Lycra Time....no really!

Hello everyone, I'm still here!

So, what has been my sewing progress on my re-entry skirt? Little, to be honest. I've cut the pattern and constructed the waistband but that is it. It's been quite a few months so I could have easily finished it but I have just the other day realised why I haven't. The truth is....this fabric just doesn't excite me and I do remember well from my big sewing days that if I don't love the fabric and pattern I just half do it or procrastinate. I bought this fabric ages ago because I love bird themed fabric but teh colours are wrong for me.

In these years I've been away from sewing I discovered new passions and interests and re-discovered others. One of them is fitness. I used to go to gym 4 or 5 times a week and loved it. A few years after moving to London the gigantic commute meant I stopped going and once you stop exercising going back to it is hard. But I've done it and LOVE it.

So I decided to sew some fitness clothes which is probably a very silly decision as "Hello sewing with lycra!!!?? First thing after a sewing break? When I never sewn with lycra before?" But these details never stopped me doing what I wanted and like so here we go. I've purchased the fabric and the patterns. Sewaholic Patterns never failed me so they won't fail me now.

Have you done these patterns? Or sewn with lycra before? Tips welcome.

Back to Sewing Time

So it seems my sewing/blogging break has taken more than 3 years! Wow! Let me tell you, I needed it!

Back in 2013 I was feeling quite depressed with low self esteem and very near to work burnout. It is probably noticeable in my last posts and photos. I simply didn't want to do anything that would put attention on me so obviously that included sewing for myself and taking photos of myself. It was a rough time so I turned my attention to getting better, getting rid of my work (which was a main contributor to how I was feeling) and doing things that have nothing to do with how I or anyone else looks. In my case I became very involved with animal rescues, namely small rescues who work with guinea pigs and other small pets, who are very under appreciated and suffer terrible neglect and abuse, as they are seen as simple children pets, cheap and disposable. I won't bore you with that although you can find out more about it on my piggy blog and shop The Piggy Lounge.

This year I started to feel good about myself again and decided to start working out in the gym, something I used to do 10 years ago and loved. With that came a renewed self love and appreciation for myself and I suddenly realised I missed sewing for me and I missed my self portraits. Sewing and Photography were always important for me. So I decided to start again. I will take it very slow and approach this as if I am a absolute beginner (which I sort of am because 3 yrs only sewing guinea pig beds is not really dressmaking experience).

First on my sewing list a very easy and simple skirt. I have made this skirt before and love it so feel brave to tackle it again. I will use a pretty bird fabric I have lying around. It might take me a few months (as usual I have 10 million other hobbies and commitments) but slow does it at the moment. No stress, no rush, no panic!

Happy to be back, will be catching up with all lovely blogs out there too. If you are reading this post and used to follow me years ago say hi! 

See you later!

I have decided to take a blogging holiday. I have been toying with this idea for quite some time and have decided to plunge in now. There is too much stuff happening in my life at the moment and blogging time has become difficult. So I'm going on holiday for a few months! I plan to be back in July (when some things will settle down) and I'm sure I will have tons of finished outfits to show you be then as I am still sewing. 

It's not a technology holiday so still email me at suzysewingblog[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk if you want or get in touch via twitter @MrsSuzySewing. I will still be reading blogs and seeing what everyone gets up to.

I'll leave you with a quick photo of my last make. A Burda skirt which makes running or going up the stairs impossible!

See you all later! xx

A belated giveaway winner

Drumroll....the winner is...

JackieNJ

Congratulations, please email me at suzysewingblog[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk with your address so I can get it to you.

Thank you to all who participated!

A belated giveaway

I planned on having a giveaway for Sew Grateful but my organisation skills were not up to scratch. When I realised it was too late. However, I do feel very grateful for all my sewing friends, those I have met in the flesh and those I haven't. I'm also also grateful for all my readers. Thank you!

I am offering Burda 7160 as a giveaway. I bought this pattern on an impulse. I wanted a nice knit pattern that I could make to wear on my next holiday. As I'm on a tight budget I plunged at this when Jaycotts has a 50% off Burda patterns sometime ago. I saw it was a Miss Petite so though great, even better. Duh! Readers, make sure you read all the details when you buy stuff. This lovely pattern starts at  size 12. Impossible for me, as I usually buy size 6 or 8!

So, it's up for grabs, in factory folds. All you need to do is leave me a comment about the most duh!! sewing related thing you bought until next Sunday 3rd March at 19.00 GMT time. 

Are your makes pretty on the inside?

