Sewing, thrifting and the like...


Monday 15 September 2014

They call me mellow yellow...


Well actually "they" don't but maybe "they" should? Cos you see, i am addicted, totally addicted to Yellow. Everything i freaking make seems to be yellow these days. This love affair isn't a new thing my friends. We have pictures of me at seven hanging upside down on various things wearing ONLY a pair of yellow flared jeans! Maybe i need a 10-step withdrawal plan?? But after some weekend fabric shopping there is hope, i seem to be leaning towards the dark side, yep, there is orange in my future folks! Ha!

So anyway getting back on me track....



The two handmade items in this outfit would be my black,grey,brown, yellow blanket..oops mean cardi, AND my yellow mini.

I even went all the way to Sydney for location shots - total dedication to my "craft" hey? Actually, i just happened to be there having the most rad weekend with the most rad bunch of girls at #Frocktails and these photos were taken while my darlings Kirsty, Myra, Amanda and i wondered aimlessly in search of a cuppa after some hard-work purchasing fabric yumminess!


The cardi/jacket/blanket is loosely based on Burdastyle 111 Square Cardigan/Jacket. Basically, yes its just a frigging square with a couple of rectangles in for the ride.



It ain't hard folks. I wanted to do something really simple to show off this beautiful fabric which i have had squirreled since Addicted to Fabric had a sale over winter [Kirsty made this amazing cacoon cardi with hers]. This wool/mohair/poly blend is so totally divine, but sooooo totally expensive. Even on sale the cost made me shudder! So the fabric has been lovingly patted for a few months, when really it should have been hugging the icicles off of me...cos Canberra + Winter = Brrrrrrrrr! Until last week when i decided it was now or never, spring is beginning to do its springy thing and temps are reaching 20degrees, yeep!

Construction wise, i just kinda put it together as it should be apart from adding seam allowances. I mean wtf Burda, the "pattern" is just measurements to cut out, which you gave me, then told me to add different extra bits of measurements to make new measurements...again WTF Burda!! So i just ignored it ;) My fabric is a lot stiffer than the fabric in the pictures/suggested material (mohair) and if it was too big it would hang wrong. I wanted a kinda deconstructed look with my seams so didn't bother over-locking the edges. I just top-stitched 0.5cm either side of the seam lines to stop too much fray.  I wanted a little bit of fray, cos it looks fecking cool all fluffy and touchable, don't ya think?? I hacked the hem to the right length for me too, and i do intend to add some fuck-off big pockets too, one day. No fastenings/closures, so its just a blanket with arms. And i adore it.


The skirt is a moss mini of course. We all love Jen of Grainline fame and you don't mess with perfection. So i didn't. I was a very good girl and did as she said - every single step. Possibly a first, apparently i get side-tracked often with the embellishing, hacking, making-shit-up stuff i do [which i don't recommend, i usually just make a red hot mess!!].

The fabric is a beautiful but dreadful upholstery velvet cord that i picked up whilst thrifting in Melbourne with my gorgeous jewellery designer friend, Fran. I love it, cos its yellow and cord: i hate it because it frays like nothing else, it literally disintegrates in your hot little hands. So i had to over-lock every single bloody edge of every single piece before construction. This did help with bulk as i could leave the seams open. I was going to top-stitch but you can't when the wale is so frigging thick, the thread gets lost in wale land. I do love the skirt, mostly, the only issue is it is a tad bulky around the zip/button because of the fabric choice. But i already have it cut-out in a summery cotton fabric with foxes frolicking all over it (thanks for the freebie Myra), that should sit a bit flatter me hopes.

Looking at this outfit, i realised two items are hand-made, and the boots, leg-warmers and silk top were un-wanted clothes from various friends! I only bought the necklace ($2 Zara online sale), tights - Hello Spots - and the delightful tweed flat-cap which i found at the AHHH-MAZING V&A museum in London a few weeks ago. I am really a mish-mash aren't i?!

I will post later in the week about frocktails and my frock and those cocktails and the most amazing bunch of sassy sewers this side of ...well...fecking anywhere really. Bye x


14 comments:

  1. A completely great outfit and doesn't it look great in a laneway near fabric shops! I'm so glad you got this fabric and have made such a beautiful 'you' cardigan.

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    1. I think everything would look good in a laneway near a fabric shop....forget sugar - we were on a fabric high! Yes this fabric spoke to me as soon as i saw it, i am positive i will wear this cardi to death. We will have to be careful not to be fabric twinsies next winter (mainly cos mine looks like a blanket with arms next to your gorg little number)!

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  2. So the jacket was amazing to see in real life so I reckon your skirt would have been just as amazing too!

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    1. Oh you are the sweetest! Its all in the fabric - the sewing was minimal! Look forward to seeing you again one day! xx

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  3. I was surreptitiously eyeing off your cosy throw at breakfast yesterday. I'm pretty sly about that sort of thing (comes from working in a male dominated environment - if you want to perve you need to be subtle) but it is incredibly gorgeous :) Definitely worth the cash for the unique statement look factor! The moss is such a wonderful skirt on so many people - you look especially lovely in yellow so I'm not surprised you like it so much, ha!

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    1. My dear girl - i am all for groping! Between Amanda and i, i think we felt up every lady in the joint on Saturday night! This is how i fabric shop too - its all in the feel! So next time...please cop a grope ;) Was lovely meeting you on Sat/Sun - what an amazing group of women hey?? I was really taken with your matte blue sequin number - i think it was my favourite! I am heading to Melbourne to/from Hobart for Christmas - maybe i can see if any of you are free for a coffee/lunch/grope/fabric shop?! xx

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  4. Oh Jen, I love this on you. The cardi is awesome and perfect! Keep on rocking yellow my girl :) x

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    1. Thanks chickadee! Yes there is little hope that i will be giving yellow up any-time soon...i am a groupie from way back. But i am trying to force myself to do other colours too, just to ya know mix it up a wee bit around these parts! love you xxxx

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  5. I love yellow and mustard and curry as much as you - but unlike you, I can only wear it in little bits and pieces. You on the other hand look FANTABUBLOODYLOUS in this outfit. You really can work it! (I need lessons)

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    1. Lol! I had never bloody realised...maybe that's why i heart curry so effing much...its the bloody colour...ahhhhh!! Come to think of it, pineapples are my favourite fruit too, oh man i am sad.....!!!
      Thanks for the love sweet cheeks...lets play soon, much love xxx

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  6. I just found your blog via the frocktail trail and I'm loving your style! Can't wait to see the frocktails dress itself :)

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    1. Ahh thanks m'dear! Ooh well, the dress is nothing much to write home about. It was supposed to be a wearable muslin, but THEN i loved the fabric too hard {and that time thing kept slipping away] so it became my frocktails dress :). Will post Friday i think! Thanks for checking in x

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  7. I love this - and had to try SO hard not to steal your cardi from your back Sunday morning! - I nabbed some raspberry dragon scales wool in Sydney and might just follow your lead for a Burda mash-up - am loving it with the MellowYellowMoss #MossesforAll! Absolutely wonderful meeting you IRL, and yes, a Melbourne meet-up will happen ;)

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    1. Haha!! Its just lush fabric, the actual bit i had anything to do with is neither stunning nor spectacular! You should really make one! OMG you totally had me at "raspberry dragon scales" - that sounds amazing! Can't wait to see it. I am following you too now :) Melb meet it is then, whoop! xx

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Hey, would love to hear from you, comment away my fine feathered friends....x jen