Outfit – Page 5 – Hopefully Creative

Birdy Scarf

After my failed skirt project from the last post, I wanted something quick and easy that was useful and I could finish and wear quickly. Winter is coming (and/or arriving), which means that I’ve been layering up with a scarf daily again. One of my favourites is a double sided scarf from something cottony that is just a long loop. It has a blue and white plaid on one side and a different yellow and blue plaid on the other. I found that it wears really nicely and that you never have an end hanging in your food. Clearly I needed another and since I have a number of thin fabrics in the stash it seemed like a perfect solution.

Now, have you ever heard of the Dutch proverb (loosely translated) ‘A donkey doesn’t walk into the same rock twice’? Well, I’m most obviously not a donkey, I’m way, way worse. I tend to walk into the same thing at least… oh 5 million times. As I did now. I should have remembered from previous frustrating attempts that you cannot just turn something inside out and expect it to be good. I made a tube, but it was the wrong way round, somehow. Instead of it being a loop of birds on the inside and a loop of stripes on the outside, it turned out to be half a loop of birds on one side and half a loop of stripes on the other side. It also didn’t fit comfortably over my head anymore. So I gave up and chucked it into a corner.

Cue a few hours ago.. I unpicked one of the long edges, ironed out the other long edge and edgestitched around. Then I ironed the other long edge and folded both sides inwards and edgestitched those around too. Magic, I had my scarf. I used 65 cm and the full width of both fabrics for this scarf.

Just the coverage of something around the neck helps tremendously with the cold that’s coming. I need to see how the little birdies hold up, but I hope that this project will be successful. Both sides will show a little but they go with nearly everything (if you ask me, which you don’t but I’m telling you anyway), so I have high hopes.

Ceremonial Jumpsuit

Yesterday we opened the Academic Year. This is an event in which new students are welcomed to the community, and teachers show up in black gowns. I try to make a fun thing for the events that we do, but this time I wanted something different. I have been dreaming of a jumpsuit for a while now, and I figured that yesterday’s celebration would be a fine occasion (and necessary kick-in-the-butt) to get my ass in gear and get cutting.

I decided to check out my stash for some fabric. I eventually found some fabric that is very stable, but very stretchy in one direction. It was the only bit that I thought was large enough really, as it turned out, it was also perfect. The pants pattern I used is the free Helena Culottes pattern by Ralph Pink, which by now has seen numerous alterations. I started by cutting out the pants as frugally as I could, using some striped fabric as used before in a shirt as pocket fronts. I also changed the grainline a little, because in the past there have always been weird folds in the back leg. The size of the pocket opening was also decreased, significantly, and a bit of the top was left off.

For the top, I first gathered some inspiration on Pinterest (e.g. this and this and this). It was quickly determined that I should do a v-neck, preferably with some overlap and maybe even sleevesies (church event and all). So searching though my pattern stash, I found a pattern in one of my old Burda magazines with all those characteristics (Burda Style 11-2007, pattern 112). Unfortunately the pattern only came in a size 76 (size 38 for long people), and I’m both smaller than size 38 and short. On the pattern piece you can see three (or four) different line colours to distinguish between the different sizes to create an approximate size 36. I then pinned the overlap together at the center and pulled the points down until they would fit my front and not be overly large. Sewed that all to the waistband that I sewed on to the inside, such that the inside waistband would be clean finished.

I then added the second layer of the waistband and zig-zagged that on. I used a zig-zag stitch, because I found out that the fabric was so stretchy, that I was able to pull it over my butt without having to use closures! This makes it approximately the easiest thing to put on and be ready to go out. It’s easier than most knit dresses, as it has pockets!

The top is a little wide-set, so to not show bra straps (and it being.. 9 o’clock on the night before the event), I found some fur-hooks to hook the straps behind and keep them from view. They do double duty with keeping the top on my shoulders. Although I have to take care when putting bags over my shoulder as that can dig in.

So now for the full length view, in front of my closet. These pictures are unfortunately not the best ever. So I’m hoping that event photographers managed to get me once with some better light and stuff. I got a number of compliments (and people being surprised that I made it) which makes me very happy. It was worn to work today and it’s perfectly fine to do an entire day of office work in too.

