Colette Sorbetto Tank Top

*Hello*

My next sewing project decision was a pretty easy one!

I have decided to try the Sorbetto Tank Top by Colette Patterns.

This is a free (thank you!) downloadable pattern and is described as follows:

"This simple tank is quick to make, with no closures to sew ..."

Decision made!

Downloaded the pattern.

Stuck it together

Fabric find in charity shop today - £4.99 for duvet and base valance

Bias binding (gold!) in my stash, my mum brought it back from Majorca (4.50 Euros) and 

I have had it a few years waiting for the right project - this is it!

Have already sewn bust darts, made a single box pleat down the front,

 joined shoulder and side seams, finished off edges, ironed all the seams

and have just learned how to use bias binding on the neck seam.

Getting a bit excited - have just completed bias binding around the neck.

Had to stop for a cup cake bought by the Hub at Kelso Farmer's Market this morning 

and a cup of tea - lovely! - now back to work!

Bias binding on arm holes - getting a bit more excited!

Very excited about the finished top!

Here's a wee close up - very very excited!

I absolutely loved making this top - definitely going to make more (got fabric in mind!).

The instructions were great - simple enough for a beginner like me to get to grips with,

and I was able to make it in an afternoon!

I also loved using the gold bias binding, i've got a good bit left but I'll need to try and find some more,

if you know of a source I would love to hear from you! 

Summing Up:

Fabulous free pattern with easy to follow instructions - tick.

Can make it in an afternoon - tick.

Very wearable with a bit of sparkle - tick.

Will definitely be making more from the Colette Patterns range - tick.

Tilly's Miette Skirt Finished!

*Hello*

After a shaky start I have completed my first Miette skirt! 

(yes I am going to make another one!)

A couple of wee blunders were made ... but I think I have a wearable skirt.

1. Download pattern from Tilly's blog - tick that.
2. Check the size box to make sure you are printing the pattern at the right size - tick that.
3. Make sure you have enough paper in printer - tick that.
4. Print pattern - tick that.

This is where the first problem started as you can see below.

Not enough paper in the printer - doh!

I thought it would start up again at the right spot and I thought I was fine 

until I started to stick the pattern together and there was one completely blank piece of paper
and as you can see a big hole in the middle. 

(page 15 to be precise)

I debated with myself whether I would need the missing page
but as I have just started sewing I thought it might be important!

This is page 15!

The line in the corner is a grain line.
I don't think I really needed it (!) and I hadn't reset the printer to print the page again properly, so as I didn't want a big hole in the pattern the sheet was just stuck down as it was!

I found the instructions on Tilly's blog really easy to follow (thank you Tilly!)

I got a bit confused when I got to the waistband (not reading instructions properly probably).

I was pinning things back to front and wrong side round but once I realised I had to get the two gaps in the waistband to match up (and had stopped for my dinner) I started to roll!

The second wee problem was with the waistband - one of the seams folded over (tried to keep them all open) and of course it was on the tie that needs to go through the gap in the waistband, so a wee bit lumpy going through the hole (does that make sense?)
All part of the learning curve and I am now pretty pleased with the results!

The skirt is so comfy and easy to wear.
I had worn the skirt to work the day the photos were taken
and I now have it hanging on the outside of my wardrobe so that I can gaze at it!!

Thank you again Tilly you have inspired me to go forth and sew!

Something Lovely Has Just Happened!

A lovely bit of news, 

my brand new, haven't made a mess of it (yet!) sewing blog 

has been nominated for a Leibster Blog Award by the lovely Amy at sylkotwist.

Thank you so much Amy for the kind gesture.  It's lovely to get a wee mention on your blog and it is a great way of finding other bloggers.

As Amy said in her post - it is a way for discovering blogs with under 200 followers where the nominated blogger answers 11 questions and gives 11 random facts about themselves they then nominate a further 11 bloggers setting new questions to help promote their blogs.  I would just like to say that being new to everything I am not sure how everyone follows everyone else (it's a bit confusing!) and if my nominated blogs actually have over 200 followers I apologise but I wanted to mention your lovely blogs any way!

Thankfully for me and my fellow nominated bloggers Amy only did half of everything (thank you, I couldn't have managed 11 either!) and she gave me 5.5 questions to answer, so I presume that means I can do the same?

