Christmas present reveal

 Back when I made teddy bears, I gradually accumulated a big pile of mohair scraps; too big to throw away, too small to make a bear out of.  This Christmas, stuck for a present for my sister and her family, I thought I'd try putting the scraps together to make a quilt.  It actually turned out interesting (a little crazy, but not in a bad way), although it's probably more of a lap blanket than a quilt.  These are the photos she sent me - with appreciative recipient.  He does look a little grumpy in the first photo, but I think he takes it all back in the second!

I backed it with beautiful yellow fleece from Fabworks.  I didn't use any interfacing or batting - which was probably a mistake because the mohair itself is woven into quite a thick, firm backing fabric, and the seams - where the patches are sewn together - are fairly prominent.  You can clearly feel them through the fleece.  But it was plenty warm, even without the batting.  I edged it in a piece of dark purple duchess satin that we've had for ages.  It was the first time I'd edged a blanket, or mitred a corner.  The mitring went alright, but actually sewing the edging was a pain in the rear end - it just slipped all over the place; I had no control over it all.  I'm hoping my sister does look too closely at the edging...

Anyway, for Christmas, my mother got me another big piece of the yellow fleece, and the Linden sweater pattern from Grainline Studio.

I looked at the reviews online, and added an extra three inches onto the length.  I think I would have made the neckline a little higher too, but I wasn't particularly sure what I was doing: I wanted to make it once to see what it was like, before I changed too much.

The results are shown below.  I was actually really chuffed with it - particularly the cuffs and the hem, which I've never tried before.  I'll definitely make it again.  Probably with a higher neckline, and I feel like those diagonal seams which goes across from armpit to neckline (it's got raglan sleeves) could be altered slightly - it feels like there is a lot of fabric there - but I don't know.  I wouldn't want to alter the loose, slouchy feel of it.

Black raglan top - McCalls 7093

Another raglan top pattern - McCalls 7093.  I'm not quite so keen on this one.  Partly, I think it's because I chose not to lengthen the pattern - I can't remember why, now; i think it just looked long enough as it was.  Its definitely shorter on me than it is on the model in the picture.

Partly also, it could be the fabric (see below).  I was looking for something to wear for work, when it gets really hot, so I chose a really thin, light fabric.  I think it just doesn't drape as well as my last effort.

I suppose it could be the pockets too.  In theory, pockets are always good.  But these ones are a bit wide and shallow, and they fall at stomach-level, which isn't where I need extra width.  Not immediately post-lockdown anyway.

Anyway, I made some masks for work as well, out of the left-over fabric.  I feel like I've got a bit of a 'Men in Black' vibe going on with my little pile of black masks, and my pile of black tops and trousers.  The masks come with obligatory white cat hair of course(!)

Child's peplum top - New Look 6549

More peplum tops!  This time from a New Look pattern, for my nieces.  The pattern pieces were basically the same here as for the Vogue pattern, but they had you put them together in a different order, which I wasn't keen on.  If I made these again, I'd probably do it the Vogue way.  Also, I cannot tell you how much trouble I had with the bias facing on the neckline and armholes!  You can see in the pictures below: the necklines are still very slightly gathered.  And I've no idea why it was so difficult - on the adult pattern, they went on without any problem.  Each time I sewed the facing to the right side of these tops, then folded it to the inside, there was too much sleeve for facing - or too much neckline for facing - if you know what I mean.  The solution I found eventually was, when pinning the facing to the outside initially, pin the lower edge which is slightly longer, then when you actually stitch the upper edge, you have to ease it in.  But that way, when you flip it over and sew the lower edge inside the top, it fits better.

Anyway, they fit, and the nieces were happy, so it turned out alright.  I need to get better at finishing the seams inside though - they were a bit ragged!

Banana dress - Style 1874

I went back to work on 4th July, and the last things I wanted to finish before that were Wolf Hall (see previous post) and this dress (tick, tick)!  I had bought some lovely yellow cotton, and was looking for something to use it for (which probably isn't the right way round to do it), and found this pattern.  It's not a style I'd usually wear, but its plain enough - so why not?  One of the nice things about sewing clothes is that I've tried styles I never would have worn otherwise.  It hasn't always worked out, but sometimes; I'm definitely a peplum convert now.

If I'm ever invited to a fancy dress party and I'm stuck for ideas, I'll wear this and go as a banana!  I think it's a gorgeous colour.  On the bright side, but gorgeous all the same.  I lined the dress in a cream shirting material (see last pic), and I'd happily wear it inside out.

I did have to make some changes; it came out a little weird the first time round.  I chose a size 16 - since that was the size that corresponded to my measurements - but it was massive in the bodice; I had to take over an inch out of each side (front and back - so four inches in total).  There was something strange going on with the bodice darts too: there were side darts, and two darts going up the centre of the dress - like princess seams.  The darts came together in points(?) and far away from where they should have been!  All very confusing.  So I moved them in a bit - the darts, that is.  It sounds like I should have used the smaller size, except that the waist and hips were about right.

I also wanted the dress a bit longer than suggested, and I ended up leaving a split in the back because of the added length.  This is the first garment I've made with a lining, and it makes so much difference; I'll definitely try it again.

It was a really, really simple pattern - literally just a front piece and a back piece - and very easy to make.  The pattern didn't suggest topstitching - just sew in the lining and iron - but I did the topstitching for a neater finish.