I've been wanting to move my blog away from Blogspot for a while but could never be bothered to actually do it. This week was the tipping point though, and I've now fully migrated over to https://patsypoomakes.wordpress.com/ . The blogspot address will remain here but all new posts will only appear at https://patsypoomakes.wordpress.com/ . There are lots of reasons for the move but my biggest one is how hard Blogger has made it for people to subscribe to receive new posts via email. It's such a basic requirement but apparently, they think it's too much to offer. I'm basing this purely on how I myself prefer to consume this stuff. I can't be arsed with feed readers anymore and emails are easy and convenient. When I receive one, if I fancy reading it, I will click through to it and, if not, I'll just delete it. Another reason is the spat between Google (owners of Blogger) and Instagram/Facebook/Meta. I don't even know if this is still the case anymore ...
Eeeeeesh! Have I got a pretty dress to show you today! It's the Megan Nielsen Matilda and it is gorgeous! I had a big chunk of time to sew a couple of weekends ago and this is what I chose to work on. I bought the pattern and fabric about 3 years ago and had the PDF printed for 2 whole years, so it was about time this got made.
The dress has a utilitarian look which I really like. It features drop shoulders, sizeable patch pockets and pretty little pleated breast pockets with a flap. So many great details and the perfect pattern to have fun with topstitching. I think the buttons complement the utility look and I'm really happy with the whole thing.
I graded mine from XS at the bust to M from the waist down and the fit is spot on. As it happens, the pattern has only just been updated to include more sizes - it goes from 0 to 20 now. I think my version is equivalent to a 4 up top to a 10 at the waist. The instructions were great: comprehensive but easy and clear to follow.
The fabric is amazing. It's a 100% linen I got from Higgs & Higgs and I'm pretty sure it's this one, but it was over 2 years ago so it might be slightly different. Coral is my favourite colour but it is an absolute little bitch to photograph. It always freaks out a camera, no matter which one I try. This time it was actually Mel's camera so at least I know it's not personal.
I really love these photos, for once (despite what Mel says). It's all well and good having someone else take photos for us but it's a completely different ball game when it's a fellow sewist and they know exactly what to look for. Even better when it's a super close friend who knows exactly how my brain works and what my vision is. Someone who will actually notice the dress hanging funny in the wind or a rogue bit of thread - why do they only turn up when we're doing photos?! 🤦
The photos are also special because they were taken during our annual family trip to Kent - the third consecutive year makes it a tradition, right? - which is probably my favourite week/end of the year. Fun with my best bitch and both our families, plus fabric shopping and constant eating. What's not to love? These were taken in the Rochester Cathedral garden, which is lovely, and there was no one around to boot.
Anyway, back to the dress: linen has got to be one of my favourite fabrics to sew and wear so I know I will get a lot of mileage out of this one. And look at these pockets!!! Actual, decent size pockets! With a pretty slanted edge. Oh my! It's a definite winner.
So much a winner that I bought an army green-ish Tencel linen at Merchant and Mills this weekend to make a cold weather version soon and I'm very excited to get that made. Hopefully, it won't take me 3 years this time...