The phrase “from the sublime to the ridiculous” is definitely springing to mind as I write this post.

Following my last post I checked more books and even went to the library and borrowed The Perfect Fit!  They showed full bust adjustment for a pattern without a bust dart.  One which doesn’t add a bust dart.  Cool!!!!

So I followed the directions.

I marked up the pattern as instructed:Then cut and spread.  Here it got a little tricky. They told you the maximum amount to spread, but didn’t give any recommendations based on cup size.  So I guessed.

I also added a bit to the side seams and to the front edge as planned.

I may have overdone it.  A bit.I had tea with Himmelbjerget on Friday (and some rather lovely buns that Little Stitch and Nino enjoyed immensely) and we pinned and pinched and I think we’ve got it sussed.  I’m going to make another version of the toile either tomorrow or Tuesday and we’ll see.  Very nearly there I think.  I HOPE!

I’m sure you’ll recall that my original plan for the black gingham blouse was to make flat alterations to the front, which would provide a reasonably fitting toile that just needed some tweaks.

And that the original plan went out of the window.

Whilst Little Stitch took an afternoon nap, I sewed up the toile.  And it is, dear reader, my worst nightmare.  Although I do think it has potential, hence the public humiliation of the following photos.

Starting with the back, my initial thoughts are that a good start would be to:

• adjust the yoke to compensate for my slightly rounded back
• let out the waist to compensate for not having one!

If you scare easily, look away now.  The front is even worse:

Again, I have some initial thoughts:

• Letting out the waist should alleviate the pull across the front
• It still needs a full bust adjustment (hence the black dots playing “hunt the bust point”
• I think I need to lift the neckline a little too – I think flashing your bra at playgroup is frowned upon.
• Oh!  And I think the armhole probably needs lifting too.  But I’m going to do that last to see how much difference the other changes make.

The only godsend is the the side seam looks like it’s pretty much where it should be.

So I’ve locked the workroom door for tonight.  Hopefully my brain will work on this over the next couple of days and work it out.  I won’t get chance to come back to this until probably Thursday at the least.

What do you think? Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.  Please be gentle with me.

I have to admit to loving this top.  The photo, less so, but it’s the end of the day and I’m going to suck it up!

This pattern is super easy to make, it fit right out of the envelope, and it hides the fact that I’ve eaten far to much of Ma Stitches-in-Law’s lovely pie and bread and butter pudding (separate plates, obviously).

You’ll remember that I added 8cm to the length because it looked like it would come up short. Well, when I’d sewn the thing together and tried it on, I cut the 8cm right back off again.  And it’s a fabulous length.  Particularly for picking up a small child without flashing your midriff to the world.  Always a bonus in my book.

One small query in my mind is the unfinished neckline.  It wasn’t a surprise as it’s clearly listed in the description on the envelope back.  This has also been discussed in other parts of Blogland.  However, when I make this again, and I will, I may try adding a self fabric binding to the neck once the pleats have been made.  It would change the look slightly but worth a try, no?

Next up is the wrap front blouse from the black and white gingham I bought during my last trip to London:This project will take a little longer because instead of cobbling together something slapdash and then hating it because it doesn’t fit, I’m going to do a full bust adjustment and make it fit properly.

Also, Ma Stitches is coming for a visit on Tuesday – she’ll be here for a week, woo hoo!!!!  Not much sewing will be going on whilst she’s here as we’ve lots of lovely outings planned.   Woo hoo again!  Although obviously there’ll be some knitting – I’ve another little cardigan on the needles for Little Stitch.  Not the raspberry!  I’m still not speaking to that yarn.

I know that “too much cake” is a concept not often discussed on this blog, or, frankly, one that I’m particularly familiar with. But after today’s sewing escapades (yes…finally there have been some) I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to investigate this phenomenon more closely.

You’ll remember the silk dress I wanted to remodel.  Well, Little Stitch went visiting today with Nana and Grandpa, and I locked myself in the workroom and got to it.

I tweaked and cursed and cut and stitched, and maybe cursed some more, until I had a dress that actually works. All that’s left to do is bind the neckline, hand stitch the lining in place and lift the hem by about 5 inches:

Oh.  And lose about 8lbs.

Damn you cake. Damn your gorgeous, luscious, deliciousness.  And damn your insistence on lurking around my midriff long after I thought you’d been and gone.

So the dress is consigned to the scrapheap popped onto Maud to await a miraculous shrinking of the waistline. Sigh!

By this time Little Stitch had returned and I was planning a quick win.  But firstly I needed a cunning plan to keep her entertained whilst I cut out a quick pattern:

Note to self…don’t let her get her hands on the patterns themselves for a while.  However, whilst she was distracted I cut the pattern for Vogue V8534:

I’m making it up in this fabric:

Which I purchased from our local market for the princely sum of £5.00 and thus this will become a wearable muslin to test:

• the pattern
• my skills at sewing knits, which are definately in need of some development
• my skills on the Coverstitch machine, which are virtually non-existent

As there’s a lot of pleating in the front I’ve not done a full bust adjustment, time will tell if this is wise.   I’m cutting View A sleeves with View B hem, and I’ve added 8cms to the length in an attempt to get it to look the same and not end somewhere around the waistband of my jeans.

Little Stitch is going to bed soon (Daddy is just putting her jammies on as I type) and as Mr Stitch has a little work to do before supper, I’m going to sneak back to the table and cut out the fabric.

Edit at 8.15pm: Fabric cut and ready to sew.  I’m off for supper.

I love reading others blogs and seeing all the lovely things they’ve sewn.  I’m always inspired and think “I really must get on with some sewing”.

I worry that you, dear reader, will stray, thinking “Pendle Stitches????? Hardly!”

It’s easy to type whilst feeding Little Stitch, or whilst she sits having her drink. Less easy to sew with her around.  At least until she gets used to the play pen.

But last night Mr Stitch was away on business, Little Stitch was in bed, and all the ironing was done. I managed an hour in the workroom before hunger insisted I sit and have supper and then curl up on the couch with a glass of Merlot and a sleeve to knit.

So. Did I work on the silk dress that needs remodelling????   Noooooooooo.

Did I work on the black twill trousers that are cut and ready to sew?????  Bless you.  Don’t be silly.

What did I do?

I altered the hem and sleeves on a black jersey dress that’s been at the back of the wardrobe for ages.  It’s a good basic dress but, whilst it worked in an office environment, it didn’t for my new life. I don’t think its even worth a picture, but I’m pleased because

• I actually sewed something
• It’s been waiting to be altered for MONTHS
• I get to wear it again, and it’s a very nice dress
• I used my Coverstitch machine for the first time (and it only took six months)

It’s a start. Right?