Fabric for January/February 2017 projects

Some days just work out well.

Today is one of the those days and its only the afternoon.

The alarm went off at 7.30am, I'm trying to gradually wean myself back to the early starts required for going back to work next week, and made me leap out of my skin as it was so 'unexpected'!  I didn't actually crawl out of my pit until 8am though, well...I am on holiday today technically.

Made my morning cuppa and thought I'd sit in the living room to pull myself together properly.  I was apprehensive and more than a little reluctant to pop the telly on and watch the news as I wasn't sure I could face more bad n sad news about another 'celebrity' death (2016 feels like its been a little unrelenting this year and totally merciless over this Festive Season!), so instead I thought I'd wake up properly to the merry twinkling lights on the Christmas Tree.  However, the briefest of flickers was all I was allowed before they 'popped' and twinkled their last! 

To be fair, I'm a bit of a baa-humbug so it was quite nice to dismantle it all, pop the broken lights into the bin, the decorations back in their box, put the tree (all 2ft of it!) into its bag and return it all back to the loft for the next 49 weeks! 

This early morning 'de-christmasing' had me dashing up n down the stairs for a couple of hours 'pottering' around the house and finding all sorts of 'recycling' to put out for the bin men next week.  Two big recycling bags later and I've got quite a tidy house - for a change!

All this was an attempt to stop me clock-watching as I'm also waiting for a 3 deliveries of sorts today.

1. Fabric Haul
2. Yarn for knitting project
3. Food delivery in preparation of my family coming over for New Years Day

I'd also got a text message from a friend first thing with some not totally unexpected news and who will be in need of a shoulder to cry on (I'm good at that) over the next few weeks, and offered her an 'open-door' over the next few days.

I was also invited out to lunch with my niece and my godson - which I've had to decline while I wait for my deliveries. This is disappointing as I rarely get invited to lunch with lunch and it would have been nice...still, I should be seeing them on New Years Day.

Then, just as I settled down with a cup of coffee and my last slice of chocolate cake at midday, there was a knock at the door.

In front of me stood a very jolly looking postman, parcel in hand - I'm not sure who was most pleased to see whom!  It was quite a heavy parcel (considering he was having to carry it around in his post bag!) so I think he was very happy I was in so he wouldn't have to lug it around the rest of his route and take it back to the sorting office! 

I'm now the proud owner of 4 different fabrics:

top left: 8 Wale Cotton Corduroy - black
top right: Broad Stripe Stretch Jersey - ivory/marl grey
bottom left: Floral Viscose - blue
bottom right: Circles print poly sateen - brown, aqua & cream.

I've already got plans for the black Corduroy - another Kwik Sew A-line skirt for work, and I'm thinking about making a longer sleeved version of my Christmas Day dress (New Look pattern) with the Floral Viscose....probably...maybe...its sooooo comfy but not entirely sure this very soft fabric will work....I need to give it more thought.

The Circle print poly sateen goes exceptionally well with the tan corduroy skirt I made the other day....so that will almost certainly be turned into a coordinating top of some kind.

And then about 40 minutes later my next parcel arrived - much lighter yet delivered in a van by a much less jolly man! 

I've now got my wool - King Cole Riot in Dude to knit up another King Cole 3316 V neck jumper/tunic.  I knitted it only a couple of months ago in Domino colour and loved it, however, it shrunk horribly in its first wash (and I'd followed the washing instructions faithfully! - I suspect my washing machine might be (is) on the blink) so I thought I'd try it again but HANDWASH it only! The yarn was on offer at Deramores so its everso slightly less painful ... slightly! 

Once its knitted up, it should go very well with the black corduroy skirt shouldn't it?!

Just as well I declined my lunch offer as I'd have been sad to miss this lastest delivery, its not often I'm home during the day and 'courier' deliveries are so difficult to re-arrange!  So, all in all, a very good day for me so far...just one more delivery to go and that's been booked for 6pm, just enough time to start casting on...

