I gave in and ordered from eShakti

eShakti top with 3/4 sleeves in 41-34-41 custom size.

So, since my semester started I have barely time to breath, let alone sew!! But I did the next best thing, design a top for my custom measurements and had it sewn and shipped to me ;)

eShakti is a web only shop for very nice dresses, tops and skirts ; with some retro flare and a lot in natural fibers. What is special about them is that you can order an item to your specific measurements and customize the sleeves, neckline and hem length... All for a very reasonable price I think.

I tried a knit top first, just to test their customize size options in a top I wouldn't necessarily need to pay to return... When you register you get a welcome rebate and I bought my top at 30% during a promotion weekend... So it was 38$ before tax but I paid 28$ with taxes and shipping for a custom made top. It arrived VERY fast 5 days later! Here is the review I sent them after washing and wearing my top 1 day :

The original top

"I love the color, the material is a medium-thick interlock knit, the quality of the sewing is perfect. I order to my measurements, I am 5'3", (34G) 41-34-41, 165 Lbs.

The bust fits me very well, the waist/hip hem is just too wide for my taste. There is more ease than I would have sewn in a knit (too boxy for my shape ; I need the top to come in below my bust to be more flattering).

I am considering adding thin darts vertically under the bust and taking the side seams in a little.  Meanwhile I will wear it tucked in only.

I would have loved a thin black elasticized sleeve hem or cute cuffs for elbow or 3/4 sleeves...

I love the options for sleeves and length. I wonder why all dresses in poplin are not offered in all colors? Maybe you could ask the customer's preferred fit for knit garments ; this knit top has too much ease for a knit but a similar woven might be fine... The packaging smelled bad (plastic smell) but I washed the top so it all went away..."


I didn't received anything from eShatki, I am just posting my review here in case crazy ladies like me stalk the web to see what they want to buy on someone else before committing to a purchase! ;)

I am not convinced yet that their sizing is good (nor bad), maybe the style was just not the most flattering on me... The real test would be to order a sheath dress without stretch!! I am quite smitten by this one even if it is polyester...

quilted jacquard dress

Diamond quilt jacquard sheath dress

Montreal's Costumes Exhibits

A quicky post about 2 sewing related activities in Montreal this summer :

Musée du Costume et du Textile de Montréal

 1) The Museum of Costume and Textile is having a 70s exhibit now / Une exposition sur la mode style macramé des années 70 au Québec, designer Francine Vandelac : Totalement Maille! (20 juin au 12 octobre 2014)
 
 

Université de Montréal, François Barbeau

2) The University of Montreal has an exhibition about a designer of costume for the theater, ballet, cirque du soleil / L'Université de Montréal offre une exposition sur le travail de création de costumes du designer François Barbeau : François Barbeau Créateur de Costumes (25 mai au 7 décembre 2014) 

Montreal's summer isn't just filed with awesome festivals! ;)

Friendly Reminder for Next Week

Fabric Shopping on St-Hubert

(FRANÇAIS PLUS BAS) Here is just a friendly reminder for our date next Friday July 18th at noon to have a quick lunch & coffee at Tim Hortons, shop for fabrics, have a drink afterward to unwind and swap patterns/fabrics/notions! :D There is parking available on Chabanel and in underground Parking (333 and 555 Chabanel). Please, make sure to bring cash if you plan on buying fabrics.

Tim Hortons St-Laurent/Chabanel - 18 juillet - 12h

Friday July 18th on Chabanel

• 12h - Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent (métro Sauvé)
• 14h - Start shopping at Cuir Boilard, 185 Louvain.
• 5@7 - Rapahël Bistro, wine bar,
  8497 Ste-Dominique (corner de Liège)
  514-807-0033 (15 min on foot)
  Reservation under "Caroline Côté" at 17h15 (10 pers.)
• Friday itinerary  in google map.

On Chabanel, it will be the perfect day to shop for :

• leather skins (Cuir Boilard and 2 stores at 99 Chabanel O.)
• swim/sports fabrics at the unique SuzieSpandex on St-Laurent, corner Chabanel.
• bargain priced fabrics everywhere (apparel, home dec, not much for quilting) 

There is parking with parcometer on Chabanel (credit cards accepted, can be paid with smart phone App too) and paied parking at 300 and 555 Chabanel O (about 4$/h, max 10$).

