#SecretSanta Reveal

Of all the presents under the tree this year, this one had to be the most exciting, and it didn’t disappoint. Thank you so much Vicki from Minerva Crafts for this fantastic fabric…

I received a beautiful light, grey fabric (so perfect for Spring) with a very pretty net ‘ribbon’ zigzagging around it. You got my taste perfectly thank you Vicki! It came complete with matching cotton and was wrapped with some beautiful Christmas trim to use up next year 🙂

Vicki suggested that I could use it to make up something a little special for work, possibly, but it feels a little too nice for work 🙂 My immediate thoughts were, of course, skirt-related. I’m thinking it might make a lovely Clemence, although possibly the fabric might be a little too thick, not sure. It would of course make a lovely BHL Charlotte skirt, but maybe a little too unimaginative on my behalf…

I haven’t had a lot of time to play around with actual proportions, but there might be just enough to run up a ‘small’ dress. I immediately thought of the Megan, maybe? I had a quick root around my pattern stash and found this little selection…

They’re all versions of a shift dress, straight and sleeveless, so I might just be able to stretch to them. It helps that I’m pretty short, so don’t need much in the length department! I’m a little nervous of trying out something new with such lovely fabric though, so maybe the pattern on the far right-Simplicity K1609 might be more wise. This was the pattern I used for one of my favourites this year- the Galloping Horses dress, see here.

Ohh, decisions, decisions! I’m swaying towards a skirt… Anyone have any other suggestions? Do shout out 🙂

Hope everyone’s as pleased with their #SecretSantas as I was. Looking forward to seeing them all. Thank you so much to Lisa from Stitched Up From The Start For organising 🙂

Happy New Year!

Teresa

x.

 

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Top 5 Hits 2014

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I could easily have compiled a separate, top 5 skirts hits alone, but I’ve tried to add a little more variety in here than that. It’s not (always) all about the skirts 😉

First up had to be my Galloping Horses dress. This was probably the first dress I made that felt totally me and was pretty, well made. I’ve worn it lots and still feel very proud of it.

Next up up had to be the Megan (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons) that fitted! I felt like I’d truly mastered knits by this pattern. It’s super comfy and can be worn both casually and more dressed up, so versatile too.

Thirdly, the best thing that came out of my stash-diet: my tweed top. Another item that really does get worn lots and doesn’t feel home-made at all (I’m wondering if I’ll stop feeling like this at some point, I guess when my skills finally catch up to my enthusiasm).

Well, I managed three before a skirt got a look in 😉 Not too bad for me! Fourthly, it had to be my navy blue, linen Ginger (Colette patterns), possibly my favourite me-make ever 🙂

My surprise hit of the year had to be my 70s Clemence (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons). I think it was feeling guilty for causing me such pain to make, but it’s been worn lots and lots. It’s easy to wear in both Summer and Winter, so maybe that’s why it’s become such a favourite. And it even gets compliments! Now, I never imagined that would happen :-). Lastly (and yes, I can count ), I’ve snook in my black, linen Delphine (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons). This is the most magically slimming skirt ever (high, narrow waist combined with the colour black?), I’ve been asked many times whilst wearing it if I’ve lost weight, which of course never fails to make me smile. Although anyone of a similar height and build would know it’s pretty easy to ‘look’ like I’ve gone up or down a size, depending on how high my heels are and what I’m wearing, pretty much overnight…

I loved that my hits list took more deliberation than my misses! I must be getting somewhere. Or maybe the misses are more firmly ‘burnt’ in my mind…

Thanks again to Gillian of craftingrainbow.wordpress.com for hosting 🙂

 

Top 5 Misses 2014

I’ve been really enjoying reading about everyone else’s hits and misses of 2014, so it was only a matter of time before I joined in (thanks for the nudge Barbara). First up of the misses had to be my most painfully, frustrating sew of the year… My 70s Clemence… An absolute bu**er of a make…

Next up had to be BHL Elisalex, which didn’t work on so many different levels: length, fit, finish… However, with a little help from my internet friends 🙂 there was a happy ending to this miss, see here.

Next up was my BHL Polly top. A great, free pattern, but unfortunately one that just didn’t suit me at all. I was really pleased with my neat curve and navy lace, but it was off to the local charity shop for this one 😦 Hopefully it’s found a more suitable home since…

Fourthly (this fabric must have been jinxed), was my cerise, linen Delphine. This was far too short for comfort. Other than that, I was quite pleased with this, but I’ve shamefully never worn it. I remember thinking I’d add some navy lace to the hem to attempt to lengthen this slightly, so definitely a project to return to next Spring…

And lastly,

I really did did love this Colette Ginger, but it just wasn’t well made, hence my disaster and patch-up. I have learnt to slow down and improve my finish since, but I had to admit defeat eventually and convert it into a skirt for my daughter instead, so not a total disaster 🙂

We had our first snow of the year tonight, so the thing I notice most in these photos is the beautiful weather, and yes, these really were all taken in Manchester! Seriously, I was as shocked as anyone that we had such a lovely, prolonged Summer 🙂 Seems like a long time ago, which is good in a way as that means most of my misses were from a while ago. But now I’ve probably jinked myself completely, especially when I think about my aim for the next year: to conquer my fear of trousers…

And lastly, one of these misses will actually make it into my hits list too, can you guess which? If you can bare the excitement, stay tuned 😉

Many thanks to Gillian from craftingrainbow.wordpress.com for hosting 🙂