Batik

Since today I wore a batik blazer made two years ago, I thought why not I blog about it. BTW not a Malaysian batik but China batik. :)

I purchased this batik during my trip to Beijing in 2002 because of the bold pattern and colors. As usual it took me many years to decide what to do with it; cushion cover, wall deco, skirts, shirt or blazer. I  chose Nehru collar blazer and omitted buttons to wear with black sleeveless maxi. The thick cotton was so delightful to cut and sew.

I think the blazer turns out OK for Thursday-casual batik office wear-when u don't have meeting day.

Wedding quickie

2 days before my niece got married, she came to the house with great expectation. Her reception dress was too simple and she wanted to add a longer train at the back pf the dress. Hmm... Me who never work on silky/satiny material or lace got worried. Big time.

In the first place the dress was inspired by Hana Tajima's wedding dress, and i think the simplicity of the design took into consideration of its striking color; quartz purple and where it was worn... The registry office.

She proposed to attach the train underneath the empire-waist band that requires unpicking stiches... A lot of stiches. As i proceeded to measure and cut the length of the lacy sari to make the train, i envisioned making mistakes and bad workmanship which would ruin the dress in the process... Horror. Me definitely don't likey. 

I was very apprehensive about altering the dress and came up with a simple solution. I totally had a light-bulb moment. Haha... What if the train is not attached to the dress at all... So that she could still wear the dress on other occasions? As a separate garment, the train work like an apron; a backward apron... I also attached fabric strings instead of hooks and eyes so that she could tie them snugly. To make it more festive we decided to use a brooch over it. So within 3 hour the apron-train was completed and the bride was happy.

It was such a simple sewing process yet nerve wrecking moments for me that i forget to take picture of it. It was also sweet and heart warming to be part of her memories as she enters adulthood. Here she was ready to go out and receive the groom...

mybotang reversible bucket bag sew along

time line: 1st feb - 14th march

Dear Sue,

thank you for organising it

i am so glad to participate in this project for its opportunity to challenge me in so many ways:-

:: i've never been in any sew along party before. the duration given is perfect for me, and maybe next sew along i will follow the time line for each stages... :)

:: i've never sew a bag with a base before. mostly tote bags. i had a hard time attaching the exterior bag to the base. Although i pinned and basted prior to sewing it, it still didn't came out pretty...i almost gave up...

:: i've never use batting before, in fact i never seen one before... haha. now i love it... but the fusible batting didn't give a smooth finish.... why eh?

and best of all, i'm so glad to learn from others who were doing well with their bag and knowing that i'm part of it too...

Regards,

--- newbie ---

Sewing Taboo

I have one, inherited from mak.

"NEVER cut  fabric on Tuesday and Wednesday, avoid Friday and always cut the fabric on Monday and Thursday"

She says:

Tuesday and Wednesday: you might make mistakes during the cutting process which tend to destroy the fabric/the fitting of the garment or you make a lot of mistakes during the sewing phase which involve A LOT of unpicking or rrrripping....

Friday: since it is a blessing day, the cut fabric would remain cut fabric...

Monday and Thursday: none of the above, or in another word; SUCCESS!!!!!

:: first baju kurung in 2011, cut the fabric on Monday, sewn during CNY

:: first attempt of jahitan mata lalat; a malay variation of bullion embroidery on baju kurung neckline.

A bit wonky... but I like it.

:: second baju kurung, cut on Tuesday (Maulidur Rasul) and completed last night.

:: during sewing process, found that each of body panel was short of 3 cm, ahem....