Nearby streets offer free parking, just mind the "resident only" signs to avoid a parking ticket... It is sometimes confusing as alternating sections of both sides of the streets requires a parking permit.

From the Tim Hortons to the wine bar afterward, it is only a 15 min walk...

If you want to walk more, the shopping center (Marché Centrale, on l'Acadie) at the West end of Chabanel has free parking too.

RSVP - Confirm your presence at cotc03 at hotmail dot com.
Do not hesitate to invite friends! I will update the bottom of this post with a list of the confirmed attendees.

See you soon!
---

Un petit rappel amical pour notre rendez-vous vendredi prochain, le 18 juillet, à midi pour un diner rapide au Tim Hortons, un après-midi de magasinage et un 5@7 pour faire un swap de tissus/mercerie/patrons autour d'un bon verre! :D Il y a du stationnement sur Chabanel ainsiqu'au 333 et 555 rue Chabanel. Apportez du liquide si vous prévoyez acheter des tissus.

Vendredi, 18 juillet sur Chabanel

• 12h - Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent  (métro Sauvé)
• 14h - On commence par Cuir Boilard, 185 Louvain.
• 5@7 - Rapahël Bistro, bar à vin,
  8497 Ste-Dominique (coin de Liège)
  514-807-0033 (15 min à pied)
  Réservations au nom de "Caroline Côté" à 17h15 (10 pers.)
• Itinéraire du vendredi  sur google map.

Chabanel est l'endroit idéal pour trouver :

• Du cuir (Cuir Boilard and 2 stores at 99 Chabanel O.)
• Tissus de sport/costume de bain (SuzieSpandex, Globetext, StretchText)
• Des bas prix imbattables! (tissus mode, décors, pas de coton à courte-pointe)

RSVP - Confirmer votre présence à cotc03 at hotmail dot com. 
Passez le mot à vos amis! Je vais tenir la liste des confirmations à la fin de ce billet.

à bientôt!

---

Friday / Vendredi - 18 juillet 2014
12h @ Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent (métro Sauvé)

1. Caroline @ Sew Eng. 
2. Mélanie, my sister!  
3. Suzy, ma mère!
4. Kay Young @ The Sewing Lawyer
5. Claire @ 1 seam at a time
6. Anne-Marie L  
7. Rhonda @ PR and Rhotos Rag
8. Renée B.   
9. Vicki @ Another Sewing Scientist
10. Julie @ SurMesure on Burdastyle

Plan for a Retro Inspired Bikini

Inspirations

I have been obsessively researching the web for inspiration to sew a retro inspired bikini since my last panties sewing last month... Here is my Pinterest board : inspiration for sewing swimwear and lingerie.

And a few of my favorites :

swimsuitsforall.com

Black and Floral by PettiBear

  

Key hole by Halia Mia Swimwear

 

Fabric

My husband, tired of seeing me obsess over this hypothetical project, sent me fabric shopping yesterday. I went shopping for nylon lycra in the Chabanel Fabric District. I bought some super wide black nylon lycra for a little less than 8$/m at Globe Text for muslin. Then, I bought lovely fabric : 1m of solid magenta (12.50$/m), 2m of black/white/magenta floral (13.50$/m) and 2m of black power mesh (9.50$/m) at StretchText on 9320 St-Laurent. Then, I went to Trimcity for elastic at 7381 St-Hubert. I bought some picot edge, smooth edge, clear elastic and regular braided 1/4 inch black elastic all around 3$/4yards to try out... I should have plenty to make 2 bikini and a one piece and several of top trials!

Power mesh, Floral and solids nylon lycra

Floral Fabric Scale

Various Elastics

Patterns Plan

Bikini Bottom

I plan on using my TNT pattern for the bottom : the Vera Venus Grannie Pannie, free one size pattern (size 10-12). It is fast and only have 2 seams : the crotch and back seams. For more elaborate designs, I will either use the side seams line to cu it or use my bought pattern, the Oh Lulu Betty Undies...

