a pair of jeans!

I've got this gorgeous denim a month ago, and since then I couldn't stop thinking about sewing a pair of nice, dark, narrow and well-fitted jeans as one of my autumn outfits.

For me, sewing pants is always a big challenge, I'm not meaning it technically, I mean that, it rarely happens to me that my home-sewn pants fit me perfect AND look nice. There's been something good in my home-sewn pants, but at the same time I always had some points which I needed to pretend not to see. Especially sewing (nice and usable) jeans seemed impossible for me. Retailed jeans always AND completely defeated mine!

Anyway, I didn't expect that my new pair of jeans would be this good, I was sewing hoping them to be considerably nice though. But when I put on them for the first time, I found the fit was perfect and they were also very comfortable. I thought they looked very good too. Wow. I LOVE them! I'm very glad that I didn't give up thinking about home-sewn pants, after those many disappointments! Miraculously, there was nothing for me to adjust in the pattern.

Here I say,
"Someday it will happen! Never stop sewing until encountering your pair!!"







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pattern: skinny jeans for stretch material from pumila (Japanese internet pattern shop)

fabric: thick stretch denim, deep indigo, cotton/polyurethane, about 1.48m x 1.4m
other: zipper, button, and thicker thread & needle for denim sewing

I've changed the piping pockets w/ flaps on the back to the common patch pockets.
I lengthened the legs by 2cm too.
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Fatina in white with black piping

I made Fatina dress from BurdaStyle.
I love this ivory white cotton which has fine embroideries and stripy wrinkles on it. After making the black dress (the knock-off), I was so stimulated in color-wise, and I wanted to sew something in very opposite color. I pulled out this fabric from the pile of my treasures straight away, and so I sewed it.

Because I realized that the muslin in my regular size was apparently bigger than I needed, and also because my fabric has some elasticity, I cut my fabric in much smaller size (34). I also shortened the length by 6cm. I didn't use bias strips for the armholes, but attached the facings. I have put the narrow black pipings on the armholes, collars, and hem as well.

The dress was very simple to make, but piping hems took so much patience and time. I generally enjoyed the process to finish, and am very satisfied with the result. I am especially happy with the length and the back slit of the skirt (would you say "skirt" if the dress has no seam across the waist like this?). Though pipings are optional on Fatina dress and you might barely see the tiny piping of mine at all, I like them on this dress!



Thanks for visiting!

-yoshimi

Dresses!

Hello!

In this past two months, I have sewed a lot, despite of my new-year resolution that is "sew as less as possible and think much before getting started".

Well I failed!
OK, I'll save it to next year and I don't need to consider another resolution as I have already one, hehe. I've been in a mood of sewing and I enjoyed sitting in front of my lovely sewing machine so much. Sewing therapy? I guess that is it.

Instead of telling about the detail of clothes which I showed you in the last post, I'm going to show you some of my recent results today. (I'll try to write in the future before long, sorry!)


Here are some dresses I made this summer.
I'm a huge fan of dresses, but I had less chances to get myself in these dresses this summer. Maybe I was too busy to wear dresses with sewing... (silly joke) Anyway, I really love sewing dresses, even when I'm too busy to wear them.


first


Made of stretch cotton, slightly sheer and printed in white and silver-gold.

It is a quite cheap fabric, but I love the casual look of it. The dress was named "a costume for Ancient Rome play" by me. I like it and it is comfortable. I used the pattern 872 from anneesicotton*. Sleeveless, no lining.


second


Made of rayon jersey, very soft and very elastic (2-way).

I immediately loved the flowers on this fabric when I saw it for the first time. I used the pattern 843 from anneesicotton* for the dress. Looks a bit too feminine, but I think it's OK as I'm female.


third


Made of shirting cotton, bias cut.

I am not good at wearing plaids, but I hoped the bias cutting help me not to be too childish.
I twist and tangle the dress after washing and let it dry in the natural air, so that the dress is given a good wrinkled looking and enough elasticity for the fitting. I think I love the result of twisting. It's an easy and handy technique for making handmade garments fitted, in my world. I used the pattern 852 from anneesicotton*


and latest


Made of polyester jersey, with white pipings.

This is my first Knock-off project, ever. I saw the black dress in July, once, in some fashion magazine, but never could wipe out the image from my eyelids. I was absolutely in love with it. Eventually I decided to sew a knock-off dress to myself, collecting my memories. I enjoyed sewing it very much and now I am very satisfied with what I get! Funny thing is, it looks rather similar to the original dress in the front view, but the design of the back is quite different. ......I knew it.
I found that Bergdorf Goodman was in stock of the dress here. (sorry when the link expired)

I used the pattern Brigitte from anneesicotton*

Hope to talk to you soon!
yosx

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




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

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




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