Nikki's Stitches

An All Blacks Scarf

2012-02-17T09:20:00.000Z

OK, so this scarf isn't for me or for Mr N, it's for a teddy bear!

Mr N has a ted (his name is Ted) which was given to him by his mother not long before she passed away. Ted is important and very special, since he brings back fond memories.

When we were packing to come over to New Zealand, we decided that Ted was important enough and portable enough for him to stay behind and then travel over with us instead of going in the container. So Ted has now been to Las Vegas, Boulder, CO and San Francisco. (I will admit that now if I have a slight homesick moment and Mr N isn't around I have a teddy bear to cuddle! I don't care if I'm too old to admit that! :-) ) I have to say, he was quite an eye opener on our journey over! The Air New Zealand staff were brilliant though even offering baby harnesses for him! :-)

Ted (with his old red scarf) and Mr N at Los Angeles International!

Anyway, we have full residency visas in our passports and it was decided that Ted should have his own silver fern, so I made him a new scarf!

I downloaded a silver fern image from the net and traced the ouline on tissue paper (the only tissue I have here in NZ is some I got when I bought some shoes the other day, hence the logos!)

Silver fern image

I used some black velvet from a sample in my stash. Using an embroidery hoop, I followed round the edge of the pattern with back stitch.

Once I had an outline, I removed the tissue paper to leave just this outline of the silver fern on the black velvet.

Now to fill in the blanks!

I wasn't sure whether to fill in the fern with satin stitch or some other way. In the end I went for some kind of feather-type stitch. Now I'm no embroiderer, so I don't know the names of all the stitches and I certainly won't win prizes for the finished fern, but it looks good from a distance!

Some of the fronds came out better than others.

So to finish off, I had to straight stitch by hand the length of the fabric in the absence of a sewing machine. (You can guess one of my first jobs once my machine materialises!) Anyway, we now have a very proud bear with his own silver fern!

Say hello Ted to all your followers! :-)

PS Last time I checked, our container was somewhere in the China Sea, it's certainly going the long way round! Oh and I start work on Monday, new job, new country... It's going to be a bit strange - wish me luck!

I sew grateful for...

2012-02-11T06:33:00.002Z

Well I didn't think I was going to be able to participate in this Sew Grateful week, the last few weeks have been so different and quite an upheaval in some ways.

The last post was written in the UK in the winter and now I'm writing this from our amazing new apartment in Wellington, New Zealand. We're now right at the beginning of the world's day and it's strange reading some of the posts which have giveaways (I have to really think what time it is!)

We've been here just under two weeks and I love it. The city is fantastic, it's small, compact and bijou and everyone is sew friendly (geddit!) :-) Yes, I've had a couple of moments when I miss my friends back in the UK, especially those I sang with and saw frequently and those at work. Others, it's not quite so bad, as we often communicated by email. Sometimes that email is now quicker because I write in the evening and they write in the evening, we're only 13 hours apart and not 24!! (If that makes sense?) Mornings are fun, it's when I pick up most of my messages so far, which is a real brightener, particularly if you're not a morning person!

So how am I being sew grateful? Well, although I've not been able to sew with my machines since December (our container should get here by the middle of March), I've had the whole sewing blogisphere to keep me going throughout this time. We don't have broadband, so only one PC is running the Internet, so sometimes it's a fight to get to it (I've got it now!!) Ha ha! But I have managed to read so many of your posts to cheer me up and keep me going until that machine arrives (it's got past Somalia, so I'm hoping we're OK!)

I'm sew grateful for all your posts, Did you make that? has given me two points on the Map of Snoods (and more importantly got me knitting again!), I won a giveaway from Finally Waking Up, Lazy Stitching introduced me to some of her Kiwi friends, who in turn (the Curious Kiwi) has linked me to a sewing group meeting once a month to chat about sewing, etc, etc.

I also want to mention a couple of people here in Wellington who've helped out... Charlotte, who met us on the first day and has taken us under her wing, telling us all about the formal stuff we needed, applying for an IRD, etc, etc and finding our apartment. And Jenny, a friend from my choir in the UK, who moved out a couple of years ago and has been a star taking us shopping and inviting us for lunch and telling me all about the choirs I should join.

Both of them have shown me some fabric shops, which I think I might be frequenting quite soon!!

Discount fabrics: this mainly stocks upholstery and furnishing fabrics (might need new curtains!!) and an amazing collection of buttons...

Sorry it's gone sideways and I can't turn it round (any ideas??)

Global fabrics: oh, such a lovely selection of knits, linens and the finest cottons around! Mainly plain colours, but such a selection of plain colours.

A bead shop in Cuba Street: I've never seen so many! Mind you, I've since seen a larger store in Petone!!

There were more than this on each side of the store!

A craft shop near Cuba Street, loads of embroidery threads to keep me happy!

A knitting shop, also off Cuba Street (this is the happening part of town) with loads and loads of wool, not to mention a lovely selection of sewing machines...

Surely enough wool to keep anyone happy?

A Singer 160 Anniversary machine, $959 is about £500

Finally, the Spotlight store (I've signed up for their VIP club already!!)

There is still apparently another fabric shop for me to check out! Help! Will I ever have any money left?

And for those who are wondering... I did get the job I was interviewed for! I'm hoping to start work on 20th February as a Collection Management Librarian for the National Library of New Zealand! Yipee!! I'm excited and can't wait! (Mind you, I can't wait until March and our container arrives with our furniture and my sewing machines!!)

Thanks Debi, I'm Sew Grateful :-)

Belated Happy New Year!

2012-01-13T10:58:00.000Z

Well, I had thought I'd be back before this, but life is so hectic and busy at the moment, that I've just no time for anything! [That's what it seems like anyway!]

Christmas at Mum's was great. We had a really good time and it was definitely a "merry" Christmas. :-) It was funny listening to my family all saying how difficult it was to buy small and portable presents for us!

I was so hoping to get some time to finish off a couple of UFOs which I deliberately left out of my belongings going on the container, but that didn't happen and so they are still UFOs and will remain so for a couple of months to come... :-( However, I have managed to make one thing... I joined the merry throng and have bought a couple of pairs of knitting needles and used the wool I bought on Goldhawk Road when I went back in November and have made the infamous snood as first mentioned on Did you make that's blog!

Now I think the last time I knitted something was about 25 years ago and trying to remember even how to cast on was interesting, but I'm pleased with my efforts. I'll get no prizes for tension or anything like that, but my snood is cosy and warm and brilliant when it's windy!

