Vicki Kate )

Truro fabrics did not disappoint. I’d only been once before and such is my memory that I only had vague recollections of its scale and huge amount of stock. I did not waste my time downstairs in the furnishings dept, but headed straight away to the dressmaking department. Actually, my mum took me to the clearance mezzanine first (;-) ) but nothing tempted us.

So, to cut to the chase, I was astounded by the huge selection and overwhelmed. I did not really have a shopping list, but did have a small budget. I’d seen some stretch cotton sateens on the website and was playing with the idea of those, and in fact that’s what I plumped for. But first, some turquoise Lycra to make my retro style 50s swimsuit ( this is my sewlution) – I already have mccalls 6569 as my pattern, and in theory have enough to experiment with one and two piece versions. They are general sunbathing wear, otherwise the fabric would not be suitable (imagine the drag as you make your tumble turn!)

Nice yes?

Next is a fabric that my mum was interested in, liking the blending of the colours, but not actually liking the colours or the scale of the print. This was my third decision, buying enough for a dress …I think.

The last one to show you, but it was actually my first decision – it was a rebellious choice. My poor mum. We have such different taste, she likes muted pinks and blues that blend. Me? I choose bold and bright. In fact she was quite shocked that I liked this. And maybe it was because of that, that I bought it…

O crikey!! I think I’ve made her feel ill! I bought a metre as it shall become a skirt, a ,Charlotte I think. She is still in denial that I *actually* chose it and paid money for it.
My parents are now bracing themselves for it making its appearance next time I visit them. I don’t think I can disappoint them, do you?!? Have you ever bought something that someone had such a strong opinion about, just because that made it even more exciting?

So, the details. The fabric is a border print light weight cotton. Not much to it in terms of weight, but equally there’s not much drape to it. It has a border print stripe that needed to be incorporated into the skirt, but I don’t know if any of you have ever tried to match a skirt pattern’s hem with a straight line? They are not usually drafted that way, they are usually drafted with a slight curve. So that took a little bit of engineering.

What I did was generally ignored the grainline arrows on the pattern & used the straight edge of the border to “best fit” along the bottom skirt pattern edges (making sure that the stripes would match on back & front pieces). With the Chardon, the skirt is wider at the hem than the waist, despite the fabric used to make the box pleats which means that cutting the hem from the line of the border stripe makes the side seams follow a line that creates a larger waist (think of it as a different kind of pivot if that helps?) Therefore I had to recut the side seams, from the original waist size on the pattern piece – effectively cutting a new line from the hem up to the waist.

Scrappy picture drawn in the front of my notebook to explain. The shaded area is the original pattern piece. Im using the back as an example as the fold complicates it further. This is my quick method, but if you wanted to be careful you could redraft a whole new pattern piece using the same method, but applying it to paper as opposed to directly onto the fabric like lazy me.
1. Line up hem to border as best fit, taking care to match border stripes when cutting both front and back. Pin.
2. Cut hem then waist, extending waistline to fold.
3. Remove original pattern.
4. Measure the length of the waist and mark along where you’ve already cut. You will have cut a longer waist than you need.
5. Draw a new side seam line between the side edge of the hem you’ve already cut and the new marked waist measurement, and cut.
6. Pin the patterns edge to the waist edge to transfer markings for box pleats. To mark pocket placement you probably need to unpin and line up side edges of pattern pieces.

I hope this makes sense?

Apart from that I think it was plain sailing. Pockets were made using the same fabric this time, no elephant surprises! It all came together very quickly. That’s another joy of this pattern. I did make belt loops too, since I knew a belt would be a worthy accessory.

I have worn it once now, and it is a perfect little skirt. it did crease with the traumas of two bus journeys, but hey, can’t have it all ways. I had to wear it with tights ( nude) but being black I think it could be worn with other coloured tights too …seems to be the requirement this month!!

Yet again the ability to make the “bow” version has eluded me, therefore I can forsee more Chardons in the future to realise that dream….anyone else jumped on the Chardon waggon?

ps bus journeys involved going to Truro fabrics ! I have some hugely exciting fabric to show you. Yes, I was restrained, but only in my purse. NOT in the choice of print!

Folks, this is a speedy stylish sewing fix – seriously this pattern is sooooo easy to make, especially the sleeveless version.  Lizzy has made it in the sleeveless variety in highly covetable stripes, & even making it up as a dress (see here) .

Remember I made it here with long sleeves as soon as it came out, & was impressed with it & it has been worn lots.  Plus, you must know by now that I adore cowl necklines!  With summer on the horizon I could at last make it up sleeveless.

I had some fabric recently acquired that cried out to be made up in this pattern.  This is the wondrously fine jersey from Jill’s Itterations Workwear store on Etsy (remember it is still on special offer).  I had me some Silver lurex sparkle on beige (hey disco!!)

So this pattern is constructed from just two pieces: a front & a back.  It is easily made from less than a metre of fabric.  Bargainalicious.  And so stylish too.

The front has an integral facing that folds down to make the cowl.  This is what it looks like from the inside.  I am rapidly falling in love with using clear elastic to finish the neck & sleeve edges.  Just requires two rows of zig zag & so neat.

I could not stop at one, I had to make two

Jill kindly sent me some black to try & it is so soft & wonderfully fine.  Perfect for a drapey cowl.

Black to bring my By Hand Charlotte skirt into Spring rotation…

I think it’s just the way I’m standing that makes it look a bit tight across the chest.  Although to be honest, this is clingy top.

And an added bonus?  This top took me an hour tops to make, once I’d cut it out.  Cutting out must take all of 15 minutes!

Anyway, I thought it about time I posted some more Me Made Outfits first of all.

May 6th

Bank holiday !  And sunshine (surely statistically this is an anomaly in the British Isles!!).  I have to confess that for a few hours of the day I was lying in a non me-made bikini on my sunlounger in the garden.  I really should get on with my sewlution (making a vintage style swimsuit).

 What I wore when not on the sunlounger:

• Built by Wendy cap sleeved t-shirt
• Vintage 50s high waisted denim shorts (which for info I always wear with the waistband folded over.  Just can’t be doing with it that high).
• Me Made undies (assume this is the case unless I ‘fess up)

May 7th

The sun was still amongst us, but I knew it would be short lived, & therefore needed to dig out my summer dresses asap.  Want to hear something funny (or shameful if you interpret it that way)?  I unpacked all of my summer clothes from their winter hibernation but could not find some of my dresses, tops & skirts.  I ransacked the spare “suit” wardrobe that is used for rarely worn clothes, posh or just out of favour because they are not made by me.  But no.  They had evaporated.  It took me a-g-e-s to work out where they were.  Want a photo pause to guess?

They were all in my ironing basket from September last year!  Hahaha!

What I wore:

• Sewaholic Cambie polka dot dress
• Simplicity 2154 cardigan

May 8th

The sun had gone, but I hadn’t given up on summer.  A dress it was going to be.

What I wore:

• Colette Laurel gingham dress, blogged here
• Simplicity 2154 cardigan, as above

May 9th

I had a course in Bristol in the morning which meant getting up bleary eyed & not appreciating just how cold & windy it was going to be.  I was grateful I wore my Robson Trenchcoat with its windproof fabric.

What I wore:

• Simplicity 2154 skirt, see here
• Simplicity 2154 cardigan, as above (again!)
• Maria Denmark Kirsten Kimono Tee shirt, here

May 10th

Today was such a manic day at work, I left early to fit it all in, & this photo was all I could muster.  It was blimmin cold, again.  Colours seem to get more subdued as the temperature drops…

What I wore:

• Sewaholic Thurlow trousers, blogged here
• Sewaholic Renfrew t-shirt, blogged here, on the infamous start of the wig fixation
• My me-knitted Wisdom cardigan, blogged here
• Sewaholic Robson Trenchcoat, as above.

May 11th

It’s the weekend & realising colours had become dull I consciously opted for colour.  But was still cold …baked an easy banana choc cake (only needs one egg which is all I had…after my ritualistic Saturday morning poached egg breakfast!)