:: WIP: a much better jahitan mata lalat

p.s. both baju kurung have pockets

Hello my little bloggie

it seemed that i lost my blogging voice for a while... if there were anybody lost their way into my blog and found wasting their time, i'd like to offer my sincere apology...
Ahem... i'm no longer the part-time student, the university senate agreed to award me the master degree last december...
... i'm a year older, marking my new year birthday with the most significant gift from BFF; a pedometer, a double ahems and a triple winks....
... after four years, completed my first baju kurung during CNY break with my sewing buddy, my sister. we worked alongside on and off for 3 days and had an amazing discussion on baju kurung with my mother and sister-in-law.
.... and i slowly find the joy of sewing baju kurung.

pic: google

... and also making my own popcorn.

easy peasy sewing

Made these pants two weekends ago using pattern from AS&E Issue # 45, 1998 size 18 months. Very roomy for 15 months. The stripey BW pants was made from my favourite POLO shirt.

This boy can really sit still while camera was pointed at him... while standing up, all I got were blurry images... :)

Tiered Maxi Skirt

This skirt was completed in April. As I was not happy with the fitting, I modified the pattern and cut another cheapo fabric (top right corner fabric) right before the short semester began. Since I'm so good in procrastination maybe the new skirt will be done by next year...

I'm not lying, look at my hands trying to smooth the excess fat fabrics. The blurry picture and black top was intentional.... less detail more slimming :)

Baju Kurung Raya

No, I'm not doing any sewing at this moment, and yes, fasting come before raya... but I did buy a few cotton fabrics from online (Cotton House Malaysia's links) or brick-and-mortar shops during the hectic short semester which was officially over 2 weeks ago. I went through the motion of final exams, assignments, pre-thesis presentation and writing of the the first three chapters with the help of newly acquired fabrics in my hands (and...  surprisingly, I did very well... Alhamdulillah). However, these fabrics have higher purpose than to be caressed and drooled... they are to be worn... by me!!! and sewn by me!!! Gulp...  The last baju I made was four years ago... I have to do it... my tailors have politely decline and next sem's timetable seems accommodating.

In addition to work, the month of July demand my time and focus in preparing to become GBI facilitator. Since no post will be completed without picture, this tiny, cropped and blurred pic taken from my friend's FB showing me wearing self-made cotton baju kurung during my 2nd year raya at Philadelphia, a gazzilion years ago... :)  so chomel if I may say so... hehe...

grey on cream

just a sneak peek of completed shirt. Sewing this shirt was a breeze and enjoyeable. I made a few changes from the basic shirt; elastic gathered sleeve and elastic band at the the back near waist area. Taking full pic of the shirt will be a challenged for an amateur like me because I couldn't capture the details. I will upload the pic once I'm satisfied with the result.
To avoid fraying buttonholes due to frequent washing by machine, I use this is fusible web.

the ruffle shirt

that all i manage to sew during CNY hols.... it take me hours to place the ruffles... hehe. I like it and going to wear it tomorrow.

last night I started on another shirt project... different pattern; not as fitted as above and gathered sleeve. The fabric is dark grey flower on cream Japanese cotton I bought two years ago, which is suitable for current hot climate... These two patterns come from two different Japanese books I bought a few years ago. They are altered and modified to suit my un-Japanese body :) and I've made many plain work shirts from them.

sewing in the middle of week???

Well, for some people it is no brainer... but for someone like me who usually sew during non-work-slashed-class days it is A BIG DEAL... :) I simply can't come back from work or class and sew. My brain simply shut down and want to be horizontal and in a state of alpha... :) Last night was amazing, I almost completed my WIP which I started sometime in 2008. It was another flowery shirt and I finished the body and sleeves by my bed time. I could go on sewing the collar and buttonholes but I wanted to put some ruffles on it. These are my inspiration...

Pic: The White Shirt Company

I'm so looking forward for CNY holidays for more sewing projects.

....

Yesterday was supposed to be a sewing day. But I was having an after-effect 0f dentist experience and packing my stuff at work. I managed to sew a baby gift: what else but another set of pajamas for my staff baby girl. To whomever stop by at my blog, I'm so sorry for another boring post... :) Finally I got to use pink... or fuchsia ... I won't be able to give it to her personally because the day she begins her work after 2-months confinement leave , I also start working at another organization. In the afternoon I bought cotton canvas fabrics with the intention of making thank u gifts to my colleagues...

