Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XII

[AnnRowley]

As we are nearly to the end of page 20 I'm starting again here so that there's room for comments on MaryPat's latest project - which I've copied below.

I finally got my husband to photograph me in the coat I finished in December. This is one that took me ten years to complete.
I find it unfortunate that I still need to wear it this season. It is cold here in Ontario. Will the REAL spring please stand up!
MaryPat
ps- I made the handbag, too. This was my second bag from the same fabric. My mother claimed the first. Also, my first attempt at making a purse pattern.

You can return to SIPP XI here

[marciae]

Great coat and purse!  Gorgeous.  I'm a 'brown' person!!

[MaryPat]

Wow, I made the front page. That has never happened before. I am glad DH was able to get a pic of me with only one chin showing.
Thanks Marciae. I am just trying to ease out of an all black life, so coats and accessories are important right now.
MaryPat

[lyra]

Wow, those are both so professional looking.  Bravo!

Is the weather stuck in between winter & spring for anyone else?  I really don't feel motivated to sew warm weather clothes with all the chilly days, but I've put away all the wool projects as well, because I keep thinking that winter is really over.   

[Saashka]

Hold on.... wait for me....
I am at least three pages behind in the previous thread and now there's a new one! There's always so much to read here and lately I've only had short snippets of time so I've been saving the SIPP thread for later.

I browsed through quickly, just to start catching up.
I saw lovely yellow things (lyra) - such a cute dress, love the whole family in yellow. It's a nice breath of spring (which needs to come here soon).
Susinok - your pants are looking great! PMB rocks, doesn't it?
MaryPat - beautiful coat and handbag! Great color combination.

I hope I didn't leave anyone out.

[Sew-4-Fun (Ann)]

MaryPat you look wonderful. That is a very nice picture of you.
Your jacket looks great and I too could "still" use it here too. (New Brunswick).
However it did go up to +5 C today. What a heat wave   Must mean we'll get snow soon  

[Liana]

MaryPat,  You look great!  Unfortunately, I could wear your coat here today, too!  We all seem to be having a cold spell that won't quit.  Surely spring will truly arrive someday soon.

[Diane Egelston]

MaryPat, wonderful picture! Tell your personal paparazzo that he did a great job! Love the bag and your coat is beautiful Even in the San Francisco Bay Area that coat would come in mighty handy. So..... when you're tired of it, let me know!

[BetsyV]

I'll have to go check the end of the previous edition too, but MaryPat let me first say how great your coat and bag are!

Today is the first day we DID NOT need a heavy coat, it finally got to 50F or thereabouts, although we are threatened with "wintry mix" overnight and tomorrow. Go figure!

[cmarie12]

MaryPat both the bag and coat are gorgeous!  As was Maisie's dress!  And yesterday it was in the low 60s - today the low 40s...like is spring EVER coming!  *said in my best teenage girl whiny voice!*

[Martha Domke]

I am so inspired by all of you, but just cannot get really into sewing right now.  What I would like to do is finish making up the fabrics I have acquired this last year or so.  Had lots planned, but not much accomplished.  I think having a new granddaughter has slowed down my interest in sewing for myself.

I picked up a couple of patterns for infant summer clothes.  But now---don't know what size to make.  Such decisions.

And besides that----it's snowing again!  Had rain most of the day, and about 4:30 it changed to a mix, and then just snow.  Someone mentioned a word that started with S-----could they possibly think it is even close to Spring?  We had about 8" of snow a few days before Easter, and I don't ever remember snow still being on the ground at Easter.  What a confusion of climate!!!

Also wanted to say what beautiful work you all have posted---coats, purses, kiddo clothes, outfit for yourselves,  Wonderful job "guys".

[mardel]

well, we got up to near 50 yesterday too, but it was a COLD 50, gray sky, windy, damp air, like it was about to rain but never did.  Today is cold and rain/snow alternating mix, mid 30's for the high supposedly.  Yuck.

Mary Pat, your coat and bag look beautifully done and the coat seems perfectly cosy about now.

[LisaB]

MaryPat, your coat and bag are terrific. Congrats on completing your UFO. 

I haven't put the wool projects away yet. I just completed another wool twinset last night (no pics yet) and plan to wear wool all next week. I'm headed to a conference, and even though it's down south, you know how cold those hotel/conference centers keep the conference rooms. I plan to be as cozy as possible.

[Marji]

MaryPat, your coat is beautiful. Isn't it nice too, to finish the UFO?

[sdBev]

Mary Pat
That's so gorgeous and looks very professional!