And a very Happy New Year to anyone who happens to read this!!!! roll on 2017

 
 

Well, that's put a small spanner in the works...

While I'm busy lounging around the place doing nothing very much in particular over my Christmas break, I thought I'd do something I've never done before, and pre-wash a whole bundle of fabric ready for sewing up into various bits n pieces over the next few weeks.

What a good little beginner seamstress!

Oh my goodness, just how pleased am I that I did.

Amongst the bundle was 2 meters of black and white polka dot polycotton, stiff as a board before washing, and beautifully soft after.

The only problem was the awful marks left ....

I know they don't show up too well in the photo, but trust me they are there...lots of spidery white crease marks.

I've checked the washing instructions and they were followed to the letter.  The only thing I didn't properly read when I placed the order, was the best use for the fabric - craft, children's wear, costume and theatrical wear, patchwork....  but not dressmaking!  ooops

Should have paid far more attention to that - my bad.

So, its unlikely that I'll be using this fabric to make the shirt I had planned - but hopefully, when I take delivery of my next (and eagerly anticipated) fabric order from good ole Minerva Crafts, it'll have the black corduroy in, which I'm hoping to make up into another A line work skirt....and I might just pop some black and white polka dot insert pockets into it .... got plenty of fabric after all, and it just goes to show how important it is to PRE-WASH fabric...can't tell you how annoyed I'd be if I'd done my usual - leap in and make something - only to find that it would be ruined on its first wash!!! 

A good lesson learnt.

Hark, is that the sound of one's own trumpet blowing?!

Why yes, I believe it is!!!

So I took delivery of a lovely bundle of goodies from Minerva Crafts a few weeks ago after deciding I wanted to make my Christmas Day outfit this year.  I'd bought the November issue of SEW magazine a few days earlier and it had a free New Look K6411 pattern that I knew was just the dress I'd been looking for.

I measured myself up (taking into consideration the amount of 'merry making' that was going to happen between starting the sewing project and actually wearing the finished article on Christmas Day!) and plumped for the size 16.  I was probably nudging an 18 on the waist and hip, but only a 13 at the bust (almost a perfect pear!) but as the pattern gives some ease and considering there are no darts, so the least 'fitted' dress I've ever made, I thought a 16 the best bet.

I used approximately 2m of the beautiful beige/blue tartan with appliqued rose detailing and gave myself a headache worrying about 'pattern matching' .... which I should have realised far sooner wasn't going to be a problem at all, considering all the lovely vertical and horizontal straight lines given in a tartan pattern!!! - fool !!!!

I've never really given too much (any) consideration to pattern matching in the past, either because I've used plain fabric, or, such 'busy' material that pattern matching becomes obsolete!  So I can't begin to explain how chuffed I am at the finished result of this dress.  Other than a couple of tiny 'sewing' wobbles, the pattern matching on this dress is almost 100% bang on, even down the to the front and back seams of the raglan sleeve - who knew successful pattern matching could be so satisfying?! 

I opted for a shorter sleeve and what a good decision that turned out to be, Christmas Day down here in Kent was unbelievably mild, not at all cold, I think I might have melted had I done longer sleeves.

This dress was a pure pleasure to sew, simple, quick and in my humble little opinion, looks pretty darn good!  

 look at that awesome back seam pattern-matching

 comfiest dress with Christmas Day eating 'growing' room

 with my handknitted Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed scarf - just in case the weather turned more festively chilly - it didn't!

In fact, I'm so happy with this dress that I'm going to make at least one or two more for work.  I've got to work out in my head how to 'tweak' the pattern so it fits better across my back shoulder (I'm quite narrow...) or maybe I just need to 'tweak' my festive eating and drinking habits so I can grade the pattern down to the size 12 - 14 at the bust ?!?! In a fabric with a bit of stretch....just in case I relapse - it is my birthday in January after all.

because I thought I'd have some spare time....

Work has been 'challenging' the last 12 months, and 'tricky' the last 6.

