In our garden

The peaches are ripening.
I've picked one each day for breakfast this week.

There are lots of pumpkins on the vines.

This one is still little compared to the giants hidden in the leaves.

The plums are almost ripe.

There's a lot of Mandarins on the tree. It will be a while until we are eating these.

The walnut tree is heavy with walnuts this year.

The apples are still a few weeks away from being ripe.

The sunflower on Toohey's grave has a weird idea of direction.

Yesterdays pickings.
Won't be too long before we are jamming, preserving, pickling and saucing again.

Kwik Sew 3327 It's a tent!

I decided to make up the long sleeve View of Kwik Sew 3327
I worked a Full bust adjustment as shown above.

FBA Tutorial Links:
isew.co.uk
timmelfabrics
FBA on a wrap style top
FBA on raglan T - also index of links to different types of FBA
Video Perfect Sew and fit
Craftstylish


I decided to increase the pleat at the center font too.

Now doing both these adjustments resulted in a dress way too big!
It's a tent. It always was a tent!
This design is never going to flatter me.
I just threw out a pile of clothes that don't look good on me.
I seem to be drawn to tents!
It gives me no shape at all and makes me look bigger than I am.

My main mistake with making the FBA is adding too much.
Because I'm a G cup I added 2.5inches and this really was way too much to add.
The tutorials listed above recommend around half an inch for each cup increase.

All is not lost.
I've learned I don't need to add so much to a FBA
I've learned that just because a design has a feature I like ( nursing access) doesn't mean it will suit me.
I've learned that making a muslin is a GREAT idea.
I now have three very handy nightgowns I can feed in.
The long sleeve version will be great in the winter.

Kwik Sew 3327 Nursing Gown

I don't often sew for myself.
Commercial patterns don't fit me.
They are drafted for a size B bust and I'm a lot more generous than that!
I need to adjust for my full bust, adjust for my thick waist, adjust for my short waist and my rounded shoulders!

This is my first attempt at sewing this pattern.
The fit is woefully bad.
My full bust measurement is 45 inches.
The pattern I cut was the XL and it is way too big for me, everywhere but the bust.

The XL gaping at the armholes and sagging at the neckline.
The shoulders are too big.
I was thinking about darting the armholes and neckline to get this to fit better. then decided against it.
I purchased this fabric at the op-shop for $4 and this will make a great nightie!

After doing a little reading (here) and on the advice of Lesley AKA Cupcake Mama.
I decided to take a high bust measurement and use that to determine the pattern size.
My high bust measurement is 40 inches.
On the basis of that I cut the L size

A much better fit in the shoulders, armhole and neckline.
I'm reasonable happy with the fit.
I do need to do a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) to the next one I make as you can see the front of the gown is pulled up higher than the back and the front is a little tight across the bust and pulling the pleat open a little.
As the pleats are hiding the slits for nursing, I'd prefer they weren't pulled.

The fabric for version 2 was also found at the op-shop.
I have some really nice fabric. I want to make the sleeved version from.
I'll make a FBA on that one and I think the fit will be perfect!

I've decided I'm getting rid of the Gray.
I'm giving up on my going gray gracefully and off to the hairdressers.
I'm having a sever cut and a colour.
Long hair just doesn't suit me.
My hair gets very frizzy as it gets longer.
It's also very dry and breaks easily.

Knitted Cowl

Fan And Feather Cowl
A free pattern from Eco Crafter blog
Knitted in Cleckheaton Kaleidoscope 100% wool

A great pattern. Very easy to follow.
Works up quickly.

I bought four balls of this wool at a Spotlight sale last year.
It's a beautiful wool to work with, single ply and slightly felted.
The colour is beautiful.