[lyra]

Kate is over here again (jumping on my sofa    ), so I let her pick out some fabrics for an Oliver + S puppet show dress. I told her "one top and one bottom fabric" and she came up with a pink flowered print, and a white eyelet embroidered in blue.  And a baby blue ribbon for a sash... I wasn't sure how it would all look, but it seems that it came out ok.  Here she is modeling her design.  Notice the "I can't take my eyes off the little bear tv show!!!!!" pose.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2368996173_083ac68a42.jpg

[AnnRowley]

Those of you with long memories may remember me wondering whether to make the latest Hanne Falkenberg knit.
Well I did and this is it.     
                                      Gloria - flared jacket with large collar in texture pattern

It uses H.F's usual 2 ply Shetland in three different colours, but an unusual stitch which gives a firm, quite thick textured fabric with two good sides.

Basically - and this info is for knitters  - using dp needles you knit row 1 using one of the three colours, then you start again, same side facing, and knit row 2 with the next colour, then row 3 with the third.
Now you turn the work and using all three colours together you knit back. This 4th row with treble yarn gives an interesting texture, different on each side.

It's all worked in one piece starting with the upper back and the final rows on the body have 500 stitches, which even on dp needles were quite tough on my hands.
The sleeves are worked with the "other" side facing to reflect the turn back of the collar.

I enjoy HF's designs because of the way the shaping is worked out and because they present a bit of a challenge.

The original design just wraps over but I felt this needed to fasten if I wanted to wear it outside.

You can see my thoughts on this and more details here.

I'm still not quite sure about the button though...

[Fran G]

Another beautiful sweater, Ann. My, my you are  so very talented! And, as always, it suits you perfectly! I can only dream.

[Sewellen]

Beautiful Ann! lovely drape on the jacket.  I might have to add this project to my "in box".

[marciae]

Beautiful jacket Ann!  What a wonderful sweater to look at as I drink my first cup of coffee!!  The texture looks awesome.  I "can" knit - but don't - so I sort of understand the color change.  It's a wonderful color.  I like the button closure - looks good to me!

[simonfreep]

It has been ages since I have had a chance to post to this thread.  I love keeping up with this thread due to all the wonderful creations that get displayed here, but life has intervened lately.  Hopefully I can post more often now. 

MaryPat, your coat is lovely and I hear ya on the desire to get spring underway here in Ontario (enough is enough already - go away winter!!)

Ann, another beautiful sweater - you always choose the perfect style lines for yourself - very flattering!

As for me, I have been trying to get my SWAP finished.  Here's one of my favourite pieces:


And, here's a close-up of the quatrefoil embellishment on the front:


I was inspired by a dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy - you can read more about it on my blog (if you're interested) -- here and here.

[lyra]

Oooh, the brown flower is really subtle and elegant.  Well done!

[cmarie12]

Ann ~ lovely sweater and I prefer the version where its pinned to the side!  Not liking you are asking...

Shannon ~ you know how much I love the JK Inspired by dress!  Thanks for sharing pictures of it here!

[Ann]

I got behind and had to read - we just got back to school from Spring Break this week and I have to echo the word Spring and where is it? Up in northern BC, it is cold and snowing - it snowed most of the past 2 weeks and we have a white world again. I am fed up with it. It has been -10C and this week a cold wind has accompanied it.

Mary Pat, your coat is gorgeous and I really like your handbag also.

Shannon, your dress is beautiful and the flower is also an interesting embellishment. You did a lovely job of putting it on and it is subtle elegance; very Jackie Kennedy.

Ann R. I love your sweater. When I looked at the picture, I thought it was chenille done in layers of black and tan and was surprised to read it was knit. Lovely job.

My big find this week - Sewing Magic that Liana mentioned. Someone mentioned a yahoo group on another thread, I put in a request and I got three books written by Barbara Hellyar. I am one happy camper as you cannot buy her books at Amazon.ca. I am still wanting to buy David Coffin's book on shirtmaking though so I can learn new tricks for my shirts.

Ann

[vtmartha]

Up in northern BC, it is cold and snowing - it snowed most of the past 2 weeks and we have a white world again. I am fed up with it. It has been -10C and this week a cold wind has accompanied it.
Ann

Ann, that cold wind is on a direct path to Vermont!  It snowed here all day yesterday and today is bitter cold with a North wind.  You can expect an increase in the price of this year's maple syrup - it's been too cold for the sap to flow!

[joan71]

Ann, when I see your lovely knit garments, I regret that I didn't pursue knitting more diligently.  However, I have way too much going on presently to enter into another realm of needlework.  Your sweater is positively gorgeous, with the interesting use of the yarns and the pattern.  As to the closing, I definitely believe the silhouette is much more to your style (and mine too)  if the front is lapped over.  Another top-notch wardrobe item for you.

