Fridays Sewing Snippets

They came

they sewed

and did all the other stuff
  women do in a confined space
when armed with sewing machines,
piles of fabric & a thirst for creativity 

they shared, laughed, ate

and sewed some more...

Ruths first Quilt

Inge brought her latest Jigsaw Jkt for show & tell

her next Jkt will be from this pattern using this bedspread
and the copied Lily Top is a firm favourite.

Rennae has a new favourite pattern and a growing fondness for 2-way stretch fabrics.

Next lot of Workshop dates are on the Website. 

Friday Workshops - Pillows, Pants & Tie Collars

One of the biggest thrills I get from conducting workshops
is that I never know who's going to book in 
or what projects are going to walk through the doors

not entirely true 
because if you book a spot in Basics & Beyond 
I have complete control over the projects
just not your creative interpretation of them
and I will always give you the opportunity 
to discuss any projects you would like to undertake
before you arrive for the first class

so after recovering from the initial shock of Ruths phonecall
and her booking in for a workshop  
as it had been quite a few years since we last spoke
and as far as I knew Ruth didn't know what a sewing machine was
I was able to reflect on how significantly serendipitous our meeting again was going to be

Ruth gave me my first workshop gig
 at the Fremantle Art Centre a hundred years ago 
and now as I am about embark on the next stage in the journey
Ruth will be here at the end 
'swings & roundabouts'

turns out Ruth is pretty proficient with a pair of scissors
 & a sewing machine

and as she works her way through

the Basics & Beyond projects

her skills will improve 

and confidence will grow

allowing her to add yet another creative element to the already many creative abilities she has

as she embarks on the next phase in her journey

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

Rennae loves clothes

and we make patterns so she can wear more of them

clothes love her in return
because lets face it 
Rennae is one of those people who would look good in a paper bag

however her very active work & social life

means everything we make, gets worn

which is about as rewarding as it gets for me

…thanks Rennae 

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

Sue joined us for one Friday

so she could create a Tie Collar

 I'm not sure if it was Sues eagerness to have one of her own

or because these days

I'm alot more familiar with how to put them together 

a bit of both I think

because by the end of the day

Sue was well on her way to completing her third!

and now that she knows how
I've no doubt there will be more! 

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

As I type this 

there is one spot left 

in the All Day Friday Workshop ...

in fact it's the only spot left for the Term!

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop - Day Two & Pattern REviews

Everyone decided to create from patterns during this 2day Workshop

so I feel marginally qualified & a little obliged 
to do my very first pattern reviews 


Jeanette made a frock



from 100% cotton fabric 
using this pattern 

Simplicity 1610

not her first and possibly not her most challenging project at the Studio
Jeanette opted for the sleeveless scoop-neck version 
the process from go to woe was fairly straight forward 
as long as the instructions were adhered to

we did contemplate not self lining the bodice
as the pattern asked
using our old faithful Bias Binding to finish raw edges
until it was realised the squared off armholes wouldn't allow for this

it turned out to be a firm fitting 1950's styled frock
which Jeanette enjoyed the making and wearing of so much 
she's coming back for some floral fabric to make another.
*
*
Rosie bought this gorgeous Japanese cotton voile from me a while back 
and arrived with the perfect for summer top pattern to tackle

opting also for the high-neck version

which we ended up lowering to suit Rosies shape better

the raw edges allowed for Bias Binding finishes in the same fabric 

and on completion Rosie chose to jazz it up a little 

with some 'ribboned' Bias sewn as a big droopy bow in the centre

Butterick B5644

Finished, the garment is loose fitting, roomy and airy
a straight forward project for an experienced sewer as Rosie 

and it would also make a perfect first time project for a novice.

*

*

JoAnne had high hopes for her bag full of potential REinventions 

and it was decided the piece she most wanted to play with
was the fabric in an unwearable frock

we decided a Vogue pattern of mine

would fit the bill perfectly

if we lost the frill at the bottom

turned the neck gathers into pleats/tucks
and added extra width at the sides

Vogue V8229

there wasn't much of the orginal frock left by the time we'd finished

we even REused the Invisible Zip

Quite a fitted garment when finished
[we added extra panels into the sides] 

not a difficult pattern to follow & construct

especially if just laying up fabric

REinventing using a pattern is extremely rewarding 

and a tad time consuming.

