Gone the sparky, the fiddly and the girly route

So, it took me a half day mulling over what to make next over the last weekend after the quilt top, and home dec-y stuff. That's a short mull for me coz I can really get sidetracked (how weird that word "mull" sounds now).

I chose the sparkiest, fiddliest and imo girliest fabric in my stash, the one that I've bought online (Gorgeous Fabrics) more than a year ago, at least, not knowing what to expect. While loving it upon receipt, was at a loss at what to make of it... Plus was kinda intimidated to cut into it (which was the same story with most of my "precious" stash, all waiting for the time I feel that I'm a bit ahead in my learning curve, and nerve). It's a mint and gold velvet burnout on silk (chiffon), and I have a lil over 3 yards of it.

I think the fabric in different lighting/or day and night will look different as the above pictures.

A simple design that can showcase the fabric. I wanted something like a kimono style or a duster jacket/long coat style, if you may. Which I think a style that would suit me when I think along the lines of Sarah Liz's Body shape style guide for oval/diamond. My interpretation is to wear this open over a skimming/or a lil loose sleeveless hip length top and skinny pants for example.

The quick mull also lends to a rather (surprisingly) quick rummage in my unorganized pattern stash. I unearthed Simplicity 7406, apparently an OOP pattern, that I thrifted back in Iowa for 25 cents. :) The description says that it's a loose-fitting jacket with front band, has full-length sleeves from dropped shoulder line. Comes in size 8-20. I think it's a good base for what I have in mind.

Continuing with the adventurous spirit that seems to come in abundance in this project, I cut a size 20 to ensure fit over my middle and bottom half, and then work it out from there on. My reasoning is that after all, it's a dropped shoulder style anyways, and my fitting issues was always with the shoulders running big, but it should cease to be a problem with this style.

The only change I made to the pattern was to change the sleeves to be straight and a lil wider, in line with the kimono-esque feel I desired. And I cut the fabric. Then I remembered that I never washed/pretreated the fabric before. Duhhh... Yikess! Do I sew and then wash? What if they shrink on me? Sob sob... 

I ended up soaking the cut fabric in a tub with tap water+fabric softener, lightly squashing and thoroughly rinsing them, something I used to always do when washing my silk traditional clothes back when I was in boarding school (high school) and we had to wear traditional clothes or blouses with dressy pants/long skirts during prep classes (I suppose it's like homeroom time in schools here in US? Except that this is in boarding school, so it's a few hours at every weeknight. We have afternoon prep hours too, after lunch and rest, but we have to wear school uniform for that. I guess in uni (lived at home) and then work, my mom and I just send them to the dry cleaners.) Here, I guess I've been lazy and put everything in the washer! Note to self: I really should handwash all my me mades........

Thankfully, it didn't shrunk or anything like that, so the next morning I was able to iron on and proceed. The instruction was easy breezy, very short. I french seamed all seams (not in the instruction, but I've made enough french seamed projects to remember to add the step this time).

Oh, by the way, I saw that the selvage is kinda nice and I wanted to use that as a hem feature on the sleeves and the jacket's front band. For the sleeves, I just made sure that I cut the sleeves pieces with the selvage on the hem edge. ;)

So after the front bodice pieces sewn to the back piece (and french seamed), and then the sleeves attached to the dropped shoulders (and french seamed), I pin and basted (i do a lot of pin and hand basting in all my projects) the sides  together and tried it on (before stitching and then french seamed). Man.... It was too big around the chest area. Now, looking at the pattern pieces, am not sure if this is because I cut a size 20 straight (probably more coz of the style), coz usually my bust go with size 16, and my shoulders go with size 14. Usually. But worry not. In true Far fashion, I just pinned and marked to where I want the sides to be (sewn in one time from sleeves to sides). 

Now its a better skimming to the bust and flowy from there on down. Rather than a kimono style, it's kinda resembled a loose kebaya (another variation of the traditional malay dress). Which is not a bad thing. After all, the month-long Eid celebration will commence in early August after we're done with this fasting month. Now I have something festive to don, in case I don't have time to work on my intended dress (tunic and long skirt) in the fabric I planned for that to match with my boys (my extended family is big on matchy colors for our many celebrations, it makes for fun photo session).

Okay, I'm jumping the gun here by posting the finished outfit. But I forgot to take picture of it while it was baggy (coz there was frenzy of stuff around the house as well as this project related) and I was trying and pinning and basting and so on. Oh... did I tell you that the gold part sheds so much? From start to the end, and I know it will keep on shedding! I've never had to sweep and vacuum so many times in my life, esp for just one project! Last time my clothes shed so much was the fully beaded (again on chiffon!) wedding solemnization dress of mine. (Nope, didn't shed during the ceremony (didn't notice anyways LOL), but I've worn it a number of times up to early pregnancy (mainly events like Eid party) and I shed tiny glass beads everywhere! Hmmm... I wish I can fit into it again. No, it wasn't a me made, but I love the fabric! Refashion it? Hmmmm.... Not yet I guess.)

I'll back up a bit to the part of the front band, and wanting to use the fabric selvage as a finish/feature. I cut 2 pieces of the band pattern with the selvage there of course. Then I join the 2 pieces to make one long band (this is as instruction) french seam style (my preference). Then I iron the band in half right side together, and sandwiching the staystiched front of the bodice (like in pic below) I hand baste and then machine stitch it down (making sure that the selvage part will be on the front).

Iron them. This is how it looks like after stitching down. Oh, and I stitch and fold/iron 1/4 inch of the raw edge of the front band:

Pin the band together and baste (the selvage part to the folded down raw edge on the inside):

 And topstitch down.

Iron iron..... Lots of ironing, and shedding, and sweeping, etc etc.

What's left was hemming the bottom part. But I let it hang on the dressform whole day, before I made a tiny (for me) hem the boring dirty way: stitch 1/4 inch at the bottom, iron and fold over on the stitchline, pink cut the seam to smaller, then fold and iron a tiny hem, and then stitch down approx 3/8 inch. Iron. Done. Phew.

FRONT

BACK: I dunno why one of the sleeves look longer than the other here. I assure you it's not so in real life. I think. LOL.

And that's that.

For my friends over at the 2013 Style the Stash Sewalong, I think I might have used 2 1/2 yards for this. :)

What's next? Quilt the baby quilt already! and then another shirt for hubby with some tweaks to be done from his first shirt during the June stashbusting. And maybe a button up shirt for the Bean too... Ah, plans... we'll see about that!

Smiles,
Far

Done: Silk+Cotton Voile M6702 top #2

It definitely took me quite a while, almost 2 weeks, to finish this top. But I am happy to report that it is done.

My first version was made from a peony pink linen and very comfortable to wear. It wasn't surprising since it is very much my style (a casual loose top, with a good fit around the shoulder, skim the bust area and flow over my lower region).

When I rediscover this lovely fabric in my stash, it is destined to be made into the 2nd iteration of the pattern.

Fabric: silk+cotton voile from FabricMart a couple years ago (2 yds x 45") - definitely black background with green/teal/ivory flowers with tiny white dots and silver lurex threads

Pattern: McCall's M6702, View B like my Peony Pink Linen version but with some modification

My modification for this version:

• Re-fit the shoulder. I suspected that I have a forward shoulder situation going on, so I tweaked the bodice pattern on the shoulder part, and it sits great now. It involved adding 3/4-1" to the length of the outer shoulder, but I didn't think that far to add more on the sleeves pattern, and thus the circumference of the armscye now are bigger than the sleeves! To remedy this, I added godet to my set in sleeves, Which was a beast since I french seamed the whole top, and had to figure out a french seamed godet in my head. For the next version (coz yes, there will be more of this one) remember to add 1.5" each side to the sleeves, tapering into nothing.
•  Instead of having a curved bell sleeves, I made it kinda straight (non curved) bell sleeves. Next time I should add 1" to the length of the sleeves.
• Same like in the first version, I pleated the back (but opposite way than the last time) rather than gathers at the back. I learnt that I have to do this the hard way: messing up a very pretty Milly silk. I still have hope that I will get back to it and redo that top "properly".
• Updated: I left off the patch pocket in this version.
• I added 4 buttonholes and buttons. Love the look. I probably could've have skipped the buttonholes and just sew the buttons on. As it is I can just pull the top over my head without unbuttoning... I reused all 4 buttons from the original floral silk twill dress refashioned for my denim shirt project.
• Another note for the next version: I should forgo the hi-lo hem of this shirt and make it all the same length as the back. But probably for fabric cut that is more than 2 yards if it is just 45" wide.

