Burda Style - Skirt

I have long admired the red vichy @alaia skirt worn by NZ chef and author @petamathias, but I couldn't find a red gingham fabric I liked. (see second to last photo

When I saw this graphic graffiti like red, white and black check silk taffeta, I realised my skirt was going to happen.

Serendipitoutsly the perfect pattern to replicate it appeared in my feed recently courtesy of a recent make of @eleni_sews on Instagram.

This is a size 42, I recut and remade a second yoke after not liking pattern placements on the first. (Thankfully, my invisible zips went in perfectly on both of them.) I also lined it with linen, which I think makes it sit and hang better. I made the skirt pieces a bit wider than the pattern said to give a little more fullness, and and gave it a deep 4" hem, which was hand stitched into place.

I'm hoping with the remnants that I'll have enough to make a simple top to match. I'm really going to enjoy wearing this, dressed up or more casually when some warmer weather arrives.

Pattern is: 127burda042023

Fabric from Drapers Fabrics Auckland

 

Style Arc Clare Pants

 

I sewed my first ever Style Arc pattern this weekend, the Clare pants, size 10, in a lightweight denim cotton type of fabric from the stash. They have elastic right round the waistband, but the front is sewn unstretched to keep it nice and flat, while the rear has normal elastic gathers. They're very comfortable. I did find some helpful sewing tips for this pattern here

Instructions were a bit sparse, but I knew to expect that from a Style Arc Pattern. I'm really pleased with how they've turned out, and how many things in my wardrobe I can wear them with. Looking forward to summer days so I can enjoy wearing them.

A Works in Progress Update

 

Back in June, I decided I'd start working on some long term unfinished projects.  there were a couple of reasons for this:

1     to stop me wasting time aimlessly and continually doom scrolling on my phone (this has the added advantage of helping me to sleep aa bit better at night) and

2    to alleviate the guilt I felt for all the started, yet boxed up projects, using beautiful fabrics and threads.

So I thought I'd provide an update on what I've achieved and where I'm up to.

• The floral applique embroidery piece is now at a point I deem finished.  I added some small Liberty fabric pieces with small flowers and leaves, which were then embellished with vintage lace and embroidery,  I think these add a little lightness to the piece now,  Next mission, getting it framed.  

• I've also pulled out my Liberty X/+ epp blocks  which I started back in July 2022 and over the past three weeks I have joined them all,  I do have plans to add a border made up of liberty and low volume fabrics too, I'm just playing with some options and giving my shoulders and fingers a rest from hand sewing.  This will be known as my Liberty Kisses quilt.

• The epp hexi travel kit still comes to work with me every day. I think I've made about 500 to sew together now.

I'm taking a wee break from the quilting and hand sewing now, I may have taken advantage of some of the recent fabric and pattern sales, so am feeling very inspired to make some seasonally inappropriate clothing, one of which will hopefully be my Auckland Frocktails garment. Stay tuned.

Holidaying in New Plymouth

Mt Taranaki reflected in the Pouakai Tarn

Caper Egmont Lighthouse

SS Gairloch wreck

Govett Brewster art Gallery

By the Camphouse at Egmont Visitor Centre

Poets Bridge at Pukekura Park

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

Tongaporutu

The Three Sisters at Tongaporutu

Elephant Rock

The Scout and I recently returned from our annual winter holiday.  This time we went to New Plymouth, on the West Coast of the North Island, a beautiful coastal city dominated by Mt Taranaki.  We were blessed with the most fabulous fine but cold weather, so each day were able to see the snow topped mountain from pretty much everywhere we went.

Probably the highlight of the trip was doing one of my bucket list day hikes - The Pouakai Tarn track. Its a relatively easy walk, approximately 6.3 km of boardwalk and stairs, uphill to the hut, downhill to the tarn and vice versa on the way back.  We were fortunate to have a gloriously fine wind free day, so were able to get the fabulous reflection photos the tarn is renowned for, even though there was ice on it.

New Plymouth is a beautiful city, lovely street art, a coastal walkway, great eateries and galleries, and parks.

