Bits and bobs

The jacket is done...

 and I am pleased with it. Simple, but with that shot taffeta lining, and lack of fuss, I think it will look classy.  And how the silk glows! ( shame about the body it will be going on, but hey, you can't have everything!)












And then, of course, I had to take part in another small swap.. Triptych.


Three  linked tiny quilts, whatever you were inspired to do, you do, and send to a partner, who has no idea who is making what for them. And they are making for, someone else, of course.

I have explored this theme before, but nevertheless it felt appropriate for the partner I was assigned. So, I went with it- yes I thought about and rejected umpteen different ideas before this one happened, and felt OK.

and there had to be some variation, and a link, so other members of the wildlife community came into play. 

Finishing with this fellow, out on definite business dealings... Very purposeful. 

 I think the three follow through nicely.

And then, a small something? Well, let me not let a good theme go past...  Let us have a basket,





 The deer again

 and some hares,

And Mr Fox has to come in again, too

This was sent about a week ago, so sometime soon, it should land at its new home...

Stretching it... warning- wordy!

So you buy a girl a wedding dress- You do not consult her, you just buy it. No trying on.... and then  an adjustment is needed.

Well, to be fair, the wedding dress is rather spectacular, and has quite a good margin for fit with the way it fastens... However, on the back of it is a piece which is a truncated triangle,  which should cover the bare flesh of the back, when the lacing is laced up.
In this case, and she is a very tall lass, the piece does not quite cover.

So, take off that piece, and present it to a friendly soul to make it bigger. We want it 2" wider, and 2" longer.

S-T-R-E-E-E-T-C-H......

I have no similar fabric in my stash- so what to do?

Luckily both sides of the placket are in the same fabric. So, that is useful. It is boned, horizontally across in 4 places.
Measurement?
Starting size is

6" across the top, 16" deep, 4" across the base.

So, I need to end up with

8" across the top, 6" across at the 16" level, and 18" total length.

Unpick everything!

Leaving two pieces, of which I turn one upside down, and stitch back together with the other along a side seam, to give one larger piece of taffeta.

From that I cut a piece 8" by 16" with 6" at the base, Then I take the offcut, and attach that at the bottom, and trim to required size. There is not a lot left over, either.

And then use that as a pattern and cut two pieces of white sheeting to match, and put casings for boning, on that, sew all together, inserting
boning at the appropriate time, to give

I think that should work, yes I added an extra piece of boning, but by the time the dress is laced over the top of this, I do not think a blind man on a galloping horse will know any different!

Another wee job ticked off my expanding list!

And no, I would not buy one of my girls a wedding dress without input- In fact, I would probably make it instead- with input!