A Tartan Washi

This wash't a planned make, but after the success of the Red Linen Washi dress I felt like whipping up another one. It's a really easy dress to make and so comfy to wear, I knew I wanted/needed more in my wardrobe. Keen to use some fabric from my stash I decided I would try and use this heavy tartan fabric. I had originally bought it to line my red cape, but when it arrived (one of my usual online purchases) I just wasn't feeling it. So it has been languishing in my stash for a couple of years now - every time I looked at it, all I could see was a picnic blanket!

On my Red Linen Washi the bust darts were a little high, as was the bodice base, so I added an inch to the shoulders and this made all the difference. It's a perfect fit now. Since the fabric was so heavy I decided that I would use lining fabric for the pockets, otherwise there would have been far too much bulk there (an area that doesn't need any more bulking out, thank you very much!). Overall I'm pretty happy with the dress, and hopefully it doesn't look too 'picnicy'...

I have a bit of fabric left and I'm hoping there might be enough to make a simple A-Line miniskirt, which I think would be pretty cute. I'm debating whether to buy a pattern or attempt to do a 'rub-off' of a denim skirt I have. I'm leaning towards the rub-off because I can't seem to find a pattern that's exactly what I'm after. We shall see.

OK, now here is my attempt at a fashion bloggers Outfit Shot, don't laugh too much:

Glasses: D&G / Jacket: TXMaxx / Cardi: too old to remember! / Dress: made by me! / Jeggings: Oasis / Boots: Timberland

Oh yes…the freebies will be flying in…any minute now…any minute...

Happy New Year!

A very Happy New Year to you all! A bit late to the party aren't I? Ah well, c'est la vie. Did you have a nice Christmas, filled with lots of delicious over-indulgent food and drink and plenty of sewing related presents I hope? I have to admit I didn't get too many sewing related presents this year, apart from a very lovely red and white spot sewing basket from the in-laws, which I have already put to good use. I'll reveal it's new role soon.

But yes, back to the overindulging. I certainly enjoyed myself far too much over the Christmas period, so I'm cutting back severely now that we are into the new year. I'm not going on a diet per-say, but I am being more careful and selective with what I choose to eat. Why am I telling you this? Because I have decided that I need to take the same approach to my fabric stash!!

I have accumulated a substantial stash (although I have seen far bigger stashes across the net recently - at least I'm not the only one!) over the last few years. I've also developed a bit of an obsessive hobby that involves trawling online fabric shops, imagining vast wardrobes of fabulous me-mades, buying the required fabrics and then folding it up neatly (ish) and never actually getting around to making any of it (although I do get it out from time to time and drape it around me in front of the mirror!)! Anyone have this hobby?! Perhaps it's more of an addiction than a hobby...

I haven't made any New Year Resolutions or even goals this year, but my husband and I would REALLY like to move house this year. So I suppose to aid that, we are consciously cutting our spending. One of the ways I could/should do that is to work through my stash, and not buy any more fabric. Good ol' stash bustin'. So much easier said than done - I caught myself nearly buying a couple of pretty cotton prints today!

I'm not inflicting any rules on myself. I've discovered I don't do well with rules, deadlines etc. My blog is a testament to that. I'm just declaring that I WILL do a wee bit of stash busting this year. I actually don't have any space to store new fabric, so it's practical as well.

I'm off to a decent start, as I have a couple of projects waiting to be blogged that have both been made from the stash. And I've just washed 3 different fabrics that I'm hoping to sew-up, production-line stylie, into skirts. 

I see there a quite a few people also planning on doing a bit of stash busting or dieting this year. Are you? Or have you got some other plans for 2014? Do tell...