Well worth visiting.

 

A Finished Quilt

 

I've finally finished my "Make it up as I go" quilt. My first and probably only quilt finish of the year.

Started back here in 2023, it's been a slow process.

Very much inspired by the fabulous seedling quilt from Tales of Cloth, I made a Mandolin block as my first block, then pieced or stitched other blocks I liked, but didn't necessarily want to make a whole quilt of.  In hindsight, I should have made the quilt in a log cabin sequence, it would have made fitting pieces a lot easier.

Always using my loved low volume and bright combination this quilt is approximately 70" square.

The backing is a fabulous rainbow Ombre from Northcott fabrics. 

The magical e2e quilting by Quiltmekiwi is Gingersnap design 

Binding is in Yarrow by Kona fabrics, I wasn't sure on the gold colour, but I think it frames it all nicely, and has a light brightening effect.

The final seal of approval has been given by Meeka.

Works in Progress

 

The other day I sent my "make it up as I go quilt" off to Leeanne at Quilt Me Kiwi to work her magic on it.  Instead of starting a new exciting project, I've pulled out some long time works in progress and started working on them.

First up is the  applique story project I started in the 2020 lockdowns, I've been embellishing and edging some of the raw edge pieces, adding stitches and some subtle colour with variegated threads.  I'm thinking it needs a little bit more of some smaller delicate flowers where I have very roughly sketched them in on a photo.  I figure I can always add them, then remove it if I don't like it. And, once I deem it is finished, I'm intending to get it framed.  It's far to delicate to be used in a quilt or cushion.

The other project I am working on is my scrappy Hexi quilt.  I pondered about making one here, and over the past few years have been making up scrappy 1" epp hexis.  These are normally made on holiday, or sewing days  with friends.  I find it an easy pick up and sew mindlessly project. I've made about 400 of them and have now run out of templates, so have decided that instead of aimlessly doomscrolling on my phone on my lunchbreaks and in the evenings, I'll start stitching them together into small blocks, so I can remove some of the templates and reuse them.  I'm not sure how any more I'll need to make to have enough to do something with.

I've another quilt top that has been sitting in the WIP pile for a few years too, that I need to either leave at the size it currently is and call it a lap quilt or make another couple of borders for it.  Will I get it finished this year?

Stacker Jacket

 

I have finally got around to making myself a version of the Stacker Jacket.

This cropped boxy jacket pattern from Papercut Patterns has been around for a few years now.

It wasn't until I made my daughter her version, that I realised how much I like it and how versatile it would be to have a casual jacket that wasn't denim.

Mine is made from a charcoal corduroy, with a black lining.  The under collar is lined in a lightweight denim, so that it helps to lessen the bulk in the seams.  The instructions are nice and clear, and there is a video tutorial for most steps too. One little mishap occurred,  when I gut a great big gash in my lining as I was trimming seams, thankfully I had enough lining fabric scraps to cut a replacement piece. I'm very pleased with my mitered corner seams too.  

I'm looking forward to wearing this.

April - Looking Back

Another month gone and we're now officially feeling proper autumnal weather.

It's been a busy month, my knee is just about totally healed now, so I'm able to go for decent walks and sleep comfortably.  I still haven't tried a proper hiking track yet though,

The Scout and I went out to the beach at Orere point and enjoyed a beautiful walk, with a stop off at Waitawa Regional Park looking out over the stunning inner Hauraki Gulf.  It was warm enough that we should have taken swimming gear with us.

I've been sewing -  some beautiful new cushions for my sofa with some gorgeous Designer Guild fabric offcuts and a deep inky linen blend bias cut skirt.  The pattern is the Clo Bias Skirt from Soften Studio, and its a very comfortable easy to wear and make skirt with an elastic waist and drawstring.  I think there will be more of these added to my wardrobe.

Finally after about 25 years living in Auckland, I had my first visit out to Muriwai beach on the West Coast.  Famous for it black sands and surf.  We walked, ate well, slept and read, a just enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend away.