The Tova Top Disappointment

So here's the thing. I made this top perhaps only three weeks after using the same pattern to make my grey Tova dress. What I didn't bank on was the rapid and unpredictable growth spurt my boobs were about to embark on. Damn. And whilst the grey dress inexplicably manages to just about fit several weeks after that (and still just about fits ok), this cotton top was too tight from the very first try-on. 

I'm pretty gutted because I really took time and care over making this top. I used some lovely cotton ikat fabric that had been lurking in my stash for the best part of a year, pre-washing it to avoid heart-breaking shrinkages. I figured out the (not automatic) button hole function of my new-to-me sewing machine and made a functioning button stand on this version when I felt after the last one that it would have been a beneficial addition. There was a small sleeve-based trauma when it turned out I didn't have sufficient fabric to accommodate my initial plans, resulting in a disappointing mid-way version and then lots of unpicking and re-working of the sleeves into what you see now. In short, I poured a whole heap of love into this make.  

Anyways, enough moaning. It's not warm enough to wear such a light weight garment here in the UK anyway (at least not for a chilly-boned person like me). I misjudged my changing pregnant body and learnt a lesson: jersey or some element of stretch from now on! Plus who is not to say that one day my boobs will return to something approaching their original dimensions and I'll be able to get some use from it. If not, expect another giveaway round these parts!

MMM'13: Days 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21

Over half way through this year's Me-Made challenge! Umm, how did that happen? I'm going to document a whole week's worth of me-made outfits now as I seem to have fallen behind somewhat. Please remember peops, that if you are a twitter user, the challenge's hashtag is #MMMay13 

Day 15:

Me-mades:

Leopard print batwing top

Black treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Winter Wonderland coat (not in this pic)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Sorry, you're going to have to trust me that this was the outfit I was wearing today, seeing as most of it is below the table! 

Day 16:

Me-mades:

Mariner T-shirt

Black treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket

Also worn: second-hand hoodie

I promise that piece of amusing street art wasn't me! So now that Thursdays start with a pregnancy yoga session, I seem to spend the rest of the day looking uncharacteristically sporty!

Day 17:

Me-mades:

Stripey T-shirt

Mustard trousers

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket (not in this pic)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

As I've mentioned before, Fridays during the MMM challenges are THEMEFRIDAY at the MMM'13 Flickr group. It's entirely optional, but those who wish to, can attempt to apply the theme of the day (as voted for my the group members) to their documentation photo that day. Seeing how different people respond in different ways to the theme is usually lots of fun. The theme this Friday was 'hat'. Now I must admit that I've never made a hat before, so I grabbed this little hat that my mum recently knitted for our baby as a prop. I think I got away with it coz the hat is so cute!

Day 18:

Me-mades:

Mustard batwing top with Peter Pan collar

Black treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket (not in this pic)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Haha! I can't actually play the ukelele, though Pat did once teach me to play 'Still D.R.E' by Dr Dre. I'm getting in to props in my documentation pics!

Day 19:

Me-mades:

Grey Tova dress

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Yellow jacket

Refashioned tights

Also worn: second-hand cardi

This is the last outing for these tights. They spent the whole damn day threatening to fall down round my ankles! I guess my belly has just got too big now. In fact I think this pic makes me look so round! 

Day 20:

Me-mades:

Stripey batwing top with Peter Pan collar

Blue treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket (not in this pic)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Haha! I've clearly taken to heart the section in my Pregnancy and birth book about how I should be sitting down and relaxing more!

Day 21:

Me-mades:

Magpie batwing top

Black treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Reversible bolero shrug

Leopard coat

Oh the shame! This pic was taken in the same cafe as yesterday's documentation photo. I do do lots of work during the week days, I promise! Anyways, what is awesome about today is that I made EVERYTHING I'm wearing (bra, socks and shoes exempt) !!!! No relying on second-hand cardis for me today. 

Giveaway with The Polished Button, Plus Discount Code!

I loves me a giveaway round these parts! Here is another celebratory giveaway courtesy of a fabulous new sewing website called The Polished Button. You may be questioning the need for another website selling sewing products, but this one is special. They aim to offer a ‘one stop shop’ where you can find authentic and vintage inspired fabrics, haberdashery and patterns all in one place. So if you are into sewing vintage/retro looks, or simply fancy finding something a bit different from the usual sewing department offerings, The Polished Button is a great place to visit on a regular basis. Personally, I've found the site to be well-designed, easy to navigate and the stock well curated. And the owner is super-sweet and very helpful, plus she's crazy-knowledgable about all things vintage. 

The Prize:

The Polished Button are very generously offering a fabulous prize for one lucky winner consisting of 1 metre of this lovely and unusual black and white star detail gingham fabric (pictured above) plus a set of four matching black vintage buttons (pictured below). 

