It’s #sewfrosting time!

So, the short introduction to today’s post is that here we have an Eagle Jacket by Vanessa Pouzet, in all its glorious sequin glamour, together with the Megan Nielsen Tania Culottes and a cropped Ogden Cami by True Bias.

The long introduction is as follows. Bear with me here…

This is the outfit that I will one day wear to attend the Oscars, or some similar absurdly fancy soirée. It’s  deliberately, inappropriately, casual, but with solid core of simple lines, paired with beautifully rich fabrics. And surely, for the Oscars, I’d be able to get my hands on a pair of Louboutins or similar to ‘dress it up’.

But why in the world, I hear you ask, would you be attending the Oscars?

Never fear, I have that part of the story figured out.

I would be boarding a plane one day, only to discover that the flight was overbooked in error. Just as the crew were about to evict from the flight a frazzled mother with multiple children who had been the last to board, I would graciously give up my seat so that they could stay. Then, on my way off the plane, the flight crew would suddenly realise there was a spare seat in First Class.

So, I’d be seated in First Class.

Where I would find myself, much to my surprise, seated next to some appropriately gorgeous movie star. It’s usually Idris Elba. But, I’d take, say, Jeff Goldblum, too. That unique forced proximity and intimacy that is air travel would provide the ideal backdrop against which my famous neighbour will be instantly smitten by my wit, charm and down-to-earth nature.

When the plane lands, we ride off together on a unicorn.

Voilà, next thing you know, I’m by his side at the Oscars.

Wearing this #sewfrosting outfit.

At the Oscars, when people ask me ‘who’ I’m wearing, I’d name the indie pattern designers. I’d talk about the home sewing world and how wonderful it is to make your own clothes. In so doing, I’d single-handedly fuel the popularity of this creative pursuit that we all love so much.

See, it’s all perfectly feasible. This could definitely one day be my ironically understated Oscars outfit.

And, yes, if you wish to analyse the ramifications of the above fantasy sequence, it appears that I may be a narcissist with a saviour complex and a desire to be swept away by an older man.

Nobody’s perfect.

And, for the benefit of any regular blog readers/followers who may be aware that I have a husband and young son, these kinds of facts have no place in abject fantasies such as the present. We just rode off on a unicorn, dammit! Reality is entirely immaterial…

Which brings me back to #sewfrosting…

#sewfrosting

For those non-instagrammers or those who may be reading this ten years into the future, assuming the planet (and this blog) lasts that long, #sewfrosting is a sewing challenge currently being run by Heather Lou of Closet Case Patterns and Kelli from True Bias. You can read more about it on their blogs, here and here.

The basic idea is about encouraging sewists to #sewfrosting, as opposed to #sewingcake. If ‘cake’  are the basic everyday essentials, ‘frosting’ is the over-the-top colour, the party dresses, the prints, the ‘out-there’ sewing. The kind that really gets the creative passions flowing.

What I love about this challenge, is that it can mean so many different things to different people.

My frosting may be your cake.

Frosting could be a party dress (or an Oscars outfit!), but it could also be something less obvious. A pattern outside of your style comfort zone. A beautiful print or fabric. Sewing something ridiculously out of season because that’s what your sewing heart wants RIGHT THIS SECOND.

You know, like a faux linen jumpsuit in November. When you live in the Northern hemisphere. Hypothetically speaking…

But, for me, most importantly, #sewfrosting is about sewing fearlessly.

Follow your sewing heart.

Follow that sewing angel who tells you ‘this is going to be absolutely amazing’ and damn that little sewing devil asking ‘but, is it really going to turn out like you imagine?’.

#sewfrosting-somnia

In all honestly,  I actually lost half a night’s sleep to #sewfrosting. I woke up at 3am and then somehow found myself making an inspiration board for #sewfrosting on pinterest, becoming so giddy with excitement that I couldn’t sleep. Instead, I mulled over my sewing plans in nervous excitement until my alarm went off four hours later.

Imagine me at work the next day:  ‘I’m sorry I’m too tired to check those references accurately, I was looking at sequins for half the night and now that the sequin and sparkle induced adrenaline has dissipated, I am but a puddle of exhaustion…’

In sum, to #sewfrosting is to sew passionately and fearlessly.

Sewing undaunted.

And, you know what? If there is one thing I have learned about frosting from binge watching Nailed It on Netflix, it’s that it won’t always work out.

And that’s perfectly fine.

Zeal over skill.

#sewfrosting is an attitude, not an end result.

And this is why I really hope that even once the ‘competition’ ends on 30 November 2018, us sewists keep using the #sewfrosting hashtag. To remind our community that sometimes you just need to harness the pure joy that can be derived from this kind of bling-alicious, almost child-like, creating.

Already, now let’s move on to the cake part of this blog post, where I actually tell you what you’re looking at!

Sequin Eagle Jacket by Vanessa Pouzet

I’ve sewn the Eagle Jacket (or Veste Eagle, it sounds much more chic in French) by Vanessa Pouzet before. So, if you are after construction details, you could head over to that post.

But, if you want bling, here it is.

This amazing sapphire sequin fabric came from Guthrie and Ghani. I can’t find this colour on their website anymore, so perhaps it is sold out in the current #sewfrostingfabricfrenzy. But here is a similar one in a different colour.

Before this, I had never even worn sequins, let alone contemplated sewing with them.

So #sewfrosting definitely gave me a push in an unexpected direction!

If you’re here to learn a bit more about sewing sequins, I can highly recommend this blog post from Sew DIY and this one from By Hand London. Since my sequins were quite small, I just sewed right over them, without removing any. I also used a leather needle for all sewing. The only other highly practical tip I can add is this. If you also need to cut out a lining, which you probably will, since you don’t want sequin spikes touching your body, make sure you cut out the lining fabric before the sequin fabric, so that you don’t end up with sequin dust all over your lining fabric.