I've kept a few me made items back, but I'm decidedly lacking with warm me made clothes, so they will only come out for special occasions or warm days! So for one special occasion out came the following:

Each year we hold a Burn's Night Supper and it's normally the full affair with speeches, dressing up in black tie, etc. We held ours last Saturday the day after 12th night, so we relaxed the Burn's Night stuff (no speeches) and had 12th night presents instead! It was still a brilliant night. Even the wee timorous beastie (ie the haggis) was finished! Normally we have some left which I can turn into Balmoral Chicken or have with baked beans and mash, but not this year!

I wore a dress I made eighteen months ago. This is a pattern from Prima magazine. The original pattern I think was for a wedding dress, but I decided it would be fun to have a red dress. It's got a red cotton lining and a red sheer fabric on top. I went for a cotton lining because it's cooler in the summer than polyester. I can't show you the patten, since that's in the container, I'll endeavour to put up a photo once it arrives. In the meantime here are some photos! The tarten stole I made from some lovely tartan silk I found in John Lewis. I've used a brooch to pleat it in the middle to sit comfortably on my shoulder.

So... that's about the limit of my sewing so far. I'm really missing not having a sewing machine. It was my form of relaxation. But thinking about it, I've had so much other things to think about, sewing just wouldn't have got done!

So this will be my last post for a few weeks I think, plus I think very few comments will be made on other blogs, an enforced absence of a couple of weeks. 99% of our belongings have already gone sailing away. The remainder I need to pack into suitcases to take with us, some to go in cargo and the rest to stay behind. We finally leave the UK next Tuesday and after a few nights in the USA seeing friends and partying in Vegas we will arrive in our final destination on 31st January.

My next post will be written from our new home 12,000 miles away in Wellington, New Zealand. Am I scared? Yes, definitely apprehensive. Both of us are yet to find work, but at least I have an interview!

So here's to safe journeys and new beginnings!

I'm still here!

2011-12-21T14:40:00.000Z

Hi folks all

I'm still here after a slightly enforced absence.

We've finally sold our house and the international removals have taken 99% of our belongings (including my sewing machine!) I've plenty to keep me out of mischief without using the sewing machine, but am certainly missing it. I've kept back a couple of projects to see if I can finish off at Mum's when we go up at the end of the week. Hopefully I'll be able to post about those after Christmas.

In the meantime we're in rented accommodation temporarily relying on dongles for Internet access. So not much Internet gets used at home now! I've resorted to doing things on my laptop tapping into our free wi-fi at work!

I did, however, get a lovely parcel through the post...

It even came with a Christmas card!

At the end of November I commented on a free giveaway on Finally Waking Up's blog and won. Poor Anna has been unwell and the parcel didn't arrive until last week. However, it did mean I got a lovely parcel for Christmas. I hope you're feeling better Anna? I've got a lovely brand new copy of Onion 2031. I can't wait to give the pattern a go once I'm 12,000 miles away from where I am now and my sewing machine is connected up once more!

Also included was a poster with all the other Onion patterns. There are some fantastic patterns on there. I think I might have to learn Danish very quickly! The Onion site has an introduction in English, but everything else in in Danish. It certainly is a site to go in my favourites...

So in the meantime, I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and I'll be back in the New Year!

The great November Goldhawk Road meet-up

2011-11-23T22:49:00.001Z

Last Saturday seven intrepid sewing bloggers met up at Goldhawk Road tube station to discuss fabrics, patterns, books and generally get frustrated with so much lovely fabric and not enough cash to buy it with!

Organised by Stevie, I finally got to meet her, Dibs, Santie, Alana, Steph and Claire (who came as adviser to all, making sure we spent our cash wisely, encouraging us on our purchases!)

Strangely, I didn't take a group photo, apart from this one...

Cocktail anyone??

We started along one side, Santie being so organised as to bring a shopping list! After a couple of shops, bump Dibs was asking for food, so out came the chocolate to tie Mum and bump over until lunch. Lots of lovely fabrics, so many ideas and thoughts, but what to buy. I went with only a little cash and a determination no to buy much.

Lunch in Vesbar, cocktails and lots of chips! So far so good, I've still not bought anything, although I've seen plenty!

Mm, lunch over and back along the other side and perhaps the cocktail wasn't the best idea... In the first shop we go and downstairs while Dibs buys some gorgeous jersey, I see some lovely ~~fluorescent orange vest fabric~~, oops, plaid/tartan. There's only one a half metres, but I have to have it (no of course I don't mind paying the cost for a metre!) Not sure what I'll get from it yet, what do you think?

After drooling over silk galore we head on down towards the tube again. I thought I'd made my singular purchase, but no, while browsing materials with Claire in one shop, while she hunted for something specific, I spied this...

I don't think the photo has come out very well, but it's a lovely soft denim, a grey colour with the applique already applied. It's slightly stretchy too. I'm itching to get it cut out and made up, but it must wait for now, I've enough to be getting on with! I've got two metres, originally planning to make a skirt with a basque, but I'm wondering if I might be able to get a half circle???

So finally, we reach the dizzy heights of Shepherd's Bush market. No I won't buy anything here, although I was sorely tempted by the green polycotton at a bargain price which the others bought. No I'll be good... That is, until we find the stall with loads of haberdashery... The big buttons were brilliant (did you get any Claire?), then I got carried away... After seeing Karen's post about the snood, I felt I had to start knitting again. It possibly didn't help with Dibs wearing her snood... I saw this wool and had to have it, convincing Dibs to buy her own, I only wish I'd got the green too. Oh well, I'll have a lovely pink snood once I've bought some needles (yep, I've decided that I need needles to actually knit something!)

What a day, my poor purse felt decidedly depleted (OK, not really, since I think my lunch cost as much as the fabric!)

I'm so glad I went along, I managed to meet some of the UK bloggers before escaping the country for pastures green. I met a blogger from the country I'm heading to as well! Saying goodbye was sad, but reminded me of a nursery rhyme, as to me it felt like we were losing a person one by one on the tube until I got to King's Cross!

To finish, I felt I had to investigate the lego tree at St Pancras, mainly to check they'd built it properly and also to go back to where we'd sung the Beethoven at the beginning of the month.

Yep, OK, I reckon it'll pass!

So thanks Stevie for organising the meet up last Saturday. I'll get my fabrics made up once I've unpacked the sewing machine!! :-)

Sewing and little singing...

2011-11-02T17:48:00.000Z

Very little sewing has got done in the past few weeks, but I've been busy in other ways...

