The weather was a lot better than when we visited last year in November and Eve got the train out of London to meet up with us - so a perfect time we had.
We had a lovely walk around Verulamium Park, a visit to the cathedral and a relaxing lunch.
It was all over so quickly but such a great time.
This past week I've been busy with my dressmaking. I'm definitely growing in confidence now and enjoying the process more rather than just finding it stressful all the time.
I made a practice dress for a pattern I had recently acquired- McCall's M7116, using a bedsheet in a lovely aubergine colour - I made view B.
I liked the style of the dress, it's different to the usual dresses I make but there were a number of issues that I wasn't happy with. The sleeves were rather short, the bodice also too short and the neck too wide. I think I could probably address these issues without too much difficulty but in the end I went out and bought a new pattern that is more to my taste in style - Newlook 6262. I particularly like view B with the short sleeves (shown in yellow on the pattern envelope) - all my dresses so far have been sleeveless.
I didn't feel I needed to make a full practice dress but I did want to have a go at fitting the sleeves, so I used some leftover sheet and I'm so glad I did. The sleeve went in no problem, but the neckline was surprisingly high and uncomfortable. I altered the pattern to lower the neck and now I have a dress that it very comfortable to wear.
So happy happy happy. I have three more dress lengths of fabric in my stash so now that I'm on a roll with the sewing I'm hoping to have some lovely additions to my wardrobe.
I could do with knitting up a light coloured cardigan to go with the summery dress, but instead I've just finished a navy coloured cardi. It's just a plain cropped style - my favourite and it goes well with a number of dresses I wear a lot, which is why I made it.
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| Please excuse the bad photographs - they were taken in the hotel room by my husband !! |
As I find it almost impossible to not use up every scrap of yarn, I've made six more little sock yarn sweaters to add to my bunting.
So that's what I've been up to. I'm planning on spending the rest of the bank holiday weekend working on my Mandala Madness blanket which hasn't been shown any love for some time. I'll also be catching up on all the sporting events that are happening this weekend on the television. A nice relaxing few days ahead of me. I hope plenty of relaxation comes your way too. Bye for now.
Its a pain to make a practice dress isn't it? Still once you have made the pattern up you know the bits you have to slightly alter next time. Or you could end up with 2 nice dresses like the practice butterfly dress that you made.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Caz. The practice dress is a great way to iron out all the problems and I've learnt a lot by making them.
DeleteLove the dress, it really suits you. I was most impressed with the knit, the cardigan was a real delight and those little minis for bunting are stunning. Have a restful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorraine. I'm enjoying making the dresses as I can make them to exactly the style I know suits me and I enjoy wearing.
DeleteYour trip looked really wonderful Janet, so glad you had special time with your daughter. Love the dress. I can see what you are saying about the first dress, I would have easily picked that one to make but a short chest and sleeves would pull the whole dress up and you would be fiddling with it all the time.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Thank you Meredith. You are so right about the first dress, it's a pretty pattern but I would have ended up not wearing it very often.
DeleteI hope you lied St Albans. My son had his graduation in that Cathedral. Love your dresses - so clever. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Daffy, we loved St Albans and the cathedral is beautiful.
DeleteI have that pattern Janet and have planned to make one of the dresses this week so this post has been good timing for me. I think I might have a rummage around the airing cupboard for an old sheet to practise on first. I like your little jumpers too xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo. I find using a sheet first makes me feel far more confident when it comes to cutting into new expensive fabric. I hope you enjoy making the dress and I look forward to seeing how you get on.
DeleteIt sounds like a lovely trip Janet, your dress has turned out really well and it fits you perfectly, I love the cardigan and the tiny sweaters are so cute. Have a great week. :) xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda.
DeleteWhat a lovely trip. I think my favourite dress is the purple one. If it were longer it would look very Jane Austen. About to settle down to the Sewing Bee later, which has made me think about sewing. What I find more intriguing is the VW Camper van. Is it yours, or were you just out shopping?
ReplyDeleteThank you Ginny. I was drawn to the purple dress pattern because it did remind me of a Jane Austen character.
DeleteThe photo with the VW camper van was actually taken in the reception area of VW headquarters in Milton Keynes. My husband had a meeting there so we stopped off on our way to St Albans. I had planned to sit in the car in the car park to wait for him, but the lovely reception staff insisted I sat in reception and knitted. They supplied me with lovely mugs of chocolate and were incredibly friendly. The reception area was full of VW cars, both new and historic so I just had to have a picture with the camper van.