So I got a little distracted...

After my last posting I had decided to limit the number of projects I give myself to complete, at least over the summer. So... Yeah.... That didn't work. Colette patterns were inconsiderate enough to release a new pattern, which I decided I must have at once!!

This is Aster... And I adore it. I want one of every version, probably more than one.

All versions have the same body shape, the long sleeves come with some cute little shoulder pleats. There are floaty sleeves for lighter fabrics, short sleeves for summer, and long sleeves for winter. And even better... The pattern came with 20% off!! Woo hoo!!

So rather than focussing on my plans I decided to dive right in and make me a muslin! I like Colette patterns but because they are American sizes (which I struggle to understand) it usually takes me a few versions to get it right. And sticking with tradition... The shirt I made is huge... But a good huge.. The kind of huge that likes to hang around with skinny jeans all nice and casual... Sorry I got distracted.

This little (sorry, huge) fella is made from a beige linen look cotton which I've used several times before (in royal blue and black). I dont feel overly attached to this colour so I figured it would work as a wearable muslin. As I went though I started to experiment, the yoke lining is constructed to hide all shoulder and back seams, so I thought... Well why not use that lovely off cut of cotton that I have.

I think the green and grey really make it pop. Then the neckline requires bias binding for its collarless finish, so I thought... Wouldn't it be nice if it matched the yoke.

So I made my own!! First ever home made bias binding people, I'm feeling pretty proud, in fact I got so carried away I used it for the hem too.

One thing I'm a little disappointed with was the lack of astounding buttons. I mean, I have buttons, I have lots of buttons...

... See. But none of them quite worked. I know what you're thinking... "But what about top right". Well, they're actually turquoise and a mite too bright. I went for the White flower ones, but I have been reliably informed that they wash out the colour a bit, and I agree. So at some point I'm playing button swapsies.

I didn't take any photos of me wearing it, but I am very pleased with the finished result. But next time I think I can go down a size or two (if I'm brave then two, but I'm a bit scared of wasting the beautiful cotton lawn I have planned for it).

Pause

Missing... One sewing mojo.... If found please contact me for a reward.

I'm in a bit of a slump at the moment, I've not sewn anything for a whole month. This is rather unlike me. Even if I don't finish an item I've usually pulled out the trusty sewing machine and had a mess on with something, but the desire has never taken me recently.

What's surprised me is that I actually feel rather guilty about this... I feel like I should be working on something. After all, I have so many ideas, so many plans, so much fabric to use... So what's gone wrong.

I have a theory... I think I have too many plans, that I'm drowning in them, or to mix metaphors, I just can't see the wood for the trees.

In the hope of identifying a seperate Birch or Chestnut in these woods of mine I thought it might be an idea to set out a few summer plans, say just four things that I can work on over the summer.

Two things I want to work on are quite similar... Skirts and dresses... All the girly things.

Images from Pinterest (my primary source for inspiration)

I have made so many fancy and dressy dresses, but my daily wardrobe is rather short of skirts and dresses I can wear to work, or just generally out and about. I particularly want more skirts...

(More Pinterest)

The knee length variety are the best for everyday wear, comfy, versatile, pretty. I have a few skirt patterns, my favourite being Style 1286 which I've made before...

Project 1... At least one more of version 1. I have a beautiful chambray sidelined for this.

Project 2... A colourful skirt to counterbalance the grey chambray one. I still need to decide whether to make version 2 of the same pattern, or go for a completely different one, closer to a circle skirt.

And for dresses...

(Pinterest yet again)

I would really like to try a shirt dress, made with something like a cotton lawn, but again with a knee length skirt. I haven't found a pattern yet... But I will.

Project 3... Source shirt dress pattern and cotton lawn (I suspect this one will be the challenge)

I'm not sure whether you noticed, but I get a lot of my sewing inspiration from Pinterest, and one thing I keep noticing when I'm browsing are the beautiful vintage style blouses...

... and I have decided that I want one. 

 This may seem quite difficult as sourcing vintage patterns is trickier, but the Pinner who added the peach blouse picture has used McCalls 5929... Which gives me more to go on.

Project 4... Vintage blouse. I already have the cotton to use for this one, now it's just the pattern to find.

So these will be my only projects this summer. Here's hoping this sparks the sewing bug in me again. Thanks for listening.