Simplicity 2215: skirtastic!

I have made the dress version of this pattern, but it is not fit to share, so instead I worked up this skirt before getting back to the arduous task of fixing the dress.

Look how cute this fabricis? I just love it. It's ok for a 30 year old woman to wear polka dots right?

So dodgy Tanya.  tsk tsk

It came together quickly, which I attest to having done it before. The zip is a bit dodgy, it wasn't feeding through my invisible zipper foot properly and I didn't go back to fix it. Shame I couldn't find (ie. was in too much of a rush to source) a black zip. The zip caused me a small amount of grief as well because when I put the pocket in on that side, I somehow got all the bits uneven so I had an uneven seam. I ploughed ahead in any case, promising to take extra care next time.

A 'design feature' of this pattern is the uneven pleats, which I don't mind even though others think it looks messy. I don't think you can tell really. Well, I did start to try to work out how to make them symmetrical (like Andrea), but the math hurt so I went with the pattern as is.

The only mod I made was using a button and a loop rather than a hook closure as called for, mainly because for some reason my waistband was a bit on the small side and I didn't get a lot of overlap :(  I also did the hem using this blind hem stitch technique and am quite pleased with the outcome. Oh, and I lengthened the skirt by like 2 inches because I am a prude.

At the end of the day, I've probably said a bit too much about what seems to be a fairly simple skirt! I like it and am hoping it gets lots of wear!  And check out them pockets!

Pattern: Simplicity 2215, view C, size 18.
Fabric: Quilting Cotton from Lincraft. Don't judge!
Notions: invisible zip, button, ribbon for button loop

Skills acquired:

• stitching in the ditch!
• my first waistband!
• button closure with loop thing!
• blind hem stitch!

~Tan

getting acquainted

Attempting to channel Liesl with the fuzzy project picture.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?

I know last week I said I was being project monogamous with Hanami, but I think this counts.  See, hanami is a wedding gift for a friend, and Safety Scarf is the accompanying gift for the groom - so there's no cheating!

I'm getting acquainted with Stephen West for the first time.  Already really enjoying this pattern, it has icord edges?  How freaking clever!  I'm enjoying the simple back and forth (compared to recent cardigan shenanigans and hanami) but with enough variation to keep it interest.  And 10ply!  I'm in heaven!

~Tan

p.s.  Let's be serious, my photos will never be that fancy.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)

Simplicity 2120: sew it begins

I finished this a while but just got some picturs!  This is my first ever proper finished sewed item that is wearable! I'm pretty flippin' happy really.

Yes, the fabric is a bit much, and yes it's fairly shapeless, but still! I'm quite pleased!

One particular thing I learned, sewing is hard! Simple as this pattern is - it was hard. I don't know what I was expecting. I totes thought there was a natural seamstress inside me, and while I still believe she's in there somewhere, it's going to take some coaxing (and practice) for her to shine through!

So arty! 

Anyway, I give you Simplicity 2120 aka sack dress. I need to comment that Simplicity let the team down by not calling this line "It's sew easy". Tsk tsk Simplicity.

My largest mistake: not realising that the front piece had a centre seam. Rookie misunderstanding the pattern. I submit in my defence that this was easy enough to do, as the middle of the front piece is a straight line, leading me to assume that I was supposed to cut 1 on the fold. Why wouldn't you?  Weird.  Anyway, this meant my dress was oversized by an extra 2 seam allowances. I've since seen a few sewists generally eliminate this seam, imho rightly so, as what purpose does it serve? And I would have had a heck of a time matching up the fabric!  The back matched up nicely without my even thinking!  Nice!

As you can see it's very shapeless, though it does have teeny tiny bust darts. But a great pattern for a beginner, indeed, "so easy". I had to take mine in an inch on each side because I was swimming in it. I'm not sure if this was due to my aforementioned misreading of the pattern or the fact that you are essentially making a sack. I cut out the size suggested for my measurements, and didn't even look at the finished garment sizing.

Pleats!  And epic failure to match the fabric at the shoulder seams! Yay! 

As I said, I'm pretty damn proud of my first ever completed garment. With a little belt I think it's even wearable, even though the fabric channels some sort of intense Dorothy Gale.

Pattern: Simplicity 2120
Fabric: Cotton drill from Spotties.

Skills acquired:

• I sewed a freaking dress people
• Making a dress from a pattern
• Pleats!
• Bust darts!
• Neck and arm bands cut on the bias (which is the tightest shit ever, bias cut fabric is STRETCHY! Who knew eh?)
• Learning terms like 'selvedge' and 'bias'

~Tan

365: 181-200

I think I'm finally up to date! And over half way! Whee!

Can you tell where most of my crafting energies have been these past 20 days?

181. Two more horses picked up for my matchbox carousel!
182. Skulduggery Pleasant. Book 8. Get ready for your insides to be torn usunder.
183. Postal voting is the best kind of voting.
184. Grafitti.
185. Another #noveltybroochfriday! Neigh!
186. Actual things Tony Abbot has said. Gross.
187. Fabric shopping!
188. My ripple will probably be finished in the year 2387
189. Sleeping kitty.
190. The first time stitching in the ditch. I was pretty excited I had to capture it in pictures.
191. My hanstan canister collection
192. Kitten inna box!
193. Epic rainbow over Melbourne. The best thing was there were about 20 people taking photos too. OMG never seen a rainbow before!
194. I love me some gothic looking chruches.
195. Hanami looking gorgeous.
196. Stephen West and I finally getting acquainted.
197. Lovely early train.
198. I will never be as awesome as Gertie. But I can try.
199. BUY ALL THE FABRICS!
200. Sending out some postcards. Foreigners seem to love these tacky Aussies ones for some strange reason.

