Simplicity Sewing Challenge - Best Vintage Make

I saw a post on Facebook advertising the Simplicity Sewing Challenge and decided that it would be fun to have a go so sent an email over requesting to join. I decided to sign up for the Best Vintage make which used Simplicity 1365 (Simplicity provided the pattern for free).

As I wasn't making it for me, I let my model choose which view she would like and she chose view B. My model was two different sizes so I used a 16 for the bodice and a 20 for the midriff. The fabric is a red, polycotton gingham and the size of the checks are 24mm which I bought from Fabricland.

The bodice was tight in the end but I'm not sure if that was because of the way I finished it off or if I should have cut the bodice in size 14 but with a full bust adjustment. It did gape at the side of chest a little but that was sorted by pulling the ties further around. 

Because I used two sizes, there was a lot of pull in the fabric when the bodice and midriff were joined together. To counteract this I changed how the pieces joined together around the back. Here you can see how the back was meant to look and what it looked like in the end.

I would happily sew this pattern together again as it was nice and quick to put together (setting aside trying to work around the fit). I think it would look gorgeous in black! There are 3 things I will take away from this project:
1) I need to learn how to do pattern alterations
2) It's much easier to work through issues and check fit when you have a model on hand.
3) Pattern matching is difficult!

Holiday photos and a couple of updates

Morning everyone! I've got a small update for you guys. I haven't had much time to stitch as I have a couple of resits to revise for. Most of my progress on the remembrance fields was done on holiday in Portugal.

Remembrance field 15.08.2016

This was nowhere near being done in time for the person's birthday so I moved on to the next present. I just hadn't realised how much I was taking on with that piece so it will go on the back burner for now.

Now time for a couple of holiday photos!

Nazaré

Nazaré

Lisbon

Lisbon

Lisbon

Lisbon

Blogger is so fickle when it comes to positioning photos! I am considering updating to a different platform and redesigning the blog but that maybe some time as I've got a lot of stuff to do first. 

I started barn owls as another birthday present. This is where I got to 11th August 

Barn owls 11.08.16

and managed to get to here by 14th

Barn owls 14.08.16

I've got a number of sewing projects to do as well *sigh*. A friend has asked me to make her a purse so there's that and I still haven't finished my cousin's bag but I want to unpick a lot of the quilting as I'm unhappy with it. 

I hope to show you more updates soon!

Christmas in Summer Exchange

Sarah and I had our annual exchange and the theme this year was Christmas. Once again this was fun to put together! So much so, that we both wouldn't mind doing it again.

Look at the pretty ribbon that was on the envelope!

Sarah made me a lovely biscornu...

 Here are all of the fabulous contents of the package together,

Thank you again Sarah! I honestly love it all.