Chemainus Blouse

Itch to Stitch Chemainus Top  made from the remainder of the cotton lawn/sateen I used for my Nosara Shirt! I also used the same April Showers Pigeon Wishes buttons! I sewed 4c to 6 hip before, this time I sewed 6c to 6 hip, so the fit might be a little more relaxed. 

The fabric is gifted by Minerva for review. It's one of their designs! The combination of bright and pastel and the small print is not overpowering. 

Charm Patterns Stanwyck Skirt. I sewed up the shaper pocket version and straight waistband. That's all the non itch to stitch pdf's I purchased a while ago, that I still want to wear, sewn up now. Worn with the Chemainus Blouse. Both cottons are supplied by Minerva.

Nosara Shirt

July's new pattern, Itch to Stitch Nosara Shirt. New pattern on sale 20% off! I decided to make a jazzy summer shirt in bubble print Minerva sateen (lawn) gifted for review, with Pigeon Wishes 'April Showers' lime-blue-cream rainbow buttons. The suggested buttons are 12.5mm, I used 15mm, the buttons are slightly clear so they don't stand out too much, they look like party bubbles, similar to the print. This is a tropical shirt but not a noelty print, I find the geometric styles less overwhelming than other prints. I've been sewing Itch to Stitch patterns for 8 years and it was nice to see a new shirt pattern, this time with a complete collar stand collar and short sleeve for summer. Before I was choosing Mila Shirt or Montana Shirt as my go-to collar shirt patterns then cutting a short sleeve. I would like a  collar stand with light interfacing, as you can see both sides when worn, then I hand-stitch the inside collar down, before topstitching. The skirt is also Minerva gifted for review Cotton Canvas.

Nosara Shirt (sateen gifted by Minerva for review). 

• Options for cup sizes, sizes 00 to 40.
• Standard collar with collar stand
• Integrated dolman sleeves
• Front buttoned
• Back yoke with back pleats
• High-low shirttail hem
• Designed for non-stretch, lightweight woven fabric.

NL 6843 Canvas Skirt

*Nosare Shirt pattern release. I made New Look 6843 from washed cotton canvas gifted my Minerva for review. I wanted a simple slimline skirt to wear with the apron. I first sewed the pencil skirt without the side vents, for this version I added 4 inches to the length, and marked the side vent onto the hem the same distance as the pattern. 

The back

Minerva Cotton Canvas (fabric gifted for review).

9 Patch Quilt

This is my own design but again it's just a simple technique, I followed a disappearing 9 patch tutorial but arranged the blocks so they formed centre squares instead of diagonal trailing blocks. Then I added a 2.5 inch border in cream Art Gallery Fabric (Ethel's Vintage print), a 5 inch border in Michael Miller cotton, and the binding in the same. For the bobbin I used beige/cream for the main and navy for the binding. 

I used charm squares (5 inch), which I prewashed and but did not remeasure them, I think I will try layer cakes instead (10 inch) then cut to size. The packs I used were Connecting Threads Americana, I loved this one but ran out of fabric and it's out of stock, I paired it with the white/cream and some of the navy in two Starlight Gatherings Moda charm packs, I still have some blues left for making a tiny baby quilt for Fallon. I cut extra charm squares from Art Gallery Fabric 'Ethel's vintage, and a white AGF which had tiny gold symbols. For the remaining reds, I didn't have any red fabric, so cut 5 inch squares from a blouse I made in 2016/2017 (too small), the pink and grey cotton I purchased in a quilting shop in Nice, France! Then the black with pink floral was a remnant in small pieces, I had purchased the fabric a few years ago and it was a nice heavier weight poplin, sometimes unbranded cottons are labelled as poplin but too thin for quilting. The backing is 2 metres of Rico cotton in cream with pink hearts, heavier than quilting cotton. The finished quilt is 63 x 51 inches (throw size). Mr W is holding it for photos!

I am very keen to make more quilts or even Christmas crafts! I don't have many fabric scraps, but I am saving 100% cotton scraps and taking apart unworn clothing, which is fewer and farther between these days, now I've slowed down my garment making. I also picked up some layer cakes in a sale, already prewashed! I prewash the cottons as I prewash my fabric by the metre, so it all shrinks at the same rate, and it has less of a crinkled look.