McCall's Dress

 I have quickly made this dress over the last few days, it was an nice one to work on and the fabric is great so that always helps.  I have made this before but in a fabric that was quite stretchy and I ended up taking that one in quite a lot, I chose to leave this one a bit bigger but I still added my own darts as I don't like things to hang too loose.  In fact this till feels quite big to me but the style is not supposed to be super fitted so I will leave it for now at least I will be able to move in it. 

This is a cotton poplin Art Gallery fabrics print from minerva, it is actually called catch and release. The weather is gloomy again so I braved it for the photo then put my jeans back on! Oh the British weather. 

I have lined the dress but not the sleeves, I also used a regular zip in the back then top stitched to make it invisible and I have to say the zip goes up and down much better than the invisible ones.

I have also been and sorted some of my patterns that I have cut from trace off from Burda.  I don't know if anyone else is such a messy dressmake as me but I have ended up with bits pushed in drawers and a box next to my sewing table!  I have made nice covers for them and put them neatly in a box that I have covered with paper.  I will try and do this as I go in future, well I say that now but lets see ;)

This way I also remember what I made in it rather than just a sketch on the front of the line drawing. 

After I had done that I had a look through my magazines because I was wondering about renewing my subscription for Burda as it has just ended. Looking through there are still things I have marked down to make and a lot of style do repeat so for now I will stick with what I have got. I can always buy it if there is a particular one I want.

There are at least three things marked on my to make list in this box so it is pointless adding to it for now. It was nice to have it drop through the letterbox once a month though.

Now this next bit of news is for anyone who suffers with their  tummy after food, I have this issue and all kinds if things can set me off with cramps.  This week I| was not well and I have discovered fennel seeds, they seem to be working and I don't want to speak too soon but ever since I have been eating them I have been so much better.  I just bought them from Asda in a pot and chew half a teaspoon after each meal slowly until all the flavour has gone then swallow. It feels a bit like a magic cure but lets hope it lasts, I am not a fan of the flavour but it is worth it.  Why not give it a try if you are having the same issues.   My mum said it is all that veg you eat but now that is a good thing, I am not going to eat junk to avoid bloating. 

Anyway that's enough medical advice I am not a Doctor, I hope you all have a lovely week back soon. 

White Blouse

 Hello, I am still waiting to get into my spring clothes I don't know about you but over here it is still thick tights and my big coat!  I know I'm going to be standing on the yard at school so I have to make sure I am warm.  I had one day I think where I was a bit over dressed but that was it and then the heating was back on.  

Not to be deterred I have made a white summer blouse and I look forward to wearing it without being layered up.  The fabric is art gallery fabrics from Minerva and the code is LTO-9233 if you are interested in it, or you can head over there and read my post about it there.  The pattern is from Burda January and is style 106  if you have that issue.

I have never been really into overly fussy sleeves but I am sold on this one, when I cut the pieces out I did wonder why I so was bothering but the finished result is very nice so I am glad I went ahead with this style.

 

There is a button at the front of the collar so it is quite fitted around the neck.

It is a lovely fabric I don't tend to have a lot of white as I work in a school and I am quite messy too, so how long before I spill my tea down this or a child uses me as a tissue we will have to see. 

In other sewing I made a dress at the weekend and filmed it but I am unable to share that right now more on that soon I hope.  I have also had some bits of altering and repairs for a colleague.

In books I have loved Pan's Labyrinth and also found interesting The Element by Ken Robinson, one thing I have to say about that though is I had already watched a lot of Ken Robinson's talks on TED and YouTube and this made it so that I was already familiar with most of what was in the book.  I have found this before and if you are like me and watch talks and long interviews with people on YouTube and think oh I'll buy their book maybe don't. 

This isn't the first time this has happened, I watch and listen to the Rich Roll podcast and he has lots of interesting people on as guests. The interviews he hosts usually last around 2hours, if they are talking about a book you have usually got all the important information in that time.  I am not being negative here but books are expensive so it avoids disappointment sometimes.

I nearly bought one the other day after watching a talk about the microbiome of the digestive system, he was really in depth and I looked for a used copy but they were still £14 plus postage, after watching a few reviews I got the idea I had all the important facts and chose not to buy.  If it comes right down in price I may consider it, the book was Fiber Fueled if you have read it please let me know.

Well that is all for now, have lovely week.  

Zip Through Hoodie

 Hello, I hope you are all well and are getting out a bit more, we actually managed to get get away in our caravan last weekend so that was lovely and well worth the wait.   We went to a site just outside Scarborough and it was beautiful, on a farm and there were only two other caravans there so it was really lovely and quiet.  Open farmland in every direction so beautiful scenery and that is just the way we like it as we are not into club houses and busy campsites.  We have a few more of these small farm sites booked so I am looking forward to that, we also have a weekend booked for York but that is on a larger site as it was all that we could get. I think the whole country are booking up the camp sites this year!

I also finished another sweater before I went to take with me, this one has a zip and it was perfect to wear while we were away because although it was sunny it was still very cool, especially by the sea.

Look at that land, so pretty and that was the view from our caravan too. 

This fabric is really cosy and soft on the inside, I am actually wearing it right now too as I came in from work and it was a bit cold in the house.  I am trying to fill the gaps with a few practical garments for my wardrobe, you know the things you always reach for but I am generally drawn to making pretty dresses and having nowhere to wear them to.

Here are a few pictures from our break, we went into Scarborough one day and Whitby the next, they are just a short drive away from the site.

Whitby Abbey with a suitably gothic sky.

I had a look in a small book shop while  we were there and bought the book Pan's Labyrinth, I had seen the film so was interested to see how the book was.  I am enjoying it so far, it is very different. 

Well that is all for now, have a good week.