VV Grannie Pannie

Bikini Top

After agonizing an entire evening about which pattern to use, I finally chose Wearing History #4003D 1940s Brassiere, 5$ one size pattern (bust 32-35) after a good night sleep, filled with bikini sewing dreams! Mostly because I really like the long line and lack of underwire, it is a instant digital download and not expensive. But it is made for woven fabric. Since it is a little on the small size for myself, it might be not too bad. I will probably need to increase the bust cup size anyway... But a close second choice was Burdastyle Bustier 5/2011 #127 ; it just wasn't as long below the bust but can be made as a swimsuit by using interfacing in the front...

WH 1940s Brassiere

So now I just need enough alone time and/or quiet nights to sew it before the end of the summer!

Spring 2014 Finished Projects

Sewing Knits Fabrics

I have made a few new projects in 2014. I started sewing in June because my 1 day a week without kids (Merci maman) was now free again : no more school homework or volunteering at my daughter elementary school... I have sewn knits projects exclusively : they are fast, easy to fit and I used cheap (1.50$ to 5$/m) rayon knit fabric from Chabanel in Montreal... Here are my projects :

Knits Maxi Skirts

I used the remnant of my verso top indigo rayon knit and a new floral rayon knit to make simple maxi skirt with a yoga band. I love wearing it so much that I made a second "sur un coup de tête" in one day! I really like them both, they are great casual skirts.

I made the indigo one first in just enough fabric to get a 40 inches hem all around, but it can get hard to get into my Westfalia van without lifting it and it is a quite revealing sometimes since it is so tube like (evidence in the small right picture below). The floral one is more comfortable with a 60 inches hem all around. For reference, my waist is 33 inches (waistband is 30 inches for a snug fit) and the length of the skirt (without waistband) is 35 inches ; I am 5'2" 160 lbs.

Here are the tutorials I used :

• High low maxi skirt, by Zaaberry
• Drafting 2 kind of maxi skirt, by Mad Mim - Stretch yourself series

My maxi skirts, with fuchsia top worn all bunched up to show the waistband

When I was sewing my Fuchsia Top, I kind of liked the crop top look before it was finished, so I think I will sew myself a crop top...  Even if I am quite self aware at my current size, my age/wisdom/don't-care-as-much-anymore-attitude and the lovely ladies sporting crop top on the web might give me enough confidence to wear it out!?!

Fuschia Knit Top

I used my drafted verso top front to make a top ; with the same top and back pattern piece, a ruched band in the middle and banded hem. I planned a dress but I was so undecided about the waistband and skirt that I end up doing a top instead! Inspiration : trellis dress  by eShakti. I have sewn my take on the trellis dress waistband, but I didn't like it enough and decided I need more separates...

Trellis waistband muslin

But I really like the finishing of the neckband. I used a tutorial on how to sew neck binding in 3 different methods from Kitschy Coo : The grumpy person's guide to knit bindings nut end up doing the method from Ikat Bag. But you can see my Pinterest board for various Sewing Tutorials for more options...

Problems : The top of the midriff seam is too low after a while wearing it ; I think my top stretched because the shoulders and neckband are not stabilized. I still wear it, I LOVE THE COLOR and softness of the rayon knit!

My fuchsia knit top with a ruched wiastband

Floral VeraVenus Granny Pantie

I modified my previous version by :

• Adding 1 inch to the front of the gusset lining
• Sewing with zig zag the SA of the Gusset-Back-Front to the Gusset (doesn't show from outside)
• I left the front of the gusset lining unfinished

And I figured out elastic, finally!!! I sewn my pantie, then measure exactly where the elastic was to be and used 90% of that measurement. The pattern is available for free on the Vera Venus Free Patterns page. My previous version can be found in the underpants experiment series.

Floral Vera Venus Grannie Panties

I now really want to sew myself some high waist bikini!!

Foxer - Women Boxer Briefs

As a teen, my favorite undie was a Calvin Klein gray boxer short. I wore that under my cut out jeans and under skirts and dresses until it worn out and couldn't find a replacement anymore... I was eying Jalie 2572 - Women Shapewear, but the price of the paper pattern and a picture I saw of the inside looking more like a legging with added gusset had me thinking twice... I decided to try my theory and sew a super short legging with a gusset lining.

