Sewing Project - Burda 9412 Dress in Fox Cotton


This dress isn't quite as simple as it looks.  I didn't notice it was lined until after I bought the pattern, I was looking for a very simple summer dress or top I could churn out a few times.  I also failed to notice the pleat which I generally feel makes a dress look shapeless, not an issue for a toddler but it somehow doesn't sit right with me.  


But I'd bought the dress and fabric so away I sewed . . . 


Pleat first.  


Here it is from the front.  


Then this little tab that covers the top of the pleat.  Edges folded in . . 


Then sewn in place.  


Shoulder seams next.  


And the lining too.  


Then the neck and shoulder seams are gathered.  


The lining is sewn in place and the edges notched.


It's turned through one shoulder.  


And finally the hem.  


It wasn't as complicated as I anticipated.  It actually came together surprisingly quickly and I was chuffed to bits with the result.  

Little Miss finished her nap just as I was finishing up and she took an interest in it so I tried it on her before sewing the buttons in place.  She delighted me by refusing to take it off!


Here it as ready for it's first outing after I'd sewn the buttons on.  

I hate the way the back of the dress is left open.  It got in my daughter's way and ended up looking scruffy - not to mention putting her nappy on display everytime she sat down!  So I slip stitched the opening closed.

I will be making this again, the tunic version next time, but I'll be sewing the two back pieces together on the fabric and lining then hemming them as two separate pieces.  I found it a real pain to neaten the back of the two hems at the point they joined.  

But overall I'm really pleased and looking forward to making it again - I have some awesome fabric in mind!




Chicken Likkie Pie Recipe

This makes a lovely juicy chicken pie with a sneaky portion of veggies.  


Traditionally Likkie Pie is made with pork but I prefer it made with chicken.


Ingredients:


  • Chicken Breast
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Single Cream
  • Flour
  • Butter


Start by chopping the onions.


And lightly fry them.


Then the leeks.


Add them to the slow cooker along with the diced chicken.

Add just enough milk to coat all the veggies.  

Leave to cook on low - don't worry if it looks curdled.  


Six eggs.


Whisked.


Add the cream.


Then add most of it to the slow cooker.  

Leave a little in the jug for glaze.


And mix well. 


Fill a pie dish.


The pastry is made from 900g plain flour and 400g butter.  

Roll it out.  


Over the top of the pie dish.  


Use the leftover cream and egg mix to glaze the top of the pie.


Pop it in the over for about 30-40 minutes at about 190 degrees until the pastry is nice and brown.


Severed with Healthy Air Fried Chips and frozen veggies.  


Tye Scrapbook Layout with Tim Holtz Wallflower

Meet Tye, he's a husky boy who came to live with us for a little while after his mummy and daddy split up.  He didn't get on with my alsatian so unfortunately he couldn't stay forever.  He did find his forever home in the end.  

There are so many lovely dogs like Tye stuck in overcrowded rescue centres all over the country.  Many rescue centres offer a fostering scheme mostly to try and keep these dogs in loving homes but it's also a great way to find just the right dog.  

If you are ever considering getting a dog please, please, please do consider adopting or fostering - rescue dogs love you more!


Products Used:

Challenges Entered:

Here's the sketch from Let's Get Sketchy:

Enchanted Fairies Handmade Christmas Card

Here's a card I finished up yesterday.  I love. love, love these stamps BUT they're so tiny and intricate they're hard work to colour in.  Because of this I hardly ever use them, I really should accept it and move them to my"to EBay" pile and make room / funds for stamps I'll get more use out of.  


Products Used:

Challenges Entered:

Kwik Sew 3510 Sewing Project - Pyjamas in Purple

Time for Little Miss to graduate to 'proper' pyjamas.


  Here's the pattern I've picked out in the hopes that it will lend itself well to using up old clothes and scraps from other projects.



I started by gathering my materials; pattern, fabric, scissors, pins, dressmakers tracing paper and a Tracing Wheel.


Iron the fabric - this is a top that I messed up.  


Place the pattern pieces on the fabric and pin in place.  


If I'm not dealing with a straight line a use dressmakers tracing paper and a Tracing Wheel to transfer the cutting lines to my fabric before cutting.  


When possible I fold the pattern over to give myself the correct size as a cutting guide.  


The shoulder seams are stitched first.  


Then the neckband.  A strip of fabric is made into a tube by sewing the two ends together.  It's pressed then turned right side out.


The neckband is stretched and pinned to the neckline before being sewn in place and pressed well.  


Next the sleeves are set in,


Then the sleeve and side seams.  


The cuffs are applied in the same way as the neckband.  


A simple hem at the bottom.  



Now for the pants, front and back seams first.


Then the legs in one continuous seam.


A loop of elastic for the waist.  


The top of the pants is tuned over and pressed.  


Then sewn in place trapping the elastic inside the casing.  


The leg cuffs are made in the same way as the neck band.  


Inserted inside the leg,   


Pinned and sewn.

 And here they are in action.


 A lovely, simple sew for comfy pyjamas.

I really like the interest that the contrasting fabric adds to a really simple piece.  I'm actually liking this as a TShirt as well as PJs.

Products Used:

Link Ups:
Creatalicious Challenge #113 Anything Goes
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Colour

I tend to graduate towards deep jewel colours, purple being my favourite.  It's feminine without being girly, dark without being depressing and bright without being overpowering.

I swear I bought this purple striped fabric because it was an awesome bargain roll end, how can I be held responsible if the awesome bargains just tend to be purple?