What I wore:

• Colette Laurel top, blogged here
• Deer & Doe Chardon skirt, blogged here
• Me made apron
• Wisdom cardigan, as above.

And the good news for the week ahead?  I’ve got a week off work!  Yippee.  Got allsorts of bits & bobs planned….hope you’re all enjoying May & a lovely weekend x

Well, I started to action this months ago & it has been a UFO…until now!  (I now have no UFOs people- how cool is that!?)  So it is time to tell the story of how such grand designs became a bit of a damp squib.

I used this pattern, Butterick 3082 & don’t even feel as if I’ve done this justice.

I mean I bought this because of all of the dreamy neck treatments: pussy bow, frill, gorgeous collar & bow tie.  But ignored them all.  So I started thinking I’d make a frill neck blouse a la Joanne using some beautiful floral poly chiffon that I’d got from the Rag Market.  Gorgeous teal, brown & reds in this fabric that are just too pretty…. I cut strips & used my overlocker to roll-hem the edges in red.  I made running tracks of this, I tell you…

I then made up the button-back blouse, version D, but with narrower sleeves.  Now it could be that Joanne’s blouse is front fastening, I wasn’t sure.  My thinking though had designed it with buttons behind me.  I did make a quick version out of an old sheet to test the pattern, when I tried it on, it appeared to be a fab fit, bust darts even falling correctly.  So I could go full steam ahead & make it up in the chiffon.

Everything was going well, I’d made up the blouse, inserted the sleeves & had metres of ruffle.  BUT positioning the ruffle around my neck was wrong.  Just wrong folks.  Pierrot, Krusty the clown would have been proud.  OK, so the neckline is rather high on this blouse.  Possibly lowering it & then adding frills would feel more comfortable.

But that would involve recutting a neckline, facings & just general sewing-unpicking tedium.  I try not to go back with sewing, not when the execution of an idea is basically flawed.  High neck, ruffles, me?  Remember my last dalliance with ruffles?

I have to apologise folks, there are no pictures with ruffles attached.  It was one of those occasions when the camera was not handy & my fear of frills made me panic – I removed them instantly.  I know, that’s what you come back here for – me looking silly & showing the warts & all of my sewing.  Sadly I failed you this time.  Please forgive me.  Call it a medical emergency.

Still, this blouse generally moped around my sewing room waiting for me to pick it up & redeem it.  You see, I do LOVE Joanne’s blouse.  Still.

So I hemmed the sleeves (which were also potential ruffle victims), hemmed the blouse & put the buttonholes in the back.  I made it simple.  In the picture above you can barely see the buttons, such a close match they must be!

Now I still have misgivings about this blouse, despite having worn it now.

First of all I never wear a neckline this high.  Ever.  Which is why I tried it with the necklace.  Plus, When I saw the photos I was struck by how wide & boxy it is.  But then, how much do we stand with arms out like that (except perhaps to cool over-heated arm-pits)?

Chiffon hangs lightly, we move, maybe it doesn’t look huge in normal wear? I could always put a couple of vertical darts in the front too.  So, to conclude.  This blouse is a lesser version of its potential.  I have doubts about it, but have worn it.  It is a very good blouse to wear out in evenings with trousers & I am looking forward to pairing it with my red denim Chardon skirt too….tucked in it could have a whole different look.  I think it is the prettiness of the fabric that is redeeming it….& maybe I don’t always have to embellish, maybe sometimes I just need to keep it simple?

Here is the first five days of outfit pics to show what I wore.  I am not posting every day (as you can see) but if you’re not interested, no worries!  I shall keep all my other blog & sewing posts going through this month also.

May 1st, sunny day, I managed to get out for some shopping at lunchtime (see bags by bench – they are mine).  I foolishly bought fruit & veg including a giant pineapple.  But why was this foolish you ask?  Well, I only walk 2 miles uphill to get home & therefore had this deadweight of onions, apples & one very large pineapple to add to my load!

Photo is taken in Parade Gardens.  You can just about see the Abbey behind.

