Very excited to share my latest make in this new Minerva exclusive fabric collaboration with Designer @MelissaLowryDesign this design is called ‘Jardin

Canela’ and it is such a beautiful design of bold flowers and there are all sorts of colours in there, pinks, chartreuse, golds, black.

The base cloth is cotton lawn and I thought it would be perfect for the Ciao patterns Giorgia Dress which I was kindly gifted. I loved the relaxed style of this dress. Slightly different for me I admit but it's a lovely summer dress made in the cotton lawn but it could also be made in something heavier for cooler months. Of course I picked the longer sleeve as I always seem to be a bit ‘chilly’ so thank me for the current heatwave we are having!!! At least they are elasticated at the wrist so they have the option to be pushed up but if you prefer no elastic you can leave that out and just hem the sleeves. The waist is also elasticated, you sew it onto the waist seam after you attach the bodice which works really well. You then have the option of wearing it like that or with an optional tie belt. My preference is with a belt, i would of liked to of made a contrast belt in perhaps the pink in the print but couldn't find the right pink so I made it in the same fabric but be warned if you do make this it does take a huge amount of fabric, I ended up on the second side putting a seam in as I didn't have enough fabric even though I had a metre extra fabric as it is very long. As you see in some of the pics I added my own belt.

This is the second Ciao pattern I have made with a collar which is constructed in a way I have never come across before but I am always up for learning new techniques, everyday is a school day as they say! The first time with the CIao Gilda I really struggled but this time I think I finally got it. You dont cut the collar out like every other pattern i have made the collar and collar band both have a ‘fabric template’ which is a rectangle of fabric and the then you have a piece for the interfacing and the collar and collar band and you iron it onto the the template and sew around it. The collar was fine but I struggled with the collar band but I finally realised after my 3rd attempt what I was doing wrong…I had it upside down, my brain just decided that was the way! Once I did it the right way it turned out perfect and I have to say I think this is the best collar I have ever made.

I have mentioned before my phobia of button holes and it still comes back to haunt me when I have to do them on a garment!. My previous machine used to misbehave very badly and it's no fun unpicking a button hole plus it ruins your fabric in a place that is most on view! And even my current machine can have the odd hissy fit, not often but usually when you least expect it. This only has 4 button holes but one is on the collar band which is always a recipe for disaster with all the seams close together which seems to upset automatic button holes, plus marking them all out and making sure they are in the right place as there is nothing worse than looking at a line of button holes and one is slightly out of line!! ! I press the button to start with trepidation and stand back and hope for the best…well this time the button hole gods were kind to me and 4 buttonholes even the collar band done without a problem, so a huge sigh or relief and Voila we are done!

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