I had a fantastic weekend and managed to do a lot of things that make me happy. I even did a spot of sewing. But I was ridden with guilt because as I was working on the third instalment of my Tale of Skirts I realised I was still far from finished and I had an urge to work quicker and faster to be able to finally have a finished project to show to you. I haven't shown anything new in quite some time. But then I thought that it is a silly thing to do, I should work at my own pace. More than that is the fact that when I work quickly and rush things I make a less than perfect job and end up only half pleased with the result. So I finally decided on my Sewing Pledge for 2013 and that is to "Be as pretty inside as on the outside".

I want to do beautiful garments that I will love and wear. I want to make things that will last. I want to take time to make a good job and ensure it all fits fine. If I feel rushed I will compromise on seam finishes, buttonholes, fit and ultimately that's not what I want. By taking this pledge I'm reigning myself in and avoiding botchy jobs just to get something finished to show.
So what will you get from me from this pledge:

• Detailed photos on the insides of my future makes, even when it's not as pretty as it should but the effort is there.
• More in progress reports, which I know some of you find boring but they really help me track my own progress.

Now that feels just right! 

Do you ever feel rushed to finish a garment so you can show it on the blog? Does it affect how well you sew and finish the garment? Talk to me!

Drawing and Knitting

Thank you so so much everyone for your supportive and lovely comments on my last post. They all made me think and feel a bit better. I have to say I shouldn't be shy to change as I made a radical big change almost 9 years ago. And that was to leave my home town with a suitcase and a one way plane ticket to London. In retrospective it was brave but I did well. And I'm very happy I did that, I would have never met and married Rob if I hadn't :D

Anyway, enough mushy-ness, onto this week very short and picture-less post! No progress has been made on the sewing front. I'm faced with a deadline on my courses' Illustration unit and running quite behind so drawing most of the time. When I haven't been drawing, I've been watching TV/ movies and when I do that I knit. So hurrah! I finished the front on my cardigan and started one of the sleeves.

Finally, if you live in UK and are a knitter and happen to have some remnants of DK or 4 ply wool you wouldn't mind parting with, I am collecting some to donate to my local animal charity Hula, where I also volunteer. They have an army of crafty ladies who knit blankets for the animals and are in need of wool. If you'd like to contribute email me at suzysewingblog[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk

PS: No post next week as it will fall just on my course deadline. I will be back the Tuesday after! Ta muchly!

This week...

...I have been busy with different things! Still I managed to finish basting my couture dress (hurrah!) but lack of light and an unfashionable Sunday face/hair prevented photo taking. I also managed to advance with my knitting (even after having to unknit).
But I have a few unrelated to sewing deadlines which I procrastinated and left till last minute. I have also been busy doodling. I am not the best at drawing but keen to develop and practice. I'm doing a Fashion Design City & Guilds and it's definitely helping me.

Unrelated to sewing, all my recent low mood has made me think a lot about what I want. I think it's important to re-evaluate what is important and what makes one happy but boy, it is hard work and unsettling!!
Have you ever had a time in your life when you want to radically change something? How did you deal with it?

A belated Kelly Skirt

I have probably wore this skirt more times that the number of sentences in this post. Finished sometime in November and photographed in December I'm not quite sure why I didn't blog about it sooner.

This is the Kelly Skirt by Megan Nielsen. A super easy and very comfortable skirt. I used a remnant of a woollen fabric given to me by my mother in law and apparently given to her by some lady who didn't need it.

Photos were taken by my colleague, so I couldn't harass her for 10 or 20 takes. The scenery around my workplace is beautiful, lots of trees and a little stream, where you occasionally can spot kingfishers and small deer. It's not very private though and being quite a "stuck up" environment I don't feel confident with a tripod for self portraits.

In construction, other musings and your feedback welcomed!

Sewing has been slow here, but I reckon you already noticed that. It has been slow for quite some time but it's not because my love for it has waned. The reasons are far more annoying but I won't dwell on them. I have been sewing and knitting and have some works in progress.

First my Couture Dress from Crafsty Susan Khalje class. I'm not quite sure when I started this, probably  a year ago. I almost chucked this project to the UFO bin, I'm just not loving it. The class is fantastic and the sewing tuiton by Susan amazing. But I'm not loving the dress. It doesn't help that it's intended to be a work dress, I know...how exciting! Still, I decided I need to overcame this and just get it done. I'm in the process of assembling (hand basting) the whole dress to check fit once more. When this is done I'll get a photo of it, below is an earlier photo of the fitting of the muslin.

Second the last episode on my Skirt trilogy. This is actually the first skirt pattern I decided to use and the fabric will be familiar as well. Fabric is cut and all is ready to sew.

