Sewing the Diane Swimsuit (Jalie 3893+)

Pattern Review

Pattern Description : Jalie 3893 - One-piece swimsuit with scoop neck. The keyhole back holds the straps in place and a fun inset that makes adjustments a breeze! Instructions to sew in supportive soft cups are included. The front is fully lined and lining in the back is optional (recommended for adults, not needed for kids). The optional mesh waist tie can be attached in the front or back for a feminine look. 

Jalie 3893+ : A 3 front variations pack is available as a separate purchase : A) cross over front, B) tie front with front cutout and C) tie front. I bought both the pattern and the variations pack add-on.

Pattern Size : Jalie patterns offer both children and adult sizes in most of their patterns. Instructions are available in both French and English. Made in Québec since the 80's!!
Girl sizes : F to Q = 2-13 US / 92-155 EU (heights in cm).
Women sizes : (R to FF = 4-22 US / 34-52 EU (bust in cm).

My daughter's measurements : July 20 2020, 11 years old, 100 lbs, 31-25-33 in.
I chose the Girl size P (12 US / 152 EU) - view C (with the ties but without the front cutout.

Fabric Used : Swim lycra from Stretch text in Montréal and polyester lycra lining in pink from Fabricville.

Alterations or design changes : 

• I omitted the pocket for the removable bust cups in foam. 
• I made sure the side seams were not raw inside the swimsuit by modifying the order of construction a bit (see my sewing notes below).
• I top stitched more than asked for. 
• I sew every seams using the lightening bolt stitch and sewn the elastic and top stitched using the standard zigzag.
• I only had 3/8 in elastic, so I used it everywhere, even in the neckline.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes and the colour blocking was the same as our inspiration colouring on the line drawing!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, but I had to reread steps 47 and 48 to better understand them - mostly it's just sewing the side seams.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? 

• I found there were a lot of unnecessary notches and they are a bother to cut using a rotary cutter, so I might omit them next time around.
• I wish the pattern add-on came with a 2 pieces front bottom so the back waist band continued in the front too. For my own swimsuit, I plan to modify the pattern to have a continuous waist band.
• Maybe the keyhole and waist elastic need to be more snug than the pattern calls for ; since the waist elastic has a tendency to flip out in the back...

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I have planed to make one for myself in view B (with the ties and front cutout).

Sewing Notes

I change the construction a bit because I did not want raw edge inside at the side seams - mostly just leaving the raw edge at waist as the last steps before applying the waist elastic so the side seams could be enclosed. I bet this suit could be reversible by removing the seam allowance where the elastics goes and using FOE. I would need to think a bit more about how to treat the waist seam for this to be truly reversible.

Sewing the bottom

1. Sew back waist band to back bottom twice (in fabric, in lining)
2. Sew crotch seam twice (in fabric, in lining)
3. Baste leg holes, but leave 3/4 in toward all side seams.
4. Sew side seams  twice (in fabric, in lining).
5. Baste the waist seams for the bottom (lining and fabric together, zigzag).

Sewing the Top (view B and C)

1. Sew shoulder seams twice (in fabric, in lining) + Top stitch the seam allowances twice (in lining toward front, in fabric toward back).
2. Mark seam allowances at the pivot point and the tie point + Pin right side on right side the lining and fabric layers from the pivot point to the pivot point on the other side.
3. Sew under the ties from pivot point to tie point on both sides. Then sew between both tie points.
4. Sew the neckline elastic (size P : 30.75 in) to the seam allowances between both neckline marks. + Understitch the elastic to the lining only. If the ties do not lay flat, I may go back and top stitch the whole neckline and ties later on... I want to check first if it's OK when worn tied, since the top stitching might add bulk.
5. Baste armholes and back keyhole with a zigzag stitch up to 3/4 in from the side and waist seams, leaving the Side and Waist seams free.
6. Gather the side front between marks at the bust front (lining and fabric) + Sew the side seams 4x (in lining and in fabric, right and left) + Topstitch 2x (lining toward front and fabric toward back). I did not gather the front : I just pinned the front and back flat around the marks while I let the front be longer (bubbling up) between the marks and just pulled it flat as I sewed. It worked since I was sewing a girl size P. I will see if the difference is too pronounced with my woman version (size BB) to take that shortcut...
7. Baste the waist seams for the top (lining and fabric together, zigzag). It is a prerequisite to sewing the back keyhole elastic.