Shannon, your Jackie O dress is magnificent.  Your perserverance to achieve perfection for the embellishment paid off.  It is wonderful.  By the way, I too succumbed to the wool crepe from Fabric Mart.  I bought 10 yards of one of the very light colors, that I am planning to experiment with dyeing it......not now, however.....it is spring time.  If we all say that 3 times together we can convince ourselves that is indeed that time of the year.

Joan

[vtmartha]

Ann, I have a 'long' memory!  Especially as that sweater caught my eye when you first mentioned it.  It turned out wonderfully!

[Liana]

Ann, Your sweater is beautiful and it looks so cozy and wearable as well as stylish in the extreme.  I had wondered if you were going to pop up in it someday and surprise us.  I remember your talking about it, and I thought it looked very much like your thing.  I like the button closure where you have it on the side, and I like it open too.  Thanks for the stitch info;  that's an interesting technique, and one I'm going to note.

Shannon, Such a pretty dress, and what a nice embellishment.  Your garments are always so interesting, and so well done.  Your SWAP has been great fun to follow, as always. 

Ann, (2 Anns today.  Confusing, but you know who you are! )  I'm so glad you were able to get the Hellyer books!  I only have 2, Sewing Magic and Tailoring Magic.  What is the third?  Do you have them yet?  What do you think?  They're not beautiful coffee-table books by any stretch of the imagination, but they are packed with good ideas and information.  I'm interested to see what you think.  I love her shirt cuff method, and have never seen it anywhere else.

[Saashka]

Wow! So many new pictures!
Lyra, the dress is darling. Kate is one lucky girl.
Ann R., gorgeous jacket! I love how the button picks up the colors of the wool.
Shannon, I love the subtlety of the embellishment. Your dress looks so... inviting... like it's saying "come on, wear me  "

[mardel]

Shannon, what a lovely dress.  It looks like something that will be a joy to wear.

Ann, what a beautiful sweater. I remember you mentioned this a while back and was eager to see how it turned out.  The details on the stitch are really interesting.  It looks really nice open and I like the way you showed it with the overlap as well. 

[DebbieF]

I wanted to show off my new HP Twinset.  I bought some of these patterns when they first came out, but never got around to using them.  I just recently bought quite a bit more, based on the beautiful illustrations.  Comes to find out that their sizing is just great for me.  I only have to add about 3/8 of an inch in the back length, and remove about 1/2 inch in the front armseye.  They fit great.  This is a just tad too big, and I think I'll go down one size for the next one.  I started the Cosmopolitan dress and started with a 12 in the neck and shoulders instead of a 14 and it fits much better. 

This is the first real sewing I've done for myself in such a long time.  I struggled for almost two years with fitting issues.  Who knew the answer was right in my pattern stash!  I have many, many more of these patterns to make up, and I actually am beginning to enjoy sewing again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11333991@N04/2371193183/in/photostream/

[MaryPat]

DebbieF- what a lovely twinset. The bands are beautiful. Were they difficult? The ivory and black is such a classic look. Gorgeous.
Shannon- Your dress has a beautiful timeless look to it. It exudes an aura of quality and refinement. I hope your mum is doing well.
Ann R- I don't know how you were able to choose a colour combination for that. All of them looked beautiful on HF's site. I must look at your Flickr album for the details when I have more time. Every time I wander over there I am lost for hours admiring your work.
Lyra- Another cute dress for Kate. I have so many pictures of my son with the same look about him. Usually he turns his head, but keeps his eyes trained on the TV/computer, etc. Kids are so funny.
Thanks all for the comments on my coat and purse.
MaryPat

[Liana]

DebbieF, Very nice twinset!  Those wide bands really give it an unusual look, and I like your color combination.  What kind of fabric did you use?  It looks like it worked beautifully for you.  And how nice for you to find that HP is such a good fit for you.  Knowledge is power! 

[simonfreep]

Thank you to everyone that had such kind comments about my dress.  I love coming here - there's always so much positive affirmation!

Debbie F - I love that twinset.  As Liana said, the wide bands give the duo a certain je ne sais quoi!

[vtmartha]

Debbie, I think the HP twinset looks great, too!  I've had the same experience with HP patterns, although I've had to make some length alterations.  I have been purchasing and storing them, afraid that it might be wishful thinking that I could wear them.  The first one I made was a Good Karma camisole.  It lived on my dress form for quite awhile until I got the nerve to wear it under an open jacket - it was wonderful!