Amanda vs Cynthia Rowley 1873

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I'm sewing today.

I want to make a frock from it-

House print, house print!

That's right party people. It's the return of tiny house print! Many, many months after I found the world's cutest Japanese voile at Spotlight it has been dredged up from the stash... I present THE TINY HOUSES!

Adorable, no?

Considering this frock is actually a wearable muslin I'm rather happy with how it turned out. This was a complete stash buster project. Shocking, I know. I can hear the gasps now- tiny houses are not for stash busting! They are for adorable little summer tops and the like. But, gentle reader, I must admit to being on a stash clearing rampage lately. I picked up a big chunk of fabulous fabric on my trip to the States *cough* needed a new suitcase *cough* and as a result I'm using older bits and bobs to make muslins before I hack into the good stuff. Hence, tiny house muslin. 

So let's talk patterns, shall we? I actually bought Cynthia Rowley 1873 several weeks before I headed over to the States and whilst I was there picked up the most amazing silk to make the cute party dress on the packet. Just like making the epic cape, I am experiencing fabric cutting fear so I thought I'd try this sucker out before I start in on the good stuff. And I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the results. So happy in fact I tried a cancan dance. In the wind. With a poplin skirt. Fail...

What I liked about this pattern:

• The tabs. I've started to realise what works on the ol' bod and for me that is anything that emphasises my waist. Cute as a button tabs with cute buttons on them? I call that an Amanda win!
• The fact I went a size down straight away and worked from there. This may appear a small accomplishment for some but my history of taking the measurements on the packet as gospel has finally been broken. I remembered to look at he finished garment measurements and went from there. Yay, tiny brain!
• The pleats. I wasn't 100% sold on them but I quite like them. More pleats, please!
• The neat finish inside. I totes learned to slipstitch! And the scary bit- it looks good finished AND I really enjoyed it. Weird, huh?

What I will change for the fancy version:

• Take in fabric on the back centre seam. It's a wee bit gape-y for my lovely lady shoulders.
• Fit the neckline a bit better. It doesn't sit quite flat and I feel like it gapes a bit at the front. I'm going to do some googling here and see if I can work out how to attack this.
• Finish the inside properly. I was slack on this and didn't even change the overlocker threads. I'm going to be all fancy like next time, I swear!
• Get the right size self-covered buttons next time. You don't want to rush these things.

What's that? More muslin in my stash needs busting? Up, up and away!