It's Curtains for Me

I'm not a huge fan of sewing home dec, but I've been meaning to replace my kitchen curtains for well over a decade. Just after Christmas I decided I had the time and motivation to do it, so my husband and I went down to the fabric store and picked out some new drapery fabric, and I whipped them up in two days. So much for waiting for so long! 

We chose a traditional print that picks up all the colours in our kitchen, and it works really well. I had a queen size sheet that was perfect for the lining - these are simple pocket top curtains, although of three different sizes! 

Anyhow, the hardest part, after the cutting, was just the endless pressing of long hems. But they are finally done, and I have remembered why I don't enjoy home dec projects ;) But I do like the finished thing, and they really make our kitchen feel warmer and cozier. Now I won't have to make more for another decade! 

Tania Coatigan in Cursive

My latest Fabricville blogger project was a bit of an outlier for me. But I was making it for the latest edition of the Fabricville newsletter, and the theme was Fall jackets.

I don't often make outerwear or even blazers, but I was looking for a fall jacket/sweater, and the first thing I thought of was the new Tania Coatigan by Jalie. This jacket-like cardigan without front closures is perfect to throw on over a dress to look instantly chic and keep yourself warm in the chillier days or nights of fall! It has the addition of angled seams and clever pockets for that extra appeal.

The recommended fabrics for this pattern are stable knits or linen; it gives different looks depending on the fabric you choose, from casual to dressy. The pattern also recommends that you use your high bust measurement for a fitted look, and your bust for a looser fit. This opens up so many options!

I’m a librarian and I love sewing with unexpected fabrics, so I really couldn’t resist this cotton drapery fabric - PK Studio Cursive Caps - from Fabricville for my choice for the Tania! Look at those beautiful cursive letters – I can’t wait to wear this to work.

Although not one of the recommended fabrics, it is fairly lightweight without any special coatings or treatments that can sometimes be found on upholstery fabrics. Thinking about the characteristics of the fabric, the drape, the weight, scale of the print, and so on, is vital when deciding to use an unusual fabric choice for any pattern. Think about the lines of the pattern and whether the fabric you’ve chosen will match with that. For example, this fabric wouldn’t work for anything full or gathered, but it works amazingly for something fitted, with structure.

These back seams are perfectly straight when this is hanging on a hanger; there is slightly
too much fabric in the upper back for my body & so they curve out when worn. Sigh.

I made very few alterations to the Tania. Jalie’s patterns are always very well drafted. Because I’m only 5’2”, I did shorten it slightly above the angled seams, and shortened the sleeve length by a couple of inches. I also increased the bicep of the sleeve by 1.5” because my fabric doesn’t have much give and I often find Jalie sleeves narrow for my body normally anyhow.

I made a few cosmetic changes too: to accent those angled seams I inserted some satin piping that I also found in the upholstery department! It took a little extra time and hand basting to ensure that the points matched up at the seams but it was worth it. Because this drapery fabric tends to fray easily, I also took the time to bind all the seams with seam binding tape. This was the lengthiest part of the process! So much pinning and careful sewing. And I finished the edges of my facing with some bias binding for a tidy and attractive edge.

Other than those changes, this was a quick sew, perfect for the enthusiastic beginner on up. This pattern has potential for many different versions. When I make it again, I’ll probably use a knit, and one change I’ll make is to make the body one size smaller for a snugger fit. After wearing for a bit, I find that there is a lot of volume in the lower back for my body so will just take it in a little at the centre back seam to adjust for that too. A great pattern and a wonderful, high quality fabric with a print that I love make this into a hit for me!

Fabric Stashing with Fabricland

The excellent news in these parts is that the imminent closure of our local Fabricland has been changed into the upcoming MOVE of our Fabricland! They've found a new location in our city, and let me tell you, the multitude of sewists here could not be more pleased.

There are still some pretty good sales happening though, since they have to downsize for the new space and move everything! I have been pretty good this year about buying new fabric, well, at least until the original closure was announced. This week I popped in to buy some D-rings for my upcoming fall project (I'll be using an olive-y green silk that I picked up at a garage sale last year, so the silver D-rings I already have don't work!)

But then I checked out the clearance tables, which had a 50% the clearance price deal happening. And I found some amazing things, I just couldn't pass them up.

First I saw this quilting cotton and the print just sold me immediately. I didn't know who Nathalie Lété was until I looked her up after buying this. I had no idea she was such a popular artist! I'm thinking maybe the Anna Dress for this.

And I found some poly-rayon heavy ponte in bright red. I feel the need for a winter dress in red, perhaps another Vogue 9022 or something from a Burda magazine.

Then I came across this cotton (I think) sateen with an amazing bronze/burgundy mid-century modern feel to it. I don't know what to do with this, but I had to have it. Gorgeousness for $2.50/m, irresistible!

Finally, I picked up this upholstery fabric that I've been looking at for a while, but now that it was half off the $5/m sale price I had to buy it. I think it's a poly/linen/rayon blend, and the weight and drape is lovely.

Plus I adore houndstooth. I am thinking about a suit made from patterns from my most recent Burda mags -- a straight skirt and one of these two jackets - the Button Up Blazer on the left, or the little jacket with a bow at the collar on the right.

So there it is, lots of ideas for fall sewing! I have a few more transitional pieces I want to make before I get into the heavier fall/winter things though, so I'll have more to share soon :)