Vegas, baby!

Pattern: There was none!
Size: Michelle-sized
Fabric: Heavy silk crepe-backed satin from Beckford Silk

A true fact about me and sewing: I'm not very good at is winging it. Sure, I can change the odd detail here and there but going pattern-less makes me want to quake in a corner. So, when a friend at work asked if I could make her a dress to wear to a very important event she was attending, and this dress was to be a copy of one she already owned, I had my equivalent of 'holding a tarantula to cure arachnophobia' moment. I had a deadline and a person I didn't want to disappoint so I just had to get on with it!

No word of a lie!

Pattern: Ultimate Trousers by Sew Over It

Size: 12/14

Fabric: Poly-viscose twill from Mason's

I hate trousers. Shopping for them has reduced me to a quivering wreck with an excess of body issues in the past. I am disproportionately large on my bottom half, so all they serve to do is make my thighs look massive, my legs look short, my bum look long (yes, long!) and my tummy huge and round. In fact, I pretty much stopped wearing them for years other than jeans occasionally. Recently, however, I've been drawn towards the idea of having trousers in my life but I couldn't bear the idea of shopping for them, so began the pattern hunt.

Crafty collaboration

Pattern: McCall's 6760
Fabric: Crepe back satin
Size: 14

The joy of sewing for yourself is picking exactly what you want to make, in exactly the fabric you want to use. Staying in your comfort zone if you wish, or trying something new. However, I do think it's good sometimes to be thrown out of the comfort zone and this is the second time in a few months that I've found myself floating around outside of mine!

One blog-hopping Minx!

Something a bit different this, time. My lovely girls over at Tea for Two Diary nominated me for Blog Hop which is basically a super way to find out fun stuff about other bloggers. I love that it's not just sewing-related, it applies to any and all kinds of blogs. So, I will answer the same questions below and then tell you a bit about the bloggers I want to nominate. And hopefully they will play along :-)
I don't like the idea of a blog post with no photos, so I shall intersperse some random images from a recent trip to Yorkshire.

I-calypt, eucalypt...

Pattern: Eucalypt tank dress by Megan Nielsen
Size: M
Fabric: Viscose from Goldhawk Road; Chiffon from Mason's

I rather took myself by surprise with this one. I had seen this pattern before but thought it was rather dull and didn't give it a second thought. Then, recently, I had a chat with my good friend and sewing guru, Elena, about being more focused in our sewing: working out what we really need in our wardrobes and what we will wear. This was a very useful conversation for me, because there is a part of me that wants to hope one day I will grow up and start wearing pencil skirts and crisp white shirts. But, I'm 32, have massive hips and spill food on myself regularly, so that's probably never going to happen.

Bronte and the Overlord

Pattern: Bronte by Jennifer Lauren Vintage
Size: 12
Fabric: Stripe jersey upcycled from a dress

Years ago I owned the cutest t-shirt. It was just from Matalan or somewhere else equally ununspiring, in the dark days before I sewed, but I loved the unusually shaped neckline and sweet button accents. I wore it to death and saw anything similar again. Until I encountered Bronte!! Seriously? A pattern from which I can create as many of my all-time fave t-shirt as I like?! YES PLEASE!!!

One not-entirely-selfish Minx

It's a real rarity, but I've actually made some things for other people for a change! It sounds terrible, but I always have such an epic list of URGENT sewing jobs for myself, that I neglect to make things for others. Is that a general sewist trait, or am I just a bad person? Either way, I forgot about my wardrobe NEEDS for long enough to make a couple of gifts recently that I'm going to share with you here.

Just call me Linda Lue

Pattern: Meghan Peasant Dress by Sis Boom
Size: M (8-10)
Fabric: Viscose from Minerva Crafts 

It's always exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measures making a garment from a previously untried designer, but I was really keen to try this pattern. The design on the cover is sooooo cute, and I had visions of myself wandering a prairie farm wearing this dress, cowboy boots, and a denim jacket. In my mind I'm basically Linda Lue Linden (played by Sandra Bullock) in The Thing Called Love.

Mon cher châtaigne

Pattern: Chataigne shorts from Deer & Doe
Size: 42
Fabric: Stretch denim

This is my third Deer & Doe pattern and it has confirmed that they are vying for top spot with Sewaholic in the 'Indie Designers I Love' charts.

