Sewing just for Me!!!

Hi! It's been rather a wet weekend here in the Midlands in the UK, so I've spent a lot of time sewing.... and what's more, I've been sewing for me!!

I cut out the pieces for this top on Friday afternoon, not really expecting to do any more to it for a day or so, but I actually finished the whole thing in a weekend!

I bought the fabric a while ago, half price in a sale. I was never over the moon about it - I bought it because it was cheap! Why on earth do we do that! However, now it's sewn up I like it more than I thought I would. It won't ever be my fave thing I wear whenever possible, but it's very practical to go with skinny jeans and I really do need more tops that are longer than the ubiquitous T shirt.

The pattern is New Look 6110

I wasn't quite sure how this was going to work out, as I needed to adapt the pattern, using one size on the top half and the next size up on the hips, but that bit was actually a breeze.

I really like some of the small details, like the crossover where the sleeve joins at the underarm, rather than a straight seam.

I didn't like working the placket on the front at all! Either my facings sewed up a little too big or I'd cut the opening a little too small - either way, it took two attempts and good bit of pressing with steam to make it acceptable to me. Sorry no photo, I tried but it just looked like a mass of pattern - which is probably a godsend, it means no-one will notice the ill-fitting placket when I'm wearing it !

The instructions for the facing told me to press the raw edge under and stitch in place from the top. I hesitated at this - my gut feel was to slip stitch it in place by hand and then top stitch, and I really wish I'd listened to my gut!



Actually when I look at this photo now it doesn't look too bad, and I know no-one can see it when I'm wearing it, but next time I'm going to follow my instincts and take a bit longer to get it just right.

I think I fancy making something from a downloadable pattern over at  Burdastyle next.

I'm linking up with the Small Blog Meet over at Lilys Quilts later on today. Its a link up for any quilting/sewing blogger with fewer than 50 followers who would like to meet a few more likeminded bloggers. I've been reading Lynne's blog sporadically for a while, so I think it's time to get a bit more pro-active and waste spend even more time in blogland!!

Till next time..... Julie