Lekala Blouse with Decorative Bow #2693 for Lidia

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I think this may the prettiest thing I have ever sewn.

I have been working my way through the Lekala patterns, sewing Clinical Placement outfits for Lidia. The criteria is professional, modest, short or 3/4 sleeve for hygiene, no bows or ties that can be grabbed and preferably natural fibres (the last one is Lidia's request). 

I am having so much fun and Liddy has left me to choose and make what I like. It's rather like having a life size Barbie doll. Lekala #2693 is a very pretty fitted blouse with a bow sewed into each placket. It fastens with a side zipper and the front is actually sewn together once completed.

I decided against the side zip and just sewed buttons instead of stitching the front up. The original pattern has a strip of fabric sewn to the front to stabilise the bow but that pattern piece blew of my cutting table and I didn't find it until I had finished. The fabric I used, a blissful embroidered cotton organdie is light enough I got away with out it but I would definitely add that next time.

The shirt has short sleeves that fit neatly and I finished them with a narrow, double hem.

The shirt has a two piece collar and stand which always looks professional in my opinion. The cotton organdie was a delight to sew. I purchased it from a clothes designer in Melbourne.

I decided to self line the back yoke as I find this stabilises the collar and sleeves nicely. I finished this using the burrito method.

The delicate shaping gives a delightful shape to the blouse without being constrictive.

The fit was perfect, no alteration necessary.

The custom fit nature of Lekala (and its sister website Sewist.com ) is a big reason I choose patterns from them. The hassle of catching up with the girls, to make sure the garment fits, is reduced and often eliminated all together.

As I said previously, one of the prettiest blouses I have ever sewn.

Thank you for reading... stay safe and healthy.

xx Nicole 

Lekala #6063 Waistcoat for Jerry ~ Zara and Connor's Wedding

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Edited to say Thank you, I won first place and 5 patterns!!!!

Another beautiful baby married.... what a day!

Zara was keen for an elegant editorial wedding party in neutral, tonal colours.

Jerry had to put his fancies for a gold dragonfly brocade on hold for another day.

As always, I went with Lekala #6063

I purchased the lurex brocade from Designer Ends one of my favourite fabric stores.

The silver satin was from my beloved Elizas of Sunshine.

The buttons are thick, Mother of Pearl vintage buttons from my stash.

The pattern suggests back ties tied but I rather like a buckle, this one is a vintage Mother of Pearl, a very special piece.

A very special day.

I thought Jerry looked very handsome in his grey on grey ensemble. 

I used my tried and true Youtube tutorial  for the three welt pockets.

Thank you for reading, I can't wait to share more photos.

                                                                                              xx Nicole 

Lekala #6063 Waistcoat for Ben. Zara & Connor's Wedding

Please vote for me HERE  , thank you so much x

Surprise!

Zara and Connor got married!

I have been madly sewing for Zara's 'Engagement Party'. Zara wanted an editorial look for the bridal party and immediate family so I set to work. After much discussion, we decided on a peach theme with touches of apricot and charcoal. Most of the fabric came from Designer Ends a dead-stock fabric store on eBAY.

Ben really likes his waistcoats and also requested a bowtie (bowties are cool) I had hoped to make him one but ran out of time and was very happy that I had purchased a back up. (For his waistcoat) I went with the tried and true Lekala #6063

The water-wave brocade was a delight to sew with. It took a warm iron well and was good and stable to work with to make the welt pockets.

Speaking of welt pockets, does anyone else feel like an absolute Rockstar after completing one?

I always use this tutorial to create my pockets and it is a ripper!

The pattern shows the waistcoat back ties knotted but I prefer a buckle.

As usual, I went with a satin for the lining. It gives the garment body and if you are going to the trouble of making a lovely garment you may as well use the good stuff!

A little Liberty name tag and black buttons to finish. 

Ben looked so handsome.

He and Liddy cut a striking pair.

I picked up the trousers from an Op Shop. They are pure wool dinner trousers from circa 1960 by the label. A quick letting down of the hem and darning a wee hole and they were good to go.

The wedding was beautiful and held in the grounds of a winery in Williamstown.

I can't wait to share ALL the photos with you!

Keep well and thank you for reading ... xx Nicole 

Oliver+S Music Class blouse and skirt for Izzie

I am having such fun revisiting these gorgeous patterns.

A rather lovely feature of this pattern is how economical it it. The little pieces cut nicely from scraps and smaller remnants. I am particularly fond of the blouse made in Liberty.

Tilly chose the fabrics and trims for this wee set, She knows Elsa's vibe better than me.

The blouse is a striped cotton shirting scrap from my stash. It was a lovely crisp cotton that was easy to sew. The skirt, a tiny, tiny scrap left from shorts I made for Tilly (which originally was a remnant)

Such a pretty mix of colours.

Tilly chose a vintage rickrack from my stash and suggested I stitch the pin tucks in the same colour. 

The buttons are a pretty pink and I stitched them with yellow thread.

The shirt can be stitched with pin tucks or you can gather the fullness which looks cute too (especially in a very light weight fabric gauze, voile etc) but the pin tucks are a favourite of mine and worth the extra fiddle.

 The skirt bottom panels can be pleated or gathered. I went with gathers as the corduroy was not wanting to hold the pleats. In the past I have top stitched both edges of the pleats to hold them in place.

I wasn't sure where to use the narrow, velvet ribbon at first. Then I decided to tie the bow and then stitch it in place before sewing the pocket. It worked well and looks sweet.

Izzie is gorgeous.

It's the little details that really make Oliver+S patterns.

I had forgotten how slim this skirt is. Izzie has a disposable nappy on and we just got the skirt over it. It will not go over her MCM (modern cloth nappies) I later remembered that I use to add a side zipper to Trixie's and will do that, next time.

I love all the little details that Tilly came up with, the yellow topstitching and rickrack are the perfect touch.

Look how perfectly that wee collar sits!

Oh Izzie, you may have ALL the ponies!

Tildy and Izzie

As always, Oliver+S are a joy to sew. 

Everything just fits! 

I am working through my scrap bins that live under my cutting table, making up wee outfits. I said to Jerry, it is a bit like making model ships.

Thank you for reading, keep safe and well .... xx Nicole 

Music Class blouse tutorial 

Music Class skirt tutorial