Communion dress

If you read me regularly, you may have noticed that the dressmaking bug has bitten with year, so what's more natural than sharing the fun and making clothes for the children too. And of course, a good project to start with would be my daughter's first holy communion dress... oh yes, why not? Probably sounds crazy to most sane people but anyway, once I decided I would give it a try of course I had to!

I ordered some satin online and organza to jazz it up a little and found an "easy" Burda pattern that would fit what I was trying to make so off I went!

The satin wasn't so bad but cutting organza is just horrible... it moves all over the place, as to finding the grain line, well just forget it! The white satin was quite thin in the end so I bought some white cotton too to line the skirt as I didn't want it to transparent. I got to that point with the zip on!

 and decided that it needed jazzing up a little so I ordered some lace to put on the bodice of the dress that I added on the front and back. I hand sew the lace as I thought it would be easier on the nearly finished garment.

And the weather had been a little bit on the cold side while I was making the dress so I was worried she might be cold and would maybe need a sleeve so I added the bolero to the to-do list!
I bought a satin fabric with big circles sewn to it as I was worried with regular satin it would be a little plain. The body of the bolero is lined but not the sleeves.

Anyway, the communion was nearly 2 weeks ago now.... we had a great time. Once the sewing was over there was a lot of cooking involved to cater for our 20 guests that had come from France! That's also why I have completely deserted the blog in the last few weeks!

Of course, the dress is not perfect but hey. I made it. I would never have believed I could do something like this 6 months ago!

My daughter was beautiful of course! I was so proud of her and of her dress too! She wore a hand made necklace (choker) for the occasion.

Now this is a big tick of my Finish Along list, a big OPAM and also my One Monthly Goal. Lining to Needle and Thread Thursday, Whoop Whoop Friday.
Celine

May goals

Let's hope May will finally bring some spring weather (in temperature as well). This month we have our daughter's first holy communion which will be a family time for us. I am looking forward to it.


Hoping for finish
1. C's dress and bolero - this will be my One Monthly Goal

2. Neoprene coat

3. Teacher's gift

Bee Blocks 

1. Flower hexies for the Inchy Hexie Swap (April and May) 


WIP
1. Farmer's wife, let's try for another 10 blocks 

2. Solstice challenge -
3. HST modern sampler quilt - half way 

4. Postcards of the world

5. Dear Jane - aiming for 5 blocks
6. Long Time Gone - let's try and keep up!

7. Mischief blocks

New Project

1. Custom cushions  x 2  

2. Flora Sew Along
3. Shirt Dress (Darling)
4. Bridgetown Dress
5. Leather (faux!) jacket 

Celine

April in review

Another busy month with lots of travelling and some unexpected news... anyway, I have managed a few finishes (dressmaking and cross stitch) and made some blocks too....

Hoping for finish
1. Sorbetto top - finished

2. Saunio cardigan - this will be my One Monthly Goal - finished

3. Pencil skirt gold - finished

4. Lizzie skirt - not started

Bee Blocks 

1. Flower hexies for the Inchy Hexie Swap (April) - started


WIP
1. Farmer's wife, let's try for another 10 blocks - 7 blocks

2. Solstice challenge - 8 blocks behind already.... - no progress
3. HST modern sampler quilt - half way - - no progress

4. Pumpkin Passport - finished!

5. Dear Jane - aiming for 5 blocks - no progress
6. Long Time Gone - let's try and keep up! - still on track!

7. Mischief blocks  - no progress

New Project

1. Custom cushions  x 2  - not started

2. Flora Sew Along - not started
3. Dress for C - nearly done!

4. Shirt Dress (Darling) - not started
5. Bridgetown Dress - not started
6. Neoprene coat - not started

7. Leather (faux!) jacket - not started

Celine

Making blocks

I have made a few more blocks over the last few weeks but I haven't had time to blog!
First some blocks for my Farmer's Wife quilt, going a lot slower than I was planning/hoping
19 [Checkerboard]

22 [Corn & Beans]

23 [Country Farm]

 24 [Country Path]

 27 [Darting Birds]

Some Long Time Gone Blocks, so far so good I am still on track but then there's 21 churn dash blocks to make this week!
A rainbow Trip Around the  World block

the Plus a Star block

4 little Churn Dash blocks (17 more needed!)

and A Courthouse Steps block for next week!

That's 12 more blocks for the 350-blocks challenge taking my total to 20!
Linking to Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, I may have a scrap problem

Celine

100 day challenge - results!

Well, the challenge is over, the 100 days have passed a few days ago! Time to check the focus of the last 100 days

So back in January I selected 3 projects I really want to focus on and make progress on. Of course, since then lots has happened.... including new projects that I just couldn't resist! I also managed to finish some quilts and make myself some clothes. And it's been a busy time at work and with the family too! Time to look at the 3 projects now...

1. Hello Kitty quilt for my niece - squares all cut - no progress at all on this one during the 100 days of the challenge

2. Farmer's Wife blocks - I had 30 blocks at the beginning of the challenge and I am now at 48! Still a long way to go with 111 blocks in total...

3. Project 48 -  I didn't make all the blocks from this quilt-along but I made all the blocks I wanted to make.

So one with no progress, one with just over half of the progress I was planning/hoping for and one completed. Not too bad overall but I could do with another round!

