Tuesday, October 5, 2010

10 days, and counting!!

Konichiwa!

With only 10 more sleeps (not including day time kips) til I fly off to Japan, I thought it was high time to get some Japanese holiday sewing done.

I bought some beautiful Nani Iro double gauze on Etsy a couple of months ago, and searched high and low all over the internets for the right pattern for it. I ummed and ahhhed for a good few weeks over the Summer Blouse pattern in Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing, but wasn't overly happy with the shapelessness of it. Eventually, I came across this tunic that Bec made, and I bought myself the pattern that night. It's the Schoolhouse Tunic by Meg from Sew Liberated.

It finally arrived yesterday (things always seem to take longer when you're in a hurry to receive them!), and I got stuck into pretty much straight away. It's a very easy pattern to follow, and I had good intentions to follow it to the letter (a rarity for me!). When it came time to try it on, though, it was too big. Only a size or so too big, but it was feeling a bit sack-like.


I spent half the night unpicking and resewing, with a few extra modifications along the way. For example, I've made the pleats larger, I've crossed over the front bodice sections where it joins the skirt (mostly to stop the gaping), I've taken length off the bodice, and I've added darts onto the bodice back.


This morning I unpicked the hem, and took both sides in about 2 inches, re-hemmed, and now I have a tunic that I'm really happy with. It fits perfectly, the fabric is so soft, and I don't think I've ever made a garment for myself that I'm as happy with as this.I'm off to Spotlight now to get some black thread for the overlocker so I can get stuck into Version Two.

5 comments:

Bellgirl said...

Wow, it looks gorgeous! Version Two should be much faster too, now you've made all the adjustments.

And yay! you've sewn something for yourself at last!

bec said...

Pretty! And I clicked on the link, and there was me, cute! I originally made the 14/16, I realise now what a sack it was, as the 10/12 is much better. Havn't made a top yet, but I like your idea of crossing over the top bit, I wear a singlet top under mine, but that way you don't have to! Can't wait to see version 2!

Kelly said...

It turned out really well Jo, Great fit and I love the fabric! I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip to Japan, I'm so jealous!

Kate said...

Looks great - I have that pattern and some somilar fabric in black - might - will have to make one I think.

Pippi creates said...

Lovely top - and gorgeous fabric. Its nice to find a really great pattern that fits you well and looks nice (perhaps after a few pattern alterations).