Mild Lagenlook

I originally took this photo for a Lagenlook sewing forum I belong to. Most of the ladies there wear layer upon layer of things like bloomers, petticoats, slips, dresses, pinafores, shawls. I'm not comfortable with that level of foofy-ness and femininity. It looks great on them but it's just not my thing.

This is the sort of thing I wear on a day to day basis. It's more me. I don't concern myself with following a certain fashion aesthetic. I wear what I like and what I enjoy making. If I had to name it I'd say that I see it as toned down version of Lagenlook. It's more along the lines of Swedish Lagenlook. Layered, but not with the volume, length, or ruffles. 

If you're interested in the sources: The black cotton jersey 3/4 sleeve top was drafted and sewn by me but I started with the Jalie 2805 T-shirt and added width and an asymmetrical hem to the bottom.

Under that I'm wearing another self made top, this time of a polyester knit fabric and using Jalie 3245 Racerback Tunic as a pattern.

The hat was made using the "Gardening Hat" pattern from the book "Happy Hats and Cool Caps" but with scrunching added to the stand using the guidance for hat alterations in that same book. Great book if you need custom sized hats or want to sew hats to coordinate with your wardrobe.

Jeans and scarf both purchased long ago. Boots are vintage "Pillow Boots" by Cougar worn here for warmth, not fashion -- but I do like them enough that I went and had them repaired last year.

A Little of a Lot

I've been doing little bits of a lot of different things lately -- which doesn't add up to much progress in any one area!

Now and then I sit down at the loom to work on my weaving project for the Three Random Colour guild challenge. I finally managed to get this infinity scarf off the loom, fringes twisted, wet finished, and now hanging to dry. It will get a pressing and a final trim of the fringe tomorrow. The warp left on the loom still has enough length left for a second coordinating project though.

I've done a little knitting on my granddaughter's sweater. The pockets are knitted now but some sewing on one of them still needs attention. The button bands are also complete. I have stalled on the sleeves though. I'm just really not in the mood for knitting and only occasionally force myself to pick it up.

I've been getting a surprising amount of enjoyment out of simpler things lately. Like mending the worn knees of my son's work jeans.

During the patching a little Boro stitching may have spontaneously happened. He doesn't seem to mind. In real life his black work jeans are much darker than they appear here so the stitching isn't so noticable. 

Inspired by the success of patching his jeans I picked up a really inexpensive pair of artificially distressed and ripped jeans from Winners. My intent is to play around with doing some decorative Boro on them. I might add additional embroidery or other embellishment as well, as the mood strikes. 

What I didn't take into consideration is that the "skinny" jeans have a lot of stretch to them and I'll have to adapt my method so that even once stitched they will still retain their ability to expand and contract. I'm using a doubled piece of stretch jersey for the patch and I'm stretching both it and the jeans in an embroidery hoop, which is not traditional for Boro, which is usually just hand held. 

And finally I DO have one finish! The fabric for this simple v-neck t-shirt with 3/4 sleeves has been cut out and laying in a heap in my sewing room for months. I finally got around to sewing it up today. I've made this pattern, #2805 Women's T-Shirts, by Jalie before and it always turns out great. 

Oh! I nearly forgot to include the cross-stitching! I've been doing about an hour's worth on the train picture every morning as I have my coffee. No progress photo of that though, it's very slow going and updates will be few and far between. 

When Shopping Fails

Sometimes when you can't find what you want in stores you just have to resort to making it yourself. I've looked and looked for tunic length tops which are long enough to cover my butt when I wear leggings. It amazes me that leggings are so popular and yet it's still hard to find long tops to wear with them!

So I took matters into my own hands, and with the help of an excellent pattern, "#3245 Raglan Tee, Racerback Tank and Tunics, by Jalie", I created the sleeveless tunic I was looking for. I made one in solid red as well. I think both turned out great! I love Jalie's method for binding the neckline and armholes. It turns out looking so professional.

The purchase of a single Jalie pattern gives you multiple sizes. In this particular case it provides sizes from 12 month baby all the way up to size 52 ladies. I couldn't resist buying fabric and make a couple up for my granddaughters as well.

Though the binding takes a while , and you are working with knit fabric, the whole shirt is very simple to do. My eight year old granddaughter's was finished the same day that I bought the fabric!

It fits her very well.

I have had a few busy days since and haven't had time to sew, but my older granddaughter will be getting one too. She has requested a shirt length, rather than tunic, and a slightly higher front neckline. Hopefully I can get to that tomorrow.

Hot Weather Wear

We've been having some warm weather and poor Flame was roasting in his long pants and long sleeved shirt.

   

I took pity on him and let him take off his shirt.



He was happy about that, but after a recent visit by my granddaughter I found him sobbing in the corner -- wearing a DRESS! My granddaughter doesn't think children should go around half naked, not even small elf boys, so she put the dress on him to cover up his bare chest.

If you are a regular reader you might know that Flame originally had a female body and had to wait for months for Tingle to bring him a male body. After all that waiting to be a real elf boy he just couldn't bear the humiliation of wearing a dress.

I told him he was welcome to dig through my fabric stash to find something he would like for a summer t-shirt. He chose a bright and cheerful yellow and I made up his t-shirt that same afternoon.

With temperatures rising and a long summer ahead of us I thought he deserved a pair of shorts too. I randomly chopped some length off of my existing Realfee pants pattern and sewed some simple shorts.

Next time I think I'll make them a bit shorter yet. What do you think? How long should a little elf boy's shorts be anyway? Would mid knee cap be about right?