Having a Marilyn moment

Pattern: Sew Serendipity Marilyn dress
Size: M
Fabric: Stretch cotton from ClothSpot

I was really excited when this pattern came out as I heart a good 50s-style dress, AND it has a low back which seems to be my number one requirement since acquiring my latest tattoo. Such vanity.

Piece of cake?

Pattern: Cabarita by Cake Patterns
Size: 35
Fabric: Jersey from John Lewis

I love the design of this top, and it worked out really well, so kudos there. I did have a few criticisms of the pattern which I feel quite bad saying as I love the top and will definitely make more Cake items.

A rolling Belcarra gathers some Moss

Belcarra blouse by Sewaholic
Size 10
Fabric: Fox chiffon from Clothspot and viscose lining

Moss mini skirt by Grainline
Size 12
Fabric: Black stretch denim from somewhere on Goldhawk Road

I seem to be getting a bit behind on documenting my makes, so here's a double post to try to catch up a bit!

Glamorous Gabriola

Pattern: Gabriola skirt from Sewaholic
Size: 10
Fabric: Viscose suiting from Clothspot

It's no secret, I love me a Sewaholic pattern. Tasia has been busy granting my wishes and just as I bemoaned the lack of an indie maxi skirt pattern, she waved her magic wand and *pchoof* here's Gabriola.

It felt like a relief to be dealing with Sewaholic again. I knew the size 10 would fit me perfectly, and that the instructions would be so clear I wouldn't have to use my brain at all. I like that. And I wasn't disappointed.

Makin' an Aiken

Pattern: Aiken by Andi Satterlund
Size: M
Yarn: Patons Colour Works Aran

Andi Satterlund designs the most fantastic patterns. All really cute, classic, 50's-esque and lovely to make, too. I'm a big fan of the Miette cardi (and Chuck, although sadly mine never gets worn due to bad yarn choice), and so knew I would get on well with Aiken. On a side note, I was convinced I had blogged not one, but two Miettes but it seems I haven't! That will have to be next.

Scrap the time machine

Pattern: Sureau by Deer & Doe
Size: 38-40
Fabric: Wool mix from Mason's / Viscose lining from Ditto Fabrics

Pattern: New Look 6000
Size: 14
Fabric: Jersey with lace overlay from Mason's

I reckon most of us have, at some point, had that feeling of wishing we'd bought multiples of what turns out to be a favourite garment. For me, it's a pair of Gap jeans - the only pair of jeans I have ever felt good in. I have a friend who told me that if time travel is ever invented, she would use it to go back 8 years and buy more of her favourite cardigan from M&Co. Good use of science, there. :-)
The great thing about making your own clothes is that if you have that feeling, you can just go ahead and make another! Granted you probably won't get the same fabric again, but you will get something you know you love the style and fit of.

Victory is mine!

Pattern: Chloe from Victory Patterns
Size: S
Fabric: Corduroy from John Lewis

I treated myself to a cheeky trip to John Lewis in Reading after Christmas. They stock beautiful fabrics but always at unaffordable prices. Until sale time, that is. I got enough for about five garments, all for around £50 and the most I paid was £8 a metre for some beautiful lightweight cotton that looks suspiciously like a Liberty print and originally cost £17 a metre!! Bargain. :-) I also got to have lunch at one of my favourite cafés, the Global Café, which serves the most glorious Ethiopian stews and injera.

L-O-L-A Lola!

Pattern: Victory Patterns 'Lola'
Size: 8
Fabric: Sweatshirting and matching rib from Vend Fabrics

This is my first Victory Patterns um...pattern. I hadn't paid them much attention but one of my resolutions for 2014 is to make mostly independent patterns so I gave them a revisit.

Cinderella Part II

Pattern: Anna dress from By Hand London
Size: 12-14
Fabric: Satin from Mason's

As always with dressing up dresses it took me quite a while to decide on a pattern, but I knew I wanted a maxi and the Anna dress had been catching my eye for some time. A lot of the versions in blogland are beautiful, don't get me wrong, but more along the lines of a summer day dress so I just wasn't sure if it would posh up enough. Then I saw this glorious version courtesy of Diary of a Chain Stitcher and I knew my prayers had been answered.

Cinderella Part I

Necklace

No pattern
Materials from: The Bead Shop and Mail Order Beads

Bag

Pattern: High Tea Clutch from Charlie's Aunt
Fabric: Cotton velvet, and satin from Mason's

For possibly the first time ever, I am about to show you something non-clothing that I've made! It is a rarity, but actually I really enjoyed making both these items so I think I should consider widening my repertoire more frequently!