I based it on So Sew Easy tutorial to draft your own leggings ; she even have a spreadsheet that do the calculation for you! I really liked it. I also stumbled onto a men who is sewing his own Spiderman costume from scratch in the comments, it was quite interesting! I love to get a glimpse into the secret hobby life of people!

Unfortunately, it gave me a camel problem... So no picture for now. I will investigate more to find out how to fix this. Maybe my fabric is too thin too... I have found a great source of info about the camel toe problem on Fashion Incubator. Stay tune for more details eventually... I might cave in and finally buy the Jalie pattern! ;)

My husband says he loves my hobby ; mainly because I often sew half naked. He told me I should rename my blog The Half-Naked Seamstress and commented that it would be ultra dangerous to do his own hobby in his underwear (building guitars with power tools)!!

PS : I started using PicMonkey to make collage and I quite like it!

Montreal's Sewing Meetup on St-Hubert Recap

Thank you to all for the wonderful sunny afternoon on St-Hubert! We had so much fun chatting that we didn't have time to see all the stores ; I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did! We were warmly welcome at Elle Couture and Tissus St-Hubert and delightfully looked at all their lovely silks! Unfortunately, I took only a couple of pictures as I was too busy enjoying myself!

We started with lunch at a Peruvian Rotisserie and pizzeria. My chicken was great! Then we did a patterns and fabrics swap.

RIGHT : Vicki, Terri, Julie

LEFT : Catherine, Anne-Marie, Shannon, Suzie

I scored some treasures : a superb nice bouclé in my favorite colors from Anne-Marie, a cool sparkly mauve/black stretch fabric from Julie, useful water proof fabric from Terri and a pattern of a dress with colorblocking capability and different cup sizes too! I will bring the remaining patterns and fabrics that didn't find a home during the swap to the next meeting in July...

My swap bounty!

Then we hit St-Hubert street to shop for fabrics :

• Kava
• Elle Couture : Nice article about the shop here : Jean Grayeb de Textile Couture Elle.
• Tissus St-Hubert
• C&M

En cherchant sur Couture Elle en ligne, j'ai trouvé une série d'article en Français à propos des métiers de la couture à Montreal. Ils sont vraiment très intéressants : Reportage - Le fil d'Ariane, étudier le passé pour mieux créer demain.

Reportage sur les métiers de la couture à Montréal

We finished with a drink at the Gainzbar in a super cozy lounging area next to the bay window. The ambiance was nice, the background music soft enough to continue chatting merrily about sewing, travel, food and life! I was again so taken by the conversation that I didn't have any pictures, but I found those on the Gainzbar website... 

Gainzbar - 6289 St-Hubert

Our lounging area!

I kept bothering Terri that she had so much in common with my mother ; travelling, spending time with her grandchildren, sewing, teaching people that doesn't know computer how to use them, etc... Everything except Belly Dancing! ;)

Pour Terri : ma mère, ma soeur et moi l'été passé. ;)

Thank you again for coming to all the lovely lady I met today :

• Vicki @ Another Sewing Scientist
• Catherine @ Ramble on Cat 
• Julie @ SurMesure on Burdastyle
• Terri @ patternreview.com
• Shannon @ The Finished Garment
• Anne-Marie @ Le mani d'oro
• Suzie @ Fabric Maverick   

See you on Chabanel next month!

Friendly Reminder for Tomorrow!

Fabric Shopping on St-Hubert

Here is just a friendly reminder for our date tomorrow at noon to have lunch, swap patterns/fabrics/notions, shop for fabrics and have a drink afterward to unwind :D

Pizzelli Coq - 7613 St-Hubert à midi

Saturday June 14th on St-Hubert

• 12h - Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert, 514-495-0111 (métro Jarry),
  Reservation under "Caroline Côté" (10 pers.)
  ** If desired : bring patterns, fabric or notions to exchange **
  
  
• 14h - Start shopping at KAVA going South
  Kava, 7609 St-Hubert, métro Jarry.
   
• 5@7 - Gainzbar, 6289 St-Hubert, 514-272-3753
  Reservations under "Caroline Côté" at 17h (10 pers.)
   
• Saturday itinerary in google map.

