She gives him all the important things he needs: Dress 8

This dress is a Butterick 4758 again with a circle skirt. The fabric is an amazing array of Licorice Allsorts and was a gift from my amazing Mum! Yay!

I've altered the neckline of the bodice so there's no gaping and have discovered that zips probably are better under the arm but not right up to the edge!

I seem to be making a habit of lining my dresses with leftover fabric from previous makes so this dress is lined in the hot air balloon fabric I bought to make a New Look 6886 pattern.

I cut the pattern out one evening and sewed up the bodice the next- I'm

Pleased to be getting a bit quicker!

My paper pattern is the sewing bee book circle skirt pattern from series 1. I have added to it however as modern patterns simply aren't long enough for my vintage tastes.

I'm really pleased with the finished result of this one!!

I've named this dress the Kelly dress. It's a long story.... Basically, my Mum (pictured!) bought the fabric which is Bassetts Licorice Allsorts right. My Mums sister's surname is Bassett and my Mum's maiden name was Kelly so there you go! Two sisters in one dress!

Needless to say I wore the Kelly on Mothers Day!

Will be making more if my new improved Butterick patterns I think!

Xx

She loves to work with her hands: dress 9

You will all be pleased to hear that I've now increased my pattern collection to include New Look 6886! I wanted a more summery style for warmer weather and having had a peek at Roisins handmade wardrobe this pattern looked perfect!

I bought this beautiful hot air balloon fabric a few weeks ago and so have plucked up the courage to actually cut into it. I hadn't realised until after I bought it that Roisin had also made a dress from it!

Following my somewhat steep learning curve I did make a muslin of this bodice.

The straps were interesting- well, turning them right side up is always a challenge but I found a thick knitting needle worked a treat!

I used a really nice quality lining fabric for this dress too so it should be super cool come the summer!

Although the pattern requires a half circle skirt I had enough fabric to make a full circle cos they really are my fave!

What do you think? I've named this one the Zoë dress after my middle daughter who adored the fabric! 

Xx

A wife of noble character who can find: Dress 7

I think I love polka dots. Really I do; they're so ultimately chic and retro! This time I've gone for classic black After the frustration of No Cream I've looked very hard at the Simplicity 2444 bodice and decided to allow more side seam allowance and move the zip to the side as opposed to the back.

I had enough of the Russian Romans dress fabric to line the bodice and have opted for a mash up of the Simplicity bodice and the half circle skirt from my New Look 6886 pattern which I think has worked really well. 

As I've moved the zip to the side I can only fit one pocket on the dress so that will just have to do!

I'm delighted with the finished result and after listening to lots of U2 while sewing this dress (the Singles album we bought in Australia a few years ago) have decided to name it the 'Wakehurst Parkway' dress in honour of the road we used to derive up and down to visit my lovely brother & his crew on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

I especially like it with my red shoes!!

Xx

She puts on strength and honour: dress 6

Hmmm... Not sure about this next dress.

Like the Russian Romans dress I wanted another dress I could wear through the winter/spring transition so I bought a cheap navy polycotton with a ditsy strawberry print.

 I lined it with what was left of the Worf dress but under stitched in the same dark thread I'd sewn it up with which was perhaps a mistake as it probably should have been white!! (Remember for next time).

I wanted to use the Simplicity 2444 bodice again as it fits up to the back of my neck and is easy to wear long sleeves underneath but I wanted to add a full circle skirt and try out the pockets from the Simplicity pattern. They worked a treat although did require me cutting the skirt front on the fold and then 2 separate back pieces so I had 2 side seams in which to sew the pockets and get a back zip in place!

I'm pleased with the fit and the style of the dress but not overly enamoured with the fabric so I'm naming it the Without Cream dress as I don't think these strawberries deserve any cream- they're just not quite good enough!

Well- the No Cream dress is made, hemmed and zipped but unfortunately is actually too pesking small!!! I've pulled 2 zips open on this dress and even after repositioning and restitching the zip, I have to admit defeat! Pants :(

Clearly too much pattern redrafting went on here. I could be frustrated but I will simply have to look at the simplicity bodice again and start on another....this one had pockets too.....ho hum.....

Xx

She brings him good not harm: dress 5

Return of Simplicity 2444. Ok, ok I admit it; maybe I was too harsh on Simplicity 2444. I've tried it again and actually got to grips with the bodice at least. I prefer circular skirts and following the success of the Pi dress have now learnt how to make a half circle version so have meshed the Simplicity 2444 bodice to a half circle skirt.

On one of my many trips to the fabric shop I spotted this delightful Russian Dolls fabric Roisin used on the One Good Turn Dress and couldn't resist. 

