Review: My Image SS 2012

And MY final copy of My Image magazine - Spring/Summer 2012. You can read the other two reviews of this magazine here and here.

This issue has my two favourite patterns out of all three magazines. The rest of the patterns I find nice but none that immediately jump at me. But as a whole issue, this is the one I'd recommend myself to buy (if I didn't already own it). But that's just me talking to me.

So lets see.

First up with have a nice semi-wrap dress with a bottom frill. I like the concept of the dress but I don't think this would work well with my body shape. I think it would emphasis my hips. Not sure though. I might make it if I have extra knit sometime.

This dress is easy and all of these fabric choices are beautiful! That orange tree one is spectacular! How do I purchase that? (Hint: in the magazine each page zoomed in photos of piece details and tell you where you can buy the fabrics/notions on each item! How amazing is that?!?!) Too bad this magazine in European so I won't be getting my hand on that fabric any time soon sadly. But the dress is beautiful. 

Plenty of items on display in this photo. First we have the Coat. It is a fine coat, but nothing spectacular to me. I don't really like the cross over at the top as it just makes it look like you started to sew crooked. I doubt many would agree with me though. Next up is the Dress Simple dress with ruching I think? I can't tell by the models clothing ro the technical drawing but I'm guessing it is ruching of some sort. But anyways, nice but not something I'd make. Next up are the mittens and the bag - Those mittens are adorable and I am certainly going to make them. Line them with fuzzy fur fabric! mmmm I love winter mittens. The bag I'd skip but its nice that they included accessories in this issue.

This is my first favourite item out of this issue - the Jacket. I absolutely adore the shape of the lapels and that it has a hidden button. I think it looks really great. I don't think it would lend itself to a large bust too well, but I don't really have to worry about that. I also love that they used a stiffer wool looking fabric as well as a drapier patterned fabric. Shows you how it sits in the different fabric weights. Very nice. And a very very basic skirt. 

And this is my second favourite pattern of the magazine - TROUSERS! Look at that STYLISH pleated design feature! I don't think I have ever said that pants are one of my favourite patterns until now. They just look incredible in both the technical drawing and the green pair that the first model is wearing. The pink ones hide the pleating, but the green ones are the perfect blend of sporty and stylish. Love them. Onto the other patterns. The packet actually looks cute on these models even though I wouldn't make a crop jacket for myself. The large ruffled dress & top are definite no's - I greatly dislike the shape of them and it oddly reminds me of fish scales. Yuck.

Next up we have a  vest which looks like a great casual Casual-Sunday-reading-my-book-in-a-little-nook piece. And these trousers are poopy-pants trousers - lots of extra material around the hips and butt which is a definite no-no for me. If I was tall and lean they might be alright, but as for my current proportions I think not. The jacket is a shorter peplumed version of the long coat up top and again the slanted buttons just don't look right to me. I love a good asymmetrical zipper, but this just looks off. And finally we  have a little hat with a flower detail. Again, line this baby with fur and I'll love it forever!

Last in the issue are three items I have no desire to make: a pair of winter shorts (which they've sewn with fur-lined hems- really?) a basic shirt and a shawl. There is nothing WRONG with these patterns (The shorts I might make for summer but I am not a shorts type of person. But considering this issue is based more on winter attire - the shorts are NOT practical for this Canadian girl. Even with fleece tights. 

So added to my imediate sew list are the jacket and even more so the trousers with the pleat details! LOVE them. What do you think of this issue? Worth it? Would you wear fur lined shorts in winter?

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Grey Wool Circle Skirt

I have always loved the cold weather. I love to bundle up, wear fleece tights and wool accessories to keep warm. So when I found this luxurious 100% grey wool coating for the incredible price of $5/metre I knew it had to be mine. The thickness of it, the soft, furry touch of it, and its colour. It was all perfect material in my eyes.

Since I do love the cold weather, I wanted to make this wool coating into day wear instead of outter wear. Was it possible? It has great drape for a heavy wool coating, but I knew it probably wouldn't take darts without adding substantial bulk and gathers would NOT be happening in this without added 50 lbs to my waist line. And forget that right? So I opted for a simple circle skirt with waist band.

This circle skirt has no side seam. I cut it all as one piece. I love the thought of an endless piece of material. AND no seam means no bulk. That works for me!

I added a metal zipper because I prefer the look of them. I wanted to make it a full exposed zipper but realized that I am still terrible at adding zippers so I ended up with a slashed opening basic zipper insertion. Easy for me. It does cover my metal zipper a bunch, whereas I wanted it full exposed, I am just happy that it turned out as not a hot mess.

There is a small sprinkling of snow of the ground and taking these pictures sans fleece tights wasn't my brightest idea. It was cooooooooooold. And we all know that a circle skirt loves to keep it breezy. And Breezy it was. You can't see it but I have many many goosebumps.Maybe the staunch white colour of my legs is testament to the last time these gams saw the sunlight eh?

