A summery top in Liberty lawn

Not the best photo, but this top was quick to finish and I was eager to throw it on with some skinny jeans for a Bank Holiday Monday jaunt. No photos could do justice to the soft loveliness and gorgeous pattern of my first bit of Liberty-print clothing though! Thanks for the fabric Mum ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Me & Liberty? True love ♥  {and incidentally, this fabric was super-wide and it did not take much to make a top... #couldtotallyjustifyadress..!}

Hey Peony | Colette Peony 01

I was so happy to find a copy of the Peony pattern and bought this gorgeous cotton in honour of it. I love how it turned out and am excited to make another version now. I think this was version 2, although I added in in-seam pockets and didn't bother with the matching belt.

For some reason, the bodice ended up really big for me when I made a toile, so I cut it a bit smaller; but it was still loose. I've added in some back darts and the next job is to unpick and re-do the zip, shaping it a bit more. It's a lovely pattern though and once I get the bodice fit perfect, I think it might become a new favourite :)

Colette Moneta | and lessons in pattern-cutting

Oh, this dress, how I have hated you... With the arrival of a new pattern, all bundled up in tissue paper with some lovely teal-polka-dot knit fabric, I tore into it like a child at Christmas. I was feeling sorry for myself & home alone with the flu, what better activity than to make a pretty dress?! So first of all, I made an almighty mess of cutting it out. My first bodice was like a crop top {forgot to consider lengthening for my taller self}; my second was like a tent. Re-cut it you say? Why no, not when you can make myriad ill-considered adjustments which might have ended in sniffling tears at the sewing machine and a shapeless smock. Fortunately, all's well that {kind of} ends well... after a break from it, I have successfully made a smaller and have a wearable, albeit still loose dress.

Good things:

• I bought my fabric (and pattern) online- a first! The shop I found, Guthrie & Ghani, were fantastic too, very prompt and friendly, so I'm glad I gave them a try.
• This is my first whirl with the new Colette Moneta pattern and I have since established it is going to be a favourite, for easy pretty dresses. It's not you, it's me, etc. etc.

Lessons learned:

• Don't start cutting a pattern when you have the flu.
• Don't then attempt to make up a whole dress in one afternoon when you have the flu. 
• With new patterns, maybe don't try that at all...
• On that note, don't attempt to 'fix' it when you have the flu.
• Measure yourself first, damn it!

A Modern Art Top for May | Colette Laurel

This fabric was love at first sight. It was also kind of expensive, but it made me cheerful just sewing it and I think it's made a lovely, bright, comfortable top for skinny jeans or tucked into a pencil skirt for work. Why be subtle eh?!