On St-Hubert, it will be the best place to find :

• Notions and threads (Kava, Notions stores, etc.)
• High end fabrics (Couture Elle, etc.)
• Vast choices of apparel, home dec, vinyl, quilting cotton, knitting yarns. (more than 20 stores)

---

Samedi, 14 juin sur St-Hubert

• 12h - Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert, 514-495-0111 (métro Jarry)
  Reservation au nom de "Caroline Côté" (10 pers.)
  ** Échange de patrons, tissus et mercerie si désiré **
   
• 14h - On commence par KAVA et on va vers le sud
  Kava, 7609 St-Hubert, métro Jarry.
   
• 5@7 - Gainzbar, 6289 St-Hubert, 514-272-3753
  Reservation au nom de "Caroline Côté" à 17h (10 pers.)
   
• Itinéraire du samedi sur google map.

St-Hubert est la meilleure place pour trouver :

• Mercerie et fils (Kava, Notions stores, etc.)
• Des tissus luxueux (Couture Elle, etc.) 
• Un vaste choix de tissus mode, décoration, vinyl, cotton à courte-pointe, laine à tricotter (20+ magasins)

Confirmations :

Saturday / Samedi - 14 juin 2014
12h @ Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert (métro Jarry)

1. Caroline C @ Sew Eng. 
2. Vicki @ Another Sewing Scientist
3. Catherine @ Ramble on Cat 
4. Julie @ SurMesure on Burdastyle
5. Terri @ patternreview.com
6. Shannon @ The Finished Garment
7. Anne-Marie @ Le mani d'oro
8. Suzie @ Fabric Maverick 

Summer 2014 - Fabrics Shopping in Montreal!

Montreal Sewing Bloggers Fabrics Hunts!

A group of sewing enthusiasts talked about how it would be fun to discover all the mystic and allegedly bargain fabrics stores in the Chabanel Street area... I poked around a little and came up with 2 dates for a trek adventure in the legendary Fashion District of Montreal and a stroll on the well stocked St-Hubert Street. Note that I am not an expert guide : So if you want to share your knowledge and favorite places in the comments (or in person), please do! The extend of my knowledge on the fabrics stores in Montreal is available on my fabric stores directory page.

Saturday June 14th on St-Hubert

Fabrics Store on St-Hubert

• 12h - Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert, 514-495-0111 (métro Jarry),
  Reservation under "Caroline Côté" (10 pers.)
  ** If desired : bring patterns, fabric or notions to exchange **
  
• 14h - Start shopping at KAVA going South
  Kava, 7609 St-Hubert, métro Jarry.
• 5@7 - Gainzbar, 6289 St-Hubert, 514-272-3753
  Reservations under "Caroline Côté" at 17h (10 pers.)
• Saturday itinerary in google map.

On St-Hubert, it will be the best place to find :

• Notions and threads (Kava, Notions stores, etc.)
• High end fabrics (Couture Elle, etc.)
• Vast choices of apparel, home dec, vinyl, quilting cotton, knitting yarns. (more than 20 stores)

We will meet for lunch near métro Jarry on St-Hubert then go South to visit the fabrics and notions stores in the reverse order we went last time the Montreal Sewing Bloggers met! After, we will be down South just in time to have a drink and a bite on the Plaza St-Hubert.

Coming by subway, come at métro Jarry then leave via metro Beaubien. For parking, maybe use a municipal parking space on St-André (accept credit cards) somewhere near Jean-Talon to be right in the middle.

 

Friday July 18th on Chabanel

Warehouses on Chabanel

• 12h - Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent (métro Sauvé)
• 14h - Start shopping at Cuir Boilard, 185 Louvain.
• 5@7 - Rapahël Bistro, wine bar,
  8497 Ste-Dominique (corner de Liège)
  514-807-0033 (15 min on foot)
  Reservation under "Caroline Côté" at 17h15 (10 pers.)
• Friday itinerary  in google map.

On Chabanel, it will be the perfect day to shop for :

• leather skins (Cuir Boilard and 2 stores at 99 Chabanel O.)
• swim/sports fabrics at the unique SuzieSpandex on St-Laurent, corner Chabanel.
• bargain priced fabrics everywhere (apparel, home dec, not much for quilting)

There is parking with parcometer on Chabanel (credit cards accepted) and paied parking at 300 and 555 Chabanel O (about 4$/h, max 10$). It is preferable to have cash for most stores ; there is an ATM at the Ultramar on the corner of Chabanel/St-Laurent and several banks between 352 and 555 Chabanel O.

