Last weekend's projects

I fancied some quick makes last week, so I decided to have a day of super-speedy sews! Fun!

First up was an Astoria Cropped Jumper from Seamwork magazine. I've discovered cropped cardigans are particularly useful with the dresses I've been making and wearing lately, so I had it in mind that the Astoria jumper would be equally great. It promises to be a 1hr sew. Seamwork patterns can all be made in 3 hours or less, and while I've only made a couple of them so far, I'd have to say that they really are true to that. The jumper took me a little over an hour. I found hemming the cuffs to be a total pain in the arse. Next time I'll hem them before I sew the sleeves up...it was impossibly hard to fit the tiny sleeve into the machine! An easy enough thing to deal with next time though.

The main issue I have with the jumper is that I'm really not at all sure how to wear this!! While I love the fabric, the colour and style are wrong with my dresses (with the exception of one plain black Coco Dress) and it's too short to wear with jeans (because - belly! No!). So, um, yeah. I don't know?! I'm going to make another one, but I'll add a couple of inches to the length so I can wear it with jeans. It's really comfy and it fits well, but it's just too short (which is fair enough - it's cropped. Maybe I'm what's wrong?!). Not sure whether to chalk that up as a win or not? A maybe...

The second make was a super fast Mabel skirt using remnants from my first Moneta. I have actually already made a Mabel in a plain black jersey that's sort of flocked or something. I have no idea what that fabric actually is, but it works really well as a Mabel and I wear it a lot. Looks v cute with tops tucked in and a blazer over for work - a mini pencil skirt. So, yeah, this is my second Mabel. I love the look - the fabric works well pattern-wise (I had to cut with the stripes vertical because I didn't have enough left to go the other way, but I think it works). It's a bit more clingy in the butt-area than the other Mabel, but it'll still get worn. I don't think my butt isn't that big, so it's probably ok if my skirt clings to it!?

And finally. My favourite make of the day is another (yes, I know. I'm addicted) Emmeline Tee. I luuurve it. The fabric is some gorgeous drapey viscose I got at an outing with my girlfriends at Guthrie and Ghani (and apparently Hobbs has garments in the same fabric, so aren't we posh?!) Anyway, normally the pattern uses binding made from the fabric, but I thought that black edging might look cute with this - sharpen it somehow. So I just used some store-bought black bias binding I had in my sewing box (also a big win for laziness!), and I'm really pleased with the look. I've already worn it to work with the original Mabel skirt, in fact.

All three garments were made one Saturday - although I did the cutting out the night before. I reckon three garments is a pretty good outcome for a day of sewing! Happiness! 

Moneta Mark III

I know this is technically the second Moneta I've blogged about, but actually it's the third one I've made. The second one...well...I'm not that enamoured of. It's the fabric that was the problem with it I think - it stretched in the neckline and it just clings in places I don't love. It's totally fine for wearing around the house, but that's about it.

But. That did not deter me from trying again. I bought this fabric AGES ago on Goldhawk Road. Actually, I'd seen it (I thought) on Guthrie and Ghani yonks ago, but never got around to buying, and then I saw it on Goldhawk Rd and finally splashed out on 1.5m. I had a feeling it would be perfect for Moneta - it's a super stable, medium weight knit that is just soo soft and cosy. Plus it's cute - creamy grey/black but with teensy tiny splashes of pink and yellow and navy throughout. But try as I might, no matter how craftily I placed the pattern pieces, I could not squeeze a Moneta out of my metre and a half. I'm a short-arse, so usually I can make a dress from 1m if it's a wide fabric. But Moneta usually needs 2.5m (or 2m in my case). So 1.5m just was not going to 'cut it'. By now I was obsessed with making Moneta in this fabric. No other pattern would do. SO annoying. I had to buy an extra metre from Guthrie and Ghani online...and when it arrived, I ripped into the packet ready to get sewing. But it was a different colour!! COMPLETELY different. Like, my original fabric is essentially cream with black patterns, and the one I'd bought was black fabric with silver patterns. How did I ever imagine they were the same?? I now had 2 pieces of fabric that were insufficient to make Moneta. FFS.

Anyway, we had some more guests here a while back and they fancied a day in London. Naturally for them that didn't involve hauling ass across to Shepherd's Bush, but I raced over and praised the sewing gods that there was still some of the original fabric left. I bought another 1.5m - JUST IN CASE.

And so...my third Moneta was finally born. She was a long time coming, but I love her every bit as much as the first one. Quite a different style - shorter (how? Same pattern? Same hem length. What weirdness did I do to end up with a shorter dress??), funkier I think. But still so comfy and able to be dressed up and down which means I love it doubly. I'm not wholly sure I love the neckline (mostly because I had a tiny top stitching wobble when I did the neckline so there's a bump) but the pockets totally outweigh that wee niggle.

So. The dress that almost didn't happen has been made at last and it's going to be worn to death I think! Yay Moneta Mark III.

I really need to find a better place to take pictures...and learn to smile more!