Sewing the elastics

1. Pin the elastic by quarter on the lining side. + Sew the elastic on the lining side using a zigzag stitch. + Then fold toward the lining and top stitch with a zigzag for :
• the leg holes (size P : 16.5 in)
• the armholes (size P : 17 in)
• the back keyhole (size P : 15.5 in)
• the front keyhole (view B only).
2. Sew the waist seam at 3/8 in
3. Sew the waist elastic (size P : 23.25 in) on the seam allowance only, on the lining side. + Fold toward the bottom and top stitch trough all layers.

Jalie #3997 - Rachel Top or Dress

Jalie #3997 : Rachel (options)

Pattern Description:
Dress or top with jewel neckline, draped and tied front. A surprisingly quick and easy-to-make sewing project with unique details.

Pattern Sizing:
Child (size 2 to 13 : 21 to 32 inches bust)
Women (XS to 2XL : 33 to 51 inches bust)
all in the same pattern, PDF with layers.

My measurements :
19 janv. 2020, 175 lbs, 5'3".
(41) 44-36-43 inches.

Size : The first I made was :

• a size AA (42,75 - 36,5 - 45,75 inches
• dolman version (sleeveless 
• without ties

Fabric Used:
Organic Bamboo knit in white from Club Tissus (Brossard), 4 way stretch, more than 40% stretch each direction, a bit on the thin side...

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

• Remove 0,75in at side seams, from hem tappered to nothing at notch. (probably the same as grading between sizes AA waist to BB at hips)
• Then, removed 3in from bottom
  (Note that the hem ended up waving up because of the twist - HOW TO FIX?)
• TODO : finish neckline, sleeves and hem.
• NB : might still need a sway back adjustment?

v1 : Pattern size AA - as is

Try to pin the excess at SS and fold up for length

Try it with jacket : shorten version wins!

v2 : Side seams taken in and hem shortened by 3in

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes (except wavy hem)

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Very much.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Very fast sew. I would have liked to see the bust and waist symbol.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I want to try a less flimsy fabric and I had ideas about how to make it reversible that I might try eventually... (since the fabric I bought for my next version is too flimsy, if I doubled it maybe it would be better? so might as well make it reversible!)

Conclusion:
to be continued...

TODO : ADD PHOTO v3 FINISHED 

(need to finish neckline, sleeve and hem)

Frocktails Montreal + Appleton Review

Frocktails Organisation

Paulina started the ball, with Andréanne, Esther, Monserratt and me to organised the first Frocktails of Montréal!!

Andréanne, Paulina, Esther, Caroline, Monserratt

It was a lot of work, but very rewarding to see how the Montreal sewing community got together to help out and were very generous with goody bags donations and raffle prizes although this was the first Froctails in Montreal!

I started using Instagram (@CarolineSewEng) and found it fun to meet sewists in a very graphic, fast and responsive manner (hence, my blog was neglected!). I had fun with Monserratt designing posters and going on St-Hubet to talk with every store owners... 

Monserratt

We even went to the Ottawa Frocktails to get a glimpse of their super party! It was a super weekend with Monserratt and Vicky! I am glad I did it even thought it was a bit much with my work promotion this fall.

Johanne, Monseratt, Vicky, Caroline

I am very glad that attendees seems to enjoyed themselves and relieve we will have help to organise the next one with more volunteers! Thanks!

Frocktails Event

I went with my mother and aunt, the evening went by so fast! They were very impress by our sewing community and were still talking about it at Christmas! They have sewn forever! But they were a bit shy to come without wearing something they made... But I am glad the committee decided early on that our event would be very inclusive and that nobody needed to sew especially for the event ; attendees only needed to want to talk about sewing for a whole evening! And my mother and aunt felt very welcome and even try a bit of English ;)

Suzy, Caroline, Claudine

The staff was very attentive and friendly at Hambar, the food was good with vegan options, with wine and non alcoholic beverages too. Speeches could be made shorter next years and we had a lot of  very nice and expensive raffle prizes to draw!

Caroline and Monserratt at the entrance

Stacey and friends

Yolanda et Mme "Pénélope Machine"

Kay, Heather and Vicky

Montreal Spoolettes!!

My Dress : Cashmerette Appleton 

My measurements 

Nov 2019 : 159cm/5ft3in around 177 lbs,
(high bust 41) bust 45 - waist 36 in - hips 43 in,
RTW Bra 34G, long torso, sway back 1 in, short legs.
Hourglass that tends to rectangular, with bum and bust.

Maxi version - nov 2020

My pattern review

Cashmerette Appleton Dress

Pattern Description: Wrap dress or top, sleeveless or short/long sleeves, promise no gaping. Extended plus sizes with cup sizes.

Pattern Sizing: I selected a size 14 with G/H cups.

Did it look like the photo/drawing? Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very well done, except the image when sewing the neckband back wasn't totally correct...

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? 

Like : The clever neckband construction and no gap! It was fun to sew and I love that all my velvet is soft going down. The "Feminist" label received at Ottawa Frocktails always makes me smile!

Dislike: The lack of waist definition on my rectangular body. The looseness of the sleeve hem (easily fix for next version by tapering or adding a band). Lack of pockets. I should have lengthen the ties for a maxi.

Fabric Used : Low pile printed polyester velvet with a silver/grey shinny reverse - from C&M Textile on St-Hubert Street.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: lengthen to maxi dress.

Would you sew it again? Not sure as I prefer a waist seams to do a sway back adjustment and a more defined waist (I tend to emphasize my hips left-right more to balanced my silhouette)

Conclusion: I am a slightly hourglass but mostly rectangle shape and I did not find it so flattering as a maxi. I cut it after Frocktails to make it a top and I have been wearing it every 2 weeks since. But my velvet reverse side is slippery and I always readjust it as the day goes... Happily, I had no gaping at the neckline. I think the waist is too high on me by about 1,5 or 2 inches and probably that is what is forcing me to pull it down and readjust?!?

Cut as a top - dec 2020

2020 : Poitras & Dior à Montréal

Jean-Claude Poitras - Mode et inspirations

Musée McCord jusqu'au dimanche 26 avril 2020

Visite avec médiateur culturel à 15h (du mardi au dimanche) en Français
Visit with cultural mediator at 12h (Tuesday to Sunday) in English

Designer de mode Québécois depuis 1972. Plus de 160 objets, vêtements, et documents d’archives, issus de donations de M. Poitras effectuées auprès du Musée de la civilisation et du Musée McCord entre 2001 et 2017, racontent les trois décennies de carrière d’un créateur libre qui a toujours fait fi des conventions.

Intéressé à vous joindre à d'autres amateurs de couture pour une visite guidée?

Source : Journal de Québec

Christian Dior

Musée McCord - du 11 juin au 13 septembre 2020

Réunissant des modèles du riche fonds Dior de la collection permanente du Musée royal de l’Ontario, une douzaine de tenues de la collection Costume, mode et textiles du Musée McCord et des prêts de Dior Héritage, l’exposition couvre la période allant de 1947 à 1957 et dresse un portrait captivant du processus de création et des rouages de la haute couture parisienne dans les années 1950.

Intéressé à vous joindre à d'autres amateurs de couture pour une visite guidée?

Source : The National

Montréal Frocktails 2019

#MontrealFrocktails2019

Réservez la date! Samedi 16 novebre 2019 - 19h

Un super événement rassemblera une centaine d'amateur.e.s de couture à Montréal cet automne, soit Montréal Frocktails - où l'on se rassemble en habit fait main et cocktail à la main!

Nous offrons une boissons gratuite, quelques bouchées et, plus important, une occasion unique pour célébrer avec des gens passionnés de couture!! Il y aura de nombreux prix de présence et chaque participant repartira avec un sac de cadeaux liés à la couture ; nous avons déjà annoncé quelque commanditaires qui offrent des patrons et des cours de couture en ligne gratuitement!

Nous annoncerons la salle et le Sponsor platine pour Frocktails Montréal très très bientôt !! C'est si difficile de garder ces secrets!! Suivez-nous pour tout savoir dès que c'est officiel!

Instagram : @montreal.frocktails

Facebook : Frocktails Montréal

Ticket : Facebook Event

Save the date! Saturday, November 16th 2019 - 7pm

A super event will gather a hundred of sewing enthusiasts under the same roof for Montréal Frocktails - where we mingle in our handmade frocks, one cocktail in hand!

The party provide a free drink for everyone, a few bites and, more importantly, a unique party with people that love sewing! There will be several raffle prizes and each participant will leave with a sewing goody bag ; we already announced some sponsors that will give patterns and free online classes!

Major sponsor and venue announcements will come shortly for the Montreal Frocktails!! It is so exciting but so hard to keep secrets until all is signed!!! Follow us to learn the latest news while still hot!

Merci!

les organisatrices :

Paulina, Andréanne, Esther, Monserratt et Caroline

En mai : Mugler et la virée des ateliers!

Musée des beaux arts de Montréal (source)

Thierry Mugler - Visite guidée en mai

Si vous aimeriez faire une visite guidée de l'exposition Thierry Mugler en mai 2019, cliquez ici pour voter pour vos dimanches libres... Notez que le dimanche 5 mai, il serait possible de combiner musée le matin et la virée des ateliers en après-midi!

VOTEZ POUR LA DATE ICI

La Virée des ateliers à Montréal

Thierry Mugler - Guided Tour in May

If you would like a guided tour of the Thierry Mugler exhibit in May 2019, click here to vote for your available Sundays... Note that on Sunday May 5th, we could go to the museum in tehmorning and visit the Open House of numerous artisans ateliers in the afternoon!

VOTE FOR THE DATE HERE

2019 Mtl Sewing Bloggers Meetup!

Saturday January 5th @ 11h30 St-Hubert & 16h Birra Bar

For our fabric store outing this Saturday, I suggest we meet at 11:30 at the cafe, Chez l’Editeur, which is right on Saint-Hubert at the heart of the fabric district. Here is the address: 7240 rue Saint-Hubert. I’d be happy to have a coffee before checking out the shops in order to give some time for those arriving.


Some have shown interest in drinks at the end of the day, so for those who are up for it after fabric shopping or who would simply like to join in at the end of the day, I suggest we head back to Birra Bar, 7129 Saint Laurent, at 4pm. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Samedi le 5 janvier @ 11h30 St-Hubert & 16h Birra Bar

Pour notre meet-up ce samedi 5 janvier, je propose qu’on se donne rendez-vous au café Chez l’Editeur, 7240 rue Saint-Hubert, à 11h30. On pourrait prendre un café afin de donner assez de temps aux gens pour arriver. Ensuite on commence à faire les magasins !

Après avoir magasinier ou pour celles et ceux qui se rejoindraient à nous à la fin de la journée, je propose qu’on retourne au Birra Bar, 7129 Saint Laurent, à 16h. Hâte de vous voir !

Ateliers Artisans - Crafty Workshops

ma mère et moi pratiquant les coups de pinceaux d'un trait avec Éliane Berdat, Illustratrice

J'ai adoré mon atelier d'introduction à la peinture aquarelle organisé par CreaCo au Lofts Créatif sur St-Laurent. Éliane était très généreuse de ses conseils et elle nous a laissé expérimenter avec plusieurs aquarelle, encre d'aquarelle, produits masquant, crayon feutre micron et papiers de diverses gammes et qualité. Sans prétention, seulement pour le plaisir d'expérimenter les couleurs sans le stress de la performance - très zen comme atelier! Un beau 3h en bonne compagnie avec thé, café et viennoiseries fournies. Merci beaucoup!

La compagnie CreaCo permet de trouver sous un même toit des ateliers à réaliser en personne dans plusieurs villes de la province du Québec. Ils offrent des ateliers avec des artisans de métier pour tout les goûts : dessin, peinture, macramé, pâtisserie, ateliers de robotiques pour enfants, poterie, joaillerie, etc. Ils commencent à offrir des ateliers en couture aussi... Je les ai croisé au Marché Etsy ce weekend - des filles allumées et très inspirantes! Et mon petit doigt me dit que ce n'est que le début! Bravo!

PS : J'ai payé nos ateliers pour ma mère, ma soeur et moi-même avec mon propre argent de poche, comme une grande! Je ne suis pas affiliée à ces compagnies, mais je les trouve géniales!

---
CreaCo offert crafty workshop everywhere in the province of Quebec - look them up! :D

Balanciaga @ Musée McCord until Oct. 14 2018

I had the pleasure to visit the Balenciaga exhibit with fellow seamstresses at the beginning of the summer ; it was so much fun! You still have until October 14th to go... Another group of seamstress are also going on September 19th - you could join them!

J'ai adoré visité l'exposition avec des copines couturières! La visite guidée est super! Vous avez encore jsuqu'au 14 octobre pour aller voir les créations de Balenciaga... Il y a même un autre groupe de couturières qui y vont le 19 septembre - vous y allez?

Balenciaga au Musée McCord

Thierry Mugler @ Musée des beaux arts - mars 2019

Mark your calendar, a special fashion exhibit will be presented in March 2019:

Garder la date, une exposition de mode spéciale arrivera en ville en mars 2019 : 

Thierry Mugler au Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal

Montreal Sewing Directory - Finally Updated!

Hello, a quick note to let you know that I updated my Montreal Sewing Directory on Craftsy!

I am proud to say 618 person downloaded the guide since 2015 and it is still a FREE resource! If you see any mistakes, closed stores or you would like to share a new fabrics stores, let me know in the comment section! I plan on making an update shortly again when I will publish a French version of the guide.

Note that Fripe Fabrique is now permanently closed and Suzy Spandex has moved on Louvain street (still in the chabanel area).

But there is several new fabrics stores, sewing schools and a new social sewing space: Atelier Fiber Arts, in Verdun! :D

Thanks!

---
Bonjour, J'ai fait la mise à jour de mon guide des magasins de tissus, écoles de couture et autres lieus ou activités reliées à la couture. Bientôt, une version en Français!

Gertie's Sundress and Bolero

B6453 Dress + B6354 Bolero : Muslin in ugly sheets!

I am 5'3" and was 40-33-40 and about 165 lbs when I made this dress in July 2017. Here are my muslin pictures (sorry for the ugly old sheet used) in case you are a similar size and were wondering where to start...

I made B6453 in size 14 bodice with a FBA and a skirt size 18 at waist and graded to 14-16 at hips. My FBA was also uncentered so the princess seams would fall at my apex : I added more to the front side princess seams (3/4 in) than to the center panel princess seams (1/2 in) and I shorten the skirt by 6 in at the shortening line and tapered the skirt by slashing and siding by about 3 in below the hips line.

I also made the B6354 Bolero by Gertie, but didn't made an FBA ; next time I will... I made my final dress in a tropical cotton sateen but I do not have good picture of myself in it yet... 

My 40th Luau Birthday Party!

2017 - Year in review

I love to reflect on the past year with Gillian's Top 5 series, but I took some liberty and made a unique big (and late) post about 2017.

Sewn Projects:

• Gertie sundress and bolero: for my 40th birthday!
• I made my first bra with Abracadabra (Monserratt Lopez) at the Common Thread.
• Started a pair of sandals at the Common Thread.
• I sewn a dress for my niece with a full circle skirt!
• Resized a dancing costume for my daughter's best friend
• Sewn a Barbie ensemble as per my daughter's design...
• Made 2 bat wings sleeves dresses for my daughter : Black "Mavis" the vampire from Hotel Transylvania for her Halloween costume and a crushed velvet purple one she asked for... I hope she will want to sew one for herself since the design is simple! 
• Sewn ribbons to mitts, embroidered names on clothes and tackled a never ending list of mending projects!

Sewcial Activities:

• Museum "Expo 67" with about 20 Spoolettes + apéro at Brutopia
• Atelier Fiber Art on Wellington to sew legging with Spoolettes, organised by Terri
• Sew bra at class with Monserratt Lopez, at the Commun Thread
• Sew leather at the Commun Thread: I started sandals, Vicki & her son made bags.
• Musée de la mode avec Julie Peloquin, exposition "Fréquence Bleue" + apéro sur place
• I tried to visit a local exhibit with Monserratt Lopez, but I screwed up and the library was closed! We had a bite in a local cafe instead...

