Status Report Mar

Hi All,

Instead of me doing weekly status reports like before 11 mar or 5 Mar I thought it is better and easier for me to do a monthly report.  Yeah, I just couldn't handle weekly anymore. :)
Plan already down the drain, I know.

What did I do ON PLAN :

1. I finished the Nirma skirt pattern. I'm doing the final touch ups for the posts and photo editing.I've already posted some. You are going to love this. I'm also making a video. :) I hate my voice when I listen to thew videos. Please tell me about it when I post them. :)

2. I made a mini tutorial for the phus phus skirt. There were a few blogs referring to my tutorial but commenting that it is very elaborate and worth the effort. I thought why not do a mini tutorial for the more experienced who just want to glace.

3. I sew some Nirma skirts - colleague's daughter, for my daughter - video included     
daughter's friend

4. Sew a poltam skirt for daughter.

5. Posted some pending posts that I sew in Jan/Feb- beautiful circle dress, most complemented coat - people ask me where did you buy this. :)

6. First ever video tutorial - poltam skirt video tutorial

7. I set up google analytics and wow seeing statistics is just addicting. I get about 700+ views a day which I think is pretty good? Don't you think? I also got a peak of 3000+ views on one day. Really happy with that. Million Thanks to you all. :)
I need to work on the SEO bit now.


8. I set up markerly for all my pictures which was super simple. Totally love it.

NOT ON PLAN:

1. I had planned to make a nightie for my daughter in readiness for summer but that has carried forward to April.

2. I had planned to make the phus phus skirt of any length just like the poltam skirt. Again carrying forward.

3. My blog used to load very slowly due to the size of the images. I've now modified that although I've a few pages pending.

-Preethi.

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Nirma skirt - Purchase Fabric - Flowy drapy

Did you all have a good mother's day today? I had a good one - My son who is nearing 5 wrote me a card - ok, that was from school :) and he brought me a bouquet of flowers. The best part was, now that he is starting to read words, he read happy mother's day on the bouquet and asked daddy to buy them for me at a local shopping center. Isn't that cute? :)

For full instructions to make a Nirma skirt please go to NIRMA SKIRT FREE PATTERN.

Ok, so after you have calculated the pattern pieces and have the basic supplies to make the nirma skirt, we can go ahead with the most fun bit. Fabric shopping. I can spend hours.:)

For this skirt I like to have a more flowy fabric with drape in it. In the fabric shop I just hold the fabric in my hands and if it folds in layers (thick or thin fabric is your choice as long as it creates those folds), I know it will suit the skirt pattern. I have done it with a very thick jeans type fabric as well - Nirma skirt for daughter. There is also a video embedded to see how it twirls.

-Preethi.

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Supplies - Nirma skirt

Hi All, here is the list of supplies you need to sew nirma skirt. I've included where I've bought each one.
For full instructions to make a Nirma skirt please go to NIRMA SKIRT FREE PATTERN.

Sewing Machine	I have a Janome basic sewing machine- Janome J3-18 Sewing Machine. It has  straight stitch, zig zag stitch, applique stitch and comes with a buttonhole foot which is very handy.
Scissors	I had the little one and the larger fabric shears I bought - 5 Star Tailors Shears 210mm
Measuring tape	Sewing / Tailors Tape Measure 150cm - PINK
Seam ripper	Came with Gutermann Sewing Thread Kit. Can't live without this.
Pins	Hemline Coloured Plastic Headed Pins, 34mm, Value Pk of 200
Thread	Real cheap one - WMA 24 Assorted Colors Polyester Sewing Thread-Pack of 24 (does the job for me, breaks at times - a very good value for the kind of projects I'm doing) and other Gutermann (really strong but expensive) Gutermann Sewing Thread Kit
Bobbin	4 came with sewing machine
Fabric, pom poms	Bought them from local fabric shop. To calculate fabric required please refer - calculate fabric & trimming
Elastic	Bought them from local fabric shop. Length - I'll post the calculations. Width - you can buy 2cm, 2.5 cm or 3cm.
Tailors chalk	Tailor's Chalk Triangle - Set of 3 Red, White, Blue

Thanks for reading.

Preethi.

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Nirma skirt - Calculate pattern pieces with video

Hi All,

I love this pattern so much I want to keep it for myself. :)  But I'm sure what I'd really like more is to see some of you or even one of you making this pattern. This post will be part of a multipart series to show you make the nirma skirt like below:
For full instructions to make a Nirma skirt please go to NIRMA SKIRT FREE PATTERN.

COLLEAGUE'S DAUGHTER	DAUGHTER'S FRIEND	NIRMA SKIRT WITH VIDEO

Fabric width - Selvage to Selvage.
Optimum fabric usage - (yes/no) - If you will be buying the fabric I'd suggest to put it as no but if you already have fabric and want to make do with it you can put yes.
It will become clearer when I show the next post on how to cut the fabric pieces.
Trimming - is optional

I'll also make a full video tutorial like poltam skirt video tutorial so it is much clearer.
UPDATE: Here is the video:



Thanks,
Preethi.

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Poltam skirt for daughter

Finally I made a poltam skirt for my daughter. I made one for my neighbor and other for my friend's daughter.  I used the corduroy fabric that I made the nirma skirt for daughter's friend.
You can find the full detailed poltam skirt free pattern with lining here and unlined video tutorial here.

Have a great Sunday.

Thanks,
Preethi.

