tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-759941805181565892024-03-05T23:26:26.074+10:00Adventures with Tigergirladventures in photography, travelling, sewing, general crafting and whatever I'm up to at the time.tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-36696229707064875672013-12-23T06:00:00.000+10:002013-12-23T06:00:01.538+10:00Macaw applique PJ's When we went to the UAE ........... last year? We were given Pj's on the Virgin flight, there and back, so we ended up with 4 new sets of Pj's. The sizes were so weird - super wide - that in reality, Tigerboy ended up with 3 new sets of Pj's and I ended up with one pair that was huge (as opposed to one huge pair and one ginormous pair). Great! Now I could convince him to get rid of the pair of winter Pj's he'd had for 20 years that were literally falling apart and I'd never have to put new elastic in them again.<br />
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I'd been wanting to try an applique, so I decided that one of those pair of jammies was prime for <strike>victimisation</strike> experimentation. Lo and behold, the macaw applique.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTX4mAA1N0aV0pzVscZeNFJktPLP0k4GfACr5U5OyPxyvrHQPKj9vcLhg1jiTqfLynMprrxytJ69pmyQ2bT9RjPN8yO3ecOL4eCgBuy3i_lQ2YEBZfYBB4MsrDl14wbdUHCTgcw4nXRw/s1600/Macaw+Applique+PJs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTX4mAA1N0aV0pzVscZeNFJktPLP0k4GfACr5U5OyPxyvrHQPKj9vcLhg1jiTqfLynMprrxytJ69pmyQ2bT9RjPN8yO3ecOL4eCgBuy3i_lQ2YEBZfYBB4MsrDl14wbdUHCTgcw4nXRw/s640/Macaw+Applique+PJs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One recurring problem I have when I'm experimenting is that I don't do a proper job, I just cobble it together - because it's just an experiment, right? But it's not a proper experiment because the lack of effort shows which means that I'm still not quite sure if it will work when/if I use the right techniques. And often, the winging it takes more time than if I'd done it correctly the first time. I don't think I'll ever learn though.<br />
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I must have used at least five different fusibles, some just in strips, other pieces fully fused, some parts stitched - you get the picture - I really wasn't sure it'd hold up to washing. Another thing, my drawing ability is shockingly pathetic, so in this case, I wasn't sure that the few lines I had to draw for the face would work.<br />
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Tigerboy was overjoyed because ........... well, it's a parrot, and it just doesn't get any better in his book. After they'd made it through the wash I expressed surprise that it hadn't all fallen apart. He told me quite seriously that he'd put the top in a lingerie bag to wash it so that it didn't get wrecked (because he knows that I wouldn't get around to making another one for him for at least a decade). He'd be horrified to know that I just toss it in the wash willy nilly and hope for the best but they've survived several months (since August) being treated that way ......... next year might be a different story.<br />
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And a blurry pic (I thought I had more but this seems to be it).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-6qeS71g2WMtpw5TMqueS2YG3rQ5mxo4U53UnedKbtYgtiWdYDiZ6z19HZCBKAfjPOK9Szp-4_uA5aGQlH2FuqPwSbRKJmQeyPl-ujpybT9PvrvKT3ESwkw2I2-CXSdly-3XbJJTUAQ/s1600/Macaw+Applique+PJs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-6qeS71g2WMtpw5TMqueS2YG3rQ5mxo4U53UnedKbtYgtiWdYDiZ6z19HZCBKAfjPOK9Szp-4_uA5aGQlH2FuqPwSbRKJmQeyPl-ujpybT9PvrvKT3ESwkw2I2-CXSdly-3XbJJTUAQ/s640/Macaw+Applique+PJs2.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-36934364207564440302013-12-20T20:35:00.001+10:002013-12-22T13:33:46.724+10:00Deciphering the Lekala ordering process, emails & errorsI was nearly going to make it a neat year since I'd been on the blog but, thought I may as well write this up. I have been sewing but I've also been moving house, working, gardening and basically anything but blogging - I'll get around to posting my makes at some stage. <br />
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Ok, I've bought some <a href="http://www.lekala.co/" target="_blank">Lekala patterns from the US website</a> but not only do they not have exactly the same patterns as the Russian site, the Russian site also allows a bit more fine tuning fitwise. So, I really wanted to try using the <a href="http://leko-mail.net/mod-pe.php" target="_blank">Russian site</a> but it's not as easy to use as the US site. (Also, the US site has been redone and my old registration no longer works.)<br />
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UPDATE: Apparently, the US Lekala site does now offer the fine tuning that the Russian site offers but I don't know whether they send you the comprehensive list of measurements that you can check against your own (which the Russian site does do). <br />
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A few tutorials have been written already - the Lekala site even has links to them - but one of the problems I had was deciphering the emails from them.<br />
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<b>Existing tutorials:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fehrtrade.com/article/493/how-to-buy-lekala-patterns" target="_blank">Fehrtrade</a> - things have changed a bit since this was written but a lot of it is more or less the same<br />
<a href="http://steppenpuppy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/sewing-with-lekala.html" target="_blank">steppenpuppy</a> - goes into more detail regarding the measurements and fine tuning<br />
<a href="http://sewingtidbits.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/ive-been-sewing-in-russian-lekala-patterns/" target="_blank">sewingtidbits</a> - some more info for you<br />
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<br />
So, there are a few different things you need to do:<br />
<a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/deciphering-lekala-ordering-process.html#PayForPatterns">Pay for the patterns</a><br />
<a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/deciphering-lekala-ordering-process.html#SortMments">Sort out your measurements</a><br />
<a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/deciphering-lekala-ordering-process.html#OrderPatterns">Order your patterns</a><br />
<a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/deciphering-lekala-ordering-process.html#DecipherEmails">Decipher the emails</a><br />
<h3 id="PayForPatterns">
</h3>
<h3 id="PayForPatterns">
Paying for the patterns</h3>
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There seems to be a few ways of buying the patterns but the way I did it (and the other bloggers that have written tutorials) is to buy credits via a 3rd party which you can then use on the Russian site. 1 credit = 1 pattern (unless you want seam allowances on your pattern, in which case, it'll cost you 2 credits).<br />
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1. Go to the site <a href="http://leko-mail.net/mod-pe.php" target="_blank">Russian Lekala site</a>.<br />
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2. Click the "Where to buy" link at the top of the page.<br />
You've got 3 choices on what to buy - 10, 30 or 50 credits - I chose 10 <br />
You've got two choices when it comes to where you'll buy from - I chose Softkey<br />
(NB. the prices are not what is shown on the Lekala site on both Softkey and Digital River)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEB02A4x2a8hBi2rnAOS0F-Z8FAY6FCbqDWkObwpWYya6AvtymsWzjd8AlCnZaSTc-9nYOtX1ETpzI_Y-AT8t7aj7y8yjqfo5xFISE5mY6AsicKXG97I1JNAIkY-56lRbDg13xBX7EAA/s1600/01-where-to-buy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEB02A4x2a8hBi2rnAOS0F-Z8FAY6FCbqDWkObwpWYya6AvtymsWzjd8AlCnZaSTc-9nYOtX1ETpzI_Y-AT8t7aj7y8yjqfo5xFISE5mY6AsicKXG97I1JNAIkY-56lRbDg13xBX7EAA/s640/01-where-to-buy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. Here's the softkey page - choose "Buy now"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhFrumAKXfiZa1Qe2y3u1YKEnPgmDT69na8fuOS3dpg4oBTyAxghS2tshCGMOOiBmD9jBL8jYGwzECE3hEla97LorHmp7W4X_4aCFHv_9gv58SMguXAit1sf67ziuo3T5OS35_9IuM20/s1600/Lekala-02-softkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhFrumAKXfiZa1Qe2y3u1YKEnPgmDT69na8fuOS3dpg4oBTyAxghS2tshCGMOOiBmD9jBL8jYGwzECE3hEla97LorHmp7W4X_4aCFHv_9gv58SMguXAit1sf67ziuo3T5OS35_9IuM20/s640/Lekala-02-softkey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. Confirm your order and then pay for it - I used Paypal but from memory, they take credit cards. (They'll automatically generate a userid and password for you)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGefRPdkXf9MQg35M2QhVO3gv347zl_Z1uw6jZCOxIVsqf37GxBkvGSmKpeIyT0iGOfoemC5G1gLV1YaCeBYfOwgCtBcpRgG3PESyFsHg_Cu98_wioMooaimZZYufRY04RoKMbBh-1rY/s1600/Lekala-03-softkey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGefRPdkXf9MQg35M2QhVO3gv347zl_Z1uw6jZCOxIVsqf37GxBkvGSmKpeIyT0iGOfoemC5G1gLV1YaCeBYfOwgCtBcpRgG3PESyFsHg_Cu98_wioMooaimZZYufRY04RoKMbBh-1rY/s640/Lekala-03-softkey2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. Now, wait for the right email from softkey - I got four but the one with the info you really need is this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAg_3AZsDls3wYrGKAdgM9kvf-4swrqj1RvJOsMPJWFoANLYnXEYe0yJhI9LIWoNYDkbOnTAlnJDhH825FT-VHBhQdDbl8uLzMd_PIWyAaSH8vzlyRbIj3aNWs4IA7NZiHlzleSlDl7A/s1600/Lekala+04-softkey+email+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="17" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAg_3AZsDls3wYrGKAdgM9kvf-4swrqj1RvJOsMPJWFoANLYnXEYe0yJhI9LIWoNYDkbOnTAlnJDhH825FT-VHBhQdDbl8uLzMd_PIWyAaSH8vzlyRbIj3aNWs4IA7NZiHlzleSlDl7A/s640/Lekala+04-softkey+email+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This email has the two keys you'll need to activate at lekala. Follow the link provided in the email.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobmBwo-WzPwRBXULQ0zdRvmZuOfM3-Vv3Gtjws2hdIUx3yf17-LMylBiVgLMpMnxGE4WGzIaJVtT5SXDqokmkz2N0395zQOUofMzIwwLjG7mI_0FaHSAfrjEgWa_RneF_YDJXGvEF7dE/s1600/Lekala-05-softkey-email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobmBwo-WzPwRBXULQ0zdRvmZuOfM3-Vv3Gtjws2hdIUx3yf17-LMylBiVgLMpMnxGE4WGzIaJVtT5SXDqokmkz2N0395zQOUofMzIwwLjG7mI_0FaHSAfrjEgWa_RneF_YDJXGvEF7dE/s640/Lekala-05-softkey-email.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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6. Back at Lekala it's time to activate your keys.<br />
Enter your email address, and the two keys that Softkey sent you and hit "Send the request".<br />
Now wait for your email from Lekala. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHIQZlMmCc-x2BqV_-ZVQBzQg3yTDViYmRmhDzn6axbuP5S821v07YO-be22U5CwLw9nUhQd00q_rKu5TjPFRz4AARPbMi97hXR-OPO3X_7s00W9jV3ZJqVfsQP7MXrV-yq9LuvSJ1_Y/s1600/Lekala-06-activating+keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHIQZlMmCc-x2BqV_-ZVQBzQg3yTDViYmRmhDzn6axbuP5S821v07YO-be22U5CwLw9nUhQd00q_rKu5TjPFRz4AARPbMi97hXR-OPO3X_7s00W9jV3ZJqVfsQP7MXrV-yq9LuvSJ1_Y/s640/Lekala-06-activating+keys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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7. The email you recieve from Lekala will have your 4-digit PIN which is what you use to order the patterns.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGG3WAn0Fvdxw07YvhLaQcRhyphenhyphenIgt8jYYa62C1vo9VXgKqKz_yqzNeIkZn3ohZqvesDgJpsJfpJ3zBTwrpQY3lw03aRcVjD5cAcOKjTr_scglwHbIEzq6klRNkR6aUoaM8jCgQfMEstC8/s1600/Lekala-07-Pin+email+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGG3WAn0Fvdxw07YvhLaQcRhyphenhyphenIgt8jYYa62C1vo9VXgKqKz_yqzNeIkZn3ohZqvesDgJpsJfpJ3zBTwrpQY3lw03aRcVjD5cAcOKjTr_scglwHbIEzq6klRNkR6aUoaM8jCgQfMEstC8/s640/Lekala-07-Pin+email+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK2pj8AaGlINV3KgKx2-MRLspENNJ_3MwypkSt2RQOvULQ8kE8FS03__3W1ULKTWo9YqdF7sASjdx_bLfzQt5mb_GmPYWuXTv_28ryB4jJqobhfy7Fd7mWPHp5vuvKcNa3wvOpXqYFgw/s1600/Lekala-08-Pin-email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK2pj8AaGlINV3KgKx2-MRLspENNJ_3MwypkSt2RQOvULQ8kE8FS03__3W1ULKTWo9YqdF7sASjdx_bLfzQt5mb_GmPYWuXTv_28ryB4jJqobhfy7Fd7mWPHp5vuvKcNa3wvOpXqYFgw/s640/Lekala-08-Pin-email.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now you've got two choices - choose some patterns and work out the m'ments while you're going through the procedure of ordering or sort out you're m'ments first - I decided to sort out my m'ments first.<br />
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<h3 id="SortMments">
Sorting out your m'ments</h3>
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1. You need to hit this button:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow2hMDwXh2XA_a4C8ORHrWBqGa5IrpHfC_aVU4FSlwvjsdNzNnYrgdhYzJLKh64V75P5QZBERRSeFjiIQuugGNxlVEJa7Stk8Q87Vlw8_jiIbDdG8NXbCpN1WSiPnJHlgAXoWTzSHtI4/s1600/Lekala+string+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow2hMDwXh2XA_a4C8ORHrWBqGa5IrpHfC_aVU4FSlwvjsdNzNnYrgdhYzJLKh64V75P5QZBERRSeFjiIQuugGNxlVEJa7Stk8Q87Vlw8_jiIbDdG8NXbCpN1WSiPnJHlgAXoWTzSHtI4/s1600/Lekala+string+button.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
If you're on a page that doesn't have it, press the "Order" button and then you should see it on the new page.....<br />
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......... and you'll get to this page:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFbhoCJKXb362AbPrOpO4uxeN2gSFYvNyJBi_3ClsXeANPR562v1DzS6jICTjuAKc5G-zpDmlOFpU6HGGfVSr3ZH4qGzXuCOuXORWx0kiKyQl-QHOw6UCo-wnn5BYbtKD_JQk9eqmRzs/s1600/Lekala+09+-+mments+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFbhoCJKXb362AbPrOpO4uxeN2gSFYvNyJBi_3ClsXeANPR562v1DzS6jICTjuAKc5G-zpDmlOFpU6HGGfVSr3ZH4qGzXuCOuXORWx0kiKyQl-QHOw6UCo-wnn5BYbtKD_JQk9eqmRzs/s640/Lekala+09+-+mments+page.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hit the "Get STRING-ORDER" link.</div>
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2. Now you're on this page where you enter your measurements - overwrite what's there - and make any adjustments - big arms, wide back etc. (You could also go straight to the link you can see in my browser)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPC3r-DTS63_lxcdOAhqzINI12v7btGdptvc_7PUBkY-M1OS_v1itYKv_iTGXsSqZd2mJSlWvjGnYjOwu3NyrPrxXCPAJB_S1DrKRe-OfSl1lFVBFzwJD2VZeXBmr8Ob81JO2sOAvkCg/s1600/Lekala+10-getstring+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPC3r-DTS63_lxcdOAhqzINI12v7btGdptvc_7PUBkY-M1OS_v1itYKv_iTGXsSqZd2mJSlWvjGnYjOwu3NyrPrxXCPAJB_S1DrKRe-OfSl1lFVBFzwJD2VZeXBmr8Ob81JO2sOAvkCg/s640/Lekala+10-getstring+page.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. When you've finished, enter your email and hit the "Send the requiring" button.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Toxv2HeafjtzTsOndlKCqNMylHBKTwtqnUZnZGZZSMj53SYbTU8OTMcimjp9S3q1-h9S-lxP_0Sqs9NKaO62gN9qbTTQYI8Prmg62W2ncjUOsBkL9ngYZqJJde7HeH-2fWtfrMupZxU/s1600/Lekala+11-getstring+page2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Toxv2HeafjtzTsOndlKCqNMylHBKTwtqnUZnZGZZSMj53SYbTU8OTMcimjp9S3q1-h9S-lxP_0Sqs9NKaO62gN9qbTTQYI8Prmg62W2ncjUOsBkL9ngYZqJJde7HeH-2fWtfrMupZxU/s640/Lekala+11-getstring+page2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. You'll get a confirmation page - notice that it says not to use gmail, hotmail etc. I've used both gmail and hotmail and they both work fine (except I had to get my hotmail to register the lekala emails as "Not junk").<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQNSdTyg_OiyxH0dTjamr6pXiQOsIq1H-a1RvHUGBpfcK3YLtRPKVrbBkl6pw8s3N3T-6napYOY44keajo-Pxrz-IvJwkGI4WIZICdZ4uIfUdDHTusrLYMwYMgWMlRTLcO7UsV2sXg0/s1600/Lekala+12-getstring+confirmation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaQNSdTyg_OiyxH0dTjamr6pXiQOsIq1H-a1RvHUGBpfcK3YLtRPKVrbBkl6pw8s3N3T-6napYOY44keajo-Pxrz-IvJwkGI4WIZICdZ4uIfUdDHTusrLYMwYMgWMlRTLcO7UsV2sXg0/s640/Lekala+12-getstring+confirmation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
5. Now you wait for an email from Lekala (again).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvqlDx6R76OWpgW3adzaOOfcm5rSIyJkuYAJVYHmXNGQY23RyhEgkL0zR9ELbIwWyS_vFOkuzo-7D5tOMFpJS4xscRjABWfxcdId_5AWe-7xzFUSwGr-wY9Lx854BojKRxfjfci3VvmA/s1600/Lekala+13-getstring+email+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvqlDx6R76OWpgW3adzaOOfcm5rSIyJkuYAJVYHmXNGQY23RyhEgkL0zR9ELbIwWyS_vFOkuzo-7D5tOMFpJS4xscRjABWfxcdId_5AWe-7xzFUSwGr-wY9Lx854BojKRxfjfci3VvmA/s640/Lekala+13-getstring+email+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
6. This email is full of numbers - the string that they've generated which is a code for all of your particular m'ments as well as the m'ments used. You'll see three columns, the first number is the number of the m'ment (you can look at this page), the second column seems to be the measurements used to make the pattern, taking adjustments into consideration and the third column is the standard? for want of a better word.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GOwTNdk6rjpWwCTPNqowPwWezLlMgHWSwKNAskFmCnuZRcA3mMiOGwptiQUazxX5ItrGHDWiG0Iw6-2yaNZ8OdWma9kzS2FkutwlEHxa8pbzD4HQC8y7NOEqc1rKhlonD9ZArBU-zAw/s1600/Lekala-14-string-email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GOwTNdk6rjpWwCTPNqowPwWezLlMgHWSwKNAskFmCnuZRcA3mMiOGwptiQUazxX5ItrGHDWiG0Iw6-2yaNZ8OdWma9kzS2FkutwlEHxa8pbzD4HQC8y7NOEqc1rKhlonD9ZArBU-zAw/s640/Lekala-14-string-email.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I made different adjustments and requested strings to compare m'ments used and finally settled on what I thought was best - that's the string I then used when I ordered.<br />
<br />
<h3 id="OrderPatterns">
Ordering your patterns.</h3>
<br />
Now that you've paid and got the measurements sorted out, it's time to choose the patterns.<br />
<br />
1. Browse the patterns and depending what sort of page you're on, either hit the "Order" button for one that you want if this button isn't available<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnGKIcw1j0IDfdy2X2lJhuKrwA6d9T4vyZrZ1i41spQnOUPipzy51Tqj2jVPdfRrgbc4WxurnBLTHdLXENQQnrCF3d_Kjb8aBaW-h2dzfoZaen70eXNlS3fNrws-mh4uctxi4FoFJ3Yo/s1600/Lekala+string+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnGKIcw1j0IDfdy2X2lJhuKrwA6d9T4vyZrZ1i41spQnOUPipzy51Tqj2jVPdfRrgbc4WxurnBLTHdLXENQQnrCF3d_Kjb8aBaW-h2dzfoZaen70eXNlS3fNrws-mh4uctxi4FoFJ3Yo/s1600/Lekala+string+button.jpg" /></a></div>
for it (it should then take you to a page where it is available) or just hit that button - it's the one you want.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gqwszs0XhQJXvNndajyMN3QsiUjiC1tYSCOsFW1hJn0DrTvk1zRIonqkFsxnLoDSOnMyMSyL_0VeWeshBWqfr0Lche2_7l6kjtu2KwBKNQFV2R6auR-Kn-H5K1oJbuBOf2-PhqlQzuo/s1600/Lekala+15+-+order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gqwszs0XhQJXvNndajyMN3QsiUjiC1tYSCOsFW1hJn0DrTvk1zRIonqkFsxnLoDSOnMyMSyL_0VeWeshBWqfr0Lche2_7l6kjtu2KwBKNQFV2R6auR-Kn-H5K1oJbuBOf2-PhqlQzuo/s640/Lekala+15+-+order.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
<br />
