I hang on to all Will's old business shirts. They usually go in the elbows.
By the time I'm allowed to cut them up they've been washed a hundred times and the fabric is lovely and soft.
This one I put to good use last night and made a little dress with flutter sleeves. There was even enough fabric for a matching pair of bloomers.
I didn't do a lot of shopping in Hong Kong, despite it being a shopper's mecca. I did, however, fall in love with the most exquisite pair of baby shoes I've ever seen.
If they were in any other colour I could probably have resisted them. But they were in the most perfect shade of steely blue, the only pair like it in the store, and the perfect size for Adelaide next winter.
They are seriously divine, and far too good for any child to actually walk in, so they will be perfect for her pre-walking stage. At all other times, they will look adorable sitting on an armoir shelf in the Townmouse studio.
I have a few scraps of this sky coloured cashmere left. Enough to put together a little matching pram coat.
The shoes were definitely a purchase more for me, than for Adelaide.
Perhaps they'll be too good for her to wear at all.
Will is overseas for work at the moment. When he travels I tend to spend a lot more time playing in my studio late at night.
I didn't make a start on the aforementioned shirt, as I got distracted by the sudden urge to draft a bloomer pattern - as you do.
The pattern is very simple. No centre seam, which I think is so cute. It has an elastic waistband at the back, and shirring at the front.
This is a very versatile garment. Ideally the bloomers are underwear (and this pair will be perfect to cover a nappy under this dress), but look sweet with a simple tee and cardi for more casual days. They would also be very comfortable to sleep in and make gorgeous pyjama bottoms for little girls.
... making a shirt for Adelaide in this fabric if I find the time tonight. I've always loved little girls in blue - it's my favourite colour after all.
Right now she has blue eyes so the colour suits her. Max's eyes changed from blue to green at 18 months surprisingly, so Adelaide may not always be a blue-eyed girl.
I just love this provencal print.
After exchanging some emails with Liesl recently, she generously sent me a lovely parcel with a few of her Oliver & S patterns. I loved the look of the Jump Rope Dress at first sight and was keen to play with the pattern.
This is my first attempt at an Oliver & S pattern. It is a lovely pattern to work with. I am so in awe of the precision of the design and the intelligent way the instructions are written. You really can't go wrong if you follow the steps and accompanying diagrams.
There are so many thoughtful little details in the design. The collar sits beautifully (I'm very fussy when it comes to collars), and I love the fabric tie around the waist.
It's safe to say that Adelaide will end up with a few Jump Rope Dresses in her wardrobe. I'd love to see it in a light weight denim, or linen. I even thought it could look cute in a mix of shirting fabrics from Will's old Thomas Pink shirts that I've been collecting for years. Stay tuned for more.
When I bought my new domestic sewing machine 9 years ago, I remember finding the instruction booklet quite a revelation. Prior to that, I had sewn on my mother's machine from the 1970s. After reading the instruction booklet, I was amazed at how much my new machine could do.
My machine is nothing super special. It has a few decorative stitches, one of which I use every day for Townmouse appliques. But with a few different needles or feet, it can do so much. This detail uses a wing needle.
Just the thing to add a bit of interest to a plain white shirt.
So if you've never paid much attention to your instruction booklet, you may be pleasantly surprised like I was.
What clever tricks have you been able to do with your sewing machine?
I look forward to the time when I can buy Adelaide a pair of little Mary Jane Sonnet shoes in red. I love red shoes. I always have a pair in my wardrobe. They lift my mood when I wear them.
And I particularly love this English brand of shoes. All our children have had a first pair of shoes like this. Max and Tom had them in navy. Henri had a divine chocolate pair that I bought in New York. They looked particularly sweet when worn with his chocolate cashmere Townmouse coat. (Yes, I know they are girl's shoes, but if they're good enough for the Princes of Wales...)
This floral fabric will make a sweet dress to accompany the future pair of shoes. Maybe in a style similar to this. Or maybe with a collar - something like this.
There is something so sweet about a frilled Peter Pan collar.
I enjoyed making this shirt for Adelaide the other night (yes, the pleat maker came in handy again). The white fabric has been in my stash for many years. It is a slightly waxed linen. But best of all, the selvedge down one side of the fabric had a very pretty picot edge to it. I used this for the frill around the collar.
In the early days of Townmouse I had a lot of these more traditional garments in the range. Sadly, there is a very small market for this style of clothing in Australia. My customers want easier styles, no collars, no ironing. I do love a collar though. And a little bit of frill every now and then doesn't go astray either.
New Frill Jeans are in the shop.
Four new Liberty fabrics have been added to the selection. This is my favourite. I'm putting this ensemble aside for Adelaide. These will suit her just fine over summer.
I'm rather happy with this little white voile top. It is the top version of an earlier dress.
I used the pleat maker to add the detail to the sleeves.
This white top will be handy to go under cardies and to match with little pants and bloomers.
