No, really this is my favourite dress now!

Lately I've been on a good sewing streak and I've been really liking some of my recent makes.  It seems I keep announcing this is my new favourite dress every time I finish something.

It was no different when I finished this dress.  I used the Block Dress Book again but was a bit braver this time.  I had a go at drafting a cap sleeve and the tie collar.  I lengthened the collar by half an inch but I think it wouldn't have hurt to make it a touch longer.  

The fabric is from a Marcus Fabrics range called ''Meadow Storm".  It's a lovely subtle print with little flowers etched in to it.  The more I looked at it, the more I liked it.  I knew I wanted to sew a dress with a collar but I couldn't decide upon a contrast collar so used the same fabric.  

The cap sleeve also worked well, and it really didn't take long to draft the new pieces.  Its certainly given me some more confidence to try drafting some of the other pattern pieces.  The only other thing I did differently was to cut two back skirt pieces and overlock the back edges.  I then sewed up the back to the notch.  I then edgestitched the seam allowance down.  This was much quicker than the tricky placket but it did leave a seam line on the back of the dress.

I had to be careful with placing the snaps at the back as the collar did come fairly close to the edge of the placket.  I found though by using the centre back markings it worked well.  I also used 4 different coloured snaps for a bit of a change,

I really love how it's turned out.  The colour is great on Freya and it's a lovely Summer dress (now we just need Summer to finally arrive!)  So that's my new favourite dress, well for the moment anyways...

Red Spotty Block Dress

I was so excited when my copy of the new Oliver and S Block dress book finally arrived!

This is the first version of the dress I've made and it definitely won't be the last.  

I'm making a bit of a conscious effort to inject some colour in my sewing as I have noticed I have an AWFUL lot of blue fabric in my stash.  This was something I bought particularly with that in mind and I think it's worked beautifully.

For my first dress from the book I stuck with a very simple version.  I even left off the collar and cuffs to keep it really simple, but I also think the print was bold enough to just stand on it's own. I know I love adding collars and details but it is nice to have a simple dress that she can wear to kinder and not be the most overdressed girl in the room.

The dress went together quite quickly.  The neckline is finished with a bias strip facing.  It was just folded in half once and then sewn on which is definitely the way I prefer to use bias tape.  The trickiest bit by far was the skirt placket.  You have to cut down the centre line of the skirt and fold bias binding over it.  I had a good try but it still wasn't perfect and is something I'll have to practise.

The book itself is great.  The instructions on how to alter the pattern pieces to create new ones is thorough and provides lots of different design opportunity.  The only thing is finding the time to change the pieces myself.  I am hoping I will be brave enough to take some risks and using the features of the book, but I don't think I'll be completely giving up buying patterns too.

Freya loved the dress.  It has a bit of twirl to it so it's a winner in her book.  She actually hugged me and said thank you when she got to wear it.  I'm so glad it turned out OK.  I was felling a bit blah about it as I was sewing but when she put it on I loved it.  All in all a success and I've already started on the next version.

Yet Another Cat Dress

Because a girl can never have too many cat dresses!

This is an Oliver and S Roller Skate dress which is one of my favourites, Freya's too if I'm honest.  She loved wearing her ones from last year and I've had to hide them as they are really getting too small.

This fabric is from the Cat Lady range from Cotton and Steel.  I bought it at the same time as the previous fabric.  I knew instantly this is what I would make from it and didn't change my mind for once!  I hadn't originally planned to add the facing, and certainly not in the mustard but when I put them together it just worked so well.   

The pattern went together as smoothly and quickly as ever.  The only thing I did differently was to use the tunic length for the lining to save on fabric.  I also used carbon paper and put the stitching lines on the lining to save risking the main fabric.   It's turned out well as always and I know she'll get a lot of wear out of it.  It's such a great, practical pattern!

My First Jump-rope Dress

This is the first time I've made this pattern and it sure won't be the last!

This is the Jump-rope dress by Oliver and S.  I've been interested in it for a while but waited until Little Miss was in the larger size range before getting it.  To be honest I was a bit intimidated by the placket and other features, but the instructions are very clear and I made sure I was extra careful and it turned out just fine.

While I do love sewing quick and simple dresses, I actually really enjoyed putting something a bit more complicated together.  This really isn't a quick sew but I reckon it would be easier the next time I make it.

The print is Cotton and Steel (yes, I'm a bit of a fan girl apparently!) from the Cat Lady collection.  I bought a metre and a half and some mustard without any real plans in mind but as soon as I thought of this pattern I knew it would be a winner.

I think this would be up there with the favourite things I've ever made.  I think it looks great on Freya.  This is a size 4 which is generous on her, without being too big.  I know she'll get a lot of wear out of it.  

Red Dorset Dress

There's nothing better than a great, simple pattern.

This is the new Heidi and Finn pattern called The Dorset Dress.  It's a simple a-line dress with some lovely details, which are my favourite kind.  The PDF went together without any difficulty and didn't use up too many pages.  

The back closes with a hidden button placket.  I really liked this feature as it was nice not to fiddle with zippers or button loops.

To be honest I wasn't sure about the button tabs on the front.  I was planning on leaving them off but then during sewing it together I was worried it was looking a tad plain.  So I ended up adding them with some blue piping for extra effect,  I'm so glad I did, but Freya keeps putting her hands in them expecting pockets.

The fabric is some Cotton and Steel I bought without any project in mind.  I've noticed I have been using a lot of blue and teal in my sewing so it was nice to give Freya a pop of colour.