2. Now you'll be back at this page - difference is, now you put that big long string code for your m'ments in the top box.<br />
- Choose the file format, paper size and seam allowance (or not).<br />
- Enter your email <span style="color: red;"><b>NB. It's important that you use the same email you activated your keys with.</b></span> Even though (again) it says not to use hotmail, that's what I use and it gets to me. <br />
- Hit "Proceed with the order..."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw77n5hq_aGBpD3PzHCeheqV6a3qjWVt0JCqJkLpMmUL8V3DRXL60YughIJjXz8rClq-ynrw-fA043Rr7SVKnNfN-TQhtRZfI5jWv4FedW_4ZY6XeFryJLhCoeaDeH_mJWpEKyDQpbw4/s1600/Lekala-16---order2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw77n5hq_aGBpD3PzHCeheqV6a3qjWVt0JCqJkLpMmUL8V3DRXL60YughIJjXz8rClq-ynrw-fA043Rr7SVKnNfN-TQhtRZfI5jWv4FedW_4ZY6XeFryJLhCoeaDeH_mJWpEKyDQpbw4/s640/Lekala-16---order2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
3. Now you choose your payment method, in this case, go with the 3rd option:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgHO2lw9tZkMRFp1fBHZbsi3yw0IYDBSYDE1zQxxkiWoeWWHkrx5jH9mJnt0bhW5b-8PxQNV9fGeoF-1lrheQw8hKXVGwJyzpgHqf4ddGzxGRPdpRY-jbH3fzdRwyJXo_eLyW5jF_Nt0/s1600/Lekala+17+-+ordering+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgHO2lw9tZkMRFp1fBHZbsi3yw0IYDBSYDE1zQxxkiWoeWWHkrx5jH9mJnt0bhW5b-8PxQNV9fGeoF-1lrheQw8hKXVGwJyzpgHqf4ddGzxGRPdpRY-jbH3fzdRwyJXo_eLyW5jF_Nt0/s640/Lekala+17+-+ordering+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
4. Now you get to use the PIN Lekala sent you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1qJUVDv3iMzaTVqMAYpIuZyTj3J9gNgdmkEelPkhwd7RSW_k4liiYxQjN8zWVTd-E307tONsEmOFXzEYCNwnHVL26ExdFShENlJysyhKzwX4DgzOBHGHJ72TLgJ4HiMgcEF5um7NiUo/s1600/Lekala+18+-+ordering+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1qJUVDv3iMzaTVqMAYpIuZyTj3J9gNgdmkEelPkhwd7RSW_k4liiYxQjN8zWVTd-E307tONsEmOFXzEYCNwnHVL26ExdFShENlJysyhKzwX4DgzOBHGHJ72TLgJ4HiMgcEF5um7NiUo/s640/Lekala+18+-+ordering+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
5. You'll now be sent to a confirmation page - unfortunately, at this stage there doesn't seem to be anything to let you know whether it's gone well or not. One option is to use the link on the confirmation page and you'll be redirected to an execution stats page that you can keep updating<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOJ67l9k7jPWfbFxJmi4Me9cDlcsJ5YfeY_Xi85QdBOEQ9592YAeruLv8yfIZds9LVDYmYniKkBvHs4sLolTxdiBFtP5X6T_LRgseUnJ4DTGmuSiEowHBYa4plzYz5AHv5UJu9soboBw/s1600/Lekala+19-+execution+stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOJ67l9k7jPWfbFxJmi4Me9cDlcsJ5YfeY_Xi85QdBOEQ9592YAeruLv8yfIZds9LVDYmYniKkBvHs4sLolTxdiBFtP5X6T_LRgseUnJ4DTGmuSiEowHBYa4plzYz5AHv5UJu9soboBw/s640/Lekala+19-+execution+stats.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The codes in the third column? All I know is 'stat' means an email with your credit status has been sent, 'err' is an error and 'ok' is ok.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayuDzWqZAQqNzGzb-GRi7zWYsltB6ORdmk5RXhTtfAc4ueLrLXNmyhAFOx9QXX3S76hIvgPfQrZI4ty_Za7rIEHRx5M4Mp_hKIAfyf9vJToaTvuZaYrNWpdag_T-USaWCSyFCep4Da2o/s1600/Lekala+20-+execution+stats2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayuDzWqZAQqNzGzb-GRi7zWYsltB6ORdmk5RXhTtfAc4ueLrLXNmyhAFOx9QXX3S76hIvgPfQrZI4ty_Za7rIEHRx5M4Mp_hKIAfyf9vJToaTvuZaYrNWpdag_T-USaWCSyFCep4Da2o/s640/Lekala+20-+execution+stats2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
.<br />
6. What you're waiting for is an email like this, with the pattern pdf in the subject line and contained in the email.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojcNrGchBu9k7GlxFZKMdG8BAs764fuaNOYxAS2YWb8tHSVm7n8PoMaeKS5i8gQt_Rws_ECfdVICXiXMZOSdrwjDTSaTQYgdrh_m0MdxUY4veFADl6qxTcscWxDgZbe35UwX02LvoKko/s1600/Lekala+21-+pattern+pdf+subject+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojcNrGchBu9k7GlxFZKMdG8BAs764fuaNOYxAS2YWb8tHSVm7n8PoMaeKS5i8gQt_Rws_ECfdVICXiXMZOSdrwjDTSaTQYgdrh_m0MdxUY4veFADl6qxTcscWxDgZbe35UwX02LvoKko/s640/Lekala+21-+pattern+pdf+subject+line.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Your email will contain a 3D scan of your body (according to the m'ments), the pattern pdf and an html file with the instructions in Russian - you can use Google translate but honestly, you're better off winging it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlA0TBqgoMS44QxI7zPaDgrJebm8UQH_1Hy-Pj3i1Gx4HuugvJx9ES-rGiZxXfVCVUxqIy1x9ip24WE12XZ4AZ9g7kQlTOjRtwAMTAdShYshuW4qA3ydfuWfrDai4WXAfS72AA7jguLA/s1600/Lekala-22--pattern-pdf-emai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlA0TBqgoMS44QxI7zPaDgrJebm8UQH_1Hy-Pj3i1Gx4HuugvJx9ES-rGiZxXfVCVUxqIy1x9ip24WE12XZ4AZ9g7kQlTOjRtwAMTAdShYshuW4qA3ydfuWfrDai4WXAfS72AA7jguLA/s640/Lekala-22--pattern-pdf-emai.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It even tells you how many units you've got left.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 id="DecipherEmails">
The other emails you'll be sent:</h3>
<br />
1. You might get one of these for a pattern you've ordered. It doesn't have the pdf (or the body pic), just the instructions. In my case, it was because I didn't use the same email addie to order the pattern as I'd used to activate my keys and get my PIN.<br />
<br />
You can see that it's telling me there's an error (and sending me offsite to try to solve it). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dXiLQDVSKR8U-WOeVfqusY9ZEN91hyjBP520hcGPPU0THaCd_TfF7gh2BIXSZejqx4CJsXw-Uuoh7oX1yH3_wsSlXp6RwriGKnlfEBG2Z9wT-tkFKzhncu26pxpILVs7hDtcob_0PL8/s1600/Lekala+23-+email+without+pdf+subject.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dXiLQDVSKR8U-WOeVfqusY9ZEN91hyjBP520hcGPPU0THaCd_TfF7gh2BIXSZejqx4CJsXw-Uuoh7oX1yH3_wsSlXp6RwriGKnlfEBG2Z9wT-tkFKzhncu26pxpILVs7hDtcob_0PL8/s640/Lekala+23-+email+without+pdf+subject.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMJX5Q1epY7-iSXC8ilQa4DRHV2MVJqipYbe4LK-Hgfhyphenhyphen0dWu0tPvhvloOJKY__wxwtkiweva44ZOKF0hELdyi9s4oYpxddUacqYsy_WFusckM6L8PnhOancHbh8aV_Yqg9lZYwIz9hE/s1600/Lekala+24-email-without-pd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMJX5Q1epY7-iSXC8ilQa4DRHV2MVJqipYbe4LK-Hgfhyphenhyphen0dWu0tPvhvloOJKY__wxwtkiweva44ZOKF0hELdyi9s4oYpxddUacqYsy_WFusckM6L8PnhOancHbh8aV_Yqg9lZYwIz9hE/s640/Lekala+24-email-without-pd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
2. There are also these status credit emails. (In this case, it was a heads up that the 4 orders I thought I'd put in hadn't gone through because I hadn't used any credits.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4BtKr6zuPoGfVWJl8vEoMA9af0PaxECJGUZM1VaE7he9V7LO82MIWIcaWY4T7CKLavsSq66HAFDbu68R1eXuScO-XcJmw8nHSeeYUpmg-pXxY9jj8MZEFxgIGok8PZa2O_Ihpfok8Y4/s1600/Lekala+25-+stat+email+subject.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4BtKr6zuPoGfVWJl8vEoMA9af0PaxECJGUZM1VaE7he9V7LO82MIWIcaWY4T7CKLavsSq66HAFDbu68R1eXuScO-XcJmw8nHSeeYUpmg-pXxY9jj8MZEFxgIGok8PZa2O_Ihpfok8Y4/s640/Lekala+25-+stat+email+subject.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iFEeN5wB3mqrc5RLhkTyfZ9JBvZ38sc7mb0-w-fVWo0KcQnYzhxP5-V3pxRJiSswMpXN83Yny5WeSqUYxThATlslKjI2bzsH7s9yXmNA-PfnZQ2-fWqMN07OdGKifDb0AZowxCzoMik/s1600/Lekala-26--stat-email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iFEeN5wB3mqrc5RLhkTyfZ9JBvZ38sc7mb0-w-fVWo0KcQnYzhxP5-V3pxRJiSswMpXN83Yny5WeSqUYxThATlslKjI2bzsH7s9yXmNA-PfnZQ2-fWqMN07OdGKifDb0AZowxCzoMik/s640/Lekala-26--stat-email.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Reading this, it seems like you're waiting around for emails the whole time but don't worry, they come through really quickly. <br />
<br />
<br />
I'm sure I've left things out but hopefully this makes enough sense to help someone (like me, when my 10 credits run out and I have to go through it all again).tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-7382569557786777772013-01-27T12:27:00.000+10:002013-01-27T12:27:00.126+10:00Stashbusting Sewalong - January - Covering a chair and a neck pillow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pJJhdaNdB9EniwBXMmNENq-OMWrCIiLE0-rLv4XLK0Kcl5H6gdh46hgxFIEMJnQ3Ono36QH7Zc7jqznbsvc5terpkUGkuW90Y0k7-Skcg4VXf5rn1L29hDXYm4dd_VIOyd8i7UGxj4c/s1600/Stashbusting+Sewalong+Challenge+Button+with+Text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pJJhdaNdB9EniwBXMmNENq-OMWrCIiLE0-rLv4XLK0Kcl5H6gdh46hgxFIEMJnQ3Ono36QH7Zc7jqznbsvc5terpkUGkuW90Y0k7-Skcg4VXf5rn1L29hDXYm4dd_VIOyd8i7UGxj4c/s320/Stashbusting+Sewalong+Challenge+Button+with+Text.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
I, tigergirl, commit to using a lot of
pieces of stash fabric in 2013. I also commit to not buying any new
fabric/patterns/notions except for those that I need immediately to
finish current projects until August.<br />
<br />
This sewalong is being hosted by <a href="http://cationdesigns.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Cation Designs</a> & <a href="http://tumbleweedsinthewind.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Emily aka EmSewCrazy</a>, for more info. see <a href="http://cationdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/announcing-stashbusting-sewalong.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.<br />
<br />
I told tigerboy about this - he was puzzled as to why I'd do it (helloooooo, you've seen my sewing room) and then he decided he'd join in (but in his case, it's no more wood).<br />
<br />
The theme for this month?<br />
<i>"January: Itty Bits!</i> Sew up those remnants left over from another
project, use up some of those tiny scraps that you've been saving...as
long as it's less than a yard of fabric, it counts!"<br />
So, with that in mind, I used most of the leftovers from the green meanie Burda dress (that I haven't posted) to make a cover for my sewing room chair - something that I've been meaning to do for a couple of years. The piece I actually used is a skirt piece (either front or back - can't remember) that I cut out and then realised I hadn't added seam allowances - woops.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5F5yiVjB47GkG67N6XglTWqM-CsoInmkZ25fmOxo2g-jO_ZZ8cZ4qoJWhUuroHmOhUTZbi50XWRJrNJjDqIKP0q93akU3Lgf7lZqwB-GiY8FPuYRSlRlhunl-uhR0nIE3DY4j0_Pjq4/s1600/sewing+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5F5yiVjB47GkG67N6XglTWqM-CsoInmkZ25fmOxo2g-jO_ZZ8cZ4qoJWhUuroHmOhUTZbi50XWRJrNJjDqIKP0q93akU3Lgf7lZqwB-GiY8FPuYRSlRlhunl-uhR0nIE3DY4j0_Pjq4/s1600/sewing+chair.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, I should be able to make it work ......... just.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtyfTexkKNV1TmYzfM1KLMIoboZYkRqNa-VwvMslSdrKF83NA9OiMEJzxd93CewIE8nz584ZY8jbHEH_pPLgtp5gGKPlYhGbjRLZhcdyLKBdjbB6sXciiIcwz1TAc1MtFuLxiu8FFqdw/s1600/round+off+the+corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtyfTexkKNV1TmYzfM1KLMIoboZYkRqNa-VwvMslSdrKF83NA9OiMEJzxd93CewIE8nz584ZY8jbHEH_pPLgtp5gGKPlYhGbjRLZhcdyLKBdjbB6sXciiIcwz1TAc1MtFuLxiu8FFqdw/s1600/round+off+the+corners.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round off the corners before overlocking around it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Cl5BqpnO4U33t1QE9vFp30DN96pEFwstde2WymkxEO0pUQHBWm-SyOST7l1_SZZURPu1A6m04TBD-tT6xII1L11BUYiyzEWVZwYvxJ9GKDhoNdgZ_vIg9I8JCqB0JsdIKvCJZaGUtWI/s1600/turn+twice+and+stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Cl5BqpnO4U33t1QE9vFp30DN96pEFwstde2WymkxEO0pUQHBWm-SyOST7l1_SZZURPu1A6m04TBD-tT6xII1L11BUYiyzEWVZwYvxJ9GKDhoNdgZ_vIg9I8JCqB0JsdIKvCJZaGUtWI/s1600/turn+twice+and+stitch.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn over, turn over again and stitch down, leaving a a gap to thread elastic through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt4lze8Ry4stZ4nGJ6l27_Yy2yK_UMq5vTNhJe538N8YHwlJVww7Uy_OIOA7vk27keLG0gu89_OiMrZdmPzflIz6WWoAz1AlHoRePMiGi2FWHQrws7sFB9k5IfZc4L_jzQdtZ4FuwDAw/s1600/Sewing+chair+covered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt4lze8Ry4stZ4nGJ6l27_Yy2yK_UMq5vTNhJe538N8YHwlJVww7Uy_OIOA7vk27keLG0gu89_OiMrZdmPzflIz6WWoAz1AlHoRePMiGi2FWHQrws7sFB9k5IfZc4L_jzQdtZ4FuwDAw/s1600/Sewing+chair+covered.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chair seat covered!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most time consuming part was threading the elastic through the channel. I have to admit that I ran out of motivation by the time I got to the back rest of the chair. There's very little fabric left now and it'll need to be pieced, possibly even augmented with another fabric - I'll let it percolate in my brain and move on to something more interesting to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
Recently I bought a neck pillow for when I'm reading in bed - works perfectly but there's one problem, it doesn't have a removable cover. Itty Bitty Stashbusting to the rescue! Initially I thought I'd use some offcuts from tigerboy's pj's but as I was going through the offcuts box I came across the last little piece of a table runner we bought in Ecuador a few years ago that I'd used to make cusion covers (still haven't put the buttons on them).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlZp1J9-BzrkoxGXcR84rLD8JXBdAY2SwTvgQ9rX73m87Gv3ByEwyjrgYfC8OsWYwdLcX6uv4hj-xhcAGCnkehgU29kHGELsBQsEDj5IRFaAm0Yy02nRjlPEv5oByWAGEb_v9LaXXTgo/s1600/Ecuadorian+cushion+covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlZp1J9-BzrkoxGXcR84rLD8JXBdAY2SwTvgQ9rX73m87Gv3ByEwyjrgYfC8OsWYwdLcX6uv4hj-xhcAGCnkehgU29kHGELsBQsEDj5IRFaAm0Yy02nRjlPEv5oByWAGEb_v9LaXXTgo/s1600/Ecuadorian+cushion+covers.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cushion covers sans buttons to close.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiJk1gtRLMTsRFiv-tLQMDhwll9ipDL9snFZxZmA2VK9pKh2GEYcukc4yBSnq5AKnMSe6fL7d1nHG6oQFKGthY_CxUduCQxn-f1xYPLsedsNlPh8nSwwcJXwYEXTp0GlimhQNo9bpKQk/s1600/Ecuadorian+table+runner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiJk1gtRLMTsRFiv-tLQMDhwll9ipDL9snFZxZmA2VK9pKh2GEYcukc4yBSnq5AKnMSe6fL7d1nHG6oQFKGthY_CxUduCQxn-f1xYPLsedsNlPh8nSwwcJXwYEXTp0GlimhQNo9bpKQk/s1600/Ecuadorian+table+runner2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the still intact table runner (we bought two) in action, as it has been for a couple of years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EJApl8C_ePaw_5NpQDFHv52t-G2ToH7aiSmfv9f9bFo8XpOWW0qoyRpqk5_60lo0Fbh6Tegu3RiCPNB6gEC13lc-h8C5gJmzDEhU_oU08kWASuoL15rYLostJKTQwXWVjHV82sjL2sI/s1600/Ecuadorian+neck+cushion+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EJApl8C_ePaw_5NpQDFHv52t-G2ToH7aiSmfv9f9bFo8XpOWW0qoyRpqk5_60lo0Fbh6Tegu3RiCPNB6gEC13lc-h8C5gJmzDEhU_oU08kWASuoL15rYLostJKTQwXWVjHV82sjL2sI/s1600/Ecuadorian+neck+cushion+cover.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neck cushion, all covered.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T_rOQtbwE-lTJA4meJYoTol5yizQ-fK9ptEbv4B9bpHtb49wduavMIdJK3bX5S7LPC0MTKDYJZaHlnF3dzE4wpmQQZJAP4UWRSSUR4-m7rrVUugyONYsF3jen2K3HOsHsihAImIgKdE/s1600/Ecuadorian+neck+cushion+cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T_rOQtbwE-lTJA4meJYoTol5yizQ-fK9ptEbv4B9bpHtb49wduavMIdJK3bX5S7LPC0MTKDYJZaHlnF3dzE4wpmQQZJAP4UWRSSUR4-m7rrVUugyONYsF3jen2K3HOsHsihAImIgKdE/s1600/Ecuadorian+neck+cushion+cover2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did a pillowcase type opening - not a good idea, getting that cushion in was like trying to stuff a sausage through the eye of a needle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My original thought that this woven fabric would negate the squishyness of the pillow proved correct, so I will make another cover in the knit. I'll also use a zip opening to counteract that sausage through the eye of a needle effect, in fact, I imagine getting this cover off to wash it will peeve me enough that I'll unpick the end and put a zip in this one too. Anyway, it looks better than I expected.<br />
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<br />
So, this stashbusting sewalong means that my fabric buying for 2013 is done until August when I'll reassess - not such a big deal as I've already acquired a bit this year:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaTGhsqbNe11juGkJsgHZFrtn1MlRdm3DiZxHh8uVJhe5h3E4tNNV-eWT8NmJnl0RrFVjlp5ANc1lya6hKka4cH8JpbusuTy4-vGpzUWI1kkCfd69WEziYXEVZ6mJ9IsP4T-qCgozdCg/s1600/Fabric+acquisition+-+Spotlight+30%25+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaTGhsqbNe11juGkJsgHZFrtn1MlRdm3DiZxHh8uVJhe5h3E4tNNV-eWT8NmJnl0RrFVjlp5ANc1lya6hKka4cH8JpbusuTy4-vGpzUWI1kkCfd69WEziYXEVZ6mJ9IsP4T-qCgozdCg/s1600/Fabric+acquisition+-+Spotlight+30%25+off.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotlight had a 30% off sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH4n0QsCdsp97f8fU_J-H_Fr4bRFYmeF4SpInoacaasG85-jkcACH9zAWCutu0805NRn6cPXAyPrqOFSaDo7Z9wjsrBW8aNmHLynpBme-lgmSpx-HT5RG626uDmCqira08j7aNXoOo-8/s1600/Fabri-Quilt+Living+Wonders+Parrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH4n0QsCdsp97f8fU_J-H_Fr4bRFYmeF4SpInoacaasG85-jkcACH9zAWCutu0805NRn6cPXAyPrqOFSaDo7Z9wjsrBW8aNmHLynpBme-lgmSpx-HT5RG626uDmCqira08j7aNXoOo-8/s1600/Fabri-Quilt+Living+Wonders+Parrots.jpg" /></a></div>
I showed this fabric to tigerboy "Oh wow, that's soooo beautiful!"<br />
"If I made you a shirt with it, would you wear it?"<br />
"Yes, it has all my favourite parrots - buy everything they have hone!"<br />
"I'm not buying it all - are you sure you'll wear it?"<br />
bla bla bla<br />
I actually had to write and ask the seller if they had more than they had listed - he was on tenterhooks for a day until we got the answer.<br />
<br />
Of course, with the combined shipping and knowing that US postal rates
were increasing significantly at the end of January, it seemed only
reasonable to make the order up to 10 yards with fabric I wanted, so I
got these as well.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFIhurNBtoHLAtJVoXgEuV9LmOCpnG10b8fplKqpqPET3cWtgT1xGyXe2IAgIRfokaecg70T2Sx2sx2bX2kYy-Ykmz3czmI1oKk5yOhlTMS4z9ya7Yi5lDnjjnl6n6KN5VhZsJNTsmPw/s1600/Begonia+Leaves+Philip+Jacobs+2012+Rowan+Westminster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFIhurNBtoHLAtJVoXgEuV9LmOCpnG10b8fplKqpqPET3cWtgT1xGyXe2IAgIRfokaecg70T2Sx2sx2bX2kYy-Ykmz3czmI1oKk5yOhlTMS4z9ya7Yi5lDnjjnl6n6KN5VhZsJNTsmPw/s320/Begonia+Leaves+Philip+Jacobs+2012+Rowan+Westminster.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqPZ8hKXfRmMV2ye7SoZTHMNwMW4owAgB3WxXztBN2HpZKihx-SsUm4lNn1bu87pJ2V2aYhIwqycfcezMCqKoYBOB4TjP-CHUhxgjg0thlfBaHostVRwAvy2uO5WzYDnvEgluzGMXeB8/s1600/Timeless+Treasures+Puffins+Shore+Bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqPZ8hKXfRmMV2ye7SoZTHMNwMW4owAgB3WxXztBN2HpZKihx-SsUm4lNn1bu87pJ2V2aYhIwqycfcezMCqKoYBOB4TjP-CHUhxgjg0thlfBaHostVRwAvy2uO5WzYDnvEgluzGMXeB8/s320/Timeless+Treasures+Puffins+Shore+Bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My stashbusting sewalong has even been tested! Last week I happened to walk past a Lincraft - 50% off everything!!! They even had some gorgeous black cotton lace ........ no, tiger, just walk out right now, there will be other sales ...... and that's what I did (ok, I went and bought a coffee and donut instead but that's still progress!)
