A couple of months ago I fell for a Newlook pattern, I tried to buy it about three times in Samuel Taylors but it was always out of stock, I tried my usual on-line pattern shop, out of stock! I finally found a little sewing shop on line that stocked it, I bought it immediately. About a week later I found out why…it was free with a sewing magazine!!!

I finally got round to sewing it this week. It has a pretty blouse/top with three variations and a pencil skirt (nothing exciting with the skirt but they’re always useful!) I decided to make the short sleeved version.

I chose a length of fabric from my stash, it’s a pale blue cotton with grey and pink blossom design, to me it looks vaguely oriental, maybe it reminds me of the Japanese cherry blossom. I bought it in B&M Fabrics in Leeds market, they had at least three different colour-ways and I was torn between the blue and a soft mauve, for once the blue won!

The pattern went together really easily. It has button loop fastenings which are the first things to make, I was pleased I bought a rouleaux loop turner at WI  last year. To neaten the inside I used French seams on the side seams, I used the overlock stitch on my sewing machine on all the other open seams, I haven’t used it before but I liked the finish it gave, a lot flatter and neater than plain zigzag, I’ll certainly use it again.

I think the only thing I did which wasn’t on the pattern instructions was to top-stitch the yoke…oh and I changed half way through to the sleeveless version. I was trying it on for fitting before I started sewing the sleeves and decided I liked it as a sleeveless top.

The neckline and the sleeve edge are finished with a bias strip folded and stitched to the inside, I’m tempted next time to sew the bias so it’s a visible edging as I think I might prefer that.

I made some self cover buttons, initially I was going to fussy cut some with flowers on, but half way through the first one I decided plain blue would look better, I think that was the right decision, they look really neat.

I made  the pattern with what is becoming my standard of a size 12 top half increasing to size 14 over my hips. It fits really well, it’s lovely to wear and as it turns out it makes a nice outfit with the navy skirt I made a few weeks ago.

This pattern is definitely going to be well used, I’ve already cut the second one out!