Here's to a beautiful winter of fleece tights and wool garments!

Fabric: 100% Wool Coating
Cost: 5$/metre - 0.75m Used
Pattern: Self drafted Circle Skirt with waist band

ps. I still have 2 metres of this wool fabric. I'm thinking a beautiful dress next!

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Review: Burda Style Magazines Year 2011

So while I was perusing eBay the other day I came across a seller bulk selling Burda Style for the year 2011. I jumped on the chance to own them all. I went to own ALL the things. So I started bidding with my max bid at $60. For 12 Magazines, I figured that is reasonable. Well I won. And Priority mail got to work and the package was delivered 3 days later - to the USA/Canada Border. Cheaper than shipping into Canada. I jumped in my car cranked the Phantom of the Opera and took a little drive to the Border. Went to a coffee house, ripped open my box (more like struggled desperately with tape looking like an idiot in the process). FINALLY got into my box of glorious magazines and devoured them while sipping a Maple Mocha.

12 magazines later and I must say that I do love Burda Style patterns. But I realized that I only like a select few of them. I like those specific patterns crazy amounts, but only a few. So to summarize. I thought I'd create this post including photos of every pattern that I like out of each month of 2011. mmmm pretty photos.

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It's a Snoody Day in the Neighbourhood

While I was in Melbourne, Australia I found that the city has this incredible artistic vibrancy about it. The city pulsates with culture and stimulates all those who enter it. I wanted to be a part the drama, a part of the colour. I scoured the independent designer shops, the thrift stores, and found fabrics galore. But another part of the city I wanted to be involved in was learning a new craft. I immediately signed up for a knitting course.

Every year I beg my grandmother to knit me another pair of mittens. I love knitted mittens. Line them with fur and they are perfect for Canadian winters. The colour options, the yarn texture, the designs. Knitting has always been so beautiful to me. I always knew I should learn but never considered taking a course on it. I'm so glad I did. It was casual and fun. There was tea and laughter involved. It was splendid. I felt like I was gaining so much from Melbourne. Melbourne was sharing its passion for the arts with me. 

But, I arrived back in Canada in a midst summer time. Hot and sweaty and wonderful. Knitting was the last thought on my mind. But as my new skill got set aside temporarily, I knew I would pick it up again. I knew I would hone my skills. I simply had to wait. It is Canada after all. And one of the Great White North's guarantees are the rapid temperature drops. And just like that October rolled around and hello Winter. 

I needed to pick up my needles and start knitting. It was brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr cold out. And knit I did.

Thanks to By Hand London's post I had two beautiful snood patterns to choose from. I wanted them both. And I wanted them NOW. And that is what I did. I bought circular needles and super chunky Peruvian wool. I turned on the kettle and pulled out my favourite mug. I was about to spend my night inside cozied in my fur blanket, knitting away. Bliss.

And these are my results:

The Moss Stitch Snood

Bernat Roving in Plum (00071) (80% Acrylic 20% Wool)

The Basket Weave Snood

SMC Tweed Montage in Grand Canyon (509) (56% New Wool/40% Acrylic/4% Viscose)

Started: The English Rib (with a twist)!

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Review: My Image S/S 2011 Pattern Magazine

 

As I browse the internets for pattern fun I came across this magazine by MyImage. They had a sale on that for 16 Euros I could have three of the older issues: Spring/Summer 2011, Autumn/Winter 2011, and Autumn/Winter 2012.

I'll post the reviews in chronological order. Each magazine comes with 16 patterns. And they showcase each item multiple times in different fabrics and on different models which is actually a great way to show the patterns diversity. Oft times I am put off by patterns by the fabric choice of the sample garment and it takes me a few seconds to  look at the technical drawing to really get a feel for the item. Also, depending on the magazine, the item in question is photographed so badly that the details of the pattern are completely obscured by the models position. So MyImage has done well in showing multiple samples. It is appreciated.

I've cropped many of the patterns together to showcase the different styles on the dress in the same photo below instead of seeing the dress repeated 3 or 4 times in different photos. If that makes sense. You'll see. I've included the technical drawing as well.

I find the patterns to be simple and only a few of the appeal to me. The patterns feel a little dated at times, but they still provide some great basics. Lets see them in as much order as I could muster:

I would make the Blouse M1102 as the front buttons and high waist are nice But the other three items I wouldn't make. Not because they are bad but because I don't make pants yet and the jacket isn't anything special.

I have two versions of M1104 so I would definitely make this blouse. I love ruffles. There are never enough boob ruffles. But the skirt isn't my style.

The tunic is simple but nothing special and again I don't make pants.

Now this dress is simple but cute with its cute-out at the neckline. I like the yoke band and I think the 4th design with the stripes is my favourite look.