I was planning on sewing the vintage dress briefly mentioned here and have traced all the pattern pieces but after thinking long and hard decided not to start a complicated project before I finish the one in progress.
I have also been knitting this lovely cardigan from A Stitch in Time. The back is all done and currently doing one of the fronts.

A few other important musings:

• I changed the look of the blog (and will tweak a bit more). I want to revert this blog to a personal sewing blog.
• That is why the Suzy Patterns banner is gone. Suzy Patterns hasn't been scrapped though, it's still a work in progress. When I am ready to launch, a new website, separate to this blog will be launched. This might be a while, a proper while. A Suzy Patterns tab will be added where any news or a current status will be available.
• I am also adding an "About me tab". Something different from the conventional and pre-set about me in blogger.

So I welcome your feedback? Do you like the new look, anything that looks bad and anything else you'd like to see? And is there anything about me you would like to know? Ask me any question!

A Shirt for Rob

This is McCalls 6044, a nice and simple men's shirt started ages ago and finished just in time to wrap and give to Rob for Christmas. It's my second make of this pattern and aside from a few mistakes it went quite smoothly. I think he likes it.

I hope you all have a lovely end of 2012 and I hope to be back stronger and happier in 2013! Love you all, thank you for sticking with me through my good and bad moments.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas my dear readers! I thought I would share some of my lovely presents with you.

My first presents were opened earlier in the month, when I celebrated Christmas with my lovely knitting group. Secret Santa was involved and look at what gorgeous and talented Julie got me. Believe me, I had tears in my eyes! It was so unexpected and I have been struggling with my mood/ confidence lately so this was very special.

Next is another Secret Santa, this time the amazing one organised by the also amazing Kat. Look at that pattern. Swoon!!!

And finally some other lovely presents I go from my lovely husband :)

I'll be back before the end of the year to show you some photos of a recent make. Till then, be merry!

Tale of Three Skirts: Part 1

I finished this cute little number some weeks ago, and have already worn it a few times (including to the fantastic Birmingham meetup). I got this fabric on a swap at the Walthamstow meet up and even thought it is a synthetic fabric, it was a delight to work with. Thank you so much Karen, for wanting to get rid of it!

The pattern is from the August 2011 Burda Magazine. It is my first make from a Burda magazine and also my first make following Portuguese instructions (I learned to sew in English so do not know all the technical terms in Portuguese, even though I am Portuguese). It is a wrap skirt so really quick to put together. I spent a Saturday night catchstitcing the hem. If I may say so myself, this is gorgeous work!

I still have plenty of fabric and will be making another skirt. Stay tuned, I'm going to rock this Winter in skirts!

Last but not least, I have stalled with my Couture dress (reasons for it later) and have decided to very slowly start the below beauty. Very scary, as will be using some expensive wool flannel. Might post some muslin and progress photos as I could use your help and support on this make. My confidence is a bit shattered.

Have a great week ahead!

Black & Blue Soul

Black and Blue Soul because Alma means soul in Portuguese. I have finished this Sewaholic Alma blouse sometime ago but only today managed to photograph it. I have been sort of out of sorts (if that makes sense) and some things take much longer to do.
I am really happy how this Alma turned out. Shame that the weather is turning too cold and I have to wait till next Spring to wear this again.

I used a very soft cotton-like fabric which is a bit of a nightmare to work with. I decided to go with contrasting black cuffs and collar and love the result. I planned on doing the black belt as well but the fabric was so fiddly I decided to ignore that. I'm happy I did as I botched up on the narrow hem and will not be using this blouse untucked. I love it with some high waisted trousers!

I'm slowly getting back to sewing (and knitting) regularly. Have quite a few projects on the go now. Focusing on getting one ready to wear next Saturday for the great Birmingham Rag Market meet up.
Will try to keep you posted on how it goes!

My Stripy Alma blouse

Finished a few weeks ago, I waited and waited for hot weather to photograph my first version of Sewaholic's Alma blouse. But the weather didn't warm up so I just wore this for a few hours in the house to take some photos.

The aim was a wearable muslin and a wearable muslin was achieved! As usual with Tasia's patterns, the instructions were a breeze and the blouse a pleasure to put together. I used a piece of soft cotton fabric swapped at the Brighton Me-Made June meet-up. It came for Zoe's stash, so a very special piece indeed.

Mid way a sewing run, I realised I didn't have any suitable zip to go in. I tweeted my despair and Lizzy  mentioned that some people didn't use a zipper so I decided to baste and see how it went. What a delight, zipper-less it went.
The one thing I will change when I make the short sleeved version again is reduce the cap size. On my tiny shoulders it will look better a tad smaller.

