*Hello*
Hope you have had a good weekend!
What a scorching weekend it has been here in the Scottish Borders as it has in most of the UK - and it's supposed to stay for another wee while yet - yippee!
I have used some of my bag making fabric stash to make a
Simplicity Lisette Traveler Dress (K2246) another free pattern with Sew Magazine earlier this year if I remember rightly.
What I am beginning to learn is that the fabric choice is so important!
This fabric is ok (actually curtain fabric) but I don't love it.
It is too beige(!)
I bought some buttons (love these!) from the Fabric Shop in Melrose to finish the dress off.
I'm going to reserve judgement until late summer I think but I enjoyed making the dress, it was my first attempt at a collar and short puff sleeves!
The instructions were really straightforward and easy to follow, with bust darts, waist darts front and back on the bodice and a gathered skirt. The puff sleeves came together pretty quickly and the collar surprisingly straightforward.
Due to being absolutely sweltered today, all my skirts being in the wash and not having a pair of shorts to my name I decided to rectify the situation.
I have had these wide legged linen trousers in my wardrobe and haven't worn them for at least two years SO they are going to become my new shorts!
Here we have the first cut
12 inches from the crotch!
No, not short enough, took about another 4 inches off!
Might take some more off later!
I need to wear a pair of shorts this afternoon!
I then stood and looked at my new shorts
wanting to do an amazing upcycling job with them.
I got out my bias binding, ribbon, looked through my thread box and generally made a bit of a mess deciding what to do next.
Of course as usual I decided to just keep it pretty plain and machine hemmed and then added a decorative stitch on the hem.
It is so subtle that you can't see it!
Here's my first effort with taking my own photo with the timer thing on the camera.
I seem to have found my pose (it is the same on my Miette Skirt post!).
This is me in the garden.
I'm quite liking my new shorts!
Notes to Self:
Stop slouching when you are at the sewing machine and you won't get sore shoulders.
Try to stop clenching your teeth when unpicking buttonholes that go wrong.
P.S. My Kindle died on me last night just when I was about to press publish, so this is what happened yesterday!
Happy sewing!
Love the dress - what a great freebie for a magazine, and the buttons are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI find that more I sew for myself, the more picky I am getting re fabric. As much as I love quilting cottons and the amazing range of designs they come in, I am finding that I prefer fabrics with more drape etc.
The shorts look great too :-)
Hi Justine thanks you are too kind! it was a good freebie should have put on a pic of the pattern (doh!) There are another two variations might try them too. I'm on a bit of a steep learning curve but enjoying it :-) x
DeleteWow, youve done so well with your dress, it looks perfectly made! If you dont like the colour, why dont you dye it :-) x
ReplyDeleteHi Ali what a brilliant idea hadn't thought of that - I think I will! Thanks :-) x
DeleteI love the dress and the new shorts are adorable! Nice work.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer you are too kind thanks! Thanks for popping by! :-) x
DeleteGreat shorts lovely stitching around the hems very pretty. You wear them well x
ReplyDeleteHi there I think they need to be a bit shorter! But they'll do for now! Thanks :-) x
DeleteThe dress is great! As are the shorts, well done! Hope you continue to enjoy this gorgeous weather we are having.
ReplyDeleteM x
Hi thank you! The weather is great isn't it! x
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