Conclusion, I really, really like it and will enjoy wearing it in the future!

MMM ’16 Week 5

Week five had a crafty start and will not be seven days long. Lets see what that brings…

Blue striped shirt and leaves sweater
Comfort level: No pockets, but I made an external pocket for my mp3-player to listen to audiobooks all day while sewing.
Wear again: Only in the house.

Duck skirt and new blazer
Comfort level: Fine, the blazer is a little itchy but maybe some washing will help.
Wear again: Yes, maybe not together though.

Harry Potter and stripes
Comfort level: Easy.
Wear again: Yes.

Challenge:

Two days of non-pants? Since this week was only three days instead of seven and I still wore a non-pants outfit I’m calling this: Achieved
Five days of at least two me-mades? Since the week wasn’t five days, I am also calling this: Achieved

Week five has been survive(d)!

Conclusions

If I want my me-mades to be worn, I have to make sure that they have pockets. No pockets is severely limiting apparently. I also really like the variety that the different sweaters bring to me. This year was fairly easy because it was cold for most of the month and I had a number of sweaters to combine with different shirts and bottoms. I can definitely see that I prefer to wear pants & sweater combinations over non-pants. I’m guessing that that is because it feels colder with leggings than pants. I have, however, also found out that quite a few of the dresses I have made are comfortable and that I should re-start wearing those. There are some others that are better off in the attic or as a donation somewhere, since I don’t really enjoy wearing them.

Replacing my entire stash of bought t-shirts seems like a very feasible option currently and I see no qualms in also replacing the bought sweaters with home knits. I may still want to wear some bought jeans every now and again, although the made ones are also comfortable. I will see myself also continuing in making something new for graduation events. The one for June this year could theoretically already be worn, although the insides need some finishing and I need to find a way to incorporate pockets in some way, see above comments..

This Me-Made-May was very enjoyable and I liked participating. I also got to spread the word about sewing and people were regularly somewhat surprised about all the things I’ve made. This talking aspect was somewhat unexpected but still a pleasant side effect. Overall conclusion: Me-Made-May 2016, Challenge Achieved and Successful!

MMM ’16 Week 4

Week four started in the same outfit as the day before, at the larp event. When I got home on the Monday I changed into this:

I was cold, very cold and wet when I got home, so I wore the just in time sweater and striped shirt, with hood.
Comfort level: So warm!
Wear again: Yes.

A graduation dress.
Comfort level: Pockets! I wore it during roller derby practice, so it’s pretty good.
Wear again: Yes.

Green plaid pants and green sweater, apparently also the hood again.
Comfort level: Love this combination!
Wear again: Yes.

Not-me-made but new petticoat and test vintage pattern dress.
Comfort level: No pockets and the petticoat kept sagging a little.
Wear again: Maybe.

Kitty shirt and very old blazer thing.
Comfort level: Fine.
Wear again: Yes.

Ginny and blue shirt.
Comfort level: Warm.
Wear again: Yes.

Challenge:

Two days of non-pants? Achieved
Five days of at least two me-mades? Achieved

Week four is no more!

MMM ’16 Week 3

Week three started of interestingly without me getting a shot of my outfit, I guess I forgot.

I’m the one in the yellow helmet with a striped shirt. These were my sporting clothes, since I managed to forget a picture. I did wear other me-mades that day.
Comfort level: That bum padding is pretty nice when you fall backwards…
Wear again: Yes.

Paint splatter shirt, Harry Potter sweater and reversible hood (now camel instead of brown on the outside). It was cold in my house today, so wore the hood for the majority of the time I was home.
Comfort level: Toasty!
Wear again: Yes.

Forgot the picture, black sweater and paint splatter shirt,
Comfort level: Fine!
Wear again: Yes.

A graduation dress.
Comfort level: Pocketses, perfect.
Wear again: Yes.

Harry Potter sweater and double zipper skirt.
Comfort level: Pockets, nice!
Wear again: Yes.

Bicycle shirt and jeans.
Comfort level: Decent, the pockets in the non-me-made jacket are roomy.
Wear again: Yes.

Brown larp dress, grey larp shirt, larp apron and larp backpack
Comfort level: Getting better, I’m planning on a new, warmer dress.
Wear again: Yes.

