Scout leader

So apparently it was Thanksgiving in the USA this week (I did actually know that this year, after attending a thanksgiving “dinner” at my brother and his American fiancé’s (“Tough Chick”) place last weekend), and, as I have just found out, the next day is called “black Friday”. I always just thought that was Friday the 13th, but according to Wikipedia, the term have been used as such since before 1961. Since ages ago, in the USA this means crazy assed sales, sometimes involving violence.

What it means for us NZ sewists, is that sewing patterns also go on sale, woot! Only a few of the active members of the WSBN came out unscathed… I did not.

I took advantage of 20% off at Grainline Studio to buy the Scout Woven Tee and the Archer Shirt; and decided to buy the Riger Bomber by Papercut Patterns after seeing Sophie from Cirque-du-Bebe’s polka dot version (after pretty much reading her entire blog while having a rare breather at my 15 hour day at work, I have a huge girl crush on her right now).

I wouldn’t usually pick a pattern like the Scout Tee; it’s not really my style at all, having absolutely no waist definition. However, I am in desperate need of some simple tops to wear tucked in to the high waisted skirts I favour; and as much as I’d like them all to be delicate blouses, I’m just not ready/skilled enough to make them.

This top is perfect. I started by tracing a size 14 and grading out to an 18 in the hips; however, there must be some crazy ease in this pattern because it was humongous, as if I had put a sheet over my head and tried to tuck it in. I ended up taking 1″ off each side seam at the underarms, and 2.5″ at the waist, leaving the hips as they are. Next time I’ll also raise the sleeves by 1cm as they’re sitting a little too lateral.

I really like the scooped neckline on me, too – I think I’ll be using this to alter a few of my other patterns. I accidentally sewed the bias binding (stash) on the wrong side first, so ran with it and used it as a “design feature”, which I quite like – it helps break up the dots a bit (which were really hard to look at when the fabric was unrolled at the counter).

Warning: the yardage guidelines on the pattern are really generous. I cut mine out as a single layer and used less than 1m, whereas the pattern calls for 1.7m (I traced the pattern out double so I could just lay it out; otherwise I would have folded the fabric so the selvage met in the middle, as both pieces easily sat side by side).

This isn’t a terrible thing, especially as I ended up getting about 50cm free (because there was a fault on the fabric, which I’m almost certain isn’t on the top… I forgot to check before I cut), and now I have extra to use as lining.

The whole thing took hardly any time to make up – I cellotaped and traced the pattern Sunday morning; cut out the fabric at 1; started sewing at 2.30 and was taking photos at 4 (okay, okay, that was before I hemmed it though – it was to catch the light, I swear!).

All the while I was helping Mr. Guy and two brothers make halloumi:

Yuuuuum. Homemade halloumi is easy, cheaper and tastier than most bought-stuff, at least the type you get in NZ. I use this recipe by Ted (also from Wellingtonian), video here. All you need is 4L of milk, some rennet which is easily found, but you may have to order online if you want vegetarian rennet – within NZ I use Cottage Crafts for all my cheesemaking supplies.

Mr. Guy and Brother Ollie were also bottling some homemade beer

Back to the top. The fabric is a very lightweight, almost see-through cotton polka-dot. It will be oh-so-nice for summer, although it was so fragile my machines wanted to gather it right up:

Good for the sleeves, not so good everywhere else. I used a sharp micro needle which was a good idea that I’d usually forget to do. The internal seams are all overlocked, and I’ve done a narrow hem on my overlocker. Next one I do (as I know how it should fit) I might try french seams. And the bias binding will be on the inside.

Speaking of bias binding necklines – I, like many others, can’t seem to make it stay flat and not roll outwards (or inwards in this case). I know you’re supposed to pretty the binding into a curve before applying it (thanks to Mrs. C), but it still happens to me. Anyone got any other tips?

Details
Pattern: Scout Woven Tee by Grainline Studio, $6.60 NZD
Fabric: Lightweight cotton from The Fabric Store, $18/m, 1.6m (extra due to a flaw) = $18
Notions: Bias binding and thread, stash.
Total: $24.60

Disclaimer: this post was entirely written in html, because the wordpress online editor wasn’t working for me last night or this morning. Reminds me of lunchtimes and IT classes in 4th form, spent collating every Dragon Ball Z picture I could find online, on to a website using html. I also had DBZ pictures plastered all over my walls, in black and white using my school printing allowance. Anyone else LOVE Dragon Ball Z?