So I learned something today :)

when people used to say PLUS size clothes cost more cos they use more fabric - I used to say "Bullkaka - they only add about 10cm on the sides..." well welcome to pattern making my dears!!

I wore my purple top I made yesterday, SIL saw it and now she wants one...but in a really deep rich purple fabric that I have...sure no problem. Quoted her $40. Told her I'd sell them on TM for $50...

OK, so today in class I grade the pattern that I made my top with. Due to the style of the top, the one I made me covers a sz 20-24. So the next size UP will cover a sz 26-30. This will fit my SIL well. I graded the patter DOWN too to fit a sz 12-16.

When I am making the top in MY size or smaller, I can get away with 1.5 metres of fabric - sweet...BUT when I went to lay SIL's pattern down, there was no way in hell I could use the same amount of fabric, cos when the pattern was graded up to accommodate the larger size, it threw the neck line and shoulder line up and out, the sleeve and front bodice is one single piece cut on the centre front/centre back fold...anyway in meant that there was no way in hell I could fit the pattern into 1.5mts of fabric and in actual fact it took 3.7metres of fabric to make this style top!! That's more than DOUBLE the fabric used to a smaller size!! *sigh*

So, the fabric cost me $8/m @ 3.7m = $29.60 just for fabric!! So when you take into consideration the thread, overlocking thread, electricity, MY LABOUR *sigh* I'm making a grand $10.40. LOL.

So the lesson I learned...when they say it takes more fabric to make PLUS sizes they actually mean DOUBLE the fabric lol. So...I'm def gonna have to rethink the sell price on TM...for the sz 26+ sizing anyway...upto sz 24 I can get away with 1.5metres...

And to be honest, the fabric I used to SIL's top has a two way stretch and is quite heavy cos of that...and with ALL the pleats in it - it was A LOT of fabric...honestly...it felt like I was sewing a blanket!! It was quite difficult to manoeuvre around - so much bulk!! Will look lovely when it's done though. I know she'll love it.

Am also making miss 14 one in the sz 12-16 pattern. I think it will be huge on her - but we'll see...she's my test doll for the smaller sizes lol. I'll finish them off in class tomorrow.

As for the jacket - thought I might have got that done in class today but no...I totally screws up when cutting it out and forgot to cut one of the front side panels, proceeded to cut the collar and back neck facing...ended up I couldn't fit the front side panel lol...so had to stop at the fabric store and grab another .8mts of fabric to finish my jacket off...I hope to finish that off tomorrow in class :)

Of course when I went to the fabric store this afternoon, I didn't 'just' get the .8mts of denim for my jacket - I ended up putting a whole bloody roll of black lycra blend fabric AND a whole roll of the purple fabric I used today, on hold for me to pick up on Thursday when I get some money LOL!! As I was walking out the lady who served me yells out "Trelise cooper watch out" LOL...yeah well....you just wait lol.

I've actually got a fabric hoarding addiction *sigh* and it can only get worse LOL.

Lovely cottage pie for diner, mince with grated carrots, spinach, onion, light soy sauce, black pepper, salt...topped with mashed potatoes (cream *sigh* salt and pepper) topped with grated cheese...YUMMY - and with all the carrots and spinach I added, it really bulked it out, so ended up with two dishes, we only need one to feed our family, so will put the other one in the freezer for another night :) Looking forward to taking some for lunch tomorrow - nothing like a hot homemade lunch :)

Am feeling a wee bit tired today. Bless hubby's heart...after my tantrum last night I came home to a spotless house - kitchen spotless lol. Poor guy ;) So all is well in the house again - as they say - if mum is happy - everyone is happy *grin*.

I'm going to have a wee lay down, it's just after 6pm, boys are outside riding their bikes...miss 9 has fallen asleep - must've had some late nights at he Nana's over the weekend!! I will get up when the boys get home, in an hour or so and feed them diner, get them ready for bed, then I may or may not do some more work on my quilt...lol, says she who has never done quilting in her life!!

10pm - well I haven't been to bed yet *yay* I've been playing on my sewing machine - fiddling with the patchwork tabel runner I'm making :)

Kids have been kind to me :) Will be going to bed shortly :)