Challenge:

Two days of non-pants? Achieved.
Five days of at least two me-mades? Achieved.

Week three has been set free!

MMM ’16 Week 2

The start of week two saw the whole quota of non-pants filled. I did have to do laundry to get some shirts back in rotation, but otherwise this week was fine too.

Duck skirt and knitted socks finished that morning.
Comfort level: Fine.
Wear again: Probably not like this to the outside world.

Some Winter Graduation dress and cover up.
Comfort level: No pockets.
Wear again: Not like this, I need pockets.

Eyelet sweater and bicycles shirt.
Comfort level: Good, not just a MMM pick.
Wear again: Yes, have worn it like this in the past and will continue to do so.

Jeans and Harry Potter sweater.
Comfort level: Very nice.
Wear again: Yes!

Jeans and bicycles shirt.
Comfort level: Very good.
Wear again: Yes! The bought sweater is a light weight cover for warmer days.

Dotted shirt and green sweater.
Comfort level: Fine.
Wear again: Yes, done so in the past too.

Otter

Today I visited Sea Life, there were otters, penguins and a multitude of fish. Life was good.

Penguins

Francis and a striped shirt.
Comfort level: Fine
Wear again: Yes.

Challenge:

Two days of non-pants? Achieved
Five days of at least two me-mades? Achieved

Week two is through!

MMM ’16 Week 1

Me-Made-May week one is over and done with. It’s wasn’t a struggle really, so that was good. There are some combinations that others may find questionable, but for me, it was fine.

Just blogged Gaia sweater and unblogged grey pants from .. forever ago. I think I may have also been wearing one of my woven t-shirts.
Comfort level: Fine.
Wear again: Yes.
Challenge: Achieved

Stripe clash to the max. It’s the Harry Potter sweater and the ducks skirts, I may have also been wearing one of my woven t-shirts.
Comfort level: Fine
Wear again: Yes

Warm weather sweater and grey pants, also added the pre-blog scarf because it was cold!
Comfort level: Toasty
Wear again: Yes

Plaid pants and leafy sweater. Combined with beige (?) plaid scarf. I like plaid.
Comfort level: Fine
Wear again: Yes, this is actually a staple.

Harry Potter sweater and dotted woven t-shirt. It was cold in the morning so I wore my pre-blog hood. Throughout the day it got warmer, so the hood and the sweater eventually had to go.
Comfort level: Fine
Wear again: Yes.

Spring 2016 graduation dress with me-made petticoat.
Comfort level: Really nice, the sleeves are good and I love the stretch
Wear again: Yes.

Cat woven t-shirt and grey un-blogged pants. It was hot out, and this combination was pretty cool-keeping
Comfort level: Nice!
Wear again: Yes.

Challenge:

Two days of non-pants? Achieved
Five days of at least two me-mades? Achieved
Note: I don’t count my watch as a me-made and I don’t count my winter coat, which I’m occasionally still wearing as a me-made either. If you would count those I would have been super successful.

Week one is done!

MMM ’16 Sign up

In the nick of time, I remembered to sign up for MMM ’16. More info on what Me Made May is, can be found on the original blog of So Zo. You can read my pledge below, it’s probably quite similar to last year’s pledge.

MMM16

What it means is pictures of me in real life (hopefully), wearing the odd combinations I pick out on a daily basis… So I apologize for my bad taste in advance!

Since I’ve started knitting more actively this year, I’ve actually managed to amass a pretty reasonable collection of stuff. I’m also sewing dresses for work events, but I have troubles sitting in dresses/skirts; Indian style and skirts don’t go well together. So I don’t wear them enough. This should change, for May at least. We’ll see if I can manage to get myself in tights often enough to honor the pledge…

Wish me luck!

Floral Party

Friday was the moment the Floral Party dress went out to play. Floral Party dress came into being because the first batch of students from work graduated. Graduation means a ceremony and a perfect excuse for a new dress. The dress needed three elements: a fabric, a pattern and a sewing machine. All those elements were new to me, and I’ll explain below.