I've been wanting to learn about pattern drafting having been encouraged by drafting Sew Country Chick's pencil skirt and how that seems to be working. I've drafted the pieces and have put together a muslin. I know it's meant to be made in similar fabric to the finished version, but... The first muslin was decidedly too big around the waist at the front. Not sure why, I've checked, double-checked and triple-checked my measurements and the instructions and still can't work it out. So I've taken in the front darts more and now have a workable muslin which fits.

Mm, methinks my mirror needs a clean!!

I've even managed to cut out the fabric and lining. This lovely woven fabric and lining I found at Goldhawk Road when I went in September.

I've also been trying to finish off Colette Patterns Voilet blouse. I'll hopefully be able to post about this soon. I daren't start too many projects, they'll never get finished, plus I have a tight timescale at the moment (it's a big secret which hopefully I can let you know about soon!) No you won't convince me to tell...

So to help me with pattern drafting, I've been into London today. I treated myself to a trip to MacCulloch and Wallis. I really didn't know what to expect. It was like an Aladdin's Cave with basic shelving and boxes crammed full of haberdashery, materials, ribbons, buttons, etc. So what did I buy... A Patternmaster and a set of French curves! I'll be well away now!!

However, the main reason for going into London... Well I described it as a little singing, it was quite a big sing really! The BBC is doing a series on BBC4 on the Symphony and to launch the series, they put together what they described as a Pop-up choir. So this lunch-time at St Pancras International in London I was part of a choir singing the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Choral). For those who know the piece, it's quite a hard sing for about 20 minutes. We had the BBC Symphony Orchestra downstairs and the choir upstairs.

St Pancras International is not known for holding concerts, but with the numbers standing watching, I'd love to know how many missed their trains and what those getting off the Eurostar thought of their welcome to London!

Sorry, no photos of me, but here are a couple of the general event.

The orchestra taking their seats

The soloists grand entrance down the escalator!!

An edited video is here on YouTube. No pictures of me, the glass screen was too high!!

Any readers who happened to be in St Pancras this lunch time, I hope you enjoyed the impromtu concert. It was quite an experience I have to say and quite different to our normal concerts in the Barbican, etc!!

Time for some reading...

2011-11-02T17:09:00.000Z

Drafting the pencil skirt with Sew Country Chick, I've been interested whether I may be able to draft more.

I can't really afford to go on any courses, plus because of the big secret I can't commit long term. So I've made use of being a librarian and have sourced lots of books to have a look through with a view to getting my own copy. I think there's still two or three on their way, currently I have...

Pattern-drafting for fashion: the basics by Teresa Gilewska. I quite like this book. The images and instructions are clear and simple and easy to read and as far as I'm concerned, perfect for a beginner. I've also requested the advanced version to have a look at too. I have to say, I'm sorely tempted.

Make your own patterns by Rene Bergh. Another book which is perfect for a beginner. It also has different patterns and images to the Gilewska book and compliments it well. I almost think it's worth getting both!!

Metric pattern cutting by Winifred Aldrich. I think this is quite a technical book and ideally suited for those doing a pattern drafting course. For me, however, I think it's really far too technical and far too advanced for me.

Sorry, I've not posted photos of the insides, I didn't want to be caught with copyright issues...

I've also been going through a book I got last Christmas, which has been a god-send.

The sewing book by Alison Smith. This basically shows tips for sewing, such as how to insert zips, putting in pockets, etc, etc. There's loads of information in it with really clear images. Alison Smith runs a sewing school in Leicestershire in the UK (Alison Victoria School of Sewing), where they run a number of different courses, covering pattern drafting, boning, simple day-to-day sewing, etc. If I had the money, I'd be there tomorrow, but...

Thrift success!

2011-10-23T16:29:00.002+01:00

Well I'm way behind on my pencil skirt which I'm supposed to have drafted and made following Sew Country Chick's draft-a-long. I've had tonsillitis and a chest infection, followed by a stomach bug, so all in all, my sewing has taken a back seat over the past few weeks.

So to cheer myself up, I thought I'd check out the one secondhand shop I know which has fabric, patterns, an enormous tin of buttons and see what I could find...

First up, two lots of fabric, a check fabric, which I think possibly has wool in it. Not sure, but I've got about 2 metres of 60 wide, so it might even make a shift dress! It only cost £2!

Next, a navy textured material. There's loads of this. Now I've got it home, I think it might actually be curtain material. It's quite think and heavy. Not really sure what it is at all. It's got a crepe-y feel, but it certainly isn't crepe! At the time, it seemed useful and a bargain at £3. I'm not good at turning down bargains like that!!

There were some lovely other fabrics there, but not really enough to do anything with, or that I could use. A bright shot orange lining material for one, but how can I use about 30 cm of it??

Next up these buttons. Not much really, but I thought the colour was so pretty and they looked quite delicate on the card. One has been removed, but I'm sure I can use the others, or just leave them on the card to look pretty!!

Finally, I found this... It's a Simplicity Simply the Best Guide to Fit

Everything is still in there, the guides to measuring and adjusting patterns, as well at the tissue to make the adjustments. I'm not sure when it dates back to, possibly the 80s? Does anyone have any idea? I've tried looking it up on t'Interweb, without much success. I doubt it'll ever get used, but it just seemed like a nice thing to buy and at 25p, who can argue??

So back to drafting my pencil skirt...

Me, just me...

2011-10-19T19:26:00.001+01:00

OK, having seen this on about half a dozen blogs, I thought I'd share this A-Z of me. Join in if you like. I'm just nosy!

A - Age - A-hem 40 Shh, don't say it too loud, I'm still getting used to it!

B- Bed size - Lovely King size with room to sprawl, oh and toss and turn!

C - Chore you hate - Dusting. It's just continuous. I hate it, hate it.

D - Dogs - nope, never been good with them since one jumped up and licked my nose when I was about four! OK, ages ago, but I still don't like them jumping up. I've got a big anti-social cat instead...

E - Essential start to your day - Cup of tea.

F - Favourite colour - Tough question, possibly burgundy, but then purple is pretty high on the list too!

G - Gold or Silver - Silver, or white gold. I look awful in yellow gold.

H - Height - about 5'5.5 ish!

I - Instruments you play - A few... Recorder (still), 'cello (I've got grade 7), and a couple of others sort of. I also sing in a choir which says it's one of the best in the south-east... We do stuff on the radio and TV, so... (Does singing count as an instrument?)

