A favourite pattern ..... check! ..... lovely liberty fabric ......check! ..... a week's holiday ...... check! and a new sewing friend ......
(Yes I treated myself to a Pfaff Ambition machine). What's not to love? I had a lovely week making a shirt I really like. This is my second Bruyere and I love the fit on me. I hardly had to make any changes, just a little from the shoulder width (which makes about 1" in total). The rest seems made for me. I cut a 42 at the bust grading to a 40 at the waist (I'm about 38" bust C cup and 28" waist and 37" hip). I'm also high waisted (about 1" above average) and didn't make any adjustments, so the waist would be higher on most people.
The two pleats on the front and the back give fullness but keep things flat in all the right places.
The fabric is Liberty Suzanna Tana Lawn. I don't seem to be able to find this colourway anywhere now and I do love it. I bought it from my favourite fabric shop Unique Image in Ulverston. If you are a UK buyer, buying full-price Liberty and you want to support a small independent shop you can order your Liberty from Unique Image. I used some matching Liberty plain grey.
The thing I am most proud of is the pattern matching at the yoke, yes this is two separate pieces of fabric (I made it bigger just so you can see!). Sorry if I sound as if I'm bragging, but I'm just so proud of this.
I frenchseamed the insides (except for the sleeves) and so the insides are really pretty.
I've had Dan and his puppy Monty staying for almost a week .... lovely. I do miss him.
We watched films, walked all the dogs and there may have been cream teas in the sun.
Most of the time Monty was pretty bonkers (he's only 5th months), but there were some moments of peace (time for a haircut for Rosie I think).
The winner of the pattern giveaway is Shannon from Adventures of a Young Seamstress. I been enjoying Shannon's blog since she started and she has made some fabulous clothes. I'll look forward to seeing her versions of some of the patterns! Are you having a sewing holiday? Back to my Ginger jeans and to cutting out another Linton Chanel jacket.
I really liked many of the Bruyeres I saw on the internet, especially Tilly's and Sally's fabulous bicycle version. I didn't know if it was the right shape for me, but I thought I would have a go and I'm afraid pretty much copied Tilly's! The fabric is Robert Kaufman dot chambray (yes, more Robert Kaufman chambray, and I've already bought this fabric in maroon dot for a shirtwaister!).
I got the fabric from M is for Make and can I just say the service was fabulous, as I made a mistake with the amount I bought and they sorted it out so quickly.
The pattern is a Deer and Doe and comes from France. I found the instructions generally good though I got a bit stuck at the sleeve placket and had to use the photos from the sew-a-long (the text was French!) to help.
Anyway, I have to say I love it. I think the fit is probably the best I've ever found. It's really fitted without being tight. I usually take an inch our of the bodice length because I have a high waist, but I noticed that it looked quite high on other people, so decided to leave it as it was and I think it's just right. If you don't have a high waist you may want to lengthen it.
The only change I made was to narrow the shoulders by 5/8" which is a common alteration for me, otherwise I think the fit is perfect. The other thing I love is how neat you can make the inside! It's becoming a bit of an obsession.
I used French seams everywhere except the arm-sythes (must learn how to French seam the sleeves as well).
The only bit I struggled with was the cuffs, this was tricky and my actual cuff has ended up not quite square.
I'll be making more of these! Perhaps a Liberty print.
I've also been crocheting and finished the first section of my blanket (a bit of doggy photobombing!)
I think haircuts are long overdue! One Saturday a month I go to Unique Image in Ulverston for my Saturday sewing workshop and this Saturday it was also the Dickensian festival, a sort of surreal day when people dress in Victorian costume (and obviously as a cracker!), so we had a fantastic view from our window, checking out the costumes whilst sewing (A coat - more to come later). I've so many projects on at the moment; crochet blanket, crochet scarf, in the middle of a coat, a skater dress to hem, 3 jumpers to block and make up, Francoise dress and shirt waister dress cut out and ready to sew! How on earth did I let this happen! What are you making at the moment?
