Striped Pencil Skirt

I've been getting on with more fabric from my Minerva Crafts lucky dip bag today, this time a blue and white stripe.  I knew what to do with this as soon as I saw it as I pictured it in my head. It was a combination of a pattern and one of my own as I know the fit of mine better.  People do like to see a pattern to work from though, I will link more on that for the Minerva post.

This feels like it will be a nice versatile skirt, and as it is relatively plain I'm hoping it will go with lots of tops.  The fabric is a bit stretchy but I still did a little walking split.

It is funny really as I probably would not have put this fabric in my basket but I love the result, as I've said before I get carried away with  colourful prints and neglect the wardrobe staples.

To make the pattern accurate I used some old wrapping paper that was in my cupboard and transferred my markings to that.  This kind of cheap paper is really good to use for that purpose as it has a little grid marked on the back of it, it is also a little sturdier than tissue paper.

After that was complete I had a dig around in what few patterns I have and found a nice summer dress for the black cotton.  It is going to have a twist as I'm putting a patterned piece in the middle of the dress (there I go again!) I hope to get that all done tomorrow so I can wear it for a night out with family.

We have just had a bit of rain here, it didn't last long but it has saved me one job. I also filled a little container with the golden cherry tomatoes from the greenhouse, very satisfying and  they didn't last long either.

Baby Outfit, Shirt and Hat

Just recently I received a lucky dip bag from Minerva Crafts this has a selection of fabrics chosen for you six metres in total.  I will share more on this later as I am putting together a post for them but for now I will share a few of the bits I am making with it.  One of the fabrics was a children's print with little frogs, I showed it to my friend who has a little boy and as she loved it I decided to make a little something for him.

I didn't have a pattern but she sent me a t-shirt and hat so I am hoping it will fit!  It was also a squeeze to get the two items out of this piece so we will have to see.  It has been  a fun make this morning so everything is crossed.

I love this print and it was a colourful addition to the bundle, I need to get my thinking cap on now to see what I can make with the other pieces of fabric from the package.

The hat is the same on the inside so reversible, if I had thought on I should have done it in a contrasting fabric then the shirt wouldn't have been such a squeeze, but I dived in so there you go!

The underside of the collar is plain blue and it is just in one piece top and bottom.

In the garden my kale plants are being attacked by the white butterfly, it seems every time I go outside they are laying on them then I have to inspect them all.  I know next time I will have to net the plants to  keep them off  Also the constant watering in this heat! We complain about rain but we really could do with a bit around now, my water metre would be grateful for a few full water butts.

On a positive note it is lovely to nip out and get some chili, kale (the undamaged ones) or chili for a dish. The peas are finished and the few that were left were pulled down by the dog who discovered he liked them.  I have put a few more in the greenhouse but it may be too late, worth a try though.  

We would like to put a few fruit trees in and some beds on the ground, we are thinking this may involve a little mesh fence just high enough to keep the dogs out on one section, but still transparent so as to not block it off completely. 

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.