton became a Pattern Magic 3-inspired top.... as planned... only a little scrunchier than planned.

And the grey wrap got a little bit of a re-working at the back.

 Here I am, all grey-ghosty.... to show you the new silhouette....

 (And I'm off for a haircut tomorrow).

In other SQUARE news, I've been sewing squares together to make a new patchworky Petite Bag.

I had a bit of fun making this one.  The back made me smile...

 There will be more sewing here soon.  I went to the GJ's 25% off sale on Friday and bought more dress-lengths for little-girl dresses....

...And yes.  Quilt batting.

Fancy that.

Secret talent #32....

Jigsaws. I've always been really good at them. Got a puzzle with pieces that have to fit together? I'm your girl. And lately, I've been brushing up on those skills.... BIG TIME........ and wishing I had a wide-format printer (or that my favourite printers were a few suburbs closer).

I've been patternmaking and devising class notes for my Draped Top workshop in March.
Using the Japanese Drape Drape and Pattern Magic books as inspiration, I'm working on notes to show class participants how to adapt their own favourite t-shirt to add twists and drapes.

It's lots of fun, experimenting with different drape placements and styles -and with three or four overlocker (serger) seams, they're a piece of cake to whip up. Instant gratification galore! These are yesterday's photos. After a trip to GJ's bargain back-room today (to re-fuel with knit fabrics), I refined these styles and I think I have a few patterns I can grade to multi-size and make available to those of you who can't make it to class.

(Feedback required here..... Do I make cheap, simple patterns with basic instructions, or do I put in my usual umpty-five thousand hours into developing the pattern as a sewing class? Are we more interested in the pattern or the instructions here, folks...?)

Secret talent #33.... cracking the code on tricksy patternmaking techniques.

Secret talent #34.... posing like a git on the stairs.

Secret talent #35.... hairdressing (it's a bit like sculpture with scissors).

Yes, I cut away most of the 20-odd-years-of-colour and found out that I look remarkably like an elderly pixie.

Still not sure where this hair thing is going.... I'll wait and see.

Secret talent #36 - the ability to sustain a state of indecision indefinitely.

*********************

Apparently, it's no secret that I'm quite a dab hand at bag-making. Did you know that I'm giving away one of my Laptop Bag samples? Yep.... head on over here to enter the giveaway (but go via here or here first!).

A little bit on the side....

A bit of drapery, that is.

God knows, (I even if I had the time) I have no inclination for anything other than a spot of wayward SEWING.

On Friday, I felt the need to do something completely different. Not book-related. Not bag-related. Certainly NOTHING to do with sorting through boxes of belongings or carrying them up and down stairs.

I drafted a basic t-shirt pattern (ok, I admit it: I completely ripped-off a ready-made t-shirt that fitted me well). This is the toile (muslin)... which I'll eventually hem and bind and wear for very best...

I fiddled about with the pattern and added a little bit of drapery...

A smidge of elasticated gathering detail....

And then I fiddled a bit more. More drape. Less elastic. (Perhaps there ought to have been more pressing....?)

I might add that these tops look a little less hospital-gown-blue in real life, and more smoky- heliotrope-dusky-mauvey-sort-of-blueish-greyish-mauvish..... but the photos were taken in fading evening light.

I also borrowed my sewing buddy's Pattern Magic-inspired twisty top pattern.

I'm definitely going to play more with this one, and the formula behind its creation....

What I love most about these patterns is that there are only three seams, a couple of hems and they look instantly-designerish.... all from a $6 remnant and half an hours' work!

I'm developing some patterns and some simple formulas for adding draped detail. I've scheduled a fun one-session sew-fest of a workshop on the topic, and I'm looking forward to it already.

Time out

It's been a bit quiet on the bloggy front here lately. Busy on the tedious-beyond-belief-website-finalising front.

On the weekends I've made sure it's not ALL domestic drudgery and late-night HTML-checking (although a goodly portion of it is!)... last weekend I did a spot of sewing for myself.

I finished a few things I started at Sewjourn months ago.... including this "pattern magic" knotty top in black voile. I also made the cushion covers that I "haven't had time to make" for about a year (it took all of about an hour and a half...!?).

