A Speckled Melilot

Hi there!

So, like I said, I have actually been sewing lots, it’s simply been a case of not having time to blog.  I’m forcing myself to stop for a night or two and write some posts to show some of the things I’ve been doing, and this is one that has been on the to do list for way, way too long.

At the beginning of the year, I signed up for the #2017makenine challenge.  The idea was to identify 9 patterns which I would make throughout the course of the year.

How well am I doing to date?

4 out of 9, with the last one having been made in April.

Not that amazing, right?

But this is the next pattern on that particular list and I’m thrilled to have finally got back to it.

It’s the Deer and Doe Melilot, and I made view B.  The reason I chose this somewhat unseasonable version was very simple; a straight lack of fabric!

The fabric is some absolutely gorgeous Cotton + Steel cotton lawn in a deep navy speckled with pink, green, white, … loads of different colours. It’s called, very simply, “speckled navy” and it’s beautiful.

I picked it up in the last remnants sale Guthrie & Ghani did online, and the description said there were some marks on it.  I took a chance and to be honest, I really can’t find any marks, which is something of a result! So I had just over 1.5m and it’s 110cm wide.

Really not a lot for a shirt, even with the creative cutting.  I went with the short sleeved version with the mandarin collar and still ended up cutting said collar out at 90 degrees to the grain instead of on grain.  I interfaced it immediately which seems to have resolved any potential stretching issues.

I once again followed the instructions, except when it came to the collar, when I followed the tutorial on Sew Sarah Smith’s blog (something I’m likely to do on every future occasion.)  This means my shirt has beautiful French seams throughout.  Interestingly you finish the bottom hem before you sew the side seams; I made very sure to stitch from the bottom up to the under arm to ensure that the bottom hem remained even.

I also used my trusty Simflex gauge and ignored the button markings on the pattern, other than to note how many of them there were.  Again, I can’t see me bothering to mark buttons from pattern pieces again, it works so much better for me to work outwards from the widest point of the bust to ensure there’s no button gaping.

I am, if anything, even happier with this version than I was my first.  It’s one of those where my first version was totally wearable, but I can really see where the additional experience has made a difference to my technique and this one just looks and feels so much better!

My love affair with Deer and Doe continues……

Becca x

Details:

Pattern: Deer & Doe Melilot shirt

My measurements: bust 35″: waist  31″: hip 41″

Size cut: 40

Adjustments made: none

Fabric: Cotton + Steel lawn from Guthrie Ghani (remnant)

Future adjustments: Nope

Make again: Yes! I need a long sleeved one. Maybe in rayon?

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