Make Of The Month; Rachel

Octobers top make was by Rachel (@sewhappytimes) who used the Saltwater Stream cotton from Art Gallery Fabrics to make the Simplicity 1080

My name is Rachel and I live in the beautiful Island of Guernsey since moving here 30 years ago. I do however miss the variety of fabric shops that there are in the UK mainland as sewing has been a passion since I was a child. 

I have found the online community so informative and inspiring and this is where I discovered Hayley and her wonderful subscription boxes. I have been a subscriber to the Luxury boxes for the past two and a half years and my wardrobe is now bursting with handmade garments.

I love the variety of beautiful fabrics that I am surprised with each month along with the other notions and gifts, a great magazine and the fat quarters as I am also a keen quilter.

I purchased Simplicity pattern 1080 a couple of years ago as I have been keen to try combining coordinating fabrics a little more in my dressmaking. I had not found the right fabric to make it until Hayley sent me July’s ‘Nautical But Nice’ themed subscription box.

I love the Art Gallery cotton that was included in this box, entitled Saltwater Stream, with its circling shoals of fish upon a dark blue background. Instantly I knew this would be perfect for combining with another fabric to make the 1080 Simplicity dress. I had some lovely turquoise Batik from my local fabric store that really complimented the Art Gallery fabric. I settled on using the Art Gallery fabric as the main fabric and the Batik for the belt, lower part of the dress and pocket band.

The cotton was wonderful to sew with and worked perfectly for this pattern as it has a little structure to it. I opted to French seam all the seams as I love this finish inside. The pockets were designed to be bias bound before attaching them but I just hemmed the sides and bottom then sewed them on as I had added a contrasting band at the top in the Batik. I also made my own bias binding for inside the grown on cap sleeve from the Batik. Using the contrasting Batik for the waist ties worked to balance the two fabrics together. I am really pleased with the finished look of this dress and have worn it several times already and been complimented on how well the fabrics work together.

I have enough fabric left to make another garment and am thinking of using it to make a quilted jacket. I am loving the look of the new ‘Hovea’ jacket by Megan Nielsen Patterns so this is a strong possibility. I will pair the Art Gallery fabric with a Batik again as they work so well together, being of a similar weight. Receiving my monthly surprise box is always exciting and the fabrics and patterns nudge me into trying something new. Thank you Hayley for choosing this dress as make of the month and a great monthly subscription box.