Workroom Notes No.6: Toile Baby, Toile!
What a week last week was. The heat? Too much for this English girl, I struggled hard! Alas, I cannot slow down as I head to the UK in June so this is my last full week of being in the Workroom!!
There is a LOT to get completed this week, and I’ll admit to being very overwhelmed with all that needs doing. It’s so much.
I spent the weekend doing nothing work related (a rarity) so the first things to tackle are ‘New Month’ tasks and then front load whatever absolutely needs to be done before I go to the UK!
This Week’s 5 Main Goals
Goal No.1: Pa’s new wallet. This is now TOP of the list!
Goal No.2: The finished wrap top for MMG Course.
Goal No.3: Finishing touches to Bridesmaid No.1s dress (toile).
Goal No.4: Waistcoat pattern for The Groom and his Best Man!
Goal No.5: Sew toile for MOH dress!
The Willow Wallet for Pa
I took all that I needed to sew this with me when I went to the UK in April, but my mum’s old sewing machine couldn’t handle the leather, and neither could my super cheap beginner friendly sewing machine.
I have my hand cranked Singer loaded up with thread, so need to get the last stitch lines sewn before I go to the UK.
Sunday update: Mission successful, though I was not happy with how all my machines handled the softer leather. Sigh. The photo below shows just how much they didn’t like it. But my Pa is happy with the finished version, which I’ll share soon!
Woven Wrap Top (MMG)
I mentioned in last week’s Workroom Note’s that I had toiled up a pattern hacked Deer & Doe Magnolia bodice to see how it worked with my body and ended up with two toiles that did not work. I then sent much time regretting having bothered when I know that my own patterns are the best in terms of fit for me.
This week I really want to take the new pattern and sew up a wearable toile. I’m running short on calico, so I think I’m going to pull a fabric from my stash for a basic toile to test the fit and then from that I’ll make the real thing.
I want to make it in the pale yellow linen I made my Ninni shorts in as I think it’ll be a fun co-ord set for the summer.
Sunday Update: I did not get the wearable toile sewn. Instead I made a second toile in calico to test the pattern changes I made, and can now move onto the final version.
Sarah’s Toile
I cut and mostly sewed the toile for Sarah’s bridesmaid dress last week, and there are some finishing touches to do to it. I’m hoping it’ll fit and that the modifications needed will be minimal, but I did not take her measurements, and that can throw up inconsistencies.
I don’t think I’ll be able to share full photo of the finished toile, but I’ll pop in a close up detail photo when it’s done.
Sunday Update: I did get Sarah’s bridesmaid dress toile completed. Phew.
Groom’s Waistcoat Pattern
The one waistcoat we found when shopping for D’s wedding suit was the wrong colour and the fabric didn’t work. He has since decided it would be great if I could make one similar to what we saw at the bespoke tailors here where we live.
That waistcoat cost a pretty penny, so I can see why he’d like me to make them for him and the best man. Starting point is a pattern ready for a basic toile, and then I may order in calico to the UK and toile them up when back there.
Sunday Update: I got the pattern done, but did not have time to mock up in calico to fit. Will have to do that after the UK trip!
Clio Toile
Clio is my Maid of Honour. Getting her dress will be complicated as we live on different continents. I’m hoping to make the toile this week in her approximate size and I think I may just post it to her in the US to see how the fit is before I cut and sew her real dress.
It will be easier to mail it out from the UK, so this needs to be sewn this week.
Sunday Update: This did not happen.
Other Possible Workroom Projects
You know I like a good list of projects on the go, so of course there are a few more I’d like to tackle if time allows.
Shirt Project
I talked about completing this last week but I didn’t have time to go through my button stash. Hoping that I can get that done this week, as I’d like to get some photos of the completed shirt ready for when the membership reopens.
Reese Wrap
I got a new sample cut out last week, and hoping to get that sewn up this week. It won’t take long on the overlocker, but it’s cleaning it down and setting up the right thread. I used it for the polka dot fabric and its covered in itty bitty dark sprinkles of what is probably polyester – and I cut this sample in white!
Weaving With Fabric Project
I would also like to get all the strips cut for my weaving with fabric project. It was May’s project inside my Creative dressmaking membership, and I know what I want to create, have done all the visual research but now need to get the fabric work ready for the next stage.
Right’O, that’s all the plans I have this week, though you know me, I’m sure to throw a few other things onto my workroom table before the end of the day.
Would love to know what you’re working on this week – let me know in the comments! And if you’re new here and want to read more, I have a series of Workroom Notes posts that you can read through here.
