Rain-Sun-Rain-Sun, Oh and a Manequim top!

Image courtesy of landcareresearch.co.nz

We’ve been having some crazy weather here in Wellington the last few days. Big storm fronts are sweeping across the entire country (indeed they are the size of the entire country) in waves so that we have one awful day (with bonus tornados) followed by a wonderful sunny calm day, then another crappy one follows. Today is sunny but still pretty windy. I really wanted to take photos of my new top outside so you could all see the view from my house but it was far too brisk.

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This is Blusa 158 from Manequim 620 (February 2011), it is sized as a 44 and I think it’s a little big for me in the shoulders and across the bust.

I took it in a little but I’m worried anymore and I won’t be able to get in to it! It might be a case of wait and see if it grows on me or take it in to how I like it and throw in an invisible zipper to the side seam. What do you think?

Because I started this top in the West Island and finished it here in the North Island I don’t have a huge amount of construction photos but it was pretty easy to make.

You baste all the front pleats first and then sew their central seam together and then attach the facings. Now it’s just a case of back shoulder seams (I love how the fabric wraps over your shoulders into the back seams) then side seams, hem the sleeves and the bottom and you’re done, I can’t believe it took me so long! I think…yeah I’m pretty sure, this is my first Manequim item that I have sewn and it turned out well, there’s nothing like a boost in confidence huh?

On Sunday (one of the fine days, oh it was so sunny!) I went along to the Wellington Fabric Hoarders club meet at Massey University.

They use a wonderful large and sunny room with plenty of tables and power points and a great view. I met Jenny, Claire and Hayley and we sewed together until I had to leave just after 2pm. They normally stay there until 6pm and there is even a little kitchenette. It was so good to be back in front of my machine and surrounded by other girls as dedicated to their own projects. I’m looking forward to next month already and meeting more of their members.

I worked on my trench/mac coat (doesn’t “mac” just sound so much more sophisticated?…maybe it’s just me). It was my intention to work on my “forever jeans” next but after Perth BSC member Debra showed off her purple mac coat I knew I better get mine finished so we can be online-mac-coat-sisters. I almost can’t believe we both chose to make a coat and in the same colour sans communiqué!

Anyway, I’m referring to this as my Gok Coat and I got so much done! After I worked out where I was up to in the instructions I managed to assemble and attach the collar and shoulder tabs, sew and turn all the sleeve and belt tabs, put together the sleeves and partially assemble the lining. Yay! All that’s left (apart from the undesirable task of searching out the perfect buttons & buckles) is to set in the sleeves (I hate this part, I prefer zippers can you believe it?!), attach the lining, make up the belt and hem! Oh and there’s all those button holes, eek!

Manequim 618 & 620 Mash-Up

Just catching up on my mash-ups. They might seem like a bit of a repeat but I like seeing a quick take on my favourites for that issue so even if they are just for me I’ll keep posting them

My 621 issue arrived yesterday and it is one of the best issues so far, I’ll try and get that up later today or tomorrow along with a new Patrones issue.

Manequim 618:

Manequim 620:

Manequim 618 & 620 (December 2010 & February 2011)

Well what do you know? December’s Manequim showed up along with February’s. And what else? Two Patrones within a day of each other, this week was magazine bonus week! They are all awesome issues so I can’t complain. Being in Australia I guess I just have to accept that delivery for these magazines is a but wishy washy and I’m really just grateful that I can subscribe.

I have to admit, right now, not so much feeling the Burda magazine love and in fact I’ve got a few I’m going to put up on ebay, hence my lack of Burda mash-ups for 2011. I honestly think when my Burda Subscription runs out I’ll just continue with Patrones and Manequim, better value, better patterns. I might even give La Mia Boutique another go. I can always grab any good individual issues from Boarders, they’re only 3 months behind and therefore more aligned with the Australian seasons anyway.

But enough of that, on to pattern heaven:

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December’s issue starts with some amazing summer dresses – The Carolina Herrera section has a cute colour blocked dress and jacket and OMG check out those shoes, so hawt!

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In “fluid dresses” we have three more summer dresses, romantic and beautiful and definitely fluid, great for the beach.

I’ve got a thing for shorts at the moment, partly, I believe, because I’ve never made a pair and also because it’s so stinking hot right now (have I complained about how hot it is yet?) so “New Year, your way” gives us a cute pair of paper bag waisted shorts and an interesting blouse, I think the sleeve/armhole lines could be really slimming.

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I’m not normally a one-shoulder-dress kind of girl but this dress is pretty hot, suggested for Pear shapes. Next door, for the Ovals, we have cute polka dots. I really like the neckline, it’s similar to a vintage style dress I’ve admired on another blog.

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February’s issue starts with a little biker-bling and I love this jacket with off-centre zipper and funky shoulder detail.

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Checking out the style of Mayana Neiva I quite like this wrap dress, super flattering.

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This blouse in the Stella McCartney section is beautiful, I love the arms (similar to one of the tops from December’s issue above) and the dress is really nice too, sort of similar to the Macaron by Colette Patterns (LOVE Colette Patterns!)

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I’ve been contemplating a trench-coat style dress for a couple of years (they don’t seem to have gone out of fashion yet) and I like this one for it’s simple details and the belt is great too but I think I’d steer away from the safari tones…just to be different.

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In the jeans styling section there’s another jacket and this great blouse, I really like the front pleats and the sleeve detailing.

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Last up we have a section showing an item worn two-ways and these bermudas (See? More shorts!) are great and next to them is a simple looking but cute top, check out the pattern pieces, interesting.

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I’ll get to those Patrones magazines tomorrow but for now if you want to see more Manequim choices then you can check out Melissa’s February selections here.