Two challenges aced; Sew My Style Lander shorts and Burdastyle July top

Just squeaking in again with these two challenges.  The top is no. 116 from BurdaStyle July issue.  I'm really pleased withmyself for completing the first seven months of Hila's challenge.  When I picked this top I thought it would be pretty simple, but actually ...... it's not!  I cut a size 40 and it was pretty roomy, I took a little more in at the sides.

You have to bravely slash down the front facing, and then place a placket at the back and  sew the buttons that.  There are rouleau button loops.  I have to say I always find placing these accurately tricky, and this time was no different.  There is also a really long drawstring, and boy was that tricky to turn.

 

 
The neck is faced and that means that at the strap area there is as many as 6-8 layers!  In order to make sure these stay in place I added a few stitches holding both the front and facing in place.

I didn't like the really long ties on the shoulder straps so I reduced them by 4 inches.    I do love the fabric, so cute.  It sews and presses like a dream and has just a little stretch for comfort.  It's from Sew Me Sunshine, which is definitely one of my favourite websites; great fabric, excellent service and so beautifully wrapped.  Unfortunately this one is sold out, but there is a similar one.  So overall a cute pattern, but not a quick sew, even knotting the shoulders in the right place isn't easy to do on your own!

I've just finished my Lander shorts in time for the sunshine to disappear!    I do think that True Bias are great patterns, lots of nice details and clear instructions.    I cut the size 4 and used the full 1" seams.  The waist is still a little loose.  Although the pattern says you can't adjust the waist you can, if you use a technique of fitting the waistband before you sew the edges.

I added 1 2/8th" to the crotch length and I needed this (I have a high waist).  I love the pockets and the opportunities for topstitching.  I had been worried the fly might bulge a bit having buttons rather than a zip, but it seems to be lying OK.  Generally I'm happy with the fit, though there is a bit of excess in the back, any ideas anyone?

It hasn't been sunny enough to wear them to see how comfy they are, but I think this is a great pattern, and I have plans for a dusky pink babycord pair of trousers and a linen pair.  I'm already planning next months challenges!

ByHand Anna Dress, Cocowawa Honeycomb dress and the Mystery Blogger Award!

Bit behind in my blogging, so here's a two for one, and I love them both.  First the ByHand Anna dress, yes I know the world and its dog has made this, but this is the first one I've made that I can actually wear.

 

I love the fit.  Having cut a size 12, and fitted a little more at the waist, its a very  snug fit but also really comfortable.  Love the V neck and it's height is just right.

I also love this fabric, which I bought at Guthrie and Ghani during SewBrum (I think it's the cotton poplin type as it's quite crisp , it's sold out now, but Fabric Godmother has the cotton lawn version.    I'm afraid I absolutely copied the lovely Sarah from LikeSewAmazing who was wearing the dress at the event in the teal version of the fabric (Sarah now sells fabric too, check out her lovely range).    It's a gorgeous colour and the teal picks up the colour in my favourite shoes.  Definitely a hit!

Next up a very different shape, Cocowawa's Honeycomb Dress. I made a size 4, but if I made it again I think I would go down a size, and also drop the waist by an inch, which is very unusual for me as I usually raise waistlines by an inch.

The fabric is a gorgeous dusty pink colour.  It's a double gauze from Ebay.  There are some great colours in both plain and dot, and you can mix and match.  I'm not entirely sure about double gauze, as it seems a bit delicate, but this feels lovely and soft and has made a really comfy dress.

This is a really cute pattern, with clear instructions.  Not too much fitting needed because of the tie fastenings.  The collar isn't my favourite version of the mandarin, and I might just adapt it another time.

My week was made this week, when I was nominated by Hila of Saturdaynightstitch for

I really love Hila's blog and vlogs you must catch her if you haven't.  So here I am answering her questions.

1. What song will ALWAYS get you on the dance floor?  It's actually quite easy to get me on the dance floor, but Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark will do it every time.
2. Whats your signature dish?  Oh dear, this is when I have to confess that I don't really cook anymore!  Now I live on my own I just can't be bothered.  When I lived with my boys I would say homemade pizza, but now it Marks and Spencer to the rescue!
3. Your proudest moment was……. There have been so many with my boys, probably when Dan after year's of trying got into study medicine at Warwick, and with James his bravery and sense of humour when he was so ill in hospital.  On a daily basis I feel proud of the College I work at and all that we do for the students.
4. Favourite colour  .. duck egg blue and also love mustard (particularly fabric).
5. Your best dance move is….   It's the one Bruce does in the Dancing in the Dark video (and if you want to also see how jeans should look give the video a watch!).  It looks something like

It's quite hard to nominate others as many have been picked and I follow so many, but here are mine!




http://www.secondopiano.space/blog     Incredible Italian style and fit!


http://chainstitcher.blogspot.com/  Fiona's blog is fantastic.  Great sewing detail and her monthly roundup of patterns is wonderful

https://englishgirlathome.com/about/   Charlotte is lovely, and she has some of the most fantastic photos taken all around the world.


https://fabrickated.com/  Kate writes intelligent interesting posts and always looks so stylish!


https://guthrie-ghani.co.uk/blog  I'm sure you must know Lauren's vlog and blog.  She is so lovely and gives such great advise.  I'll be blogging my copy of one of her shirts soon!


http://handmadebycarolyn.com.au/  Now this is a woman who knows how to make.  She made absolutely everything for a year, including shoes and tights!


http://www.oona.balloona.com/   Marcy is just joyful
http://www.magnificentthread.com/  Shauni has a fantastic style and she's from Yorkshire what else to like!
https://tanysewsandknits.blogspot.com/  Tany's blog is real couture and you learn so much from it
https://corecouture.wordpress.com/  Ruth is just one of my favourites.  I spent a fantastic day with her in Lancashire and his blog is inspirational.  She makes outfits and collections, putting things together in unique ways.


So to all you wonderful bloggers thankyou (and Hila too of course), I start everyday with a catch-up and you enrich my life!  And if you haven't visited them please do!

June Burdastyle challenge

I just finished this one on the last day of June.  To be honest I wasn't really excited by the June issue and I was going to choose a pattern from a back-issue, then I was going through my box of off-cuts and saw these bits of leftover silk and thought I would try making 109, even though the photos aren't very clear in the magazine.

This is a fairly straight forward pattern.  I'm not sure that I really like the way the lower front puffs out a bit.  I cut a size 20 but wish I had a little more ease in the arm-holes.

 
I didn't need any opening as it easily goes on over my head.

I didn't have enough silk in one colour.  I love the blue silk.  The duck egg is Beckford silk and a bit thicker.  I did struggle with the silk.  I made bias binding myself, but it really did challenge me.

You can see how much by this mess I made of the neckline.  I know I should have unpicked, but I thought it might end up being even worse, with needle holes and a stretched neckline.

 

I won't make this one again, but for a top which cost me nothing, I will be some wear from it.