What I wore:

• Simplicity 2154, chiffon polka dot blouse blogged here & cardigan blogged here.
• Colette pinstriped Meringue skirt, blogged here.
• Homemade undies
• And my Robson Trenchcoat on the way to work.
• And make-up.
• Not photographed – my Maria Denmark Laura Lounge trousers & breton shirt when I got home for slobbing.

May 2nd Another sunny/ cloudy day.

I worked from home today – breathe a sigh of relief.  I do allow myself the chance to get washing done & popped out to hang it out.  But looks like you’ve caught me hanging my smalls!

What I wore:

Kwik Sew 3659 top (blogged here) and my Built By Wendy fab red trousers, blogged here.  Undies of course homemade too.  And when it got colder, my Simplicity 2154 cardigan as above.  And I even wore make up at home too!

May 3rd.

Double trouble today – what I wore to work & then my evening outfit for going to see a band.  Now let me explain about my photos – they are all on self timer….the one I took at work….was sneakily taken at the end of the day when no one was in to witness my posing.  The gormless but rushed pose seems to me to be the most appropriate to convey the actual comfort factor behind this photo!

What I wore:

Daytime:

• Maria Denmark Kirsten Kimono Tee, blogged here
• Simplicity 2451 tulip skirt, blogged here (annoyingly, like too many of my makes, it is too big now & therefore has slipped down my hips making it longer- did you spot that?)
• McCalls 6708 Cardigan, blogged here
• Me made undies – yep & make up too.

Evening attire:

• My top is as yet unblogged, but that is coming, I promise
• Thurlow denim trousers, blogged here
• Me made undies & make up too.
• If anyone saw my appearance on Twitter that evening you’ll have seen a refashioned suede jacket too – original 1970s coat, custom-made for my Mum, shortened by me , ooh, 20 years ago & still going strong.  Not quite me-made, but nearly!

 May 4th

The weekend!  So many things to do, but one being a visit to the DIY to buy decorating materials presented the challenge of wearing something me-made that wasn’t too smart.  Coat being required meant that I brought out my Trench, but tried to be reasonably casual…still felt over dressed!  But the sun shone in the afternoon, it was glorious but windy.  I gardened all afternoon in the same clothes…

What I wore:

• Sewaholic Robson Trench coat, blogged here
• Sewaholic Renfrew, blogged here in the post of the wigs
• Sewaholic Thurlows (OMG writing this I’m realising that it is Sewaholic Saturday!!)
• Vogue 1247  top, blogged here
• Silk scarf, blogged here
• Make up & home made knicks.

May 5th

A good part of today was spent with my legs out- hoorah!  Sun & running.  It was the Glastonbury 10k (Round the Tor, not up it).  Great race followed by a pub lunch with my running buddies.

What I wore:

• Me made shorts (as yet un-blogged)
• Me Made shorts – leggings type (can’t for the life of me what else they are known as – also unblogged)
• Non me made race t-shirt & rather cool medal

• Victory Patterns Madeline skirt, blogged here
• 1950s Rockahula Vegas blouse, blogged here

No make up nor me made knicks today – was not going to risk running in the marginal pairs I had left not in the wash (is that too much info?!?!) and who wears make up running?

Now I need to get out of my me-made PJs and decide what to wear today….!  Have a good one everyone.  It’s a bank holiday in England & how blissful – it promises to be another sunny day

So to set the scene, as I do …

“You are stranded on a desert island, surrounded by beautiful crystal blue water populated by turtles & tropical fish (no sharks!).  You have a comfy cosy shelter, an abundance of food & drinking water & a solar generator.  Upon exploring the island you find a container that has fallen off a cargo ship & guess what?  It is filled with what seems to be a never ending supply of fabrics of all descriptions, threads & notions!!  What chance!

You are allowed to take your sewing machine & sewing box but which would be your 8 desert island patterns?

It sounds like paradise! An unending supply of fabric, notions, and sewing time could almost reconcile me to living in the wilderness. Almost. I melt in the sun, alas.

