//THE WARDROBE PROJECT//: popular

Happy October everyone! Autumn is officially here!

Currently I'm in the process of planning and sewing my perfect fall wardrobe. So, I'm here to show you my first fall make!

The pattern is from My Image magazine. My Image is a Dutch based sewing magazine created by a Jet and Martin. I'm always up for trying new sewing magazines and books, so I was really excited to see what this one had to offer! And I wasn't disappointed! The magazine comes with 16 sewing patterns for women in sizes 34-52(XS-3XL) and contains instructions in 5 different languages!!!The designs are modern and really well drafted, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow.

I choose to make the M1665 dress/top. I cut a size 38 for the bust, grading to a size 40 for the waist and hips, but I did modified the pattern a little.
I wanted to make a long top with open sides, since I have a RTW summer top like that which I love. Since I wanted a more flowy fit, I straightened the side seams (connect the underarm with the hem with a straight line). I used the dress length of the pattern for the back and I shortened the front by 16,5cm. Lastly, I only sewed the sides for 12cm under the armhole. The neckline is finished with a binding and I used a twin needle for the sleeves, but I left all hems and side seams raw, because..., well ain't nobody got time for that!

I used the loveliest, softest ribbed knit in a gorgeous evergreen color, which gave the perfect drape to this top!

I really love this top! It is cosy, comfy and has plenty of room for all the fall pastry eating I'm planning on doing! I don't know about you, but it ticks every singe thing in my list! And I really recommend checking out the magazine!

Jet and Martin were kind enough to give a 25% discount on all their products until the 1st of November! Just enter the code: wardrobe. They also have a lovely magazine full of children's sewing patterns, called B-Trendy, that is really worth checking out!

So, how about you? What is on your sewing table right now?

*I only ever share things I like and that I'll think you’ll like as much. The #13 issue of My Image magazine was kindly provided too me by Jet and Martin. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.*

Hello everyone! Recently I shared a post about my spring outerwear sewing plans. Now this is an area that is lacking in my wardrobe. Except from the occasional cardigan my spring outerwear game is really low. And it's time to change it!

When I first started sewing, never in my wildest dreams I'd imagined that it would come a day that I'd be able to make my own biker jacket! In my mind sewing something like that was really intimidating and nearly impossible! But guess what guys? NOTHING is impossible! So here it is my very first suede biker jacket! And I'm IN LOVE!

The pattern is Mona from a French pattern company called Wear Lemonade. I already had this pattern for a while, but forgotten about it over time. At the time the pattern was available as a PDF, although it doesn't seem to be anymore. The pattern features bust darts, a zipper closure and 4 press studs. My favorite thing though about this is that you only need around 1.5m of fabric! And the options are countless!

For my version I cut a size 38 for the bust, grading to a size 40 for the waist and hips and the fit turned out perfect. I used a beige suede I already had in my stash (hooray for finally de-stashing something!), a fun leopard print bias binding for the inside and 4 rusted gold toned press-studs. Side note: if you want to install decorative press-studs, but you don't have the right tool, you can totally improvise and use a screwdriver and a hammer ;)

The PDF pattern came without any instructions, but there is a video up on the Wear Lemonade website, that takes you through the whole process step by step. Even though I don't speak any French whatsoever, it was really easy to sew this jacket. I'd say it's suited for an intermediate sewer or even an advanced beginner.

There's really nothing else to say about this pattern, either than this is possibly one of my top three makes of all time and surely there are many more versions of this coming soon!

So, what are you guys sewing these days?

Hello lovely people! This post had to be up a loooong time ago, but you know...., life happens and etc., so here it is now. Lately I rediscovered my long lost love for two things. prints and button down shirts. And when the two are combined, well..., that's a match made in heaven! So when the lovely ladies from By Hand London contacted me to be a pattern tester on their new button down shirt I shouted HELL YEAH! And I knew this one had to be in a print!

So let me properly introduce, By Hand London's new "child", the Sarah Shirt!

"Sarah is no ordinary shirt. Feminine and drapey yet chic and polished, Sarah is a button-up swing shirt with plenty of ease that clings and skims in all the right places. Choose from long, billowy sleeves and a dainty rounded collar or short cuffed sleeves and a traditional pointed collar."

The pattern comes in two sleeve lengths (long and short) and two collar options (a rounded collar and a pointed collar).It has pleats on the shoulders, a back yoke, a center back pleat, and an overall flowy fit, which is flattering in almost every shape.

I sewed Variation 1(long sleeved version), but used the collar from Variation 2(pointed collar).

I cut a size 8/12 for the bust and graded up to a size 10/14 for the waist and hips. For reference my measurements are B:90cm,W:76cm,H99cm.

The fit is perfect, roomy, without the potato-sack effect. It makes you feel put together, without it being restrictive.

As always with By Hand London patterns, the drafting is exceptional and the instructions were really clear and easy to follow.

As for fabric, I used a viscose rayon for my version, which was a very smart choice, if I say so. Everything sewed really effortless and pressed really nicely. I used up 2 meters of fabric, 10 buttons and 4 small snaps for the sleeves.

