Friday 14 March 2014

Weekend

So as we approach another weekend (hurrah) I finally have a moment to update you on last weekend.

Saturday was one of those days where you have a long lie and then manage to put something in the slow cooker before heading out for the day.  I had a joint of pork, so I put a spice rub on it, braised it...


And then stuck it in the slow cooker with some lager


And then left it to do its work.  I sometimes find Pork just a bit too fatty so I made sure to remove all the fat before I put it in.

We then took the dog for a walk along Glasgow Green

You can just feel Spring time in the air now.  Here's the pup and the boyfriend outside the People's Palace.

I then nipped off to the hairdressers and to Mandors to add to my fabric stash 


before heading home to check on that pork.

I whipped up a quick coleslaw and then had this yummy mess to munch on.  Pulled pork tacos, with corn, avocado, sour cream, cheese, salsa and that coleslaw!


Man it was good.

So then we had a snuggle on the sofa and watched Saturday night TV


Sunday was spent in the sewing room.  After the success of finishing my first Tilly Mathilde blouse I set about making another one.

So I used the spotty fabric I bought yesterday.


I had plenty interfacing left over


I love these cute pins!  They came free on a magazine


Pleats in!


I got a full day at it.  and whipped it all up to the point of the sleeves but then disaster!  I tried it on and it's too small!  I'd forgot that the adjustment I'd made on the last one was to let it out a bit, not in.  Oh well - all the more reason to go on a diet.  I'm going to finish it anyway and then see if I can add a section to it to make it larger.  

I'd bought buttons and everything.

This weekend I'm going to tackle a baby quilt for my best friend who is due her first next month

But all in all a pretty darn good weekend!










Friday 7 March 2014

Mathilde blouse

So it's been a long time coming but finally I have managed to complete my Mathilde Blouse  as designed by Tilly

As soon as I saw this shirt on Tilly's blog I knew I had to make it.  My staple wardrobe is made up of blouses and jeans.  I'd already made the colette peony dress at my class and so I thought I might be able to tackle this on my own.

One of the things I really struggled with was fabric choice - not which pattern, but which type of fabric.  I'm new to dressmaking fabrics and so didn't know anything about drape, different types etc.  So I bought the Fabric for Fashion Swatch Book and read posts on other peoples blogs about how to pick the right fabric for a particular pattern.  I'd read some good reviews about Liberty Lawn but knew it was expensive.  It was a risk given this would be my first unassisted project but I took my time, followed the amazingly clear instructions on Tilly's blog and I got my blouse!

I narrowed it down to between these two fabric samples:



I went with the light blue as it was summer when I started making this! (ssshhhh!)


I printed the pattern off using the office printer (again ssshhh!) and I thought it would be a right pain to assemble at home.  It wasn't.  It was really easy.

And the construction was really easy to follow too.  I even managed to put french seams in!

It was all going swimmingly and then it was the lead up to Christmas and sewing for me had to stop as I had 2 quilts to make and a bunch of table runners that I wanted to give as presents.  

So fast fwd to the new year.  Picked it up again early January and really struggled with my buttons.  I use a Janome CXL301 and I just couldn't get the automatic button hole to work.  So I took it into the lady I did my course with and I'd not been waiting for it to beep once it had put the first button hole in!  Hurrah.  Easily fixed.

So I went home and put them on right away



don't look too closely as there are a few errors there from the aforementioned buttonhole fiasco!


I also think my neckline is a little high, so I'd maybe make that adjustment next time


And it's slightly tighter than I wanted - but that's my fault.... I cut a bit of the back off as it seemed too big.  So I'll just leave it alone next time.... and there will be a next time.



All in all I'm really chuffed with it.  I want to do a polka dot one next time!


Monday 3 March 2014

Nice day for a Wedding....and a birthday!

It's been a while since we attended a wedding.  We went through a spell there where there was one every other weekend.  And we've done the rounds of bridesmaid/bestman duties so this weekend it was our turn to just be the guests and it was great.

We got dressed up, drank champagne and saw our good friends get wed!


I'm wearing my Pin Up Girl clothing Ava dress in Jade Green - which I just loved. The boyfriend's looking pretty dapper in his 3 piece!  I do love him in a suit.


and the beautiful bride - Ali.  Looking stunning.  Here we are with Robyn.


The boyfriend posing on the steps outside.


And as well as being a lovely weekend for a wedding.... this little pup also turned 2



She was technically born on the 29th of February, but her KC certificate says the 1st of March so Saturday is her nominated birthday.  Love this dog.  She's got really long hair just now and is a fluffy ball of sweetness!