Bonn Shirt

 

I  have rediscovered a love of wearing shirts with jeans, whether it be loose boho styled shirts or the classic white shirt, so decided I needed to find some good patterns and make my own,

First up is the Bonn Shirt from Itch to Stitch Patterns. This shirt has three different sleeve variations and can also be made a a shirt dress. I have made a few different Itch to Stitch patterns and have found that the sizing is good for me and the instructions are very detailed.  This pattern was no exception.

The fabric I used was a printed vile from Spotlight, I made a size 4 and the 3/4 sleeve option.  While I think the fit is very good I am going to size up for my next one for a little more room around the back of my arms and shoulder blades.  The only area of making this I had difficulty with was fitting the mandarin collar on, however there is a tutorial on the Itch to Stitch blog which showed and explained what I wasn't doing properly.

I made this shirt during the first week of our lockdown, but didn't have enough thread to make the button holes.  This was remedied this week once our stores were opened again.  Last night I sewed the buttonholes and buttons on.

Unfortunately it is a little too lightweight to wear now, so will need to be put away till slightly warmer weather next spring. 

Staying Home - Week 6

Mangatawhiri Dam and the low water level.

New Zealand's silver fern

The concrete walls are usually covered by water

Today we find out if we are moving to Level 2 later this week.  This will mean that schools, workplaces, shops and cafes, maybe hairdressers will open. New social distancing rules will apply , so life will be very different from how we lived pre lockdown. I have to admit, I feel slightly apprehensive about going out into the wider community with lots of people around after being in lockdown,  Later this week, I should find out whether I am returning to work.

The past week I will say was a bit of a meh week.  I seem to have lost enthusiasm for a lot of things including my sewing.

I did try some new red kiwi fruit - the overall verdict from the family was that they look pretty but don't have a lot of flavour.

I baked a salted caramel oaty slice - nice recipe - not quite enough caramel to base ratio.

I made a hearty warming Roasted Kumara and Pumpkin soup - recipe here.

My dahlias have all been pulled out and stored ready for planting next spring, hopefully garden centres will open this weekend and I can get some seedlings for winter colour.

The Scout and I went hiking in the Hunua Ranges on Saturday.  Lots of old fence posts and fungi caught my eye.  It's quite heartbreaking how low our dams are in Auckland - next week water restrictions will start applying to all residents.  Much as I love warm sunny days, we desperately need a long sustained period of rain to fill them up for us.

Hoping that everyone is well and stays well, where ever you are.

Kia Kaha

Staying Home - Week 5

Another week of lockdown - this time at level three.  It hasn't really had any impact on me, but I have noticed the traffic noise has increased in the early hours of the morning, there are tradespeople and contractors out working again and we can online shop, get takeaways through drive through or click and collect.  We are also able to go to beaches, or regional parks for exercise as long as we practice socially distancing still.

We celebrated a birthday this week.  Miss B turned 18, unfortunately none of our plans to celebrate this occasion was able to come to fruition.  Miss B really enjoys her coffee, so I decided to make her a coffee cake.

Panna cotta was our dessert one night.  Not really a hit with the boys,  recipe from here.  I liked it, but don't feel the need to make it a regular feature on my dessert menu.

Back to working on my lockdown challenge applique project again. I've added bullion knots, some kantha style stitching, more french knots.

I've traced another Burda Style pattern, and started sewing it.  I think that this fabric was possibly not my best choice for it, I'll persevere with it, but suspect it may not be totally wearable.  It's hard to press the seams and darts, due to the fabric which I think was a georgette or chiffon, and I possibly should have invested in some plain sheer black fabric for the inner  lining pieces.

And some really exciting news, today, The Scout, Mr J and I went to Tapapakanga -  one of our regional parks for a short hike.  It was so nice to walk somewhere new, to not have to give way to other people or cyclists and just get out of my neighbourhood. Real fresh air, a brisk breeze off the sea, feeling much happier now.

Kia kaha

Staying at Home - Week 4

As at 11.59 pm Monday 27 April, New Zealand will be moving from Level 4 lockdown to Level 3.

It means we can travel regionally, do online shopping,  get takeaways via drive through , click and collect, or delivery.  We still need to socially distance but at only one metre instead of two, and perhaps extend our bubble to include another family member. Still no front facing shops (apart from essential services) or restaurants/cafes, or public places like libraries, churches or museums will be open.  Basically we've been told if you can work or learn from home - please continue to do so.  In reality there won't be a lot of change for most of us for another couple of weeks.  However, the end is in sight.

So what have I been up to over the past week.

• I made my sister's Carey shirt.  Pattern from here.  I made a size 6, so I am hoping it fits her well.  She is a little more endowed in the bust than me, but not as tall as I am, so I'm hoping the length is good on her.  The fabric is a rayon she bought wheil shopping with me prior to Christmas, and the contrast strip is actually a scrap of shot cotton from Spotlight which co-ordinated beautifully with the blue in the flowers.  Probably the faffiest thing is making the drawstrings - or sewing spaghetti as I call it.

• I saved a frog.  Mr J was just about to mow an area of lawn when he saw something move, luckily he had the blades up high.  This is a green or golden bell frog.  Suffice to say it was safely relocated.

• I made gnocchi with help from Mr J and Miss B.  Recipe from here.  It was tasty, easier than I thought it would be, probably the most time consuming aspect is pushing the potato through a sieve.  Should I make it again, I may experiment with herbs, or a little pesto mixed into the potato dough for extra flavour. 

• The last of my dahlias have been picked, and enjoyed in a vase inside.  My garden is looking rather boring now. I really would like to visit a garden centre soon to get some potted colour.

Tomorrow morning at 6am, there will be many New Zealanders standing at their letterboxes to commemorate ANZAC Day.  It will be a very different service this year for our country with no dawn services or parades.

Stay home, stay safe, be kind.

Kia Kaha

Staying Home - Week 3

Currently we have survived three weeks of New Zealand's national lockdown.   The teens and I have found this week hard, we are missing friends, routines, being able to go places and actual real people to talk to and work with.  Zoom meetings are not quite the same.

With one  week to go,  it's looking as though we will drop to Level 3 of the alert system.  This means that some students can return to school, though Miss B will be doing virtual university till at least July now. We're waiting to hear about high school for Mr J.  Some  hospitality type businesses will be allowed to operate, and we may be able to travel regionally.  Malls, movie theatres, libraries will still not be open to public, though it looks as though we should able to do more online shopping now.  Not sure if this is good or bad.

I have been compiling a little shopping list of essential to me items, should this happen again. It includes:  interfacing, sewing machine needles, thread to match all my garment fabrics, various widths of elastic, scented candles, hand creams and special teas. 

Over the past week I have been trying to keep relatively busy, walking, sewing and baking and successfully avoiding housework. 

• another top using a beautifully silky viscose from the stash.  This is the same pattern I made last week, with a little elastic in the sleeve cuff.  I love how this one has turned out and have already enjoyed wearing it. Only one more animal print fabric remains in the stash now too.

• Hot Cross Cookies - recipe from here.

• Chocolate espresso pudding with whisky caramel sauce.  From personal tastes, I'd double the sauce quantity next time.  Recipe here.

• I've prepped the fabric and assembled the pattern for the last top for my sister.  Hopefully sewing will commence on it this coming weekend.

• my biggest happy moment was adding the last stitches whilst joinging the blossoms in my ice cream soda quilt.  All I have to do now is add the edging then the borders.  I am loving how it looks so far.

Hoping you are all well in your bubbles.

Stay home, stay safe.  Kia kaha.