Completion

I've been jumping between projects in the sewing room over the past few weeks. It's been increasingly difficult to stick with any one project through to completion. This weekend I was determined to remedy that!

Earlier this Summer I bought a very cute Oliver + S pattern called Sketchbook shirt and shorts from The Village Haberdashery with the intention of making a little of outfit for my nephew, Mackinlay. I had the perfect fabric in mind for the shirt - the adverts print from Rocket Age by October Afternoon for Riley Blake. I've been putting it off because, frankly, I wasn't sure my dressmaking skills were up to the challenge. My fears were unfounded! It is a fantastic pattern, really clear and non-scary and the end result is a very professional looking shirt :)

I went for the short-sleeved, rounded collar version and didn't bother with a pocket for the minimum of stress.

My pattern matching is non-existent but I figured it's such a busy print I can get away with it. There's a fancy box-pleat at the back of the shirt which makes it feel very fancy :)

As a finishing touch, I added in some cute train buttons as Mackinlay is rather fond of "choo-choos".

 I handed the shirt over to the little-man himself this afternoon and he responded in just the right way with a big toothy grin and abandonment of his toy so that he could carry his new shirt home himself. All that effort was definitely worthwhile :) Catch you soon x

Liberated sewing

This weekend I gave myself some much needed time off from quilt making and deadlines :) Instead I turned my hand to sewing clothes. I've always been mind-boggled by the process of dressmaking and my past attempts at it have mainly been child sized. Last year I bought a heap of Sew Liberated patterns from Backstitch and vowed I'd get a grip on dressmaking. Since then the patterns have mainly been gathering dust on my shelf. I finally bit the bullet and opened up the Esme top pattern...

...it wasn't long before I had all the pieces cut out and ready to go :) I had a large cut of Liberty, that Mum had bought me in the New Year sales last year, that was perfect!

The highlight of this pattern is it comes with a detailed step-by-step video! I honestly can't recommend it highly enough! All the gobbledygook (to me, anyway) written instructions were sidelined for the videos, and within 2 sewing sessions Jess has a new top! It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I think it's fair to say that Jess will be able to wear it out in public without people laughing at the homemade top she's wearing.

 The buttonholes were a bit squiffy but it's not too obvious now the the buttons are in place and the pattern almost matches :)

 I love the lines of this top. The sleeves are so pretty with their cuffs.

I felt particularly smug when Jess tried it on for me, (excuse the pouty teenage face, not best pleased at being roped into a photo shoot), because it fits!

Spurred on by this success I have spent this afternoon cutting out another pattern, for myself this time, but that can wait for another day :) Catch you soon x