 

My plan is to have a complete outfit for an outing, rather than just that top. What I meant by this is that, other than just this top, I am going to make/redo/find a black tank top that will go and fit (my body) nicely with this (light and semi sheer) top. Preferably one with bra strap holder, which is a necessity for me, and yet I haven't incorporate this in my me mades. I'd have to figure out how to do this. I also will need a bottom to go with this outfit, so I will refit the white jeans that I thrifted and worn with the mother's day pink parfum silk chiffon top in pic below. Or the cream pants I have somewhere. Either one.

Exhibit A: baggy white jeans

I also will have to repair the earrings I have that I think will go with this top. All before this farewell lunch do for one of the Malaysian ladies next Thursday. I have a handbag and the shoes in mind. They are not matchy matchy with the outfit, but I think they will go well together. My aim is a casual but pulled together look. For once! :) 

I know that it is the same look that I usually sport: loose top, pants/jeans. But to put the outfit together in my mind will hopefully eliminate the feeling of rushed, fraying around the edges (psychologically), thus having a full control over how I put myself forward. I know having a better fitted clothes to my body is a huge help towards that. (As well as better eating habit and exercise regiment I am sure, but those are lifelong WIP for this household).

I am celebrating the completion of this top with a thorough cleaning of the bathroom. There will be some reorganizing in the apartment, repurposing the limited space that we have too, which probably means moving some of the sewing stuff and space. It is approximately one year and one week since we move from Iowa to Seattle, so it is about time for shaking things up and adding things in, be less of a nomad (which is a story of my life since I am perpetually in a moving mode since my growing up years).

I have decided to extend our lease in this apartment rather than look for a slightly bigger home (this decision falls on me). At this juncture, I don't think I am up to go through another rental search (with our rather lengthy requirement which is a headache and often a cause of tension hehe). The building is great (brand new, great and safe location and amenities that we should probably start using-like the gym!, nice people, quiet and thick walls) so it would be silly to move right now as we never know what we might end up with in another place. Other than bigger space probably. But to sacrifice peace of mind and so on for a bigger space, not a good idea to my husband, and I agree with him.

Next on my stashbusting sewing bucket:

• hats for the hubby and Bean (requested)
• wearable muslin casual fit shirt for hubby (finally!)
• linen shirt for the hubby (birthday present)

But I might break those up with some selfish sewing for me! LOL!

Happy sewing!

Far

p/s: this top is my first completed project for the

Peony Pink McCall's M6702

This is the top I finished this morning! My best top so far IMHO... :) I thought I'd make a proper post on this, but I am quite tired (had a longg day out with the Bean, and he is still jumping around! Usually he will fall asleep on the bus, but he hasn't had a nap all day. Maybe we will get lucky and he will go to sleep earlier tonite!) and then we are having out-of-town visitors... So better share these pics now before I start other projects next week ;)

Pattern: McCall's M6702, view B (Misses' pullover top, have collar and front bands, self-lined yoke back, hem variations), size ZZ (Lrg-Xlg-Xxl). View B has one pocket...
Fabric: Midweight linen (Peony Pink) purchased online from Gorgeous Fabrics a year ago

I cut a size Large, and tapered towards xxl at the bottom. L was too big on my shoulder (fit fine on my bust area), but I like the way it flows on the bottom. I made 2 muslins to get the right shoulder fit and sleeves for me. 

 

The hem at the back is longer, with curve on the side...

Kinda proud of my topstitching on this top.. Quite neat I must say... Must be the linen!

 

I changed the back to a pleat in the middle rather than gathers that the pattern suggested... I didn't like the gathers on my back on the muslin.

Added a small snap on button, so that I can have the option of not wearing a tank top underneath...

I love the style a lot of course. It's very me.. I'm going to wear it with skinny jeans or leggings or jeggings with flats.What else would you wear it with?

Is It Spring Yet?

