Sunshine on a Snowy Day

I had my fingers crossed for a snow day when I went to bed last night - i wouldn't have minded an excuse to spend the day working at home in front of the fire. Unfortunately SouthWest trains have managed to get their act together for once and the trains seem to be (mostly) as scheduled.

Never mind, it's the weekend shortly! I've got a list of boring things to do, but I'm really hoping I can race through them and make myself something from the new Collette book. Isn't it boring when you work all week and then the weekend gets sucked up by chores? I'm determined not to let that happen this week, even if the gym something doesn't get done.


I've got projects on the go all over the place but this week I needed a quick fix. I wanted to feel I'd accomplished something. Two squares of fabric, an invisible zip and we have a sunny yellow cushion to brighten up this corner by the fire.

This is part of one of my 2012 goals - to take the time to sew for our home and not just other people's. This one didn't take much time, but I'm also in the middle of a quilted cushion cover for a large cushion we have on the sofa, twenty-two inches squared. The top's quilted now so I just need to put it all together - hopefully this weekend.

City Boy and I finally managed to compromise on some curtain fabric for the living room. Took a while but that's my fault for involving him. I should have just put up my choice - he'd have told me that he didn't like them and then not given it another thought. I would describe City Boy's tastes in interior decor as traditional if I'm feeling kind, boring if I'm not. So I'm not overly excited by the prospect of these curtains, but I'm informed by City Boy that a compromise is where both parties walk away equally unhappy.


We still have to pick out a rug - that's hours of fun right there.

FO No. 1 of 2012: Grandpa's Lap Quilt

City Boy's grandfather had to move to a nursing home last year. After wondering what we could get him for Christmas, City Boy asked if I would make him a quilt for watching tv. Well how could I refuse such a request?

We knew we wouldn't be seeing the recipient until mid January, so this wasn't started until New Year's Eve.

It's lap sized, about 38 inches squared, and backed in a soft cotton flannel for coziness.

 

The fabrics are a mix of Kona cotton which I had already and some prints selected from the John Lewis sale, with City Boy's input.

It was quilted with lines a quarter of an inch either side of the seams and crinkled up nicely in the wash. Hopefully it will bring a bit of home comfort to a nursing home room this winter.

The Perfect Blouse

I've been looking for a particular pattern for a while. A sleeveless blouse that could quickly be put together in a variety of fabrics. A loose, casual fit, able to be worn with jeans and a cardi or tucked into a skirt with a jacket over it for work. It had to be unfussy to make with no zips or buttons and easily adaptable for slight variations.

I tried the Pendrell Blouse by Sewaholic, but it was, although a sweet pattern, a little more complicated than I was looking for. My ideal blouse didn't have princess seams and wasn't quite so tailored. Also, I cut the wrong pattern size out and gave up in disgust when it looked like me and a friend were going to be able to fit in it.

I was mulling ideas over for drafting my own pattern, when I came across the Collete pattern for the Sorbetto Blouse, available free. It certainly ticked the boxes for simple enough - 2 pattern pieces, a couple of darts and finish the neck and arm holes. Loose fitting blouse done.

So on Sunday afternoon, while City Boy was watching sport, I sat and taped together the printed pattern pieces and dug out some drapey fabric I'd had forever. A couple of hours later it was done, exactly what I was looking for (please ignore the fact that it's unironed in the photo).





I didn't finish the neck and armholes using the suggested method, but otherwise there's not many ways to deviate from the instructions. Once constructed it's endlessly customisable - lace trimming, buttons, collars.

I'm already planning another couple - one in a printed cotton voile and one in a sheer chiffon, to layer over a vest top. I was so impressed with the sizing, easy construction and fantastic instructions that I've been eyeing up some of the other Collette patterns - they have some gorgeous dresses that look drafted with us busty ladies in mind.