I wanted to try making shorter sleeves on my blouses so I re-drafted the sleeve pattern

Can just about see what I’ve done.

I’d been meaning  to buy some of this paper for months & finally did so in February. Its so useful I’ve re-drafted several things already. Anyway this is my first attempt at short sleeves.

Having the shorter sleeves has enabled me to get the sleeve pattern on the fabric the right way round this time. when i made the last blouse with the Merchant & Mills black & white fabric I had to put the sleeve pattern side ways as it was too wide for the fabric. The fabric was only 112cm wide and you need at least 140cm width really. But this time with shorter sleeves all fitted properly. I’m using more M&M fabric, the same as the black & white one but this is sort of red & white with a blue wash. Gives quite an interesting effect. This top will go beautifully with jeans me thinks.

Bit of a tight fit on the fabric when its 112cm wide.

Here’s me wearing it.

I’m quite pleased with the shorter sleeves but now know I can go even shorter. Back to the drawing board.

I bought a couple of cards recently because I loved the pictures. I wash’t sure what I was going to do with them, but then I remembered about 17 years ago bulk buying picture frames in IKEA and I wondered if they would fit the cards. I had to cut the cards down a bit, but otherwise a perfect fit.

Beach huts

Sewing machine.

They look really cute in my little sewing room.

I really feel like I’ve come a long way from the rectangle tops I was making last year. I still love them, but I’m so happy that I’ve moved on a bit. I know I have a long way to go before I’m anywhere near as talented as half the sewing bloggers out there, but at least I now know I’m not scared of curves and sleeves or facings.

Anyway back to the subject in hand. After making the Liberty fabric dress, I wondered if I had enough of the Merchant & Mills black dress weight denim to make another dress. You might remember that I’ve attempted to make dresses with this fabric twice before, but that was in my rectangle days and they never quite worked out and would end up as tops. I was not daunted by having another go, now knowing the possibilities that the Mathilde pattern opened up for me. I checked my fabric stash and sure enough I had enough fabric to make a dress.

I then had the idea that maybe I would make the bottom section in a contrasting colour. Basically turn the fabric over. The other side of the black denim is a gorgeous light grey. So this is what I did.

Nice pic of the bust dart.

After doing that I started having ideas that maybe the sleeves should be in the contrasting colour too. But I was also thinking I could be getting carried away and it might just look horrible. I ran the idea past a friend and drew her a little sketch, and we both agreed it could look really good. So I went for it.

Oh yeah, looking good!

Loving it! Please excuse foot & PJ’s

Bottom panels don’t match up exactly, but I think I can get away with it! May & Patrick wouldn’t approve i’m sure…

So loving the sleeves.

Modelling pic.

I am so pleased with this dress. Looks fab with jeans or tights and boots. Love it love it love it! When i first finished it, it didn’t look quite right to me. I felt it was just a bit too long, so I took off about 2cm and now its perfect.

Even looks good on the hanger

I know its only the end of March, but I want to reflect a little on the turn my sewing has taken so far this year.

In January I made my first Mathilde blouse which was also the first thing I’d made using a proper pattern. First time I made sleeves too. I was so damned happy and pleased with myself.

I might not look it but I am.

Then came another one in a different fabric.

I got a bit carried away with myself after that and thought I could make a coat!

Here it is on me.

And that was January…

February saw me back to making Mathilde blouses and variations of it. I wanted to make it longer, so I just added 5cm to the bottom of the front & back bodice pieces.

Like so.

Perfect length, I love it.

Then came another one the same length.

Really is the perfect length for me. Thats what I love about making your own clothes, you can adapt things to suit yourself. So you get what you want.

Next up comes the Liberty dress. Which is the dress version of the Mathilde, my style ;0)

Modelled by Gerti…

And that was February. Its now nearly the end of March and I have another three garments to share. Coming up soon…

Went to Liberty a few weeks ago and as a treat bought myself 2metres of this totally gorgeous fabric

So pretty, and so many lovely colours in it. I love the background colour, which is a sort of khaki green. Think this will go with nearly everything.

I was going to make another Mathilde blouse, but once I’d cut the pieces out I saw I had a quite a bit left over. Not enough to make another garment but enough that it felt like a waste. I decided to see if I could add the fabric to the bottom of the back and front panels and make a dress.

Yes I can.

I attached the bottom to the top using french seams. I’m really pleased with it and felt it worked well. I remembered to  graduate the side seams outwards. Gives the dress a bit of an A-line shape. Now for the pictures and as usual there will be lots.

I love that you can barely see the join. I think I managed to pattern match quite well.

I just adore french seams, and look at that lovely dart.

The inside is almost as pretty as the outside. So I had to take some pictures.

Back to the outside.

Can’t see it too well but I have a daisy on the cuff on both sleeves in almost exactly the same place!

Modelled by Gerti…

Modelled by me…

One more, just cos I love it so much.

I”ve done some of my best sewing so far, on this dress. I didn’t rush it, took my time. And made it as close to perfect as I could. I’m really happy with the gathering on the sleeves at the cuffs.

I can never manage to get all the creases out of my fabrics, think I might need a new iron.

I bought something else whilst I was in Liberty. These gorgeous Baby bow scissors, by Merchant & Mills. I look at them every time I go to M&M but wasn’t sure I really needed them. And then I saw them in Liberty and decided I had to have them. They are the best things ever. They sit on my sewing machine whilst I’m sewing, so are within easy reach for snipping any annoying threads and such like. Means I don’t have to keep my larger pair next to the machine all the time.

Aren’t they cute?

I made another Mathilde top, in my own style. I made it longer again. I definitely prefer it a bit longer, suits me much better. I love this fabric too. another one from Merchant & Mills. Now for lots of pics.

Sleeveless from the front

Side view

Back

Other side

I love how the extra length just gives it a little bit of a flare.

Front with sleeves

Side, you get the idea… I love the puffiness of the sleeves, my gathering technique is getting better.

Love the daisies running down the centre of the sleeve. Didn’t work out quite as well on the other one.

I put a couple of stitches at the neckline just to help the facing stay put.

Ta daa…

I love this one. Think its my favourite so far. Each Mathilde has turned out a little different to the last, so I’m quite happy to keep making the same pattern at the moment. Does anybody else make the same pattern over and over again? I know some people never make the same pattern twice, but this is what I love about different fabrics. They can lend something new so no two garments ever look the same. Or so I like to think.