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't... It's green all the time here it seems even while freezing cold (to me) so forgive me if I am a little bit confused (or just wishful?).

For once I am sewing ahead of season (again, just according to me), just so that I have spring and summer friendly clothes to wear when the time comes... :) Enough is enough with wearing my winter fabric-friendly in summer and vice versa. So with that, I geared up enough courage to cut into my most spring-y/summer-y fabric, a pretty lightweight white and yellow silk I purchased online (from Gorgeous Fabrics) last year.

Somehow I thought that I got only 1.5 yards of this silk (instead I have 2, oopps), so my mind was made up to make it into a flowy top, and the best candidate for this is McCall's M6711 top pattern I've just recently made in a black version.

As you can see, I've lined the top. I didn't decide to line this while planning (fail, I thought I've covered all the bases), as I figured I will just wear a camisole underneath. But just before I sew down the inside of the shoulder facing thingy to my top front it occurred to me that I will hate it when this lightweight see through fabric going to show how clingy a camisole underneath would be. No sirree.. So I unpick as carefully as I can the armholes (that were already finished with a rayon binding) and planned for a lining.

Luckily I have a nice lightweight white lining fabric in my stash, rayon I think, and since I am not going to unpick the whole top (as the front V neckline has been neatly pressed, and the seam french-seamed) and reline/underline everything, I opted to have the front lining piece to have a U neckline and cut on fold. The back is the same, also cut on fold. Both lining pieces then were attached to the shoulder/neck/upper facing (not sure if this make sense).

Am I liking the fact that you can see a big U in front of my top under my sheer V-necked top? No. I'm crying inside a bit because I would've preferred that it is fully lined. But would I unpick the neat v-neck and risk my sheer silk fabric to be torn? I'm afraid not. So I will have to live with it, and have to think on how to have a nice full lining on a V-neck top... Is it the same as a regular U neckline top? 

oh. and other adjustments I made from my black version are:

• cut the back piece smaller, as it was too full
• distributed the upper back gather to the whole back rather than just middle of the back:

P/s: The black top's back is pulled down by the heavier velvet burnout knit fabric I used to complement the black silk.

So, my first fresh, spring top is done ahead of time for once. Other than the U lining neckline that's screaming at me, I love it! Truly. The fabric is great, very very sweet. Suzanne had the red (or orange?) one and made it into a very pretty dress. I have yet to wear mine out, just waiting for the perfect weather...

2013 Refashion #1: Black Silk Dress to M6711 Top

In my overflowing big box of "to be refashioned" clothes was this lovely decade-old (at least) black silk dress from Zara:

Before

Empire waisted with a faux wrap and bow, it was pretty snug when I bought it (hence short wearing lifespan), and quite light weight too since it wasn't lined. It's a pullover dress, but knowing me I might have worn it over tights or jeans. It was so long ago and I doubt I have ever been photographed wearing it.

I love the fabric - it's been auditioned for countless number of refashioning projects, but I kept on putting it back into the box until last week that is when I went to Joann's and bought yet a few more sewing patterns (gasp!) on sale... ;) I went in search of the Issey Miyake's V1142 spurred by Carolyn's yummy yellow pleat top, but alas the pattern is not there (I didn't investigate if it's sold out at the particular store, or out of print)...

I know I want to pick up patterns with interesting details, and the McCall's M6711 top meets my requirement to a degree. The pattern itself is a multi pattern: Misses' lined jacket, top, dress, lined skirt and pants. And the top's description is: very loose-fitting, pullover top that has self-lined yokes and forward shoulder seams. :) (The dress pattern is also based on this top, btw.)

After

After close up

As usual, I made my very own slapdash sizing adjustments that I figured will work out for me for a loose fitting pullover top: neck, shoulder, armhole at 16, sides underarm/bust level at 22 though and tapered out towards the hips an additional inch where I added another inch to the hem length too. (as pic below). 

There wasn't going to be enough fabric for the back piece, so I unearthed this black thrifted fabric of unknown material. It's kinda a knit (but no stretch!) with burnout velvet or some such mix. It's not so heavy but still heavier than the silk, hence the back pulls down the top :)

I cut the back size kinda the same like the front pieces... Thrifted bias tape finishes the armholes.