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-30159859887745676242013-01-25T13:54:00.000+10:002013-01-25T13:54:00.730+10:00Wow! I got an award and a petrol discount!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?action=best-of-2012"><img alt="Craftster Best of 2012 Winner" src="http://www.craftster.org/bestof2012/2012-Winners.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?action=best-of-2012">I'm a Craftster Best of 2012 Winner! </a>
</div>
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Remember <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/palin-bag-is-finished-at-last.html" target="_blank">the palin bag</a>?? I posted it on Craftster, way back when and it ended up being chosen in the top five for it's category. Surprise! I don't spend much time at craftster these days, more on pattern review, but every now and then, if I've made something and haven't used a pattern, I'll post it. If you haven't ever checked out craftster.org, you should, there's all kinds of nifty things there.<br />
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<br />
And <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/vintage-lawn-cling-wrap-bodice-block.html" target="_blank">this dress</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR_lG_5uZR91271lCbn2SNSTdOBj-MQ_7KYH2q68fB6VuVBslQz8fPIdoOGjujkuqdWctKzHXIeAmV6Rf2mwGlKYTVE2tbZpHYXgFF7PK3yhJsVKcoCUlDvFDfgvTLCKGxuH493Ge7Wk/s1600/Vintage-lawn-dress-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR_lG_5uZR91271lCbn2SNSTdOBj-MQ_7KYH2q68fB6VuVBslQz8fPIdoOGjujkuqdWctKzHXIeAmV6Rf2mwGlKYTVE2tbZpHYXgFF7PK3yhJsVKcoCUlDvFDfgvTLCKGxuH493Ge7Wk/s640/Vintage-lawn-dress-front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was wearing it when I filled the car up with petrol - the attendant loved it so much, he gave me a discount on my fuel! Nice one!tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-57159119442717164962013-01-22T08:31:00.000+10:002013-01-22T08:31:00.512+10:00The Liebster Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpyJVzd8wzrzVmA3hg_1kDthCp5NoIB3S-ELSYFbAafMw3d-8o5rBGnLkkjBCk9klJ4UuTU8qHDEJA_K3gPaOzskCTpVL5PRzMiVRB98xcZNoo-48D6J7ioB0cuCYZqokK4Z4oTiYxuo/s1600/Liebster+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpyJVzd8wzrzVmA3hg_1kDthCp5NoIB3S-ELSYFbAafMw3d-8o5rBGnLkkjBCk9klJ4UuTU8qHDEJA_K3gPaOzskCTpVL5PRzMiVRB98xcZNoo-48D6J7ioB0cuCYZqokK4Z4oTiYxuo/s1600/Liebster+Award.jpg" /></a></div>
Valerie of <a href="http://valeriesownsewingblog.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Valeries Own Sewing Blog</a> awarded me the Liebster award! (Thanks Valerie) Oooh, it's the month of awards! Maybe I should take a Gold Lotto ticket?<br />
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Sooo, 11 things about me:<br />
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<ol>
<li>I ride a motorbike
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpgTd4zAhFJLa44UFKFbZ6QCWKDWPkAHKBij45WQvjAlvuuSRvMqd97PKl-qDuHmv3QeEdQ5nqkEkPRpq2MjbVDjZDWfLGjbxIZkoYwdk89s_GZZJrEIhWD5_FmbsPmFDEU2s27R3XfQ/s1600/riding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpgTd4zAhFJLa44UFKFbZ6QCWKDWPkAHKBij45WQvjAlvuuSRvMqd97PKl-qDuHmv3QeEdQ5nqkEkPRpq2MjbVDjZDWfLGjbxIZkoYwdk89s_GZZJrEIhWD5_FmbsPmFDEU2s27R3XfQ/s1600/riding.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Until I moved back to Queensland (5-6 years ago?), I didn't wear dresses - now they're my favourite garment.</li>
<li>I've had my nose broken three times.</li>
<li>I cut my own hair between trips back to Sydney where I can get a great cut for less than $15. (I have tried and tried in Brisbane to find a decent hairdresser but in the end I gave up.)</li>
<li>I don't watch TV, so I'm not usually too au fait when it comes to popular culture.</li>
<li>In the 90's I spent six years backpacking around the world.</li>
<li>Since we moved to Queensland I've been trying to inject some colour into my previously all black wardrobe - it's slowly happening but I'm still more comfortable in black.</li>
<li>I don't like shopping ..... at all and I detest shopping malls. That means that when I do shop for something other than food, I want to get it all done in one fell swoop "Ok, I like these shoes, I'll get a pair in every colour of each of these styles - that should tide me over for a while."</li>
<li>I love to try new food and drink, not much phases me when it comes to that (putrified shark meat anyone?)</li>
<li>I don't eat lamb/mutton - far too much growing up.</li>
<li>Tigerboy is less than one year younger than me, so although we're in our mid-forties, he thinks that qualifies him for toy boy status and me as "the older woman" lol - whatever makes him feel special (rolling my eyes).</li>
</ol>
So, now I need to pass this award on:<br />
<br />
Velosewer at <a href="http://cleverthinking99.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">How Good Is That?</a> - A Sydney gal that churns out great clothes quick enough to make my head spin.<br />
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Chris at <a href="http://chrislucas.com.au/" target="_blank">Chris Lucas</a> - I've only just discovered this blog but I like her style.<br />
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Rebecca at <a href="http://becstitches.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Bec Stitches</a> - Another new to me blog by a fellow Aussie.<br />
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<a href="http://makeitfakeit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Make it 'til you fake it</a> - There's a fabric giveaway going on there!<br />
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Reethi at <a href="http://weekendcrafting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Weekend Crafting</a> - Another new to me blog - she likes beer and sewing, what's not to like? I like her "Top 5 of 2012" lists, I might have to copy that.<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-30314808006579966092013-01-20T09:14:00.000+10:002013-01-20T09:14:00.229+10:00Vogue 1258 Vena Cava Dress - the metallic emerald version<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QN_PHvSkG2Os10P5hNuT2UiU0DhyphenhyphenI9iynjc9a_xCnp72yTfXLfIb2LCynPgFcYoCLOYPePwtikLtmZkRlfVKxKvjYSzET0QsXgmub3zSCtYTJhh4BZDUhZbrNCINiWK8svXeOzg8BdU/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QN_PHvSkG2Os10P5hNuT2UiU0DhyphenhyphenI9iynjc9a_xCnp72yTfXLfIb2LCynPgFcYoCLOYPePwtikLtmZkRlfVKxKvjYSzET0QsXgmub3zSCtYTJhh4BZDUhZbrNCINiWK8svXeOzg8BdU/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Front.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1258 - front</td></tr>
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This is my second version of this dress, the first was <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/vogue-1258-vena-cava-dress.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I made this before Christmas as my Christmas dress and I was under the gun because I was making it to wear out that night - no time for too much mucking around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqjSx2OjfkIWoyLoip3YwW1O8D8-qoojdBuKveR_miMIkZW2zhJCKhaqDlPoJZzbaLuLeHE5EJTL9Q1FchW6XhcTOIplbS1wQzSR-fka992fwKXAeWMXGo2viUUul2uj3IpjqC_JlkLw/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqjSx2OjfkIWoyLoip3YwW1O8D8-qoojdBuKveR_miMIkZW2zhJCKhaqDlPoJZzbaLuLeHE5EJTL9Q1FchW6XhcTOIplbS1wQzSR-fka992fwKXAeWMXGo2viUUul2uj3IpjqC_JlkLw/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Back.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1258 back - STILL some swayback wrinkling and a cami needed.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUcuWVoOZidnd09lAMsVIATZcyZ2wy_SeRb2RgMNf0cg_6-Hjume1UPbRgmj4v37gjO7qYl8CInXfKH7sg9u9Nh-7oN5s4RovRBmhwM7iE0Xu6-ybmhDqZ_OUQLjg5uBxWAHZhCyrEjM/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUcuWVoOZidnd09lAMsVIATZcyZ2wy_SeRb2RgMNf0cg_6-Hjume1UPbRgmj4v37gjO7qYl8CInXfKH7sg9u9Nh-7oN5s4RovRBmhwM7iE0Xu6-ybmhDqZ_OUQLjg5uBxWAHZhCyrEjM/s1600/V1258-Vena-Cava-Side.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1258 - side</td></tr>
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This time I didn't bother with the sleeve extensions or the pockets (which both had to be removed last time). I was happy with the shorter length tie I used last time, so went with that again.<br />
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I did however alter the back hemline so that it didn't raise up in the middle, I think it might still go up a bit but it isn't as bad as last time.<br />
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I also removed the extra from the bottom of the back bodice pattern piece (sway back) - I removed the same amount that I had to last time but somehow I had to do it again (just as much) once the dress was made ............. different knits, different quirks I suppose.<br />
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Last time I had to raise the bottom of the bodice part just above the knot to pull the dress up after it was all sewn up, this time, I preempted that caper.<br />
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I still had to raise the neckline of course and reinforce where all of the pieces meet in the centre front.<br />
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I did consider narrowing the shoulders and adding the sleeve extensions but decided that just couldn't be bothered.<br />
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When all of the pieces were all cut out and partially assembled I discovered that this fabric had a flaw, there was a lovely spot of black where the emerald green paint had failed to adhere - about 1cm above my bust point, there was no way that that wouldn't be noticed! I had just enough fabric left to eek out another piece - completely ignoring any grain issues, it seems to have worked out ok.<br />
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I didn't use my overlocker at all, all on the sewing machine. Twin needle for the hem, neckline and armholes.<br />
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Once it was done there was still a lot of fiddling and tweeking to get those pleats to look better, just like last time. The dress feels as though the waist line is below my waist? I don't know, it just doesn't feel as though it's pulling where it should be. Even though it's a fairly quick make, I think I'm tweeked out on this pattern.<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-2213517296691737402013-01-17T15:22:00.002+10:002013-01-18T09:16:51.250+10:00Getting rid of the inner thigh pocket on RTW pants - How toNow I'm sure a lot of people don't have this problem but there must be others out there that do (unless I really am unique like Mum says). This happens a fair bit to me - enough that I had to come up with a solution. Now, I'm positive that there are better and more 'proper' ways to do this, so take it with a grain of salt - this is what I came up with to fix my particular problem for this type of pants and the way I think they should fit me.<br />
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You're trying on a pair of pants with stretch that are meant to be fitting, everything looks good until you spy the inner thigh (on one or both legs) - there's a baggy bit that sticks out, making it look like I don't know what but not right - what the heck? If that makes no sense to you, here's a (poor) example:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsTq23RJ_FZ47wKQSbs9Gl4NEgrbDQVi6BRzqv3d8SU_vI3NGS-JdWwyjgwuv_2vnd8JhnUhfZuMdz-hfRRdXQKbOBd11hReEDdwKyi0LACRGzgvaq52eYX2tAhOZICbs9rVeU19UEfQ/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsTq23RJ_FZ47wKQSbs9Gl4NEgrbDQVi6BRzqv3d8SU_vI3NGS-JdWwyjgwuv_2vnd8JhnUhfZuMdz-hfRRdXQKbOBd11hReEDdwKyi0LACRGzgvaq52eYX2tAhOZICbs9rVeU19UEfQ/s1600/before.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that bump on the inner thigh of the right leg? It was difficult to get a good pic but hopefully, you'll get a better understanding.</td></tr>
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Admittedly, this isn't a really bad example, but these pants were in the mending pile for that very reason, so they're what I had to work with.<br />
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My hack solution? Pinch out that excess (you can measure and mark - I usually just eyeball it), marking the beginning and end of it with pins. Turn your pants inside out and mark a new stitching line that gradually blends with the original stitching line.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iyeR4e1jDUP-UES70gO1Zb73b_brqrHJXK4XwOVCKmK3jjCNFuK0fdnz90xI8QqteQjmCvkwgpS53zyIWx3tLJ4W4dfNkKr0rLoEAI3j5nmWyIDzuhu9FVcuD-F62EjlB2dh9u9tbBs/s1600/during1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iyeR4e1jDUP-UES70gO1Zb73b_brqrHJXK4XwOVCKmK3jjCNFuK0fdnz90xI8QqteQjmCvkwgpS53zyIWx3tLJ4W4dfNkKr0rLoEAI3j5nmWyIDzuhu9FVcuD-F62EjlB2dh9u9tbBs/s1600/during1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new stitching line - it looks longer than necessary here but the darkness of the first photo didn't show all of the excess.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIQMqZAbTMpn_2zK7o58xeiAfs96ejrvxMpR2uboBTZ79tdA5vdobVbFQ6ext8CP-ayF0uMZQI1H70zfFufjiVoAJ-pXCH9LeTRCfCo3yHL_4DbaJjIAIxkG_QI_eFIJEjHDu4c-zZCA/s1600/during2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIQMqZAbTMpn_2zK7o58xeiAfs96ejrvxMpR2uboBTZ79tdA5vdobVbFQ6ext8CP-ayF0uMZQI1H70zfFufjiVoAJ-pXCH9LeTRCfCo3yHL_4DbaJjIAIxkG_QI_eFIJEjHDu4c-zZCA/s1600/during2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Even though in the top photo it looked as though only one was weird, both had it going on, it's just that one was worse than the other, which is why one of the new stitching lines is actually a bit deeper than the other. In this case, these pants were a bit higher (and poofier) than I wanted at the front and back as well, so I took some out of the crotch.<br />
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The new seamline isn't always as graduated as this one either, I remember one pair in particular where the top near the crotch was like a big horseshoe - looked strange off but perfect on - there was a lot of excess at the top of the inner leg in those particular pants for some reason, must be something to do with the way the shape sits on your shape?<br />
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You can see I've had a couple of goes at taking out the excess in these - I'm usually conservative to start with (until my patience runs out). <br />
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After:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeNqZ537UdTVbzAroI0IntQBxwPeOl97njGPHODwjhIqkIDFslBG4RR-oeEnBL-w8z90kf6s7ZllxIn4RxigYNIDVmNEJVvDMZUDeaoURBqjjISmhXNwJmQH726WSfRwfj4BCHNamp6Q/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeNqZ537UdTVbzAroI0IntQBxwPeOl97njGPHODwjhIqkIDFslBG4RR-oeEnBL-w8z90kf6s7ZllxIn4RxigYNIDVmNEJVvDMZUDeaoURBqjjISmhXNwJmQH726WSfRwfj4BCHNamp6Q/s1600/after.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird inner thigh pockets gone.</td></tr>
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Reminder: This is most certainly not the official or proper way to do this, it's just the easiest and quickest way I've come up with.<br />
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Could it be that I'm really the only person this happens to? <br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-68372035216404094272013-01-15T21:25:00.000+10:002013-01-15T21:25:41.955+10:00Jungle January dress - self drafted <br />
<a href="http://prttynpnk.wordpress.com/category/jungle-january-2/" target="_blank"></a><br />
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<a href="http://prttynpnk.wordpress.com/category/jungle-january-2/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4a3-Usb8pH3F3nXj1QFRKNxHoTlfxm9savZ-vEjDrmdsnmIYd_Yfb0k9fZdobZpJncGaSjGLVhieGPeazCduyvgW48JHcTLQIN_K9gSnk2h5Ej3eYbhfTxOqnyHc5ETip21D_hXDQ_U/s1600/jj1.jpg" title="Jungle January" /></a></div>
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Over at <a href="http://prttynpnk.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Pretty Grievances</a> there's a style revolution happening - <a href="http://prttynpnk.wordpress.com/category/jungle-january-2/" target="_blank">Jungle January</a>. Knowing that I had a few animal prints in the stash, I figured it was definately done just for me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_XZuAuHrvA-1xVMEsDutwLlxUVhDUXzrTMh3q_hRDYu9npygjcho2-YJdA4AXgi7qqxbkY1RmlSO9wKsOGNtAeGjrbpwVBm7CZKMy_RxI6R5xw8XrnG0CXRpzgMqPk4T7X-sSyGJz_c/s1600/Jungle+January+fabrics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_XZuAuHrvA-1xVMEsDutwLlxUVhDUXzrTMh3q_hRDYu9npygjcho2-YJdA4AXgi7qqxbkY1RmlSO9wKsOGNtAeGjrbpwVBm7CZKMy_RxI6R5xw8XrnG0CXRpzgMqPk4T7X-sSyGJz_c/s1600/Jungle+January+fabrics.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just what I came up with in approx. 60 seconds. I know I've also got several snake skin fabrics, assorted birds and who knows what else. </td></tr>
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I took a quick look at the stash, yep, even more than I thought. In fact, there's so much animal print that I think I also need a Jungle June and a Jungle July as well. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/18241344721302194932" target="_blank">Velosewer</a>
would probably make very quick work of it though, including the 12
(yes, TWELVE) metres of blue snakeskin mesh - I think it was 50c a metre
for the rest of the roll, ok?<br />
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But
what about the fabric I've had for ~4 years and finally started to work
out (seriously this time) how to make something out of ....... I didn't
want to choke on it again, this time I was ready to bite the bullet and
jump in ........................... Oh tiger, stupido, stupido, it'll
fit right in.<br />
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So here's the fabric.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgnOCUMnipahCnch26mGlctQecCOCyYdw4oFAtZdnLa9bz2RSn6AbllRzCdb4hdECch29QeW3jvQbujHmsEGgM4PZFuhj54Jh0YQ6QtR4S3RF0HwpsX4Q8Q-EALOsH3B3tBc0yZttsxc/s1600/Jungle+January+dress+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgnOCUMnipahCnch26mGlctQecCOCyYdw4oFAtZdnLa9bz2RSn6AbllRzCdb4hdECch29QeW3jvQbujHmsEGgM4PZFuhj54Jh0YQ6QtR4S3RF0HwpsX4Q8Q-EALOsH3B3tBc0yZttsxc/s1600/Jungle+January+dress+fabric.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle January dress fabric</td></tr>
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It's a cotton/lycra knit with a very fine rib. The coloured part is just over 150cm wide. One of the reasons I've pulled it out, draped it, pulled it this way and that, then finally returned it to the stash about 100 times is because I just wasn't quite sure how to make something from it. The length of the print is too short for me to get a knee length dress out of and I don't wear dresses shorter than that unless I'm wearing tights which restricts me to colder weather - we don't have a lot of that here in Brisbane. I thought it would look better if the urn was centred on the front and back but then it would really be cutting it fine on the hips where the prints ended. With this print, I didn't want seams messing things up but what about the sway back - how could I deal with that? I didn't want the print finishing across the middle of my bust - that always reminds me of an empire line gone wrong but I also didn't want that tigerlily making me look like Eve in the Garden of Eden using a tigerlily instead of a leaf either. Add to that, the bottom of the urn isn't even perpendicular with the grain, it's at an angle. Well, lots of things that just added up to "too hard basket". Finally I decided that as I had two lengths of it, I'd just do the best I could and still have some left over if I got a better idea at a later date.<br />
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I marked out two panels that were perpendicular to the bottom of the urns, sewed straight up the sides and got to work. Due to the angles of the urns and one panel being on the edge of the fabric, one panel had to be wider than the other - it's a design feature. Too hard to work with without shoulders, so I found some black knit that was used years ago to make a few skirts, chopped off some offcut looking bits and sewed them to the top. Unfortunately, the back piece was a bit narrow as you can see below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_y1hiLxZNHsX7nh_CcrRT_sC_KVrKuU2fUVCsbrtWfOUU8_rrhG8P_1oKl3rMBo2A3RbRaQwDaUkhiXlKK_LVlNXmmmVxgeqtNZdhv0C9gRJwM3MUJNVGXI3vk6H_6MQ8XyFowZeW9M/s1600/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_y1hiLxZNHsX7nh_CcrRT_sC_KVrKuU2fUVCsbrtWfOUU8_rrhG8P_1oKl3rMBo2A3RbRaQwDaUkhiXlKK_LVlNXmmmVxgeqtNZdhv0C9gRJwM3MUJNVGXI3vk6H_6MQ8XyFowZeW9M/s320/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+back.jpg" width="171" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoftLer9plcNazCucN-s-rE1OMK9P9JrZ5V6Bf8awsYtP6SBtTpMHTAOVlBWf__0O6ZXuLb1iWucWAEf8VDYPM-I7yMOGLW0ILn7lWGNhI706fSaycBu46T76kgMjgs8NRQJvISAJjik/s1600/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoftLer9plcNazCucN-s-rE1OMK9P9JrZ5V6Bf8awsYtP6SBtTpMHTAOVlBWf__0O6ZXuLb1iWucWAEf8VDYPM-I7yMOGLW0ILn7lWGNhI706fSaycBu46T76kgMjgs8NRQJvISAJjik/s320/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+front.jpg" width="167" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3VE5WFqV9VsmrQXZoCR0r_n6L6HQ28r35Dlm-he23X6ZqULymcDTA9G3fcbWk2ziNfj20v0TXTJ6T_BZvSOuUlbbd0M65lT7gxIrUrUzvyNypFjCd_W6i19rg4N8wDI7OU83YsjgVQs/s1600/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3VE5WFqV9VsmrQXZoCR0r_n6L6HQ28r35Dlm-he23X6ZqULymcDTA9G3fcbWk2ziNfj20v0TXTJ6T_BZvSOuUlbbd0M65lT7gxIrUrUzvyNypFjCd_W6i19rg4N8wDI7OU83YsjgVQs/s320/Jungle+January+Dress+in+progress+-+side.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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At this stage, I had the hem pinned and marked and it was perfect. A lot of time was spent pinning, marking, sewing, cutting (repeat ad infinitum) to get the sides right. More time working out the shoulders (which involved stretching the back up to get rid of the sway back puddle). Now, I could have removed that too narrow back piece and put a wider one on - that would have been the smart thing to do, instead, I added a little panel on each side of the back piece (I'm all about the design features).<br />