RSVP - Confirm your presence for which day(s) : cotc03 at hotmail dot com.
Do not hesitate to invite friends! I will update the bottom of this post with a list of the confirmed attendees.

See you soon!

---

Bloggeuses Couturière de Montréal sur Chabanel

Un groupe d'amateures de couture s'était dit qu'il serait vraiment amusant d'aller vérifier la légende des bas prix pour le stissus sur Chabanel. J'ai donc fait un mini sondage pour en ressortir avec 2 dates préférées pour aller visiter le coin et dénicher les trésors de notre bon vieux quartier de la mode sur Chabanel et pour parcourir la bien connue rue St-Hubert. Notez que je ne suis pas une expert ; n'hésitez pas à partager vos connaissances et petits trésors avec nous, dans les commentaires ou en personne!! Plus de détails sur les magasins à visiter sur mon répertoire des magasins de tissus de Montréal.

Samedi, 14 juin sur St-Hubert

• 12h - Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert, 514-495-0111 (métro Jarry)
  Reservation au nom de "Caroline Côté" (10 pers.)
  ** Échange de patrons, tissus et mercerie si désiré **
• 14h - On commence par KAVA et on va vers le sud
  Kava, 7609 St-Hubert, métro Jarry.
• 5@7 - Gainzbar, 6289 St-Hubert, 514-272-3753
  Reservation au nom de "Caroline Côté" à 17h (10 pers.)
• Itinéraire du samedi sur google map.

St-Hubert est la meilleure place pour trouver :

• Mercerie et fils (Kava, Notions stores, etc.)
• Des tissus luxueux (Couture Elle, etc.) 
• Un vaste choix de tissus mode, décoration, vinyl, cotton à courte-pointe, laine à tricotter (20+ magasins)

Vendredi, 18 juillet sur Chabanel

Entrepôts sur Chabanel

• 12h - Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent  (métro Sauvé)
• 14h - On commence par Cuir Boilard, 185 Louvain.
• 5@7 - Rapahël Bistro, bar à vin,
  8497 Ste-Dominique (coin de Liège)
  514-807-0033 (15 min à pied)
  Réservations au nom de "Caroline Côté" à 17h15 (10 pers.)
• Itinéraire du vendredi  sur google map.

Chabanel est l'endroit idéal pour trouver :

• Du cuir (Cuir Boilard and 2 stores at 99 Chabanel O.)
• Tissus de sport/costume de bain (SuzieSpandex, Globetext, StretchText)
• Des bas prix imbattables! (tissus mode, décors, pas de coton à courte-pointe)

Notez que 2/3 des magasins ne sont pas ouverts les samedis, c'est pourquoi nous avons opter pour le vendredi.

RSVP - Confirmer quel(s) jour(s) vous serez avec nous : cotc03 at hotmail dot com. 
Passez le mot à vos amis! Je vais tenir la liste des confirmations à la fin de ce billet.

À bientôt!

Confirmations :

Saturday / Samedi - 14 juin 2014
12h @ Pizzelli Coq, 7616 St-Hubert (métro Jarry)

1. Caroline C @ Sew Eng. 
2. Vicki @ Another Sewing Scientist
3. Catherine @ Ramble on Cat 
4. Julie @ SurMesure on Burdastyle
5. Terri V
6. Shannon @ The Finished Garment
7. Anne-Marie L@ Le mani d'oro
8. Suzie @ Fabric Maverick 

Friday / Vendredi - 18 juillet 2014
12h @ Tim Hortons, 9485 St-Laurent (métro Sauvé)

1. Caroline @ Sew Eng. 
2. Mélanie, my sister!  
3. Suzy, ma mère!
4. Kay Young @ The Sewing Lawyer
5. Claire @ 1 seam at a time
6. Anne-Marie L  
7. Rhonda @ PR and Rhotos Rag
8. Renée B.  
9. Heather @ Closet Case Files (Tentative) 

Spring 2014 - My Sewing Plan

My Knits Fabrics Stash (Ponte at left, white is cotton, rest rayon)

Administrative sewing tasks :

• Hemming pants
• Resuscitating jeans by mending the thighs rubbing holes
• Transforming half of my daughter's long sleeves shirts into short sleeves (June)
• Repair my birthday dress invisible zipper (I only buy YKK zipper now!)

