Local Fabric Shop Challenge: Laurel Top

Okay, so it's not a secret that I'm not a fan of our only local fabric shop.  It's got a crappy, overpriced fabric selection, especially considering that most of the bolts don't even have fibre content on it.  But now that our local yarn shop has closed (WAAAAAAAAHHHH D:), I'm determined to at least appreciated the fabric shop more, dammit.

I challenged myself to not only buy the fabric I need to make a wearable muslin for Colette's Laurel, but to also use some sort of trim from their admittedly large and pretty selection.  I tend to just oogle them and move on.

My main fabric is a boring broadcloth in a lovely shade of green (it's more yellowish in person - my camera hates green).  I chose broadcloth and I really didn't want to dish out too much cash on this version.  The trim is what makes it fun though, and I love it!  I'm going to use it along the hem of the Laural top.  I think.  Maybe.

Anywho, that's my tentative plan for the weekend.  And don't think I've forgotten about my pants!  I've been thinking of nothing less for the last two weeks.  But this pattern has sort of shanghied my imagination and won't let go, and I want to try out the top first before diving into the dress I plan to make down the road.  :)

OMG LOOK I'M SEWING!!

Look at all of those lovely seamlines!  I'm working on my jacket toile to check the fit of this Burda pattern.  I've never sewn with Burda before, and my body shape has changed a bit since I last sewed for myself.

(I love 'toile' as an alternate word for muslin.  I picked it up from Tanit-Isis a while back.  I mispronounce it as 'toil' in my head, but since muslins are a toil sometimes, it seems the apt word.)

I managed to finish tracing the pattern last night while listening to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy audio book.  It got easier as I went (thanks to everyone for the advice on finding pattern pieces in the Burda pattern sheet mess!), and I can see myself attempting another Burda if I like the garment enough.

Anywho, I wanted to share how the back turned out because I'm giddy about actually sewing (EEEE!) and how the toile is turning out.  LOOK AT THOSE SEAMS!  The pattern just has you using the wool fabric across the entire back, but I'm considering turning those thin side panels into leather for a bit of back interest.  I added the centre back seam in case I have to do any adjustment in the toile, but I think I may keep it in the final garment.

What do you all think:  Leather panels on the back?  Keep the centre back seamline?  Is there any Burda magazine pattern you'd be willing to attempt tracing for?

McCall's 6279 Trench Dress: Fabrics Shopping, a Muslin, and a Call for Suggestions

Guess who got her major report in, just in time for her birthday? I DID I DID! So in celebration of both events, I'M SEWING!

As I mentioned in the last post, Fabricland was having a sale on patterns, and I insisted on going to pick them up. However, I guess the stores in Western Canada has different sales than in Eastern Canada, so McCall's patterns weren't actually on sale yet, not until after March 21. But that was fine. I picked up some fabric anyways, for McCall's 6279 Trench Dress.

I really want this dress to be formal enough to wear to my thesis defense, fabric choice was essential. I wanted a solid navy blue fabric, and really had to fight my tendency to gravitate towards the funkier colourful prints. Found this lovely cotton poplin in a navy, and then proceeded to spend the next hour trying to pick buttons. There's so many choices! Do I go with something to blend in or stand out? But since I'm loving grey and navy right now (and the navy-coloured buttons were all ugly and hard to match), I chose these swirly grey ones. Some grey topstitiching thread, and I'm good to go.

I'm a little worried that the poplin would be too lightweight. It's pretty thin, and after my experience with my awful pants, I'm leery of stretch cotton poplin. But then Fuss suggested I line the dress, and after a bit of research (and this great tutorial), I decided that's exactly what I was going to do!

So today, I ventured back to Fabricland to pick up the patterns (McCall's 6279, McCall's 5525, and McCall's 6286) and some lining fabric. Guys, I searched that store top to bottom trying to find exactly what I wanted, and what I wanted was a large patterned slightly funky but not sweet floral print. And as I was about to give up and settle, I found this cotton voile (look at me go, knowing my fabrics!) in the discount area for $5/m.

It's PERFECT. Almost a shame to be using it as a liner.

Anywho, this evening I came home after a birthday dinner with my Uncle and Grandma (mmm..brownie and ice cream), and got right into it. Worried about the fit, I decided to make a muslin (also Fuss's idea). I cut a size 16 (boy my measurements sure have changed since last summer!) and whipped up the dress in this horrid white teeny floral fabric.

I think it's a pretty good fit. I unfortunately didn't take any pictures (or maybe fortunately) since you can see my gotch underneath the white. It's a little too snug around the hips, so I'm adding about a 1/4 inch below the waistline.

I've also noticed that most tops I've made in the past look weird around the shoulders, and I think it's because my shoulders are narrower than most patterns draft for. When wearing the muslin, I pinned back the shoulder to about where I'd like the seam to lie, and I think I need to take in about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch.

Despite it being a muslin, I practiced topstitching all the seams, and I'm glad for the practice. I was all over the place at first, but got used to it after 6 seams!

I don't even think I need to do a FBA!

I can't tell you how excited I am to be sewing again. I was dishearted after the failed muslin for the Simplicity 2254 top and haven't been able to motivate myself to go back and fix it (never mind the lack of time). But boy has this put the spring back into my step!

But I need your help. What should I call this dress? Since it's for my thesis defense (in late April? Early May?), I'd like to call it something along those lines. But I'm not very creative with naming things, so I'd love to pick your brains! Mmm...brains...

Thesis Trench
Trench Defense
Mariana Trench (Haha Fuss, this one's for you!)
Other? (Suggestions in comments please!)

Today was an awesome day. Perogy pizza, beer, brownies, fabric shopping, and sewing. Best birthday ever!