But that's a long and boring story to go into here (and I won't stop once I get started!!!), so a couple of weeks ago, and thinking that I'd need something to wear over Christmas, but didn't want to spend a fortune (tricky job situation means I'm busy squirreling away as much of my salary as I can possibly manage in anticipation of very 'iffy' times ahead!), so I decided that I'd make an outfit.

A loose shift style dress crossed my mind ... room to grow during all the Christmas day food-fest ... and bizarrely, the perfect pattern was in the November issue of 'Sew' magazine.

I also decided I wanted 'tartan' somewhere in my outfit and came across the perfect thing on Minerva Crafts online shop.

Now, let me just explain that in my head I'm a domestic goddess with oodles of time on my hands and nothing better else to do with this spare time than to make clothes that will hopefully fit !!! 

So last week, I took delivery of 3 meters of this beautiful tartan fabric - for the loose shift dress idea, 3 meters of corduroy fabric - for a vague 'jacket' idea to go with the dress, 3 meters of fabric to try out the 'Sassy Skater Skirt' pattern also in the Sew Magazine, and 5 balls of Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed wool to knit myself a new winter scarf (Stylecraft pattern free the other year courtesy of a previous order from Deramores).

The scarf is coming a treat, which is saying something for a committed 'stocking stitch' only knitter...

 I'm actually quite a bit on from this...2.5 balls of wool in ... but being the novice that I am with all the Sl St, k2tog, PSSO, yf etc etc and on a 8 row repeat, I'm still having to concentrate....which I've found 'difficult' with 'I'm a Celebrity' having started!!! (My guilty secret pleasure!!!... I don't watch much telly, and virtually no other 'reality' type guff) so I only manage to get a few rows in during the ad breaks!!! .... hopefully I'll get it finished before Christmas...but it'll be tight.!

I've actually just had 2 days off work, so with some very useful daylight hours NOT spent at my desk, I've made the 'Sassy Skater Skirt' from the November Sew Magazine.

I drafted the pattern as instructed, and I'm soooooooo pleased how easy it was to sew up (only 1 silly mistake on my part with the waistband that needed unpicking and re-doing) and it had its first maiden outing today with an impromptu trip to Canterbury with my Mum and Sister for 'lunch'....which actually turned in to a bit of a Christmas Gift buying expedition!!! (I've never been so organised!!!...I don't usually start my Christmas till December, so this seemed ridiculously early...still....the outfit looked great, got complimented, didn't fall to pieces (always a bonus when you're out in public) and I'm definitely going to make more...they make a perfect work skirt, and with the elasticated waist....plenty of Christmas food/treats/drinks 'growing' room!!!!

So, all in all, a pretty successful couple of days off.... now to measure up and cut out the Christmas Day Dress pattern !!!!
 

heartbreakingly generous...

So yesterday I made that rather glorious Mocca Chocca Sponge cake.

I posted a photo of it on my FB page where a couple of work colleagues commented on how nice it looked and how much they liked to eat Mocca Chocca Sponge cake on a Monday morning at work....

I took the hint and made a mental count of how many of us are in on a Monday (we've recently 'merged' teams and there are a variety of Full Timers & Part Timers (who all work different days!), we've also got some people on Annual Leave and one person currently off sick... so cut off seven slices, wrapped them up and popped them into a carry box.

Now, its been a 'challenging' time at work for the last few months and stress levels are quite high.  

This morning at 7.30am I left home for what I hoped would be a better week... once I'd battled my way through heavy rain, strong gusty wind and finally managed to get my car to one of Canterbury's Park n Rides, hopped on a waiting bus, walked from the City Centre to my office!

I staggered into the office at 8.20am and noticed that our Co-Ordinator was already busy tapping away at her pc... 

"Morning" I chirped... a grunt was offered in reply.
"Did you have a nice day off on Friday?" I continued... another grunt.

So, having had the conversation killed and no eye-contact made, I gave up, made a mental note that there was to be no improvement on the stress levels, popped on my headphones and listened to BBC News (drone on and on about the Trump/Clinton last day of campaigning - and that's a whole nother horror story!!!) until I was due to start work at 8.45am.