J - Job title - Librarian ('nuff said, but my official title is Information Services Librarian.) Yes I went to university to learn how to count, how to use a date stamp and how to put my hair in a bun and wear a twin set and two piece...

K - Kids - Yes, please.

L - Live - Hertfordshire, UK, but can't wait to escape to EnZed...

M - Mother's name - Jill (with a "J" not a "G")

N - Nicknames - Sis, Right-foot-'eavy 'erriott

O - Overnight hospital stays - Once to have my wisdom teeth out :-(

P - Pet Peeves - just a few! Text speak when it's perfectly possibly to use natural language. The lack of use of indicators by drivers. Yes, I know you wondered what that stalk on the steering wheel column was for... It lets me know where you're going.

Q: Quote from a movie - "I'm a good girl I am" - from My Fair Lady. I love Audrey Hepburn.

R - Right or left-handed - Right-handed.

S - Siblings - an older brother, who likes to father me a bit...

T - Time you wake up - About 6.30, so I can leave for work at 7.30am.

U - Underwear - Of course.

V - Vegetable you hate - Erm, not sure... Oh celery - yuk!

W - What makes you run late? - Traffic and spending time deciding what to wear!

X - X-Rays you have had - Lost count, probably about ten, if you include those at the dentist?

Y - Yummy food that you make - Fruit cake, homemade bread, lasagne, mostly sweet things. Mr N is the savoury chef!

Z - Zoo animal - elephants, elephants and more elephants, everytime.

Inspiration... and help!

2011-10-14T21:59:00.000+01:00

I've seen this dress and love the shape so much I've got to have it!! I'd much rather be able to tell people I've made it, not bought it. I'm sure I can make it to last too, not to fall apart in 10 minutes...

Has anyone any ideas where I might find a pattern similar? The dress is a simple shift

It has a pleated neck with lovely short pleated sleeves...

The waist is really lovely, it's not just the four soft pleats echoing the neck at the top of the skirt. Look at that lovely detail around each side...

The back is just simple and beautifully elegant...

Please, can anyone suggest a similar pattern? I think I can find a sleeve, back and at a pinch the skirt, but the neck?? My pattern drafting skills are NOT up to drafting this!

You know what it's like when you see something which just has to be bought...

Any ideas?

Pencil skirt draft-a-long: parts 1 & 2

2011-10-09T18:40:00.002+01:00

Well so far so good... I'm following Sew Country Chick's pencil skirt pattern draft-a-long. I got this beautiful fabric when I went to Goldhawk Road, which is just crying out for a pencil skirt. I also got some lining, so I'm hoping to be clever and line mine...

So far we've measured ourselves (ouch, I need to lose some weight!) And now I've drafted the front pattern piece. I think I'll make a muslin/toile, it's the first pattern I've drafted and am just a tad apprehensive! I'm going doo-lally, I NEVER make a toile!!

The top of the front section, all drawn by hand (I've no French curves).

It looks enormous! I know my bum is big, but...

That exciting feeling...

2011-10-08T21:26:00.000+01:00

Does anyone else get that exciting feeling when they do their first stitches with a new project or new piece of fabric??

My first tentative stitches with the lovely crepe I bought on holiday in Thailand... All I was doing was stay-stitching the neck on Colette Patterns Voilet!

Oh and if anyone can suggest the best way to press the seams with crepe? Damp cloth and warm iron??

Old faithful - the original photo!

2011-10-04T12:48:00.000+01:00

I've found it, one of the first photos with me wearing Style 2721!! Don't you just love that hat!! The hair looks a bit blond too, wonder if I was using Sun-In? :-)

Don't I look young?

My old faithful - Style 2721

2011-10-03T16:15:00.002+01:00

Well I'm not really up to sewing at the moment. Full of a chesty cough, feeling quite yukky to be honest. As much as I'd love to get on with all my projects, I just know I'd make a mess of anything I start, so they must all wait for now.

In the meantime, I thought I would post about a very old favourite dress of mine. Many of you have commented on this dress during Self-Stitiched September '11, saying how much you loved the print, etc. So here's my old faithful. Quite a short post, as I'm casting my mind back about eight/nine years!

The pattern: Style 2721

Does anyone know what happened to Style patterns? I remember they used to fit me like a dream.

I made view C, which was the longer version. There is an option of a small 'v' shape on the front neck, but I stuck with basic boat neck. The bodice is fitted with a seam running down from the armhole to the waist. The skirt is actually in three pieces with one seam in the centre back, it's then simply pleated onto the bodice. It has a lapped zip which looking at now, I made a very good job of! I doubt if I would have followed the pleats on the pattern, if I remember they didn't fit as well as I wanted them too.

I'm quite impressed how I inserted this lapped zip!

The fabric is a Rose and Hubble fabric. I'm not sure where I bought it, possibly John Lewis (one of my favourite places to buy fabric!) If I remember rightly, I even made it on a borrowed machine. I didn't have a machine at the time and I think a friend lent me the machine!

I still have a swatch of the fabric left with the Rose & Hubble name!

I made the dress for a friends' wedding and although I swear I've one of the original photos, I can't find it anywhere. I have managed to work out that I made the dress in 1997!! Ouch, that's 14 years ago. I think the dress has definitely stood the test of time. The fabric has hardly faded and it washes like a dream. There was a point about eight years ago when I was about to take it to the charity shop because my other half at the time hated it. Boy, I'm glad I didn't! It's a staple in my wardrobe now and best of all, it still fits, even if I do weat it with a belt now!

Here are a couple of photos from Self-Stitched September...

So Nikki, what's next on the list to sew?

2011-10-02T08:00:00.002+01:00

This is a tough question! I've so many projects planned now, I'm really unsure where to start. I haven't helped the situation by buying some more fabric from the town market where I work. What do you think of this?

It's viscose and cost me £10 for about 2 and a half metres of 60" wide! Loads of fabric!! The colour hasn't come out brilliantly, it's actually a cream colour, not white. The seams will certainly be a mess, I may have to actually use French seams for this. But what shall I make?

I'd like a dress with 3/4 sleeves so I can wear it in the cooler months. I've three that I'm thinking of...

Vogue 8413 - it's got 3/4 sleeves. The cowl neck would work well with the material because it's heavy and drapes really well. Not sure the straight skirt will be the best.

Simplicity 2145 - cowl neck or V-neck. Flared skirt to drape around my legs! Lots of different sleeves. Ooh, I do like these Project Runway patterns!

Vogue 8511 - simple, elegant and understated.

Or perhaps the new Colette Patterns Peony?? Simple, flared skirt, 3/4 sleeves...