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This week is quite busy. Today new semester begins and class starts at 11 am.

He liked it

and drooled too... :)
The nobu shirt was VERY tight, couldn't passed his neck... the flannel cotton was not a suitable material... I'll try again with other stretchy fabby... huhu.

Sneak peek

I've yet to finish refurbishing my living room windows. I am still looking for a nice butter yellow day curtain to complete the look... Here is the peek of what I completed two weeks ago.

the main window

the secondary window

I hope I can complete the whole look before the year is closing.

p.s. I realized that the curtains fabbies are so last, last year.... :(. Did I learn not to procrastinate anymore? Apparently not...

another pajamas for Amin

I'm supposed to be sewing a tunic for myself... had cut the fabric but not in the mood to sew ... However, I love sewing for baby Amin... fast and easy kind of sewing, mind you... using the pattern from this link, I make pants and nobu shirt... I'm a bit worry that the latter might fit him too well...

I like the color of store bought T ( cost me only RM10) which match perfectly with my plaid flannel fabric I had for months... At 6 months, it is quite difficult to forecast what Amin will prefer... His brother is crazy about fish, and bird is easy to sketch and make into applique... :)

Shirts

These shirts were made 3 years ago...

I've been sewing real slow...

The past weekends I've been sewing curtains for my living room and it almost done. All there is left to do this weekends is french plate lace day curtain. Actually there are only two windows but the length is overwhelmed me... I'm very slow with measuring and cutting. I want it to be precised and perfect although the end result is not necessary perfect... :)

Maybe I was trained that way. Things don't just happen, it has to be conceptualized, sketched, measured, dreamed a bit, put in drawings and plans, and executed. While I was cutting the fabric, I stepped back so many times... Sewing is a therapautic hobby that I want to savour yet I am concious of time I wasted... so I always stressed out that so many projects I wanted to do were not done as planned. That might be the reason I dislike taking sewing order from other people.

I planned to change the curtains five months ago during the semester break but had no idea what the color and design would be. When I first moved into my home six years ago, I went for cooling and calm effect for my living room to counter the scorching hot sun of the outside. Light apple green seemed to be the answer and I still love the color. However, this time I wanted to go for something edgy and clean yet still maintain the original concept. So a few months ago, I choose dark grey and white. I picked IKEA fabric which seems affordable to me compare to others.

I'm loving grey and yellow at the moment...

Mc Calls's pattern

I've received these patterns last week but did not have the time to blog about them. I bought them from Spinningspool Shoppe . Lynn has provided me with efficient and warm service which I'm really appreciate because I forsee many more transactions in the near future.. hehe...(and I love, love, love her gift of 5 free buttons). Since I bought 6 patterns, I can't decide which one to sew first... However, I enjoyed every time I looked at them... :)

I'm happy to say that I managed to sew on my first free weekends. I completed 2 sets of curtain for my sister's new house. Nothing fancy just french plate. And I also saw another pair of pants for my nephew. This time I used my free bowling t-shirt and did not add seam to the pattern. It fitted him well.

The male model

... looks so serious, actually he couldn't stand still...

My first and many more sewing projects for Amin

I started this project on Sunday afternoon by transfering this pattern and cut the flannel fabric. At first I was thinking of using french seam because it would be baby friendly, however I changed my mind. I have my serger machine for the past 6 years and never once attempt to serge clothes. So with that in mind I changed the thread from black to white... OMG for almost one hour I couldn't get the perfect stiches... then Amin's brother called to take him clothes shopping and gladly I left... Last night I managed to get it right... Alhamdulillah... so in less than one hour, both pants and applique on shirt were done including washing the shirt :)

Super fast pajamas for my almost 6 months old Amin

To Amin's brothers, Teh will try to use less pink next time... hehe