Christmas Top

Hello all!

I’ve found myself sat on the sofa with nothing to do for the first time in a while and thought that it’s about time that I wrote a blog post! This top I made to wear on Christmas day. The colours are just so festive! I bought a metre of this viscose fabric from Cloth House last year because I just loved the colours and the print. I’ve had lots of different thoughts on what to make with it over the past year but at the end of the day I wanted big sleeves and the lack of fabric pretty much orchestrated the rest of the design.

First of all, let’s discuss making the pattern. I used the sleeve pattern I originally drafted for my hippy dress last year, slashed and spread at the top so I could have some gather. Then I adapted my bodice block to a wrap bodice with a midriff panel just at the front.

The construction was fun to puzzle over. The side seams ended up being one of the last things that I sewed! I started with shoulder seams, the underbust gathers and finishing the neckline with bias binding. Then it was time to sew the ties which were then bagged inbetween the midriff panel and lining. The back bodice was hemmed with bias binding and then it was time for the side seams! I sewed the elasticated cuffs into the sleeves before finally inserting them into the bodice and the whole thing was done!

So now that I’ve discussed the process of putting it together how do I feel about it? I love the fabric, I love the sleeves. I’m not convinced about the how the low neckline works on me considering that I’m not particularly blessed in the bust region, and I wonder where it would be more flattering if I replaced the bust gathers with longer tucks but I had so much fun working out how to put this one together I don’t mind at all! In fact I look forward to bringing it out again for next years festive season. I do want to find something better to pair it with next year though!

Thank you so much for reading if anyone is still in fact reading!

Lauren xx

Floral top and Shorts

Hello all! This month I have a double whammy for you. This is the outfit that I've been dreaming of all summer, and it's such a shame that I've only just found the time to sew it together. Luckily it'll be ready and waiting for me when summer appears next year. All of the details are over at the Minerva Crafts blog here.

Thanks so much for reading and to Minerva Crafts for providing the fabrics for this post!

Lauren xx

Floral Blouse

Hello all! This months Minerva project has had thousands of iterations in my head, and it took the deadline being less than 24 hours away for me to decide what I wanted this fabric to become. In the end I settled for a simple V neck blouse with slightly flared sleeves and the lovely pearl-like buttons going down the centre front. You can read all about the making process over on the Minerva Crafts blog here.

Thanks for reading and to Minerva Crafts for providing the supplies for this project!

Lauren xx

Black Trousers

Hello all! Today’s Minerva Make is really quite boring, but has been a real workhorse throughout this summer. At work I need to wear black clothes, and as the weather has gotten hotter and hotter wearing full length trousers has been increasingly sticky. So, for this months project I choose rayon, a notoriously light fabric, to try and keep me as cool as possible. You can read all about the making process on the Minerva Crafts blog here.

Thank you for reading and to Minerva Crafts for providing the materials for this project!

Lauren xx

A Swimsuit for Sicily

Hello all! I’ve just returned from a beautiful holiday in Sicily and today I’m going to tell you all about the swimsuit I made for the trip. Swimming is something I do once in a blue moon, and it normally involves the sand and sea, but every couple of years I like to make something fresh. I’ve always plumped for bikinis before but this year I decided that I was in the mood for a onepiece.

I used the same leotard pattern that I used as a base for my phoenix costume, squaring off the front neckline, and creating a low scoop in the back. The lycra I bought from Mood Fabrics when I was in New York a couple months ago. I love the vibrant print and I was quite happy to stick with a simple design to show it off with.

After sewing up the side seams and trying it on, the back was quite gapey so I pinched about 10cm out of the back neckline and recut the back piece of the swimsuit. In hindsight 10cm was a bit much, and 6 would probably have been better as I forgot to account for the elastic drawing the fabric in for a closer fit as well.

The swimsuit was fully lined with nude swim lining picked up from Spandex House (also in New York). I sandwiched another piece of swim lining between the lining and the outer fabric where the gusset would normally be, just for another layer in that area. I also sewed some cups into the lining for a bit more shape and coverage in that area.

I used rubber swim elastic to finish all of the edges, with a 3 step zigzag to topstitch. The side and crotch seams were overlocked. Evaluation wise, the whole swimsuit is really quite tight. I know that negative ease is fine, but I think just adding a cm or two would make it much less of a pain to squeeze in and out of. Next time I’d also pinch just a little out of the centre front of the neckline and/or stretch the elastic a little tighter in that area because it’s a little bit gapey. All in all though, I love it. It’s just so much fun! I’d quite like a red baywatch style one now.

Thank you very much for reading!

Lauren xx