Ottobre Sewing & Prize Drawing

At the end of 2004, I discovered Ottobre Design Patterns and not long after ordered a subscription.  It was the best decision I'd ever made.  I love their patterns, love the style and the multi-sized patterns that come with each issue. 

Dress: Ottobre 2/2005 # 3
Capris: Ottobre 2/2005 #8

Dress: Ottobre 1/2005 #18
Hat: Wild Things
Undershirt: Ottobre 4/2004 #33
Leggings: MacPhee #435

Here are two of the items I made from my first few issues I received.  I love that so many of the patterns have such simple lines and are so easy to change up...

I have made the dress from 2/2005 a number times...

And that brings us to the current issue
The most recent woman's issue has some wonderful items in it. I am impatiently waiting for my issue (truthfully I'm still sewing from previous issues, so if I get a move on I can start items from this once it arrives...). Ottobre Design is currently running a draw on their blog. The prize sounds wonderful!

Today's Progress

The box of stuff I have cut out...

• shorts (1pr for each girl)
• skorts (1 for each girl)
• back to school dress for my youngest
• back to school skirt and blouse for oldest daughter
• tshirt and pants for my son
• two tshirt remakes for my husband

This is my dress. It is started, darts have been sewn, basted, test fit, basting pulled out and the skirt has been sewn together on one side. Now to sew the bodice together, then to add the skirt

My sons new back to school top. From the latest Ottobre - more info once the pants are finished.

And two bread bags out of Australian fabrics (birds and flowers) as well as a newly covered food cover.

The blankets I embroidered for my mom.

Quilting

I'm joining Christina over at A Few Scraps on a Free Motion Quilt along. Hopefully I can keep up with the Quilt-Along!


First I dug through the fabric bag looking for fabric. The fabric chosen was all given to me, and some isn't of the best quality, but for this I'm not worried. My daughter sewed the small and medium pieces together, I did the cutting and ironing.

I don't have anything here for a backing or batting so will wait until I am home to get those out.

Treats from Finland

My husband is currently travelling for work in Finland.  He travels home tomorrow and sent me some photos of items he purchased for me... The wovens were bought by the metre, the knits are remnants and bought by the kilogram. And the magazines are in various languages... One English, one Spanish, one German and he thinks the BurdaPlus is in Sweedish... I'm looking forward to "reading" and sewing from all of these.

Some knit remnants

Some wovens

Magazines

A mystery?

I wonder what is in this bag?

Camisole & Dress Progress

Camisole
Originally uploaded by l3designs

Using up the extra rayon-lyrca from my tshirt, I managed to cut out this camisole. The straps does have a seam at CB because I was a little short on fabric!

I joined pieces 2/3 and 4/5 to make the lower front and back each one piece. I ended up with it a little loose around the hips, but otherwise I like it!


The dress has been cut out. I will serge the seam allowances...

It is taunting me....

Fabric ready to cut out...

Loveliness Dress, Ottobre 2/10 #16
Its sitting on the table, the pattern is traced, altered and laying out ready to be cut. I will now go cut out my dress!

The only question is how to finish the seams. I think that has been what has delayed my cutting so far... I can't use french seams and insert an invisible zipper in the side seam... Guess I could serge them, but for dresses for the girls, I have started doing french seams and a hong kong finish on the centre back seam -- and really enjoying the process...

I've thought about just serging the seams, but would rather have nicely finished seams. So the fabric sits, holding me hostage -- I can't cut it out until I know what size seam allowance to cut...

I'd ask for suggestions... but realized I don't have any fabric to finish the edges to do Hong Kong Finishes. So I will serge! I think I will serge each piece separately and press open! So I will cut 1/2" seam allowances. Dilemma solved.

A new TNT Pattern

A new TNT Pattern
Originally uploaded by l3designs

OK this is my new TNT tshirt pattern! Ottobre 2/10 #9 without the ruffles on the sleeves!

Modifications on this version - bound neck and sleeve edges, changed neckline to a soft V shape.

The fabric is a beautiful rayon-lyrca knit I found at my local Fabricland in the $4 clearance section when it was on 50% off! I picked up 1m, and have enough left over for a camisole and panties...

Kwik Sew 2723

To test out the shorts pattern for KS 2723 I traced, then cut them out in the same fabric as the PJ top I recently made myself.

I generally find that kwiksew patterns tend to run about 1 size larger than the envelope suggests based on measurements. These ended up being a good fit, even if I got the grain different between the top and bottoms for this PJ set... Oh well I wasn't planning on wearing them outside of the house. They are a great set of PJs, if a little warm for the summer.

Tshirt Remake

Original Top - April 2009
From My Sewing and Crafting

In January 2009 I made the following top, but didn't post a photo until I finished my jeans in April 2009 - Jeans.

And this past week I remade the shirt into something that would fit now. I used Ottobre 2/10 #9 and did add about 1.5" more ease at CF as I needed it to get it to fit onto the older tshirt, and then I gathered it into the neckline.
I also lowered the sleeve cap and shortened the upper bodice between high bust and the shoulder.

New Top -- August 2010

My daughters are sewing & crafting today...

My 4yo wanted to sew her dolly a dress and then so did the 7yo. The 7yo is also trying to crochet today.

Closeup
Originally uploaded by l3designs

Here is a closeup of the neckline and sleeve edging for my recently finished Katherine top.

Ottobre 2-2010 #9 Katherine

Ottobre 2-2010 #9 Katerine
Originally uploaded by l3designs

I wanted to check out the fit of this top... I haven't made myself much since losing over 100lbs and really need a new TNT pattern. This fabric is a lovely cotton-lycra knit (a nice heavier weight), the print really isn't me but its great for PJs!

Pattern Description: Katherine Stripped Top
Pattern Sizing: European sizes 34-48
Fabric: A cotton-lycra heavy knit

Modification: Lengthened 7.5cm, skipped the sleeve ruffles, added same detail on sleeve hems as on neckline

Comments on fit: I don't really like the puffed sleeve for everyday, so will either find another pattern for a TNT pattern, or change the sleeve. Also this top gapes at the neckline a little so I will be doing two modifications... first I will be shortening above the armscye about 1cm on the front and I will also pinch out about .5cm in width at the top of the CF seam

Conclusion: This top is quick and easy to sew... A great wardrobe basic, with a different neckline.


And for a close up of the neckline see: