It's the strangest thing to be writing here again after all this time, specially after having had such a full last year in terms of sewing. I haven't committed to any sewing, but this post was long due.

I've been a fan of Schnittchen patterns ever since I tried their coatigan Silvia here and here and the Coco jacket as well. Yes, I'm a coat addict and these have ticked all the right boxes for me.

This time I was asked to be a part of their Sewing Around the World tour (thank you!) and I just couldn't decline.

I used this fabric that The Sweet Mercerie was kind enough to provide me (thank you!) and it's the softest viscose; sews like water without running away or losing shape.

The blouse is finished with bias tape on the armholes and facings around the neckline, with a keyhole opening in the back.

Check out the Schnittchen Blog and follow around on IG under #satw to check all the monthly posts of some very talented ladies all around the world!

Thank you Nadja and Silke for having me!

There comes a time when you´re confronted with your limits, sewing wise, and you just have to accept the outcome is the best you could do at that time. I was part of the testing group for the Acton dress back in February (or was it March?) and, similarly to the Rushcutter, the pattern just blew me away.

I don´t feel like I made it justice; I envisioned it in this beautiful silk from Maçãs d´Amor and a pair of more professional hands was definitely a requisite to handle it properly. The pattern has an inverted V shape at the front, princess seams, understitching, an invisible zipper and bodice lining, you know, all of the good stuff we want, with a great picture tutorial and instructions to go with it. Now imagine all of these steps in a flowy, slippery, perfect 100% silk that completely lost its shape right after cutting and there was no basting or staystitching to save it. My pieces got tottaly out of control so I finished the best I could.

I did the view B with the loose A line skirt but I used view A´s high back instead, and I also lenghtened the skirt (can´t really remember how much, in fact I think I just lenghtened it so I could use my whole fabric). The artistic photos, or at least an attempt to get artistic, came out blurry, which you should be grateful for, it just means you won´t burn your eyes with my mismatched seams, ha!

You should definitely take a look at Emily´s In the Folds, there´s much more information there (and wonderful tutorials too!). As for me, lesson learned, silk is for the Gods, but I´ll still be patiently waiting for next Summer and a light breeze so I can twirl around some more.

I am wriiiiting!! In DA blog waahoo! After Summer months lazyness, when I thought I would still have some time to juggle work and pleasure, my plans got all mixed up. I didn´t think I would be so caught up on school agenda, but in the most positive way; going back to work really lifted my spirit and I´m back at a phrenetic rithm thinking and planning for my "adopted" kids for the year.

Still, I miss sewing at the level I was doing it oh so much, but for now I can only commit to smaller projects like testings I can´t say no to and others that I have time to plan and sew little by little.

Califaye Collection has my heart from day one and I can´t resist Sarah´s sense of style; I always know her patterns will fit me like a glove and turn to staples on my wardrobe.

The Rumi pullover is just an easy going pattern, one of those perfect for the 15 minute soul cleansing I allow myself everyday, ha! I used a very light and open wool knit, which is not the best recommendation for the pattern, but I made it work with a couple of changes; I added the neckband and skipped the side vents. Also I made it a little smaller by removing 1 inch on fold on both front and back pieces, and shortened it by 2 inches. You know the drill with me, my 5´2" and petite stature always require a bit of sizing down.

It has just gone to my TNT pile and I´ll definitely try it with a heavier wool knit and longer sleeves. You can drive back to Califaye´s blog to check the awesome tester versions and how the pattern looks with other knits (so different but so good!).

I know it´s rather hot for tea right now, but bare with me for a couple of minutes because this kind of Tea is really a summer cool down if you´re needing one. The lovely Nelleke and some other talented ladies had this pretty cool idea for a tour and I must confess I was pretty intrigued by the pattern so challenge accepted, ha! The Tea House by Sew House Seven can either be a top or a dress, has cuffed dolman sleeves, a V neck with a front yoke accent and ties around the waist. It´s not my usual cup of tea as the style I usually wear, but I could see the pattern´s potential.

I had this fabric already used up as a kimono I made a couple of years ago when I knew nothing about sewing techniques; really, the finishings made me weep everytime I picked it up and I was just waiting for the perfect pattern to come along to save it.

In order to make it work, I had to make a few changes to the Tea House; I removed the back pleat and made the back yoke as part of the back piece so the back fabric panel would shine - back, back, back, haha! Then for the front yoke, since I wasn´t doing the ties, I joined it to the lower panel as a whole piece. The fabric had this band print that looked perfect for me as an accent but to make it work I had to add a center front seam. Also, it´s cut on the crossgrain so extra pins, basting, glue, whatever you can think of was used to keep it nice and steady when I joined it to the front side panels. I used the same band print as an accent on the cuffs.

Inside it´s fnished with the front and back facings the pattern includes (just shortened the front facing a bit because I didn´t need it that long), understitched and tacked down at the shoulder seams, you know the drill. The pattern is beautifully drafted with impeccable instructions, so it´s perfect to play a bit with the pieces if you need or want to change something to make it more you.

The fabric is a really light silky viscose with a Zara print (which they sold as a kimono, hence my inglorious try to copy it, ha!) and a nightmare to press. I did my best to match the print at the front side panels; still, is it too busy at the eye? Maybe I should have broken it up with some piping... Paneled fabrics are hard to use and match up and the fact that I was upcycling didn´t give me too much room to play around with the fabric pieces. Neverthless, the boho summery feeling I was looking for is there, the top is loose but still with a bit of fit, I´m a happy happy gal!

August 9th: Rebel and Malice / Gaafmachine / Stahlarbeit
August 10th: In a manner of sewing / Sew happy / Mottenfrosch
August 11th: Sew Mariefleur / KreaMino / Fairies, Bubbles and Co. / Frölein Tilia
August 12th: Made by Sara / Just Add Fabric / Little Cumquat

And what about some cookies to go with that tea, hehe? Would you like to win a pattern of your choice from Sew House Seven? Peggy from Sew House Seven has generously offered to sponsor this giveaway, thank you! And UPDATE, La Finch Fabrics is also on board, offering each winner 6 yards of apparel fabric, woohoo! So, come on and write a comment on GAAFmachine´s post! We will pick two lucky winners next Monday 15th of August using a random generator. Good luck and put those kettles on!

London Sew Social was definitely unforgetable, it was all about getting to know the girls, spending some amazing time with them but also doing some fabric shopping, or window shopping. There are fabrics there to die for but my wallet was too small for them. Still, I made some special buys and this Liberty french terry (or loopback fleece) was my sewvenir, ha!

I only got half metre as I knew it would be just enough to make yet another Linden sweatshirt. My only mod was having to make 3/4 sleeves to fit it all and also one of the sleeves has the print upside down *sigh* I can surely live with that.

There´s not much to say about the pattern, I´ve made it a gazillion times and I know it by heart. But this fabric, awww, it just upgrades it from a regular sweatshirt to one with a very special place in my heart and it just makes me smile when I look at it in my closet. And look! Liberty is having a sale and there are some fleeces there, I couldn´t recommend it more as a special treat, go on you know you deserve it.

It wouldn´t be fair not to show everything we will be making with our goodies from our amazing sponsors (and also our little splurdges), we will we will, but also share with everyone some of those goodies. Here´s THE mother of all giveaways!

There will be 4 very lucky winners!

Here's what the goodie packs include:

Chanel, eat your heart out because Schnittchen has taken over, ha! Ok, so I know it´s not comparable, but it´s close. Really close, at least for us sewers sewists people who sew and have mostly learned everything on their own with the help and use of these great patterns out there. Also I have no intention (or skills or knowledge) to do couture stuff, but patterns like these have really satisfying outcomes and are fairly quick.






There are a number of options for little jackets like this in the pdf patterns community, but I was looking for something fully lined and with facings: bingo with the Coco jacket. I´ve become an absolute fan of their patterns after this. I´ve made the Silvia coatigan here and here and though the instructions don´t include pictures, for the Coco you´ve got a photo tutorial on their website which helps since I always have to check if I´m closing the lining right.
The front pieces have bust darts, the back has a center seam slightly curved as well as the hem. All features to bring you closer to a good fitted jacket. Now what made me sell my soul to this pretty little thing was the two part sleeve. It´s a feature you can find in good tailored jackets, like men suits, and just makes the sleeve set soooo perfectly. That is, if you don´t mess it up like I did here, ha! I notched all the marks but since this jacquard frayed quite a bit I lost them in the process, had to go back to the pattern for reference but eventually I missed the lower sleeve alignment so I have a little of twisting effect on something that would otherwise be a perfect sleeve. I would definitely recommend adding a bit of twill tape on the sleeve head and do the notches on it if you´re working with fraying fabric.




The fabric is a jacquard from The Sweet Mercerie and the photos really don´t make it enough justice; it´s got a light sheer and with my awesome photography skills I managed to capture all that reflection, ha! The photos below are more close to its real colour and texture. Underneath there´s Linden number #23 (ha, not really but close enough!) in a lurex pale pink yummy french terry from the same place.





This is also my entry for April´s Project Sew It! Seriously, Celina has gave quite a boost to us all to sew more for ourselves, you must check her perfect coat and all the previous months entries, so much inspiration, so little time!