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My intention was to overlock the whole thing but because I was flying by the seat of my pants the whole time, I started with the sewing machine - with white thread (easier to see and unpick and no loss of fabric). As that seemed to be going ok and my new overlocker which isn't thrilling me was threaded in white, I decided to switch the sewing machine to black thread and carry on winging it. The armholes and hem were twin needled but the necklines have a deep (6 cm) seam allowance that is currently just hanging down inside the neckline - I'll probably tack it down.<br />
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Of course, by this stage all but two of the hem pins had fallen out and the chalk marks were long gone. I had to redo the hem marking but things were looking a bit weird, in the end, I decided "it'll do" because I wanted to wear it out that night. I'm sure the hem's not perfect but I don't think there is anything too noticably wonky going on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfM7NjNy2Rxd476DjVmA_1W4kNyF8D_XzyrgdaaUX1RCjVvzIxkLww0as6cJRPSC6IwrlGexOJFJGiXC4kwT9kFJztqGzwauYmhP0ejxmY0my3J8DCDkm5bEDDMR_L-rAQPXWN2a_aQc/s1600/Jungle-January-Dress---fron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfM7NjNy2Rxd476DjVmA_1W4kNyF8D_XzyrgdaaUX1RCjVvzIxkLww0as6cJRPSC6IwrlGexOJFJGiXC4kwT9kFJztqGzwauYmhP0ejxmY0my3J8DCDkm5bEDDMR_L-rAQPXWN2a_aQc/s1600/Jungle-January-Dress---fron.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
I'm glad I finally made something in this fabric, as soon as I saw it in the store I had to have it. My favourite thing is the smoking lion, it appeals to my sense of the absurd and socially not kosher.<br />
<br />
Now I'm thinking I might just make a shorter one with sleeves to wear with tights for winter .......... oooh and knee high boots.<br />
<br />
And just to prove that I don't mind big cats: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YRvEeRwFFRbuFBmEYDP3N3j503ZXsf-H5shqDK3vhWUZymkRxYhkY0dyfjYcOkEjeanHgoWhHd3YH3ORMucZvdVuMM7RFXsVlg_YLo9l0_wRA4B-30dk8QUywVGWr_NXKTTjQZ0exjE/s1600/Meet-a-Cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YRvEeRwFFRbuFBmEYDP3N3j503ZXsf-H5shqDK3vhWUZymkRxYhkY0dyfjYcOkEjeanHgoWhHd3YH3ORMucZvdVuMM7RFXsVlg_YLo9l0_wRA4B-30dk8QUywVGWr_NXKTTjQZ0exjE/s1600/Meet-a-Cheetah.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me at the Canberra Zoo - 2007</td></tr>
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-30808365789385172832013-01-11T16:45:00.000+10:002013-01-11T17:51:22.900+10:00McCalls 5975 - the pink zombie dressI actually finished something two days ago - one dress hemmed, three to go.<br />
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I've got metres and metres of mystery knits from years and years ago - knits that are not colours I particularly like or have the characteristics you actually choose knits for (eg. don't wrinkle) - take that thick cushy pale blue knit I used in <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/vogue-1258-vena-cava-dress.html" target="_blank">the first V1258 Vena Cava</a> and the pink jersey I used for Mum's pj's, a Lekala dress and <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/10/vogue-8728-knit-dress-x-2.html" target="_blank">the first iteration of Simplicity 8728</a> (I still have loads of both left) - well, here's another one of those endless, odd knits, I call it the zombie knit fabric.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ44oJtHprgPSEf03ERvC4FdTSBdlru_mRU9GbCgMmlnGGtUTHVCFW0MChXvRz-bkjPIvad8g8hJuMfoZvLVZ38s54TMIKF-CLdm_-sinYrGLIB_BLmrRV71NzT5fagFpqj1oQU5mIUfQ/s1600/pink-zombie-fabric3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ44oJtHprgPSEf03ERvC4FdTSBdlru_mRU9GbCgMmlnGGtUTHVCFW0MChXvRz-bkjPIvad8g8hJuMfoZvLVZ38s54TMIKF-CLdm_-sinYrGLIB_BLmrRV71NzT5fagFpqj1oQU5mIUfQ/s1600/pink-zombie-fabric3.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's basically a nude/pinky mesh with another cut up mesh on top that is attached every now and then by a thin thread - as you can see, it looks truly raggedy. It's also quite sheer (where it's only one layer), luckily I have a very fine cotton vintage slip that is perfect under it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H5y7xaYOAsnIvEuQ20Ct-ffjXdV3LgoOwzPX3zY2mQ2fJNUFlQ19K9RnhVDm1pxA4MYuZSQVnKiwuESLkmbP5i6yJcgqkPzLH7vhHceIAqnARVlAJvX3yXrnChFDu89cpkCJDx0h6BE/s1600/M5975-Cowl-neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H5y7xaYOAsnIvEuQ20Ct-ffjXdV3LgoOwzPX3zY2mQ2fJNUFlQ19K9RnhVDm1pxA4MYuZSQVnKiwuESLkmbP5i6yJcgqkPzLH7vhHceIAqnARVlAJvX3yXrnChFDu89cpkCJDx0h6BE/s1600/M5975-Cowl-neck.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M5975 - COW neck</td></tr>
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After tigerboy's disappointment (or maybe disgust) with the raggedy edges on <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/02/reverse-applique-pyjamas-menswear.html" target="_blank">his pj's</a>, I was sure he'd detest this on sight. Instead - "Pink!?, Honey, it's pink!!!"<br />
"Oh, really? Hadn't noticed."<br />
"You don't wear pink, unless it's with orange and pyjamas." (True)<br />
"Yes, I know, I decided to branch out."<br />
"I really like the style......" <br />
So, there I am thinking - he didn't notice the raggedyness? But lo and behold, then he started peering carefully at the fabric with a confused look.<br />
"This is kind of weird."<br />
"You don't like it?"<br />
silence .................................... "Yeah, I do, it's really unusual isn't it? Yeah, I really like it! I like what you've done with the neck part here."<br />
"It's a cowl neck."<br />
"A <i>cow</i> neck?"<br />
"No, a <i>cowl</i> neck - C O W L, cowl." (Later that night he asked me if I was going to do anything else with a cow neck - it's not worth my time.)<br />
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So maybe I've been reading too many postapocalyptic novels with zombies and general decay but it really reminds me of skin peeling off - charming right? I'm not telling him or else that's all he'll see too.<br />
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<h3>
So, onto the sewing part.......</h3>
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I decided to use the cowl necked bodice from version C, with the cap sleeves from version B. I used my own skirt pattern - the <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/making-a-line-skirt-pattern-from.html" target="_blank">A-line skirt pattern</a> that I made and have used on nearly every dress I make.<br />
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My current measurements (just had to redo these for a Lekala order):<br />
Height: 168cm<br />
Upper bust: 89 cm (35")<br />
Bust: 95.5cm<br />
Under bust: 77cm (small rib cage? narrow back?)<br />
Waist: 74cm<br />
Hips: 102cm<br />
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I cut a size 12 bodice with the following changes:<br />
<ul>
<li>I cut the side seam of the front on the size 14 line from the armscye down to the waist</li>
<li>I lowered the waist line of the front bodice because I think some of my waist lines have been too short at the front lately - it wasn't necessary which I think is due to the weight of the fabric pulling everything down. </li>
<li>I cut the back bodice on the fold, instead of two separate pieces with a seam down the back - I reduced the side seams from about an inch under the double notches down to the waist to compensate for the extra on the centre back at the bottom (because the seam was supposed to be curved) and because my waist is a lot smaller at the back. The back waist ended up being approx. 1cm smaller on each side than the size 8.</li>
</ul>
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I didn't bother with the facing (if interfacing was called for, I didn't use that either).<br />
On the back neck, I turned the sa in and stitched with a double needle.<br />
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I <i>think</i> the pattern makers wanted you to put a zip in it - nah, I had no intention - directions, schmections, I say.<br />
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I shortened the cap sleeves (also size 12) but off the top of my head, I can't remember how much by - wasn't much though.<br />
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The cowl was a bit deep for me, so I ended up angling the inside front corners of the neckline (the cowl part) an extra 3cm to pull the cowl up.<br />
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I used a ribbon hanger loop from a RTW dress/top as shoulder stabiliser (those ribbons come in handy for lots of things).<br />
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Twin needled the hem and the hem of the sleeves.<br />
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I had to take at least 4cm off the bottom of the back bodice because of sway back but I think that this is such a stretchy fabric that the weight contributed to quite a bit of that, so in a different fabric, who knows?<br />
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I used my overlocker (serger) for all of the seams. <br />
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I made my own belt, I think they include a pattern piece but really? It's just a long rectangle (actually, mine is pieced, so it's 3 rectangles - not at all noticeable in this fabric).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M5975 - I'd been running errands all day, hence the 'wreck of the hespress' look I've got going on.</td></tr>
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I'll definately be making this again in another version, it was fast and easy. I love easy to wear dresses that can go from work to around the house to running errands and doing the groceries. I might even make the straight skirt, it's just that I love that I can sit/run/walk however I feel like in an a-line, so unless I'm working I can find straight skirts a bit restrictive sometimes.<br />
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And this next pic? There in a very messy green pile on our coffee table is the Burda dress that needs the hem to be finished - it was dumped there rather unceremoniously this morning when I realised it was time for me to get going and I haven't picked it back up - shame on me!!! <br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-45983714413941562462013-01-10T10:31:00.000+10:002013-01-10T20:26:53.773+10:00$3 Patterns & Iceland<br />
<a href="http://patternplus.com.au/" target="_blank">PatternPlus</a> has all patterns at $3 + $1.20 shipping/handling per order (within Australia) - good deal! Naturally, I've ordered some more. (Ages ago I ordered some patterns from PatternPlus (great prices and only a nominal handling fee per order). The patterns came really quickly but two weren't the ones I'd ordered - correct numbers but the pics & company didn't match. As soon as I let them know they got back to me pronto and said that they no longer had what I thought I'd been ordering but would happily send me two others of my choosing and I could keep the incorrect ones or get a refund ....... only a couple of days later and some more patterns arrived (of course I went for more patterns!). I can highly recommend their customer service, mistakes happen to everyone, what makes the difference is how it's handled.)<br />
<br />
I haven't been blogging but I do have a few dresses awaiting hemming, so I have been doing a bit of sewing (see the WIP list on the sidebar -->). I also did make up the V1258 Vena Cava dress in the metallic emerald (and hemmed it!) that I was debating <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/vogue-1258-vena-cava-dress.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<h3>
Some pics from Iceland (Sep 2012?)</h3>
Let me tell you, they don't call it Iceland for nothing. We were there at the end of Summer, one day the high was 3 degrees C, admittedly that was the coldest day but still...<br />
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I did actually wear the bogan pants at least once here but usually I was wearing two layers of thermal longjohns, so yes, I was wearing my underwear as outerwear. Bah! No one knows me in Iceland. <br />
<h4>
Sampling the local fare</h4>
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When I travel one of my top goals is to eat and drink all 'new to me' dishes and drinks - Iceland was no exception.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCco0BqW2hwl3SvW-rNk8xKTLpzl8NQMM4driDjrXUwDk5ibvh3xHr3981REXLN6-alWbnF8_gY8ySNQZwwcfHtHqwDWyYVKSgMk_5tsJD9hx3HCS_DY5uWXg2UdPFlMOqnOrNkEU-ZhI/s1600/webP1000160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCco0BqW2hwl3SvW-rNk8xKTLpzl8NQMM4driDjrXUwDk5ibvh3xHr3981REXLN6-alWbnF8_gY8ySNQZwwcfHtHqwDWyYVKSgMk_5tsJD9hx3HCS_DY5uWXg2UdPFlMOqnOrNkEU-ZhI/s1600/webP1000160.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating some dried fish - tough but tasty. (I also tried the rotten, putrified shark but Tigerboy lost his camera with the pics - it's actually worse than it sounds.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgZrO_7bpiVARhq6WnelQAp7Vl2HNCll3-3ShuPZfv-G8_LzThqQu54rfdN1tVLxRCSzvlZ0a83GkqMHZTZV8mmnYpaZg3I0WCmeXbP4e3Y3lOKazXy51B7xAI9X1y-Zks29pdyKo5_I/s1600/webP1000681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgZrO_7bpiVARhq6WnelQAp7Vl2HNCll3-3ShuPZfv-G8_LzThqQu54rfdN1tVLxRCSzvlZ0a83GkqMHZTZV8mmnYpaZg3I0WCmeXbP4e3Y3lOKazXy51B7xAI9X1y-Zks29pdyKo5_I/s1600/webP1000681.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Viking beer - had to be done!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj177yCuusKMHH36pmDpcL3esIWXFd0Y7tnjhr5X5zzUOK_P6v5MjBpYjjebOICinDR-ldgoOaF1MZGRlsYoYwsJ3nQkOahQmGd5p2R512FVeubexuU1T5O4dJhkJh5arPpRnKeykzOP3E/s1600/webP1000689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj177yCuusKMHH36pmDpcL3esIWXFd0Y7tnjhr5X5zzUOK_P6v5MjBpYjjebOICinDR-ldgoOaF1MZGRlsYoYwsJ3nQkOahQmGd5p2R512FVeubexuU1T5O4dJhkJh5arPpRnKeykzOP3E/s1600/webP1000689.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffin. I had warned Tigerboy (who is crazy about birds) that I'd do this - he assured me that no one ate sea birds. I told him that I'm sure he was making it up and got confirmation that puffins were indeed on the menu. As he had a couple of months to get used to the idea, I'd confirmed that they weren't endangered and he is aware of my need to taste everything, he was fine - in the end he even tried some.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
Snowmobiling on a glacier.</h4>
<br />
Hadn't tried this before - these little gizmos handle a bit differently to my bike (no surprise) but they were lots of fun. The drive to get to the glacier was not as much fun in our non 4WD vehicle but we finally made it there and back in one piece.<br />
<br />
Everyone else was doubled up on the snowmobiles but after I took tigerboy for a whirl on a jetski one time he thought it best that we each had our own (sook!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-JO_GFtlPjG805s9nttzNmhxJDWW4M3riKRmR9MfBqQJO6_1xprYkYe9-vv9iTC5NCSrdp4a7xcv30LlDxeZzxgZkNMK-SYo8A8inN5xe55t7x3l3KvEuYm3dW49OJIAJs81_q67evo/s1600/webP1010381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-JO_GFtlPjG805s9nttzNmhxJDWW4M3riKRmR9MfBqQJO6_1xprYkYe9-vv9iTC5NCSrdp4a7xcv30LlDxeZzxgZkNMK-SYo8A8inN5xe55t7x3l3KvEuYm3dW49OJIAJs81_q67evo/s1600/webP1010381.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowmobiling - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h95l320C-u_O2Oo63JIXXZdeRS9Vyn3OA24XxVVPC5NJ2Q0zi0MlWdLOEEXi5no5ZtahB21vEnIat9N1sO4_eArf8usB9N-NZ-XR8jvD4Rby5tvC5oBtsirn3a_4QZFp-fxAXUIFDp0/s1600/webP1010384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h95l320C-u_O2Oo63JIXXZdeRS9Vyn3OA24XxVVPC5NJ2Q0zi0MlWdLOEEXi5no5ZtahB21vEnIat9N1sO4_eArf8usB9N-NZ-XR8jvD4Rby5tvC5oBtsirn3a_4QZFp-fxAXUIFDp0/s1600/webP1010384.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X2mEK1dD2-vkEyoevObxxzlCJVHOKyvhZOOBRSHDWp8QsJM1BvP7NwxG6hEawh5efRNoxNdUQwSiZMogI4R8u_eEhre2kmo5pZwlwHXuO4g0wcvLziwRfPICeqRwAq_S9GPIKUPhWDM/s1600/webP1000254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X2mEK1dD2-vkEyoevObxxzlCJVHOKyvhZOOBRSHDWp8QsJM1BvP7NwxG6hEawh5efRNoxNdUQwSiZMogI4R8u_eEhre2kmo5pZwlwHXuO4g0wcvLziwRfPICeqRwAq_S9GPIKUPhWDM/s1600/webP1000254.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowmobiling - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Snorkelling between the tectonic plates in Silfra - Iceland</h4>
<br />
Yep, you can actually snorkel between the European and the American continental plates but it's cold! Dry suits only but water still gets in your gloves and of course your face is exposed.<br />
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Very little lives in the water and the visibility is 100m+ but although you are over a deep chasm a lot of the time, you can't see the bottom because it just fades to blue. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1C1hLFiZJ3w1GPbjpWYG-5JAxN3uhAxW7Q4YVU3PjMrdysHER6HLhbw1-FH_c38f9YDHo3P_-xngH8jFDyoSTl05DmYIyK0GaNHE15IiRdfafae5selzhaE0ckIVbJo_zxMkod5DXn4/s1600/webP1010175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1C1hLFiZJ3w1GPbjpWYG-5JAxN3uhAxW7Q4YVU3PjMrdysHER6HLhbw1-FH_c38f9YDHo3P_-xngH8jFDyoSTl05DmYIyK0GaNHE15IiRdfafae5selzhaE0ckIVbJo_zxMkod5DXn4/s1600/webP1010175.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting into the dry suit - makes getting into a wetsuit seem easy peasy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZqL_sLwmoHbhjnKHexuQuwjNSwzCYwfNAyU7-zt9pwXXgRuHDMxf1ce15qoOQwWNKCndeClP0mlLWx1XBAFjUBKhS97m8n7ilrQ6wIRSrPWdNoN-kIK9IScl_yB0gsaw8LxC7GetLRc/s1600/webP1010204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZqL_sLwmoHbhjnKHexuQuwjNSwzCYwfNAyU7-zt9pwXXgRuHDMxf1ce15qoOQwWNKCndeClP0mlLWx1XBAFjUBKhS97m8n7ilrQ6wIRSrPWdNoN-kIK9IScl_yB0gsaw8LxC7GetLRc/s1600/webP1010204.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That would be me (identifiable only due to the camera hanging off my wrist). Silfra - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFnyFTCS8G8zLtU0GYl_Vn61UZK-ztSmHgVEVdpjpPfa4n-74Z6GSais_t04EQSVe7WwcZN3C_jgHG07rEZNYW475gSC0QCeZJcMMPDvjRy1BVfxkP8Soe3OyAJ0aHFIYYn7hE9lSjWU/s1600/webP1000127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFnyFTCS8G8zLtU0GYl_Vn61UZK-ztSmHgVEVdpjpPfa4n-74Z6GSais_t04EQSVe7WwcZN3C_jgHG07rEZNYW475gSC0QCeZJcMMPDvjRy1BVfxkP8Soe3OyAJ0aHFIYYn7hE9lSjWU/s1600/webP1000127.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorkelling, Silfra - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE61YrFsz9t4Tpwpx8Qxce7U2EPYw3SyGkKQyHsEa8oNwQT0BgGhQJAldVh_Ej5YpUpeZ07fhnzssausSV6BUqrS_aGtacinDPmTZjWCiIdcHfJMRmoL5IFKl1jeEmfeqKpbAeHpgsAY/s1600/webP1000128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE61YrFsz9t4Tpwpx8Qxce7U2EPYw3SyGkKQyHsEa8oNwQT0BgGhQJAldVh_Ej5YpUpeZ07fhnzssausSV6BUqrS_aGtacinDPmTZjWCiIdcHfJMRmoL5IFKl1jeEmfeqKpbAeHpgsAY/s1600/webP1000128.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like it could be me taking pics. Snorkelling, Silfra - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBfZh8xM0gTrMFG9b3TDDB7TPJnujCeL5BthjQ-iDJaePVICN2jAMsm6lcPYnJOFKRBcOWc8ZMwsB8Sj5oW4zj_xD8eF7iluK2n1WqiR2Q6eZqs2_Ev0NsfbfeokIuQX5UuloacpY8MY/s1600/webP1010209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBfZh8xM0gTrMFG9b3TDDB7TPJnujCeL5BthjQ-iDJaePVICN2jAMsm6lcPYnJOFKRBcOWc8ZMwsB8Sj5oW4zj_xD8eF7iluK2n1WqiR2Q6eZqs2_Ev0NsfbfeokIuQX5UuloacpY8MY/s1600/webP1010209.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one that we think is me (on the right). Snorkelling, Silfra - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG2pBvmzm2xGuYgzRCyozUmSb7E40dQyBJFVfl4E2fXQNR0vX7EEtIG1ZFVyqPJgsHOMzQFgxPsPcE9XNB0EPgsa9j-k6tfZHpaUF96x12LGEH-fdmglRKM0uWn8TSKnlEC4ok1V6xdw/s1600/webP1010238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG2pBvmzm2xGuYgzRCyozUmSb7E40dQyBJFVfl4E2fXQNR0vX7EEtIG1ZFVyqPJgsHOMzQFgxPsPcE9XNB0EPgsa9j-k6tfZHpaUF96x12LGEH-fdmglRKM0uWn8TSKnlEC4ok1V6xdw/s1600/webP1010238.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally made it - my hands and face were numb. Snorkelling, Silfra - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon</h4>
<br />
This place is used for movies a fair bit. The first day we were there the weather was so bad that at times I couldn't walk against the wind. Thankfully, when we went back a few days later the wind had died down.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZMFc7DOjONWck1t_eWroF2piz0oT1p9uLZoOqlSwTtqTFNLGFG0vG62DJy5kd1lonxUiyfex5vLVigwP6UKf5XOCrvsW9zFIr6GQrEHuuhHSB-BwXB8nhSTHW7-GduUl52HpS-2WNRk/s1600/webP1010457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZMFc7DOjONWck1t_eWroF2piz0oT1p9uLZoOqlSwTtqTFNLGFG0vG62DJy5kd1lonxUiyfex5vLVigwP6UKf5XOCrvsW9zFIr6GQrEHuuhHSB-BwXB8nhSTHW7-GduUl52HpS-2WNRk/s1600/webP1010457.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w2-2Hb_RYtphLEXanKAqQ_169m2hAyn8kcNkuZTO9Aonnz2P64Sd3YTs1d0vJimVsjCrirbo5_-piihsPa0sYSXT9fER1DNnykaBpGYQtR1boiPvvOsmqPklCOYy8VEQM4JLSdOnkJA/s1600/webP1000559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w2-2Hb_RYtphLEXanKAqQ_169m2hAyn8kcNkuZTO9Aonnz2P64Sd3YTs1d0vJimVsjCrirbo5_-piihsPa0sYSXT9fER1DNnykaBpGYQtR1boiPvvOsmqPklCOYy8VEQM4JLSdOnkJA/s1600/webP1000559.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7umNVatSnIKXgHW_4dXEXUU1LwccEIfAkXAoC-kGxUq3DpZU9hSIzBfoFO9qR3Dgse6jQxnJjwX_BPOfZ5vMJ08JN2VXFxlhYyv6XVeB1KdBV1wodcdCcSKeCX-_u4S13ppoBmp_RM5I/s1600/webP1000446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7umNVatSnIKXgHW_4dXEXUU1LwccEIfAkXAoC-kGxUq3DpZU9hSIzBfoFO9qR3Dgse6jQxnJjwX_BPOfZ5vMJ08JN2VXFxlhYyv6XVeB1KdBV1wodcdCcSKeCX-_u4S13ppoBmp_RM5I/s1600/webP1000446.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMsenZUSsqML8ivZ5UxnZ9hqJyka958aW27js9b39iPJVouY0nza5Vjfi8ryM-IruwRGtudDhP4L3xdEsWP9XqGn6qro8v6YfTKvIC_6AVRdSLYUFuKQuTcaPAfvnISPZnphkoXAqC18/s1600/webP1010506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMsenZUSsqML8ivZ5UxnZ9hqJyka958aW27js9b39iPJVouY0nza5Vjfi8ryM-IruwRGtudDhP4L3xdEsWP9XqGn6qro8v6YfTKvIC_6AVRdSLYUFuKQuTcaPAfvnISPZnphkoXAqC18/s1600/webP1010506.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Random shots<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTswWlAVq4L2fspxksjiMHvqAlNB6ARHXJFehCdnGGZ09SS4cqpW5WCWSel96Kafbeiupt7C_iuk1t8yIa5qN9yZL8NMjLUZDsqUEGlYlEi-4uNPFywb946Oh8XTors6zMq1NAOhwSdo/s1600/webP1010424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTswWlAVq4L2fspxksjiMHvqAlNB6ARHXJFehCdnGGZ09SS4cqpW5WCWSel96Kafbeiupt7C_iuk1t8yIa5qN9yZL8NMjLUZDsqUEGlYlEi-4uNPFywb946Oh8XTors6zMq1NAOhwSdo/s1600/webP1010424.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basalt columns near Vik - Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3Tyw5o_9L0Y-Yj-WNNJxi6nc4FjxPp6sRlJvzcv1QpbK9VQ5lnQlFROFYo4RM3V7l9MSAd3uqHOcv-5W1SMxH2j9-fQps9-VcjHFiC462gULyLwGkhglBx4g4xnz73Usqm3eqng0IiU/s1600/webP1000359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3Tyw5o_9L0Y-Yj-WNNJxi6nc4FjxPp6sRlJvzcv1QpbK9VQ5lnQlFROFYo4RM3V7l9MSAd3uqHOcv-5W1SMxH2j9-fQps9-VcjHFiC462gULyLwGkhglBx4g4xnz73Usqm3eqng0IiU/s1600/webP1000359.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vik - Dyrholaey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4X2hXlkItj7lZc_IdroXARuinNEXVgr356tmJdK1ZTVIvR9nSTchOOCL7ndekCiBSfp__noCenGZoCjQje1hLM__vW-QRYShibKoOBO-5yX5L5_tDJgneSUFLfcFGd1-pZXDguxMDPc/s1600/webP1000612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4X2hXlkItj7lZc_IdroXARuinNEXVgr356tmJdK1ZTVIvR9nSTchOOCL7ndekCiBSfp__noCenGZoCjQje1hLM__vW-QRYShibKoOBO-5yX5L5_tDJgneSUFLfcFGd1-pZXDguxMDPc/s1600/webP1000612.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of these rocks covered with inches thick cushy moss, as far as the eye can see - it was the kind of thing you'd expect to see in Lord of the Rings. Iceland.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vik - Dyrholaey</td></tr>