I think we made it to 10.30am before I finally caved in, tore myself away from a never ending report with a ridiculous deadline, picked up the box of Mocca Chocca sponge slices and offered them to the girls.

It was only when I got to our bad tempered Co-Ordinator (who was able to make eye contact and offer more than a grunt at the prospect of a slice of cake!) that I realised we had called in another member of staff to help us out - AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH  

There were EIGHT of us in the office !!!!!!

 All slices of my beautifully moist, mocca chocca sponge cake were speedily dispatched, with some lovely comments on how light and tasty it was....

I was left looking at an empty lunch box, a cold cuppa and report that wasn't going to deal with itself!!!

#sigh
#heartbreak
 

NOTHING in my wardrobe fits.....

ever since I bought my Dualit toaster (as a birthday treat in January) I've piled on the lbs .... (nearly 20 of them actually!).

It's all down to the doorstep size slices of bread that been toasted by the loaf, the packets of croissants and pain au chocolat's  that's been warmed on the warming rack and muffins, crumpets (and the list goes on...)

and all of these scrumptious goodies generally need a nice thick coating of gorgeous, thicken your arteries, butter!!!

So, I really shouldn't be surprised that I've got up at least 2 dress sizes since this time last year!  Virtually nothing fits.  I've made a variety of 'tops' over the last 12 months and they fit, but its the hip n waist that have received and held onto the excess poundage! So I'm struggling to fit into my 'bottom' half separates! 

I've just finished the hugest pile of ironing and I'm now chilling on the sofa watching Food Network cook awesome Festive Food (its only 6th November for goodness sake!) and I'm drooling over all of it and wondering how I'm going to be the size of house, no ... a grand regal palace by the time New Year gets here.

I'm feeling irritable and uncomfortable in my non-elasticated 'bottoms' and to console myself, I've just finished making this beauty .... 

a Mocca-Chocca sponge cake with chocolate spread filling and a dusting of cocoa powder on top!!!! (with the toaster in the background that has been the cause of such 'blue' feelings!!)

The healthy eating begins next weekend!!! :-D

Happy Sunday y'all 

well, finally....

It might have taken me a couple of months, but I've actually found a few minutes to update my little blog!!!

It's been so ridiculously busy with work that I can't even begin to describe how spectacularly I failed with the Simplicity Sewing Challenge deadline! 

The dress was finally finished two weekends ago...

As for this pattern...
Well, its called 'an amazing fit' pattern...and I suppose, on the whole it would be.

The only problem with the 'fitting' part of it, is that you kinda need a second pair of hands to help out with the pinning/adjusting...and it was borderline impossible, no, it WAS impossible to do that single-handedly, and living on my own, and being stupidly busy at work and weekends recently, meant that I couldn't plan for any 'help'...I'd still be waiting to finish it if I'd done that!

I also found the instructions on how to make adjustments virtually incomprehensible - this might be more to do with my lack of sewing skills rather than any instruction flaw, but it still meant that I kinda gave up on the 'amazing fit' side of the things and plumped for just finishing it and hoping for the best!

Gotta say, this theory didn't turn out too bad!!! The back could do with some 'tweaking' but other than that, not too shabby.  It's not the style of dress I would normally go for, but is comfy enough for pottering round the house of a weekend...

 finished article...with a little bit of 'styling' :-)

 all pin out and ready for the chop

  basted n pinned to within an inch of its life...

 having tailors dummy was useful but not flawless....could've done with a second pair of hands to do the 'adjusting'

Overall, it was fun to do, but I don't think I'll make any more....at this time...just not really my style...

a spare 30 mins....

Well, isn't this madness...

Half way through my 2nd week of Annual Leave and only just found some time to sit down with my Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016 pattern (that was delivered the other week) - Simplicity 1458 - and work out what goodies are required.