However, this is not all I have to make for the autumn/winter...

I've got the beautiful fabric I bought on holiday in Thailand.

This is going to be made into Colette Patterns Violet and the remainder I'm going to team up with plain black to make Vogue 1178, the beautiful floaty Anna Sui dress.

I've also got all the fabric I bought when I went down to Goldhawk Road. The aqua and black woven fabric is at the top of the list to make into a pencil skirt.

Sew much to do, sew little time! I really must get doing something! But which pattern should I make from the viscose at the top of this post?

SSS'11 Days 26 to 30

2011-10-01T16:20:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it, I've got through a month wearing something which I've made every day! Phew! Good job I managed to make some during the month, else it would have been a bit boring with the same old things coming out day after day.

Here are the last few days...

Day 26

My favourite dress again. Down in the basement in one of our libraries, checking through a bound newspaper.

Dress: Made about eight years ago.

Cardigan: RTW, bought this year, but with replaced buttons (blogged about here on day 18)

Day 27

Recently finished in time for SSS'11!

Skirt: self-stitiched, finished on day 23, first worn on day 25!
T-shirt and shurg: RTW from M&S

Day 28

Holding a little librarian toy going "Shhhh"!

Dress: Made last year, worn on day 3.
Cardigan: RTW from Monsoon. It was hot outside, but I was in an air-conditioned library and needed the extra layer!

Day 29

Oh, it's exactly the same outfit as day 2!!

RTW blouse from Monsoon
Skirt: self-stitched about four years ago from a Prima pattern.

Day 30

The girls thought it would be funny if I posed with some of the slightly different stock we have in the library...

Here's another photo taken at home later...

Blouse: self-stitched in June from Simplicity dress pattern 2360
Skirt: RTW from Next

Phew! That's it! I've made it! Well it's 1st October and I'm actually wearing everything RTW today. It's lazy, but I'm feeling decidedly full of cold and horrible stuff, so just couldn't think much this morning. I have got some RTW clothes which I've missed wearing, so they will now have an airing. However, there are quite a lot of RTW things in the wardrobe which I really haven't missed and I think they will now either go to the charity shop or be sold at a boot sale. We need to have a clear out anyway, so it comes at an opportune time.

I've really enjoyed the month, so thanks So, Zo for organising. Here's to the next one in May?, only I'd best get sewing, or it'll all be the same clothes as you've just seen for this month! :-)

SSS'11 Days 19 to 25

2011-09-25T18:03:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it's day 25 already! This month has gone so fast!

Day 19

My new sparkly sorbetto. I finished this last weekend, so I decided to give it an outing straight away!

Top: Sparkly Sorbetto
Skirt: from La Redoute
Belt: M&S

The top has worked really well, I'm pleased with how the sleeves went in, even if they weren't made for this pattern!

Day 20

This makes me look important (I wish!) One of my favourite skirts.

Cardigan: Monsoon
Skirt: My bright pink flowery skirt made in June

Day 21

It felt cold this morning, so out came the thick tights and a warmer dress.

Dress: Made about four years ago from a Prima magazine pattern, a longer version of the green blouse worn on Day 8. It's the one and only item I've made from jersey. Although I made a couple of modifications from the pattern, it's actually had lots of wear and is really warm and comfortable and a staple for my winter wardrobe.
Cardigan: Macy's (yep, the NYC department store!)

Day 22

My geometric sorbetto. Another chilly day, it must have been, I had trousers on and I never wear trousers!

Cardigan: La Redoute (a nicer orange than it looks)
Top: Sorbetto, made at the beginning of the month!
Trousers: M&S

Day 23

Day off work to spend quality time with my sewing machine! This was taken in the evening after a busy day of sewing, going out to lunch with Mr N, etc. Determined to be comfy I wore...

Skirt: Pink flowery skirt, worn day 20 (above)
Cardigan: Wallis

Day 24

This has become a favourite. I had to wear this again with the nice weather back again. I even got a comment at work with a colleague saying I always wear lovely dresses!

Dress: Simplicity 2588, made August

Day 25

We went for walk today round a local park. There's a nice house too, but Mr N decided my photo needed to be taken in front of a golf green! Typical!

Cardigan: Monsoon
T-shirt: Wallis
Skirt: Self-stitched made Friday (on my day off!)

I'm really enjoying this month. Only five days left, I can't believe it!!

From an old dress...

2011-09-24T18:29:00.009+01:00

I found this blue flowery fabric in my stash when I had a sort through in August. It's viscose and I bought it to make a dress for a friend's wedding about eight years ago.

I'm not sure what happened to the dress, I've a feeling it might have gone to a charity shop when I was going through a strange not liking home made clothes faze! Seeing the remants in my stash bought back lovely memories. The dress was lovely, fitted really well and hung beautifully. (Viscose does have it's merits.)

To cut a long story short, there just wasn't enough to do lots with, so I've been hunting around since to find a plain navy viscose to team with it to make a skirt. I finally found this plain navy on Online Fabrics (I reckon the best online fabric store in the UK).

A skirt on a basque is really flattering, so I used the basque I used for my bright pink flowery skirt made here. The flowery fabric is actually cut sideways, so the selvedge is at the top/bottom, to give a fuller skirt. I've pleated the skirt again, I prefer pleats on me, although with the lack of fullness, the pleats have ended up very much in the centre of the back/front. The basque has also got interfacing to give it a bit more shape. I've also doubled up the long hem at the bottom of the skirt. for some reason I doubled the fabric hem and machine stitched it to the skirt at the beginning. The side seams I stitched afterwards. In hindsight, this may not have been the best thing to do.

I should have used French seams, but was feeling lazy, so with the lack of overlocker, I've zig-zagged the edges. They're not as tidy as I'd like and I've feeling there'll be some shedding of fabric from the seams before long!

Oops! Not the tidiest!

I also bought the wrong zip! I was intending to put in a concealed zip, but having bought the wrong one, I decided to put in a centred zip. Possibly a bit strange for a side seam zip, but I know I can put these in easily, almost without having to think. I'm pleased how the zip has gone in. And I don't need to put a hook and eye at the top.

So where's the finished article? Well here it is. Not worn yet, most likely this week at some point, it's something new for Self-Stitched September! I'm hoping it'll get quite a bit of wear. With tights I can wear this in the winter, although I may have to break a habit of a lifetime and make a slip or perhaps I may line it. I'll see how we go.