Linking to 100 days project Finale

Celine

Long Time Gone

I started the quilt-along by being ahead every week but this is now over, and this week I even had to rush to finish the blocks.... I posted my weekly picture about 30 minutes before the deadline... wow!
Time to focus again as this will only heat up! So here are my 9 Jacob's Ladder blocks, all made out of my scrap basket (but the monsters print).

That's 4 more blocks for my 350-blocks challenge this month, taking my total to 8.

Linking to Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Celine

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you. I am not baking on Easter day (!) but I made some hot cross buns for Good Friday, following the British tradition.

Celine

Sorbetto top

Another Colette pattern! but this one a free one with a quilt-along. I like the style of the Sorbetto top and it came as a free pattern on Colette's website and a sew-along. Of course, I had to jump in! I bought some crepe and organza fabric that I was planning to use to make it.

But then when I read the sew-along instructions (I jumped in after it started), I read about the muslin (frankly, who has time for a muslin) and also about all the alterations that might be needed... and finally decided that a cotton/muslin first try would make sense.

I cut the pattern and sew the top quickly and sure enough when I tried it, I thought it didn't fit me that well. So after more trying and measuring (I always seem to measure myself fatter than what I am in reality), I ended up taking it apart completely, cutting the pieces one size down and doing a small bust adjustement. Wow! Never thought I'd understand or manage that one but then the sew-along explanations were really good.

 I sew it back together and the next steps was to add the sleeves... that caused me some trouble too as my sleeves were (a lot) bigger than my armholes.... Anyway again the sew along instructions helped to fix that one too!
Next was to sew the binding on the neckline. I learned how to make continuous bias binding. And it was a lot easier than I thought (even without a bias tape maker) and adding the bias to the neckline was easier too! And finally the hem that was the easy part!
I am pleased with my Sorbetto and it is wearable too! On top of that I now have a pattern that fits me to make my next one. I am glad I went for the muslin/cotton option first as it would have been a lot harder to make the fitting on a crepe garment.

Just needs a bit more warmth to enjoy my new top!

One more OPAM this month and one that I can strike off my list Q2 Finish Along List.

Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday.

Celine

Back in the saddle

After catching up on the Project 48 Quilts blocks last month, I have decided to focus again on the second project I had listed on my 100 Days Challenge list. The 100 days will be up in the middle of the month already so it would be just nice to report progress on a second project!

So here it is, I have picked up my Farmer's Wife blocks again... and I must say it has gone slower than I planned/expected but life and work are a bit crazy just now.
Anyway, I have made a few blocks:

17 [Cats and Mice]

18 [Century of Progress]

finished is better than perfect will be the mantra here....

of and I have squeezed a few Long Time Gone blocks too so as not to fall off the wagon!
2 more Jacob's Ladder blocks

A slow (?) start of the month with just 4 blocks so far.

Celine

Gold pencil skirt

If you follow me on IG or you read my blog regularly, you will know that I had put on my gift list for Mother's Day the Maker's Atelier' s book, that I received and I must admit, I could't wait to get started.
So I went for the first pattern of the book which is a stretch pencil skirt and I bought some lovely PVC gold fabric similar to the one pictured in the book.

The skirt is easy to make as it consists of 2 pieces sewn together and has an elasticated waist. Because of the nature of the fabric, no hem is required!

So here it is, my finished skirt ready to be worn, it is a little on the larger size (I always see and it seems measure myself fatter than I am!) and maybe long (I might trim it off) but it is very wearable!

And I have now taken it in a little and shorten it and it looks great (even if I say so myself!)

Another OPAM for April  and the second item to be crossed off my Q2 Finish Along List.

Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday.

Celine

Saunio cardigan

The Saunio Cardigan was the second task for Sew My Style, set for February. I never managed to get to it in February but finally started it last month. The fabric was very difficult to line up at the edge and keep straight and I must say for once, the quantity I bought was tight. So I cut the larger size of the pattern as I fell between 2 sizes and started sewing last month, only to realise that I didn't have any black interfacing so I couldn't finish it.

I am glad I went to my local shop at this stage because the pattern doesn't specify what type of interfacing to use and being a beginner, I didn't have a clue it was possible to find interfacing for knit/jersey fabric. So with the interfacing available, I could finally finished my cardigan.

There is no "closure" for the cardigan, no buttons or zip or anything and I am not a big fan of the front pieces just hanging so I followed Jessica's "hack" and made 2 belt loops. I didn't make a belt partly because I didn't have enough length of fabric left but I bought a strip of leather on ebay to tie as a belt. I think it works well.

Now I am pleased my cardigan is finished and I really like the fabric. I am not entirely sold on the design to be honest, although it was easy to put together but my main issue with it is that it is very short on me. Admittedly I am tall and I should have lengthen the body pieces (not that I could with the amount of fabric I had). So yes I will wear it but it won't me my favorite go to piece. It might work better over a dress actually. And no I probably won't make that pattern again but then I've learned lots with this piece that has facing, first time for me!

My first OPAM for April and the first item to be crossed off my Q2 Finish Along List and also my One Monthly Goal for April.

Linking to Whoop Whoop Friday
Celine