Half hour surfing through Minerva Crafts and fabric, thread, zip and interfacing all ordered (as well as some additional fabric for a top....don't know what top yet, but you know how it is!!).  I've even paid for 48 hr delivery as I'll be back to work next week and won't be around to sign for it :-) 

Now all I need do it get started!!! 

Maxine n Steve's wedding ....

Happy Sunday!

Well, the dress got worn on Friday to Maxine and Steve's wedding... a shameful lack of photo's of me in the dress (I'm not too keen on being snapped...) so I pinched this off my neice (who's on the right...my cousin Tom is on the left).

Soooooo, pleased how it turned out - I wasn't able to make a belt (lack of plain navy blue cotton!) but a mad dash to C&H Fabrics in Canterbury once I'd finished work Friday lunchtime, and hey presto, a navy blue ribbon does the trick - I knew I wanted it to hang the length of the skirt, but I was still disappointed to discover that 3 meters was enough (with only a couple of inches 'leftover')...deffo back on the diet this week!!!! 

 Tom, me and Liz

I was a brave girl, and ventured out into the garden this afternoon to take a photo of me in the dress....had to wait all day for the wind to drop and for the slight drizzle to stop, and what do you know, the cloud lifted just a few minutes after Andy Murray won Wimbledon!!! 

This is my favourite 'make' of the year....possibly ever!  In fact, I love it so much that I've spent most of the afternoon with my head in the washing machine to extract a bra underwire that had worked its way out of the washing machine drum, broken 2 of the 3 lifters and poked though one of the washing machine holes and punctured holes into various tops .... I don't want that to happen to this lovely dress!!! 

 Shameless posing in the garden - luckily no one could see me!

 without the tie belt... will buy some pillar box red ribbon to wear with this as an alternative (and I've got some beautiful red shoes that would go a treat too)

hmmmmmm idle fingers...and a head full of decisions

So, the party dress is done....I had given some consideration to making a navy blue fabric tie/belt to finish it off, however, a quick trip to C&H Fabrics on Monday left me a little dumbfounded that there was NONE!!!???!!!! 

I don't have time to order some from any of the online stockists so I'll just have to do without. :-(  

This has meant that I've got idle fingers....wasn't too much of a problem last night, what with it being the last episode of this seasons Great British Sewing Bee, but I've found myself 'prowling' round the house feeling agitated tonight wondering what I should do next.

I've seen a very nice designer blouse on an online designer clothes outlet ... but....no way on this sweet earth can I afford to spend £500+ on a top!!! don't care how nice the silk crepe is...

So, as I've drafted various other items over the last 12 months (yes alright, little half aprons, christmas decorations and one wrap-a-round skirt isn't exactly gonna set the world of fashion alight, but a novice has to start somewhere right?...) I thought I'd have a go at making my own semi-similar/inspired version.

Being the poor ex-student that I am, and working at a place where oodles of staff have been placed under 'consultation' .... I couldn't afford anything too grand, especially as I'm not even sure I'll be able to draft a suitable pattern...so I've bought 3 meters of poly-crepe from the lovely Minerva Crafts that was delivered to me at the weekend, with a view to making up over the next few weekends.

Then it occurred to me this evening, I've still not received my pattern for the Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016.  I kinda thought I'd have it by now...if it doesn't turn up soon I'm not too sure I'll be able to complete it in time, and that would be a shame as I was quite looking forward to having a go :-(

Has anyone else had their pattern and/or started sewing ???? (not that I'm expecting to hear from any fellow competitors...not exactly sure anyone ever reads this blog!!!)

any hooooo.... just idle thoughts while I have idle fingers and a head full of decisions to make :-D

 

all but done...

It's done!!! 

Spent the best part of the day yesterday pinning, pressing, machine edging, turning, re-pinning, re-pressing and hand stitching the hem(s) on my 'Maxines-Wedding-Ceremony-and-Reception-Party-Dress'.

That's hand stitching the hem of a full circle skirt & lining.  My hands feel like it was equivalent to the circumference of the planet...!

