I think I need to keep banging my head...

Or how I can make a simple top pattern into a nightmare!  Beware graphic shots of said item are coming up.

I was up at the crack of dawn looking through the Pendrell blouse sew a long and to my horror, the first thing that is taught is how to shorten the pattern.  *grinding teeth* I wish I wish I wish I had seen this lovely titbit of information before I'd started yesterday, but no I had to go in all guns blazing thinking I knew everything as it looked so simple....grrr.  So I take the top/tunic thingy up to Mabel the Mannequin and start pinning.  I've taken the poor thing in twice now, added a zip and bust darts and it's still not right. You may wish to avert your eyes:

Pendrell top

No those pink things hanging out of the armholes aren't giant tongues but sleeves.  Due to the cutting out disaster I didn't have enough fabric to do both sleeves in the same fabric so thought I'd pick a colour from the pattern and use it as the accent, but it's monstrous...I'm afraid to put my arms through in case they get eaten...maybe I'm taking this too far but I need to find some humour in this somewhere.

close up of disastrous sleeves

Lolling

So here's my new best friend:

Seam ripper

My trusty seam ripper will be working hard shortly.  I'm going to summon up the will to carry on tomorrow as just can't face it tonight.

So because I can't leave it on a grumpy note, here's me in one of my favourite shop bought dresses:

Me in my halter dress

This is a navy blue with scattered polka dots halter neck dress I bought from Monsoon last summer.  I love it to bits and really want to find a pattern the same/similar so I can have another.

Hope you're all having better luck with sewing than me!

Talk about banging my head against a brick wall...

I traced out the Pendrell blouse pattern, which I think is a misnomer but I'll get onto that in a minute, as I needed to make it bigger as the pattern only went upto a size 16 and I usually take an 18.  I then started to doubt myself as I couldn't remember after cutting said traced pattern whether I needed to put in a seam allowance or not but I took the plunge anyway as I'm rather gun-ho about these things and then started panicking!  Thankfully J had the answer, pin it all together and try it on, sensible no?

Me with the pinned Pendrell 'blouse'

I think my face says it all.  Not only is it not a blouse but it's enormous.  Look!

Me showing just how big it is

I'm laughing with hysteria as I just can't believe how much work I've got ahead of me!  It's really not a top for the larger lady who needs more structure and definition in their clothing.  I'm going to fit this to me and use a zip closure at the side.  Was looking forward to a long/tunic top in this fabric as it's the fabric I'd been hankering for in this post.  I'm really annoyed as feel like I've wasted good fabric at the moment for being stupid.  I'm really glad in a way as it means I know where I've gone wrong as this is one of the tops I'm making for Sarah.

I know I said I was going to make this 'blouse' from the blue fabric with gold ladybirds and even managed to get some gold satin ribbon for the edges of the ruffles of the sleeves but when I realised the pieces were so long I knew I wouldn't be able to use it.  I'm going to make a Lotus cami with it but thinking of using the ruffle sleeves from the Pendrell pattern and instead of buttons at the back I'll put a zip in the side.

Speaking of internet shopping/browsing, my sister sent me a link to this dress and I want it I want it I want it!  Thinking of how I can make it and what fabric to use already!  What do you think?

To Add to Wish List, choose from options to the left

To Add to Wish List, choose from options to the leftChoose Wish List

 If you do want to buy it you can get it from Amazon here, but be warned I may need to steal it from you...