Baby,Your'e a Star(ling)

I have made my admiration for Clever Charlotte patterns quite clear.
So far I have made the four original patterns.

The Wren .

The Starling.

The Sandpiper

And of course the fabulous Finch.


I am partaking in a creating swop with a particularly sophisticated sewing friend.
The Starling in an Australian milled merino wool was my choice but I felt it could do with lining.
After a little think,I came up with two options and as I love the pattern so much I decided to try both methods and make one for my Tildy-Girl.


So,Lining Method One.
I have already blogged the construction.
This will simply be the lining.

Construct the dress up to the step on inserting the zipper.
Cut out a sew a second dress except for the yoke.

Before sewing the side seams of the lining trim 1/2 inch of the sleeve hem.

Sew up the centre back seam of the lining to the notched mark for the zipper ending line.
Tip. It helps if you do this after inserting the zip then you can accurately measure and stitch this seam so that it will cover the zipper end nicely.

Press the seam open taking care to press well above the stitching as well.

Place the two dresses wrong sides together and pin the yoke seams together from the lining side.

Continue pinning.

Once it is nice and even lower the yoke facing and pin that over the yoke seam.

Continue pinning.

Until it is quite firmly in place.

Topstitch the yoke from the right side. Take your time,stop and remove pins if you need to,stop and lift the foot with the needle down if you find little tucks forming.

After sewing the yoke hand sew the lining to the zipper.

Not too shabby!

On to the sleeves....

I like to pre-fold my sleeve hems.
Unfold the hem and smooth the lining to meet it. The lining hem should be a little shorter as you have trimmed it previously.

Tuck the lining under the first fold.

Fold it again.

Pin in place.

Stitch the sleeve hem.
Tip.I find it easier to sew on the inside.

To stop the lining from shifting stitch a long stitch at the sides and centre front and back.

The lined dress.

The back view.

Is it not fabulous?

In Tula Pinks Hushabye sent to Matilda by a special friend.

Love love LOVE this flounce!


Unfortunately Matilda Jane is going to need to grow.

But isn't it cute?
And grow she will!


Next up Method Two.


Nighty-night
x N

We Will Remember Them

Lest We Forget please click on Lest We Forget

Thai Traveller

The Melbourne Cup luncheon was approaching and I had nothing to wear.

While flicking through Zara's 'In Style' magazine I spotted this dress.

And fell in love.

Looking at the design I thought it bore a huge resemblance to the Lisette Traveller Dress and I had just won some vintage Thai silk on Ebay-but horizontal stripes? On my curves?

So,I asked the question in a few forums. Lots of positives from my sewing chums and the designer herself gave me the thumbs up!

I wanted the top to be fitted but still comfortable so I made a muslin.

This is bog easy to do and it gives you something sturdy to fiddle with.

As I have quite a tummy I left out the front waist darts and reshaped the side seams.

I left off the sleeves which caused me some confusion until I went back and read my blog post here to remind me how to sew a lined bodice.

The back piece required the most adjustment and here my darling Jed was worth his weight in gold.

Here you can see how much I had to cut from the back.
The result was a size 14 bodice with a size 8 collar after adjustment. It really wasn't that hard to do but I definitely needed a second pair of hands!
Justine,why do you have to live interstate?

I decided to line the dress rather then rely on petticoats. I would have loved to line completely with silk taffeta but as I only had a scrap I used that for the bodice and fine cotton for the skirt.

As it was a special out fit I hand sewed the collar,front plackets and hems. It took hours!

I decided to hand sew large poppers to the inside of the placket and then I could place them exactly where I needed them!
The black satin buttons are just for decoration!

Finished at 1 am.

Lovely to wear but I am a little self conscious of my waist.
I would love a black linen version!

It was nice to sew something for me!

A Weekend Away

''Beach'' trees

You know your brother loves you,

When he goes down the slippery dip first,

And dries it with his jeans.

Fabulous shoes

Fine cuisine 

Local politics 

The norm when we purchased our cottage

What the cottages look like 10 year on.

x N