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Video Tutorial - Poltam skirt

Hello people,

Today I have for you a video or rather 3 videos of the pleated skirt with no lining.
My gosh! it has been hard work. I was deliberating to take a video or not. I wasn't comfortable showing my hands or my face but I had to show hands at least :)
I don't know why I'm speaking super fast in the video as if I have to be somewhere.. it was just my heart racing I guess. I was using a tripod to shoot and could hardly make out if what I was showing was within the frame or not. I did take a few re shoots but couldn't go further than two.
The video is in different angles - sorry about that. Listening back to my own voice it is exactly same as my sis. It is like hearing my sis speak. :)


I hope at least one skirt is made with this video and I'm waiting to see one. If someone makes one please share it with me if you can.
I managed to sew this skirt in an hour. Yes, taking the video and sewing.

I have taken 3 videos. For full instructions please go to poltam skirt free pattern
Calculate your pattern pieces based on poltam skirt pattern piece calculation


Have a fun filled weekend.
I'll take some photos if I can of the skirt and post them tomorrow.
Thanks,
Preethi.

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Cape coat - most complemented

Hello ladies,

It can only be ladies right? I need to enable demographics on Google analytics to figure that out :)
Simple simple project I made in January. Used it everyday literally everyday.
So easy easy to sew - must have taken me half an hour (minus the buttons).
I used it in winter and now in spring. The best use was when seated in the car. With the thick stuffy coat I could hardly put on the car seat straps and daughter was also very uncomfortable. With this putting on the seat straps is breeze and it is so easy and comfortable. Totally love it.
And did I tell you this has been the most complemented (not in the online world, I mean in the real world).
The construction is simply like a circle skirt. Nothing too complex. 
I used contrast linen kind of lining material.  And this really did enhance the beauty of the cape.

She took her brother's scooter out in the garden and was really struggling:) I didn't stop her. I wanted to take some pics and as long as she was engaged I was fine. And boy how busy was she!!

In just 2 months it already looks shorter. :)

It just goes with any dress.

Found some matching buttons :)

The collar as well came neat I think so.

Hope you liked what I made. Let me know if you have any comments or thoughts. :)

Thanks,
Preethi.

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Nirma skirt for colleague's daughter

Hi All, Hope you had a wonderful weekend. We had holi celebrations yesterday and had lots of fun. All celebrations fall here over the weekends :).

I made this cute nirma skirt that I made previously for my daughter (do check out the video in this) and for daughter's friend. I received lots of compliments when I put in on for my daughter and I couldn't stop blushing to say I made it. :)

I had thought of making either the phus phus skirt or the poltam skirt which are both available as free patterns but then settled on the nirma skirt.


For full instructions to make a Nirma skirt please go to NIRMA SKIRT FREE PATTERN.

 The fabric I is used is silky soft. Can't remember what it is called. Next time I go to the fabric shop I'll make a note. :) It twirls beautifully.

 The elastic I inserted in a different way this time - pinning elastic and fabric together and by pulling the elastic I sew along. Its really simple and quick but could go wrong and there is no way to try on to figure out if it fits or not. You would already need to know the measurements accurately. Now after making so many skirts I do :).

Have a good week.
Preethi

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Phus phus skirt mini tutorial

Hi All, There have been comments that the tutorials are quite exhaustive for the more experienced. Yes yes, I've been listening :) So, here is a mini tutorial for the phus phus skirt. Hope it helps. For the full detailed tutorial please refer phus phus skirt free pattern.
Have a great Sunday!
I'm off for Holi. :)

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Circle Dress - My first proper dress

Hi All,

I made this dress in January but have been so lazy to buy some buttons and then again lazy to sew them . So finally here it is of what I can call a proper dress. Sleeves are really really hard for me. I made one earlier and learnt some lessons. I've been making bits and pieces really and not a proper dress. I think this does qualify for a dress :)
It has a tie back,  low waist, neck bow, puff sleeves, circle skirt which didn't work out very well. :( The bodice and skirt pieces didn't match up while pinning, the skirt was much much larger than the bodice - it must have got stretched out or my calculations must have been wrong. So I cut the skirt at the seams and reduced the waist measurement by taking in at the sides.
The plaid doesn't match up at the sleeves as you can see. Will need to work on that next time.

Happy holi to you all. Enjoy your colours and have a safe one.
Preethi.

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Nirma Skirt for my daughter - with video

UPDATE -
FREE PATTERN :  Nirma skirt free pattern



Hi All, Hope you are having a great week. I'm endlessly making this skirt. I made one for my daughter's friend. I had to make one for my daughter. How can I not? :)  Also, a colleague of mine has been asking to make one for his daughter. I was planning on making the phus phus skirt but have now changed my mind to make the Nirma skirt. See the video below how it twirls. The fabric I used was jeans material and still look how it twirls. Next I'm making something of rayon. It will be great I know for sure.



I have to share these pics with you all. I cannot imagine that if such thick fabric can look so good then options are endless and with summer coming I'm already imagining this skirt flying away showing off the bloomers - I have to learn to make them though :).

I've put many more in flickr.
Have a super weekend!!

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Status report 11 Mar

Hello people, yesterday was my status report day. Sorry for the delay.
So what did I do last week. Not much in terms of sewing. :( but have made good progress on the blog. :)
1. I sew nirma skirt for my daughter. Soon will be sharing the pics.
2. I'm making a pattern for the nirma skirt but I'm really struggling with laying of the pattern. Lot of maths involved there. There are so many options but I'm unable to draw out all the options.  Still trying. So that's in progress
3. I cannot do inches for the phus phus skirt or poltam skirt. Giving up on this one although planned. You read why cm or inches here.
4. I added social media buttons on all images. I'm loving them.
5. I've started to get quite some traffic these days. About 500 pageviews a day. it also went more than 1000 page views on a day last week. I'm really excited. I really really really hope it continues. Thank you so much.

Enjoy your week!
Preethi.

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