Helmi I need more!

I've had my eye on Named Patterns Helmi for a while now. I added it to my Make 9 and as I was itching to sew it I decided pretty early on that it would be my first make. I have a real soft spot for Named patterns. They seem to suit my figure and I love the simple lines of the designs.

Helmi certainly did not disappoint! It has some gorgeous details including a dropped curved hem and a fly front which made it an interesting yet quick make. I used a drapey fabric from Fabicland in Brighton. I swooned as soon as I saw the swans in the shop!

The instructions were as ever concise and simple to follow. The fit was great and I made absolutely no alterations at all!

I used some small shell buttons from my button stash which I think finish it off perfectly.

I find myself wearing this dress incessantly and it has received lots of complements. I'm mulling over using a dark red fabric with a small cream spot for my next one but I'm worried I won't love it as much as this one! What do you think?

A Rescued Ralph Pink Marilyn

When I cut out this skirt, I took one look at the fabric and thought that's random enough for me not to pattern match and so dived straight in. Turns out...I was wrong. I posted it on Instagram and got so many lovely messages from other sewers who has made similar mistakes. After deliberating, I decided to leave it and learn to love it.

However it lingered in the back of my wardrobe totally abandoned and unloved. I finally made the decision to buy another metre of the fabric (not expensive and available online from Fabicland) and recut another front. Boy am I pleased that I took the time to do this! I absolutely love it now and it's pretty much in my weekly work wardrobe rotation.

Sewing wise, the pattern was pretty easy. There's a rather large amount of interfacing to cut at the start of the project for which you don't have actual pattern pieces which was annoying. Once I got over that though it was pretty much plain sailing. I decided not to top stitch the facing down to create a waist band and instead anchored it down with some hand stitching.

I finished it off with some outlandish blue buttons which I wasn't too sure of at the start but which it's a twist I really like on it now.

Perhaps I need to revisit some of my other failures after all there are more than a few to choose from! Have you managed to rescue any items?

Happy stitching x