Last weekend, Sidra joined a workshop class at the community center. It was just around ten minutes biking from home, so my husband and I went with him there. Then we spent the time waiting for Sidra by walking around the temple and the woods around the community center. It was a rare occasion because usually there are three of us.

Last week we had one snowing day and you can still see traces of snow here and there. It was cold walking around but everything looks so lovely. Sometimes I’d like to think that I live in such a pretty world.

pictures from my Instagram

//credits: Freebie Blog Photo Templates with Fabric Labels by Puglypixel.

Weekend, January is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

Like many other bloggers who are inspired by The Colette Sewing Handbook, I f0llowed suit in the croquis bandwagon. Here is my mini-me!

I didn’t feel like setting up my camera today, so I browsed around my photos and picked one that is close enough. After making a rough tracing in CorelDraw, I looked at my croquis and felt so uninspired. I mean, they looked… stubby. I guess the slender yet unproportional fashion drawing everywhere has distorted how I look at real human body.

But this is how my body really looks like. I draw a face and some little details and slowly I began to like this drawing. I put her in a bathing suit so she won’t be naked.

I tried using them to plan some projects using Butterick 5672 and Colette Pastille dress patterns. The picture of the fabric was taken using iPhone and then applied to the dress on the croquis. The proportion of the floral pattern is still not quite right though.

If I would make it again, I think it is better if I use a photo of me standing straight facing the camera, so the shape of the body can be seen more clearly. For now, I still wasn’t sure if this will be useful in my sewing journey, but I think it looks really cute!

Have you made your personalized croquis and use them in planning your projects? Do you find them useful?

My Mini Me is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

If you’re following Sewaholic blog (which you must!), you must have known that Tasia has just released her latest pattern, The Renfrew Top. It’s a basic knit top pattern with three neckline and sleeve options; and I was lucky to be one of the pattern tester!

The Renfrew Top

It is a simple pattern, easy to sew, yet has a professional and clean result. My favorite part is the sleeve and hem bands, no stretched out hems! You don’t have to use serger to sew the top. My Renfrew top was entirely sewed with zigzag stitch on my Janome set on 0.5-1 on width and 3 on length.

I made size 2 and shortened the bodice and sleeves to fit my body. The pattern calls for fabric with less than 5% spandex content, something that has enough stretch yet quite stable. Double knit will be a perfect choice for this, but I want to make it with something in my stash. I found some double-gauze striped knit and organic terrycloth knit fabric and decided to make two tops, one with a scoop neckline and the latter with V neckline.

As the top is quite simple, it may look like it doesn’t really need any detailed instructions. However, special attention is needed when sewing the neckline band. I was always curious on how to sew a V-neckline, fortunately the sewing instruction was very well-written so I didn’t encounter any difficulties.

The V neckline is a bit too wide for my taste, but it is still fine as I consider this version as my wearable muslin. I really love the striped top with scooped neckline. The double-gauze knit is also very comfortable, it is now one of my favorite top.

This experience as a pattern tester was quite enjoyable! I learned quite a few things like sewing a V neckline and got myself a couple of everyday tops as a result. I think this pattern has a pretty basic yet flattering shape, which makes it very versatile. As I always need some basic top to wear under jackets or other tops, this top perfectly fits my  need!

Pattern is The Renfrew top by Sewaholic, size 2.

My Renfrew Top is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

Coat - Burdastyle Sewing Handbook

I’ve always wanted to try making a coat for myself but somewhat scared of it. When I found out that there is a coat pattern in The Burdastyle Sewing Handbook, I knew that it was time to face my fear! I went to Yuzawaya and got myself some pistachio green tweed wool and lining fabric in stripes pattern.

The pattern in this book has no seam allowances and needed to be traced. I use size 34 on bust tapered to 36 on waist and hip. In the tissue-fitting session, I found out that the bodice needed to be shortened and the back needed swayback adjustment. It seems that these two alterations are the ones that I always needed.

After a quick muslin to check the fit, I also shortened the hem a lot (15 cm!) and lowered the neckline (1cm). I drafted a new collar, it is wider, flat, with no rounded corner. The outer collar was cut a bit wider than the undercollar so the seam would roll under. The under collar was cut on bias for a better shape.

Back stay and block-fused front

The upper front pieces are block-fused, something that I learned from RTW Tailoring Sew along at Pattern Scissors Cloth blog. Actually I was looking for a slip dress pattern, and the blog was suggested (thank you Carmen!). Sherry, the owner of the blog, has generously provided a free gorgeous slip dres pattern, and also a great sewalong about RTW Tailoring.

The upper back pieces of my coat are not block-fused like the front pieces, but I added  muslin back stay to keep the shoulders and armholes from stretching out.