~Tan

Quarter

I may not have blogged about crafting recently, but I assure you there is tonnes going on. Not a day goes by that I don't get some crafting in.

I'm trying to be project monogamous at the moment. Hanami is a wedding gift for a dear friend, and by George it will be complete on time! It has taken me a while to become confident with the pattern, but after 5 repeats of the basket weave chart, I'm feeling good. Not don't-need-a-pattern good but I-can-tell-if-I've-fucked-up good. And that's a thing.

I'm enjoying watching it grow, and now that I have worked on it conistently, it has grown quite quickly. I couldn't imagine it as a scarf before, but now it's about a quarter done I'm feeling optimistic and confident that this piece will be one of the most beautiful I've ever made. Can you tell I'm pleased with myself?

~Tan

p.s. Before posting I looked up to see where the exclaimation "by George!" came from. Because I'm nerdy like that. You're welcome.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)

Tanya does movies: August

I nearly forgot about the movies!  Whoops!  Here's what I watched last month, kitty-style.

This is the End (2013)
A lot funnier than I expected.  Low expectations = enjoyment from a movie.  Quite filthy, utterly ridiculous, so wrong you can do nothing but laugh.  Amazeballs ending as well.

Inferno / Desert Heat (1999)
Van Dammmme!   This was not his best work.  Wow.  I made it through, but it felt extremely laborious.  Don't get me wrong, this was a fun movie to watch, but purely for the bad acting and terrible storyline.  The sex scene was the funniest thing I've ever seen.  Check it out.

Texas Chainsaw (2013)
There've been a bunch of TC movies, but I thought this one was particularly good!  It continues on directly from the original movie, so you get to see what happened to the Sawyers.  Never mind that the actual timing is off!

The Purge (2013)
I have not been so disturbed by a movie in a long time.  Just the premise of it spooks me.  Imagine - one night every year laws are suspended.  You are allowed to do anything.  Eff that!  Very good movie!

The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
I quite liked the first movie, in that I thought it did a good job representing the characters. Well, I liked this group of actors even more. Jenna from 30 rock did a fantastic Betty, and there was a Baldwin in it!  Also I am a huge fan of Kristen Stewart, she is comedy gold.

Epic (2013)
A cute movie in the vein of Ferngully.  Nice enough but I wouldn't call it epic per se.  Lots of cool voice actors though (Colin Firth!).

Pain and Gain (2013)
Really liked this one, The Rock (he will always be The Rock ok?) was freaking hilarious.  Made all the better because it's apparently based on a true story.  Fast paced and funny, even if really shocking what these crazy body builders did.

The Great Gatsby (2013)
So I only just read the book recently (well, listened to an audiobook anyway) and I'm really not one to go into all the symbolism etc so I didn't really get the book.   I don't like stories that don't actually have a story, like, not much happens?  Well, I suppose people die, but really stupidly I thought.  Worth a watch because it was of course beautiful.

Short Circuit (1986)
Johnny Five is alive!  Haha this movie kicked ass!  Super fun movie, the robots were really cool!  All practical, no CGI.  It had all the elements of a crazy 80s adventure movie, with chases and lame jokes and romance and incompetent security guards and Steve Guttenberg.

The 6th Day (2000)
Love watching Arnie movies I haven't seen before.  This movie kicked ass!  I don't know why I hadn't seen it before.  I liked the baddies that could keep coming back in clone form.  It had a bit of a Total Recall vibe, but different enough.  I've yet to watch an Arnie movie I didn't like.

Iron Man 3 (2013)
We bought this on blu-ray so of course it needed to be broken in.  RDJ is just the best.  His face and all that.

Olympus has Fallen (2013)
The President is the dumbest, seriously.  Totes giving in to the terrorists.  And never send your best bodyguard away, my lord.  Pretty good action movie, as far as action movies go.

And the pick of the month??  Short Circuit!!!

~Tan

365: 161-180

Ye gads I'm behdind on my self-imposed photo-a-day challenge by about 7 days! unforgiveable! Just about half way though, that's exciting. I'm stil enjoying the challenge, even if I've been a bit forgetful of late.

161. Visit to Morris and Sons.
162. My sewing machine!!
163. Pretty flower. What is is? I want to say something starting with C...
164. EB4L
165. Have you tried this chocolate. It's freaking delicious.
166. Playing some old school Mario Bros 3
167. Sewing is hard.
168. Cute postcard promoting this breast cancer initiative. I would not have guessed it.
169. Colin Mocherie 4 lyfe.
170. Mutant strawberry.
171. Miette coming to lyfe.
172. Participating in novelty brooch friday!
173. Whoops, another yarn store. Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 lyfe.
174. On the way back from Bendigo, Vanilla slice from Woodend. Actually lyfechanging!!
175. The Kitten, oh and my Miette for a change...
176. Cutie mini fox canvas. Speaking of foxes, have you joined the Foxy KAL?
177. Enjoying my coffee while the lady cops take out the trash - in their divvy van!
178. Pretty umbrella intallation at Austrlia on Collins.
179. Novelty brooch friday again!
180. Flowering succulents. I didn't even know they were the flowering type!

~Tan