A Sparkly Sorbetto

2011-09-19T09:42:00.001+01:00

This is my second Sorbetto from Colette Patterns. At the beginning of the month, I wrote that this was cut out and ready to go. Well, it too considerably longer to make than it ever should have done.

I didn't have enough fabric to make the front or back in the same material. It's a bit of a mixture of fabrics, fingers crossed it'll be OK. There's a seam at about waist height on the front, but this doesn't show when it's tucked in. There's also a seam on the back to give the back length I needed. There's also a seam down the centre of the back since I didn't have enough white material to place it on the fold.

I used some white cotton fabric which is left over from a gored skirt I made about three or four years ago, which has a silver thread running through it. This was used for the front. I then teamed it up with some plain white cotton to make the back, which was also left over from the skirt.

I'm pleased with the binding on this Sorbetto, it's so much better than the last one. I decided to use Miss P's idea of using drafting tape to cut the right width. It worked like a dream. I was possibly more careful with the sewing this time too!

I was determined that this Sorbetto would have sleeves, since I would get a lot more use out of it. So I tried to use the sleeve pattern from Sew Weekly. I had enough of the sparkly fabric to make the sleeves, but they just didn't work. I'm not a pattern drafter, so couldn't really check if they were the right size... I made them, stitched them in and tried it on. Within ten minutes there I was unpicking them and chucking the sleeves in the bin!

In the end, I decided I'd try a sleeve from another pattern. This sleeve comes from a Burda blouse that I made in May time. These weren't without problems... I cut out two sleeves, then sewed the hems and elastic casing the same way on each sleeve! So I had to cut yet another sleeve. The sleeves are now from plain white cotton since there wasn't enough of the other fabric! This Sorbetto just didn't want to be made. It's taken me weeks to sort out - well it feels like weeks!

Here at last is the finished top! The seam half way down the front looks quite obvious, but it doesn't show when I'm wearing it!

I found these buttons which were sent through free from JosyRose, which I decided to sew on the front to match up with the silver thread and detract from the seam on the front.

I also decided to make the most of the seam in the centre back and made a false buttonhole with some remaining bias-binding and sewed the last of the sparkly buttons at the top of the back. It doesn't hang brilliantly well, so I may decide to change this. I had in my mind's eye a brilliantly tidy buttonhole with binding going right down into the cut out section too, but it didn't quite come out as I hoped. I'm hoping the button hides most of the problems!

It's made and it's getting it's first outing on Day 19 of Self-Stitched September!

SSS'11 Days 12 to 18

2011-09-18T21:06:00.000+01:00

Another week bites the dust!! I've done very little sewing and so have ended up repeating clothes now.

Day 12

My own version of Simplicity 2360, blogged here in June, worn with a skirt from La Redoute. I love this top. It's so comfy and it makes me feel good wearing it. I'm pleased how it turned out. As you can see like most of my photos it was taken at work. I'd been sorting out the maps in the map cabinet and my colleagues decided I needed to be photographed beside it!

Day 13

Simplicity 2588, worn on day 1. The first repeat! I couldn't wait for some nice weather to wear this dress again. I love it, the fit is brilliant and I love the colours. A bit of a frantic day, organising events at work, planning a training session for the next day, busy, busy, wondering if the world was going to stop spinning so I could get off!

Day 14

My turn to deliver the training with a colleague. Comfortable clothes needed and layers too, since the training room can get hot and cold, depending on how well the air-con is working! I also wore this on day 2. I decided to wear this today with a chocolate coloured t-shirt.

Day 15

I had loads of lovely comments on Flickr about this dress when I wore it on day 10, I was quite chuffed. It's an age old dress, but it's not lost it's colour and more importantly, it still fits me! It was a bit chilly at work, so I wore this with a burgundy fluffy cardigan from Next.

Day 16

We thought you might like the spiral staircase in this library. It goes up to the attic (stack) and also down to the crypt (basement local studies store). Since I'd spent loads of time downstairs today, they decided I needed to have the photo by the stairs. I'm wearing my pink top from day 11 and a navy blue skirt from Next, not to mention the white cardigan which has also had new buttons sewn on it.

Day 17

I was at a loss with what to wear today. In the end I grabbed my sorbetto and went for it. I've spent the day doing housework and finally getting down to some sewing this afternoon. I had got a bit chilly by the time I had this taken, so hence the cardigan from Macy's. What was I sewing - well that will have to wait...

Day 18

Not sure what's happened with this. It's overexposed and I can't get rid of the red-eye! I've cheated today and possibly failed the task... All I've worn today is a cardigan I replaced the buttons on. Sourcing the buttons for this was a labour of love, since they are very small buttonholes (about 1/4 inch). They came from As Cute as a Button in the US, blogged about here.

For those who are interested, here are before and after photos of the buttons.

Not so nice shell buttons

Nice new sparkly buttons

SSS'11 Days 5 to 11

2011-09-11T19:44:00.000+01:00

Well I'm still managing to wear something different each day. Don't think it'll last much longer, I'm running out of outfits!

Day 5

My self-drafted skirt, blogged about here. I love this skirt and wear it a lot. It's warm and it's so cheerful that I think it'll be going into the autumn to keep me happy when the grotty weather comes. Oh and this is why we don't have date-stamps at work - we have these self-issue units which the public use to issue their books and DVDs, etc out.

Day 6

It started getting chilly this week and I ended up digging out cardigans and tights! Tights in September, generally unheard of in my book. I made this wrap dress about four/five years ago using a lovely silk fabric. The fabric wasn't cheap, but I loved it so much, I had to have it. Unfortunately I've put a bit on since I bought it and had to put a vest top underneath (it was cold too!) The pattern is another Prima pattern. The pumps I bought in Edinburgh. They're fab, they came in so many different colours, but decided to go with a sensible shade when I could only afford one pair!

Day 7

Oh I had a bad day today. I was full of cold and felt awful. I'm surprised I managed to smile for this. I'm wearing my new Sorbetto, I'm quite chuffed with the comments I've had. It's a real 80's pattern, but it's so cheerful and colourful that loads said how nice it looked. Perhaps it might stay in the wardrobe yet!!

Day 8

OK, so it had got cold, so out come the warmer clothes. This green top (yes it is green) was also made about four years ago from another Prima pattern. It's a lovely bottle green satin. It actually has 3/4 sleeves, but the air-con made the library freezing and so the cardigan stayed on all day! For those interested, the bottom half was a pair of black trousers.