4 patterns and only one is of any interest to me: M1114 the Skirt. It has very nice style lines on it and would be fun to colour block with. The other three just aren't my style; a baggy shirt, and a midget jacket. 

Now this dress I really like. Although you can't see the ruching detail much with the fabric choices, I still like the idea of ruching along the front of the dress. Would help greatly to hide all things I want hidden! skip the cardigan.

Now, I've looked at this dress over and over and each time I look I can't decide if I hate it or think it is super cute. It has the potential to be cute, so I like that, it reminds me of a childs jumper, which I like, so if I play up that aspect, maybe some giant buttons, would help me lean more towards the cute side. 

Another lovely dress with ruching and a very nice angled neckline. I would probably even out the front hemline so it doesn't appear that the ruching has gathered the dress up, but that is just my preference. Otherwise it is a quick make.

And lastly we have a simple maxi dress. If we cut the dress just below the knee it would be a basic dress I'd probably get a lot of wear out of in the summer time in a lovely floral pattern. But with the maxi length I wouldn't wear it as they emphasize the fact that I am short and add undesirable width to me. They become very moo-moo-ish no matter now straight up the skirt is. So shorten the hem for the short me.

Overall the magazine isn't bad but I would only make 6 or 7 of the 16 patterns. But only 2 of them are patterns I want to immediately trace and make. Hmmm, not my favourite magazine for certain.

How do you feel about these patterns? Anything an immediate make for you? Or are all of them mediocre?

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Blue Chevron Vogue 8789

I am a sewer who falls in love with a fabric and then finds a pattern to make it into. I find a fabric and think Circle Skirt or T-Shirt. Fabric ALWAYS comes first. It just inspires me to sew beautiful things out of it.

When I found this fabric I thought: It's ME. It is a mesh fabric with a risen cotton chevron pattern in navy blue. So.Many.Things.To.Love! Its a see-through fabric. I love the drama this adds to a piece. The chevron adds detail and pattern lines to the dress. The risen cotton chevron, so fun to touch! LOVE. IT.

This fabric was meant to be a circle skirt. A lovely full circle skirt to be precise. I had the image in my head of spinning around in it and watch it float. And float it does. Gosh these photos were fun to take!

Vintage Vogue 8789 is the first pattern I ever purchased. I adored the vintage shape of the dress. It is just so elegant. The wide shoulders that create the illusion of a sleeve. The double bodice darts. I just knew that this pattern would showcase the fabric to its fullest.

I added bias tape to the neckline, arm bands, and hemline. I wanted to add emphasis to the shape of the dress while helping to limit the fabrics stretch and fray. This dress WILL last. The bias tape on the hem also helped to stiffen the hem and give it more bounce and hold a wider circle shape since the fabric is so lightweight.

I sewed it without the zipper along the side as I knew the fabric wouldn't hold it well. Since I am more square shaped and my waist isn't too much small than my under bust, it is easy for me to remove zippers in patterns. Even while using a non-stretch fabric such as this one. I added fusible hem tape to all inner seams to stabilize and strengthen them. It also helps reduce fraying which the fabric is extremely prone to.

Pattern: Vogue 8789 view B
Size: 12 shoulders graded to 14 Waist
Fabric: Mixed Fiber Risen Chevron Mesh
Cost: $2.5 * 2 M = $5 from Fabricland
Alterations:

• Self drafted a circle skirt
• Removed the zipper 
• Removed the buttons from the shoulders and sewed at 1" seam instead.
• Removed back bodice waist darts
• Added front bodice top darts to reduce gaping through neckline.
• Used bias tape to finish neckline, arms, and hem
• Finished all inner seams with fusible hem tape to strengthen and limit fraying.
• Didn't make a cummberbund

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More Mail Order Big 4

On a similar note - Christmas has arrived again and I ordered new patterns during a $1.99 sale with ClubBMV. 

Lets check out the newbies:

Warm Winter Leggings (McCalls 6404)

My favourite outfits are dresses with leggings/fleece tights. With the -30 degrees in the middle of winter a soft warm pair if fleece tights are so welcome! 

So I found this pattern after I saw a beautiful pair of leather pants made by beaute J'adore and new I wanted them. Mine all mine! now to find beautiful fleecey material!

Side note: why use black material for the cover as it completely hides the style line variations on the pattern. Doh!

Cascade Dress (Vogue 1344)

This is just beautiful. It is begging to be made out of silk fabric! And another side note about the models dress - busy fabric? Completely hides the cascade skirt and the shoulder gathers. Doh!

Public Lounge Wear (Vogue 1323)

Elastic waist and ankles? I'm in heaven! Make these out of a nice silk or linen and they'll be socially appropriate and comfy. Mmmmm elastic...

Drool

So what do you think of my big 4 mail order purchases? would you buy these patterns?

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