I made some adjustments to the pattern for my next top (and there will be more than one of this top coz I love it!). To make the sides at underarms smaller by .5" for the front, and take off 2 inches from each sides off the back (the back was too full to wear and even apparent in the pic above).
[Add: Note to self: For the back --> experiment on either taking off 2" from the sides of the back or 2" off the fold, since the size of the armhole is okay...]

Here is an action shot wearing my me-made. But of course the black down jacket will cover up everything the whole time I'm outdoors.. Hmm, my hat looks like a swimming cap! And I've been wearing it for 2 years and never realised it. Darn. Oh, and the Bean's hat was refashioned from a thrifted men's sweater during winter 2011. His daddy has a matching hat. They both need another one each I suppose, but spring is almost here ;) Maybe for next winter!!

Joining the linky parties at Recycled Co-op &

Wearing my Me-Mades

I wore my me-made eyelet Vogue 1247 top and carried my new slouchy but clutch-esque bag this recent Sunday when we went out for lunch and run errands... I had my husband snap my picture before everything gets crumpled, and I like em! LOL!

Okay, I was playing around with Picasa, and can't remember what editing I did, so don't mind that the coloring and so on are different for the 3 pics okay. 

What's important here is that I have some pics of me wearing me-mades! That's rare.;)

So, this bag while cute and can fit a lot of stuff (and can also fit my small laptop and/or Ipad), it is not that practical if I use it for my everyday life (that may include bus rides with the Bean, and I have to hold my bag, his bag, our shopping bag/s, his folded stroller and him!). But it's okay for when going with the hubby who'd drive us, and can hold onto the wriggly Bean.

This top I do like and can wear all the time, especially over jeans. Notice how the top is boxy? That is totally my fault, not the fault of the pattern at all. You should go check out Carolyn's to see it's true potential! 

The pattern V1247 already informed you that it is a relaxed, loose fit top. But of course since all these pattern sizing befuddles me and I do like casual tops and I do need and love room in my clothes, I always add all these inches. And on a stiffer cotton eyelet fabric like mine, you can see how I make it boxier that it would have been (obvious in my 3rd picture there). I could shape it better I know, take it in a little around the bust and let it flow/taper out towards the bottom. :) Next time! I don't want to have to unpick all that french seams and whatnot! :)

Oh, and also, I changed the neckline of course. I don't like a wide neckline so I narrow it a bit, but I retained the depth of the neckline. I did raise the back neckline though.

The skirt in the picture is not a me made. To date I've only made one skirt after being inspired, impelled by Faye's obsession ;) After many of us make some noise, she finally invited us to tag along on her skirts carnival! We are having a carnival of skirts 2012 sew-a-long that is starting today! Join in on the parade!

Now, I better go get going on my skirt...

p/s: Almost forgot to mention that I'm having a patterns stash busting giveaway! Check it out :)

Eyelet Vogue 1247 top: Done

Comfy loose fitting Vogue 1247 top made from thrifted eyelet cotton fabric. All done. All the pressing at each step, and the french seams... zzzz... :) Unfortunately, the cut and proportion is not suitable for my new Simplicity 2766 skirt, and not even suitable for my maxi-dress-refashioned-into-HiLo-skirt. :( Both of those skirts requite require a more fitted top. Better luck next time i guess...

Construction related post for this top will follow (in another post).

And the remaining 12 boxes arrived yesterday... half of which are sewing related stuff, including at least a box of clothes I can't bear to let go and want to refashion... I miss refashioning for Refashion Co-op... :)

Vogue 1247 top: Almost there...

Fabric: Thrifted eyelet cotton (1.5 yards x 44 inch)
Pattern: Vogue 1247, top
Comment:
Easy to follow for a relatively newbie like me.

Cut a size 18 and added 2 inches on the sides. Runs big and and look boxy on a "stiffer" fabric like this, but will be good if with softer drape fabric like linen or silk or even softer cotton. The pattern is for an easy wearing top, so it does come roomier anyways.

Currently just need to finish the sleeves facing and then hem.

Wearing my Pink Silk top

This past Saturday while running errands (that includes a trip to the local Licensing office to get us WA'ized) I finally wore my silk charmeuse Vogue 1170 top. If you follow my blog you will realize that while I sew my own clothes quite a bit, and wear a me-made everyday, I very rarely am photographed in them. 