Day 9

Who says libraries are glamorous? This is the workroom in one of our libraries. Not that pretty really and cold too! This blouse was made in May 2011, before my blog started. It's Burda Style pattern 7831, not that you can see it very well. It's made in a sort of cheesecloth type fabric with a fine stripe. However, because it was cold, I ended up with the navy skirt and cardigan, both RTW.

Day 10

I planned ages ago to go up to London today. So this was my shopping outfit! I went off to Goldhawk Road and bought loads (some described yesterday). This dress is years old. I made it about eleven years ago (yes 11!) for a friends' wedding. The colour has hardly faded and it's so comfy. It was hidden away for years as I lived with someone who hated it, but I never had the heart to throw it out. I'm so glad I didn't. It's getting a new lease of life and adding a belt to it really works. I still have the pattern upstairs, so I'll write a post about it one day (with one of the original photos!!)

Day 11

Phew! The end of another week. This is the top I blogged about here. We had family round today for Sunday lunch and I'm full with roast beef and trimmings, followed by blackberry and apple crumble with custard - yummy! It's also possibly why I look quite fat!! :-) Fortunately the weather has got a bit warmer and again I can wear some summery clothes!

Here's to the next week, we'll soon be over half way through! It's gone so fast and it's really lovely seeing others creations.

My Goldhawk Rd haul!

2011-09-10T21:29:00.001+01:00

I've spent possibly the last day of summer wandering around West London, in particular Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush Market. Following the bloggers trip to Goldhawk in June (blogged here and here, to mention just a couple of blogs), I've always wanted to get over there, but not made it, until today.

The weather was lovely, but I forgot my camera to take some happy snaps :-( I wore my old faithful dress, made for a friend's wedding about 11 years ago. No you can't see the photo here, it'll be on my weekly update for SSS'11! Patience please!

What I want to show you is my fabric haul and this isn't all of it... The rest is quite boring to photograph, so you'll have to wait for the finished pieces to see it!

First selection, a brown linen with a patterned linen to go with it. The patterned one has sequins on too. I was intending to make a skirt, but I've got a metre of each and they're 60" wide, so methinks there may be a bit more than just a skirt there!

I fell in love with this. It's a burgundy red with cream. The plan was to get enough just to make a Sorbetto, but I was coerced into buying the remainder of the roll, so I've two metres! OK, so what to make now? It might actually make a top using the Simplicity peasant pattern I managed to thrift. It's a lovely soft cotton, I can't wait to use it!

Finally this lovely teal green and black tweed type fabric... It's got silver thread running through it too. It's going to make a lovely straight skirt. I found this brilliant lining to go with it too! This will cheer up the winter days. Straight skirt or A-line? Which do you think??

I could have spent a fortune and didn't get all I hoped to get. I've got two patterns I want to make, but didn't get fabric for those (more a case of not making my mind up, rather than the lack of choice!) Not sure I'll get back to London for a while. I think they may be an online purchase. In the meantime, I've enough to keep me out of mischief I think!

Goldhawk Road is to be recommended though. Leave time to browse, don't forget the basements and secondly, just treat the staff as they treat you. You'll get sweet-talked in some shops, saying viewing is free for today only and hello lovely lady, etc. In others, they are so polite and quiet and will only talk when asked. I even got asked if I wanted a massage today, as the assistant did them in his spare time!! Enjoy!

Geometric sorbetto

2011-09-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

Well this is my first Sorbetto top from Colette patterns. I've used a really old fabric I found in my stash at home. I think the rest was a dress when I left school (help, that's over 20 years ago)!

How's this for a real 80's geometric pattern?

There wasn't enough to cut out the full width front, so I decided to make the front pleat smaller. I didn't lengthen the pattern like some, the idea with this one was really to see how the pattern came out and go from there.

I found some plain white fabric at home with which to make the bias binding and used my new bias making gadget. I don't think I cut it particularly well, as it didn't work brilliantly. Although thanks to Miss P, I think I shall be well away now, as well as getting through lots of drafting tape!

The bias binding didn't go on particularly well, possibly for a number of reasons... I didn't make it very well, the top had been sitting around for ages because I was busy and I was getting fed up with it not being finished and I probably had the TV on at the same time and was watching that too much!!

Well here's the finished item...

It's getting it's first outing for SSS'11, since I've decided it doesn't look too bad and might be fun to wear!! So watch this space!

Thanks Colette Patterns!

In the meantime, the next Sorbetto has already been cut out and is on it's way! The fabric I've used for the next has a silver thread running through it (on white), I'd love to find a silvery grey fabric to make the bias strips. Any suggestions??

SSS '11 Days 1 to 4

2011-09-05T10:19:00.001+01:00

Here's my first posting for Self-Stitched September '11, my first challenge. I've a feeling that Widow Twanky (aka the washing machine) will be working overtime this month, unless I get sewing fast!

Day 1

Dress: Simplicity 2588, which I blogged about here. I got some really nice comments at work. I'm really pleased with how the dress turned out. I imagine it'll get another outing before the end of the month.

Not my normal day at work, we were doing training, learning how to be administrators for our Herts Memories websites.

Day 2

Blouse: This came from Monsoon a couple of years ago.
Skirt: A Prima magazine pattern I made about four years ago, long before I had a blog. This was really easy to make. It's basically lots of panels which are sewn onto a basque. I practically live in this skirt in the summer, even though it is white! I'll try to put a bit more description up in the future.

Day 3

I had to work again on Saturday, one of my one in three, and also one of the many different libraries I end up working in, hence the pink lanyard again.
Dress: Simplicity 2444, which I made summer 2010. This is the same make and pattern fabric as Day 1, just a different colourway. Another dress I love to wear and was just right for a hot day in a library with no air-con!

Day 4

This photo did not come out well, but it's still me!! Mr N took this, the first one was blurred and this I look demented! I think I was just worn out from the gym (I'd not been for a while!)
Dress: New Look 6557, blogged about here. It's a sun dress, hence the cardigan on top. I ended up doing housework and all sorts in this, but it didn't show any marks at all. I spent the rest of the afternoon yesterday cutting out fabric bought on holiday and looking through the stash to see if I could get a skirt or sorbetto from the leftovers. More of which later...

So here's to another week of self-stitched clothes. Another update to come next Sunday.

Sew much to do, sew little time...

2011-09-02T19:48:00.000+01:00

I've been trying to put together my first Sorbetto, but it's taking me ages. I got it all cut out and the main pieces sewn together. The bias strips made and pinned to the neck and armholes and there it's sat for the past week! So more of this in a future post...

