Monthly Archives: July 2021

Coming up Daisies – Libby shirt #6

Blouses & Tops
  • Daisy printed 100% Cotton from stash

The Libby shirt by Sew Over It is one of my TNT patterns. In an effort to reduce the amount of fabric in my stash I was delighted to find this remnant of pretty Daisy printed cotton with a Green background that was originally purchased from Fabricland in Salisbury. This print is ideal to be part of my current ‘collection’ of Summer clothing and should be great to wear with cut off pants.

“With its boxy shape, cropped hem and pretty collar, Libby is a contemporary yet timeless little shirt with loads of potential. The Libby Shirt features a comfortable loose fit, button-up front, notched collar, partial collar stand, unlined yoke with gently gathered back, and short grown-on cuffed sleeves. Ideal for wearing with a high-waisted skirt or jeans, the Libby Shirt has a cropped hem with two options: keep it straight across the front, or gently curve it to add a little extra length.”

These days I have my standard adjustments for this pattern. I add ½ inch to the side seams, extend the front bodice and facing x 5 inches and the back bodice by 4 inches. This provides the additional coverage needed for a full bust without having to add a dart. I do not use the back neck facing, instead I add a label panel and close up the back collar stand by turning under and top stitching in place.

  • My method of finishing the inside collar stand

These adjustments now provide a great fitting blouse that is shaped and long enough to cover my ‘lockdown tummy’. It is also great to tuck into skirts without forever pulling free.

The grown on sleeves still tend to stick out but I do plan to hack the pattern to have set in sleeves. Something that I really must get around to!

Although not included in the instructions, I have top-stitched the collar and facings. For the back yoke I added a loop at the centre plus a box pleat for the fullness.

  • Back yoke with box pleat and fabric loop – because I can!

All seams are overlocked. There are striped 5 buttons (from my stash) down the front of the blouse and the shaped hem has been overlocked before a double turn and machine stitched in place.

  • Libby Blouse #6

I am delighted with how this blouse has turned out, it goes very well with the Red stretch denim TEXAS pants by Style Arc and of course any of my White trousers and skirts.

Project #47 completed 15th July 2021

Quilted Kindle Case

Bags & Pouches, patchwork & quilting

I read from my Kindle every day and like to keep it safe in a padded case. The original case has fallen apart so now I needed to ‘run up’ a new one. I had two scraps of fabric remnants from other projects which were just the right size to make a new case. Using some wadding from an old ironing board cover I quilted the remnant of face fabric. I started with a diagonal grid but then went ‘off plan’ and completed one of my favourite designs where straight lines turn into curves.

  • Straight line quilting

I was making up the construction as I went along and having completed the quilting I then stitched the outer to the lining right sides together leaving one end open to turn through. However, I forgot to stitch the sides together before turning right side out and thus have had to hand stitch them – not my favourite pastime!

The flap was finished by turning the lining fabric to the outside, folding and top stitching in place. I also popped in a hair bungee to use as the loop for the button. The button is infact two buttons stitched together which is a favourite method to give additional interest to a plain button.

Now I can rest assured that my kindle is snug, safe and sound in its own padded case.

Project #46 completed 10th July 2021

Vogue 8577/Penny hack = Venezia #2

Dresses

I first made a dress using a hack of the Vogue 8577 + Penny dress by Sew Over It back in August 2019.

  • Venezia #1 made in August 2019

I have named the dress Venezia after my favourite European city.

Adaptations were to remove the midriff band on the bodice of the 8577 and extend to the waistline. I also extended the bodice facing up so that it is stitched under the front edge of the yoke. For the skirt I used the Penny but cut into 4 panels, added side seam pockets and lengthened the pattern by 4 inches.

Thinking about making a new dress for my birthday – yes it is that time of year again, I tried on Venezia #1 and was delighted to find that it still fits PCL i.e. post Covid lockdown! Just to be sure, I ran up a toile using some lightweight pre-washed calico. Yes, it is still fine so used the calico toile as a full lining of the bodice (a la Sian of Kittenish Behaviour). For the skirt panels, I checked the width at waistline for the bodice fronts and back to ensure that they would fit and made sure to add for the button closure down the front of the skirt.

Fabric: I have a 3 metre length of beautiful ‘Paradise’ cotton lawn bought from Stitch fabrics in August 2020 for £40 and decided that this would make the perfect dress for my ‘special’ birthday. The 150cms width of the fabric meant that there was sufficient to cut out my Venezia, especially as ‘Paradise’ is a one-way design. I cut out all the pattern pieces from a single layer of fabric which meant that I could ensure no birds were perched on the apex of my bust! It is a delight, although a mystery to me how I have also managed a pattern match at the centre front of the bodice! Who knew?

  • Accidental pattern matched centre front bodice!

Construction: It took approximately 8 hours to make the dress as I used French seams for the skirt panels and side seam pockets. The bodice is lined with the lightweight calico. All 13 buttonholes and buttons (from my bottomless button stash!) were completed on the machine. The narrow double-fold hem on the skirt was also top stitched on the machine. Thus the entire dress was stitched by machine with the only exception being the slip stitching of the bodice lining to the waistline. That is my idea of a great project (hand sewing aggravates my arthritis).

  • Venezia #2 in Paradise Cotton

So that’s it – a new dress all ready for the big day.

Project #45 completed 1st July 2021