My first pattern choice is really easy: McCalls 2401. I don’t have a sloper, but this is the next best thing. It’s a basic but versatile sheath dress pattern. I’ve made the original dress, but I’ve also morphed it into my TNT t-shirt pattern and the sleeves have found their way onto several other patterns. However my favourite creation from this pattern is the Star Trek dress. This pattern should keep me busy for a while.

Next would be Burda 116-08-2011, a casual dress with a cowl neck, pockets, and a stand-up collar in back. It’s trivially easy to make and I love all three of my current ones to bits. It’s also practical for island life. The collar will help prevent the sun from catching the back of my neck and the pockets will be excellent for beach-combing trips.

I really ought to have a trouser pattern so I’m including Burda 103B-07-2010, the only trouser pattern I have ever made. Sadly it doesn’t seem to be available online. They’re skinny jeans with a fairly high waist and a seam down the back of the leg.

I’ll need some leggings to go under the dresses. Leggings are something I currently buy rather than making, but I’ve read such good things about the Papercut Patterns

Image from Papercut Patterns

Ooh La Leggings that I’d like to take that one along to try.  Hope it’s not cheating to take a pattern you haven’t sewn yet. [No it isn't!  This is a wishlist also ]

That’s it for the sensible stuff. I can’t say Vogue 8633 is a practical choice but it’s one of my all time favourite patterns. It’s an Easy Options pattern but I’m really only interested in view B, a sleeveless sheath with a high collar, a waist inset and a great many darts. It was a lot of effort to fit the bodice but worth it for the lovely shape.

I’ll have a lot of time on my hands on the island so I’d also like to take some more involved patterns that I wouldn’t normally have time for.

My first challenging sew is Vogue 8489, a very 1970s Vogue Easy Options pattern. It’s rated ‘Easy’, but I swear it took me a month to make the version with sleeves. It was totally worth it though. I originally made this in a print but I’d like to try it in a solid with contrast bands too.

Next is Vogue 1239, a Chado Ralph Rucci shirtdress. This dress is a really satisfying, involved project. I’ve always wanted to make it again but never had the time. I imagine it could be turned into a coat by using a heavier fabric.

Finally I have another Chado Ralph Rucci design, Vogue 1073. It caught my eye in the Vogue catalogue when I first began sewing and I finally made it just as it went out of print. It’s a wonderful pattern with many clever details; I think only a sewist could fully appreciate it! The fabric on mine hasn’t worn well so I’d love to make another one.

The sewing book I’d take is the out of print The Dressmaker’s Dictionary by Ann Ladbury [follow the previous link for Catherine's more full review]

Not only is it full of useful information and advice, the author’s strong personality comes across clearly which makes it entertaining to browse.

The non-sewing book I’d take would be The Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten years later by Alexandre Dumas. I love a good swashbuckler.

I assume I’m not allowed Internet access for my luxury? That would make it too easy! If I can’t be on-line I’d like an inexhaustible supply of excellent coffee. And for my one disk I’d take Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds.

Image from Wikipedia

Thanks so much for inviting me to do this; having to select just eight patterns has given me some new sewing inspiration. And I’m taking notes from the rest of the series…the to-sew list is getting longer all the time. Maybe I do need a bit of time away from civilization!

Catherine we should be thanking you!  Your choices are so inspirational & remind me certainly of what a versatile sewist you are & just what you turn your hand to!  Some really fascinating pattern choices, & as always I shall now go & search for your music on Spotify & give it a listen.

By the time we reach 10 castaways readers, I shall do some analysis…what are the trends, are there any recurring patterns or themes?  How many people give up underwear for the sake of a pretty dress?  Questions, questions!!

