Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you... Gustav Holst

I really liked that quote as it totally applies to sewing as well as music!
Today has been a Uni day and my tutor was really positive about my dissertation proposal woo!

I popped into town after to pick up some vintage buttons, I found a nice pattern and some new espadrilles yay!

The last lot are what i'm using for my beignet. The photo makes them lighter but they actually fit my lining perfectly!

Heres MMJ Day 3's outfit. My jersey top I made last week is super comfy!

I'm off to sit in the sunshine for a bit with my Burda magazine

The Day I Got My Stuff Done...

Evening Friendlings!

Today I got some stuff done, but didn't really finish anything.

I literally blitzed my bedroom and packed up a considerable amount of stuff for the move in July.

I cleaned my kitchen, did some washing and oh yeh...

Finished my Parisian Skirt,

Almost finished a surprise top.

(Do you recognise my pink silk/cotton mix? I changed the top I was making with it, but more on that another day) I also started on my Violet shirt.

On the good news front. I found my Burda pattern and instruction booklet for the issue with the Parisian dress in so can re-draft, plus there was some yummy designs in there. Shame I lost the actual magazine...

Heres a few I was drooling over.

Today has been pretty productive but i'm now all hyper and desperate to start cutting my Beignet and a Lisette Shirtdress I had planned for my Raspberry Gingham.

I'm not sure its wise to sew at this time at night when you only have the aid of an unusually bright lamp (My Great Grandmothers from the 60's.) I could start my duck egg peplum shirt otherwise.

My sewing queue is gradually getting smaller. Out of the 5 things I had on the rail one is finished and three tops are almost there. I'm glad I have another skirt to add to the Me Mades, Sorry the photos are of them on the hanger badly. I will try and get stuff finished tomorrow so I can show you them on.

The Violet blouse is so super easy! I'm glad I bit the bullet and bought it. This could be a great go to pattern.

Burda March Issue

I have to say I wasn't very impressed this month Burda!
It was focused on Weddings, Which is fine as Spring is a nice time to think about that kind of thing.
Normally I would be flicking through going "Oh I love that, and that and that and that." This month I was a bit like "was that it?" There was some nice basics like a long sleeved top a jacket and a pair of trousers. But I felt all the statement dresses left something to be desired.

Looks ok so far... Nice colour palette but obviously being a wedding issue lots of white.

Caftan. Thats quite useful and nice in a basic cotton colourway, pretty sleeves and nice for spring.

I'm not sure why but I loved this little jacket the detailing on the bottom made me all warm and fuzzy inside. But double breasted things tend to make me look strange...

This short Jacket reminded me of last years Jersey Blazer which I didn't like at the time but I actually quite like now. That could be useful for chucking in your bag when spring evenings get chilly.

Plus size I hated this time around! It was so frumpy, not like Burda at all. The only thing I could find was this twisted neck top which would be a useful basic.

Now for the Best and Worst.

There was a lot in this issue that made me go Wtf?!

Lets start with the worst.

I do not understand this bodice at all. It has a random appendage that looks like its started to grow by itself. Why?!

The second is one of the statement pieces. Pretty Colour, Pretty fabric but Just not flattering. There is way too much going on here for me. For a start The neck is miles too high and too loose fitting. You have a lot of drama in the sleeves which takes away from the yummy detailing on the bottom.

This is only going to flatter 0.2% of the population. Super Tall Super thin, Super Straight. I'm not even saying that people who are "Thin" will look good in it. You have to have very little figure about you which of course most people large and small all have. If I was intending to make this i would change the bodice completely prehaps consider keeping the sleeve but cut a very swooping open neckline and separate the bodice and the skirt and fit both. perhaps add some basic pleating into the skirt to fit in with the volume of the bottom.

So after that Rant. Lets end on a positive note! I ADORE this jacket with the little peplum. Everything about it is fab! The fabric is great, Colour great,shape flattering, It also covers my favorite V word. Versatile! I want this Jacket!

Mini Rant. Pattern Paper: Dot and Cross V Squared!

