Not a home-made dress

It was my son's seventh birthday today, and after a sunny birthday party in the park we headed off to our favourite curry house, Akbar's, for a celebratory dinner.

I decided to wear this dress, which I picked up a while ago in a Next sale for 25 quid.

Pockets!

I wasn't too sure about it to start with because it was quite tight around the hips and the pattern is a bit "Sofa". I have to do a kind of Victorian lady demure curtsey when I bend down but it doesn't seem quite as tight as it was at first. Maybe my jogs around the park are paying off.

This dress has Princess seams in the bodice which give it a really nice shape. The skirt has 2 darts on either side but they aren't pointed darts, they kind of turn into a pleat. This gives a little bit of a tulip shape but not very exaggerated. And it's got pockets! I have teamed it with Kate Middleton tribute nude wedges from Matalan. I think they were a tenner. I'm so high maintenance!

The curry was awesome but we left to an Indian monsoon-style downpour and everyone got drenched in the 10 feet from the curry house to the car. Wish I'd worn wellies instead of wedges!

So, although this dress is a little snug, I really like the shape and I think I may try to make something similar when I break my sewing machine ban (19th August is my essay deadline, I think, and then I am going to SEW SEW SEW). I think I've got a Burda magazine pattern or two with Princess seams. I shall have to have a rummage and maybe attempt another Frankenpattern.

Here's one I made earlier... Amy Butler Yoga Bag

As I have sworn off the sewing machine until I've finished my assignment (sigh), here's one I made earlier. This is an Amy Butler "Nigella" yoga bag, which is a free download.

Sorry about the photo quality, both my helper monkeys have gone to bed early. I'll try and add a better quality pic soon.

Sadly I couldn't stretch the finances to Amy Butler fabric, so this is Ikea fabric from the Bargain Bin - £3 for a couple of metres. I've lined it with some striped pink and cream fabric that has been in my stash for about 15 years. That was another bargain purchase from C&H Fabrics in Brighton. Goodness knows what I thought I was going to do with it at the time, but it just goes to show that hoarding pays off!

So this bag gets weekly use at my Pilates class. It was pretty easy to make too, although I was a bit scared about the circle at the base.That went on really easily though and this was one of the first things I made with the Phantom Foot Pedal. There's a pocket at the bottom for stuffing car keys in. I'm tempted to make a matching water bottle carrier, but I haven't got round to it yet.

I like the really wide strap, which is super comfy to carry. I think the yoga mat poking out is a deliberate part of the design, but if you were OCD you could make the bag a bit longer and insert a drawstring.

Grown-up helper monkey has taken this picture. He seemed more interested in photographing my bum than the bag.

So, I recommend the pattern. I'm also very tempted by the Amy Butler Weekender Bag pattern, which isn't free, but looks like a really useful bag. And of course, lovely in her fabric.

I'm back!

Well what a smashing holiday, down in Croyde Bay. I'd like to say I have come back all relaxed but I am in a state of sheer terror about how behind I am on my Masters homework. Hmm, that sounds like I am some sort of weird homework servant. I'm studying for an MSc by distance learning, which means snatching time on the computer of an evening once the Boy is in bed and the sandwiches are made for tomorrow's packed lunch. At the moment I feel at the end of my tether with it, but I'm hoping to get my mojo back as this is my last module before the (whisper it) dissertation. 

Anyhoodle, back to the hols. I did pack my broderie anglais dress, maxi skirt and hummingbird top as planned. I wore the dress quite a few times down to t'pub and it's become a summer wardrobe staple and something that I don't feel looks too homemade. I didn't wear the maxi skirt because I lived in shorts for the week. I love how holidays make you do stuff you wouldn't normally dream of! I NEVER wear shorts due to legs that are almost permanently blue and decorated with car accident scars. But, you know I'm 40 in a couple of months and I just don't care any more. Might as well get the legs out until the varicose veins kick in.

The hummingbird top is being relegated to the seam-ripping pile because the straps are crap. I wish I had just made a normal vest top rather than one with separate strap inserts. Still, I've got plenty of material left so I may just fashion something else out of it.

The other big winner of the holiday wardrobe was a cheap stripey vesty dress from H&M. A real chuck-it-on over a swimsuit number, but it was really useful. I wasn't at all sure about the elasticated waist at first, but it was okay.  I may have a go at something similar using some of the left over blue jersey from the maxi skirt, but I might do it like a long vest with a tie belt. Or something. 

Anyway, I need to unplug the sewing needles for a week or two while I knuckle down to the homework. Still, I have a few "here's one I made earlier" projects to feature, so I will try to post those while the sewing machine is idle. There are some corkers. In fact, after being sent upstairs to get dressed this morning, the Boy appeared wearing something I made for him a few months ago. 25 degrees out there and he chooses a leopardskin fake fur jacket!

Holidays!

Right, I'm off on my hols for a week and I am proud to be taking 3 handmade items with me: the broderie anglais dress, the Burda vest top and the maxi skirt (although the waistband on this gets a bit baggy after I've been wearing it for a few hours so I might have to add some elastic).
I'm really looking forward to wearing stuff that I've made myself and I'm going to have a think about what items I will need for my holiday wardrobe next year.
In fact, my plan is to have a major wardrobe clear-out in the next couple of months. Like every other woman in the country I wear 10% of my wardrobe 90% of the time. Unlike most other women, I have a disturbing collection of stripy socks that are unbecoming of a 39.75 year old. I've got some really nice stuff that I never wear because my wardrobe is crammed full of crap.
But that will have to wait for another day because right now I need to fake tan my blue legs so I don't startle the locals.
Bon vacances!