I haven’t updated much on how the sewing is going recently, mostly because I was waiting for a couple of very exciting developments.
May I present: my first ever finished bra! Oh man, this has been a long while coming. I’ve been experimenting with Orange Lingerie’s Marlborough Bra for a month or so – mostly with elastic and bits ‘saved’ from old bras. This has been to make sure I’m confident in the construction before I cut into the nice fabric. Well, it was worth it. I have to say, this bra is possibly the nicest finished item I’ve ever sewn – if not for one wonky seam and the lack of a tag, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between it and a bra bought at New Look. There is, however, one drawback: I made the wrong size! Unfortunately it’s a 40B and I should be a 40D or 40DD in this pattern. The band is a perfect fit though? Fortunately I think this will be the right size for my mum, so my first finished bra is going to be a gift!
There are a couple of changes I have made/I will make going forward:
- I didn’t have any scalloped edge lace, so I finished the upper edge of my cup with bias tape
- In my next iteration (currently in progress) I’ve widened the top of the power bar so that when it folds over the ring of the strap it’s a lot wider – that’s just a personal visual preference, I don’t like the very small connection to the quite wide strap.
- Thinner elastic used on the bottom of the band – the elastic used on this was too wide, and I struggled with space to turn it over under the cups.
All elastics and fabrics (apart from bias tape) come from the fantastic Bra Shop on Etsy – only £1.50 shipping, which considering how often I buy supplies on Etsy and then spend the same amount on shipping it is absolutely fantastic.
I also ventured into the world of underwear making, and I am never buying them ever again. And the pair I made isn’t even finished! I made OhLuLu’s High Waisted Panties, which fit like a dream. They don’t have elastic yet – I’m still waiting for my fold over elastic to arrive – but they’re going to be a fast favourite, given pre-elastic they only took about 30 minutes to throw together. I think I’m going to make a blue velvet pair next, for some slinky excitement.
And finally for the main event: my two new sewing books! Madalynne had a competition a couple of weeks ago to win Gertie of Gertie’s Blog for Better Sewing’s new dress making book. I entered, because why wouldn’t you, and promptly forgot forgot about. Not long after I was scrolling through Miss Maddy Sews and saw her post about the cigarette trousers in Gertie’s earlier book, Gertie Sews Vintage Casual. Now, one of the clothing items I am in need of and want a good pattern for is trousers, and having had a look around at reviews and found the book on book depository, I bought it.
Two days later Madalynne emailed me saying I had won the dress making book! I was so thrilled, and excited to get my hands on this book, so I went back to the original blog post to psych myself up for it. Unfortunately, I noticed the contest was only available to residents of the US and Canada, and of course I live in London. I emailed back apologising for the mix up, but I was not actually eligible. The very kind US publisher then organised for the UK publisher to send me a copy anyway – honesty for the win!
So, now I have in my possession both Gertie Sews Vintage Casual and Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book. I’ve had a quick read of the second, and my first impression is this would be a fantastic book for the sewer looking to move from make up bags and aprons to dress making – it’s mind-boggling comprehensive. There is so much to learn, and once I have a couple more bras under my belt this will take care of my sewing projects for the next… oh, maybe two or even three years! (I ‘saved’ so much elastic and notions from old bra’s that I’m down to three functional bra’s…whoops)
Hopefully I’ll have some new elastics and fabric in the next week to play with underwear/bra wise, so my next sewing post might even involve wearing a bra!
Yet another salmon and asparagus recipe! It’s just such a great flavour combination, and you can cook asparagus so many ways, it’s such an easy vegetable to add to your dinner. This recipe also has mushrooms, spinach and feta cheese.
I try to make sure we eat fish at least once a week, but as I didn’t really eat much fish growing up, I can’t make it up as I go along like I can with chicken or mice. So to try and keep some variety in our dinners, I often go searching for recipes with fish – particularly Salmon, a. because I love it, and b. because I know how to cook it/how to tell if it’s cooked/how cooked I like it. 
First, chop the courgette, asparagus and feta in bite size pieces – however small or large that is for you. Make up the cous cous as per the packet’s instructions – I swear every packet of cous cous I’ve had has had very different instructions. If the cous cous isn’t already in a pan (different instructions!) put it in one and stir in the lemon juice. Throw in the vege and cook a little – make sure the cous cous doesn’t get too dry – it can get a little crunchy (which I like, but some people don’t). After a couple of minutes, take the pan off the heat and add the feta cheese. Mmmmm, feta. Cut two fairly large pieces of baking paper – remember they’ll have to close around a parcel full of food! Transfer the cous cous mixture to the middle of the baking paper, top with skin-side up salmon and bake for 20-25 minutes at 180 Celsius. 
I like to serve in the parcels – mostly because cous cous tends to go everywhere if you try to move it!
Enjoy!
Hokey Pokey Biscuits – which are a kind of caramel flavoured biscuit – are a New Zealand classic recipe, and a family favourite. In fact, there were many years when I didn’t know what they were actually called, because they were just known in my family as ‘James’ Favourite Biscuits’. The original recipe is from the Edmunds Family Cookbook, which is a New Zealand staple – I’m not actually sure if you could call it a cookbook, or if it in fact has any actual lunch/dinner food in it, we’ve always just used the baking and dessert recipes. Having said that, we’ve never used any other baking cookbook, and I would guess 90% of New Zealand homes in the last 100 years have owned one. Likely covered in flour and cocoa. 
The weekend of the 12th/13th/14th of Feb, R and I went to Dublin! Yes, I’m aware this makes two years in a row we’ve been away for Valentine’s Day – we were in Oxford last year – but it’s a coincidence, I swear!
After working through the week two worksheet (which was difficult for me, but I did warm to the process) I started putting together images that represented those ideas. As per, I used Pinterest, and and was it fun! The board started off fairly small, but I added to it as I worked through Week’s Three, Four and Seven. I’ve actually added a couple of things since I finished the project too. You can have a look at it 
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