Finished blouse :)

To the accompaniment of a particularly nasty episode of CSI, I finally put the collar and snaps (and TINY BUTTONS) on Plink's blouse.

Quite pleased with the fit, but I think I could go even smaller in the back for a more fitted version. May have to start figuring out some darting at this rate, which will make my head hurt.

In other news, realjob is looking like it's going to be a hell of a week. Expect light levels of posting and occasional outbursts of swearyness.

An Embuggerance

Having received the Makie, the next step was to check the fit of all the items that I've spent the last week or so drafting and making up in preparation. The messenger bags are fab, as are the skirt and the glitzy sequinned waistcoat (yet to be shown). The blouse needed a little more work, as in it was a little big across the back and not quite big enough across the front, so that was where I started.

Once the pattern was adjusted, it was time to cut it out...

Place those bits, yo.

And eventually, to check the fit on Plink... 

Yes, you can help... no... put those scissors away, young lady. Please? 

Unfortunately, shortly after taking this photo, I was topstitich the front when the machine gobbled up some of the fabric and there was an ominous CLUNK. Having extracted the blouse from the machine, I surveyed the blouse and decided that the damage wasn't too bad, so hand sewed in the sleeves. 

On trying to sew the collar, there was an even more ominous... nay... a BODING volley of CLUNKing from the machine, and a refusal to do anything like, you know, sew. 

Having disassembled as much as I dare, I can share the news that the timing on my 2 month old, £300+ machine appears to be completely FUBAR'd, as does the computerised mechanism to move the needle. And I've just given my £99, 5 year old machine to my sister. 

Definitely an embuggerance.

Wheeeeeee!

My parcel was not only found, but hand-delivered by the area manager (who lives a couple of streets away) on his way home! Only had to email the CEO and inform him of my unchuffedness...

Anyway! Here's Plink modelling a couple of my pre-arrival creations. The light tonight isn't good enough for proper photos, but we'll have a full photoshoot tomorrow (probably after a bit of a haircut given she can't see out) and some first thoughts on her and her construction.

So chuffed she's here!

Why have fabric...

...when you can have Liberty Tana Lawn?

Well, given it's around £12-20 per metre is one excellent reason. But where the human has had a past (shall we say) indiscretion, the Makie shall profit. This glorious print featuring little acorns is called "delfie" and although it's not current, it still crops up on the bay of e.