Adding up

The number of birthdays at the moment are adding up to lots of sewing for me!

Here's a little 2+2 blouse from the range of patterns by New York company, oliver + s that I made for the birthday of another of my nieces.

This is made with some more of the lovely Park Slope range by Erin McMorris.

I found the measurements would have had this running a little short so I made a size 7 (despite the fact she was turning 5).

Of course I didn't think it through in that the sleeves were then far too long, so after trying it on my in-house model, I shortened them sleeves, and am pleased to report it fits her perfectly.

(the pic was taken before the sleeves were shortened!)

This was a lovely pattern to sew. It had a few things that I hadn't tried before with the way the buttonhole facing worked and also creating the pleated section at the front.

I didn't have any buttons that were 'just right' so I decided to go with self-covered buttons in the contrasting fabric.

So now it looks like I will have to add a few more of these to my ever-growing 'to do' list.

I'm heading out to this market tomorrow with the family and some friends. Hopefully I'll find something lovely to buy for myself and maybe some inspiration too.

PS - despite how it looks in the photo - the tab on the front actually is straight!!

EDIT TO ADD - the size 7 pattern with sleeves shortened by 8cm was a perfect fit on an average height five-year-old.

I feel this pattern runs a little short in the body, that's why I made the larger size.