Things Here Lately

Lady Dancing ornament for Janine

Lady Dancing ornament for my set

• Exploring a new to me beach.  While Mr J was sailing a couple of Sundays ago, I took myself out to Kariotahi Beach, a black sand beach on the West Coast.  I imagine it can be very cold and blustery on a windy day, but it was the most beautiful day while I was there. There were a lot of people walking as well as 4WD vehicles using the beach.

• I've been working on my 12 Days of Christmas ornaments, cos Christmas is not so far away now.  Finally finished the Dancing Lady ornaments for my sister and I, and I'm working on my drummer drumming one for me. Patterns for this series from here.

• I made another Peppermint wrap top, this one is a deep khaki linen/cotton blend.  I had emailed the designer asking for advice on how to lengthen it with out widening the wrap ties.  She kindly sent me a detailed email with diagrams and instructions, and this is the result.  I'm quite pleased with the finished length and feel there may be another one in my summer sewing plans.

• This little orchid is putting on a brilliant display of colour in my garden, it's about all that is at present.  In other exciting garden news, all my dahlia tubers have sprouted.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead.

Peppermint Wrap Top

Over the past few years, Peppermint Magazine have provided a free pattern from In The Folds.  The last pattern was a wrap top designed for woven fabrics.  I'm a sucker for a wrap top, so I downloaded the pattern, found some pretty lilac Italian cotton shirting at The Fabric Store and made it up during a week off work.

This top was the first garment I have ever made with french seams, and creates such a tidy finish.  I was slightly worried about trimming the initial seam down, but they have all turned out really well. In the Folds pattern instructions are very clear and detailed, probably the only area I had problems was easing the sleeves into the armscyes, and that is through my lack of technique rather than the instructions.  I don't think anyone will really notice a couple of tiny gathers there though.

Based on my measurements I made size D without any alterations,  Should I make it again I would like to lengthen it by a few centimetres, it is a little too cropped for my comfort levels, however it will work well with higher waistshorts or trousers and I would probably shorten the ties also.  There was a lot of pressing and stitching to do on on the full hem length of those. I also wondering about grading to a size C through the bodice sides, this quite a quite a roomy top.

Overall I love how it has turned out, I love the colour and how silky smooth the fabric is and my beautiful finishing inside the top.  Now I  just need warmer weather so I can enjoy wearing it.