A change of heart....

Well summer holidays are upon us, mums , dads and grandparents too are crazily planning activities and outings to keep the young ones entertained. As one blogger I have just read quite rightly stated, it would be very difficult to limit the amount of time  the children  sit at computers and play on other gadgets if we don't do the same so I am using my evenings to catch up on blogging and sewing etc so that I can enjoy this glorious weather with them out and about.
It's funny how limiting your time seems to inspire you to greater activity, at least it does me, and I have done more sewing and crafting in the past week than I have for ages.
 Do you remember my attempt at the Collette Sorbetto top. I wasn't very impressed at first. The amount of alterations I had to make to the pattern somehow spoiled the feel of the finished top. However not one to give up and believing that it did have some redeeming features like the bias bound neck and absence of any fastenings, I decided to have another go. Since I stopped making my slippers to sell, I have boxes of lightweight cottons which would have been used for linings, going to waste. Some of these are very pretty and crying out to be made into something wearable. In the end I chose this chocolate spot fabric as I had quite a bit, so it wouldn't matter too much if I messed up. Luckily I was easily able I recreate the pattern in my own proper size, and even had enough fabric to make a simple skirt. For the skirt I used a New Look pattern 6051 which has a super collarless zip up jacket and trousers too.

 Though it must be a bit ancient, as I cant seem to trace this version at all on the internet! Must make sure I hang onto this one.

I love the contrast fabric  used as bias binding and continued the theme by making the waist binding and ties for the skirt from the same fabric.
Not bad out of 1.5 metres of main fabric and .5 metre of contrast for the binding. So all in all I think the top pattern will get well used after all, and of course it was free!

I've also made a few more pieces of recycled collage jewellery. This is a new venture for me and I'm still finding my feet and though it will never replace sewing, it is something I would like to continue with and develop. I' m also pretty proud of the necklace stands I've made out of cardboard and fabric scraps . I found the tutorial at 'Cut out and Keep' but cant seem to find it now. There is another one here though and it makes photographing and displaying them so much easier.

Next I repainted a Lloyd loom style chair in duck egg blue and recovered the seat in a pretty patchwork of duck egg blue and bright pink. I'm quite pleased with the result especially the colour combination.Shame the squares didn't quite line up, but it is supposed to be rustic looking !

My final project this week is a cushion cover made from 1950s curtain fabric finished off with a cute mini Pom Pom braid which will be up for sale in our pop up shop.

So a busy week crafting and sewing as well as looking after our gorgeous grandsons!
Sometimes a girl can have altogether too much fun!

Hope yours is half as good

TTFN

Jenny xx

Sleeveless top pattern review

OK, so I thought I would review a couple of free printable sleeveless top patterns. A recent cull of my wardrobe revealed that I was sadly lacking in this area. In the past I have bought several from Boden, mostly because of the lovely colours and prints, but in truth unless they are in the sale I really cannot justify the price they charge for such a simple item, so I thought I had better start to make some myself.

So before I spent money on buying a new pattern I thought I would have a go at the Angela Kane sleeveless top and the Collette Sorbetto top. Both free downloads.

Firstly I wear a size 14 UK top and size 12 skirts and trousers, so I am not Mrs average. I also am full busted which really means that this type of top, loose and boxy are not the best for me style wise. However come the warmer weather I would sooner wear a looser cotton top than say a fitted vest and as long as I pair these with a slimmer bottom, either straight skirt or straight jeans I can just about get away with it without looking like a weeble (do you remember those!!)

So first the Colette top. I love the look of the pattern on the site and having googled some more images it did look quite appealing. I read that these patterns come out a bit small so I erred on the side of caution and cut out a size 12 (USA)  size 16 UK. As I was using a light weight cotton which I thought once washed would have a little drape I thought it would still look OK.
First thing I found however was the dart placement!! I found this really out. Then there seemed to be too far too much fullness in the front armscye. This isn't helped I know by my own shape, but I have seen that others have also found this.
Finally I found the top far too short, so added a band to the bottom of mine.
What I did like was the bias bound neck and armholes and the front pleat which I think is a lovely touch.
Once I managed to make the necessary alterations, dropped the darts and shortened them, eased out the fullness in the armscye and added the band, I was quite pleased with the result. I did have to take it in as well which means next time I can make the smaller size.

I think if you were very slim with a tiny bust you may get away with the pattern in your normal size without too much alteration, but as this is meant to be a really simple top I think it might prove a bit challenging to get a good fit if you are anything other than a true average size.

Next the Angela Kane pattern. This is the little top as shown on the Great British Sewing Bee.
First I must confess I actually printed out the wrong size.  If I had looked at the sizing properly I would have seen the the medium would have been amply big enough even for my fuller top, but having printed out the large size I decided that since these patterns have no seam allowance I could just use it as printed without adding any!
Wrong!!!!!!

I had to take make 1.25 inch seams on both sides and of course should have adjusted the armscye  to lose some of the width in the high chest area as well. Having said this and not wanting to waste the fabric I decided to make it up anyway. The darts were perfect, the instructions and video are so clear that you couldn't fail to produce a really professional looking garment and I will make it again in the right size!
Again for me though only 5' 3" it was too short and I lengthened it by 2". I also made little vents in the hem so that it sat better.

It isn't a complete disaster and I will wear it, but I will show you a much better version in due course.
Overall then I do like the top and certainly think that with the video tutorial it would be well within a beginners ability.

In conclusion, would I have been happy to have purchased either pattern.
 The Colette...no, not really. Had I not had some experience and been able to correct the fit it would have gone in the bin!
The Angela Kane, as I would have purchased the correct size.....yes I would.

I hope that some of this might have helped if you were thinking of trying either of these patterns and it would be great to hear how you got on if you  try them yourself.

Back shortly with loads of piccies of our brilliant holiday in Cornwall, that's once I've sifted through the 300 odd I seem to have taken...!

Happy Sewing until next time.....

TTFN

Jenny xx