My Garden

I love to garden. Above are pictures of what is blooming right now in my garden. Even though we have had some beautiful summer days, there hasn't been any rain. I am trying to water what is sensitive to the heat which is not a lot, since I planted plants suitable for our weather and that require little maintenance. I did move an azalea earlier in the season that is still trying to adjust so I keep my eye on it. Weeding is next to impossible so I do a little after I have watered.

And yes my mulch pile is much smaller now, but not gone, I still have a few more hours of workout left. Hey it's free and I get to be in the garden...what more can you ask for!

Simplicity 4589

This style top is really popular now, and I thought it would be great for really hot days made in a cotton lawn. My fabric is a cotton lawn from equilter.com. It was great to work with, so easy to sew. I made view A where it pays to mark your seamlines around the neckline to make it easier to sew. I didn't have any problems at all. I made french seams on the side seams and I used the technique explained in Connie Long's Easy guide to sewing blouses to neatly finish your facings (you sew the interfacing right sides together along the unnotched edge and then turn the interfacing, so that the glue side faces the wrong side, and press, Voila! your edges are enclosed and your facing is ready and very neat looking).

As for sizing, I used size 8 at the neckline and armsyce blending out to a 12 at the bust and a 16 at the hip.

I like my new top is very comfortable to wear. The skirt I made a while ago from a Burda WOF.

Pattern Review

Burda WOF 7/2005

110

I bought the coordinating fabrics for this pattern from Fabric.com last summer and I am glad I was able to make it this year. The printed poplin has stretch, the turquoise doesn't.

This is the illustrated course for this issue which is always a nice plus. This is one of those patterns where it pays to mark your sewing lines especially on all those corners, it just makes sewing easier. This is an unlined design and I wanted to keep it that way, since this is suppose to be a casual summer dress. The facings were very neatly designed, neckline and underarm all in one. I stitched in the ditch from the front to keep the facings down in addition to tacking it on the sideseam.

I raised the neckline about an inch because it was too low for daily wear, there is no gaping which might have to do with me raising the neckline. Later I will post a picture of me wearing it so that you can see the fit.

I really like this dress and I'm sure I'll make it again, it will even look great in a solid because all the seaming gives a great fit.