Outfit Along 2015... Lilou and Plain Jane! • Gabberdashery

Well hello there!

I do apologise for my intermittent bursts of activity and silence on this blog – summer is a hard time to knuckle down and do some laptop-y stuff as A-it’s too nice to not be outside or sewing and B- it’s been a whirlwind of busy times with festival gigs and then the day of exhaustion and ‘I don’t want to do anything but watch Netflix and knit’ after…

Of course, I have been sewing every chance I get (I have learnt tired sewing is a bad idea!). I have found that as a sewing blogger I have A LOT to get involved in and I don’t like to miss out on these opportunities so I’m trying to get every challenge done on time and throw myself into everything going. This does mean sewing has completely taken over my life now but you know what – I couldn’t be happier. The fact that I am being asked to do tutorials, being sent free fabrics to use and entering my makes into every competition/sewing event going is amazing to me. I really do love every minute AND I get to be creative and wear what I’m making – what’s not to love?! I’m also doing my first ever commission right now- 8 waistcoats for a wedding – so actually being paid to sew – how lucky am I?! Next month I will be have been sewing for a year and what a year it has been!

ANYWAY – I wanted to share this outfit I made for a great sewing meets knitting competition – Outfit Along 2015… This is run by 2 ladies who I follow religiously online – Lladybird is a sewing blogger and a very good one – all her makes are brilliant, her style is fun and colourful, and her writing style is very entertaining – like chatting to a friend. Andi Satterlund is the woman behind untangling knots who, in my humble opinion, designs the best knitting patterns I can find on the net. Especially her cardigans – so cute and quirky. I was already knitting her Plain Jane pattern when I heard about OAL2015 so had to join in…

This is my 2nd knitted garment and 1st cardigan so I chose the simple Plain Jane as it has a whole guide on seamless sweaters with it. It was a straight forward knit and took me about a month to make. So this cardigan is NOT perfect – it has issues with the shape at the base and curls round at the chest but I don’t care I love it. It’s cosy and turquoise and I made it. I have worn it so much already! I attached these adorable non matching vintage buttons for fun too!

The dress is the bees knees – one of my favourite’s yet. It’s the Lilou pattern from Tilly Walnes’ book –Love at First Stitch and now that means I have completed all the projects in her book (oh yes I still need to show you the Mimi blouse I made from it!)

Firstly… THIS FABRIC

I am in LOVE! It was only £3 a metre from Abakhan in Chester – I’m still convinced they gave me that price by mistake – and it’s gorgeous soft light seersucker cotton with blooming lovely painted synchronised swimmers on! So pretty. In fact I have a trip north planned soon and I will be keeping my beady eyes out for more! Is it OK to have a whole wardrobe of one fabric? No?!…oh ok then! 😉

Lilou is a simple dress to make and the lining is the same as the front so it’s pretty inside too. I did attempt the sweet heart/scalloped neckline but sort of failed there or maybe I should say – I meant it to be really shallow and unnoticable?! I know for next time to use bigger curves when adding a scalloped edge to a pattern.

I love that the ladies’ swimming patterns have lined up so beautifully on both the bodice and the skirt!

If you go on over to this forum thread you can see everyone else’s outfits – they are all amazing and very inspiring. I’m so happy to be a part of it all!

Also I decided an outfit like this needed an outdoor summer photo shoot so thanks to the lovely Stephen for these pics on Hampstead Heath… here’s some twirling ones to end with – can you spot my dog Hobbes?!