Saturday, April 9, 2011

Simple Sewing

If - as in the Buddhist tradition - difficult and challenging people are our best teachers, then I am being taught by pros at the moment. What this means is that I do not have the head space to complete a tailored jacket this month. I go into the sewing room, feel overwhelmed, and go to bed early.

I decided the only remedy was some very simple quick gratification projects, the kind that you wear to death and whip up in a couple of evenings. In short, knits.

This is Ottobre, 05-2007-12. Ottobre make it far too easy to back order copies, and what I was really after was the jeans pattern, but I got distracted with the promise of some easy sewing.

Ottobre knits fit me very well, and I love the fact that they use simple styles with small details to make them a little more special. This scoop neck top has balloon sleeves and side gathers. Here I am using up a piece of honeycomb merino I picked up last year at Global. You may even be secretly thrilled to learn I paid full price for it.

Balloon sleeve



Side gathers




I was going to make two of these actually - another in some black merino, which I picked up for a bargain price at Nicks (sorry about that) but one is enough. The final length of this top, which is quite long, actually limits what it can be worn with. Still, a top that can be worn with jeans is a mighty useful thing to have in this mum's wardrobe.
Posted by at
Labels:

19 comments:

  1. StephApril 9, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    It kind of sounds like you don't like Sherry. (which I'm sure is not the case) Heheheh.

    Knits always kick-start my mojo. I like yours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary NannaApril 9, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    I just reread this post with your interpretation in mind - Ha ! No no of course it has nothing to do with Sherry at all - this is all real world stuff.

    Sherry if you are reading this, I am book marking your posts to pick up again when my real life dramas simmer down a bit. I am SO grateful for the tutorials and the jacket will get done. Eventually.

    ReplyDelete
  3. HeatherApril 9, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I made that one up too and really like it! The sleeves ened up being really long on me(I believe it was due to my super stretchy fabric) so I went back and made them slim and shortened them. Now I really love it and wear it more often! I really like your version too! The side gathers show up better on yours. And I agree on Ottobre. Their top patterns always fit me so well!

    ReplyDelete
  4. SheryllApril 9, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Ha ha - I didn't interpret it that way at all! I couldn't face anything 'jacket' yesterday so made some trousers for some light relief, didn't quite work out that way though with six pockets!
    Your knit tops look great and just right now it's a bit cooler.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BeangirlApril 9, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    looks great! And practical. Which can't be a bad thing, right? And I totally agree with you on Ottobre... the more I sew, the more I find them totally impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. katherine hApril 9, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    So it happens to you too, huh? I thought jackets to you was like library bags to me.

    I like your t-shirt. If you ever made it again, I think it would also look great with a wide hem band on the bottom.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Miss SmithApril 9, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    Jacket schmacket, that top is something truly wearable, so I applaud this very good use of sewing energy.
    I like that pattern- frighteningly easy to backorder from Ottobre you say? That may be rather dangerous information.

    ReplyDelete
  8. KarinApril 9, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    I am a mom and tops like that with jeans are my bread and butter! I can totally understand needing to step back sometimes. After all sewing is a hobby for us. We are lucky enough to live in rich countries and not to work in sweat shops. Why create out own prisons!? Besides, you will need a few tops to wear under your new jacket anyway!

    ReplyDelete
  9. MiriApril 9, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Now I see how you've given it that lovely shaping. It must be the side gathers and that curved neckline is just right. I steer away from long tops because I can end up shapeless. Mind you, I wear just about everything with jeans...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Marie-ChristineApril 9, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Not just secretly thrilled but outward envious :-). I seem to be living in the land of synthetics. Sigh. Honeycomb merino is much more sophisticated than anything I've been able to get my hands on in years..

    ReplyDelete
  11. RachelleApril 9, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Chin up girl. Your top is absolutely fab :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. BerniceApril 9, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    I like your shirt. I think the shape of the neckline, sleeves and side gathers are all super touches. I'm also loving those licorice all-sorts around your neck.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Judy RossApril 10, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    I can totally relate to that. (I was going to do the sewalong as well, but life kind of got in the way. Later for sure.) At least you got a great top from the time and energy you did have! (I may need to borrow Keely's Ottobres....)

    ReplyDelete
  14. MyrnaApril 10, 2011 at 3:35 AM

    I've been feeling overwhelmed by "stuff" as well. One friend's advice was that sewing is your hobby - sew what you want when you want. Don't feel you have to. I thought that was good advice.

    ReplyDelete
  15. SewingadictaApril 10, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Relax, do not forget that sewing is a hobby, so when it becomes overwhelmed, this is not good .... Love your shirt, perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  16. JoApril 10, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    I love your top Mary Nanna! Very stylish but casual, just the right amount of detail in my opinion. I've never tried an Ottobre pattern but this could entice me. I have top envy ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. kbencoApril 11, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    It is very kind of you to admit that you paid full price for something. I was feeling quite the weak and willpowerless spendthrift for a while there ;). (I will just ignore that Nick's fabric bargain)
    Your tops are lovely. Personally I find knits quite tricky still.

    ReplyDelete
  18. GailApril 12, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Love your Buddhist wisdom - I needed that expression today. Love the top and I'm sure I'll like the jacket too when you get around to it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Big in JapanApril 13, 2011 at 3:05 AM

    Looks comfortable and very wearable, often overlooked qualities in sewing projects. I've been reading more and more success stories from Ottobre, I think I'll give them a try too.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)