But back to talking about the Laurel Dress, yes it is a simple shift dress, however, when making it up just fits SO well.  I find this with Colette Patterns: each time I make them (Ginger, Beignet, Violet) I make more than one.  I think there is something of real “quality” and style about the drafting.  So, this is yet another Colette pattern for which I have to admit that I have an addiction – fuelled initially by the contest.  Once I started thinking about how I could interpret the Laurel Dress & make it my own, I couldn’t stop with one.  Even making two was not enough.  No, once the ideas started to visit me I made three in a matter of weeks, mainly snatches of weekend sewing too.  And each time I try a completed version on, I LOVE the way it fits & how easy it is to wear & think I could cope with having a Laurel dress for every day of the week!! You see this dress is simple in design but also in making up. Once I’d made the top & got the fit how I liked, each dress came together in a few hours – you could make it even more quickly if you didn’t fuss with some of the detail I added.  It takes a small amount of fabric too- the top even less.  Every dress I made used fabric from my stash.   Folks, I’ve gone Laurel crazy!  Now are you comfy?  Have you got your feet up and a cup of tea?

I wasn’t sure whether to put them all in one post  – three dresses, three variations & three very different looks.  I have camped it up for you folks….you’ll spot a new addition to my wardrobe & we’re not talking about the three dresses!!  There will now follow quite a few photos with the odd bit of narrative.  Not quite a photo story – sorry – missed opportunity – make one up in your head if you want.  It’s hard to know which one to start with – it’s like someone asking you which child is your favorite.  I shall therefore resort to chronological order.

Version One:  The blue Laurel dress with a contrast yoke & some crochet trim.

It’s made from a printed cotton with a polka dot contrast yoke. Drafting the yoke was easy & I like how it has worked out.  I used crochet trim like piping between the yoke & the main dress piece, as well as edging the sleeves with it.  The buttons I’ve used are almost the same as the flowers in the dress print!

I used crochet trim like piping between the yoke & the main dress piece, as well as edging the sleeves with it.

The bias facings & underside of the Peter Pan collar are also polka dots  wheeee!

Oh yes!  Red loves it! It’s now hanging up ready for the temperatures to rise a tad.

Version Two: The Elephant ric rac Laurel dress

Now if anything could be described as a Scruffy Badger signature it is 1. Ric Rac and 2. Elephant fabric.  This combines the two in one awesome dress!  The fabric was sent to me by Sonja from Ginger Makes (at last, I’ve put it to a perfect use, thank you so much you sweetie!!!)

I have used some solid white as a contrast & the irony!  We all say how much we detest facings, so Colette make a style that uses bias for facings & here I go & draft a facing to use on the outside!  It catches the egg-yolk yellow ric rac at its edge…

I took the pocket pattern piece that came with the dress & lengthened it so that I could line my pocket piece & fold over the top.  If you look very carefully you’ll see that the elephants are perfectly place in alignment with the dress fabric.  That my dears is no accident.  I used Mrs C’s genius methodology & have elephant scrawled tracing paper to prove it.

And here’s where it gets even more exciting….the new wardrobe addition.  Both my friend & I are in love with it.  It hasn’t got a name yet, but we’re working on it. (It seems to respond well to “Bouffy”)

Can you see how exciting it is to have such a perfect barnet to go with such a cute dress? I’m trying to show off my fluffy pink ring (also new) but was clearly to fidgety to get it in focus!

I did try to make sure the elephants kept to their rows….not quite perfect matching at the vertical on the centre back, but that would have been quite tricky.  All of my dresses use lapped zippers (tutorial here), I haven’t got a local source at reasonable prices & anyway, lapped zippers are how I’ve always sewn a zip.

Version three: the Gingham un-sailor dress

This is the reason I’m posting my Laurels (hahaha -  rather than resting on my laurels!) so near to tomorrow’s deadline.  I have literally finished this one tonight.  The light had gone by the time I took the photos, so they are all indoors.  Ahem, sorry, back to the dress.  The fabric was from Walthamstow the first time I went to a blogger meet up.  It’s cotton & almost like a light flannel.  I had in mind creating a version of Laurel with a sailor collar.  Here it is ..

Da na!  The collar is completely separate & has been taken from New Look 6808, as used by Zoe recently (thanks Zoe for reminding me I have this pattern!)   Now my creative processes for this dress were continual.  I knew I wanted a splash of red piping, maybe a couple of red buttons too.  But I didn’t start by knowing the effects I was going to implement.  How much piping I was going to use & where was whirring through my mind long after I’d started to sew it.  I had in mind piping the outside of the collar, but clearly didn’t as I felt less is more.