We went to Mum's for the bank holiday weekend, so that put paid to any sewing I planned then. We had a lovely time and in preparation for Self-stitched September, I wore lots of RTW clothes. Mum was happy to see us though and the weather wasn't bad for a bank holiday!

Mum and I at Eastnor castle

Tuesday Mr N and I both had the day off and went into London. The idea was to use some theatre tokens we'd had lying around for ages. So we went to see The Mousetrap. If you haven't seen it, go, it's brilliant! A typical "who done it", but brilliantly staged.

Lots of people in the way, not to mention the lampost!

Before the show, we managed to get a two course lunch for about £40 for the two of us (including drinks). Yes this was in central London! Plus Mr N let me stray over towards Berwick Road! If you ever have cash to spare, this is one place to buy fabric in central London! I was like a child in a sweet shop and if I'd have had some money there could have been some serious spending going on!! I was very good, I allowed myself to touch and dream. We don't have fabric shops like that where I live in Hertfordshire, so you can imagine what I was like!!

Anyway, since then, it's been back to work and it's been a bit busy too, so little time for sewing. Choir rehearsals have started too, so Wednesdays are out. Perhaps the weekend I'll find some time...

Anyway, I've still been thinking and buying... (not spending a fortune buying though!)

I've scoured the charity (thrift) shops in five different towns (I get around in my work!) and only one had any dress patterns in. :-( Knitting patterns aplenty, but my knitting is not good and I don't like things once I've made them. This was my one single pattern purchase.

I'm assuming this is from the 80's. It's even got the transfer pattern inside!! I just like this sort of top and have only had RTW peasant things before now, at last I've found a pattern. They are so comfy and at work, they are great, because I can move around and shift things easily.

I also found this...

The plan is to turn this into a pencil skirt. It's not lined, but I've got some lovely bright red lining which I could use, or maybe just plain black?? Which do you think? The fabric is stretchy, so I'm hoping it'll be really comfy to wear and warm too. Each square is about half inch. Here's the fabric close up.

Last but not least, a lovely parcel arrived from Kym at As Cute as a Button. I've a couple of cardigans which have, quite frankly, lousy buttons on them. They're horrible. So I'm going to change them. Just a bit of refashioning, but one has 13 on it! Anyway, these were my purchases, aren't they lovely??

So, to cut a long story short, I've lots to keep me out of mischief! I've also got Colette patterns Voilet blouse to make, as well as Vogue 1178. I'm hoping I can get some made before the end of September so I can wear them for SSS'11. Watch this space!

Unknown fabric stash!

2011-08-23T20:28:00.001+01:00

I thought it was time to go through an old ottoman which my father made years ago, to see what sort of left over fabric was in there and what a surprise!! I reckon there's a few here with enough to squeeze a Sorbetto out of!

I couldn't believe what was there... There seems to be a lot of red, although I don't wear that much red!

These are from dresses made some time ago, before I ever had a blog, so in a spare moment, I'll write about those!

These you may recognise from previous posts. The dark blue is from a dress I made for a friends wedding years ago. I loved the shape, but it shrank (or possibly I put on weight!) and it never fitted properly again. At the time I wasn't into refashioning, I think it went to a charity shop!!

The blue in this one is from my old faithful. Another dress I made years ago, which still fits and has hardly lost any colour and I wear loads. I love it. Definitely a blog post to come! The geometric one at the top is quite wild for me, I think there's enough for a top, whether I'm brave enough though...

More red, plus a green silk and a purple taffeta. There's more clothes here than I thought, although I'm not into wearing purple taffeta every day, so that may not see the light of day during September, unless Mr N takes me out!!

So here's to future posts of long ago made items and future posts of sorbettos and other tops made from left overs!!

Simplicity 2588

2011-08-22T12:27:00.000+01:00

Well this is my first creation having got back from holiday and I'm really pleased with my handy work this time.

I bought the fabric in a sale at the end of June and decided it was just right for Simplicity 2588.

I love the Simplicity Project Runway patterns. They're easy to make and give you so many options. The intention was initially to make a version of the green dress at the bottom, with a smaller yoke, a flared skirt and what they describe as flat sleeves. I decided to make pleated sleeves and I'm glad I did.

When I last made a Project Runway dress the bodice and skirt were a bit shorter than I'd normally like, so I added an extra inch to the bodice length and also added an additional two inches to the skirt. Although it took a while to cut out (I hate this most of all about making up a pattern!), the sewing was very quick. If I could find someone else to cut out all my patterns and transfer the markings for me, I'd love it!

Although I made this over about four days, I could have probably finished this in just over a day, if I'd have just sewn for the day. Unfortunately cleaning, shopping, cooking, etc gets in the way!

The sleeves were so easy. The pleats went in like a dream.

My mother always told me to hand baste things like this, but for this dress I used a contrasting thread and actually machine basted. I'm so glad I did, it made it so much easier. The bodice was really simple to put together, even though the curves are going at different angles. I honestly thought I'd end up with pleats where I shouldn't have them, but it all sewed like a dream. Even attaching the yoke to the top worked really well.

The sleeve pleated and in place

I put in a centred zip, which isn't what the pattern asks. The pattern has a lapped zip, which I always find difficult to insert and am never happy how I've put them in. I think if I make this again, I'd leave sewing the edge of the yoke until the zip is inserted. Although the zip was fine, the material was quite bulky at the top of the zip and not the easiest to sew.

All in all though the pattern was brilliant and I can't wait to wear the dress. I'm really pleased with the finish. The pockets are quite big, so things may fall out of them, but they lay flat and don't show on the sides at all.

Can you see the pocket there??

The only change I might do next time is to leave the length of the bodice as is and lengthen the skirt by three inches, because the bodice is a little long. The problem is, I couldn't find a bodice length measurement on the pattern, so I had to sort of guess by measuring the pattern pieces and measuring me. OK, if I'd made a toile... I know... I'm sure it would also help if I had a dress form or dressmakers dummy, but that's being saved for! Currently I'm the dummy!!

Anyway, here's the finished dress, front and back, what do you think?

So that's the latest, but I've got lots more to make. It's probably the right time now to say:

'I, Nikki of Nikki's Stitches sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to wear at least I've self-stitched or refashioned each day for the duration of September 2011'

This is going to be hard. I'm not sure I have enough items in the wardrobe to do this. I'm also hoping the weather will be lovely and warm, else I'll be a bit chilly, most of my self-stitched items are summery for some reason. In the meantime, I'm determined to get a couple of Sorbettos made, then at least I'll have some tops to wear. I can't guarantee I'll managed a self-stitched top and skirt together. Fingers crossed!