Personal Highlights:

• I travel much : Querretaro Mexico, PEI Canada, Skiing in Tremblant, Ontario cabin with friends during March Break, NYC, Vermont and Lake George camping with friends and we played tourist in Montreal for our wedding anniversary!
• I took time each month to do something fun but felt quite overwhelmed when I started working full time in May 2017, moreover when my daughter was diagnose with dyslexia and dysorthographia.
• I finish a Spartan race with a group of friends : "Straight Off the Couch!". It took us forever, helping each others at the obstacles but we made it : Arooo!
• I turned 40 years old!

Reflexions:

• I am very lucky, lots of vacation time, more money now that I work full time, even thought working weeks are absolutely frantic. I did a lot of fun activities last year. We are healthy. My family is close by. 
• I feel like I have a hard time to find balance between work, personal and family life. I still feel even more guilty to work full time with kids needs now. I feel I am getting old, feel like time is passing too fast, kids need me now but I am not there to be free later (working for retirement)...
• ME TIME : I need to work out, swim, run and ski... I need to do more of what I love : reading, sewing, travelling, painting/art, playing with my kids! Stop procrastinating in front of computer, fake relaxing browsing facebook ; DO INSTEAD!! 
• COUPLE TIME : be with my husband, go out more, ask the babysitter next door...
• KIDS TIME : play more, be there not just for chores/homework/boring parents stuff... I am the default parent and feel I am not fun anymore..
• Challenge to help my daughter learn to Read/Write... Not sure yet how to approach this without her having too much homework and starting hating school...
• Challenge to help my son be more happy when there is constraints, external demands at school and home, be better at delayed gratification without throwing a fit everytime someone ask him to interrupt his play time...
• HOUSE : Need to redo RDC bathroom and decide if we do the garage or not (vs travel and save for retirement with the money)

Goal for sewing 2018 :

• black bra *
• sew panties *
• new wallet and/or purse *
• warm slippers/sock in B&W herringbone wool and polar fleece*
• mitts and hat in B&W herringbone wool and polar fleece
• use my raspberry bamboo knit : top with shawl back cowl
• use my tropical rayon challis : B6453 sundress
• finish leather sandals
• something blush pink (top or dress?)

* needed.

Atelier Fiber Arts de Verdun

Atelier Fiber Arts - 3993 Rue Wellington à Verdun

Ce samedi 4 novembre 2017, les Spoolettes de Montréal iront coudre un legging en bonne compagnie à l'Atelier Fibre Arts de Verdun (page facebook) près du métro De L'Église.

Ce nouvel atelier de Montréal offrent des cours de coutures pour débutants à avancées (même un avec ma copine Monserratt pour coudre un soutien-gorge!), un service de réparation de machine à coudre et une panoplie de machine à coudre, surjeteuse et même une machine à long bras pour les courte-pointes. Un groupe de courte pointe, The Montreal Modern Quilt Guild, s'y rencontre parfois et ils partagent leur locaux avec Craft de Ville qui y vendent des tissus (quilting cotton) et patrons.

J'ai bien hâte d'aller découvrir l'endroit...

Merci à Terri d'organiser cette journée :D

A BRA ka da BRA!

PinUpGirl - Classic Pattern

I made a Bra!

I went to a local class with Monserratt Lopez (Mexican Pink Blog at The Common Thread) and we sew the PUG classic.

It was an amazing experience, I liked sewing it in 2 days with other students!! Moreover, she made EVERY SINGLE SIZES as samples and we could try them out to choose the best starting size. She then pinched here and there to fit it to my body with little clips and translated that to our personnalised pattern before the first class.

So here is my first sewn bra! I am not in love with the constrasting thread color but it was easier to unpick part of it! The fit was almost perfect : I just needed a little dart that I will translate to my pattern for the next one. :DIt is not perfect, but I still wore it all week!

If you can set in a sleeve, you can do it too!

Monserratt demonstrating

J'ai cousu un soutien-gorge!

J'ai suivi un cours avec Monserratt Lopez (Mexican Pink Blog au Fil Commun) et j'ai cousu le patron PUG Classic.

C'était vraiment super, j'ai adoré coudre avec d'autres couturières pendant 2 dimanches! De plus, Monserratt avait cousu TOUTES LES TAILLES du patron, donc lors de l'essayage nous avons trouvé la meilleure taille et elle l'a ajusté sur place avec de petites pinces. Avant le premier cours, elle avait retranscrit toutes les altérations nécessaires sur notre patron personnalisé!

