OOP Simplicity 6477 Shirt for Matilda

Most years, right about now, I am usually frantically sewing for our Victorian Holiday 

Fab Five at Erskine Falls

But not this year.

Corona virus has turned everyones lives upside down so I certainly not going to whinge about missing an interstate holiday.

Me, 34 weeks pregnant with Trixie, at Erskine Falls.

As we are mainly at home, going out clothes really are not necessary.

But Tilly asked me if I could still make her a posh outfit.

We decided on an unlined blazer, dungarees with removable bib and a shirt!

Matilda loved how grown up this shirt was. I was a little concerned about the pointy collar but she was adamant she wanted it and it would look amazing with her blazer collar (it does).

Tildy chose some very pretty poplin from Spotlight.
It is a beautiful quality, very crisp and so lovely to sew.

I used to be quite snobby about one piece collars and blouses/shirts without a back yoke.
Which is daft!
This shirt has a gorgeous shape.

I added side vents to give Tildy a bit more derrière room.
Vents also looks great on a shirt that can be worn as a jacket over shorts and a tee, in warmer weather.

Matilda is ALL about the sleeve.
She chose to have the 'puff' sleeve and the gathers are divine.

The collar is very pointy, I really wanted to trim it back a bit but Tildy was adamant.

And it does look great over the blazer lapels.

I have a little trick for getting a one piece collar to behave like a two piece collar.
Simply trim the 'neck band' from the 'collar'. Trim about 1/2 cm (save this for stabilising t-shirt shoulder seams) and then press to the collar piece, leaving a clear gap between the two.

Sew the collar up with your preferred method and then topstitch along the un-interfaced strip.
This really encourages the collar to sit nicely.

The shirt looks equally lovely under her knitted vest (from Aunty Sarvi)

They are hard to see but there are shoulder darts which give a nice shape.

~My Verdict~
This pattern is perfect on Matilda. I have said it once and I will say it again, the drafting was so much  better on the patterns from the 1960's-70's.

I find once you get to the mid 80's onwards the fit is very sloppy and boxy. (In my opinion)
Whenever I see shoulder darts I know I am going to get a good sew.

I sewed this pretty faithfully to the instructions although I did add another thin layer of interfacing (on top of the interfaced self facing) where the buttons and button holes are stitched.

I did move the button placement too.
This is not unusual, I usually decide the chest button placement and work from there.

This was a fairly relaxed, five hour sew. I made Matilda the size 10, one size per packet, and I am on the hunt for a size 12.

If you find it, please let me know!

~Matilda's Verdict~
I absolutely love the white details of the flowers. I love the emerald colour.
It looks really, really cool with my blazer and trousers.
I LOVE the sharp corners (points NMK) of the collar, It gives me a Star Trek, space explorer feeling, I haven't watched Star Trek but it gives me that feeling.
I love the shaped hem, it adds to its character.
My favourite bit is the collar, it looks really, really cool.
The tiny sleeve puff is SO cute.

Thank you for reading...
                                           xxx Nicole 

PS It also came in handy for Book Week, Matilda went as Miss Honey, from Roald Dahls book, Matilda!

OOP McCalls 2059 Dungarees for Beatrix

I have a bit of a problem...

I can't stop sewing dungarees (I am onto my fifth pair)

I wanted to emulate the pink pair I made last year.

Trixie's chest fits in a size 2 or 3 but she needs the length of a size 4.

As the legs on the pattern have a gathered leg cuff I hoped that extra length would be enough.

I did add a few cm's to the strap but I could have added more.

To be honest, I thought the pattern photo looked a bit ordinary but I think MY ruffle is rather delightful.

I sewed them up in a remnant of pinwale cord from my stash and the buttons are my favourite, enamel coconut shell. 
The whole look is rather delightful.

The bib is constructed first and then the trousers and then the two are attached at the front after the elastic is set in the waist.

I love them but I am afraid they do not pass the lavvy test.
She cannot undo them herself.

But I am happy to help.

~My Verdict~
I really 'like' this pattern but I don't 'love' it.
Trixie is not as fond of the elastic around the waist as she is of the 'full' dungarees.
The back buttoning straps are a problem with toilet-ing and Trixie likes her independence.
It is very slim, so fine on Trixie who is knickers but will be no good with a cloth nappy and I suspect even a bit tight over a disposable.

It was a fun and quick sew and looks super cute.
My sewing gal-pal Colette sent me a gorgeous ruffle shouldered, full dungarees pattern in a size 4,5,6 so I will sew that next year.

~Trixie's Verdict~
I like the ruffles, I like ruffles and I like these ruffles.
They are pink and that is a good thing.

Thank you for reading... xx N

OOP Simplicity 7378 Vintage Dungarees for Beatrix

Next on the Holiday sewing  list, some dungarees for Trixie.

I have always been a fan of dungarees.
They stop babies coming apart in the middle.
I have made many pairs and love them all.

This sew is particularly sentimental as this pattern came from my late mother's pattern collection.
She possibly sewed it for me!

In another bitter-sweet coincidence, the pink wide-wale cord was from her stash too and I know she made me a skirt from it.

My mother really 'got' Trixie. She let her warm up and come to her for a cuddle, when she was ready.

She ignored her tantrums (as the best Nan's do) and always had a beetle in a matchbox or spare chocolate biscuit in the tin by her chair, just for her.

The pattern is size 3 but had plenty of leg length and body length (which surprised me, I usually have to add both) so I will keep this one in circulation and possibly sew it again for her.

I did add a few inches to the straps but I actually didn't need to. They are already very long.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

Trixie has shot up but thinned down so the 3 is a good fit.

#tillytinyphotographer

The enamelled shell buttons are large and smooth and she can manage them herself when she goes to the lavvy.

I used glossy black ones, stitched with mustard yellow thread.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

She is a shocker to keep a jumper on so I like the extra warmth the covered middle gives her.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

I have got a bit caught out, clothing wise, for Trixie.
She has beautiful frocks coming out the wazoo as we are given  many gorgeous, hand-made things(we are so lucky) but by the time Tilly was Trixie's size she was in Year 2 at school (#tinytillyphotographer indeed) so her bottoms are worn out!
I do let her wear the dresses, I believe clothes are meant to be worn and I think far more things are ruined in the laundry than being worn and I am a careful laundress.
However, Trixie plays hard and trousers are just more practical.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

It is a treat to sew something so quick and easy that you know is going to get a lot of wear.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

~My Verdict~
A very nice vintage pattern.
The instructions take you through flat felling all the seams (I didn't bother) so you can get a perfect finish, if you wish.
There is no way the dungarees would go over a cloth nappy but are just fine over knickers and I think a disposable would be fine.
I was working with scraps of fabric and the nice, slim leg panels facilitated that well.

~Trixie's Verdict~
I like the buttons, they are nice and black and I can undo them myself.
They are pink, I like pink.
I like the yellow shoes too.

photo by #tillytinyphotograper 

Thank you for reading... xx N

Trixie is wearing School Bus and Field Trip t-shirts by Oliver+S, her vest was knitted for her by Sarvi Chan.