 Finally pictured here in my me-made blouse, with a h&m pink cotton tank top.

 I wore them over my newly thrifted blue jeans, carried my black leather jacket (soft, purchased ages ago at a consignment shop in IA). Errmm, yeah and I wore my black Crocs purchased when nothing else fit at the peak of my pregnancy! It's a tad too roomy now, but so comfy :( Kept rescuing it from the thrash...

I don't think I have many photos of me that I like - I know I am not photogenic. Many of my photos have weird facial expressions (coz I am very expressive, hehe, accentuated with maniacal hand-waving and so on). In high school, some people called me "queen of facial expressions", but let me tell you that in Malay it's not posh sounding: ratu memek! Ugghh... :) Lucky for me that I love my wedding photos taken by a very very talented friend who happened to be into photography (of the artistic kind) among other stuff. Thanks to her I have a collection of lovely wedding photos, mostly captured candidly with very few pose-y ones. :) I'd like to share some of that to show what a Malay wedding looks like (what I wore), but that will be in a different post some other day.

My lifelong problem with having my photos taken worsened of course post-baby. Instead of shrinking like most people do, I not only retained but also gained over the 2 years of motherhood. The first to show is around my face, which is how it has always been since my youth. But now unfortunately, I also carry my weight as you can see in my tummy.

There was the longest of time when doctors and myself were concerned with hernia, so scans were done earlier this year/late last year (i think?) and at that time it's determined that I don't (have hernia, so I don't require a surgery) but I do have a very very thinned out abdominal muscle, and my inner bits are mainly being held together by padding of fat. Thick ones of course, or else in my mind (can't shake off the visual impact of seeing the scan) everything in my tummy that the doctors shoved around when I had my C-sect with the Bean, will pour out! Drama drama, I know.

Maybe there is hope yet with sit ups to strengthen the muscle? I tried to do some but only managed to get my neck hurt so far :) The last doctor I saw said that maybe losing weight will help, but just a bit. So I might have to live with it and adjust accordingly.

Anyways, when I look back at the photo (I actually warmify the photo), the color and the shine is not that bad on my skin as I initially complained. And since the photo was taken outside our door at the start of our errand-running day, my face was still matte and not shiny ;) I still stand by my earlier opinion that this silk charmeuse at this light color being unkind to my extra bits, tho. Upon further scrutiny of the above photo, I feel that the extra inches that I added to the middle seam of my bias cut top causes the fabric pooling on the mid-section unflatteringly. Talk about inviting people's eyes to the spot I wanted to conceal! I should eliminate that addition if making another one. Plus, the length of the front is fine, but the back is too short somehow... 

It is also evident in the photo that the cut of my jeans is not suitable for me. Say muffin top in the worse way... Maybe a thicker waist band will smooth things better? Now this is the tricky part. While my mid section carries my weight, my hips and legs don't. So what am I? An apple? A diamond? Not sure there. So what will be the best way to dress? I am not even sure where my actual waist is now. What's most comfortable from the sides (and I imagine where my waist used to be) is also where my tummy is the biggest. But RTW jeans/pants are lower than that. (And I am also short waisted). If I use my smallest circumference as my waist, it will sit over my tummy 3 inches under my bust... Don't our waist stay the same place despite body shape changes? I'm confused.

SO there. These are the things I must consider when sewing (and dressing). Don't mind you I still love my roomy tunics and tops (and will sew more of them), but as I delve into more sewing I want to also be better at understanding what is flattering proportions and what is not.

One thing that is better is the finishing on the CB seam:

Before: Ugly HK seam finishing

After: neat turn over and stitch

----

Other than refinish the inside of the blouse above, this past week I've been re-hemming the hubby's work pants, altered a thrifted merino wool men's sweater to fit me (I have 2 more waiting in the queue), and a Vogue 1247 top inspired by Carolyn's Clementine. It's almost done... Initially planned to be the top to wear with my very first skirt to go to Faye's Carnival, however that is not to be the case...

what I did since my last post

I made a tunic top/blouse from a silk fabric (perhaps it's crepe de chine or habotai) that now it's done I think perhaps people here (in the US) uses more as a fun jacket's lining... If they are Malaysian like me, we turn it into a Baju Kurung (direct translation is confined dress, although it is quite roomy IMO) or Baju Kurung Modern (modernized version of baju kurung, which usually might mean maybe shorter, with shaping darts, have zippers, whatnots, and often also esp nowadays incorporate what's on trend in the runways). 