I seriously love this shirt! It's been worn at least once a week, since I finished it, and I can't wait to make another version! It's the perfect combination of chic and comfortable! As always a big shout-out to the fabulous By Hand London girls for another amazing pattern!

*Disclaimer: I received this pattern from By Hand London patterns for free to test, but all opinions are my own. I sent feedback on the draft to the girls, which were included in the final pattern. I was not paid to test this pattern, and was given a free copy of the final pattern as compensation.*

Hello lovely readers! How is 2016 treating you so far? I feel like the first 15 days of 2016 for me, were all about re-organising, re-charging and basically everything that involves the prefix re- in. I even started reading this book, so I sense that a pretty big de-stashing of my house and wardrobe is coming soon. This month also has a lot of changes and late hours in my job, but also marks the beginning of the next level of my pattern drafting classes :D!

To be honest, I haven't even been nearly my sewing machine this month, but that's ok. I decided that this year is all about quality, over quantity, and I want to sew things that will be incorporated seamlessly with my current wardrobe and fit my lifestyle.

So, I thought I'd share with you some of my last 2015 makes. Starting with my Sydney jacket and Nettie combo.

Let me just start by saying this: WOW! This jacket is THE bomb! This is the Sydney jacket from Tessuti patterns.

"This oversized, draped jacket features a relaxed collar, back yoke, extended cropped raglan sleeves and side pockets. This jacket is ideal for layering over garments and is the perfect cover-up for the autumn/winter months"

I fell in love the instant I saw this pattern and every single version of this made me want to make one even more. I started with this idea of a grey felt wool jacket, but I didn't have enough yardage. So I moved to this heavy double-sided knit fabric I had in my stash, with the thought to become a cardigan. And let me tell ya, the perfect cozy jacket was born!

What I love about this pattern is that, basically, you can use whatever fabric doesn't fray when cutting it, which means you can achieve endless different versions. For mine, I cutted a size S, without any modification. I love the draped front and the side pockets make it a really practical jacket as well.

This is a fairly easy and quick make, since you don't have to finish any edges and with very clear instructions as well. At first you might be a little confused, since the pattern pieces fit together in an odd way, but in the end it all makes sense. Another lovely Tessuti pattern! I can surely see many more versions of this jacket in the future!

It's like wearing a big cozy blanket!

I've already made a couple of Nettie dresses, here and here , as well as some Nettie cropped tops, but I never made a Nettie bodysuit. So when I came across this lovely, soft striped cotton lycra at the fabric store, I knew the time had come to make one.

"The Nettie is a quick and easy to make wardrobe staple. Close fitting with high cut arms, she can be made into a knit dress OR a bodysuit. This pattern is infinitely customizable with a choice of 3 sleeve lengths, 2 neckline and 3 back variations."

I made a scoop front, high back version with long sleeves. I cutted a size 10, without any modifications, which worked out pretty well! What I like about this, is the low cut bum, which prevents unnecessary, annoying panty lines. I did use a snap crotch closure, for quicker bathroom runs!

I really love this pattern! The instructions are incredible clear that even an ambitious beginner could make this, the drafting is exceptional and the fit is spot on. I have to say: Hats off to Heather! Not only she created an exceptional pattern company, but her designs are modern, versatile and what a woman wants to actually wear. She always spots the gaps in the modern woman's wardrobe and delivers every time!

Bodysuit: Nettie pattern from Closet Case Pattern

Jacket: Sydney jacket from Tessuti pattern

Jeans:Zara

Shoes: Stan Smith Adidas

So how did you spent the first 15 days of 2016?

I used to have an on-again-off-again relationship with knitting! I learned to knit almost 5 years ago, but I never dived into it seriously. Maybe it was the cheap acrylic yarns I used to buy, maybe I didn't paid much attention to the patterns, but I was always afraid to knit a big garment, like a sweater. I've knitted quite a few neck cowls and scarves, but I always wanted to be able to knit garments! So I decided that this time around I'd make it happen! So, very proudly, I present you my very first wearable sweater!!

As most of the times, I found the pattern in -the-heaven-of-knitting-stuff- Ravelry. For my first endeavour, I wanted something fairly easy that I could knit while binge watching my favourite series (at the moment is Once Upon A Time, which I seriously recommend that you watch, if you haven't already!). The pattern is the Didi&Catcat sweater pattern from this amazing French blog named CatCat et son dressing. She knits the most amazing modern garments and I fell in love with her designs, even though my knowledge of French is actually non existing! I followed her instructions for a mini version of her original pattern, because I wanted the sweater slightly less oversized.

With the help of the trusty Google translate, I was able to finish this sweater in less than 2 weeks. The pattern is actually two rectangles for the body and two rectangles for the sleeves knitted in garter stitch and sewed together at the end. You don't even need circular needles for this one! The only modification I made was tapering the sleeves at the end for a more close fitting result.

For this, I used size 5(US8) and size 10(US15) straight needles and approximately 9 skeins of this Air Alpaca yarn from Katia Yarns in the Medium Grey (205) color. The yarn is so soft and lovely! I spritz blocked the sweater, because the yarn is quite delicate. This was also my first time I tried blocking properly!

So what about you? What are you knitting this winter? What was your first knitted item?

You can also find me in Ravelry!

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