After watching the Sewing Bee each week I am filled with ideas, inspiration and motivation to get moving on dressmaking projects of my own. Please don't tell me who won, I've not watched the final yet! It was on paperbag short week that I made a point of going on (and on) about making a pair for myself. So much so, that C very kindly went on a mission to find me a downloadable pattern, print it and completely assemble the paper into a huge grid for me. I was particularly happy about this although rather dubious of how to go about such a first solo off-piste project after my most helpful book which talks you through everything. The fabric was a polyester which I originally bought to make a dress from but after it arrived it did look like something travel agent from 2002 would be uniformed in so I stashed it and waited. To be fair, it looks fine for these shorts. 

Needless to say the project took a long time. Not only to decide what size to make the shorts - but to take every other step too. I mentioned before of my struggles to understand and process how to undertake each step. Reading, re-reading, googling, watching a YouTube tutorial... some parts took a lot of comprehending. Now I've worn them a few times, I think I should have made at least one size smaller as there is so much fabric but it's better that than too tight and not being able to sit down. The elastic waist is what keeps them wearable. All in all I'm thrilled with them and they look good enough for me. One pocket is deeper than the other after a bungle. I'm convinced one inner hem is either upside down or round the wrong way but it look ages to get the first one right then I just couldn't figure out the other one. They sit fine enough when I wear them. They move fine. They haven't unravelled. Yes, they are supposed to have a raised hem at the outside of the leg. 

It's a very forgiving fabric with this pattern!

I've been really enjoying learning to sew and hope to make many more items over the next few years, ones that I'll wear and wear until they're worn out.

 

It's not often I wear a midi skirt and certainly rare I wear one with this much volume. Going back probably a couple of years I bought this in a blog sale. It's a lovely shirt dress with lovely sleeves, stiff collar and button down front. the shirt is big, swooshy and has a bit of weight to it, plus most brilliantly, pockets. 

It's been cold. Too cold for just a nice dress so I had to compromise and wear this tiny cropped jumper on top. At least it allows the lovely belt of the dress to be bowed up and remain a feature instead of being swallowed up into an awkward bulky lump. 
Big muddy boots because it's still absolutely mucky as heck in some places. Although it's evidently drying up in most places, it's not the case across the board. Of course they're not exactly becoming of the ensemble but I's have mud clad pretty shoes (and ankles) if I wore anything else. I suppose the most diligent of bloggers would probably bring a bag with nice footwear to change into for a scenic spot, but that's beyond my level of patience and besides, if you had any notion of what a labour these boots are to lace up to the correct tension then you would understand. 
Making the most of that quantity of fabric. I could be one of those dollies that sit over loo rolls. Grandma used to have one of those.
It's not a kilt. It's not.
Take care,

 

This time of year is that turning point when things suddenly point in the direction of 'better times'. Although I approach March with mixed feelings, much of which is dominated by me shaking my fist angrily at the cold, windy weather, there is no doubt that nature is waking up and looking lively beneath the surface. Buds appearing, nesting, the first flowers of the year attracting the insects which are dozily looking for nectar. While in the car on Sunday we drove by a large expanse of field with winter wheat growing and to my delight, saw a group of hares, maybe 10 or 12 in a rudimentary circle with two in the middle having a brief box. Unbelievable. C offered to turn back so I could take some pictures but I was fulfilled entirely by seeing it with my own eyes. Amazing. Nothing to share with you except the pure joy of reporting that I witnessed something I've wanted to see for years and have finally been treated to a more than satisfactory spectacle. 

Obviously I was wearing a coat, scarf and gloves, probably a hat too and I just can't wait to leave them all at home in some lovely warm weather. 

Whilst taking some outfit pictures there were some squirrels larking around in the trees behind. I suggested we could take shots of them afterwards and photoshop them on to my palms. Didn't happen.


Yay for being allowed out for recreation again. Have I been out more than once a day so far? Nope. But I'd like to go for a walk each day and a run at the weekend. 
More smiley than usual.
Take care,

 

How liberating to shed my coat and to wander around in a light jumper. It's light and bright! I dithered over whether this outfit felt too much like autumn than spring but who cares, orange is so cheerful that I'll risk it. Nobody stopped me to point out my faux pas. 
I like the dear little buttons to the cuffs. Completely pointless, but dainty and dressy.

A weight off my shoulders, It's nice to move around without a weighty coat!!


The mud hasn't yet vanished but with a forecast for a dry couple of weeks ahead, it could be another story soon. It'll be nice to walk without getting mud splashed all over my legs... Yep, my tights are muddy.

 

Hello everyone, we have reached February! Good news. It's an outfit post with a twist today because I just so happen to have made this skirt myself. 
Yes, I also gave myself a haircut, unrelated. Amazing how much faith you can put in a YouTube tutorial. I took more off than expected but I've had much worse and haven't cried. 

We all love watching the Sewing Bee and I have for a few years toyed with the idea of making clothes but the transition from being able to make something with the sewing machine to having a go with a full pattern (of which I'd never seen) or having a clue how to start did fill me with fear. Dressmaking seems to be a long lost skill which is so sad as I'm sure people, mostly women, would have needed to make clothes all the time in the past. Even just to make alterations or to mend. Now, women my age have no such skills unless they have sought them out on their own.

 

Items in which I feel I now live include turtleneck tops. I must have about eight, half of which are greeny- blue. How did life function without them? They tend to be layered over a vest top and under a medium to light jumper or a dress, sometimes under a shirt. That super cosy extra layer keeps me happy in these testing winter times. My warmer season alternative is, for want of a better description, the 'older lady t-shirt' which instead of floppy cotton band tees is a heavier knit top extending to mid upper arm. Not snug, with a rather pleasing amount of surplus. They keep me lovely and warm when a vest top isn't enough. Talking of keeping warm enough, it's been evident that I don't feel the cold as badly as I used to in my teens. I used to struggle with numb extremities all the time and terrible chilblains to my hands, incredibly painful and at best unsightly. C on the other hand feels the cold a lot more now. 

Kezzie wore an asymmetric skirt on her blog recently too. If I was designing this skirt I'd have kept the hem straight and would have secured it to avoid any flash mishaps. I also would have tried it in a fabric that didn't retain it's washing crumples so much. I promise I ironed it. Much as people shun their irons and boards, I am relatively at peace with mine and commune with them often. It's not that I adore the process, though it beats washing up and emptying bins by a long stretch, but more that I do appreciate nicely ironed clothes. And sheets. Oh, a lovingly pressed duvet cover and pillows is a gift indeed. 

 

What do you do when the temperature has dropped to minus anything? Layer up and get out! There's a lot to say for a knitted skirt and thermal tights but I went one better here with a cunning super long jumper with a skirt over the top. My burgundy-with-elbow-patches wonder is two thirds as long as my skirt and did a brilliant job of keeping me cosy. There's a price to pay but considering how dreadful this could have looked, I'd say I got off lightly.

Yes, of course I had a thick coat, scarf, hat and pair of gloves which I had to unravel on the quick to make the most of having this astonishing landscape to ourselves. There turned out to be some people rather distant but hopefully they didn't notice. It's obviously weird to take off warm clothes and have your picture taken and I don't want to talk about it. After a minute of attempts to stand and smile, I re-wrapped myself and carried out for a lovely wander, this time safely behind the lens.

This skirt must have seen a fair few wears, it was my original knitted skirt find and at that point I'd never seen one before. A winter must have. 
Take care,