My very good excuse is that I am extremely new to blogging and what with working full-time and cooking and washing and cleaning, never mind the garden and seeing to the family !☺!

I don't actually know that many bloggers yet!

Well I think I've sorted that out so I'll carry on with answering the questions Amy kindly set:

1.  If The National Gallery offered you a painting free of charge for your lounge, which one would you take?  I love going to art exhibitions and especially seeing the paintings close up so that you can see the brush strokes but I think it would have to be something bright for the living room so "Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh would be lovely thanks!

2.  If you could have a me made fashion show, which fashion designer would you take to share the cat walk with?  My me made clothes at this precise moment are a blouse and a skirt (skirt just finished tonight, so will be here pretty soon!) and as they are both Tilly's designs I would choose Tilly!

3.  You have discovered a time machine under your sewing machine (just behind the scrap bag).  With clothes in mind, which year would you go back to and why?  I would definitely go back to a year in the 1920's.  Modern fashion really started in this era and I love all the gowns, cloche hats, lots of feathers, sequins and flowing fabrics.  I find it fascinating to look at the gowns and accessories of the 20's.  (I've got a few(!) pinboards on Pinterest where I can indulge myself!)

4.  You have been given a bolt of your dream fabric and with the help of Patrick Grant to make a dress.  What pattern would you choose?  Mmm, this is a hard one - at the moment the only patterns I am aware of are Tilly and the Buttons patterns (!).  I think I would have to let Patrick take full control of the proceedings!

5.  If you had a free flight to anywhere in the world, where would you go? and a half - if you could bring back one item of clothing ....  I would love to visit the USA.  I've seen it on the TV so many times and it would be lovely to experience it for real.  I would love to bring back a proper pair of cowboy boots.

Five random facts about me:

1.  Like Amy I also like to name my cars, my current car is called Flavia.

2.  I like to eat my corn on the cob one row at a time.

3.  I LOVE After Eight Dinner Mints and can't stop eating them when I start a box (I love the wee envelopes).

4.  I can't get to sleep unless I have socks on.

5.  I have started carrying random bits of material and a measuring tape in my handbag to match up colours (everyone does that, don't they?).

The five inspiring and lovely blogs I would like to nominate are:

1.  forgetmenots blue - FB has a lovely blog full of crochet, flowers and handmade lovelies.  I am very jealous of her new typewriter!!

2.  Curious Pip - I just love Sarah's blog.  She makes amazing handmade dolls inspired by vintage loveliness, showgirls and old Hollywood.  I am always amazed at the detail she puts in to the costumes and of course the flappers are my favourites.

3.  Seams so easy - Aliza's blog is very interesting she sews, she fabric prints and I'm looking forward to her unveiling her new project - soon please Aliza!

4.  The Little Things - Ali's lovely blog is very creative.  Her blog is full of crafty loveliness.  I love her crochet slippers and her textile course looks very interesting.

5.  Recyclara - I discovered Eva's lovely blog through Pinterest.  She has excellent tutorials for recycling, upcycling and restyling of used clothes and other materials.  Again a very inspiring blog.

Here are my five questions for the bloggers I have nominated:

1.  If you had 3 wishes what would you wish for?
2.  What jobs have you been procrastinating?
3.  What is your favourite flower?
4.  What is your dream job?
5.  What is the best blogging tip you could ever give?

I would like to thank Amy at sylkotwist again for this wee chance to link up with other bloggers and I hope my nominated bloggers enjoy doing it too!  I look forward to seeing what happens!

Tilly's Miette Skirt Ready Steady Go

*Hello*

Keeping the theme going I'm about to embark on my second sewing project.

Tilly's Miette Skirt.

Got my pattern downloaded and printed.

Got my fabric.

Chrissie at the Fabric Shop in Melrose was lovely

 and spent a bit of time helping me choose the fabric.

We had spotty fabric out, linen fabrics, so many to choose from.

I knew I wanted something with a bit of weight to it but with a summery pattern.

So I plumped for this one because it has a linen feel and is bright and summery!

Thank you Chrissie for your help!

I'm going to do the skirt without the pockets with this fabric.

Will get cracking with the sewing this week hoping to finish at weekend!
(Enough time to get brown legs for photos?)

Have you made this pattern?
I would love to hear any of your tips or hints.