Two of my favourite things

This is cool, combining books and textiles in a beautiful conservation process. A medieval book mended with silk thread

Mystery of the trousers solved

I had a sudden, face palm inducing realisation about the trouser sizing issue last night. I had it in my head that I was removing 3cm at the waist, but I was meant to be adding 3cm. Oops.

That issue about not writing things  down is biting me again. At least it's an easy fix and there will be a successful fitting this evening!

Project week 1: Trousers a.k.a. bother

While the buzz is still going, here's the first project update.

Usually I draft my own patterns but as I'm not a menswear specialist I've chosen to use a commercial pattern, Vogue 2836.
So far I've traced off the pattern pieces in the size closest to my husband's, made alterations according to measurements and cut and sewn a toile.

Somehow the toile ended up 10cm too small in the waist. According to the chart on the pattern envelope I needed to remove 3cm off the waist, which I did. I didn't take a photo of the toile on my husband as it was frankly a little indecent!

Pattern weights don't have to be boring.

Shortening the leg length on the pattern.

My ultimately unnecessary waist alterations.

The essential pieces cut in calico for a toile.

Ever wondered how to sew the dart straight without drawing on the fabric? Line up the straight edge of a piece of paper along the stitching line and away you go. If you happen to stitch on the paper it doesn't matter because it just tears off.

Calico trousers ready for first fitting.

Tomorrow I'll measure the pattern properly, like I should have done, and check where I went wrong with this one.

An introductory post of sorts, of course

Ooh, a brand new blog, looks like I need to dirty it up a little and dog ear the pages a bit. Here goes.

Who am I? I'm a 33 year old, freelance graphic designer and dressmaker who made the mildly terrifying decision to return to uni and do the Visual Art degree I always wanted to do—majoring in textiles, of course. I'm also a part time industrial sewing teacher and sometimes I sew curtains for a local company when they get overloaded. Yeah, I'm a little busy.

What is this blog and why am I starting it now?

It's an attempt to document the various things I do—graphic design, costuming, art (painting, sculpture), general dressmaking, textiles and a bunch of other uncategorised mess-making. I've discovered that I'm pretty awful at documenting my art, which as it turns out is a problem when it comes to university assessment. This blog aims to rectify that by maintaining project diaries, links to things I find inspiring or interesting and research from around the web for projects I'm working on. Updates will be as necessary, but at least once a week. No really. Gee, this isn't going well already.

Now that I'm on mid year break and I've had a moment to think about what I want to do with it, here's the intended project list:

• Make a suit for my husband. At the very least I need to make trousers for him, poor man is wearing his current pair to the point of translucence—which I don't have a problem with, but it's not work appropriate. This will be a three piece suit if I can get myself organised:
  1. Trousers x 2;
  2. Waistcoat x 2;
  3. Jacket x 1.
• Make an 18th century inspired costume. I'm a role-player (don't sneer, it makes your nose look funny) and a game I previously played that has been on hiatus for four years is coming back and I'm going to be prepared this time! No more borrowed costumes. This beast contains a lot more stuff than it seems on the surface:
  1. Chemise;
  2. Stays;
  3. Bum roll/maybe small panniers;
  4. Hanging pockets;
  5. Petticoat;
  6. Polonaise;
  7. Wig.

Stockings and shoes I'll have to purchase, but I'm somewhat tempted to make the shoes too. I'll have to see how I go for time.

Looks like my six weeks is all booked up. Best get started then, can't sit around nattering to you all day!