Geometric jersey

 Also on my sewing table recently, has been a top for Eldest. Some time ago (probably this time last year), she saw a leopard print top the she liked, but wasn't available in her size.  She then saw some leopard print jersey in John Lewis for something like £22 a metre, so I found something 'similar' at the Fabric Fandango:

 

She really liked my New Top, tried it on and it almost fit! The neckline was very similar to the original  top she had seen. I recently traced the smallest size on the pattern sheet - only one size smaller than my top. I cut it out last week, possibly forgetting to add the seam allowance on the back neckline.... hopefully not.  I followed Fehr Trade's tutorial for sorting out the neckline again. I had to do the shoulder seams a couple of times to get it to look right, but I finished the whole thing a couple of nights ago. Eldest was pleased with it when I asked her to try it on, but a bit concerned about the rather low front, hence the white t-shirt underneath.

I was a bit cheeky and tried it on myself... I'm not sure I want to let her have it now!

On the intended recipient:

On me!

 

(I have realised since I wrote the New Top post, that I got most of the details of the top wrong.  It is in fact from MyImage, topM1152 from the fall/winter 2012 issue).

Burda trousers #105 11/2012

Well, so much for more regular posting!

I have actually finished Husband's Christmas shirt recently.  I had four seams to finish off which, although I had been putting off doing them, were not as fiddly as I was expecting. I also top stitched the seam allowance of the armholes which looks rather neat.  The shirt has now had a good pressing, and is hanging in the wardrobe waiting for it's next wear.

I have been to 4 of my sewing classes since my post pondering what I was going to sew.  I have decided on some trousers (#105) from Burda magazine issue 11/2012,

 in bluey grey polyester (probably) crepe:
 

I spent the morning before my first class going over the correct pattern pieces on the burda sheet with a highlighter (I'm sure I read this on Tilly's post on sewing tips, but it doesn't seem to be there). In the class I did all the tracing  and cutting out of the pattern pieces. We have lovely large cutting surfaces there, which means my paper doesn't slide off the table all the time! The second class I spent pinning out the pattern onto the material very carefully, then noticed that one piece was pinned on the wrong way round, so had to redo. I had to cut everything out before the next class, so I was crawling around the floor in the spare room. The fabric had to be in a single layer so a lot of floor space was used up!

Last weeks lesson was spent starting to baste all the pieces together to assess fit.  I thought when I was cutting out that I may have cut the wrong size, but I think I'll be alright (she said optimistically!) I spent today basting everything except the, er, crotch area.

I'm not sure about the trousers really.  They are not a style I normally go for, but they will stretch my skills somewhat. They have invisible zips at the bottom of the legs, a welt pocket at the back, and a flappy wrappy bit at the front, which will make putting the in zip interesting .  The fabric is going to be tricky to work with I'm sure, so both of these will be a good test. (That reminds me that I need to order an invisible zipper foot for my machine!).  I have nothing to go with these, should they turn out ok - but I am sure that could be remedied.