I spent the rest of the evening and some of this morning contemplating a net 'underskirt' or petticoat.

My dilemma was that its that stiff net so ideally I wanted it go in between the lining and dress fabric, as it would be too scratchy next to my legs...especially if I were to wear tights...which is highly likely with my motley legs...and this is Summer in Blighty afterall !!!

My secondary dilemma is that, ideally, I wanted it to be removable - its not every day that I want to wear so many layers. 

However, after careful consideration (and lack of patience!) I decided to do a basic 'gather and attach' job on it.

Luckily, I never got round to 'trimming the excess' fabric where the bodice and skirt were attached, so I had some seam allowance to sew the net to.

All you proper dressmakers, seamstresses and sewers would cringe at my cowboy job...however, I'm sooooooo pleased with the result.

A very 'subtle' net layer that gives the dress just the right amount of 'poof' .... 

It's finished.

It fits.

It hanging up ready for the big day (5 more sleeps!!) 

I'm ridiculously pleased with it.

I'm sitting here with a banging headache from such 'close work' and contemplating popping to C&H Fabrics in Canterbury tomorrow to see if I can buy some navy blue cotton to make a tie belt... we'll see.

 not a very good photo, but trust me...it looks much better on!

Shoes, bag and wrap all sorted....hope to get some nicer photos of me actually wearing it!!! 

Maxine's Wedding Reception Party Dress....

A last minute late afternoon phone call from my fence erectors meant that I had a random day off work on Friday...with a 7:45am start, which on a normal day would mean a 15 minute lay in, however I was up until 1.30am watching the start of the EU Referendum votes come in, and awake again at 4.50am to see how it was coming along - lets just say it didn't go the way I voted but I wasn't too surprised or shocked.  

What I was more shocked about was a random 'FB Chat' my sister had with our family Bride to be, who casually threw into the conversation that family should be at the venue for 5.30pm for a 'twilight' ceremony.   Errmmmmm, Maxine, you've sent us 'Evening Reception' invites...for 7.30pm!!!

A few phone calls later and we discover B.T.B had sent out the wrong invites to all her Aunts and Uncles...she was 14 days away from having no family turn up to the actual wedding!!! 

So, while the fence erectors started on my new fence at 8am, I started on finishing my Once-Maxine's-Wedding-Reception-Party-Dress-now-Maxine's-Wedding-Ceremony-and-Reception-Party-Dress!!!! 

The dress skirt lining was cut out and attached to the dress bodice lining, then at this point I didn't fully understand the pattern instructions..I was being asked to attach the lining to the dress at the waist...which I did (but quite possibly not as instructed!!), no matter, as it works!

Finally, to insert the concealed zip, again, I couldn't really make head nor tails out of the pattern instructions (unpicked previously sewn seams...???) so I inserted it my way...and although I'm not too good at putting in zips, I'm quite please with the finished result :-D

More importantly, I've tried it on and its a very near perfect fit...possibly a little too 'snug' around the bust/arm hole, and maybe a bit 'long' in the back bodice (but I've no real idea how to deal with that next time!) but on the whole, very VERY pleased with it.

Now its just ''hanging" around while the fabric relaxes/drops/whatever it does before I tackle miles of hemming!!! 

Maybe not the most perfect concealed zip int he world, but nothing a good press won't sort...and look at that amazing bit of pattern matching...wwwwaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy more luck than judgement...and it is only that one flower :-D

Hanging about 'relaxing' before the hemming begins....and there's a lot of it.  oooo and notice that nice new fence and gate in the background :-D

Luckily, the Fence men were one fence post short, so they need to come back on Monday to finish up...which means I've got another day off work...which should give me just enough time to deal with the hem...

If only the EU Referendum result was so easy to deal with?!

something to attempt in July...

Sewing Challenge

Sewing Challenge



aiming for a successful 'best dressmaker' entry  ... fingers crossed

what have I done ?!?!

Friday, 17 June 2016

it seemed a good idea at the time...

