Tasha Sews

I have been super keen with my February Garment and finished this at the beginning of the month. As mentioned in my last post, I opted to try out a sheath dress and created this wearable muslin using Simplicity 2146 . There is not much to say about this, it came together very quickly. I pinned and basted all of the 5 pieces together and sewed them all at the same time. I cut a size 14 and tapered it in underneath the bust and around the waist. Looking back on this I definitely should have graded the hips out to a 16 as it is crazy tight across my hips. Truth be told this doesn't make it the comfiest dress and I pretty much have to hitch it up to be able to sit down or bend over.  However I am glad that I made this dress. It was a learning curve as to what my figure can get away with. If I were to make this again I would think more closely about my fabric choice, (fine though as this was a wearable muslin). I also think that my curves need some more shaping and inte...

Pattern Review: New Look 6123 I am pleased to say that I have finally finished New Look 6123  after this when on hold in 2013 due to sewing machine issues. This dress came together really easily and am delighted with the result.  The fabric is a wine coloured ponte knit that I picked up from Ridley Road Market in Dalston, priced at £6 per metre. The fabric was a delight to work with as it is sturdier and thicker than jersey.  I had to take in a fair amount in at the back towards the neckline, but other than that I pretty much sewed this out of the envelope. I am sure that this is because I was working with a stretch fabric. I cut a size smaller than usual and relied on the negative ease to do the rest of the work.  To be honest, if I cut this out in a woven I have no doubt that I would be plagued by fit problems, such as grading in at the waist, out at the hips and dealing with the wrap bodice. I am pleased to say that although the V neck is a...

I know I am super late with this kind of post, but I thought that it would be really important for me to do this process. This is one of the reasons I decided to create a blog, so that I can look back and reference what I have made. One of the great things that I can see is that my sewing has definitely improved over the year. At the beginning of 2013 I resolved to do a couple of things, for example to make more muslins, to really take time over fit and matching seams etc and I think that this is apparent in my finished garments. Anyway here are my best and worst of 2013. Click on the pattern names to link through to the relevant blog post. Best/Most Worn Kwik Sew 3844 This has to be one of my most worn items that I have sewn. I wear it to work, out in the day and also dress it with heels if I am heading out in the evening. The pattern itself is just a standard tank, but I think that my fabric choice for this top is what makes it such a versatile piece in my ward...

Pattern Review: McCalls 6695 Hello and Happy New Year everyone.  I had a lovely festive holiday spent with family here in the UK and with my godparents in France.  I did finish this dress before the 1st Jan but was without internet in France so this post is a bit late. Not that this is anything new! I celebrated my birthday 10 days early and had a joint birthday celebration with some friends yesterday. It was great fun and I had made this dress for the occasion, although I decided to go a bit more casual on the night and ended up wearing a top and jeans. Anyway here is the review of the party dress. The pattern is McCalls 6695.  Both the pattern and the fabric have been in my stash for ages, and I just needed the right excuse to make the dress. Initially I was worried that all of the pleats around the waist and hips would make me look large, but I think that it is fine. Surprisingly, there are not many reviews on Pattern Review for this dress, so I di...

Pattern Review - DIY Apron Hello and Happy Holidays! I am glad to say that I actually managed to squeeze in some un-selfish sewing this Christmas.  Although not the most challenging project I popped out an apron as a gift for one of my mum's close friends. My mum had been procrastinating about making this for her friend for a while and had not gotten round to it. It was the 22nd December and I was scolding my mum for not whipping up this simple gift. In the end to show her how easy and quick this was I said that I would sew it for her. Front View Believe it or not, during by 10 years of sewing I have not sewed a single apron until now!!! I don't know what I was waiting for as this was so easy and a great piece of instant gratification. If you have been following my blog at all or know me in the real world, you will know that I really don't enjoy sewing for other people. Mainly because I like sewing for myself as it is stress/pressure free and becaus...

Pattern Review: Mimi G 30 Minute Skirt Tutorial  So good news, my sewing machine is fixed and healthy again.  I collected it on Thursday and was super busy until the weekend so it went untouched for a couple of days.  I had been planning on making this freebie DIY skirt for a while, but hadn't really given too much thought to it. However, I went fabric shopping with my sewing group in Brixton a couple of weeks ago and found this striped jersey in the bargain bin in Simply Fabrics for a mere £2 per metre. In addition, when I saw the beautiful Candice at Sew My Time rocking a striped skirt I knew exactly where this fabric was going.... I ended up getting home much later than expected on Friday night so on Saturday I wasn't in the mood to concentrate and spend more than an hour sewing. To make myself feel productive (after staying in bed until 3pm!!) I popped on the soothing tones of Jill Scott to nurse my headache and sewed this up in no time.  ...

Pattern Review - New Look 6843 So everyone, I come bearing bad news....my sewing machine is poorly. The bobbin is jamming again, so it is at the repair shop having a service.  However, after some tears (yes folks I cried) and a couple of days feeling rather lost, I vowed not to be defeated and even managed to squeeze out some sewing before the withdrawal symptoms became too much to bear.  I had a lovely invitation from Giselle at  The Crafty Beaded Knitter  to do some sewing one afternoon, even before she knew that my sewing machine was poorly. We spent the afternoon chatting all things sewing and I sewed up view A of this simple skirt - New Look 6843 .  I have named it the 'Mum' skirt because everything, including the pattern  I stole  my mum donated to me. My mum originally sewed up this skirt in a different pattern but wasn't so keen on it, and it ended up in the UFO pile. I asked a couple of times why it was there - as she on...