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-45165851013745495522012-10-25T16:13:00.000+10:002012-10-25T16:32:40.830+10:00Burda Style 2011-02 Scoop neck dress 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXMiU811QwLx7Jn4VZ97ZCE5hSfoOOF4UlwYx4qGtMNz00lolWnH4GWGQ8LJO_VACouXvQb4XczqJk4z4zqbWWGD5YKAxbnbMbgaqKKgoLsnsbKdmo3A9VQozLSj6JEJgYl7wW6t7Q9Q/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXMiU811QwLx7Jn4VZ97ZCE5hSfoOOF4UlwYx4qGtMNz00lolWnH4GWGQ8LJO_VACouXvQb4XczqJk4z4zqbWWGD5YKAxbnbMbgaqKKgoLsnsbKdmo3A9VQozLSj6JEJgYl7wW6t7Q9Q/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+line.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ever since I saw this dress, I loved it, this dress is the reason I searched high and low for this particular Burda Style edition. Ok, I wasn't sold on the skirt but I really liked the bodice. When I saw <a href="http://aventurasdecosturas.blogspot.com.es/2012/02/burda-101-022011-vestido-dress.html" target="_blank">Merche's version</a>, I had to give it a go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUVpbxm4h11KRrxa4HNr7Yu4HOpfZwcqLeh0xSYVe4LcuodhT1rEhXVEFFdVd-i9mJc1uh3qEEW230_NUSc1l2Fs5N0aVUMuT1pvJyQtfoxM7ANRnpXXNFWFeWbdDd-2I_B7x1YBf3Yc/s1600/Burda2_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUVpbxm4h11KRrxa4HNr7Yu4HOpfZwcqLeh0xSYVe4LcuodhT1rEhXVEFFdVd-i9mJc1uh3qEEW230_NUSc1l2Fs5N0aVUMuT1pvJyQtfoxM7ANRnpXXNFWFeWbdDd-2I_B7x1YBf3Yc/s1600/Burda2_11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um, that's not me ....... twenty years ago I didn't look like this either but this is the pic they suck you in with to make you think that yes, you too can look gorgeous and carefree if you're wearing a gathered skirt.</td></tr>
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Let me just say that I've had a sneaking suspicion for quite a while now that I'm an overfitter. Yep, that's what I've been suspecting myself of. Well, my first foray into the world of Burda Style magazine patterns has gone a long way to confirming it.<br />
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I used an old sheet to cut out the bodice in a size 38 but gave it an FBA (quite a big FBA too) and oh boy, were there some problems! Still too firm across the bust, a horizontal fold under my shoulder blades, bust darts way too high, too tight in the armholes (just for starters). Evidence (taken in front of a filthy mirror):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yuMWi2GqQzSA5U1XebnPqQdMNuOFKy9a378-PukkRpPV5nDbPBeZ7xOXhBz4LJdSsjfJF_IrO-pKuZFeTBYxeW0FuXDeHwIwg2GvHvKCuod1nSRXaQgvHG3O_7COBjEILfzWPbeOjSo/s1600/MuslinBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yuMWi2GqQzSA5U1XebnPqQdMNuOFKy9a378-PukkRpPV5nDbPBeZ7xOXhBz4LJdSsjfJF_IrO-pKuZFeTBYxeW0FuXDeHwIwg2GvHvKCuod1nSRXaQgvHG3O_7COBjEILfzWPbeOjSo/s1600/MuslinBack.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muslin back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93Ya06Y93777NaDPcVFHkTyvLSkjL5g-297aAHXBrCf7wmPeVxZ5RlDfkiEBYGSYkQZPxqyy4dO2Ze1Z8GgYDHg9MOtaaA0248juV98QxSic0_vxxFjJuSyyeJ_uoEXcTkrv9vOXE03s/s1600/MuslinFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93Ya06Y93777NaDPcVFHkTyvLSkjL5g-297aAHXBrCf7wmPeVxZ5RlDfkiEBYGSYkQZPxqyy4dO2Ze1Z8GgYDHg9MOtaaA0248juV98QxSic0_vxxFjJuSyyeJ_uoEXcTkrv9vOXE03s/s1600/MuslinFront.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muslin front</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV4AanTWcUkCq3aryOkduP_IoP9vk0IlMCFPBamDbJacl1LKaAKMf8yxzMRtfQZZ3fl0F3iJaeVBtnB2DLcXVNYJ4MTkjpRVs5npwrNKaiFR_CbeWhduDTgw0zMZg5jSd-2x1maY7Oko/s1600/MuslinSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV4AanTWcUkCq3aryOkduP_IoP9vk0IlMCFPBamDbJacl1LKaAKMf8yxzMRtfQZZ3fl0F3iJaeVBtnB2DLcXVNYJ4MTkjpRVs5npwrNKaiFR_CbeWhduDTgw0zMZg5jSd-2x1maY7Oko/s1600/MuslinSide.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muslin side</td></tr>
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I tried all kinds of things but really, things were going from bad to worse. Fast forward a couple of months after I've had plenty of sleepless nights (Spain and Korea) to ponder just what was going wrong. One day, I had an epiphany - maybe I should just cut out the next size up (still keeping my dodgy fix for the slightly gaping neckline where, instead of putting the pattern on the fold, I angle it so that the top hangs over the fold by ~5mm and the bottom of the pattern is on the fold). Well, what do you know? It fits ......... perfectly .......... except for the fact that my waist is actually slightly higher than Burda's (short waisted?) and my waist is also a bit smaller than the size 40 waist. Never, has a 'fitted' pattern fitted so well straight up. Never, I tell you, NEVER. After wearing it around the house for several hours and checking every mirror, numerous times, I proceeded to sit down in stunned silence for another few hours and studiously avoid the sewing room because I wasn't game to tempt fate. Could it be that I had stumbled upon the holy grail? A pattern that needs minimal adjustments. OMG!!!!<br />
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It took several days for me to break out of the blissful haze and decide to 'get on with it' - the making of the actual dress. Remember my little experiment with a gathered skirt when I made <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/vogue-8728-knit-dress-x-2.html" target="_blank">Vogue 8728</a>? Well, never say die seems to be my motto. I decided to give it another go (yes, I know, just how much evidence do I need before I admit something isn't working?). This time, I decided I'd go straight to the tucks instead of gathers. Did I really expect it to be good? No - that's why the entire dress is made out of old sheets.<br />
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In the course of making this, I had to give myself a few reality checks when it came to precision and perfection - you are making this out of old bed sheets, it's not going to be worn out, don't fuss, get on with it, it just doesn't really matter! So, I still think the bust darts on the outer bodice are a tad high (lining is fine, apparently I got a bit carried away with the outer piece though) even though looking in the magazine, I think they are meant to end there. The waist is also still a bit big.<br />
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I could not however, leave the first zipper I put in, in - it was all wavy and ripply and stood out from my back in waves (at some stage, I'd decided to have a centre back zipper). I'd never had a zipper do this, so I was at a bit of a loss as to what had gone wrong. Google to the rescue - as the back seam is curved, the fabric there was on the bias (or nearly) and had stretched out. Could it be rescued? Apparently by steam shrinking and reinforcing the seam line with interfacing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0fnJjw4i6rXCc1Zug-3W5R5OxP9GNqBn6L_Zk8kmCan5GvEbRHSwv6zfXAdnQ26mzY-DhAqM8aJmju2Z0_zvSPLol5od31x3iOcP8pR2998f2KBWZ0Nes6q9Rx9mXBySpDxsQ1EB3sY/s1600/Back+seam+stretchage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0fnJjw4i6rXCc1Zug-3W5R5OxP9GNqBn6L_Zk8kmCan5GvEbRHSwv6zfXAdnQ26mzY-DhAqM8aJmju2Z0_zvSPLol5od31x3iOcP8pR2998f2KBWZ0Nes6q9Rx9mXBySpDxsQ1EB3sY/s1600/Back+seam+stretchage.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yes, that back centre seam has stretched all right!</td></tr>
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Well, I gave the steam shrinking a go, it helped although I don't think I did it for long enough to completely fix the problem. I used some fusible stay tape in the sewing line - I have oodles of it and have never used it. I moved the seam an eeency bit (to make up for my lack of steaming patience - muslin, remember?). Back zipper? Much, much better but next time I'll do a side zipper and use the stay tape before I start to sew!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT8WeEtUIYUiJr1pOSCfG8hEcLAkxa6YAFSsUBWWR9l8B0z3MUC25P91LSvNpU9wE3DqRDQERwAy4JO_5dBuWuJvlyCGyZR8MTOS0YSv3ak6eGyfIvufz96cnLtffBc03l4DS46_4rX0/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+wo+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT8WeEtUIYUiJr1pOSCfG8hEcLAkxa6YAFSsUBWWR9l8B0z3MUC25P91LSvNpU9wE3DqRDQERwAy4JO_5dBuWuJvlyCGyZR8MTOS0YSv3ak6eGyfIvufz96cnLtffBc03l4DS46_4rX0/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+wo+belt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without the belt - unfortunately, the waist has stretched out even further, so it's actually a couple of inches too big now. Tiger, use the zillion metres of stay tape that you have!</td></tr>
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I shortened the bodice so that it joined the skirt at my waist, rather than under it. I've wondered if the slightly dropped waist would have made it look less like a toilet doll but it might be time to admit defeat - this type of skirt just isn't for me. You know I'll try it with a belt too, though!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YEYIxzI4rtyWhNTBa1duiajB1vZHyP6kSo0zJUer0a76ePQTI50SKt6ervk_HLW5MNRRy-3ZAAdJJDV2IHONL0MQB4XySbSQo2fvXfzGwZTBusUzjshJkgiytFBbps5PBQpy7Wo7IlQ/s1600/collage-w-red-belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YEYIxzI4rtyWhNTBa1duiajB1vZHyP6kSo0zJUer0a76ePQTI50SKt6ervk_HLW5MNRRy-3ZAAdJJDV2IHONL0MQB4XySbSQo2fvXfzGwZTBusUzjshJkgiytFBbps5PBQpy7Wo7IlQ/s1600/collage-w-red-belt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a red belt - nope, still not feeling it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJgOIJLv3yXmmtDLn5Elv-zG256LaY0vXP00EnqnF40DRjZIpH9nFZd82bvh1D_Zg4J2yEnSAcP1HxNtBMktqUG_8KAF0ps6TJITckkseq9_D3entP_dP_GGo37ZZVNFullKvyMm5m9Q/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+black+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJgOIJLv3yXmmtDLn5Elv-zG256LaY0vXP00EnqnF40DRjZIpH9nFZd82bvh1D_Zg4J2yEnSAcP1HxNtBMktqUG_8KAF0ps6TJITckkseq9_D3entP_dP_GGo37ZZVNFullKvyMm5m9Q/s1600/Burda2011-02+101+black+belt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a wider black belt - nope, time to give up.</td></tr>
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It actually looks slightly better with the black belt if I push the belt down a bit but not enough that I'll try this type of skirt again. (What am I saying, you just know I'll get sucked in again by how good it looks on others and give it another go.)<br />
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So, yes, I'll be making this dress again in 'real' fabric but I'll be adding an A-line skirt (maybe I'll give the half circle skirt a go?) or maybe a straight skirt. I think I'll also raise the neckline just a bit, say 1 or 2cm because at 5'6", there are a lot of people that are taller than me and currently, they can look down and get a fairly good view of my cleavage. I also need to remember to take the waist in.<br />
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And you know, I started thinking - maybe if it was a drapier/lighter fabric the skirt would look better. NO, NO, NO, don't go there tiger! It's not for you! As for tigerboy, he looked sort of perplexed (no doubt wondering why I've tried this type of skirt <i>again</i>) and said rather cautiously "Honey, that type of skirt still looks kind of frumpy." "Yeah, I know, I just thought I'd give it one more go." (I'm sure I saw a look of relief flit across his face.)<br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-4903052643241791022012-10-21T06:25:00.001+10:002012-10-23T07:42:27.465+10:00Vogue 8728 - Knit dress x 2Way back in January I entered the red dress contest at <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/" target="_blank">Sewing Pattern Review</a> with the intention of entering a red version of Vogue 8728. Being uber organised, I actually planned to get the inevitable fit issues out of the way with a muslin made of a couple of metres of a dusty pink, very thin but heavy, very stretchy knit that I have oodles of (another stash mystery, like the pale blue knit that I have 10 000 000 metres of). Oh, and in keeping with my ability to choose knits that wrinkle, this one takes the cake in that department. This dusty pink knit, let's call it the 'nightmare fabric' just never ends, so far I've made three(?) dresses from it and a pair of pyjamas for Mum and I think there's still about 9 000 000 metres left. It's a bad choice for a muslin because nothing is going to look good made out of it and I don't have any other fabric with it's particular irksome properties - so why do I keep doing it to myself?<br />
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Anyway, so that I didn't have two identical dresses, I thought I'd put <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/making-a-line-skirt-pattern-from.html" target="_blank">my a-line skirt</a> on the nightmare muslin and the intended skirt on the final red dress. This dress has a lot of positive reviews and they all look great (that should have been my first hint as to just how much I'd have to alter it to fit me). The first version I saw was <a href="http://sewconvert.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Sew Convert</a>'s version <a href="http://sewconvert.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/the-gather-go-jersey-dress/" target="_blank">here</a>. Loved it, straight on to my (very long) wish list. <br />
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The wearable muslin (which I do actually wear around the house): <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQu1BiUcMOa_-w00ZvdZgGpV6LqRLzSPEcJyZKVJ9UzMnmQP0f1fmEv5Ia0nUB4XXVcJU1tmJnLhh0mldVIO6XC5O5kaMV1TDuD2OIEhqBnGhjgUy3ybw1o9a6yYAXri0dCjczgpRz6o/s1600/V8728PinkCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQu1BiUcMOa_-w00ZvdZgGpV6LqRLzSPEcJyZKVJ9UzMnmQP0f1fmEv5Ia0nUB4XXVcJU1tmJnLhh0mldVIO6XC5O5kaMV1TDuD2OIEhqBnGhjgUy3ybw1o9a6yYAXri0dCjczgpRz6o/s1600/V8728PinkCollage.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 8728 - the unironed, wrinkly muslin. (Looks like I haven't even pulled the back bodice down, or put it on straight, ah well)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's been a (long) while since I made these dresses but I remember that when I glanced through the instructions, I thought that there were a lot of unnecessary steps. As I'm <strike>lazy</strike> efficient, I did what made sense to me:<br />
<ul>
<li>that whole thing about cutting out tear out interfacing and sewing the gathering to the interfacing to get the right length, then tearing it out? No! I just gathered it until it corresponded with length.</li>
<li>attaching the bodice to the waist - folding it over and top stitching? Right sides together and zip around with the overlocker for me. </li>
<li>top stitching around the waist on a knit? Ah, no, I'll skip that thanks.</li>
</ul>
<br />
It's not very obvious from the last pic but I didn't bind the entire neckline - I decided to leave the gathers raw (on purpose) because I liked the look and thought it would be one more thing that set it apart from the red dress. Here's a closer pic:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrhPP9vig34C9v7v0Pqkkjjk0m8rvsF4VO6s_5uwfJt4mt0fA3s2v5cKXcgjVJjfMQZu9Ig6i48fvq9Lv4Zj-Iaff7mw0RJIRyEt-f0E5cr_tmOkMg_m2a-_CvYKJ0lyQaNllEM7gjoQ/s1600/V8728PinkNeckline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrhPP9vig34C9v7v0Pqkkjjk0m8rvsF4VO6s_5uwfJt4mt0fA3s2v5cKXcgjVJjfMQZu9Ig6i48fvq9Lv4Zj-Iaff7mw0RJIRyEt-f0E5cr_tmOkMg_m2a-_CvYKJ0lyQaNllEM7gjoQ/s1600/V8728PinkNeckline.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'raw' gathers at the neckline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To secure the gathers, I just sewed them to a piece of ribbon (more than likely, one of those loops you get inside every top you buy these days to keep it on the hanger).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8qLOb5f75AMt1xZlYFrLTjY2kH6-1CMjAkpCIcVvO3aTq3WKY-39sSDz81qqiVdiFxUqosUE7is3isloZurss-pnIV37RUsTk1A2xkISJmtfpBupLvLBnCeH6e-WFu3yPeJhaFeELjo/s1600/V8728SecuringTheGathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8qLOb5f75AMt1xZlYFrLTjY2kH6-1CMjAkpCIcVvO3aTq3WKY-39sSDz81qqiVdiFxUqosUE7is3isloZurss-pnIV37RUsTk1A2xkISJmtfpBupLvLBnCeH6e-WFu3yPeJhaFeELjo/s1600/V8728SecuringTheGathers.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewing the gathers down on to the ribbon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>The fit issues:</b><br />
I started with a size 12 but the lower bodice was far too big and baggy.<br />
I ended up reducing the lower bodice to less than a size 8.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i2wbDb75SyhdHwJnmRLlynxv4uqbwD6jaMmcIlzozz4hMIsqvcLLt836Md1QpBm2yNN36wo1y3LGFmetQAd_ONWW6DBkp6h2Op93FCSP7TTAhAu95QmzoqVQSNwqUABLwCChS3m6_O8/s1600/V8728LowerBodiceFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i2wbDb75SyhdHwJnmRLlynxv4uqbwD6jaMmcIlzozz4hMIsqvcLLt836Md1QpBm2yNN36wo1y3LGFmetQAd_ONWW6DBkp6h2Op93FCSP7TTAhAu95QmzoqVQSNwqUABLwCChS3m6_O8/s1600/V8728LowerBodiceFront.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - My new lower bodice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can see in the pic above that I lowered the top centre. It would have been better if I'd just taken more from the upper bodice portion but for the purposes of this dress, that was a change that was made after I had overlocked the upper and bottom together and when I saw the sagging of the upper bodice, I just overlocked it again (and probably again) until the bagginess was gone, so I took from the top and the bottom when it would have been better (say, if I was less lazy and liked unpicking) to just take from the top part.<br />
<br />
Of course, then I had to make corresponding changes to the upper bodice:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFgLlwjhvhvfo4L79SCrECq_XaMEbvD3Gtv8g0H2_f2Eu4piqL2JTx2IfsIZuOMBF8w5mAJh-3p2lVnE1L7jThXGyxpxqjA0er57EMy3CdwpCsy4lVAUPHl-GOux20GFsBgcvCNvsl-Y/s1600/V8728BodiceUpperFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFgLlwjhvhvfo4L79SCrECq_XaMEbvD3Gtv8g0H2_f2Eu4piqL2JTx2IfsIZuOMBF8w5mAJh-3p2lVnE1L7jThXGyxpxqjA0er57EMy3CdwpCsy4lVAUPHl-GOux20GFsBgcvCNvsl-Y/s1600/V8728BodiceUpperFront.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 Upper bodice adjustments.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The back is where I had to take out a truck load of fabric (I think I might have a narrow back?)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OInsPaHbkfgwfDCjsy3fJkB6swUeYVxZduHXeiI-8lx3KsZSkfFNO0L7aSs1Uhz_DnviM1-2k_rX06P9s6kMx1W8xXhb3MiNHcceDN1ig7USxwYUFfdxp_QBKODcdd3mZD3EY2xw7rY/s1600/V8728BodiceBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OInsPaHbkfgwfDCjsy3fJkB6swUeYVxZduHXeiI-8lx3KsZSkfFNO0L7aSs1Uhz_DnviM1-2k_rX06P9s6kMx1W8xXhb3MiNHcceDN1ig7USxwYUFfdxp_QBKODcdd3mZD3EY2xw7rY/s1600/V8728BodiceBack.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - Back pattern piece adjustments.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I took the side seams in to just under size 8. Due to gaping at the back neckline, I needed darts there. As the existing darts weren't enough, I had to enlarge them too which resulted in two seams in the back of the dress. (In the red version, I just took approx 2", yes 2 whole inches! out of the centre back by making a new fold line 1" in).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvfAixWGwep0fxNgjFimJ3NgOnnMhWuMh2L08YNjJdp_7woa9CNQT7ojfCfGDFhglVBw1fNSwzQx0PTmCs3WejAsEIP1u4Sy7VzQ6lINk6bDf6Yao_tr0G1E7A-W5YUT0YKZwZSpAJ3M/s1600/BackBodiceSeams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvfAixWGwep0fxNgjFimJ3NgOnnMhWuMh2L08YNjJdp_7woa9CNQT7ojfCfGDFhglVBw1fNSwzQx0PTmCs3WejAsEIP1u4Sy7VzQ6lINk6bDf6Yao_tr0G1E7A-W5YUT0YKZwZSpAJ3M/s1600/BackBodiceSeams.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - Back with two seams (no, those blue dots aren't actually on the fabric - that's just me trying to point out where the seams are) - I could not believe that they actually matched, first time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
No zipper necessary with the nightmare fabric - this would still stretch out to a size 46 if it needed to, it's that stretchy. This version was hemmed with hemming web because my machines do not play nicely with this fabric if there are less than three layers.<br />
<br />
On seeing this dress tigerboy's eyes bugged up and two grabby hands came up "Uh, honey? It really show cases your ........!" I assured him that it was only this particular knit, due to it's thinness.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, on to <b>the red version</b>:<br />
<br />
Now that I'd made all of the fitting changes, I was on easy street, right? Cut it out, sew it up and enter the competition. Well, no, that's not what happened.<br />
<br />
