The Mia Set Blouse

 Hello this week I have made a few things but again can only share the one, the first thing was a top and I will have to share that at a later date because it was for a video post and then I made a purse for a friend but forgot to take the picture before wrapping and giving it!  Oh dear, anyway I can share this blouse that I made using the Mia set pattern that came with a magazine.  The magazine was Simple Sew and it was quite some time ago so a few of you may have this pattern knocking about the place.

I have made it before but last time I made it as a dress, again I have only gone for the one layer to the sleeves as I think two layers looks a bit much on me, plus I tend to get too much sleeve caught in things. The fabric is from minerva.com and is shade carmine  my husband did say it looks like reindeer but I have made this top as a summer make not a winter one as I feel they are just stags and that is a design for any time of year.

If you are going to make this design I would say check the shoulders are sitting correctly before you finish up, I found that I had to run them down a bit as they stood up on me.  Just try it on to be sure other than that it is quite a straight forward easy pattern.

I did a bit of tucking in there at the front as the blouse does hang quite loose  at the bottom, I also chopped about 4cm off the bottom of the flounce because they were a bit long and I wanted three quarter sleeves.

I had to take a chance last week and plant out a lot of my greenhouse plants, it has been so rubbish here that I didn't want them to get a shock but they were so big I just spent the afternoon putting it all out.  They did initially flop but now seem to have perked up I look forward to having more colour out there to share with you.  There will be more garden pictures as the weather improves I'm sure. 

We managed to get out for an Italian meal last week also the first in a long time, we went during the day time as we like it quiet but there were still a few in for a Friday lunch, that is a good sign for the business.  I suppose people are just eager to get out and do something.

It is the school holiday now so I have a full week off to look forward to, I hope you are all keeping well and staying busy I will enjoy having the time to get around all your blogs and seeing what you are up too. Bye for now. 

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.