Hot Patterns Uptown dress , done.

The last couple of weeks have flown by. So much for me to do and so little time. I have made more progress into the my project which I cant share as yet. Anyhow.. my friend was kind enough to get tickets to the Chelsea flower show and I cant wait to go. In honor of this I pattern tested, read, made for myself a dress with the Hot Patterns Uptown Dress pattern mentioned the last time.

I used this fabric. (I took the picture on a lovely warm day with my newly washed fabric flapping in the wind!)

I adjusted the pattern slightly to better fit me, I dropped the waist down by an inch and added some lace, I cut a 12 top and a 14 bottom as I prefer a looser skirt and made the neck bindings half their original width. Though for next time I will drop the neckline further. I used the sleeve bindings at the original width which I think I will change for the next version of the dress and I added two rows of stretch lace to the bottom hem as I really love lace.. I am sorry I did not include pockets or something else into the pattern though I can see myself wearing this right through the summer. I used my over locker to finish the seams on this and was happy with the results.

A word on Hot Patterns the company, I LOVE the patterns, they are stylish and I always end up learning something from their methods. However saying this I found their instructions sparse. They very much assume you know how to put things together and not everything is clearly explained.. Saying this they do have a great sections of video tutorials done by the owner Trudee on YouTube, something I discovered when I realized there were a few holes in my understanding of their patterns. Find them here. They have tons of tutorials for lots of their sewing patterns and were well worth checking out.

Things am doing

Things am working on at the moment, screen prints for various projects... need a couple more to work on...

New patterns to trail for the classes. Dresses and more dresses. One from Hot patterns which I love

So many things! Right now though, the new trampoline has been delivered and needs putting up before Miss and Master come home :)

Over the last month...

My brither and sister in law came to visit in April, this was a real treat. I have not seen them since before christmas and the kids simply were over the moon. It was a short but very sweet holiday. We shall miss them very much and hope to see them soon. 

On my sewing table has been this trial run of the Colette Iris shorts pattern, which I really like. The pattern is well written and has a invisible zipper (which I am teaching the students to do this term, hence my shorts trial) and my image of my garment really does not to this justice. I increased the lenth of it (it originally had a 4.5" inseam, eeek) and now is a better suited to me 8" which does change the pattern from slinky shorts to mummy shorts. Sigh. I will add a better picture soon.

I was determined to make a dent in my sewing list. Master A,picked out some fabric for himself a few months ago and wanted me to make a shirt out of it for him and here is my offering to him. I winged it and did a size 7 which was very very genenrous and I think he will have to grow into this!  I used Kwik sew 2951 and it really sewed up really quickly. 

I love the guitar printed fabric!

And finally I have been crafting more with Miss T and she was interested in screen printing so...

Ta Daa... am not sure what we will do with this but am sure it will make it into their room soon :)

Am working on sewing kits next, these are different and I think quite special... more on that later...