Fast knits projects  :

• Black rayon knit verso top, copy from RTW
• Fuchsia rayon knit SBCC Tonic Tshirt with black peter pan collar (inspiration)
• panties and camisole with knits remnants 
• White with butterfly cotton knit : for daughter, GotoPatterns Signature dress

Projects to define :

• Purple Bamboo knit : top with collar and half sleeves??
• Raspberry ponte : maybe a peplum top??
• Blue rayon slub knit : top??
• Poly Royal blue with white dot woven : blouse??

Longer Projects (muslin, fit, sew) :

• Black woven classic pencil skirt : Draft sloper or use pattern?
• Raspberry velvet damask ponte pencil skirt
• Latice purple ponte NL6000 (wearable muslin, no collar)
• Colette Anise : black with pink dots twill for muslin?

Sewing Related :

• Blog posts : Nominate blogs for Liebster Award + My Wardrobe Architect
• Learn to use the serger
• Finish my Craftsy classes
• Sort and organize my closet.

Dearest Thanks for the Nomination!

I am always surprise when I get comments on my sewing blog... But what a delightful surprise it was on Valentine's Day to find out one of my favorite bloggers, Kathy from The Nerdy Seamstress, nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award!

Liebster means "Dearest" in German!

I love the Kathy's blog because :

• I love her color/fabric choice
• I love how she reuse her favorite patterns and mix them up to achieve different looks
• I believe we have a similar body type so I take note of the silhouette I love most on her...
• She is super prolific! And this is quite impressive for a snailstress like me!

Moreover, I won a giveaway on her blog in 2013 ; the Colette's Anise Jacket pattern. I plan on sewing it this spring/summer to wear it this autumn since I sew so slowly!!

Kathy was nominated by Siri, from The Pinhouse Playmate. Siri described the award as : "a token of recognition that bloggers award to fellow bloggers who they think deserve more recognition."

I think it is fun to discover all the nominees Blogs, going from one to another! I sometimes wonder what would happen first : My Feedly feed reaching the maximum amount of Blog subscriptions or running out of time in my lifetime to read all those interesting Blogs!

So I will answers Kathy's questions and state some facts about me in this post, but I decided to postponed my own nominations to my next post. Mostly because I am submerged by homework assignments this semester and I would like to take the time to properly offer the award to my nominees!

11 facts about me :

1. I love learning.
2. I adore eating in good restaurant!
3. I always buy fabric with/for a pattern : so my stash mostly consist of fabrics for projects not started yet and remnant of projects' fabrics. I must confess I have some backlogs now so it fits in 4 drawers...
4. I am always longing to go visit a new place/country...
5. I would love to have a super hero power like teleportation. 
6. I am a planner : I do not mind a change of plan, but I like having a plan.
7. I am longing for idleness (farniente) but I am a super busy gal with several projects at once!
8. I tried to get rid of harmful chemicals in my household, in both soaps and food.
9. I am both against consumerism and feeling trapped in it, drowning under gifted kids toys and possessions! I seldom buy things for myself, I could spend all my money on resto, outings and travels!
10. I am one of those hangry person ; so is my son, sigh!
11. I am a night owl (as opposed to morning gal) aka see last point and let me eat my breakfast!

My answers to Kathy's 11 questions :

1) What interesting fact about yourself that you want people to know?

My husband and I are VW enthousiasts. We had a VW Westfalia camper since 2003 ; first our superb vintage Sheryl Cherrywagon (1966 model) and then, when the second kid has underway, our practical and reliable Vester Winfriend (1988 model). Few times a summer, we go to VW campout events to chill out with our friends. I can fine tune an old VW air cooled engine and can sew upholstery, awning and build a new camper interior! See the details on my VW Westfalia Customizations page.

Engine Rebuild with my Husband

Sewing Upholstery

2) Why did you take up sewing?

