On the Move

We are finally moving into our recently purchased and newly renovated apartment this weekend and I cannot wait.  I'm really happy with how it's all turned out - I think we only kept one of the original internal walls so it's quite a change.  My little custom designed sewing studio/occasional guest bedroom is just right for me and I can't wait to show you that next time.  

Meanwhile, just to give myself more stuff to move I went on a fabric shopping spree with a friend who is leaving Hong Kong shortly - she forcibly dragged me there I tell you.  This is the fabric market in Sham Shui Po - it's either heaven or hell depending on your mood and the weather, but the prices are unbelievably cheap so now and again it's worth a trip.  There are around 8 long aisles piled floor to ceiling like this with totally random stuff.  I think it's basically excess purchased from garment factories in HK and China so you can find some interesting things if you are prepared to dig!

Here's my booty, I've already given one piece as a gift and made the brown and pink paisley up into another version of the dress from my last post - I will take pictures of that after the move.

BWOF 05/2009 - 114 Dress

Firstly thank you so much for the encouraging comments on my jacket, it definitely spurs me on to keep trying new things and be a bit braver with colour and details.

Now you only need to look at this blog for 5 minutes to realise I am not one for planning my sewing.  However as I have been looking at everyone's projects it's clear that I needed/wanted the following;

- clothes for dealing with Hong Kong summers, I'm always unprepared

- more colour and prints

- more dresses

Well tick, tick and tickety-tick, here is a great little summer dress from BWOF that I can see me making again.  

On the hanger (can't wait to get my dressform out of storage - 10 days to go!)

On me - this is a night shot and I can't decide if it's easier to see the details with or without flash so here's both.

This is very easy to make, the pattern is supposed to be cut on the bias and I didn't have enough fabric for a bias layout, but this is a stretch cotton so I figured it would be OK.  It does look closer fitting on me than the model but I think that is more my, erm non-model shape than the bias vs straight grain.  

I used a self fabric drawstring in this version, and remembered to read the cutting instructions this time so I could add in the right seam and hem allowances.  However I didn't read the sewing instructions and incorrectly put in the zipper before adding the neckband, so I had to finish the top of the band with 2 hooks and eyes.  Bit fiddly to do up myself, but better than taking out the zipper I thought!

BWOF 04/2009 - 116 Jacket Finished

Finally!  Here's a reminder of the pattern;

Back in February, Sigrid made a lovely BWOF linen blouse/jacket and was wondering whether she should line it or not. I remember commenting that it would probably be quicker and easier to line it to get a neat finish on the inside. So why did I not take my own advice and instead choose to omit the lining in this jacket? That was definitely a question I was asking myself while putting this together, but basically I wanted it to be a light summer jacket that I could throw in the washing machine.

So after much hair loss here is the finished jacket, it's in a bright green linen (I am trying to inject more colour into my wardrobe this year) with white plastic buttons and white topstitching. My button spacing is a bit unconventional but this is what worked best for me!


The inside is finished in a whole bunch of ways depending on what would be obviously visible if I wore it open, which I will most of the time.


Overall I am happy with how this jacket turned out, it's a well drafted pattern, as we've come to expect and the instructions even make sense!


I feel like I have got good use out of my April issue and now plan to move onto May and try out some dresses.

Q's, A's, Bits and Bobs

Thank you for all the comments on my recent reviews, it's always interesting reading them and there were a few points I thought I would post here;

Khaki Skirt 04/09-101

There were a few comments regarding the zipper placement.  Excellent suggestions to move the zip to one of the existing panel seams instead of creating a new centre back seam.  I guess the final choice depends on your own figure type, I would put the zip wherever you are least curvy - for me that's what causes problems if I try and put a skirt zipper in the side seam.  I also have a couple of skirts with side seam zips that are too big for me now and the thought of altering them is no fun at all - you practically have to take apart and remake the whole thing!

Robyn asked if this would be flattering for pear shapes.  Absolutely yes - it's neither a straight skirt or a full a line.  If you cut wide seam allowances it's easy to fit as you go on the many panel seams to get the skirt fitting closely where you need it to to flatter your figure.

Silk Top 04/09 - 122

Cindy asked if there was a lot of silk available in HK.  Yes lots of it, although the price and quality varies enormously and you do need to check that what is being sold as silk really is.  This particular green print came from a fabric market called Western Market which is generally quite expensive, but great quality.  I think they told me it was an Armani fabric at the time, but you have to take these comments with a huge pinch of salt!

Blue dress 02/09 - 124

Lindsay T came up with the great suggestion of making this with a contrast bodice which I may just do, and Sherry V wanted to see the back view.  While in our temporary apartment, I've got no dressform, no tripod and have to balance the camera on random bits of furniture so please bear with me on the photo quality for now.

And finally, I am now working on the linen jacket, also from 0409 BWOF.  The weather was foul all weekend so I made a good start on the sewing though I still have all the fiddly bits to do.....

BWOF 04/2009 - 101 Skirt Finished

Amanda was right - this is a great pattern although I can't quite put my finger on why as it's actually a very simple design.  I think it has just the right amount of flare, plus all those section seams make it easy to finetune the fit.

I made this in a khaki cotton twill and added the topstitching, but omitted the patch pockets so mine is a hybrid of views A & B.  I also added a centre back seam and moved the zip from the side to the back - just my personal preference, I think they hang better and are easier to fit.  I added the recommended hem allowance but found the skirt to be shorter than I would normally wear so ended up having a small hem, just something to watch out for if you have long legs as I definitely don't!

It should be a very simple skirt, but I found the front facing directions a bit confusing, I'm not sure if I did it right, although it looks OK.  

I ended up with the centre front panel facing being stitched down so I had to do the same with the side fronts and attach them at the panel seams.  Here are views of the inside, probably easier to show than to explain.