Nettle Dress by Mood

The pattern for this wrap dress is free from Mood. Its the Nettle dress. I printed this one when they first released the pattern, I think back in March. Since then its been in the "waiting" pile.This is a black linen type of fabric so very cool for summer but gets creased a bit too easy. Still you cannot have it all ways!

I made a top and trousers from similar fabric last summer and I loved them so much I bought some more from the same seller, though this is a slightly coarser weave. Its still decribed as cotton/ linen mix though but also has a bit of lycra. Since I bought it from a discount online seller ( Pound Fabrics - who I would definitely recommend since I have not had a bad experience despite many orders), I suppose its a different but similar batch of cloth. I do not need it to match the previous fabric though - bought many months previously- so that difference doesn't matter. 

Except for the fact that you do really need an iron to press between making different parts of this dress ( yes I know you are always supposed to do so, but I do manage usually not to) its actually a really easy one to make. And a free pattern of course!

 Pattern is from here: https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/the-nettle-wrap-dress-free-sewing-pattern/

Its my very first ever wrap dress ( not just making but owning) so I am interested to decide how useful I find this. I own several different wrap dress patterns so maybe its time I had a go at another one. I know many people swear by wrap dresses.The cape sleeves are a new thing for me too.

I have to admit to finding the neckline a little too low for me. Or at least its fine if I don't move. But then a cami underneath sorts that fine.I suspect this might also transition into winter with added leggings or even a second longer (under)skirt of black fabric.  Mood have just done a redux of this dress, since I made this, which they slashed and spread the skirt to create a second longer layer and it looks nice. Though if I make it again I will probably use the skirt pattern with a different top I think because its a bit too kimono-ish for my taste really.

Also it was interesting to note when making this that you could just make the wrap skirt and add a waistband because I tried the half made skirt on and loved it.

One thing I particularly love about this pattern is the double D-rings fastening which reminds me so much of 1980s punk dresses and skirts. Though I think the finishing at the edge where top meets skirt is a bit messy to what I usually aim for but I could not work out how to do this better. If you look at the photo below you can see a finished but not hidden edge just next to the fastening.

 

I do love D-rings though!

And finally following on from a few weeks ago here are the local baby geese. 

How cute are they!

 

Thanks for visiting my blog

Bracken

Floral skull trousers with side splits - Jamesia

I thought with it nearly being Halloween I should show you these floral skeleton trousers. I actually made them in September - hence the photos which were taken on holiday in Cornwall.

 

I realised after these pictures that perhaps I have a sway back. I need to go back and check out some older photos and see if this is a common issue or if this is a one off with these trousers. Its not something I have noticed before but I am very aware that I am more and more critical of my own sewing.

I did really enjoy wearing these on holiday and it was not so hot in September that you were often wanting to wear shorts any more, like in the summer, so they worked really well.

This is the Free Mood Sewciety Jamesia pattern - made just as they direct but I left the sides open for side splits and hemmed round the splits. They were really nice for the end of summer and I might just wear these for Halloween as well - if its not too cold by then that is.

This is my floral skeleton fabric which is 100% cotton and cost me £6.99 per half metre so expensive:

Kind of a pretty print for Halloween but its also easy to wear for every day life - in summer that is.

I made the halter neck top back in the summer.

Happy Halloween

Bracken

BBQ party outfit from Three free patterns

 I got asked to a BBQ. Its been so long since I went out to a friends house for dinner. It was aparty with work colleagues so I did not want to dress too informal and slob-like so decided to make a new top. 

This was the  tie front Wilder top which is a free Mood Sewciety pattern. I used a drapey silky woven leopard print viscose for this and it has worked well. The fabric was very fray-ey butotherwise his was relatively sinple to make. Mood have a version where you can make the sleeves wider which I considered but in the end decided to save fabric and make the basic version and I am quite happy with the width of these sleeves.

This is the MDF198 – The Wilder Top Sewing Pattern.

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/how-to-add-volume-to-the-bottom-of-a-sleeve-free-pattern-hack/ 

I actually made a skirt from the offcuts of my leopard print fabric as well but ended up wearing that before I wore this, due to the party being postponed.

 I thought this leopard print top would tart up my old wide leg black trousers nicely, but then decided to make some new ones since the old ones look a bit pilly and old. They were made a long time ago now back in 2017 I think! I have worn them constantly so its worth time to make a replacement and this is a nice fabric though creases a bit more than the original pair.

I bought this nice stretch linen (linen-look because I have no idea of the fiber content!) fabric last winter in a sale and had been planing to make some trousers from it for ages. In the end I made a top as well so had a whole new outfit for the BBQ.

 I decided to use the Mood Jamesia pattern for the trousers because I just love this pattern - so another free pattern though this one is a TNT pattern and its about time I made some nice work trousers from it because I have several play versions from this pattern already. 

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/the-jamesia-pant-free-sewing-pattern/

These are some of the previous versions of my Jamesia trousers. 

The pattern is really for wovens but I have also made a few pairs in jersey without adding the waist darts and just adding elastic round the waist. They make good track pants!

Then the BBQ got put off for another week so I added the top which is Angela Kane's sleeveless top pattern 532 in size small. I think you need to sign up to the website to get this but thats easy to do.

 https://angelakane.com/sewing_patterns/patterns/sleeveless-top-sewing-pattern-532.php

When making this I forgot to sew the darts but it actually fits well without so I may repeat that in the future. I closed the back with a bow made from black satin ribbon.

And this is a very wearable smart, and a not too formal, nice party outfit. And as a bonus I finally got round to making some new black work trousers!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great week

Bracken

#MMM21, 13th May

 

 

Today I went for an early morning walk with the dogs and wore my very warm velvet trousers. Theses are wide leg Burda-meant-for-yoga/ relaxing. I seem to have started to usually tuck them into my socks though. Otherwise the bottoms get wet. I am toying with adding elastic to the hems but despite this has been an idea for about 12 months now I still have not done it. I really am not sure because they obviously work just tucked in as well so I have two looks whereas if I add elastic then I just get the one look. Also they are very wide so the tied-up bit at the bottom, if not inside socks and so gathered with elastic could possibly trip me up? I am not sure anyway.

The top was a bit of fun made from a free Mood Sewciety Pattern. Its got a top sleeve of ivory wedding veil net that an Ebay Fabric Seller very kindly gave me as a present when I went to pick up an order. I did decide the cropped version is a bit short for me though so will lengthen if I make again. I works well with these rousers though because of the gathered high waist. Thats Hugh in the picture with me.

 

See you tomorrow

Bracken

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Jamesia wide leg skulls and rainbow trousers

These are my first pair of cotton - non-stretch fabric Jamesia Trousers which is a free Mood Fabrics pattern. I have made two pairs before from stretch fabric so Imade a smaller si\ze to get the fit right. This meant these were a slight risk because I did not know what size to make them. In the end I just went up a size. Whereas my previous two pairs are pull on these have a side zip. Although I have made a slight error by putting the side zip into the right hand side not the usual left hand side of the trousers. Since AntiBrand ( the Goth brand) do this anyway I think whatever! I have a bought pair of AntiBrand trousers with this. Its a bit strange when you are used to the normal left hand side zip but there is really no reason why it must be on the left not on the right.
  
I like them!

I have had the fabric which is 100% cotton, for probably 5 years so yet another stash buster. I am enjoying this part of lockdown I must admit. The time to do what I enjoy. Sadly less so the improsonment which means I do not get to wear any of my new clothes to go out somewhere. Not even to go food shopping. Never mind. Hopefully that will end soon though I am happy enough not going to work. You cannot stay for ever locked in though - well I do hope not!

 A slightly weird pose! 

I was trying to show you the flared leg.

 

 The top is scuba and is made based on the Mood Fabrics free Bixa sweatshirt top pattern, though I did change the sleeves slightly to eliminate the top section and just have the normal sleeve with the overlay. You can read about my versions of the Bixa here:
https://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2020/03/bixa-top.html
https://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2020/04/pink-flares-and-bixa-version-2.html

 

Thanks for popping by and stay safe

Bracken

Pink flares and Bixa version 2

What can I say about this outfit but I made it because I can!

Its taken me a whole month to get round to taking photos of this outfit. In the meantime I have not worn it. Mainly thats because of the colour and the sleeves which can be trashed too easily with housework and since lockdown I have done loads of that. In fact I think my house is as clean as it was when I moved into it and I cleaned everywhere before unpacking.

In the end though I want to wear the yoga pants to lounge around in so had to get round to taking the photos!

I bought the pink scuba fabric for 99p from Ebay about 30 seconds before the auction ended. It was advertised as that it had a small mark on it but was 6.5m in length. From the photos most of it would be useable anyway. Its not a colour I would usually buy, I have to admit, but for 99p I will try anything.

Cream Bixa

When I received it I washed it and the stain came out - bargain then. Still not any ideas for what to make from it so into the stash it went. Now I am about to start a new job ( assuming its still there after lockdown anyway) and want some new tops and I am bored so I decided to make another Bixa. Its was already on the To-Do list anyway and at 99p its a cheap risk. So I lengthened the body section because the cream version is a bit short for my age - or so I feel. You have to feel comfortable after all. Its not all about fashion.