A lot of my tops/tunic and so on can fall under the category of baju kurung modern top I think - I realized now that I just gravitate towards that kind of silhouette. I can easily wear them with tights and boots as I would wear them with long skirts to events. Many might think it's too dressy, but in Malaysia, women (mostly Malay women, but others would too sometimes) wears them daily to work (in lieu of suits/shirt-pants combo) in colorful fabric of silks, lace, cottons and so on. :) 

Anyways, I had a pot-luck party to go to the Saturday before the last with fellow Malaysians that require us wearing traditional outfit :) My hubby and the Bean have their Baju Melayu (Malay dress for the men) ready (my mom had theirs made by a local tailor for my brother's wedding -for which we went back to Malaysia for a short time back in July, but I didn't have one color coordinated with them (in my family including extended family we like being color coordinated during celebrations, hehe) because of a mishap!! by another tailor there. FYI, i totally planned to make my own clothes for the wedding, but my mom changed the color scheme on me after I bought yards and yards of red silk chiffon and silk charmeuse and bought me a really nice beaded light silver/grey silk chiffon fabric back at home to make into a baju kurung which will match hers and my sis-in-law. With the sudden move to the West and packing etc, I'm happy to have the dress made in Malaysia, but it turned out too small!!! Even my mom's was ruined and too small eventhough he (the tailor and "designer") took her measurement himself! But mom had another baju kurung that she can wear that conformed to her color theme dressy enough for mother of groom, but I had to be the only one from our immediate family in red that night....) so I wanted to make a top that can pass as a Baju Kurung Modern top to wear with a long black skirt that I have. 

Problem is that I took forever making (franken-nizing) a pattern for it, so the night before the event I managed only to cut the fabric before I put them away and concentrated on cooking the food I promised to bring to the pot-luck... Instead I wore my silk charmeuse caftan top with a grey tank top underneath and the black skirt. I was colorful, but fit right in ;) We had a lot of yummy food and met quite a number of Malaysians and their families.

This top took me a little under a week to finish.

With a wonky hem to boot!

I love this sleeves, but note to self: the armscye could use more (ease?!)

The inside of the neckline binding, hand stitched

A little bit of gathers to adjust the fitting across my chest. This was added after I already sewn in my darts and so on and realized that the pattern i based the darts on is for the fabric to be cut in 2 and not on fold. I wanted to keep the fabric for the much needed room, so I made the gathers and finished the neckline with a self-fabric bias binding

I think a lot of time I take a while to finish a project because I am trying my best to have a better finish on the inside (however, my stitches still not that straight!!!)

French seams on most with hong kong seams on the rest (pics above are of my hong kong seams, looking much better than in my pink silk charmeuse top). Then I reached a snag...

The darts and its raveling fabric not covered by my french side seams!

So I stitched the darts together (fold the ends inside the darts itself and whipstitch? it closed)

No pic of me wearing it, but I went out to dinner with hubby and the Bean last Saturday in it. My thought: next time I should try to do full lining for such a top using such fine fabric so that it will flow better over my lumps and bumps!

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Other than the above top, I also made a little alteration on my Fuchsia Exposed Zipper dress. I love the dress, but I felt that I needed to cover my neck with scarves (the dress also run a tad too wide across the chest for my comfort) all the time. Maybe I have a narrow chest and wider upper back situation going on...

What I did was I unpicked the dress's neck facing, and also raglan sleeves (the front side of the sleeves that's attached to the front bodice only). I took in an inch from the top of the bodice (tapered towards the lower armscye), and then sew the raglan sleeves back in. And added the collar, like so:

Since wanting to alter existing clothes and salvaging fabrics from otherwise can't be worn clothes were what brought me to learn garment sewing, taking apart my own sewn from scratch clothes and alter it is not a problem. Now I have a dress with a lil different look for Fall :D