How to Enter:

This giveaway is open to everyone, at no cost to yourselves. All you have to do is help The Polished Button out with a bit of customer research: simply visit The Polished Button website and find your favourite product. Leave the product link in the comments section of this post, along with way for me to contact you if you are successful (i.e. if I can't find your email address within two clicks of my mouse, leave your email address in the body of the comment). Email addresses will not be used for anything other than contacting you if you win this giveaway.  

Make sure you have commented by midnight GMT on Sunday 26th May to enter. The following day (Monday 27th May) I will use a random number generator to select one winner for the 1 metre of fabric and buttons and contact them to get their postal addresses to forward on to The Polished Button so they can send out the prize.

Discount Code:

But you don't have to the winner of this giveaway to be quids in today! The Polished Button have also most kindly offered the readers of this blog a 10% discount off all items on their site. Simply use the code SoZo10 when checking out on the site until the end of July 2013.

Happy vintage/retro sewing!

Refashion Friday Inspiration: Jersey Peter Pan Sweatshirt Remake

Today's Refashion Friday inspiration is one for the Southern Hemisphere massive as they enter Autumn/Winter. A cosy little sweatshirt remake with a cute contrast collar and matching cuffs. I started out by hacking up an unwanted mens white sweatshirt and recutting the front and back pieces to a smaller size still incorporating the bottom waist ribbing. 

Having also recut the neckline to a wider, more flattering scoop shape, I drafted a Peter Pan collar which I cut from a contrast printed jersey. Because the neckline is wide enough to get this top easily over the head without stretching it, I didn't need to use the jersey's stretchy properties on the collar so I fused interfacing onto the pieces so they'd retain a more structured shape.  

I chose to make the sleeves 3/4 length, and finished them with a cuff band made from the same contrast printed jersey. This was where the stretchy quality of the jersey was useful because the cuffs need to stretch to be a snug fit round the arms. So whether you are currently heading towards the colder part of the year, or simply fancy a new trans-season garment where-ever you live, why not hunt out an old sweatshirt in your local charity shop/thift store/op-shop (or even the closest male's wardrobe!) and get chopping and remaking?!

More Mid-Maternity Stripes!

So, if you've listened to my wee podcast that I posted the other day, you'll now that I am 20 weeks preggers now, AKA half way. I can feel the baby making it's presence felt, it's kicking A LOT now. Oh, and you might have noticed from my MMM'13 documentation pics that I'm getting BIG. My beloved Mariner T-shirt is starting to get on the tight side, and I don't think it'll be long before wearing it would be asking too much of the properties of jersey! Then what will I wear to pregnancy yoga?! Time to get stitching....

And the result was this awesome stripey number! Using up another piece of stripey jersey from my stash, I used basically the same pattern as the one I developed for the Mariner T-shirt, but increased the width around the whole torso, but particularly round the belly area. This navy and white striped jersey has so much elastane content that, combined with the added girth, I wouldn't be surprised if this top sees me through the third trimester as well. 

I cut the strip for the neck binding so I would have a solid navy part running framing the neck hole. I love this jersey and this style of top and I'm pretty sure that whatever size/shape I end up as after I have the baby, that I'll be able to rework it at the side seams so it will have a life beyond the next four and a half months. 

MMM'13: Days 11, 12, 13 & 14

More MMM'13-erie...

Day 11:

Me-mades:

Blue treggings

Stripey T-shirt

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket (not in this pic!)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Ah! An ace outfit. Comfy AND nautical, I was very happy in this all day. In fact, I had to self-appoint myself a uniform, this would be it!

Day 12:

Me-mades:

Blue treggings

Pussy bow blouse

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket (not in this pic!)

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Oh no! I forgot to get a documentation photo taken before it got to dark to do so. I recreated the outfit the following day with my trusty mannequin. There's some great examples of MMM'13 documentation pics on the flickr group where the wearer is not in the photo (like this one). This will not be one of them!

Day 13:

Me-mades:

African wax fabric Washi Dress

Pants (knickers/undies)

Winter wonderland coat

Also worn: second-hand cardi

I had to really force myself to not wear my blue treggings today! They are just sooooo comfy. But I wanted to A) put a bit of variety into my month of me-mades, and B) get some use from this Washi dress before it gets even more tight around the bust area! 

Day 14:

Me-mades:

Magpie Batwing top

Blue treggings

Vest (camisole/singlet)

Pants (knickers/undies)

Captain jacket 

Also worn: second-hand cardi

Jeez, I look a hot mess in this pic! Ok, I promise the blue treggings will go in the wash now and hopefully regain their formerly-unbaggy appearance! 

My First Podcast / Audio Post!

Hi there peops! A few days ago Pat (Mr So Zo) and I recorded a little conversation which, through the application of science and magic, has be turned into a podcast! I am sharing it here as my first ever audio post. So, if you've got 10 minutes on your hands and fancy listening to me chat about Me-Made-May'13, pregnancy dressing and the like, just press play below.

Oh, and apologies for the pauses and excessive use of the word 'exciting', as you can tell this was entirely unscripted!