Another shift dress

Posted on August 20, 2015 by marialeila

The last two weeks were unbearably hot here in the Czech Republic.  My husband and I were taking our walks at midnight because that was the only time the temperature went down to a merciful 28°C.  Those days we mostly stayed inside the apartment with the blinds down to help keep the temperature low or we spent a few days in the summer-house where the abundance of trees around made the heat less stifling.

This dress is just right for hot summer weather.  It’s light with plenty of room to move around.  I used the Sorbetto pattern and just lengthened it to a dress, ditching the pleat in the middle.  I also added front pockets for a more classic look using the pattern for Laurel.  Yeah, the result is a Sorbetto-Laurel hybrid, perfect for country living.

DSC_0084 (3)
DSC_0080 (3)DSC_0114

DSC_0086 (4)
The fabric is a left over from my previous Laurel pullover top project.  It fades quite fast which explains why I got it really cheap.  I don’t mind, though.  This dress is serving me well this season and it’s a quick make.  Thank goodness the temperature has dropped to a cool 18-21°C since Monday.  Now I wear it with a cardigan.  It’s great how it can adjust so well to the mood swings of this year’s very bipolar summer.

By the way, how cute is my photobomber below? The picture is blurry  but I just have to put Luisa’s photobombing debut here.

20150802_114259 (2)

DSC_0096 (3)

DSC_0087

xoxo

Posted in DIY, Dresses, Sew | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Flutter

Posted on August 12, 2015 by marialeila

When it comes to clothes and shoes,  I believe in love at first sight.

The first time I saw a photo of Flutter by Papercut Patterns, I knew it had to be in my wardrobe.  It was 8:30 in the morning and I was forcing myself to wake up so I grabbed my phone and browsed my Instagram half asleep.  I don’t even remember how I got to hashtag papercutpatterns but suddenly, a photo of this wonderful top/tunic was staring at me in its fluttery glory.

DSC_0193 (4)

DSC_0190 (2)

DSC_0149

DSC_0139 (3)

DSC_0192 (2)
I wanted to make a mid-length tunic with this white see-thru fabric.  Lining it also came to my mind so I wouldn’t have to wear a chemise underneath.  Such grand plans came crumbling down when I realized the design requires over a meter of fabric and I only had one available.  Oh well, next time then.

This top is size XXS.  I bought a PDF version as I couldn’t wait another day to get my hands on the pattern.  Their sizing is spot on.  The only thing I had to adjust, which is in no way the fault of the pattern and can only be blamed to my mild scoliosis, was the right shoulder seam allowance.  I had to add half a centimeter more for a perfect fit.

It’s not my habit to check out the social media right after waking up but I’m glad I did at that time.  This pattern is my most favorite to date.  I can think of so many ways to play around it.  Tunics and shifts are my favorites to wear especially in fall and winter. Just wear tights and undershirts and you’re set to start your day fashionably.

DSC_0123 (2)

DSC_0128

DSC_0122

 Pattern:  Flutter by Papercut Patterns

Location:  John Lennon Wall and Mala Strana, Prague, CZ

xoxo

Posted in Sew, Tops | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Adi in a tee

Posted on August 3, 2015 by marialeila

In everything you do, you need an unwavering support of someone to get to where you want to be.  Be it a simple hobby or a complicated task that involves moving mountains, it’s easier to walk the straight and narrow when someone’s beside you.

Meet that someone in my life — my husband Adi wearing the first ever t-shirt I sewed.

DSC_0052 (2)

DSC_0056 (3)

DSC_0059 (2)

DSC_0047 (2)

I did it, I finally conquered my fear of knits!  I was agonizing over it for a few days because the free t-shirt pattern I found requires this particular fabric I was trying to avoid.  I got burned by it after an epic fail in sewing a royal blue asymmetrical dress.   Turns out all I had to do was read and  follow the instructions on my manual on how to sew stretchy fabrics.  Duh.   To go head on without so much preparation is indeed my favorite mistake.

The pattern is from Melly Sews. So many generous people online!  You have to subscribe to her newsletter to download the pattern.   Once you’re subscribed you can actually access a LOT of her free patterns.  Go there, quick!

No major pattern adjustment for me as her husband is also a size M.  I only cut an additional 1/2″ for the neckline so it won’t be so tight, which means adding 1/2″ to the rib knit neck-band.  I also shortened the bottom by 1/2″ just so I would have enough fabric for the sleeves. I’ll make sure to buy more than the required dimension of the fabric next time.

DSC_0061

DSC_0067

DSC_0069

This t-shirt is far from perfect.  The bottom hem has a mind of its own and stubbornly curls up despite my effort in ironing it down. Tricks on how to tame it?   The sleeves are far from nicely hemmed as well.  But it’s good enough for my husband.  He’s a proud owner of this shirt.

I find it extra sweet of him to wear it almost straight from my sewing machine and to pose for this post.  He has no social media account and prefers to be not in the photos, yet he’s allowed his face to be plastered here.  For me.  For this craft I’m falling head over heels with.    The every day gestures of love aren’t accompanied by an orchestra playing celestial music.  They come quietly, sometimes in a form of t-shirt and the one that wears it.

Pattern:  T-shirt for men by Melly Sews

Location:  Deblin, Czech Republic

xoxo

Posted in DIY, Free Patterns, Sew, Tops | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Drawstring bags

Posted on July 27, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 11 photos.

When July is getting to an end, I often find myself panicking at how I’m nowhere near finishing my list of things to do for the month.  Yes, I have a long list of things to do in summer.  My … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Fabulously Floe

Posted on July 22, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 13 photos.

I made a Laurel for my friend Floe as a gift on her birthday which she celebrated in Slovenia with us almost two months ago.  I only had one afternoon to finish it before our flight the next day. The … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Sorbetto with sleeves

Posted on July 13, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 11 photos.

Bless my husband’s aunt for supplying me with fabrics she no longer wants.  She used to sew as a hobby but has no time or interest in it anymore.  I thank her for two reasons: 1) well hello, free fabric, … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Karlštejn, Srbsko and buttefly sleeves top

Posted on July 10, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 18 photos.

One of our favorite places to go near Prague when the weather’s nice  is  Srbsko.  It’s a small village five kilometers away from the town of Karlštejn where the Karlštejn Castle is, as you might already know.  This castle is the most … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Alyson skirt and Pernštejn Castle

Posted on July 4, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 10 photos.

I have never heard of Spit Up and Stilettos  until Chuichoy of Wear the Ducky Tie posted free pattern links on her blog that included some from their site.  Weird how none of their patterns ever came up in my searches considering … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Fresh cherry cake

Posted on June 28, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 7 photos.

It’s that happy tummy time of the year again when cherries are aplenty.  We had a huge basket of freshly picked ones from the summer house garden that I just had to bake a cherry cake. This recipe is from a … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ljubljana

Posted on June 19, 2015 by marialeila

This gallery contains 19 photos.

I’ve come to the last entry of my Slovenia diary.  We stopped by Ljubljana by default since we had to fly back home from there.  There’s nothing much I can say about this city because 1) a city is a city … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment