Dressing the Bump!!

Thank you ladies, for all the congratulatory messages. I was so touched by how happy you all were by my little baby news. Now, about the baby, we don't know what we are having yet. I am convinced it's a girl. Mr. Dibs on the other hand is convinced its a boy because of my absolute conviction that there is a little mini-me growing inside me. His theory being tha mothers always get the gender wrong. I asked him to bet £20 on that, and got a big NO in return.....the little coward!!!

I don't mind the gender of the baby to be honest. All I am praying for is a healthy baby, so I shall be grateful for either boy or girl. That said, I am still 100% convinced its a girl. I don't know why I'm so certain of this. One possibility could be the fact that I have been dreaming of sewing little pillow case dresses for a baby girl. I don't think a mini Mr.Dibs will be amused by mummy's pillow case dresses. I've also realised there are many more patterns out there for little girls compared to boys.

While we are on the subject of patterns........when I found out I was preggers, one of the things I started doing was looking for nice maternity patterns. I've been looking for too long now I think. Unfortunately though, I can't seem to find any pattern that will make me go "WOW". There's alot of stuff on the blogoshphere for diy maternity wear but most often they are for casual wear, whch is perfect if you have the luxury of staying at home. I don't stop working till February, so I have to find patterns that will tide me professionally till I can relax for a whole week in my yoga pants.

I've put aside a few patterns which I like, and which I think will do me some good. First up, Vogue 1179. Seeing Eugenia and Karen raving about this pattern made me cave in. I ordered it this morning, so it should be here soon.

And a few others

Vogue1027.....

Vogue 8489.....

Vogue 8575...

Butterick 5523

You will have noticed there are no skirts or trousers. I can't seem to decide on what to do about those, so for now I shall start off with these. The idea is to make things I can also wear after I have the baby. All of these patterns require knit fabric so hopefully they shall stretch as the bump grows, and since they are not really maternity patterns, I can always use them later.

I went to Walthamstow market on saturday to source knit fabric, and I did come out with a few good bargains, which I shall blog about in another post. Walthamstow market is definitely the way forward for me now...bargains galore I tell you. Imagine buying knit fabric for £1.50/metre. oh yes!! thats my cup of tea. more on that expedition later. Its bed time..................

Where are they?

I have not been able to sew a dress this week, but I have noticed one thing about myself this year. I have been wearing the dresses I have so far managed to make this year more than once. Which is alot in my case. Last year I made a few dresses, wore only 1 out of the house, and now I don't know where they all are.

Last year though, I was not so fussed about the finishing of my garments, and I was not remotely bothered about seam edges and all that. Coupled with the fact that my machine(Brother LS 2125) was the most basic machine on the planet, I did not have fancy things like an overlocker foot which I now have with my Pfaff. Plus being the lazy little minx I am, hong kong seams and french seams were not to be even considered.

I think I am taking a more healthy approach to my sewing this year, and even my husband has noticed, and is asking me to consider buying more expensive fabrics ( who would ever have thought men would encourage you to spend more aye?).

So, I thought I should show some of the things I made last year that I was prooud of ( for about 1day).

First up, the coffee date dress. Things did not go quite as planned with this one, so I changed the neck. Fortunately Elaine May (the selfish seamstress) was quite understanding, and actually helped me with more instructions on my all in one facing.

Where is it? - I have no clue. Will have to tackle it again this year because I really like the pattern, and it reminds me of me when I just started sewing seriously.

Next, the vogue 8470. I managed to do this dress, wore it round the house, then decided I did not place the zip well, took it off, and never put it back. I saw it the other day, and have kept it aside, to be looked at later this month hopefully. So I might (torchwood) be inspired to put a new zip by the time I go on holidays. I think it will be a nice holiday outfit.

Where is it: - Future project basket. Waiting for Princess Dibs to take pity.

Then I made this Burda magazine dress. I did actually wear this one to work, but i think I outgrew this. My pear hips decided to acquire more fat. So, I can't fit into this one anymore, and I THINK i donated this to a charity. Who will buy this, I don't know.  The pleats at the front were a bit dodgy i think . but nonetheless I wore it a couple of times.

Where is it: - no idea.

What I was most proud of that I made last year was the Vogue 8280. I cried a couple of times during the making of this dress. My husband had to tiptoe around me during the week I made this dress. I was quite happy with the end result though. I still have this pattern, and plan on making it again when i get a really good fabric. I will be using a cotton or wool fabric that has some stretch, so it will fit better. I did wear this one to a party the very day i finished it, and also a couple of times to work.

Where is it?: - I don't know to be honest. I grew bigger round the hips, and could not fit in anymore.

So, those were the things I made that I was proud of. The rest did not reach a noteworthy state of completion, so sadly (thankfully), won't be getting some blog time here.

Other things I made, and which I was proud of last year, were my wedding cake ( which I decorated mysefl) and my fascinator.



I bought a plain cake from M&S and decorated it. I made the flowers from sugar paste.




I folded the fabric and attached it to my top, to have that pink effect, and I just loved my fascinator.




I also put together the bouquet.

 I hope this time next year, I will be going through a list of what I made this year, and hopefully wearing one of them every week. Thats a big challenge, but I think with sewing, you have to push yourself all the time. I have 8 months to prove to myself that I can do it.

I am away for a week from today. Going to spend Easter with my in-laws. Unfortunately I won't be taking my beloved machine. So I won't be overlocking my seams. My mother-in-law has a machine so I will be able to make at least one dress. Hopefully I will have time to actually sew it and put some pictures up.

Happy Easter to everyone.

XX

Dibs