Alors voici mon premier soutien-gorge! Je n'aurai pas choisit cette couleur de fil, mais le contraste aidait vraiment pour découdre nos erreurs... L'ajustement était presque parfait! Pour le prochain, je vais modifier le patron pour enlever une pince dans le bonnet du bas. Il n'est pas parfais, mais je l'ai porté toute la semaine!

Si vous pouvez coudre une manche, vous pouvez le faire vous aussi!

Voici mes altérations pour ne pas les oublier :

Modifications for v1 of PUG Classic 38F

Mode Expo 67

While Canada is celebrating is 150th, my hometown Montreal is now 350 years old in 2017! What better to celebrate than to visit a fashion exhibits about the international fiesta that was Expo 67! A small group of Montreal sewing bloggers are going to a private guided tour of the Mode Expo 67 at the McCord Museum on Saturday, July 29th 2017 in the afternoon. 

We still have a few place...
if you would like to join us,
send me an email or comment here! :D

2016 - Year in Review

General Reflections 

Happy New Year! I usually follow the Top 5 from Gillian @ Crafting a Rainbow to make my year end review... But this year I found that the format didn't suit me. So here is my short review of 2016 :

Young Girl to Frozen Princess Bedroom

I didn't blog much this year. I concentrated my energy mostly on helping my daughter to learn to read while she was in grade 2 (2015-2016). I started working as a consultant again in November 2016. I finally manage to create a lasting habit of going swimming in the morning 3 times a week and loving it! At last, we redecorated all 3 of our bedrooms at home.

Fireman's to Slide & Cave Bed

I also figured out after my master degree was finished that I needed more than being a stay at home mother to feel fulfilled and I was happier after starting to work again, even if it is part-time and from home. Working again, I had less time for myself but I found it easier to focus on the important stuff. Having too much time on my hands, my sewing mojo vanished and I felt torn about how I should vs would like to fill my free time ; always feeling guilty no matter what I did.

Living Room to Put-the-bed-here to OUR Bedroom

Sewing Highlights

I organized a Bra Sewing Afternoon at my place and had a blast! Thanks Sewing Ladies Friends. I started sewing a bra, a swimming cap and one piece swimsuit... I followed several Beverly Jonhston's classes on Craftsy about sewing Bras and swimwear too...

I did finished my mother's kaftan about 5 minutes before she showed up at my place on Christmas Eve!! (I am such a procrastinator) Worst thing in taking 2 years to sew that wonderful chiffon dévoré fabric is that it was a breeze to sew - TAKE THAT, FEAR OF CHIFFON!! And she liked it so much that she wore it at Christmas to my aunt's party! :D

But I didn't sew new garments ; I did the usual numerous alterations, hemming, "summerizing" my kids clothes, sewing ribbons on mittens and patched about 1 000 000 000 pair of pants' knees!!

My Sewing Projects in 2016

My Sewing Resolutions

I would like to sew in 2017 : 

• a bra
• a one piece swimsuit for laps swimming
• about 7 new everyday panties
• a set of neck warmer, mitts and hat 
• a new wallet 
• a clutch purse
• Use my cotton sateen tropical fabric
• Use my raspberry bamboo knit
• Use my tropical rayon challis
• Start a coordinating nightwear capsule wardrobe : 1 nightgown, 1 camisole, 1 long sleeve top, all with bust support to mix & match with my cotton/lycra leggings and rayon challis shorts.
• Maybe warm slippers or polar socks.

Crystal Blue Fancy Dress

Ma grande fille dans sa robe crystal bleu et mon fils coquin au noeud papillon!

My little 7 years old daughter was not feeling so well the day of the wedding, she had a fever a few days before... But she was a trooper and had a lot of fun anyway! I just do not have much photo of her in her super fancy crystal blue dress at the wedding without her bolero since she was feeling cold...

Pattern : The bodice pattern is the Bridgette Dress (size 6T) from Violet Field Threads Etsy shop. I drafted the cascading Hi-Low full circle skirt with box pleats in the back and pleats in the front, similar to the By Hand London Flora dress.

Here is what she looks like when she is not sick! A real frozen princess rock star!

Frozen Princess Rock Star with an Attitude : Vogue! Vogue! Vogue!