Then I joined the top sleeve and bottom (under sleeve parts) together. I lengthened the top overlay to the same length as my new sleeve pattern. I then cut it all out from the pink crepe and the overlay is cream wedding veil tulle.

In the end I am not going to wear this top for work! 

Since the fabric was also huge (6.5m) I decided to cut a "matching" pair of yoga pants using the free pattern from here:
http://ifonlytheywouldnap.net/2015/03/06/free-yoga-pants-pattern/

I used this pattern several times before and I really like it. Its makes for tight slightly flared yoga style trousers. I do not however like "yoga band" waists so cut a proper waistband from some scrap leapardskin print fabric from when I shortened my dress which was about the same time as cutting this hence I knew where it was.  The dress now ends just above my knees and is worn far more than it was, which was never. The resulting waistband is a fake yoga band that has wide elastic in normal waistband with a second strip sewn on top to give the yoga band look. It works for me.

I also added 3cm to the width below the knee on each side of the front and back pattern pieces, which I graded down to the bottom hem to make the flares wider and just hoped they did not twist as a result. It worked and they did not twist. I really like them!

I sewed the trousers up with crepe-side as right side but the top as crepe-side inside. Crepe-side outside for tops for me feels very aging. I prefer a flatter fabric.

It was a bit tricky adding the overlay which turned out very full but with careful pinning it worked. As I went to sew it I also decided to add the ribbons. The ribbon addition was just inspiration.

Well what can I say? Its completely impractical so it really is a case of "just because you can". 

 Because the top is longer than my previous cream version you only see the waistband when I stretch or bend but thats OK. Its a nice touch I think.

 I just could not resist the ribbons. I own a Burda pattern for a medieaval costume top and that has a similar shaped sleeve which gave me the inspiration, but I has made it a top that I do not feel I will wear for work. This shade of pink and the overlay and the flares - well its all a bit OTT really isn't it?
Thats what lockdown is doing to me!

I am not sure the top will get worn much to be honest,  though for a day out somewhere, it has a place in my wardrobe. As previously though with the last Bixa top, this could be a good wedding guest outfit. Or a going out to dinner or a clubbing outfit.

The trousers though, I am aching to wear.  Surprisingly I even do not mind the pale dusky pink colour. I

Looking at these photos I am also aware I need to make some underwear (knickers!) that looks better in these kind of clothes! Its on my next list!

Thanks for popping by and stay safe,

Bracken

Bixa top

 This is the first attempt at the Bixa T shirt top from Mood. Its a free pattern.
What actually caused this pattern is I went window shopping/ investigating current high street trends in New Look. I was struck by the large number of T shirt type tops with lace and net sleeves including double layered tops like the Bixa pattern which I downloaded a year ago or so.

I like Mood free patterns because so far they have all worked without problems which is pretty impressive for free patterns. They also have some very interesting designs. This is one of them.

This top is cropped so as you can see its a bit short. I am wearing it with high waisted jeans from 1997 and a long vest top under the Bixa. The jeans are flares so very on trend despite their age. You cannot see that with me wearing wellies!
I had them saved at the back of the wardrobe for years because I just could not part with them. Anyway recently they are my favourite jeans again.

This Bixa is my test version. so I left the original length, and the double top and bottom sleeve, as well as adding the overlay. Bearing in mind this is made from scraps I think its pretty good. The top is crepe scuba ( reversed to make a plain surface rather than crepe). Top sleeve is also crepe (reversed) but the under sleeve is ribbed cotton mix with the overlay of polyester tulle. I am not a great fan of the short/long sleeve look but I do like the overlay. Having said that its completely impractical as a top. It would make a good wedding party look though.

Other problems:
Its cream (for me not the best colour when I am looking after hens and dogs but could be OK for work I suppose), the overlay is tulle so very weak and not hardwearing at all and the dog claws get caught in it. So far I have managed not to get it ripped but I keep changing into different tops because they keep jumping up.
 

 

Despite its not at all practical yes I do like this top. I am intending to make a second version with a longer body length and make the mesh sleeves without the top sleeve sections so really by sticking the two sleeve parts together and then extending the overlay.  Thats whats in fashion not the double sleeve look. I will let you know if this idea works.

 

 As a RTW copy I think its a good pattern for the current trends though will need a bit of tweaking but I will do that with version 2.

Hopefully I can show you that next week,

Thanks for popping over

Bracken