the camisole - the 1st design is completed

the neck and armhole binding is stitched by hand.  using embroidery floss.

front view.
the centre front seam is slightly flared to accommodate the tummy.
this dressform tummy is too flat, ha ha.

side view.
showing the armhole...nice and flat.

i am pretty pleased with the result.  my only reservation is the slight gape near the bust.  i am going to insert a bust dart or cut a princess line to correct the condition.

fore more photos of the work in progress please click here, here and here.


cheers,
YunY

faaiz's new up-cycle t-shirt is completed.

here is faaiz and his new t-shirt.  nice and warm.

front view.
binding neckline by hand.

back view

it was a success.  will be making more for faaiz and aman.

click here, here and here for more photos of the work in progress.

wouldn't you like to give this try?


cheers,
YunY

the camisole - design no 2

i have come up with another design.  it is a princess line.  the advantage of this design.....i can use several small pieces of the recycle t-shirts to make this camisole.  more efficient in terms of material utilisation  but demands more focus and concentration to ensure that the 8-piece-panel are cut and pieced correctly.  so, here are the photos of the w.i.p.

back panel left hand side

back panel left hand side

back panel, right hand side

isn't it fun?  would you like to learn how to make them?


cheers,
YunY

sewing is not frivolous.......

this video  (by merchant & mills, a UK based company) is saying my thoughts exactly.


cheers,
YunY

i made this denim skirt for my lil sister

i used her dress sloper that i drafted earlier. i traced the sloper from waist line down to the hip line and extended the length for a floor length skirt.

i made a 6-panel skirt in heavy denim  and installed an exposed zipper.  i used a YKK metal zipper as the denim is thick and heavy.  i used running stitches, to serve as a decorative top stitching  for the casual rustic look that i love.

i prefer to finish the waist with facings rather than a waist band.  here, i used a 100% cotton fabric.  i find that the skirt sits better on the waist with this finishing and it is comfortable too.  furthermore, it makes it easier to install the zipper.  plus, the facings offer another design interest.

so here are the photos.

back panels

front panels 

close-up front panel

close-up back panel and the exposed zipper

the exposed zipper, the facings and the hand-sewn top stitching 

cheers,
YunY

here is the real thing - cutting my camisole pattern on a metre of combed cotton jersey

here are the photos of the process....making my own camisole from scratch.  cutting out the pattern using a metre of combed cotton jersey.

this is the combed cotton jersey. 

the front and back panel.
i cut, on grain, two pieces of each panel using a rotary cutter.
the cut is precise....no jagged lines.  i find that it is easier than using shears.
before cutting, i traced the pattern onto the fabric using a good quality tailors calk
(marking with light pressure, minimise distortion).

see....clean cutting lines.  

then, i pinned the back panel pieces together and sew them up at the centre back.
i use long machine stitches and a universal needle.
it worked just fine.  no puckering nor missed stitches.
then, i did the same for the front panel.

see....i told you :)

side view

front view

back view

yep.  again i am happy with the results.

now, i am off to bind the armhole and the neckline.

i'll be back with more photos.


cheers,
YunY

the camisole prototype

the possibility is endless.

here i have a photo of my favourite tank top and another photo of my 1st prototype of the camisole.

this is my favourite tank top.  it is 100% cotton, knit fabric.
i have been wearing this top for the last 7 years or so.  i bought it at a thrift store.
i have no complaint except for the shoulders.  the angle of the slope is a bit off.  they do not lie flat on my shoulders.

this is my 1st prototype of the camisole.
i used two of my eldest son's old t-shirts.
the front panel is black.
the back panel is light purple.
the fit is definitely better.
see the difference?

the front panel and back panel are not cut on fold.  each half of the back panel and the front panel is cut individually on grain.  this makes it a lot easier to maneuver the pattern for cutting, especially when using recycle t-shirts and knit fabric.  further more, the centre back and centre front of the panel are curved to mimic the curve of a woman's body.  

will put this on the mannequin later.

cheers,

YunY 

camisole - the pattern

from the sloper (for stretch fabric) i drafted the pattern for my camisole.  here are the front and the back panels of the pattern.  this pattern is simpler to construct than the one with spaghetti straps.

the front panel

the back panel

the back and front panels

 next is making the prototype.


cheers,
YunY

drafting a sloper for stretch fabric

this is a sloper i drafted recently.  it is used for making garments using stretch fabrics such as cotton jersey or any dance material.  this method recommends reduction of ease or -ve ease.  for this particular draft, i am using a 2% reduction.  as usual, i found the instruction on the net.  the instruction is in russian using the german drafting system.  

back panel

front panel

i purchased some cotton jersey from spotlight and i am planning to make a camisole, or a few camisoles.  once i am successful, i will be making a few more for my daughters.  comfortable cotton jersey camisoles would be a really nice inner-wear for day and night.

i am using recycle old t-shirt to make prototypes.


cheers,
YunY

the grey dress....

this is the grey dress.  not pressed for photo shoot. using all-in-one facing.
fabric: sateen cotton, purchased online

front view
full length

back view

side view,
no gaping armhole
the bust point of the dress form is higher,  that's why the dart is a bit off.

cheers,
YunY