The Burdastyle coat uses the same sleeves pattern for both sleeves and sleeves lining, while coat and jacket lining usually are a bit bigger than the outer garment to allow movement. So I learned to make new sleeve lining pattern.

Sleeve head

The gathered sleeve was a bit droopy so I sewed a strip of sleevehead on the seam allowance for support. The sleeveheads was bought in Yuzawaya but it can be substituted with bias grain strip of wool or muslin. It really make a difference on the shape of the sleeves.

The side seam pockets were sewed using a technique that I learned from David Page Coffin’s book, Making Trousers for Men & Women. I also made new belt loops and attached them using techniques from this book. The back vent, skirt hem, and sleeve hems were reinforced with strips of fusible interfacing.

Things I should do better next time:

• The coat is quite fitted so I can’t wear too many layers underneath. I could have used some thin interlinings for added warmth.
• I really love the new collar but it was not rolled properly. I should have shaped and steamed the collar  prior to attaching.
• The block fusing was not perfect in some parts, there are bubble on several parts if you look really close. Maybe hair canvas and pad stitching for interfacing would make a better result.
• There are a couple of  folds around the back area near the sleeves that I don’t know how to eliminate. Is this normal? Should learn more about fitting.
• My sewing machine refused to make a proper buttonholes. After several failed attempts, I decided to use snap-on buttons instead. Should try making bound buttonholes. Scary!

Am I being too picky? I guess the more you learn, the less you know. Anyway, despite all of the faults, I had so much fun making it and learning new things. I love my new coat!

Pattern is from Burdastyle Sewing Handbook with redrafted collar. Size 34 on bust and 36 on waist and hip.

Useful links:

• RTW Tailoring Sew along at Pattern Scissors Cloth
• Sewing Tutorial | How to Bag a Jacket Lining at Grainline studio
• Lady Grey coat sew along at New Blog for Better Sewing

Pistachio green coat (Burdastyle Sewing Handbook) is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

Vogue 1250

First dress that I made in 2012! It was actually finished several days ago but I just couldn’t find the time to take pictures during Sidra’s school holiday. Today is first school day!

Anyway, the pattern is Vogue 1250 by DKNY, an easy pattern for knit fabric with only three pieces. I bought it during sale for at Vogue patterns website. If you like Vogue/Butterick/McCall’s pattern, I really recommend to subscribe to their newsletter so you can get notification whenever there’s a sale.

This Vogue 1250 is apparently quite popular, as shown by the number of people on Pattern review who have made it. Some have even added sleeves to the dress. I made mine with no sleeves as the original pattern.

The fabric is velvet jersey with black on violet print that I bought in Yuzawaya store in Kichijoji. I cut size 8 on the bust and 10 on waist/hip. The bodice is shortened about 3 cm, my usual alteration. After trying it on, I noticed a bit of crumpled area around the back of my waist. I pinched this area and marked it, then sewed a new seamline from the inside, making a swayback adjustment. Next time I will make this adjustment before cutting the fabric.

Ssewing the dress was quite quick, probably less than 3 hours including cutting the pattern! I used stretch stitch on my sewing machine and stretch blind stitch for the skirt hem (edit: stitch #6 and #13 in this photo). I think the dress would even be finished quicker with a serger. Maybe it’s time for me to get one?

I’m thinking of making it again in solid color next time. Such a lovely pattern to sew!

Pattern is Vogue 1250 by DKNY, size 8 on bust and 10 on waist and hip.

Violet velvet dress (Vogue 1250) is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

So, what happened in my life during the year 2011? Definitely a lot, but since this blog is supposed to be a sewing blog, I’m going to talk about everything sewing-related.