Russian dolls fabric £5.99 a M

My first few dresses are great but a little too summery for March, even with the delightful bit of sunshine we've been having, so I wanted a fabric that could take me through the transition season!

I had sufficient polka dot fabric leftover from the Rubies dress so have used that to line dress number 5.

I wasn't quite sure what to call this dress but as I was cutting my youngest decided to join me on all fours to draw out a full sized Roman centurion for her homework so we collectively decided to call this one the Russian Romans!!

Having tampered with the bodice of Simplicity 2444 I've actually managed to ensure this dress has the best fit of them all and as the pattern requires a full length back zip it's definitely easier to insert than the Butterick underarm position. The first zip broke after hemming however so I can now add re stitching an invisible zip to my repertoire! I really like the fact that this dress has. Aback bodice that comes up to the neck and could easily see myself making it again in a tartan or heavier fabric and wearing it in the winter with a long sleeved top underneath and boots.

What do you think?

Xx

She sets about her work vigorously: Alterations!

Breakthrough!!!

After 4 dresses all with the same neckline issues, my beautiful friend I mentioned in my very first post popped in for coffee and ended up becoming a pattern redrafter extraordinaire! How I love you Jackie!

All of my butterick dresses and my latest simplicity creation (will give details later!) all had rather gaping necklines which was starting to bother me. :(

I'd followed the pattern, cut a little extra on the side seams to allow for some room up front and ended up with a baggy neck. My friend suggested I simply redraft my patterns to remove some of the extra material on the upper chest. I altered the fold line (stuck it down with Washi!) and recut the bodice front! Voila!!

Loving my previous creations as I do I also took some time last Saturday to alter them all and make each one slightly unique.

On the Cudge I simply cut the shoulder seams open and re stitched them higher which pulled the neck/upper chest material tighter. On the Worf I've actually left it as I really think it's almost good enough. 

The Rubies dress was seriously gaping so I too stitched 3 small pleats onto the neckline which has drawn in the excess fabric and made a pretty feature to the front.

The Pi dress neck line was supposed to be a notched neck but after under stitching too far it wasn't a triumph so my very clever friend took it away and top stitched a very clever little front neck feature instead! So although it took my the better part of a Saturday to make the required alterations all my dresses now fit well and I've redrafted both the Butterick B5748 and Simplicity 2444 bodice fronts to avoid such a school boy error in the future! Hoorah!!

I still have absolutely no idea which ones to enter into Sew Dolly Clackett!!!

Anyone else having these teach-yourself-to-sew-teething-issues or is it just me?

Xx

She considers a field and buys it: dress 4

Hello lovelies- dress number 4 was a total fail! I tried the renown Simplicity 2444 and I HATE it! Sorry to all you fans of it but I really couldn't get on with it at all and after much time and fabric have decided to scratch it from the record such was the measure of disaster. It was too small in the bodice- which surprised me having read many a blog describing it as too big! The pleats in the skirt were ok but the attaching part seemed so complicated compared to my faithful Butterick B5748. Maybe it's just me but let's just say I was glad I'd only used £2 per metre fabric!....

So anyway, like all good growth mindset people I moved on.... To Butterick B5748 again! This time I set myself the challenge of drafting my own half circle skirt pattern. A simple mathematical equation to all you hardened sewers but interesting for me! So, the dress has been named the 'Pi' dress, for obvious reasons.

I'd also only made the plain jewel necked bodice before so for this make I chose to include the notch in the neck. One edge is a little too rounded due to over excited under stitching but all in all I quite like it.

I also inserted an invisible zip, in the right place this time, and am still struggling with the top end but as it's hidden away and tucked into the bodice lining I thought I might get away with it.

I took some photos of my tailor tacking too, a skill I learnt from a variety of you tube clips and one I really like for ensuring darts get placed correctly. I adapted the method to mark out the neck- notch stitching line too. I've found it most helpful to use a different coloured thread for the tailor tacks so they're easy to see against a patterned fabric.

Isn't this fabric stunning- I can't wait to wear this dress out with a little cardi on my shoulders and some wedge heels while schlurping on a '99!!!

I'm still waiting for my order of New Look 6886 and another Retro butterick B5603 from Jaycotts- taking an age due to pattern sales and the Sewing Bee apparently! Let's hope I like those better than Simplicity 2444. I've no problem having 4 very similar dresses in my wardrobe but would like to try something else now. I'm so pleased I worked out the half circle pattern too- much less fabric needed!

How many can we enter for Sew Dolly Clackett?!?

Xx