Back to sewing

I've got this week off work, we've just had a new boiler fitted, bliss! So I thought I'd take the opportunity to get back into sewing clothes for myself. I've spent the past two days, well day and a half I suppose, making a modified Sorbetto as suggested to me in my last post. Instead of using the bird print fabric I used the Liberty peacock print voile I've been saving since my last visit to Goldhawk road. I've decided that I'm going to try and deplete my fabric stash and that no fabric is 'too precious' to cut.

I decided I wanted an inverted pleat at the front of the top instead of the full pleat it's just at the neckline. I've tried my hand at tulip shaped sleeves and I learnt to make my own bias binding out of necessity but am still bewildered as to how to make it in a continuous loop. (I think I need to see if I can find a video on You Tube or something as the diagrams look great until I have the fabric in front of me!) I'm proud of myself for getting back into the sewing habit even if I did cut a few corners *cough* machined on the bias binding on the hem on the side I should have hand stitched *cough*. Despite those misdemeanours though, it's a top I'll be happy to wear.

This is it hung up in the glorious sunshine we're having at the minute. I've already decided that I'm going to make another Sorbetto variant using the Liberty mushroom print voile I bought on my first excursion to Goldhawk road and to make another using the bird print voile. I'm also going to make a Prima pattern top I've made before but will endeavour to make a bow sleeve as I've seen a tutorial on Pinterest that's very good to use another voile I have that's an Anna Marie Horner print.

Once I've done all of that I've got a pair of high waisted button up trousers to make myself! I found on eBay a seller who does them like the old cloth kits that were available in the 70s and 80s. The kit comes with all the fabric pre cut, the tailors tacks in place, the tread, buttons, even the interfacing has been ironed on, and most importantly the instructions! I'll trace all the pattern pieces before I start sewing and altering so if anything goes wrong I can start again with new fabric or just make myself another pair!

I'm hoping to make myself all these items in time for our holiday at the end of June. I'm not setting it as a target or a challenge as I don't want to hinder myself this early on in getting back to sewing. I want to enjoy the experience as much as I can without the pressure of a deadline. It would be wonderful if I could get them all done in time for our camping trip but I'm not going to beat myself up about it if I don't.

So what do you think? What summer sewing plans do you have?