Lisette B6168 and a birthday safari

I'm not sure what drew me to this pattern because it isn't my usual style.  It is Lisette B6168 and I do like the bodice very much, just a bit different.

The fabric used is a polyester linen look with a little stretch so that I didn't need to make an fba.  It's the same fabric I use for my McCalls 5523.

I cut my usual size 14 grading to a 12 at the waist.  I raised the waist by 3/4" because this is what I usually do, but I have to say I think it would be better a little lower.  I reduced the shoulder width by 5/8" and took about 1 inch from the top of the back at the zip grading down.

Now the observant among you may notice that the skirt in my dress is not the same as in the pattern which is gathered.  The picture below will show you how this looks!  Yes, great as a maternity dress.  At this point I nearly put the dress in the UFO pile, I mean what possessed me to think that a dress like this would suit anyone who is not a size 8!  I thought I would have one try unpicking the skirt and pleating it rather than gathering it.  Much better.

I have got a bit of wear out of the dress, though it's not my favourite and not one I will be making again.

Now please excuse me indulging a little.  Yesterday was Dan's 24th birthday and we went to Dalton Wildlife Park.

It was the best day of the summer.  Lovely weather, lovely company and so much to see.

We've been many times, and it is one of our favourite days out.  Dan and Gemma live only 10 minutes away now.

The best part was hand-feeding the lemurs, Oliver the Kangaroo

a capybara and even a prairie dog!  What a treat.

Finished with fair-isle!

Another long gap between posts.  I think have the idea that in order to blog I need a completed project ... which is rather silly!  Having said that I finally do have a completed project to show .... yes the fair-isle is finally finished (well not quite true as I am still hiding some ends tucked in the jumper which I'm still weaving in!  The pattern is from ..

 

 

You can probably tell I've changed a lot of the colours.  I blocked the pieces first ...

 

 

 

The neck has stitches picked up which I always find challenging, but it didn't go too badly.  I used Grandma's stretchy cast-off to make sure the neck wasn't too tight.

 

 

 

Sewing up was also quite a challenge.  I found a really useful video to explain how to sew up the shoulders and they were pretty successful.  Overall I am pretty pleased, it will be a very warm jumper for winter.  The only change I would have made is to make the welt a little smaller.

 

 

 

 

A trip to a fairly poor vintage fair near Preston did turn up this little gem and for only £5.  I really love it and although I can't find out anything about the age it does feel 50s.  Great quality look at the lovely buttons.

 

 

 

 

 

.... and this dress just made me want to grab a suitcase and head to a steam train!!

 

 





 

We had a lovely sunny trip out to Dalton Wildlife Park.  We always enjoy feeding the penguins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We really enjoy a day with the animals, and it's very hands-on there.  The funniest thing was the rather strange giraffe who seemed to be trying to fit a very large tongue into too smaller space.

 

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed some sunny fun and some beautiful flowers.