If you're SUPER-QUICK, you might be able to get into the draw for a free day's crafting at Sewjourn... head on over there NOW!!!

Today the wee girl and I met friends at the Made n Thornbury market. We came back (with friends) to make pizzas for lunch. We had a great time and the kids made spectacular pizzas.

(I then did two loads of washing and drove to the studio to vacuum and clean there... but we wont mention that).

The kids had a fab time - as always - at the market's famous craft table (which has become a craft ROOM!). The lovely Marita supplied all sorts of fabulous materials to be cut and stuck and turned into all manner of wonderful artworks.

Marita will be running art retreats for kids at the Thornbury Women's Neighbourhood House on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the coming school holidays. A registered nurse and community artist, Marita includes stories, breathing relaxation, movement and lots of fun and creativity in the session.

10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm.
$20/$15conc.
For more information phone TWNH on (03) 9480 0466 or email office@twnh.edu.au.
No setting up or cleaning up involved... Marita does it all!

Sounds like good value to me.... Mums need time out occasionally.

Twisting top

A surprisingly warm afternoon prompted me to whip up a quick no-pattern top to wear today.
Yes, it was a shame it didn't inspire me to wipe grubby fingerprints off the mirror or pick up toddler debris... but it really felt more like a sewing sort of day....

The top was made following a similar process to this one, only with a twist.... I wanted twisty drapey bits.

After I cut the armholes I sewed the centre-back seam like this.... inspired by a technique I learned from the book Pattern Magic.

I also did a bit of patternmaking with the overlocker and rotary cutter.... quick and effective nips and tucks, and a bit of random hacking.

As the day progressed the winter crept back in again, and I now have a brown long-sleeve t-shirt underneath my new twisty top.

I'm beginning to feel a bit of trans-seasonal clothes sewing coming on...

That Ol' Pattern Magic...

Finally... a change in the weather means that it was cool enough to wear one of the tops I made on my holidays. This is the long-sleeved, long-tie version in a viscose jersey. Lovely and drapey to wear.

It doesn't hold in a weave structure, but can be knotted lots of different ways.

I have the fabric and the plans for a sleeveless linen version (with the woven front stitched in place as in the book... invisible side zipper allowing me to get into it). There is also a large quantity of cotton voile awaiting my attention to make a sheer version.... and they'll probably have to wait until next summer holidays.... ho hum.

Scraping off the rust

Many years ago I could do some pretty tricky things with clothing...

Clothing-as-sculpture was my thing. I wasn't interested in conventional garment shapes. It was more about "What DOESN'T a jacket look like?". I was obsessed with exploring the potential of patternmaking.
(BTW - These jackets were designed before Montana did his away-from-the-shoulder numbers... I'd been watching The Scarlet Pimpernel on telly and this was my 1980's interpretation of 18th century dandyism).

I also worked as a designer-patternmaker for businesses that wanted their skirts to look like skirts and their jackets to look like jackets. I could do that, too. I also used to make LOTS of clothes for myself, and put thought into them.

And then....

...I stopped. Having a small business (and then a small business and baby) meant that I had no time for anything but absolute simplicity - tried and true patterns that I knew would fit, stretch sewing that could be whipped up on an overlocker in no time, kids clothes from commercial patterns.... No fiddling. No thought. No play. All my patternmaking time has been on hat and bag patterns for work.

...And then....

I bought this book a year or so ago, and have been poring over its lovely matt pages ...feeling my old patternmaking fingers beginning to itch.... and twitch...

Until now there's been no time to play with it.

Today I MADE TIME for it!

I scraped off the rust, oiled the joints and started working on this bodice. It took all afternoon and I only made it to toile (rough sample) stage. It's holidays and I'm learning to slow down, re-work things, and enjoy the process. No quick-fix t-shirts today.

There are a few issues, (like "This looks lovely but how do I stop it un-weaving itself...?") that have to be worked out, but I'M SO HAPPY that my fashion-designer's brain has come alive again...

I'm loving the fact that I can't stop thinking of new design solutions, different fabrics, the range of garments that could be made from it (so far I have summer top, winter top, dress.... various knotting arrangements.... and I doubt I'll sleep tonight, thinking out more ideas!). Stay tuned for more Pattern Magic!

I don't want my sewing holiday to end!!!