Bargain patterns

Merry Christmas and all the best with the New Year. When I was out shopping for Christmas, I always leave all that to this week I can't deal with it before then. It is easier not having young children to buy for though. I dropped into the Salvos and found these 2 patterns for $1 each.

The Vogue Paris original is just gorgeous, I love the jacket, I'm not sure what year it is. The Simplicity is 1977 and I love the sleeves and the shape and of course the rick rack around the edge. What's not to love about rick rack!. I was pretty happy with my find.

Unfortunately my sewing mojo seems to have disappeared. I have lost 2 very significant people in my life in the last  few weeks. My teacher from primary school who became a friend and helped me to decide the path my life took and last night the father of a friend, who is also my parents best friend.  I have known him all my life passed away. I just feel overwhelmed by my fabric and ideas and don't know where to start with sewing. I am hoping my mojo will return after Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone and all the best for the new Year.

Happy Sewing!

Belly Dancing Costume

I have been doing some sewing, a belly dancing costume. One of my hobbies is belly dancing. It doesn't matter what size you are or how old you are it's just a fabulous, fun exercise. Last night we had a performance. My beautiful children and wonderful man came and watched. I was extremely nervous as this was my debut but it was great fun. We all mucked the dance up but no one seemed to mind.

I made the costume very quickly but I was happy with the effect.
The skirt is Vogue 8818, and the fabric is a sequin fabric from Spotlight. The gold trim fabric is from Spotlight as well, a gold circle fabric. The hip scarf was purchased.

You are able to cut rows of the circles and then stitch them on.  It could be nice as a feature on an evening top. It wasn't the easiest to sew and the skirt is very full.
The top is made from a black organza(I think) from my stash. I used  McCalls 5050. I just cut it off at the waist and didn't add any elastic at the waist because I wanted a loose top, I just added the elastic at the neckline.. I put a row of the gold trim at the bottom but I didn't do a very good job.
The costume was effective and comfortable so I was happy. My kids only took a video so that's why I used the mannequin for pictures.
                                                      Happy Sewing and Shimmies !

Pants, Pants , Pants

My how time flies. I haven't blogged for quite a while, the usual reasons of work, end of year madness at school, long lost daughters returning and for the first time in 4 years I have all my children living in the one city, very exciting.

Sewing has overwhelmed me lately, so many patterns and so much fabric that I thought I need to plan a bit more and just start shopping from my stash. With that in mind I thought I would start with pants. The weather in Sydney is hot and humid at the moment, and I find cotton and linen pants comfortable.
My plan the fabrics

These are all stretch woven cottons. The top fabric and stripes and spots are from Tessuti's and the purple and orange from Spotlight last year.

The patterns: 

There are 3 Style Arc patterns. An old favourite the Elle pant, I have made these up 3 times previously. They are quick and easy to make. The Tori crop pants, these will be fabulous for summer. A new Style Arc pattern, Flat Bottom Flo Pant, I'm excited to try these. The last pattern is a Hot patterns Fast and Fabulous Tummy-Taming Trousers. These look great. I hope they tame my tummy. This is the plan I hope it works. The only spanner in the works is that I have been called up for Jury Duty starting tomorrow, not the best way to start my summer holidays but I guess it's an important part of our democracy.
                                                    Happy Sewing!