I made it up, with all of the changes (except I forgot to shorten the upper bodice in the centre more and not lower the lower bodice top centre) and the intended skirt:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-XpnFr7zxh66Tx57am0pKTcla-_bLF2RWVaDCaGZyRytN3VRnXiubjmdAC8kOXw-_hH5Ns2iC6pYyOVHG4wTt7G9rMcFn6L3oduODSfNfk5ki8YXG8qHkxgUTQI3k5yxleSJF_T8xHE/s1600/RedVintageVogueWoBelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-XpnFr7zxh66Tx57am0pKTcla-_bLF2RWVaDCaGZyRytN3VRnXiubjmdAC8kOXw-_hH5Ns2iC6pYyOVHG4wTt7G9rMcFn6L3oduODSfNfk5ki8YXG8qHkxgUTQI3k5yxleSJF_T8xHE/s1600/RedVintageVogueWoBelt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - Frump city</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Frumpy, frumpy, frumpy! When I showed tigerboy? Worried look on his face "It's not finished yet is it?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I hadn't made the belt at that point and thought that maybe a belt would help lower the frump factor. To make the belt, I covered some non-roll elastic in the red jersey and used a hook closure with another piece of red jersey to slide over the hook.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgrfFHgAsZlIjHdM-lyewoiFhygAHDupXVOg3PqtD4t2fFo-mHI4Bn0bFBnSXqPjlIGpH8Oehdi7V-kjmZZ2b3C7sWKICG6gs-RNatCxQV0jxAhQaI-urVbDFyb37UqHfB2E7Uw83wPA/s1600/redKnitBelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgrfFHgAsZlIjHdM-lyewoiFhygAHDupXVOg3PqtD4t2fFo-mHI4Bn0bFBnSXqPjlIGpH8Oehdi7V-kjmZZ2b3C7sWKICG6gs-RNatCxQV0jxAhQaI-urVbDFyb37UqHfB2E7Uw83wPA/s640/redKnitBelt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - Red elastic and jersey belt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, how about with the belt?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvswa_e7E7hyP8rUP30a3xqLUZFQ8I2HQPGz50chIz-7OeLQnFp_bp6NjecLHvXH5WjYKAcdp92Vr6B2ns958iNRPHEHRagV-MvLQBdpT6cmNQ4D-75CVPQMkRwmFG88cjNPUmzwzpijs/s1600/RedVintageVogueThBelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvswa_e7E7hyP8rUP30a3xqLUZFQ8I2HQPGz50chIz-7OeLQnFp_bp6NjecLHvXH5WjYKAcdp92Vr6B2ns958iNRPHEHRagV-MvLQBdpT6cmNQ4D-75CVPQMkRwmFG88cjNPUmzwzpijs/s1600/RedVintageVogueThBelt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - With thick belt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No, tiger, you've just made it worse!<br />
<br />
So, maybe the belt needs to be thinner? New belt coming up!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOQnrEZt5ak-GKqjwBtkgA7K5dcRrmQO7ZYl0Rl9dxkf9ufdSG8iiAuN0FDayT68axePvXTh18lQhi2TZKTFGGsgMLpur639oa5DLK2Dgts3KNOIsMLydIa0v637Wy_Gv2ckErxn2I9I/s1600/RedVintageVogueKnit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOQnrEZt5ak-GKqjwBtkgA7K5dcRrmQO7ZYl0Rl9dxkf9ufdSG8iiAuN0FDayT68axePvXTh18lQhi2TZKTFGGsgMLpur639oa5DLK2Dgts3KNOIsMLydIa0v637Wy_Gv2ckErxn2I9I/s640/RedVintageVogueKnit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - with a thin belt - still frumpy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, stuff it, maybe I'm just not used to this silhouette on me - I'll hem it and wear it. Verdict? I felt frumpy all day. The skirt kept ending up between my legs when I was walking and driving me nuts. The belt kept sliding up because the waist on this dress is actually below my waist. Complete fail! Then, to make matters worse, I threw it in the wash (with disgust) and out it comes with the hem all down - hemming web does not like this fabric (likes it enough to stick to one side of the fabric though). Complete, complete fail!<br />
<br />
Skip ahead a few months (well after the competition is over) and I'm sick of seeing this pile of red on my sewing room floor, chair, bench etc. What to do with it? Let's just call it quits, chop off the milk maid skirt (chop, not unpick), cut that down to an A-line, reattach and hem. So, that's what I did:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lsTYh6oeXNg7GsXy5JL9KZk3884mVIG2wscu7RQNgLD1oYpziUM8HVA5DdAAgtmiyCv0AWyasHv4A-3bm03SjSFNhLPIZT_JZR6k_IDg2BY8Jvl-ub8yyhRXdowlS6zRdwLUR3UeZzw/s1600/RedVintageVogueKnit2A-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lsTYh6oeXNg7GsXy5JL9KZk3884mVIG2wscu7RQNgLD1oYpziUM8HVA5DdAAgtmiyCv0AWyasHv4A-3bm03SjSFNhLPIZT_JZR6k_IDg2BY8Jvl-ub8yyhRXdowlS6zRdwLUR3UeZzw/s1600/RedVintageVogueKnit2A-line.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - with A-line skirt. I'm sure the torpedos aren't as prominent in real life, I think that was the way the light was falling on the deck that day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X7RwRRPa45hRpr7PPx-jo7YCoXE3gfl2ciZ_5TKhoBAHekJVKNdB8971PH_dmi8gLxEAWK8kWPXtg7CySTQbiOzQ5l5E8UNQ1iLtf_6LKNqrqkUOslzTjdsUPq-79tJMsOwMEwtXr1w/s1600/RedVintageVogueKnitBA-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X7RwRRPa45hRpr7PPx-jo7YCoXE3gfl2ciZ_5TKhoBAHekJVKNdB8971PH_dmi8gLxEAWK8kWPXtg7CySTQbiOzQ5l5E8UNQ1iLtf_6LKNqrqkUOslzTjdsUPq-79tJMsOwMEwtXr1w/s1600/RedVintageVogueKnitBA-line.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V8728 - doing my "did it take the photo yet?" twist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Still looks like I should be serving steins at Oktoberfest but at least it no longer looks as though I just came from the milking sheds as well. <br />
<br />
The problem here (one of them, anyway) is that I should have made that top bodice piece wider (for more gathers) and deeper, so that I did still end up with gathers over the bust, instead of big blank spaces where I've filled them up - live and learn. <br />
<br />
I have a sneaking suspicion that the gathered skirt is not for me. I've read a lot of tips that say to do little tucks instead (and I now remember that I did try that for the red version before I resorted to the A-line - it still looked awful) which is what I'm going to try for the burda dress I'm currently making but so far, it's not thrilling me either.<br />
<br />
Who likes the dirndl/gathered skirt look? If you don't, what do you do instead?tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-19122490467303633142012-10-17T05:52:00.000+10:002012-10-25T18:16:15.764+10:00Vogue 1258 - Vena Cava DressNB: I wrote this entire post in June but never got around to taking the 'after' pic. I finally have the 'after' pic, so I'm just gonna post it holus bolus. <br />
<br />
<br />
I 'finished' this dress late last year but there were certain things that I knew had to be fixed if I ever intended to wear it. After much <strike>stalking </strike>research, I finally determined that maybe a size 12 (even though Vogue thinks I should take a much bigger size) would do the job and set about making a muslin from the bazillion yards of this pale blue knit that I have. Why do I have all of this pale blue knit? I don't wear pale colours and don't particularly like them on me - it is yet another of my stash mysteries. Anyway, clearly I wasn't going to throw too much of a tantrum if I managed to stuff it up completely. The thing with this knit? It's very stretchy, quite soft but thick and heavy at the same time, I also seem to have a knack for choosing knits that wrinkle more than some linens I have - what a handy characteristic to have in a knit (no, really, it isn't!). Ever tried ironing this dress? NOT FUN.<br />
<br />
Without further ado, here is what I ended up with.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJhi1Nb87E0wYv3wMDF2JoDl3_jY4gjA8AZEc0VArkX919vC7ibCGP0iHhI4s-Xo8AlcO7pixu5nmD2BY_hd8HU1pMNau2f6IFz4TxomPozRJB6yetnhpflXZsuxz-E6XCMStavRRaF8/s1600/Vogue1258PaleBlueFirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJhi1Nb87E0wYv3wMDF2JoDl3_jY4gjA8AZEc0VArkX919vC7ibCGP0iHhI4s-Xo8AlcO7pixu5nmD2BY_hd8HU1pMNau2f6IFz4TxomPozRJB6yetnhpflXZsuxz-E6XCMStavRRaF8/s640/Vogue1258PaleBlueFirst.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1258 Vena Cava - Before (sad & droopy)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Obviously I didn't add the proposed extension to the tie, I also raised that neckline.<br />
<br />
The sheer weight of this dress at the front where all of the gathers come together was an tear/rip waiting to happen, I ended up hand stitching (and stitching and stitching) the hole closed so that it was more secure. It will now be the absolute last thing to give way on this garment - those securing stitches probably added another half a kilo to the weight of the dress.<br />
<br />
See those stupid sleeve extensions? I've folded one under because clearly the intended way looks daft. (Didn't bother with all of the top stitching lines - I had a feeling it would be wasted time.) The instructions for that part were convoluted but I went against the grain and followed them for one of the extension - hmmmm, I ended up with a raw edge. Well, Vogue, you're not getting me again, I'll muddle through with the way<i> I </i>think it should be done on the next one.<br />
<br />
Nice wrinkling on the back there.<br />
<br />
Now, as much as I love the pockets idea, they weren't working, they sagged down and puffed things out just at the right place to emphasise the saddle bags - strangely enough that's not a feature I've been looking for in a garment.<br />
<br />
My Mother's take on it? "Well, it certainly brings attention to your rear and <i>we</i> don't really have the type of rear that should have attention brought to it." Mum always likes to point out that we have the same body shape - "<i>Our</i> arms are too fat to wear sleeveless garments." (This, at a time when I went to the gym regularly and had quite defined arms.) "<i>We</i> have short fat necks and can't wear raised necklines or dangly earrings." (I love turtlenecks and wore large hoop earrings for years - without them resting on my shoulders.) The list goes on .............. I learned a long time ago to disregard most of it - this is one of the functions of mothers isn't it, to toughen you up towards criticism and teach you to sort the wheat from the chaff. In this instance though, I can't say that I find this rear view flattering - maybe if it wasn't a light colour? Not sure.<br />
<br />
The back skirt looks kind of tight but actually it's not even stretched - odd, I think that effect is caused by the weight of the fabric. <br />
<br />
The entire front looks kind of like it's drooping too.<br />
<br />
This dress is also a magnet for pinchy fingers on the tush if tigerboy is around - he says it makes my bum look soooo good - I choose to leave him to his delusions. Of course in his mind this solidifies the fact that this dress should remain a
house dress only (only when he's not in the house, if I want to have
bruise free buttocks!). <br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, clearly it needed to languish in the sewing room for half a year soaking up more creases before I could determine once and for all whether it would be worth making it out of a fabric that was more 'me' than uber wrinkly, thick, heavy, baby blue cotton knit.<br />
<br />
So, here we are six months later and I've added a WIP list to the blog sidebar which is kind of long and I realise that something has to be done about it. Let the fun begin!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNeI92-eokC0GUdxPxLVvtcnbsDb_Ksz1FfJaz5c8ZMBUsUJ5_vJoA83pfvtx6CKEkoYiQ6Nn7TJQ12FmafRcR9GbOH9IwaP7C6oZc8I0-Vedd7H2Mff92sQai9zB6YPXF_9fab-7th8/s1600/VenaCavaAfterAllViews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNeI92-eokC0GUdxPxLVvtcnbsDb_Ksz1FfJaz5c8ZMBUsUJ5_vJoA83pfvtx6CKEkoYiQ6Nn7TJQ12FmafRcR9GbOH9IwaP7C6oZc8I0-Vedd7H2Mff92sQai9zB6YPXF_9fab-7th8/s1600/VenaCavaAfterAllViews.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1258 Vena Cava - After</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
I got rid of some of the sway back wrinkling by increasing the sa on the top back piece in the centre and graduating down to normal at the sides.<br />
<br />
I turned those silly sleeve extensions under and sewed them down. Yes, I should have cut them off etc. but this fabric is so smooshy that the stitches sink in and unpicking was just too difficult. Quick and dirty was the answer (this dress won't be seen in public anyway, it's more of a proof of concept).<br />
<br />
Removed the pockets and while I was at it stole some of the front skirt fabric to put more into the sa's and alleviate some of that drooping.<br />
<br />
Raised the centre front to try to get rid of yet more drooping.<br />
<br />
The hem seems to be going up at the back - that would need to be fixed. <br />
<br />
It looks better, but as yet I'm not convinced of it's actual wearability, even in a darker or patterned fabric. Another six months and I might come up with a conclusion.<br />
<br />
EDIT: (Current time) Now that I see the after pics, it looks much better, so I'm thinking maybe a bigger size for the back skirt and a smaller size for the front portion? Will it work? Maybe in this fabric?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnyuZJo_5noTikzW_wOGufixqd5r6xfiEfSQh8cDIDPLjRdki5kU9dyyPRqhmMZBMiftuOqzqdqSQPwscojDZz8sya9CBZjgQhCO15FGLOkdgi7vTbWOK8MJZHKaQ-v3bCAILux0HMIg/s1600/Green-BlueGlitterKnit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnyuZJo_5noTikzW_wOGufixqd5r6xfiEfSQh8cDIDPLjRdki5kU9dyyPRqhmMZBMiftuOqzqdqSQPwscojDZz8sya9CBZjgQhCO15FGLOkdgi7vTbWOK8MJZHKaQ-v3bCAILux0HMIg/s1600/Green-BlueGlitterKnit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, I'm mid 40's, I should have some bling going on right?</td></tr>
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-12832958196850484692012-10-15T11:31:00.000+10:002012-10-25T12:32:00.920+10:00Egyptian PJ's for MumPoor Mum, she's currently recovering from knee surgery (reconstruction? Difficult to know - she's so squeemish, she doesn't let the doctor's tell her about it, ergo, unless one of us goes with her, we don't know either.) Anyway, she loved the PJ's I made her on one of her trips here and wanted more. Me being an incredibly kind and considerate daughter, scoured the web for some fabric that screamed 'MUM' and finally found this egyptian print cotton knit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVr_Q9x4gHqxtOcMGZcucAp0sCXZm2z60IZxQKQkK3JERebEmw7xDqqQ_3f4dvTHnorOw5wqW1suIAcHFeyON7xma_dAm5GNivRZMZUGtDkZQ_-fZL8r-_nhmt4ATW9oLJFySlVAb9A/s1600/EgyptianPJFabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVr_Q9x4gHqxtOcMGZcucAp0sCXZm2z60IZxQKQkK3JERebEmw7xDqqQ_3f4dvTHnorOw5wqW1suIAcHFeyON7xma_dAm5GNivRZMZUGtDkZQ_-fZL8r-_nhmt4ATW9oLJFySlVAb9A/s1600/EgyptianPJFabric.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tried and tried to line this fabric up but in the end I had to settle for close enough because naturally, the print wasn't straight!</td></tr>
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I wasn't keen on the black cat but apart from that it was perfect for her as she's been fascinated with all things egyptian ever since I can remember. I showed her this fabric first, thinking that the black cat might put her off - she loved it and was so excited when I told her I actually bought it from the US, specifically for her (in fact, she told me to hide it, otherwise my nieces would want clothes made out of it - sneaky Mum!!). I think this is actually something to do with the Luxor Casino in Vegas (judging by the writing on it) but she didn't care.<br />
<br />
So, as she's a bit down after the surgery (constant pain can do that to you), I thought I'd better whip her up a pair of PJ's from it before it got lost in my stash. After much searching, I finally found the pattern I'd made last time (copying her worn out rtw pj's). Even better, I'd even left notes to myself about lengthening the legs, adding 1.5" to the bottom front, length of elastic needed etc. (awesome tiger, you were on the ball). Unfortunately, I couldn't remember whether I'd made those adjustments last time when I cut and made them or they were notes for future renditions (face palm - not so on the ball at all!). Don't you just hate it when you do something so stupid? Gah! I added the length to the front and some to the legs but I have a feeling that they should be longer. There's still a lot of fabric left, so if I find out that I still need to make more adjustments, I can make another pair. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHlLvgCx7j96WrxygzsZuryz2A8MyjCVoW7GcIUwUnM-Rm3OUJKrm63l2aA5Jo3dEVE8GjvTm6-tYziI0eo5bHLzuYWowBzxk602o-if7oVyXVcmrzLFMm4x2nR15Q0h7O6mW-pEW4C8/s1600/EgyptianPJSet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHlLvgCx7j96WrxygzsZuryz2A8MyjCVoW7GcIUwUnM-Rm3OUJKrm63l2aA5Jo3dEVE8GjvTm6-tYziI0eo5bHLzuYWowBzxk602o-if7oVyXVcmrzLFMm4x2nR15Q0h7O6mW-pEW4C8/s1600/EgyptianPJSet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good old floor pic. I know it looks like one side is smaller than the other but it's because I took the photo at an angle and I'm too lazy to take another one.</td></tr>
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All of the seams were done on the overlocker which is playing up for me ever since I forced it over a zipper (yes, I know, what a numbskull!). And another little bonus - my overlocker needle actually put a hole in
the fabric in the crotch, a couple of hand stitches fixed that
(hopefully). Twin needle around the hem of the shorts and top. I had another go at knit binding for the armholes and neckline but the overlocked part has a tendency to want to flip up around the curves, it can't be seen from the right side but it still bugs me. I was considering twin needling the overlocked part of the binding down but decided that as I don't even know if I've made the right adjustments, I wouldn't waste any more time (these took me way longer than they should have - I was a bit under the weather that day).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eclgZxIqqBrnY4mRnuVCxqPxnahgYvfT5qB4ExOlFV26gob5jrrQiN3PO2t2IJ4PCYiR6ji3f40MvDxkJrktm9jpw19klw3oKddcxkLYnUE17RJhk7HpT42Pyb_NDRZh_J24EPI_IWM/s1600/EgyptianPJTopBinding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eclgZxIqqBrnY4mRnuVCxqPxnahgYvfT5qB4ExOlFV26gob5jrrQiN3PO2t2IJ4PCYiR6ji3f40MvDxkJrktm9jpw19klw3oKddcxkLYnUE17RJhk7HpT42Pyb_NDRZh_J24EPI_IWM/s1600/EgyptianPJTopBinding.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at that awesome binding ;) I think the shoulders might be a bit on the narrow side too. Ah well, they're pj's, not a haute couture ball gown.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I have soooo much of this stuff, I thought I'd make her another top.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEAzOKNVBF4Gji0WNhJvRYA5Ys_mlOmrPlUDeSz6SUXYGwgIQ3tEQFeT_kyrpMu30fYTjslC4_adAPFN9gPDarBwtFNy0VeQ-zpDoH8he9bH6kWxYLqcp2W-gNjetGiunlZbe7SP1lT0/s1600/EgyptianPJTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEAzOKNVBF4Gji0WNhJvRYA5Ys_mlOmrPlUDeSz6SUXYGwgIQ3tEQFeT_kyrpMu30fYTjslC4_adAPFN9gPDarBwtFNy0VeQ-zpDoH8he9bH6kWxYLqcp2W-gNjetGiunlZbe7SP1lT0/s1600/EgyptianPJTop.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I copied this pattern from a top a friend made her years ago. As you can see, my overlocker decided to stretch out the fabric and give this delightful fluted look on the hem and shoulder seams - NOT what I was going for (I always tell myself I'm going to stabilise shoulders seams next time but I still haven't done it once!). The neckline also looks kind of small - what was going on when I copied that pattern? As I didn't have the original shirt or the body it was meant to go on, I thought I'd just make it as is and we'll see. For the hem I decided to try one of the stretch stitches on my sewing machine - never again! After many experiments, I finally settled on one but it took forever and didn't even look that good. What with all the machine and brain malfunctions I was quickly getting over this project so for the neck and arms, I just turned them over and twin needled them.<br />
<br />
Of course, I'd managed to get chalk marks all over the fabric, so into the wash. Can you believe it? My Chaco liner is still showing on the top centre of the singlet top - it didn't come out in the wash! Usually, by the time I've mucked the fabric around sewing, it's worn off itself, this time it decided to stick ......... fabulous.<br />
<br />
So, now I've reminded myself that I need to mark on the patterns the adjustments I did and didn't make for this egyptian set so that I'm not in the same position next time. <br />
<br />
Tigerboy is on to me about putting the 'Handmade' labels I picked up in Korea in them but I realised that the pale linen ones probably need to be preshrunk first and I want these packaged up and out of the house! (I'll be posting about the couple of things I picked up in Korea soon) <br />
<br />
Does anyone add labels to the clothes they make?<br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-30879492070762751552012-10-11T16:31:00.000+10:002012-10-11T16:31:00.410+10:00Colours, Stash building & Long Weekend away in Adelaide & surroundsI think I've mentioned before that tigerboy seems to think it's mandatory to get out of Brisbane if there's a long weekend. We have quite a few long weekends in the first half of the year, so he's generally stressing himself and me over where to go - God forbid we should stay at home. Now, I like to travel as much as the next person (which would be why I've done quite a bit) but sometimes the stress he creates surrounding a long weekend makes me wish we didn't have a public holiday coming up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-I8wQmWCSAZ4_FQ7rtzvDw15UruU8ZANlZJ1Ba-Zyj0BponKrdaf9OUbOPA7dbSk3UoYdXLyHDw97QEbpf4VzSrmWMC0PzMvV4HZkVmqdL-3E_mhsAqccaeGIEM_Ii0l3qb-S008svrU/s1600/Riding+a+Panda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-I8wQmWCSAZ4_FQ7rtzvDw15UruU8ZANlZJ1Ba-Zyj0BponKrdaf9OUbOPA7dbSk3UoYdXLyHDw97QEbpf4VzSrmWMC0PzMvV4HZkVmqdL-3E_mhsAqccaeGIEM_Ii0l3qb-S008svrU/s1600/Riding+a+Panda.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to ride a panda at the Adelaide Zoo - it was near the enclosure for the real ones, so good enough.</td></tr>
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<br />
Well, back in June? the decision was finally made to go to Adelaide and stay with my Aunt who I hadn't seen for ages and he hadn't met. She also used to be quite the sewer and has a formiddable stash - not that that had any bearing on me deciding on Adelaide ;) . Normally I'd only take carry on for a trip lasting 2 weeks or less but she informed me that I had to bring at least one bag to check in because she was counting on me to clean out some of her stash, naturally, I'm a considerate niece and I obliged.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for me, my Aunt does not wear the same colour palette I wear and loves shiny fabric. I did mention to her that she could have kept me and my future tastes in mind while purchasing fabrics decades ago, you know, if she really loved me. She admitted that it was shameful negligence on her part. It seems that she also got rid of all her vintage patterns eons ago and what she has left are mainly 80's styles (as I came of age in the mid 80's, it's not something I like to revisit). I did however manage to get a stack of fabric, some notions (dang it, I forgot to take her bias binding!), and some patterns - yes, I used that checked bag!<br />