Pockets?  I didn’t have these in mind until I’d already sewn the front & back darts.  Whilst I opted to make them on the bias to add a nice touch I stabilised by lining them with fabric on the straight grain – so much easier than a. sewing a straight seam with bias cut edges and b. pressing the pocket seam allowances to include a curve.  The pocket flaps are those that came with the Laurel extras, perfect for a pop of red piping.  I tried to use my overlocker’s piping foot to attach the piping because peeps it is *awesome* & gets right up close to the piping.  However, not so good when going around curves, hence the not as perfect as I’d like finish!

There was clearly a need for piping somewhere in addition to the pocket flaps.  I’d thought about the neckline, but at that stage was not sure how the sailor collar would look with it.  I’d then thought of piping the sleeve hems, but with a cut-out.  This idea came to me when I was on the phone to my Dad – thanks BG – you didn’t know it, but you somehow helped my design process, also shameless inspired by these leggings at Sweaty Betty.  Getting the piping with tie effect was fiddly & involved hand-sewing in front of Sunday night TV.  I also had to draft a facing for the sleeve hem & its cut-out.

So that’s the back…here is the gingham version in a number of guises ….

This will be how I wear it for real folks!

It’s just such a comfy dress to wear – I reckon perfect for a Sunday dinner – you can hide a lot in that shift shape…

I could belt it in if I wanted to, although that does mean that it gets ever shorter …

Showing the pocket flaps in action…

Good for a giggle, but it’s just *too* dressing up to be taken seriously!  Oh well!  There’s something of the dib dib dib about it too!

So as I said at the beginning I have really enjoyed the challenge this contest brought me at a time when I needed a focus for my sewing.  I am not expecting to win, & [cough] feel I already have the prize: three new quirky dresses!  Roll on summer so I can get wearing them!!

For those of you who made it this far- well done!  I have to say you have staying power….talk about shaggy dog sewing!  Now I’m going to add them to Flickr and admire all the other versions!  What fun.  Good luck to all you fellow contestants.

This silk was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l: navy background with gymnasts (or if you are obsessed with swimmer related decoration like me you can convince yourself that they are actually swimmers) frolicking across its expanse with stars too. Of course I loved it & draped it across Barbarella thinking about the worthy use I could put it to. But you know what’s coming next don’t you? After a few months of gazing at it, I felt that sewing a silk scarf was how it would be most loved & appreciated by me. And, as long as I kept to its original dimensions I could always make it into something later, the scarf could actually just be a temporary make that got it into use & allowed it out into the big wide world.

Having already made napkins using the rolled hem on my overlocker I determined that provided I tried really hard to get the corners neat, I should do the same to this piece of fabric. It is 140cmx120cm, not a standard scarf measurement, quite large in fact.

Now, it’s the corners that are the tricky part – what you do is sew right up to the edge & one stitch more over the edge. Then, with needle at its highest, lift the foot & swivel the corner off the stitch finger (I know what this is now – it kind of sits inside the rows of stitches & gets bound by them …) – yes, swivel off the stitch finger & turn around 90 degrees. You then put the needle back in the fabric where you want your new seam to join with the previous seam at the inside corner. When I did this before I had a less consistent result, but this worked out OK with neat-enough corners. Phew. I didn’t want to cheapen my scarf through tatty shoddy loopy corners!

But the thing is, big scarf, many options! Salome had 7 veils I believe. Here are 7 looks for my fab scarf …

An obvious first choice, slung over one shoulder….

Rolled up along its diagonal & tied tight around the neck. There is so much more area of this scarf than the usual scarves I wear like this, it would be perfect I think if I suffered whiplash and had a neck brace to disguise…round & round & round ….

As a shawl it might look chic as a cover up for a cocktail dress. But not having one of those you’ll have to use your imagination!

Dial 999! Someone’s stolen my convertible!

Another instance where imagination is needed – could this be a summer top? It’s big enough. Thing is you’re not going to get me exposing myself in these temperatures PLUS I can see far too many stripes through even two layers of this silk! No chance I’ll be wearing it like this!