How I wore it

How I wore it

Now, I’m usually not a floral person. In fact, I hadn’t even noticed that the fabric resembled something florally when I bought it. I thought it was just random smudges of colour, silly me. The fabric is stretch and has a seemingly waffle like texture to it, it felt very interesting and not something I’d really used before, so that was new. I had about 2 meters, maybe a little less of the fabric to make work.

Fabric

Second, the pattern. The pattern is called (I think) “Odkodowana sukienka” or “Decoded dress” from Papavero and can be found here. Now, this site is completely in Polish, and my Polish is *cough* very limited. It does however, have some very nice free patterns. There are no real instructions, apart from a link from someone else who made it, and the comment that the sleeves are tight. This was my first time with a Papavero pattern, so that was new too, but with a stretch fabric I figured not much could go horribly wrong. I decided to pick size 36 based on my measurements and sewed it up according to what I figured made the most sense. I added pockets, reduced the length of the back bodice about 2 cm in the centre and took at least 10 cm from the hem.

Front Back

The third element was the sewing machine. You see, I got this very old-looking sewing machine from my friends for my birthday. I didn’t know if it would work, or how it would work. So sometime in the past two weeks, I figured it was high time to get the machine out of the corner it had been stashed in since April. I googled the serial number, eventually finding a site (ismacs.net) that told me that V machines with my number were a type 15K and made in 1909. That’s old! With the model type I could YouTube a movie on how to thread and use it. So I did, and it worked! It might originally be a treadle, but I only used the hand wheel, so it is slow sewing. Very interesting to do for a change.

Singer Cluttered

This is the difference between how I should work (left) and how I actually work (right). Spot the differences..

I used the old singer for all the seams, apart from the waist seam. I figured the waist might need some stretch to be able to go over my head and stuff. The Singer is a pure straight stitch and cannot do the zig-zag necessary for stretchy seams, so I used the old machine for that. I didn’t overlock the edged since it wouldn’t ravel, and I’m not sure my serger is back to a decent stitch again.

Hem Scarf

I even hemmed it with the Singer. First stitching along the bottom edge, then cutting the 10 or so cm excess, and turning in the left over length and stitching again. I like that hem and I think it is either straight, or longer at the back. While I like the dress in general, I do think it benefits from something to break it, so that’s why I’ve added the scarf.

Verdict: another successful and comfortable Graduation Dress!

MMM ’15 Week 4 and the end

During the last bits of May, many knitted projects were worn. I seem to like them a lot.

Both the grey pants and the holey sweater made an appearance on this work day.

On the way to my parents house I wore the Harry Potter sweater again, which I apparently only wrote a draft post for, I’ll update it soon enough. I’d packed mostly me mades to be able to wear them in my mini-holiday.

Pre-blog grey pants and the Harry Potter sweater again. However, it was so hot that day that most of the day was spent without said sweater but with a lot of sun screen.

Pentecost Monday, double threat of grey sweater and a striped shirt.

I went to the Efteling, the Dutch Disneyland. Due to heat I shed the grey sweater during the day, but kept on wearing the striped shirt and green pants.

Simple jeans and hole sweater. I still really like this combination.

The January 2015 graduation dress. I think there may have been a group visit at work or something like that.

An occurance of the queen’s shirt. I really like this one. It’s comfortable.

The tester dress! I enjoy wearing this one, although I’m not sure the white tights are a good match.

I think I forgot to take a picture of the actual outfit, so you see part of the coloured pyjamas that I’ve been wearing for part of May, the fake fur cape and the Harry Potter sweater.

All in all I enjoyed forcing myself to wear me-mades, even the dresses and skirts. It does take some getting used too, but I definitely see that I prefer to wear sweaters, pants and shirts, even though I prefer to make dresses and skirts for some reason. I should definitely continue rotating the leg-less outfits into daily wear and should knit some more sweaters to wear. I’ll show you the first failure of the resolution with the dress I made for graduation tomorrow.

Category: Outfit

Birdy Scarf

Ceremonial Jumpsuit

MMM ’16 Week 5

MMM ’16 Week 4

MMM ’16 Week 3

MMM ’16 Week 2

MMM ’16 Week 1

MMM ’16 Sign up

Floral Party

MMM ’15 Week 4 and the end

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