<br />
Speaking of colours, <a href="http://poppykettle.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">PoppyKettle</a> did a <a href="http://poppykettle.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/having-my-colours-done.html" target="_blank">post on having her colours done</a> and I wrote an essay in reply - I'll just repost that essay here:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>My aunt was a big follower of the whole "having your colours done", my
mother however was completely opposed to it. I've never really known
which colours did or didn't suit me (or anyone else for that matter) but
I've always wondered if there was a magical set of colours for me. Over
the years I've found that there are colours I avoid (yellows, beiges,
greys and pastels) and colours I always gravitate towards (black,
occasionally bright but dark colours and more recently red) but as for
shades? No clue. I was really just going with colours I liked and had no
idea whether they suited me or not. Oh, I like purple too - I think it
makes my eyes look bluer. To make things trickier, my hair has been
every shade between platinum blonde to fire engine red, including deep,
dark auburn - surely that's got to make a difference as well. <br /><br />I
don't think I have an 'eye' for these things. Recently I went to said
aunt's place and while going through her stash (to pilfer fabric) this
topic came up so I asked her to "do my colours" as she was the expert
(anyone is compared to me). After much draping with fabrics she
concluded that she thought my instincts had been fairly correct and that
yellows looked awful on me, pastels looked wishy washy and although
black looked pretty good, red and deep orange were better. One thing she
said was that if you wear something and everyone says how fabulous you
look in it, that's probably a great colour for you (which is why I
pounced on red a couple of years ago, a particular red dress I have
never fails to get lots of compliments - thinking I was on to something,
I asked tigerboy about it "I think red dresses just stand out." was the
reply, not helpful, apparently we're both useless in this area). But
those compliments are going to depend on the style of the garment too,
aren't they? <br /><br />I've known women who slavishly followed the colour
swatches they had and in one case in particular, I thought she always
looked washed out and dreary - I'm sure that's just my particular
preferences interfering, so maybe it depends on the "eye" of the person
that does them and their particular preferences? Upshot - I'm still
clueless and likely to be wearing all the wrong colours now that I'm
actually injecting something other than black into the wardrobe. Maybe
all those years of wearing black, black and more black have made me even
less clued in to this concept and I'll improve - for crying out loud,
if anyone ever sees a pic of me in a colour that either does or doesn't
suit me, please give me the heads up, I need all the help I can get!</i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9i_wz0-t0VnC56PUs_uoWoEs6c-Im4cX64BB0oCNCzOagIWkRtXPsAqQTlE759RelZiq1YOEGafwF4RQE2fRmxYegpZAfoWHGSPOgWu0iKIOMReh98gimErJ-u54_fGjI1imhyDSHzQ/s1600/panda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9i_wz0-t0VnC56PUs_uoWoEs6c-Im4cX64BB0oCNCzOagIWkRtXPsAqQTlE759RelZiq1YOEGafwF4RQE2fRmxYegpZAfoWHGSPOgWu0iKIOMReh98gimErJ-u54_fGjI1imhyDSHzQ/s1600/panda.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adelaide Zoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hahndorf</span></b><br />
<br />
We went to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills where I bought more patterns and such from an op shop. I also picked up this nifty thing - apparently, it's for communion glasses but it's very close to a scissor holder that someone on pattern review got her husband to make (I promptly ordered one from tigerboy), the only difference is, hers didn't have holes at the bottom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxum6_Yu4OptiXs90GkSFfp3WLMnVi3tFRfjIlwi7J-aadUwHa8VzYytjUikKQzxVj0L73RExJyRi2uHt05HsGsrrMbFI_wUyWHzWQsqzLKABGezqo8SiAGH2XemjX5QZiLLX61dznuqQ/s1600/P1010361sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxum6_Yu4OptiXs90GkSFfp3WLMnVi3tFRfjIlwi7J-aadUwHa8VzYytjUikKQzxVj0L73RExJyRi2uHt05HsGsrrMbFI_wUyWHzWQsqzLKABGezqo8SiAGH2XemjX5QZiLLX61dznuqQ/s1600/P1010361sml.jpg" /></a></div>
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I couldn't resist the chocolatiers in Hahndorf either - the mocha I had from one was so rich that later that day tigerboy asked if I wanted to visit a chocolate factory - "I never thought I'd say this in my entire life but I think I'm still chocolated out!!". I bought a dark chocolate with chinese five spice (a combination I hadn't tried before) - amazing! If you get the chance, try it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkceEOrKMv7DS7GIKVd1ESCpatNrxZNShywVLWoxpk1i0uYguEIjxDZqBJxVBf-HwN4H3dkswsSIsZb8m02KyIJcmk_6WTbgLwYa7OpwKX9c4HXx-L9uQ9aglU21pc7ms2u4i3a9MIDc/s1600/Getting+some+petit+fours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="611" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkceEOrKMv7DS7GIKVd1ESCpatNrxZNShywVLWoxpk1i0uYguEIjxDZqBJxVBf-HwN4H3dkswsSIsZb8m02KyIJcmk_6WTbgLwYa7OpwKX9c4HXx-L9uQ9aglU21pc7ms2u4i3a9MIDc/s640/Getting+some+petit+fours.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting some petit fours for dessert.</td></tr>
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Apparently, Hahndorf is normally packed with tourists but we were lucky, there were hardly any people around - maybe because we went on a weekday?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gorge Wildlife Park</span></b><br />
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We also went to <a href="http://www.adelaidehills.org.au/attractions/gorge-wildlife-park" target="_blank">Gorge Wildlife Park</a> which was fantastic - I'd highly recommend it if you're in the area. We could have easily spent the whole day there, the place is huge with so much to see. They also have free koala holding where you can cuddle with the koala for ages and take as many pics as you want - at most places these days that would cost you more than the $15 entrance fee, actually, I think that at a lot of places these days you don't even get to hold the koala, just pat it while someone else holds it. Major bonus, there wasn't a two mile long queue, booking or any of that palava, just turn up, wait a couple of minutes and cuddle with the koala while it eats eucalyptus leaves (their breath smells nice).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxfNqvNlXqjkBD-aLJIsfV4YETJCTrcwHGwJYmHMos7AKqaAeRl9w0l9a2pZmCcvf9qQw-9_0AT1gNWJiEeGcrr7FJnlWghEumqY5F4QawRLWxar1SQamB9Syp98cGCTROP1i5fofMQQ/s1600/Koala+cuddling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxfNqvNlXqjkBD-aLJIsfV4YETJCTrcwHGwJYmHMos7AKqaAeRl9w0l9a2pZmCcvf9qQw-9_0AT1gNWJiEeGcrr7FJnlWghEumqY5F4QawRLWxar1SQamB9Syp98cGCTROP1i5fofMQQ/s1600/Koala+cuddling.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuddling with a koala at Gorge Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdke09X4QpSGjDFPg756JzKlme9VA01ybws1dsLcaNJqqy9gZCyX6VGXqg_D3YFhe50XIlDeTodrrWLSIVw0pKc3kx7W1AYVscjnlyaS9c66hKJmFww6nvq5IvDjpRH-AKbn7K2LDxuw/s1600/riding+a+hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdke09X4QpSGjDFPg756JzKlme9VA01ybws1dsLcaNJqqy9gZCyX6VGXqg_D3YFhe50XIlDeTodrrWLSIVw0pKc3kx7W1AYVscjnlyaS9c66hKJmFww6nvq5IvDjpRH-AKbn7K2LDxuw/s1600/riding+a+hippo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can ride a hippo there too, a blue one, no less! (I'd say blue hippos are fairly rare)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMDRPnDb9OSFqUNOeulHdbDOTy80oyvF2vzZ2AfzXB7Qc8j4ljTc3vKdTlhQmGv9Z70GiU61EGKGaLOCKfx2j83nb-jRzska-rjgFNQOwC7Hqj15fKWxyuRe4hXYlaS3jXU_q6YaeJq4/s1600/Playing+with+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMDRPnDb9OSFqUNOeulHdbDOTy80oyvF2vzZ2AfzXB7Qc8j4ljTc3vKdTlhQmGv9Z70GiU61EGKGaLOCKfx2j83nb-jRzska-rjgFNQOwC7Hqj15fKWxyuRe4hXYlaS3jXU_q6YaeJq4/s1600/Playing+with+kids.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with kids - one of them thought my jeans bag was very tasty, and tigerboy started to panic when another one started eating my hair (probably wouldn't have been any worse than some hairdressers I've had!)</td></tr>
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The park had a lot of albino animals - kangaroos, wombats, peacocks and probably others that I've forgotten. You can see a lot more albino roos in the background of this shot of me with a mother and her joey.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR6iy1UAsr0GCmff08X2S6vxO3u0DG2_4qExXK1Ijmi8scgYjYNuS_hXwA3up4bu9DpLL99iQzcsN69_d33_ir0CGI0oCSzvtAjrbedb9TZEdW7vqhVGpd4A9KS8kh6sJi7HhO7luRQE/s1600/KangarooWithJoey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR6iy1UAsr0GCmff08X2S6vxO3u0DG2_4qExXK1Ijmi8scgYjYNuS_hXwA3up4bu9DpLL99iQzcsN69_d33_ir0CGI0oCSzvtAjrbedb9TZEdW7vqhVGpd4A9KS8kh6sJi7HhO7luRQE/s1600/KangarooWithJoey.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the joey in her pouch?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mnAYz7yQxoz20S9TeL255j3e9dbAZ-914ktjoOCrJ6cbH-Q2gSAWinKRsvAyHIY2CzRB8UzZTWWifZSLmO28AUNdqHs3gRdUydNHYfCTE-X_KBJgy33IFwWQU_Xw3tJF-DowqfG0290/s1600/strange+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mnAYz7yQxoz20S9TeL255j3e9dbAZ-914ktjoOCrJ6cbH-Q2gSAWinKRsvAyHIY2CzRB8UzZTWWifZSLmO28AUNdqHs3gRdUydNHYfCTE-X_KBJgy33IFwWQU_Xw3tJF-DowqfG0290/s1600/strange+bird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had some strange birds too - this one is looking straight at the camera, rather a limited field of view.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrIF_S9LlJGzZDIga1tWkvtT5dw3AQPCvKvZFFWCbANisl9u43VI93gA8stEgzgT7lI2IPBfI6qnNpl0D-gN8sCwfTg8TsjKBs2Lz6-F-C0PeVLD8POm_rgVz4bv0ZvszISFN9R-i53M/s1600/strange+bird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrIF_S9LlJGzZDIga1tWkvtT5dw3AQPCvKvZFFWCbANisl9u43VI93gA8stEgzgT7lI2IPBfI6qnNpl0D-gN8sCwfTg8TsjKBs2Lz6-F-C0PeVLD8POm_rgVz4bv0ZvszISFN9R-i53M/s1600/strange+bird2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pigeon? with a perm?</td></tr>
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I think I've been successful in either doing something crafty or picking up some crafting supplies on each of our long weekends - aren't I a lucky duck!<br />
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Don't you know it but the day after we came back from Korea, tigerboy started hassling me about where we'll go for Christmas if his workplace is going to shut over that period. It can't be somewhere that closes for Christmas (to hard to do things if everywhere is shut), and it needs to be close (we'll probably only have about a week), so soon I have to start looking into that.<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-84313937672706021002012-10-09T07:52:00.001+10:002012-10-25T12:31:30.651+10:00Cheap patterns for Aussies and crafty business at Incheon International AirportFirst, the important stuff - thanks to another <a href="http://theperfectnose.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a> I discovered the site <a href="http://patternplus.com.au/" target="_blank">Pattern Plus</a> where they have Butterick, Burda, New Look, Vogue and McCalls patterns on sale for $4 each ($3 for McCalls) with free shipping for Australian addresses. Of course the 10 million unused patterns I already own aren't enough, so I had to order more. For any North Americans that happen to read this, you're probably thinking "What's the big deal? That's not that cheap." Well, considering our next cheapest option is to wait for Sewing Patterns.com or Vogue.com to have a sale and pay inflated international shipping , this is a whole lot cheaper than buying at Spotlight. Of course, Spotlight has pattern sales every time hell freezes over too but you're sure to find that the pattern you want is one of the many they don't have and then of course there's the whole driving, parking, waiting an interminable amount of time at the checkout ...... you get my drift. Any way, I've ordered but haven't received them yet, so I can't comment on the service but <a href="http://theperfectnose.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/pattern-palooza/" target="_blank">The Perfect Nose</a> had a good experience.<br />
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Next up - If you happen to be passing through Incheon International Airport and have some spare time on your hands, check out the culture centres (there are two I think) in the airport near the gates. You can try your hand at two traditional Korean crafts for free. I went with the painting of the wooden block and took it to England to give to tigerboy's parents. Of course, I left it on the plane and had to go back into the terminal to ask someone to retrieve it for me - can you believe that someone didn't see it and think "OMG, that is so exquisite, I'm taking it home to display it prominently in my living room.", turns out the people checking the plane did not covet my priceless piece ......... what a mystery!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5w_258JNnM_FqNEz5vSKeso0cRIU-EzNF8m6xV8QEDq9rW2y-GLGs47wsUmE3oREbP1oOzyXTGM5bDzgDFRDTQGpuCKhEDsidvLFu53q0flGHIuw3uj4f33xgnN5FwXUhRPR2hyphenhyphen_sFs/s1600/P1000010web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5w_258JNnM_FqNEz5vSKeso0cRIU-EzNF8m6xV8QEDq9rW2y-GLGs47wsUmE3oREbP1oOzyXTGM5bDzgDFRDTQGpuCKhEDsidvLFu53q0flGHIuw3uj4f33xgnN5FwXUhRPR2hyphenhyphen_sFs/s1600/P1000010web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, I wasn't as adventurous with my tiger colour scheme as the woman beside me. I also didn't have to draw anything (or else it would be unrecognisable), just colour it in.</td></tr>
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-24950431263898556232012-10-04T12:51:00.001+10:002012-10-09T16:34:51.927+10:00Back from hobnobbing with world leadersYes, I'm back, holiday over, no more eating puffin or rotten fermented shark, no more sangria with tapas, no more picking wild blackberries while roaming the woods and no more hanging out with the President and First Lady of Korea ................ guess I'll have to start sewing.<br />
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And just to prove that I did hang out with the President and First Lady:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmrXw-UpPawdEV4aCLav2SejxmKO6wmT0Rm7WCQ-a1T0SQwV48z6Pzba6bfXtBYu1i56FiqLpIvqazHkMgmiOkPEZiyqA_V8aGufyAAlMFUSRlics2FUiGK1R5ZyJNLmxEOcdPftgEDQ/s1600/SKorea_postcardCROPPED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmrXw-UpPawdEV4aCLav2SejxmKO6wmT0Rm7WCQ-a1T0SQwV48z6Pzba6bfXtBYu1i56FiqLpIvqazHkMgmiOkPEZiyqA_V8aGufyAAlMFUSRlics2FUiGK1R5ZyJNLmxEOcdPftgEDQ/s1600/SKorea_postcardCROPPED.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know what you're thinking ..... "That's not a real picture!" .............. OK, you caught me. It was done in the area of Seoul that he lives and works though, so, you know, it's really close to real.</td></tr>
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Oh, picked up some sewing mags in Europe and odds and ends in Korea too.<br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-34008145115922315082012-08-14T10:29:00.002+10:002012-10-09T16:35:14.647+10:00How to replace the bogan pants that will never die (much to Tigerboy's disgust)So, I travel overseas at least once a year. I take a backpack and I travel light. Over the last 20+ years, I've come up with my own travel capsule wardrobe that works - most of the time. For the last few years, these pants always get thrown in (actually, they're usually worn on the plane). Here's some evidence:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKVGAn4iaX8EJxVYfmDMMkYs-mqktM-3L33Da8CGKoYru67Qg8fxR0TQqUM0OPkP2sOmfg15BvwsBLrrY3TW38SI_yAqesJA0Maz5iGAYjG8_u6s4D6sVMv6lHFqJhYXYo3GJJ1z9Ei8/s1600/167921_1692349940926_1003102325_1848139_1922002_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKVGAn4iaX8EJxVYfmDMMkYs-mqktM-3L33Da8CGKoYru67Qg8fxR0TQqUM0OPkP2sOmfg15BvwsBLrrY3TW38SI_yAqesJA0Maz5iGAYjG8_u6s4D6sVMv6lHFqJhYXYo3GJJ1z9Ei8/s1600/167921_1692349940926_1003102325_1848139_1922002_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ecuador</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIrD9tofF-0qOTvS_ASyNqi-veBzYVnfB9AqvXv8c9SY6RcWGvR1J5keHf2gGXtpotdvxj-esGD-gmW3lDqi6QoreDrbglPvgRsEPKJdyOBe7DUqQ__ChkGkaLC2lIVytwpBiVhwZ0Gs/s1600/P1010541web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIrD9tofF-0qOTvS_ASyNqi-veBzYVnfB9AqvXv8c9SY6RcWGvR1J5keHf2gGXtpotdvxj-esGD-gmW3lDqi6QoreDrbglPvgRsEPKJdyOBe7DUqQ__ChkGkaLC2lIVytwpBiVhwZ0Gs/s1600/P1010541web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawaii</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2VyTElOxnMoFLxm-WT1comWBoJq0FX5_J5JoRLCCYZKahuValy_XEbdPj6vgx9sEuWyXreFN634fDH8WdHXkP82uLKj_dxpR9ZF-QFzCGHRKq92DEuQOBj9gNnzKxV_5A9W657PlNEI/s1600/P1040104web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2VyTElOxnMoFLxm-WT1comWBoJq0FX5_J5JoRLCCYZKahuValy_XEbdPj6vgx9sEuWyXreFN634fDH8WdHXkP82uLKj_dxpR9ZF-QFzCGHRKq92DEuQOBj9gNnzKxV_5A9W657PlNEI/s1600/P1040104web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hong Kong</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzhB46lNPDyeiwfenSYcLzqIVjJ9sZLiJxR9hBy2Dbk87weZji9ZPAIcvXGi7-0k9n69UBp2YObFmXYxwsnH13707hmK4m0tsZBV6TR8iY0dZZuSFwMrcyYjaJEeFIuv2zIabsSPcWpQ/s1600/P1020757web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzhB46lNPDyeiwfenSYcLzqIVjJ9sZLiJxR9hBy2Dbk87weZji9ZPAIcvXGi7-0k9n69UBp2YObFmXYxwsnH13707hmK4m0tsZBV6TR8iY0dZZuSFwMrcyYjaJEeFIuv2zIabsSPcWpQ/s1600/P1020757web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuba</td></tr>
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Yeah, not the most flattering but they're comfy, lightweight, durable, don't take up a lot of room and can be worn in a variety of temps, from chilly to fairly warm - they also double up to wear under long pants if it's more than a little chilly (I don't travel with jeans - too heavy and bulky and if it's cold, they're cold on my skin). Ok, I wouldn't wear them outside the house here at home, but where people don't know me? It's a free for all! (Unless of course I'm somewhere like the middle East.) They're also well over ten years old, so if they get lost or wrecked, it's no big deal.<br />
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The problem? Tigerboy hates them with a passion. According to him they make me look like a bogan which would fall into his "people to avoid at all costs" category (that would also be why there aren't more countries represented here - he can't even stand to take pics of me wearing them).<br />
<br />
On one trip, the bogan pants developed a tiny hole. Tigerboy was elated -<br />
"You'll have to get rid of them now, they're past it." <br />
"Hmmm, it can be fixed."<br />
"Honey, I think they're just too old and they're starting to fall apart."<br />
"I wouldn't get too excited, I have two pairs."<br />
"You don't."<br />
"I do."<br />
Oh, the look of horror - to think that I not only purchased one pair, but two! Double misery!<br />
<br />
So, we're off again and now I have him begging me not to take the bogan pants (honest to goodness begging). Now, it's not as if I'd wear them anywhere that we'll run into people we know or a city trip but I think he's reached his tolerance level.<br />
<br />
Problem two? I just can't think of a suitable replacement. I have some knit palazzo pants but for a lot of our activities, all that fabric flapping around would be really irritating. I have the proper travel pants (you know, quick dry, pockets everywhere, dull, yukky colours) but they're not nearly warm enough for where we're going. I have 'nice' travel pants but they're not rugged enough for some of the stuff we do. <br />
<br />
Oddly, I think one of his biggest problems is the two stripes down the side. In my book, that just marks them as 'exercise' wear, rather than 'I think I look good in these' wear.<br />
<br />
As much as I enjoy teasing him, I think these pants are taking it to the level of mental torture for him. What to do? Maybe I should look into pants therapy for him, that would probably be the easiest way around it.<br />
<br />
<br />
EDIT: I do actually have some decent, stylish pants that I take overseas as well, for those times when we're not in transit for 10+ hours or doing hours of walking in unpopulated areas etc. (ok, I occassionally wear these in populated areas too). BeaJay has me considering some super stretchy bootcut pants as a replacement though .....but then of course, they won't do double duty as thermals, and I already take a pair of bengaline bootcuts with me ..............<br />
<br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-34698807910996524752012-07-21T08:17:00.000+10:002012-07-21T08:17:00.816+10:00Fabric scraps, unwanted garments, UFO's .......... it's all yardage in my bookI can be stubborn when it comes to 'making it work' and I usually come up with a solution, otherwise it just has to go back into the stash (remember <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/butterick-5672-what-wadder.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">Butterick 5672</span></a>? Not in the stash! Crumpled up in a heap in a corner of the sewing room as a threat to all the following dresses-to-be).<br />
<br />
I rarely throw fabric away - including garments I no longer wear. I DO keep them for experiments and others reasons that will probably come to light at some time in the future. And you know what? Sometimes, I actually end up finding this useful. <br />
<br />
When I'm starting a new project with minimal 'left overs' (very common - I often seem to be finagling a knee length dress out of half a metre of 90cm wide fabric, or something nearly as ludicrous), I don't have room for stuff ups so to test that my machine/s will actually deal with the fabric, I go through the scraps and find a similar fabric to practise on. <br />
<br />
