More than eight years since my last post! And then when I tried to update my email address, I lost access to my blog. So I have a new URL with '2' added to it.
How life has changed.
Ross and I are now married and live on a small farm outside of Christchurch. I
have 2 grandchildren back in the US and I was at both of their births - what an
awesome experience - all of the joy with none of the pain!
These days I'm into sewing, singing and
playing tennis. No tennis today though as the hail is hammering down and it's
6C out. What happened to spring? We even have the fire lit.
I'm going to use this blog to document my
sewing so those of you who are keen on all things New Zealand - sorry - but I'll try to put in occasional updates!
We were recently in Hawaii with my kids
and grandkids. Quilting is big in Hawaii so there are lots of fabric shops. My
granddaughter (Juniper, age 4 1/2), my daughter (Auntie Amy) and I went to
Dragon Mama in Hilo and bought some Batiq cotton for a dress for Juniper and a
matching one for her doll. Juniper loved every fabric in the shop so it was fun
choosing and I was guaranteed she would love the final choice. She carried the
package the rest of the day. When we got up the next morning at the hotel, she
wanted to know if I had finished it yet! Well, I have now but it will have to
wait for her 5th birthday so it will fit and the weather will be warm again in
the US.
I used McCalls 7233. 
I followed the pattern other than a few
changes. I didn't make a contrasting collar as I couldn't find anything that
looked good. I made a self-fabric bias strip for finishing the collar rather
than bias tape.
I also used a seam overcast stitch
rather than a straight stitch for the second seam attaching the sleeves and the
ruffles.
By the time I thought of it, it was
too late to make a tab buttonhole out of fabric so I just made the thread loop
one suggested.
I used a 3-thread serge to finish the side
seam edges, shoulders and sleeve side seam before sewing any pieces together.
It was a pretty easy pattern to make although a little time consuming
doing all the ruffles and gathered sleeve seams. I can hardly wait to see it on
her! I think the dress is too big for her doll (it's for an 18-inch doll) so I
might have to get her a new doll as well.
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