*

*

When I saw this fabric I immediately thought Tea Frock

and when Kate saw it in the Studio Shop 

she thought the same thing

having already made her first one 

a couple of weeks before in a more difficult fabric

this one almost sewed itself

the most time consuming part was leveling the hem-line

due entirely to the bias nature of the cut

and the weight in the skirt

there's no point in doing a review for this pattern

because the pattern is no longer available

and if I'm going to do a

Tea Frock Workshop

I'd best find one similar soon!

With a little time up her sleeve 

Kate made a start on her next 

Change of Heart Skirt 

as with others Kate's made in the past 

this one will not have the front wrap panel

however this time Kate's challenged herself by lining it

 and if Stella keeps bringing us her delicious chocolate Brownies

and we eat them

I might have to do a workshop 

on how to best let out your seams! 

Sew-What-You-Like November Workshop - Day One

The girls today were way TOO busy to smile for the camera

l-r Kate, JoAnne, Rosie & Jeanette

Kate walked in wearing her Tea Frock

complete with finished-at-home gorgeous buttoned back neck

and that perfect first time Invisible Zip still makes me all warm & fuzzy

her next Tea Frock

is made from fabric bought from the shop

and will also sport contrasting neck binding

Jeanette found the perfect fabric

for her latest summer frock

and Rosie is making a lovely summer Top

from the last of my Japanese Voile.

JoAnne left on the last day of her October 

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop 

with a Piece of Cake Pattern

and arrived today wearing the first 

of what she assures me will be many

and a bag full of REinventing ideas....

I am looking forward to tomorrow

when I can share the outcomes of their creativity.

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop Mosaic - November Dates

To think 
none of these items 
or any of the others I didn't get photos of
existed 2days before 
the October series of

Sew-What-You-Like Workshops

1. Wrap T, 2. Top REfashion, 3. Paua Top, 

4. Firecracker Skirt, 5. Change of Heart Skirt & Top, 6. Tea Frock,
7. Skirtunic, 8. Frog Wrap, 9. Cushions,
10. Lined Change of Heart, 11. Tunic REfashion, 12. Birdie Bag,
13. Finished, 14. Hands, 15. Finished

and 
the worlds a better place now they do.

The November series of
Sew-What-You-Like Workshops
are open for booking

Thursday & Friday 
14th & 15th
9:30-2:30

or

Saturday & Sunday
16th & 17th 
10am-3pm

Contact me [Jody] for details
sewoutsidethelines[at]westnet[dot]com[dot]au   

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop - Day4

The 2nd day 

for the 2nd group

of  

2-Day All-Day Sew-What-You-Like Workshop participants

saw an explosion of finished creations

The delightful  JoAnne joined us for the first time

 having keenly watched the Blog for some time 

Jo had a pretty good idea which direction her creativity would take

starting with an unwearable wrap skirt
transformed with fabric & frogs
into the perfect skirt for summer 

an uncomfortable op shop sourced top
was refashioned into a one-of-a-kind wear-anywhere tunic

and two tops that weren't being worn
are now one top Jo will wear 

Sue has been a regular paticipant in workshops
for a few years now
 and has also joined me on every Busselton REtreat
I could go on for ages about Sues ability
suffice to say Sue is now coming to class confident enough to have created her own patterns
as evidenced by this Top
created by copying one of her favoutite tops



with only a few minor pattern adjustments
Sue now has a Top pattern perfect for her



which is also what happened with these white pants
starting life as an op shop sourced Size 24 
 after creating a replica pattern of her favourite comfy pants
Sue created the perfect for her Size 14 summer casuals
and the Top was refashioned from too-small to perfect-fit
by adding a little extra in the side

knowing what to expect

Elise came armed with her already cut out Change of Heart Skirt

only this time we lined it

which means that Elise has earned the title of

first-ever-person-on-the-planet to create a lined Change of Heart Skirt

and after creating 4 zippered cushions 

Elise is well on her way to being an expert

earning her the other title of

 Studio Zipper & Cushion Queen

and our darling Kate

who is always so happy to be here

who fills the Studio with fresh air & light

nearly made a Tea Frock

which she loves so much 

there's plans to fill her wardrobe with them

Everyone that walks through the Studio doors is different

every creation which is created here is different
expectations vary from person to creation and back again
what always remains the same however
is the reward and sense of achievement
experienced on a similar level by everyone

so lets do it again
in November!

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop - Day3

For me it was Day3

however for Elise, Kate, Sue and Jo 

it was Day 1 of their 

2-Day Sew-What-You-Like Workshop

and just like the group before them

these girls hit the ground running

 with sewing machines fired up

and hands going flat out

I'm looking forward to capturing their completed creations later today to share

...it was all too much for little Lola.