1. One of the most important decision that I made was to close my etsy shop. There are so many things that I want to learn, and I feel that making things for the shop had taken too much of my time. I used to make easy and quick clothes that don’t need too much fitting, but this year I’ve learned to take more time for my projects for better results.
2. I’ve started to use a vintage pattern drafting book in 2010 to draft several clothes. In 2011, I finally bought a vintage pattern on etsy and made a dress with it. I began to use more vintage patterns now.
3. Made my first bathing suit!
4. It was my dream to be able to make anything that I wear, including lingerie, but I was afraid to start. It seemed so difficult and complicated. But I finally gathered my courage to make my first set. Addicted ever since!
5. It seems that 2011 is the year of firsts! I joined my first sew-along for Men’s shirt at Male Pattern Boldness using Negroni pattern from Colette. I made muslin and altered it to fit my husband’s body. After the sew-along, I have used this pattern numerous times to make shirts for him.
6. Since joining the sew-along, I got interested to learn more about alteration for better fitting. I bought Fit for Real People and later Pants for Real People for this purpose.
7. Another sew-along at Male Pattern Boldness, this time is for Men’s jeans. I learned to install jeans button, rivets, and made  button fly! My husband got himself a total of four pants out of this pattern. Thank you Peter for these sew-alongs!
8. I found my waist! I always feel self-conscious about my body because of my scoliosis and asymmetrical hip. I always wore loose dresses to cover this imperfection. But sewing has made me learn to know my body better and I began to see that my imperfection is just a part of me, nothing to hide about. I began to make more fitted dresses and separates. But most of all, I love myself better now.
9. I didn’t make too many projects with Japanese pattern books anymore. I used to make lots of clothing from them, the loose line was perfect for me. They are also easy and quick to sew with little or no alteration needed. I think my style has changed now. I’m 40 this year, so I want to look like a grown-up. Err… perhaps a little too late to say that?! Anyway, nothing is too late for anything!
10. And of course, I got to see the blouse variation that I made for Burdastyle Sewing Handbook! Actually I made the project last year, but it is nice to finally see them printed in such a beautiful book this year.

I think 2011 has been a very good year for me. I can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring! Happy New Year!

For me!

Lingerie:

For Sidra:

For my husband:

(Sewing) Life in 2011 is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

A couple of days ago, we went for a short trip to Manza in Gunma prefecture, an area for ski and onsen (hot spring) resort. It was about 6 hours bus trip from Tokyo. We spent the first night on the bus there, and the second night at Manza Prince Hotel. The scenery was so beautiful, everything was covered in thick snow.

After about three hours outside and the novelty of snow had worn off, we went to our room and changed to yukata (casual kimono) provided by the hotel before going for a hot bath. Spending some time with my husband and Sidra in an outdoor onsen under light snowfall while looking at the snowy hill was the best hot bath experience I’ve ever had! No pictures though.

Most onsen usually are separated between men and women, but there was one outdoor onsen for mixed gender in the hotel. It was nice that I could spend time with my husband and Sidra instead of sitting alone in women onsen. It was my first time in a mixed onsen though. Don’t worry, the women still kept their body wrapped in towel. On the other hand, most men are naked there, so I was a bit embarrassed. But since everybody kept their bodies under water (it was very cold outside the water, less than 0 degrees celsius!), there were really no need to worry about getting lots of ‘glimpses’. Unless you were deliberately looking around to find any!

Hope you are enjoying the holiday too right now!

more pictures in my Instagram

Manza, Gunma Prefecture is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

Peach and grey lingerie set

Making bra and panties is a sort of instant gratification for me. They only need little fabrics and don’t need much space for cutting the pattern. And with each lingerie project that I’ve finished, I gained more knowledge on what way is the best for attaching things.

This new set was made with bra and lingerie notions set from Merckwaerdigh. The set has peach lycra fabric with textured swirl pattern, stretch lace in peach and grey, and grey elastics. I especially love the pretty shoulder straps!

The bra pattern is Pin-up Girls Classic Bra #1230, a classic full band bra that can be made with or without underwires. I made mine size 30C with underwires. The panties pattern is Merckwaerdigh Mix25, a new addition in my pattern collection. The panties has lace addition on each front leg.

They would be my last sewing project this year. We’re going out of town for a short getaway next week. Can’t wait to see some snow! Wishing you all a happy holiday!

Bra pattern is Pin-up Girls Classic Bra #1230 from ElingerieA size 30C
Panties pattern is Merckwaerdigh Mix25 (bra, pantie, bodysuit) size S
Bra and lingerie notions set are from Merckwaerdigh at ebay.

Peach and grey lingerie set is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

A leftover project! The fabric is grey wool blend leftover from my husband’s pants. It was quite a lot so initially I cut them for my pants, but something went wrong and I ended up with two left legs (>_<). So I cut them again to make a pair of pants for Sidra.

The pattern is from a Japanese pattern book, シンプル&ちょこっとデザイン おんなの子服おとこの子服. I’ve used this pattern before for Sidra’s corduroy pants, but this time I changed the shape of the legs, flaring them a bit. This is a similar alteration that I did on my husband’s pants. The pants has patch pockets and a little triangle detail on the back.

I also lengthen the legs a lot. I’m tired with all Sidra’s pants becoming too short in just a couple of months. I was worried that they might be too long this time, but Sidra said he liked the length of his new pants. I think the new length made him look taller!

Pattern is #14 from シンプル&ちょこっとデザイン おんなの子服おとこの子服 with legs flared.

Grey flared pants is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::

Saturday in Showa Kinen Park, Tachikawa. Biking around the park in the afternoon and enjoying illumination at night.

pictures from my Instagram

Weekend, December is a post from :: verypurpleperson ::