FINISHED! A Daydream Carme Blouse

Early in February I was very honoured to be asked to test the new Pauline Alice pattern, the Carme blouse. I jumped at the chance of course.  I am such a Pauline Alice fan girl (having made both the Cami dress and the Malvorosa dress and the Ninot jacket is sitting high on my to do list).. and well a blouse is actually my favourite thing to sew.  Knowing that it was a pattern test I probably shouldn't have used one of a Liberty fabrics, but life is too short to not sew with beautiful fabrics and mistakes are so well hidden in a Liberty print.

More on the fabric later, but now to the most important part, the pattern. It is gorgeous isn't it! There is so much to love about this pattern. The pintucks on the front bib, the button cuffed sleeves, the rollup tabs and the stylishly slim fit, allowing it to be worn out or tucked into skirts.   

I cut a straight 36 with no adjustments at all.  The pattern comes together well (I love the way you pintuck and then cut the bib) and the sleeves set in perfectly. Pauline provides good instructions but she has also produced some video tutorials to assist even a beginner sewer, so there is no excuse not to try it. The pattern has also been updated to include a fabulously easy way to attach the collar which I'll be using for my next make.

I have worn this top already many times since making it.  Just a couple of things I'd take more notice of next time...  The instructions give you the option to interface or not the collar, so I took the middle ground and only interfaced one side of the collar. In hindsight the collar would have sat better, in this fabric, if I'd interfaced both sides.  

Sadly, in testing I made a small error and can't quite get my collar to do up with the buttons I have which is annoying and I couldn't find any slightly smaller buttons that I like. As a result when I got to the buttons I had a bit of a hopeless moment..first, I thought I wouldn't put any buttons on it. Then I thought 3 and the opening, then I thought more,..but by then I'd cut the button holes and the amount left at the top isn't exactly even.  Aaah. So annoying, but really, with the buttons undone, which is how I wear this top, it isn't at all noticeable (thank you busy Liberty fabric).  But my next one I'll get right as I'd love to be able to wear it all done up.  

Lastly, inserting the bib into the front requires precision and spot on top stitching. I need to up the ante next time and use my blind hem foot or something to provide guidance for immaculate top stitching so I'm not tempted to keep unpicking a less than perfect result. 

Despite those little things, I really enjoyed making up this pattern and look forward to making it up again in a denim/ chambray. For an amazing version, go and see Merche's version. It is stunning and then go and buy the pattern here!

Lastly, back to the fabric.  I bought this fabric from Tessuti after being lured into purchasing it from Velosewer Maria after spotting her purple colourway on instagram.  No regrets with the purchase of course.  As soon as I saw the line drawings from Pauline I knew this fabric would become a Daydream Carme Blouse.  I am a big fan of the work that Mo Coppoletta did for Liberty last season having made the Cami dress out of his Joy and Sorrow print and still have some Growing Fonder in the stash.

Daydream is from the AW 13/14 season and is hand painted by Mo Coppoletta who was inspired by William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, a style that represents Liberty, as it is a Mecca for Arts and Crafts visuals. Peonies were chosen as they are known as 'the king of flowers' in Eastern tradition and defined as the flower of riches and honour bringing health, wealth and wisdom. 

FINISHED! A Lurex mini challenge

Back in January, when I was at the Fabric Store, Emma from Ernest Flagg and I both bought 1.2m of this fun lurex. It is quite sheer and has a very subtle sparkle to it which I failed to capture well in these photos. It was an impulse buy and not particularly well thought through as I don't often wear grey. I love it on other people it is just not a colour that I love to wear (sequins aside).  But caught up in a moment of lurex, at the time I envisioned a little top to wear with jeans, but later decided that it might be fun to make into a dress.

Following on from my success with the Saiph Tunic and knowing that this pattern (sans sleeves) requires, with a good width of fabric, only 1.2 metres I decided to make the Saiph up again. To my own detriment, it's not often that I make up a pattern more than once and certainly not in such quick succession, so it did feel weird to return so quickly to this one.  Last time I made up the XS but this time I made up a straight XXS.  It fixes the armscye problems of the last one without sacrificing the lovely trapeze look.The dress still slips around the shoulders a bit but no big deal.

Those big dots on the back of the fabric are in fact large raindrops that started to fall as I was taking these photos not imperfections with the fabric although there was a few on the fabric which I needed to be wary of as I cut.  I lined it in a cheap dark navy slippery fabric which works a treat.  Despite being able to slip it straight over my head I kept the back seam and added a self covered button at the top.

I wonder whether I should have made up the other version of this pattern with the straight bottom, but there is no point regretting my choice now.  This is such a cute tunic that it might get a wear for a date night although I need to settle on the accessories. Not sure if these tights and shoes work 100%.

I wonder what Emma made with her fabric? Go over and check out her make.  I can't wait to see what she made! I've really liked doing this challenge.  As for the Saiph tunic, I'm done with it for now but it has definitely been fun! 

Dreaming of a hanging chandliers dress

This week I've been busy pattern testing for one very talented lady.  I have no new makes to show you, but the pattern released hopefully later this month will be worth the wait! I finished up yesterday, so now I need to get back on and  finish my Lurex Mini Challenge by Valentines Day.  I had thought that I might be able to wear this to a wedding in March, but sadly I don't now envisage this as being my wedding outfit.  It's more of a cute little date night piece.Maybe!? When I went to buy lining for it on Saturday I must admit that I didn't buy the expensive lining option as I'm doubtful of how many wears it will actually get.

Photo courtesty of Tessuti

On the other hand, Colette just listed a whole lot of silk on the Tessuti online fabric store. The TEMPTATION! I am in love with the Hanging Chandeliers.  

Has anyone else succumbed to any of this new silk!?  

I have been dreaming of dresses that I could make with it. I'd love to make a long sleeved dress with it but then I get just a little bit frightened.