Maxi Dress Hack

Hello I managed to get another dress completed this week, well almost just the zip to go in and it's done! My mother-in-law went to fetch it so I had been waiting on that, then she came for a fitting.  She had an idea of a dress she liked so she brought me that one.  I also had a pattern another magazine freebie for a sun dress so we decided to do a combination of the two.

I did the version from the pattern for the bodice then the length of the maxi, plus a few little pleats.  We have also decided on a back split to the knee for ease of walking.  That is probably  not needed because of the pleats but just to be safe it is there.

I was going to ask her to be in the photo but then I thought it was a bit unfair to ask as she may not want to but say yes to be polite so I didn't ask.  So trusty mannequin to the rescue, friends who are reading if you don't mind being in photos let me know, or I could remove the head from the photo to make you anonymous otherwise I won't ask.   

  Loving that fabric, my husband said he didn't like it then as soon as he saw my mother-in-law wearing it he said oh yes it  looks good as a dress. That is the funny thing as I sometimes buy fabric and love it but I am not sure when it is made up, then there are times when I am a bit meh! about the fabric when it arrives but then I love the outcome.   This is hard to explain to people you make for though, so choose wisely or go on something you have seen made up.  

This is the free pattern  I did the top part from...

The sizing worked out perfect for her and as I said I just did my own pleated skirt version with a back vent/split. 

The summer holidays are fast approaching so I will have time for my own plans, plus a few things for friends.  I also need to make a new little dog quilt for my sofa, the one I have on is a real dog hair magnet so a cotton one will be better.  I could get them down I know bit it is their home too so I choose to use and wash quilts/throws just for the dogs. 

Another Shift Dress

The dress I made today is from the free New Look pattern I got with Sew magazine last month. It is very similar to the scuba dress I made but I have added patch pockets to the front on this one and made the sleeves short.  As  I was feeling very hot I let the mannequin do the modelling for me today.

This dress is in  a thick jersey from Minerva crafts that I bought last month and it will be saved for cooler days.  I have been making lots of summery things and what I find is the weather will turn cooler and my wardrobe is not prepared.  So I am trying to stay ahead by planning for those days in advance this year.
This pattern actually comes out a really good fit and it is easy to make up, quite relaxing sewing with no hiccups.  I can see it will get used a lot due to the simplicity of it .

As you can see the pockets on mine are just made up, I just decided on a size and tried them on the dress. When I was happy with the placement I stitched them down.

I think because this dress is plain the pockets add a little detail but the pattern does give you the option to add the strips with buttons.

Last week I started a top from another free pattern but I used a white crepe, I have decided that I don't like the crepe, there is something about the feel of it.  Also the white was really see through to the point where you would have to wear something under it. This was never my intention so this annoyed me, so coupled with the feel of it I got close to finishing it and then just stopped.  I did like the detail on the front of the top so I will try again another day in a better fabric choice.

For the last few weeks I have been taking part in a future learn course Sustainable Futures, it is really interesting and I have been able to follow up on lots of links from fellow learners, about different charities combatting food waste, alternative energy and various community projects dealing with homelessness. I have done courses with them before and I think it is great that these free resources are there for us to use.

I have purchased a compost bin (second hand) my husband has been busy this morning adding mesh to the bottom so the vermin can't get in, I hope that works!  He  said if he sees any it's going. Lots of people use them so it must be ok?  If you have one and are having a problem let me know with any tips or advice.

The tomatoes are just starting to ripen, I have stood and ate a few there in the greenhouse, there seems to be a pattern emerging with me doing that with the food. Some of it may find it's way the kitchen.

These yellow ones are super sweet, I am going to plant more of those ones next year. 

Floral Scuba Dress

It turned out that sewing the scuba fabric was a breeze, after reading that it had been mangled in someone's overlocker recently I did wonder how it was going to go but it was no trouble at all.  I like the fact that it doesn't fray as well, it does irritate me sometimes when I choose a fabric and then there are bits of it all over the place within minutes of cutting.  You know the kind that sticks to hands in a staticky  way and you walk it from room to room without realizing, well there wasn't any of that.  Aside from my scissors snagging on it a bit the edges don't even need finishing unless you want to.

So here it is just the one photo as I am doing a more detailed post on this for Minerva...

So this will be a fabric I return to if I see a design I like.

Here we are at the end of the month so this is the last time I will be blogging on a daily basis, I will return to my normal routine of once a week, sometimes more if I have something I want to share.  

What I have found by making myself post everyday is that we can find these little pockets of time do things, that doesn't mean I want to post everyday but it is doable even if the posts are short as mine have been.   I have noticed that others who post diary style blogs on a daily basis do tend to keep things short and other bloggers who post about once a month have very lengthy posts.

It may be something I do in the future but for now I am having the week off, I don't want this to start and feel like a chore.  There are a few makes lined up for the coming weeks so I will be back next weekend to share one of those.

I also want to catch up on my blog reading as I am a bit behind with the people I follow which goes to show we don't all get the time to read blogs ourselves everyday so is the daily post idea worthwhile anyway?  I would love to know your thoughts on how you arrived at your current post dates and why, or do you like to keep it more random?