Ask me how I know…

I made a few modifications to the Eagle Jacket pattern. I modified the size of the shoulder inset, as I want to use this Merchant and Mills ribbing as both of a cuff and at the shoulders.

For that quintessential ‘sporty casual sequins’ look!

I also shortened the jacket by an inch, but probably should have gone a little shorter, as I think it would look better at a true cropped length.

I altered the sleeve into a two piece sleeve, so that I could use a ponte, rather than sequins, under the arms.

Because, you know, the idea of sequins rubbing against sequins under the arm, seemed perhaps slightly less than ideal…

I took this idea from a leather blazer I own which uses a knit fabric in narrow strips under the arm and down the side. It makes it soo much more comfy… That blazer is probably my favourite RTW item I own. As is evidenced by the fact that I desperately hold onto it even though it’s at least two sizes too small for me… So I was very happy to have harvested its techniques for this challenge

The inside of my sequined Eagle jacket is lined with a navy ponte, for comfort and warmth.

The ultimate stamp of approval

You know you’re on a winner when the following happens.

I finished the jacket and asked my 3 year old what he thought of it.

Because, yes, my first step when I finish a sewing project is to gain validation from a toddler.

His eyes immediately lit up.

He exclaimed: ‘Wooooow, Maman. I want you to make me one just the same. Only smaller so that it fits me’.

I really want to do it!!

Then I showed hubby. Since, you know, the 3-year old is usually a sure-thing when I’m searching for a positive reinforcement. The hubby can be a tougher nut to crack.

Hubby immediately tore the Eagle jacket off me, draped it over his own shoulders and moon-walked around the room.

See, sequins are fun for the whole family!!!!

Megan Nielsen Tania Culottes

You know, initially, my #sewfrosting plan was only the Eagle jacket.

But then I decided to throw caution to the wind and cut into this amazing printed linen from The Fabric Store which my mother got me for my birthday. My mother, who is a sewist who doesn’t actually sew much anymore, is a great fabric enabler… I think she enjoys sewing vicariously through my makes, so she can always be relied upon to indulge my fabric fantasies by gifting me wonderful fabrics…

Now what could be more in the spirit of #sewfrosting than cutting into your linen birthday fabric even though it’s 5 degrees outside?

My Tania Culottes are the midi-length version, in a size large. I added an inch to the rise to make them sit higher than designed on the waist. Also, I scooped out the crotch, on both the back and front pieces, lowering the crotch about an inch. I also added pockets, using the free download online.

This is the second time I’ve made the Tania Culottes. The first time was way back in my first year of sewing. That pair was lovely but a little wedgie-ville on me. The crotch scooping this time around has worked a treat. Ahhh, crotch-scoops. The things we end up saying for sewing…

The version of the Tania Culottes which I bought and sewed back in, ummm, 2014, I think, is quite different to the one for sale now. There have been a number of updates to the pattern in the meantime. There are now multiple views available, pockets are included and the waistband is wider.

It’s interesting to see how our favourite indie pattern designers evolve, right? The new Tania Culottes are much more modern, inclusive and filled with options, compared to the original pattern I bought. It must be a really tough decision for indie designers as to whether to update their patterns in this manner. They must be worried as to whether ‘improving’ a pattern might be understood as an admission that there was something ‘wrong’ with the original?

Personally, I don’t see it that way at all. After all, I’ve seen myself evolving immensely as a sewist, so it’s pretty normal that the ‘fore-mothers’ of modern home sewing, indie pattern designers, evolve too!

I liked the old Tania culottes, because, well, everyone needs a cycle-friendly circle skirt substitute, but I love the new Tania culottes even more.

I never want to take these off.

Faux jumpsuit Ogden Cami

And, the final ingredient of this #sewfrosting patisserie creation needs no introduction: the Ogden Cami it is!

I was tossing up as to whether to finish this ensemble with a cropped Inari tee or the Ogden Cami. I took an instagram poll, which came up with 55% in favour of Ogden. Which was really too close to call.

In the end, my deciding factor was Oonaballoona. Marcy Harriel, AKA anointed patron saint of frosting, often uses the Ogden cami and speaks of it as a wonderful sewjo inducer. So I felt it was an appropriate homage to the spirit mother of #sewfrosting.

This particular Ogden Cami is cropped about 10 centimetres shorter than as designed.

Guess what, I have a little confession to make. The Ogden Cami sometimes makes me feel like a bit of a sewing moron. This is the fifth one I’ve made and I still haven’t quite mastered the fit.

Seriously, it’s so simple, what’s wrong with me???

You can see more details of my Ogden experience here. My entirely self-induced problem basically amounts to the fact that my first ever Ogdens were in jersey. I then  thought the straps were way too long and shortened them way too much for all of my subsequent woven Ogdens. Oh and, incidentally, while shortening those straps, I forgot to also lengthen the linings, so ended up with lining grazing mid-nipple. How comfortable!

I thought I had mastered it this time around, so lazily didn’t bother checking the fit. Whilst this is definitely more than wearable, I’d still say my straps are slightly too short. Another 1.5 centimetres and it’ll be perfect.

It’s an incremental thing, this ol’ sewing business!

#sewfrosting finale

Well, there you have it, 2000 words about frosting. I think I’m done now!

Thanks to anyone who’s made it this far for sticking with me for this OTT tale.

And remember to keep #sewfrosting going.

Because to #sewfrosting is to sew fearlessly, unencumbered by limits or doubt. Savouring that raw, giddy, child-like joy that comes from creating simply for the pleasure of creating.

Oh and, finally, a little P.S! If you like to get your blog hits through Bloglovin’, feel free to follow me over there: you can find me here. And you can find me on Instagram here.