I should do this more often

It's done! Well, almost ... just need to hem it ... but you get the idea ;-) Nobody is around to take a pic of me in it right now, so the action shots will have to wait just a while.

Apart from having to fight with the slippery fabric, this top (Burda magazine 2/2009 #108) came together rather quickly and easily, thank goodness. It fits well enough and I'm rather pleased that after so long, I've finally sewn something for myself again.

Construction notes
Pattern - Burda magazine 2/2009 #108
Fabric - Lovely Poly/Lycra knit from NicoleXavier

• I cut a 40 at the neck, blended it out to 42 at the arms and waist and then back to 40 at the hips
  
• Sleeve cap was lowered by about 3/4 " - i just eyeballed it and cut a wedge off the top
  
• I ignored the Burda instructions cos this is a fairly easy top and I didn't like how they had you insert the sleeves in the round. Doesn't make sense for a knit! So here is how I did it:
  - stabilise shoulder and neck with strips of knit interfacing
  - sew shoulder seams
  - sew neck (i just turned it down and sewed; didn't use a twin needed or coverstitch
  - sew sleeves into armholes
  - sew up side seams, from ends of sleeves to bottom of top
  - hem sleeves (i used a 3-step zigzag cos I was too lazy to set up the serger for a coverhem)
  - hem bottom
• Try on the top and resolve to get less "fluffy". LOL!
  

I'm definitely going to make this again, but in a more stable knit the next time(s). Working with slippery fabric made me run through (in my head) my inventory of swear words in multiple languages. Hahahhaha!

Work got in the way

It has been a CRAZY time at work, to put it mildly, and I'm tired of slogging through the weekends. Plus, we're all down with the cold bug at home, so there has been lots of sniffing and middle-of-the-night interruptions.

BUT (and this is a "but" of the nice variety), I'm taking some time off tomorrow to meet a new friend (and fellow fabricaholic) and we're going to go gallivant around the fabric shops in Arab Street and hopefully Chinatown too!!

This new friend is relocating to Singapore soon and we were "introduced" by Jeremy of Hot Patterns. He's so sweet -- he put us in touch with each other when he heard that H was moving to Singapore.

So far, H and I have communicated by e-mail only, so it will be terrific to meet her in person tomorrow. Only thing is, I really have to control myself and NOT BUY ANYTHING. Hahahhaha!

Anyway, here is some fabric news:

1. New Liberty prints at NicoleXavier - I just called Nicole and she said that most of her new shipment is IN! There is a last batch coming in tomorrow, but most of her new Liberty stock is IN IN IN. She has some classics as well as some of the latest from the upcoming season.

2. New fabric at Malin Textiles - I haven't written about Malin yet, but it's one of my favourite stores for cotton, especially Japanese cotton. It's just two shops to the right of NicoleXavier. They have new stuff in, including some Kokka prints!

3. Sale at Spotlight - It's on till 4th July. All patterns are 50% off and it's also 20% off all elastic, buttons, thread and interfacing.

Chanel fabric at Nicole Xavier

UPDATE (1st July): The Chanel fabric is still available! But I need to let you know that NicoleXavier may not necessarily be open every day. They're always closed on Sundays, but sometimes, take a day off during the week too. So if you're intending to visit, give them a call first (+65 532-7856)

I love Saturdays because that's the only day I get a few hours to myself as there is no work that day and my darling monkey spends some quality time with one set of grandparents.

Saturday is usually the day I get to do all the "me" things that get neglected during the week. It's the day for housework (hahaha! as if), getting a hair cut or sewing. Most Saturdays, though, I somehow end up at Chinatown.
These terrible taxi drivers, I tell you ... always taking me to Chinatown. Hahahahhaha! A few of my favourite fabric stores are located in Chinatown.

Anyway, this past Saturday, the decision to go to Chinatown was made easier when I received an sms from Nicole of NicoleXavier, one of my all-time fave fabric stores in Singapore and Chinatown.

For months, I had been bugging Nicole to bring in Chanel-esque boucles. Well, my wish came true and she brought in four bolts of yummy Chanel boucles AND some trim too!

They're not inexpensive -- expect to pay upwards of SGD$75 per metre for the fabric and SGD$25 a metre for the trim. But, you know, they are beeeyoootiful and hard to resist, especially if you consider that a real Chanel jacket costs in the region of SGD$10,000.

So some of the fabric and a lot of the trim leaped into my bag, all ready for my Chanel jacket project. Now to get the time and mojo to actually embark on that adventure! I'll post a pic of the fabrics when I get a chance.

Other sources of Chanel fabric that I have tried:

Alta Moda @ Arab Street. Prices are close to SGD$100 a metre and they have a very limited supply. Alta Moda is also where you'll find Pucci, Cavalli, Valentino, etc.

Linton Direct (http://www.lintondirect.co.uk/) -- they will send you free samples! These are the people who supply to the house of Chanel. Cost is between GBP20-40 a metre. Shipping is the killer, though, at about GBP35-40 for three metres of fabric.

Gorgeous Fabrics (http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/index.php) sometimes has Chanel too. I bought a lovely beige piece and another black/blue beauty. Prices are about USD$50 a metre.