Believe it or not this is my homage to the Jedi….

But this is how I really like to wear it!

Thank you Roobeedoo for parting with such a special piece of silk! I’ve had fun styling it many different ways, but have worn it lots & love it to death.

Maybe this will result in other people discovering lengths of fabric they can bring out of a drawer and breathe some near instant life into. I do hope so

Photos give a mere feel for the party atmosphere and I’m sorry girls, they aren’t particularly posed , as they were quickly grabbed opportunistically.  I may have missed the epic meet up on Saturday, but how lovely to be amongst sewing friends as the thrills of the final unfolded.  Most marvelously hosted by Tilly, celebrating Handmade Jane’s birthday no less, Sewing Bee carrot cupcakes created by Rachel, much sewing chit chat & catching up with Zoe, Janene (Oobop), Marie & of course Karen.  Sigh.    I was blissed out.  Thank you so much for the highlight of my whole month, I tell you!   I hope you have all managed to catch the final but how sad, we are already pining now there’s a big hole on Tuesday evenings…

So, confession over, I’ll move onto to a source of fascination.  Tilly very kindly gave me a copy of Drape Drape 3, and we both agreed that the techniques/ patterns/ effects are mesmerising and also fascinating from a learning perspective.

I’m not going to officially review this book – that will have happened else where.  It does look like it’s not always had an English translation (judging by the sticker on the cover!), but clearly no excuses for not understanding how to do it!  From what I can tell the garments’ beauty &/or  “unusualness” comes not from complicated seams and stitching, but from the shapes of the patterns & choosing appropriately drapey fabric.  Now whilst there are a lot of styles that require jersey, there are also styles that use wovens.  Take this sundress.

No.11, three piece sundress.  Is it the polka dots that draws me to it?  Is it the promise of sand between my toes and turquoise water beckoning me to leap in & snorkel up some fishies?  Thing is I really want to make it but when would I wear it, come on, in England?!  But give me the promise of a tropical holiday & this take on the sarong would be right up my street.

Other things that caught my eye, this rather beautiful top,

No.13 one piece boatneck tunic.  Now I don’t know why I like this.  I think the fabric choice is brilliant- just lace, no stretch required.  Would it look good with leggings?  Possibly.  Would it look like a flying suit if you got the fabric choice desperately wrong?  I think so!!  I’d be tempted if & only if I could find some lace like this.  I think.  Maybe.  Perhaps,

There is a dress I’ve been giving some attention to, No 12 three piece gather drape wrap dress.    Most definitely a dress to be worn with leggings let me tell you!  It’s clearly a style for knits.  Look at that main piece – that’s where most of the magic takes place.  Lots of places with gathering.   It might not be scary at all ….making or wearing.  Is the drama factor low enough to be considered  for a provincial life?

And finally I have saved my “most likely to sew first” till last.  Tilly will know that apart from the dotty sundress I was drawn/ fascinated/ confused/ upset even by these

They are shorts!  No.8, three piece tuck drape shorts.  Or when you look at the pattern pieces, they look like a nappy!  And then when you look at the line drawings they look like Hammer pants!  Bizarrely I am very likely to make these as my summer lounge-wear.  I kid you not!  I am intrigued by them & how they might be worn …They look simple enough to make, and look what arrived today…

Oh my!  A consignment of sumptuous fine jerseys from Jill at Itterations Workwear (of the Drafting Top)  She kindly enclosed some plain black jersey for me as a thank you for pointing out to you readers that these beautiful jerseys are on special offer, and even with international postage you are getting a decent length of quality fabric at a very reasonable price.  They are mostly suitable for tops I’d say, but I would be willing to use the black or navy to make them hammer shorts.  Go and check out the stripes though – there are some with lurex running through (disco time!) & as you can see I fell for the lovely fine stripes because they sang to me.  And my overlocker is hungry.  I could not refuse.

I really need to get my sewing for summer plan sorted.  There is a danger that I continue to veer from one sewing urge to another ….which is a good thing to do sometimes, but I feel a plan or an objective at least is missing…

For now though, that’s all!  Byeee xx