what I've been up to...

It's been a long time since I posted last time. I've been so busy! I'm happily working hard, but you know, all kinds of other issues in the life definitely love to come to you only when you are really busy! I even had to think which one to do first and which ones need to be forgotten!

I lost so much weight in this hectic month, which is no good! ...Oh there are so many things to tell other than busy-busy thing. I'd better quit!

Anyway, I got some garments done. I can tell my stress-reliever is, definitely, sewing.
I only sew an hour a day, but it works very well on me.
The more busy I am, the more garments I'd get. People who don't sew must think I'm weird, but I hope you understand!


I made some easy garments for my summer wardrobe.
I'll be writing separate posts about some of them, because how they came out may be fun to read.

a white top (cotton jersey)


a pale-blue top (cotton jersey)


another white top (Tencel jersey)
&
puffy skirt (polyester/cotton blend)


a light dress (cotton loan! lawn)


a sunshade cardigan (cotton/PU jersey)


Thanks for visiting!
&
Happy sewing ;)

-yoshimi

I made parasols!

Now I'm wrapping a parasol which is made in pretty marimekko fabric. It's a birthday gift to my sister. The idea has been in my mind for some time, as she is quite sensitive to the sunshine (so am I) and would love a pretty parasol as a gift.

I did a pilot production with making mine, and then made my sister's parasol. I bought the DIY parasol kits which contained the frames and the instructions, and sewed the fabrics of my choice. I really love what I've got after struggling with my first DIY parasol experience.

I hope my sister will like it!

first trial

the gift




===
DIY parasol kit
marimekko fabric: 1.5m long for the first one, 1m for the gift
===

Cherry Pink Eva

First of all, I really want to thank you all for your comments on my past posts! I'm quite sorry for being so lazy and incapable to reply to all your comments, but every single comment always makes me very happy. Thank you so much! (^_^)



I made this pink top for this coming summer. It has got raglan sleeves with subtle puffy ends. I love these sleeves and am very satisfied with how it turned out.

I am just grumbling with the fact that I need to put on a jacket or something over it right now, because the spring weather is too cool for a real summer clothing! There is no chance for the world to find its pretty sleeves under the jacket. Now it is indistinguishable from any pink T shirt, or even from a pink tank top. grr I knew it!

***
By the way, I'd be grateful if you could tell me your tips to make me happily stop concentrating on coming season's clothes too much... although I think you'd agree with me that it's so exciting to plan what to wear in the next season, if you have the seasons, no matter how much obvious they are. We have spring, summer, autumn & winter, and there are quite big temperature shifts between the seasons. Unfortunately, I also love to put on my new clothes when they come, straight from my sewing bench. Well, ahem, thus I always look slightly funny wearing something too cold or something too hot all year round before its appropriate season. No harm to anybody else, though.



Anyway I made the top.
The fabric I used is linen jersey. It is very soft and comfy!
views from side and back can be seen here.

======
pattern: anneeduex* Eva (PDF downloaded)
fabric: linen jersey 107cm x slightly over 100cm
other: fusible interfacing on facing (neckband, soft&thick)
======

Dolman-sleeved blouse in spring

I made a blouse in silk crepe.
The pattern I used was Burda7834, a summery blouse with a deep V-neck and dolman sleeves.
It was a very quick project, as the silk crepe was easy to handle and I had no alteration to the pattern this time.

Before I got the result, I was expecting the blouse baggier and also wishing the bottom of the V-neck a bit higher from the picture on the envelope . Although the blouse is quite fitted and the V is deeper than I hoped, I like wearing it as it is quite interesting (ha!). I think it looks pretty with one piece of camisole inside. I've got another top for this spring!




======
pattern: Burda 7834
fabric: Silk crepe 132cmx130cm
other: invisible zipper (long) and fusible interfacing on neckband and waistband (soft&thin)
======

Laurent, again.

It's getting warmer and warmer, surely spring has come.
I've made another Laurent skirt, in sheer leopard print.




Since I wanted the skirt whiter, I have chosen an white fabric for the lining. This made the whole impression of this skirt much lighter and I like it!
I don't think I look good in brown or in leopard print, but I think this skirt became OK-ish by the bleaching effect.
Actually I am really happily wearing it now!

The fabric was given by K, who is one of my lovely sewing geeks.
Thank you and I LOVE YOU!

======
pattern: anneecotton* Laurent
fabric: leopard/flower pattern silk/polyester blend, organdie-ish, about 130cmx 60cm
other: invisible zipper, interfacing on waistband (thick& not so hard)
======


I love cherry blossom, too.


Have a good day!

cardigan "Victoria"

As I mentioned, I've made a long cardigan using the pattern from anneeduex*.
The fabric used is lace knit, which is very very soft&sheer and hangs like liquid! (I know I said too much, sorry...)



Because I've realized that a long cardi tends to get ugly creases on the back around the hip (as I'd sit on it and press badly), I chose this creaseless watery fabric. It also gave the cardi a very feminine look, and I am really pleased with it. This long cardi goes very well with dresses too, which is also good to me!


this kind of creases, especially when the fabric is solid.



Take care!

======
pattern: anneeduex* 7Victoria
fabric: pink lace knit, 126cmx170cm
other: 6 of pretty off-white buttons which were gifted by one of my good friends
fusible interfacing for knit (bias strips on the front and neckline band and on the edges of pocket opening)
======
FYI: The purchased pattern can be downloaded as a PDF file as well as the instruction (written in Japanese).

Skirt "Laurent"

I had stashed this fabric for some time, since it was a tiny rectangle that was just enough for one simple mini skirt. I could settle with making it into a short skirt, but I didn't like it to be a plain skirt, since the print on the fabric seemed a bit too loud for me. I felt that I needed some tucks or gathers on the skirt to distract the print.

So, I was really happy to find the newly released pattern, named "Laurent" from my favorite pattern supplier anneecotton*. It was short and has got 8 small tucks, which was perfect for my wish. Though I had some time for thinking before I bought it (I always need it, like we always need the bench time for breads dough), I think I can say I moved very quick this time. I'm quite happy with the result, as I could use up my favorite fabric without leftover and now I have a cute skirt!

By the way, as it is apparent, I'm a big fan of the patterns from anneecotton*. I think the style and the size they provide suit me so well. They sell the patterns which have been used for their collection (I mean clothes) in the past seasons, that's what I really love about. Those patterns are made for good and cool clothes, not for "good patterns for home-sewing".

The thing is, though they have an internet shop and ship their products overseas as well, HP is written in Japanese and they don't accept credit cards. I know it means almost unable to buy the pattern from them when one is not understanding Japanese. I think it's pity, because I'd be very happy if I can recommend them to you!

Having said that, they've launched another shop which sells some easy patterns in PDF files recently. PayPal is accepted and the PDF files are sent by e-mail in this case. Now I'm trying a long cardigan from the new shop, so maybe I will be able to tell something about it before long. I am very positive to try the patterns from Burda, Simplicity and Vogue as well. I hope I can be more informative in future!


Here is my favorite combination, an white-eyed bird on blooming cherry blossom!


Have a great week!