I've been an avid GBSB (Great British Sewing Bee for those of you who don't know...is there anyone???) viewer since series one.  

From that first A line skirt pattern challenge on episode 1, series 1, to this weeks 60's inspired Jackets on episode 5 of series 4, I sat (sprawled) on the sofa, watching in amazement that people can read a pattern and understand it.  

They might not 'follow' this pattern, but they at least know what 'understiching' is and how to complete this task!!! Every time I see this written on a pattern I head straight over to the lap top, type it in and hope that someone, somewhere, in the virtual world (usually YouTube!!) has provided me with explanations and demonstrations so I can complete the project I'm working on.  Why is it that I can NEVER remember this?!  I mean 'topstitching' I get, but understitiching...every time my initial thought is ' urrrmmmmmmm ' 

Watching it has over the last few years encouraged me to dig out my very old sewing machine, I've had it at least 30 years and up until GBSB had made a selection of curtains for my first home (about 26 years ago!), some soft toys for my very young bridesmaids (about 23 years ago) and 2 waistcoats!!! that's it!!!

Since GBSB, I've made a few skirts, a few dresses, a pair of trousers and lots of summer tops... only the tops fit as I've had no real idea how to 'fit' garments properly.  I say 'properly', I actually mean 'at all' !!!! 

So this week, while watching GBSB and the twittersphere I stumbled across 

http://www.simplicitynewlook.com/sewingchallenge

I've applied, received a very lovely and friendly email back, and now eagerly await my pattern so I can join in!!! 

it seemed a good idea at the time!!!!    WATCH THIS SPACE !!!!!

well...no one else will be wearing this outfit....unlike the last wedding!

Finally managed to pin down a whole day to myself to get started on 'Maxine's Wedding Reception Dress'.

Tiny bit of background to this dress:

Last year I went to my cousin April's wedding, and as I arrived at the venue, my Aunt came running over giggling away as we'd worn exactly the same outfit!!!  A layered blue number from Next.

This year, I don't intend for the same thing to happen again (my Aunt and I are a similar age and similar taste!) so, I decided some months ago to make my own outfit.

I finally decided to give the Butterick 5748 pattern a go.  I've seen it quite a bit on different Social Media and blogs and it looks pretty good on all shapes n sizes (which is helpful in my case).  

I then spent quite some time waiting for the right fabric to come along.  I'm determined to wear my Irregular Choice Girly Pearly shoes - as they're soooo 'weddingy'.  So when I saw the 'Cornflower Frenzy' cotton poplin at Clothspot, I couldn't believe my luck with its perfectness, and promptly ordered 4 meters of it.
 

This duly arrived nice and prompt two days later, which was fab.  However, since it was delivered I've had zero time to even think about getting the sewing machine out.  I did manage a quick toile a couple of weekends ago (I say quick...it took me 10 hours not to finish it!!) and it became clear that, thanks to the Dualit toaster I bought myself as a birthday treat this year, and the subsequent never ending bread and pastry products I've toasted and warmed on it, I was never going to fit into the size 14 pattern I'd cut out.    Ooops! 

My sewing skills are somewhat limited and my pattern drafting/altering is pretty much non-existent, so I spent about a week trying to work out how and where I could add 2 inches to the waist ... and considering Butterick 5748 is a lined and fitted bodice on a full skirt, there seemed to be only one solution...5/8 inch on each side seam...well, I think its worked??!!??

Finally, today, I've managed to pin and cut out the fabric (and the bodice lining) and after a couple of hours of slow, meticulous, not deviating from the pattern instructions at all (this involved a few trips to Google to find out how to 'understitch' ... seriously, why can I NEVER get this simple instruction to make sense in my head without seeing it on the internet first?! ... and lots of pressing.

                                                                   front of bodice

                                                             back of bodice


I may only have a completed lined bodice, but I'm really pleased with it!!!! just hope the rest goes as well...in the limited time I have left !!!! ....2 weekends !!! eeeek !!!!