I'm already making my second Alma, this time the long sleeved version in a gorgeous petroleum blue cotton type fabric with contrast cuffs and collar. Might be ready in a week or so and hopefully will still see some wear this year.

Have a lovely week ahead!

Currently, on Suzy Patterns!

Not much, I'm afraid. Back in June I had a fantastic plan in place for Suzy Patterns. I knew what I was doing and I knew when. But then... I got married!
Fear not, Suzy Patterns has not been abandoned, my head is still full of ideas and my drafting pad full of (awfully drawn) sketches. But I'm out of capital and without that I can draft as many patterns as I want but they will not make it to you. Grading, digitising, printing, packaging all costs and at this stage I simply cannot afford it. You might notice I say printing and yes, whilst the Antoinette Dress Pattern is available as a PDF it was always my desire and plan to move quickly to printed patterns. I, for one, don't really like pdfs (even though I admit they have many qualities) so keen to make my patterns available in good old paper.
So, being more realistic than ever, it might be another year or so until a design from Suzy Patterns comes out. Disappointing, but on the positive side, it will give me a chance to improve my skills and come out with a better product.

I thought it might be interesting to have a small weekly feature in my blog to share with you all the process of working towards Suzy Patterns and towards improving my skills. Kind of like a diary, sharing with you the good bits and the bad bits, my skills and my lack of! What do you think?

PS: I have disabled the annoying Captcha on my posts!

Vintage Patterns Sale

Shameless plug relating to some vintage patterns I am selling on Ebay. Me and Rob plan to go to Japan for our honeymoon but boy, is it expensive! I had planned a clear out of patterns I know I'll never make  and those whose size is too different from mine and now is a perfect time to do it. There are also a few books and a super board (and some sewing unrelated stuff).

A lot of these patterns are in a sad condition and many have something silly missing, like a facing or a tie belt. I'm hoping they'll find someone who will cherish them.
Click here to see items!

Red Renfrew

This Summer hasn't been the best sewing or pattern making wise. I started by feeling really guilty but then accepted that there is nothing wrong about wanting to do other things, rather than sewing. But I have finished one item, started absolutely ages ago and finished just before I got married. The very comfortable and stylish Renfrew top by Sewaholic.

Please ignore the somewhat blanket look. Today was not a easy day at work. I was feeling very tired and a bit low. Also ignore the bare look behind me. We have spent all Summer landscaping one corner of our back garden and it's slowly getting there. We have a rock garden and plan to plant some trees by the fence.

The making of this Renfrew wasn't the best. I managed to sew the pieces for the cowl wrong and only noticed when the thing was almost assembled. I contemplated leaving it as it was and use it at home only but couldn't bare to waste this gorgeous jersey. It's a length bought in Portugal of very good quality soft jersey. Feels very lush and comfortable!

Now that the days are getting shorter I know I'll be back to the sewing cave. I'll blog very soon about Autumn/Winter Sewing plans, the next instalment of Photography Fun and an update on Suzy Patterns.

Wedding Photos...(photo heavy!)

Happy to be sharing why you all some of my wedding photos, it was such a lovely day! The dress was custom made by the lovely and talented Bea from Vintage Inspired by Beatrice Winter, shoes by Miss L Fire,  makeup and hair by the also talented Siobhan Drew working for Pretty Me Vintage. Last but not least, photography by Phil Bourne. 

 

Sewing Mojo Rescue

My sewing mojo has taken quite a severe hit! It all started in May time, when I suddenly swapped the dark sewing room for the back garden. After that initial hit, came the anxiety ridden last minute preparations for my wedding. I had absolutely no motivation or time to sew. Now I'm finally married (photos to come, including details of a very special dress made by a very special seamstress) but my sewing mojo is still affected. It is quite annoying as I am itching to sew but just can't seem to get myself sewing. Hope is on the way though, thanks to the talented Tasia from Sewaholic and a yet unknown to me but I'm pretty sure talented Megan Nielsen.
I received the Alma Pattern on the post yesterday and it really fired me up to do it. The plan is to do a wearable muslin out of View A followed by a version of C (with collar). Fabric is chosen!

Megan Nielsen most recent pattern release, the Kelly skirt fired me too. It's adorable but what won it for me was the high waist. I placed an order from Australia so it might be a few weeks to get it. Very curious to see how these patterns sew up and fit.

http://megannielsen.com/collections/sewing-patterns/products/kelly-skirt-sewing-pattern

What do you think of these patterns? Planning to sew any of them?