Then there's also the linings and bindings of things. When I made the <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/03/vogue-8555-hibiscus-dress.html" target="_blank">Vogue 8555 hibiscus dress</a>, it needed just a small amount of fabric to line the bodice, a check in my 'accents' fabric box came up with a 25cm piece of plisse (I soon found out that that was not the best fabric for lining but c'est la vie). <br />
<br />
I made a <span style="background-color: yellow;">sun visor</span> out of an old top, made a <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/07/quick-and-dirty-moneybelt.html" target="_blank">money belt</a> with part of my sister's old top, lined a bag, made <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2011/02/emery-pincushions.html" target="_blank">pin cushion covers</a> and lined pockets in the <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/palin-bag-is-finished-at-last.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">Palin bag</span></a> from the left overs of a robe I made a boyfriend years ago.<br />
<br />
If, in the rare event that I am making a muslin, I'm not going to go and lay down dollars for a throw away - I'll cut some old garment/sheet/whatever up to use.<br />
<br />
Any clothes I no longer want are regarded as yardage that can be cut up for other things as far as I'm concerned.<br />
<br />
And that's another reason why <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-sewing-room-organisation.html" target="_blank">my stash</a> might seem a bit big to some people - not all of it is 'real' yardage.<br />
<br />
Am I the only one that does this? C'mon, I can't be the only one. <br />
<br />
And just because, here are some pics I took in the Galapagos when I was snorkelling with this little guy - he couldn't have cared less about me but I thought it was super cool to be snorkelling with him.<br />
<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-29867324562445431712012-07-11T10:32:00.000+10:002012-08-14T09:11:11.017+10:00Static cling remedies<br />
The <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/07/size-22-dress-refashion-and-paisley.html" target="_blank">last dress</a> I posted suffered from static cling of monumental proportions - and that would be why it's only been worn twice. A bit of googling came up with some remedies that may or may not be useful.<br />
<br />
Not useful for that dress:<br />
<ul>
<li>choose a natural fibre (too late she cried)</li>
<li>don't put it in the drier (I don't even have one, so I've done that)</li>
<li>shake it when it comes out of the drier (see above)</li>
</ul>
What might be useful:<br />
<ul>
<li>adding vinegar or borax to the wash/rinse cycle (I have my doubts this'll work on that particular garment)</li>
<li>the metal hanger trick (is this something I'd have to redo whilst wearing it every so often? If so, it's hardly convenient.) </li>
<li>helpful hint from <a href="http://readythreadsew.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">ReadyThreadSew</a> -> "wash with a bit more fabric conditioner than you might usually use" (In my case that would mean actually buying some because I've never used it but if all else fails I'll give it a go.)</li>
<li>rub a dryer sheet over it (not having a dryer, I'm not familiar with these but it's more convenient than carrying a metal hanger around with me)</li>
</ul>
What I will try first:<br />
<ul>
<li>wearing a slip (remains to be seen whether I'd then have two layers of cling)</li>
<li>rubbing body lotion on over your tights (this is the first one I'll be trying because part of me is wondering if the tights are a major player here) <b>UPDATE: THIS WORKS REALLY WELL!</b></li>
</ul>
The thing with <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/07/size-22-dress-refashion-and-paisley.html" target="_blank">that dress</a> is that the static cling doesn't build up over the course of wearing it - it's there as soon as the dress goes on! Maybe we could see about hooking it up to some electrical appliances to save on the electricity bill?<br />
<br />
I'll update with my findings because, you know, I'm highly scientific.<br />
<br />
For more info on these remedies:<br />
<a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/end-static-cling-six-ways.html" target="_blank">End Static Cling Six Ways</a><br />
<a href="http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/slaves-to-fashion/2008/03/how-do-you-deal-with-static-cl.html" target="_blank">How do you deal with static cling?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And, just because it's my blog and I'll post whatever pics grab my fancy:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkKXor_fRXIhbPACMAqUxtvM5jWrEJ_z848ZK8fivyPhLS_C2CW02K9xmlJszMuQQe783ZmkLco_L4L9_QKzabL1XxVY2WirQBFu8l9nRjbPG1hZLGwdlA_r3aiLTBJpWvIF0lFtYd0/s1600/Dubai1060376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkKXor_fRXIhbPACMAqUxtvM5jWrEJ_z848ZK8fivyPhLS_C2CW02K9xmlJszMuQQe783ZmkLco_L4L9_QKzabL1XxVY2WirQBFu8l9nRjbPG1hZLGwdlA_r3aiLTBJpWvIF0lFtYd0/s640/Dubai1060376.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually - this is a bit sewing related. This tunic top was not the best look on me - straight from bust to hips, nothing in the way of waist definition. It's a lovely fine cotton, great for hot, hot weather but a belt in 45 degree plus is just one more layer so the waist got shirred. See the paisley?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-28471433743982102322012-07-10T09:40:00.000+10:002012-07-10T09:42:10.521+10:00Size 22 Dress Refashion and PAISLEYTigerboy and I went back to my home town for Easter. Going back there is something that I avoid at all costs - I couldn't wait to leave and didn't ever plan to return, so going back is only done under extreme duress. In this case, that duress was the stress tigerboy was putting me through over his angst regarding where to go to "get out of the city" because he seems to think it's mandatory if we've got a long weekend. In the end I was so over it I suggested going home to stay with Mum for a few days - I really didn't think he'd go for it - that seed sprouted into a Californian redwood within about 3 seconds and there was no way I could stop that speeding train short of fatal injury which although I did consider it for a bit (his of course), even I thought would be over reacting and possibly messy - I hate housework!<br />
<br />
It pains me to admit it but we actually had a good time, not the least of which was due to me going through Mum's stash (which is approaching pitiful thanks to my pilfering campaign) and I even scored from her wardrobe.<br />
<br />
As I was reclining on Mum's bed lamenting the fact that she hadn't had a 'thing' for silk over the years, I spied some dark paisley fabric peeking out from between her clothes. This was weird because Mum and I have very different tastes, she favours pastels (primarily mint and baby blue) whereas I like the darker colours, she likes pretty little florals, I like bold prints, solids and my holy grail is paisley. As far as I'm concerned, paisley is like garlic, there can never be too much and honestly? I'd wear paisley in any colour, just because it's paisley.<br />
<br />
I've had this love of paisley since the 80's (probably the 70's but I was too young to realise it then) and it's something that Mum has never understood. Some time in late high school I was going through her stash (it's been a long, sustained campaign) and found two pieces of corduroy, paisley fabric, a green and an orange - I was in love. Mum was horrified that anything that ugly had ever made it into her stash and after I'd convinced her that I wasn't joking and really did like it, she said I could use it. Back then, it was really hard to get Mum to let me use any of her fabric because she was still in the (30 year) phase where she thought that at some point she would start sewing like there was no tomorrow, so her eventual capitulation really demonstrated her loathing of those pieces of fabric. <br />
<br />
I made some slim fitting capri pants from the green paisley and I remember that they were my favourite pants for years. Of course Mum was not only stunned that I'd made something wearable from it but also slightly horrified that I wore it out in public - a lot! Whenever she saw those pants she'd try to tell me that they "had seen their day" and should be tossed - I wasn't buying it. In the end I think they got ripped and she refused to mend them for me. I wonder what happened to the orange piece? I don't remember ever making anything from it.<br />
<br />
Back to the point of the story (yes, there is one), as soon as I spied that paisley in Mum's wardrobe, I was off the bed like a rocket to check it out.<br />
"Why is this in here?"<br />
"Oh, that, I don't know why I bought it."<br />
"You bought it? It's got paisley!"<br />
"I think I thought I'd wear it in winter but it doesn't fit right and it's really just not me."<br />
"No, it's not - it's me!"<br />
There was nothing to do at this point except to throw it on over what I was wearing.<br />
"Do you think you can do something with it? You can have it if you want."<br />
And so, I ended up with some more paisley but as you can see, it was a bit on the big side and a lot on the "why don't you check out my cleavage and bra" side (I've actually got it pinned closed in this pic).<br />
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There are a few rows of shirring just under the bodice. It's actually bigger than you can see here but I needed one hand for the camera.<br />
<br />
I thought a quick zip up the sides with the overlocker and another quick zip to secure the front neckline would do the job but it turned out to be slightly more challenging.<br />
<br />
I did at least realise that the shirring should be secured before I used the overlocker so that when the overlocker cut the elastic thread it didn't all shrink back and not get caught in the seam.<br />
<br />
After some confusion, I realised that those squares on the skirt weren't centred at the back of the dress - bummer. There was also something strange going on under the arms that meant lots of finessing rather than just zipping up with the overlocker before it looked decent.You can see that the hem doesn't follow the border of the squares either - I at least fixed that in the final version<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's the finished product which although is fine enough for day-to-day, seems to have a major static cling problem - you can see it around the hem where it's sticking to my legs. I wore it as a jumper with a black turtleneck one day but I wasn't sure about that look. Oddly, although it seems as though this was an empire line, the shirred waist is now somewhere between that and above my natural waist which feels a bit odd. I also thought it would be shorter the whole time I was making it - must have been an optical illusion when it was wider.<br />
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I took about 10 photos and had a choice between head cut off or feet cut off - something needs to be done about my photography!tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-28013383614040408982012-07-06T10:18:00.002+10:002012-07-09T09:56:48.235+10:00Quick and dirty moneybeltYesterday I put tigerboy on a plane (with <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/palin-bag-is-finished-at-last.html" target="_blank">his Palin bag</a>) to take him to the opposite side of the world. (It was actually a planned trip, not a banishment.) The day before that there was much searching for one of the four moneybelts that we have but rarely use. I found one with several safety pins holding it together and a strap from another one .......... fabulous.<br />
"Do you want me to quickly make you one?"<br />
"Do you think you can? Will it have a zip?" (At this point I'm thinking "Oh no, don't tell me this is going to turn into a Palin bag saga.)<br />
"I'll give it a bash." (I disappeared quicker than a glass of wine after a day of work at that point - I was not sticking around for his endless list of improvements.)<br />
<br />
I went through a bag of clothes my sister had given me years ago and pulled out a white knit top, pulled out the bag of white zippers my Mum had reclaimed from various garments and other sewn things ever since Jesus was a baby (seriously, there are some with my baby sister's name written on them along with her primary school - she's nearly 40!) and I winged it, totally, completely, winged it, zero forethought, zero measuring.<br />
<br />
Ok, there was some forethought - I decided to use a cotton knit so that it was soft and not as sweaty as some moneybelts (like some we've owned). There was a long skinny strip of knit left from my hacking, at the last minute I decided to make it the beginning of the strap.<br />
<br />
So, here it is. NB: This is a very quick and dirty project - one look at the stitching (not to mention that antique zipper pull) is enough to support that claim - but really, I'm not going to agonise over making a money belt look good.<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>I cut the back out of the shirt to give me a big rectangle</li>
<li>folded the rectangle in half, attached each end to the zipper (the hem of the shirt is actually attached to the top of the zipper)</li>
<li>opened the zip a bit, turned it inside out</li>
<li>inserted the straps inside</li>
<li>sewed up the sides</li>
<li>turned it right side out again</li>
<li>then I sewed up the front of the money belt from the bottom to just under the zip so that it has two compartment - one that holds notes and one that's smaller (credit cards, notes folded in half etc.)</li>
<li>I used a piece of elastic between the two knit strips</li>
<li>for fastening I used those flat hooks you get in pants - I wanted something nice and flat (I also hate that most money belts leave you with a mile of extra strap hanging around)</li>
<li>I put two bars in for the hook because I don't trust the cheap shoddy elastic not to stretch out - this was a quick and dirty prototype remember?</li>
</ul>
Tigerboy's take on it? "Oh, it's so comfy! I don't even know that I'm wearing it. Oh, honey, that's not good - I wouldn't realise if it fell off!"<br />
"You can't have everything baby." <br />
<br />
<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-3014114177752975882012-06-20T10:21:00.000+10:002012-06-20T10:21:00.245+10:00Making an A-line skirt pattern from a straight skirt pattern<br />
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<br />
This is the pattern I used for the skirt in the <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/02/vintage-lawn-cling-wrap-bodice-block.html" target="_blank">cling wrap bodice dress</a> and both of the Vogue 8728 dresses. I started out with the skirt pattern from my <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/03/vogue-8555-hibiscus-dress.html" target="_blank">Vogue 8555 Hibiscus dress</a>. I'd spent ages mucking around to get the darts right and lowering the waist for my sway back, so I knew it fitted (as well as I could get it to, anyway). I remembered seeing this tip somewhere and from what I could remember it made sense that it would work, so I had a search through some of my books. There it was in Enid Gilchrist's 70's Styles.<br />
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Basically, you just slash from the hem up to the bottom of each dart, close the darts and viola! Perfectly fitting A-line. <br />
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I didn't add the suggested extensions to the sides, which means that mine are kind of slim fitting through the hips but that was what I wanted.<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-19592125315899657442012-06-13T06:51:00.000+10:002012-06-13T06:51:00.147+10:00The stash<span class="prbig"><span class="prbig">How did my <a href="http://tigergirladventures.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-sewing-room-organisation.html" target="_blank">stash</a> grow so big? (Although, let's be honest, it's quite modest compared to what some people have.)<br />
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My Mother finally realised that all of those fabrics etc. that she bought when we were kids (I'm over 40) were never going to be sewn by her - she doesn't even like sewing! Bam! Her stash decreases, mine increases.<br />
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A couple of trips a year back to Sydney where I can buy ultra cheap and different fabric (compared to Brisbane) and feel obligated to take advantage of the fact while I am there - tigerboy even encourages this!<br />
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Finding PR and deciding that if I can buy a pattern for $5 or less from o'seas it is not worth my time drafting it (then of course, I need to take advantage of the fact that the cost per pattern decreases as you buy more because of the international shipping).<br />
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The odd find of 6 metres of satin for $2 or a large silk dress for $3 at the charity shop ........... the very occassional time I go to Spotlight and actually find something I really like on their clearance table ......... you get the picture.<br />
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As for machines - I have six. My first overlocker (ebay purchase years ago) which was a PITA for me to use and was replaced with a new one from Aldi a few years ago which has definately been worth what I paid. My first machine which was a hand-me-down from my Grandmother in my late teens (still gets used). A new Brother (fairly basic) that I bought a few years ago because they had a good sale on and Mum thought I really deserved a new machine - in a lot of respects I still prefer my old Janome. I've got one of those little dinky 'toy' sewing machines that only does straight stitch - Spotlight was clearing them out for $15 ea. - surprisingly, it actually sews quite well. And of course there's the old Singer that a teacher gave me as the school was getting rid of some of their old machines - it doesn't get used, it's a back up (I brought it home and put it downstairs in the rumpus room, which we never use. Tigerboy happened to go in there and almost in a panic tells me there's another sewing machine! <br />
<i>"Is there?" <br />
"Yes! It's in the rumpus room!" <br />
"Huh! Fancy that." <br />
"Honey, they're breeding! How did it get there?" <br />
"Guess they are breeding"</i> <br />
He was perplexed.) The Brother, Janome and Aldi overlocker are permanently set up. </span></span>tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75994180518156589.post-21086158836115539332012-06-10T12:25:00.000+10:002012-06-10T12:25:00.238+10:00Butterick 5672 - what a wadder!!You know the beginning of the story I'm sure: You see a great dress Pattern Review, the reviewer says it was really easy but you kind of doubt that that style will work on you. You see the same dress again and again - they all look fantastic, on <b>every single body shape</b>. Joy, oh joy, I've even got that pattern! A couple of people say that they had to take the side seams in because of the Big4's ease but apart from that it was a piece of cake and wow, it looks great on all of them! Ok, you'll have to do a sway back alteration but that's standard, no big deal - I'm whipping this baby up this afternoon!<br />
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Well, here's the end of the story: You are the one person in the world that this dress does not work on!!!! You knew it deep down but you went ahead anyway. When will you learn? This is not the first time this has happened either - wise up!<br />
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Now for the middle of the story: I removed the ridiculous amount of ease that Butterick has put into the pattern for this dress - I think I ended up with a size -58 for the waist by the time I was done, and it was still too big in the waist. I thought I'd get away with not doing an FBA - as you can see from the pics, I was dead wrong on that score. As if all of that wasn't enough, I made so many incredibly stupid mistakes making this dress (and often, the same one, over and over and over) that I started to wonder if I had early onset alzheimers - oh, you have no idea.<br />
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And looky, looky - what a droopy mess it is. (Not to mention that the sway back adjustment that I'd had pinned and marked perfectly and then took out in a flash of idiocy I could not replicate.) Those side views .......... I'm ready for a joey. I could say I was going for the juxtaposition of tight and droopy in the same garment but I'd be telling a lie.<br />
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However, I am me and decided, <b>I can fix this</b>. Delusional! After some more marathon pinning to try to determine if pulling it up here and across there and generally all over the place would work, this is what I ended up with (no, I didn't even bother to turn the machine on this time, I wasn't that delusional). <br />
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It's kind of hard to see but I've taken more than an inch (prob. closer
to two) out of the waist and down the hip - it's sticking out but you
can kind of see a line down the right side. A lot less marsupialesque from the side but still adding weird bulges where I don't need them. Incredible amounts of strain around the left bossom (it looks like it's staging a break out). Those side seams are creeping around to the front. A bit too tight across the derrriere. I know the pics are a bit crooked but I think the back hemline is coming up. All that and and it is still a bit droopy at the front.<br />
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I finally, officially give up on this dress, it is just not for me and I don't think there is any saving it. I think this is the first time I have admitted defeat without even planning to reuse the fabric for something else. Bye bye maroon dress, it wasn't a pleasure and I never want to see you again.<br />
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Maybe I need to start looking for patterns that didn't work for anyone?<br />
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EDIT: Apparently one other PR review had a similar experience, so I'm not alone.<br />
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<br />tigergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09229270869667028807noreply@blogger.com6