Lurvely Linen: Simplicity 2360

As you might be aware, I've been hankering to get my frock on, but have held off because I know my bust will change size in the coming months. It came to my attention however, that I could sew a more 'blousey', less-fitted dress, that will accommodate my current and future bust sizes.

So I turned to Simplicity 2360. You might remember seeing it as one of my 30th Birthday Party Dresses from 2010.

It is made from a dark-orangey red with a gold metallic stripe linen from Darn Cheap Fabrics. I love this fabric - the only issue I have with it is that is wrinkles so much! These photos were taken directly after I had my haircut - so I was wrinkly from being under the cape thingmy-bob you have to wear.

The dress is easy to make, but for some reason I had major issues with the neckline. It seriously gaped on me and came out to the outer edges of my shoulders. Weird. To fix the problem I took in the shoulder seams by 5cm. I'm sure this isn't the correct way, but because I didn't muslin the pattern (given I had made it before) I didn't really think I need to make adjustments. The only other adjustment I made was to make a non-elasticised belt. I used horsehair braid in mine and a vintage belt buckle from my stash.

I'm looking at Little M who was clapping her hands at me posing

I had a very fun afternoon - Michael and Little M went for a stroll on Sydney Rd while I got my hair cut(I get my haircut at Corrin's Hair Salon on Sydney Rd at Brunswick), and then we all had tea together and took some photos. Michael has joined a photography club, and is trying new things - what do you think of these photos?

Ginger and Sorbetto - perfect summer wear

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my last post - I'm feeling very loved. If I was more organised, I'd have loved to take part in Debi's Sew Grateful week, but darling Little M is teething like nothing else, so I've been busy holding what is usually a very active and non-cuddly baby this week. Kinda blissful for me given she's usually not so cuddly (just a pity it's cos she's in pain!). I do have a giveaway planned for very soon though, so listen out.

Prior to this week however, Little M has been very obligingly having huge lunch time naps. Which means sewing time for me! I bought this lovely orange cotton sateen from Spotlight a while ago for $5/m, and thought it would look wonderful as an A-Line. So I made up the Colette Patterns Ginger skirt.

I like this skirt. It came together easily, though I found I had to go up a size -- did anyone else find it runs a smidge small? Usually I'm uniformly the one size in Colette Patterns.

I love the way the facing is attached in this skirt, and after reading the instructions some time ago, have been using it on all my skirts. You sew the facing down next to the invisible zip using a regular zipper foot. Am I dumb that I didn't think to do this before? I'd been hand-stitching the facing down. Ah well.

Do you like my personalised clothing tags? Michael got them for me for Christmas! Aren't they awesome? And extremely useful for telling which is the back of a skirt! Thank you my love - I'd been hankering for some for quite a while.

I also made this black cotton voile Sorbetto. I made the bias binding in the same fabric, and used french seams everywhere. It is very light and breezy. I got the voile from Rathdowne Fabrics and Remnants - I think it has some bargains, but feel it has gotten more expensive now that it has exposure via Project Runway.

In other news, I am thoroughly sick of my hair. I am thinking about cutting it very short - a la Jean Seberg - what do you think? My reservations are that the last time I had my hair that short I weighed a good 6 kilos less and my face looked quite different. Will it suit me?

Isn't she gorgeous? Pity about the cigarette - though I guess it was the done thing at the time.