I have had one of those moments where you are in pure desperation for one thing you think is simples.
OK So in college. We were taught to do our pattern cutting on dot and cross paper. I've always used it and its one of my little sewing habits. (apart from the greaseproof if It is wide enough.) I can get it from Fabricland normally on a roll and buy it in metres. Normally all well and good.
This week my mum and me went looking for some such paper. We travelled all around Bristol hit around 4 independants as well as HobbyCraft (AKA Soulless Box) and John Lewis. Not ONE sold dot and cross.
In the end we payed £6 to park and bought the squared type at the market. The one that was in every other bloody shop!

The dreaded squared paper.

As you can imagine we were not amused.
I'm just curious, as no one seemed to know what dot and cross paper was in 60% of the shops we went in.
Am I being a bit Antiquated using it? I find it easy to draw curves on it etc and it was the way i was taught only two years ago.

What does everyone else find most useful especially for Burda Style Patterns

February Burda!

Its so hard to pick my favourites as always but I've tried to pick things i'd actually use or wear. It was focussing on the kind of latin kind of theme and this was one issue where I was dying to find out where the fabrics came from! All the florals were so fab!

I can see myself wearing this kind of dress all spring! especially white based florals!

It would also make a lovely top in a stretchy thickish jersey.

Another thing I really crave is this "Sophia Loren" style bustier top, but you would have to be careful it didn't turn out a bit too slutty especially if your on the bigger side of the bustline!

I know, I know I'm already making a Jacket but I hadn't seen this one! I love it on the cover too in floral but this check really appealed to me! The nautical theme always looks fresh and clean!

The line drawings for these dresses didn't appeal to me in the slightest, but in fabric they look really nice! I don't think it would be worth me attempting them but I was pleasantly surprised at how they looked on the body. On the plus size front, I wasn't convinced. Normally I really like this part, even though I don't count. I often find I like the plus size style more than the main magazine but they all seemed shapeless and baggy. Except for these. I prefer the stiffer fabric to add structure but i'm not sure the shoulders would flatter me.

What did you think of this Month's Burda? Any favourites or fabric suggestions?

Parisian Dress... Could it be salvaged?

Apologies for the DIY Photos but I have been thinking...

The Disaster Parisian dress has been languishing at the bottom of my rail for a while and I decided that I was gutted about letting it go even though it was awful.

(Its a burda 08 pattern blogged about here and here.)

The problems was that the bust was pulling too much and the sleeve felt too small.

After calming down I realised that I hadn't sorted the ease in the sleeve at all and there is plenty of room in the bust dart to loosen it up!

The skirt is a little uneven too and In a huff I cut the skirt shorter than I normally would have

(the shortness of the skirt looks ok with tights on.)

It sounds sooo bad that it wouldnt be able to be fixed however when I pulled it around my and pinched the back I realised it would fit lovely with all those adjustments but all i'm thinking is, Is it worth it?

In other news... My boyfriend took me to a fab fabric shop in Worthing and I got some Sheer Voile fabric that I'm going to use for Burda 7448

Its nice for spring so hopefully i'll add it to my sewing list for this year! x

Post Christmas Purchases

Hello lovely peoples! Hope everyones New Year is shiny and bright!

I have been a very spoilt girl this year all round and have scored some good clothes in the sales. Now I have just purchased some sewing stuff! YAY

I bought 5 new patterns and a free machine embroidery foot i've been hankering for since I bought my new machine! I love it its like tattooing fabric! So here goes on the Pattern front, I have some resolutions to put up later in the week but these are all part of the plan promise! (That's what they all say!)

Simplicity Cynthia Rowley 2497 that I had my eye on,

B5407 Butterick, Was super cheap and a good easy dress!

McCalls M6056 I like the green Version, My boobs would look weird with the bow higher!

McCalls M6011 Super cute and versatile, (Also will save me having to copy off that burda dress for my spangly lurex fabric!) and finally, Burda 7448

I've been looking at this over and over in various sales not sure if it would suit me, but in the end I decided to just go for it as shirt dresses are comfy and perfect for shoving on and looking presentable. I'm not forgetting that I have the Macaron dress pattern I got for Christmas.

I will have to draw up a plan and have been thinking about the various combinations I could use, As always Input from you guys would be lovely! I'd love to know what your planning for this year!