Because I love to be different, to constantly learn and the sound of the sewing machine is soothing to me ; I guess from my childhood memory of playing at my mother's feet while she sew!

I sewed 2 items of clothing in high school. Then put this hobby aside until after graduating University. I then inherited my grand-mother's machine. I sewed mostly home decor, gifts and things for my camper until 2010 when I started to read sewing blogs while nursing my second child and started sewing clothing for myself again!

3) Other than sewing, if time weren't a concern, how would you spend your day?

In a hammock gently rocking in the hot summer breeze, hanging out with my husband and kids without the drama of preparing the next thing on the crazy life agenda and reading books to my soul's content! My answers to Kathy's questions got me thinking ; I really need to move the kids' plastic playhouse and buy a new hammock this Spring!

Our yard, before the kids' toys invasion!

4) What have you learned most from maintaining a blog? 

I am always surprise when I find out people follow my blog. I blog mostly because I love reading review of patterns and seeing the results on different women bodies. So my goal is just to help someone by having my version of a pattern appear in their Google search when they need it... I do not maintain a blog really, I just put my construction note on my blog (and patternreview.com) for everyone that is interested to see! I try to do like Modcloth, I find review of clothing (or sewing patterns) to be most useful with the reviewer's mensuration and alterations notes.

5) What other artistic/crafty things do you like to do? 

I like drawing ; I am always disappointed when the kids say they had enough of coloring and want to play something else! At one point (before kids) I started baking cakes and decorating them... I would have said that I love home decorating, but I figured out that I mostly like organizing space to be more efficient in pretty coordinating  colors. But I am not super good with the finishing touches. Similarly, when I dress I don't accessorize much...

6) What's your favorite outdoor activity? 

I love going camping and all associated activities : hiking, canoeing, kayaking, marshmallow roasting... I have yet to convinced my kids that it is fun to hike! I used to love alpine skiing but stopped when I moved away for University since I was broke... I remember a time when the first snow got me all excited about skiing again! I am looking forward to try it again when are older and I go back to work because I find it to be quite an expensive sport...

Camping in the woods

Canoeing with my family

Pic-nic during a hike

Parc de la Jacque-Cartier, Québec

7) If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? 

Pay my mortgage, just like that, bam! Then some money aside for the kids' education and spend the rest traveling! I would like to go to different places for a couple of months per year and live there, learn the language, learn a specific skill from there... I would hit all sunny and warm destinations! I would eventually become a full timer ; someone who lives full time in a camper. I guess I would need a generator or a treadling sewing machine...

Full timers in a superb vintage Flxible red RV!

8) What's your favorite childhood memory? 

Time spent on our boat, in the forest and long lazy afternoon naps in the sun. Going to my friends cottage and doing "nothing" all day, no schedule, eating when hungry, reading, swimming... I guess this is the feeling I always try to recreate! (but fail misery as I get older and get more and more enslaved by my todo list!)

 

9) What's your make that you're proud of? 

I was very proud of my bridesmaids dresses. But the perspective of 3 years of sewing blog reading make me she their flaws now... My sister and best friend were still rocking those dresses like pros!

2005 - My bridesmaids dresses

Then, I sew a tiny little baby dress (NL 6575) as a gift for one of my bride maid's baby shower. That dress was fiddly to sew, so tiny little sleeves! I made the smallest size, thinking it would be for a baby, but it was around a size 3T! I am proud that it looked beautiful, not only for my best friend's daughter, then mine, then her second girl and at least 2 others little princesses and still counting!

The dress on my daughter

Finally, I am really proud of the inside and outside of my birthday dress (S 1882) ; I really applied myself! I made it just in time for my first Montreal Sewing Bloggers meetup and my birthday party!

2013 - My Birthday Dress

10) What have you learned most from sewing? 

I learned more about my flaws, I find it hard to get started, but then will go on until done. I need to just start and stop over thinking! One of the last post by Sarai over at the Colleterie resonated with me : to separate decision making time from the actual doing. I think it will help me!

11) What's your guilty pleasure?

Reading a book in a hot bubble bath while drinking baileys with an ice cream floater. Also, eating cake for breakfast and long afternoon naps in the sun!

Cheers!

Stay tune for the next post where 

I nominate my favorites bloggers!