Silhouette Patterns 4000 Swing Dottie Dress

This dress was made in May, a little spot of sunshine in early Winter. Although the week it was made was warm for the time of year and sunny at the little bach we rented over on the West Coast.

Whilst this is the fourth version of this pattern it is the first to make it to the blog as a pattern review. Two were photographed as part of my end of 2019 round-up - one is worn often and the other has left the wardrobe.  Luckily number four is a keeper.

The finished garment

The cut out dress was taken on holiday to be sewn as the colour perfectly coordinated with the other yellow / mustard items in the travel wardrobe. It was sewn on the Sunday and worn on the Monday. A perfect match for the Untouched World Weekend jacket in a colour they called Kowhai with Ernest Wyler Keesha booties in colour sunflower. The Weekend jacket is in my favourite Ecopossum knit, warm and cuddly for early Winter.

This dress had an unsolicited compliment from the farmer's wife we rented the bach from, and generated even more admiration when I said I made it the day before!

Love the "colour pop" picture Google created for me

The finished garment pictures were taken without make-up or shoes. A truly back to nature west coast photo shoot!

The fabric

A lovely bluey grey cotton jersey printed with two inch mustardy yellow dots from Fabric Vision. There is quite a bit of this fabric left over as originally I thought it would become another version of V9243 The Twirling Dress but then I decided I would prefer it as a knee length dress. I am sure you will see it as a top at some point as the dots make me happy. 

The pattern

Silhouette Patterns #4000 Swing Dress is now discontinued and comes with pattern #4009 Morocco's Dress as the under dress.

I have pattern #4009 but never really considered making it. I was curious writing this post to know how my version of #4000 compared. The skirt of #4009 is almost twice the width of #4000 and whilst longer than the original length of #4000 is a couple of inches shorter than my TNT version. Below is a picture of my TNT version of #4000 on top of #4009 for comparison. I am intrigued now and might find a cheap lightweight fabric to make #4009 as a swing dress without the overlay.

The pattern card

All of the pattern alterations are not written on the card because it is a TNT pattern with the original made so long ago (early last year) that until I wrote this blog post I had forgotten all of the changes made to reach this stage.

The ½" forward shoulder adjustment is my standard alteration and the only one I remembered! Will go back to the pattern card and make a note of the length changes.

The pattern alterations

This is one of the few Silhouette Patterns that have caused a bit of head scratching. The reason is the sizing. I make the smallest size (size four) in a D cup which has a finished garment measurement of full bust 36"; waist 36" and hips 44". Normally I make knits in a size 38" with two inches of negative ease at my full bust so the first dress I made was in the size eight. This version was so big I took it apart and re-cut the fabric. The size four Swing dress in a firm knit is just right. When I have made it in an ITY knit I have sewn it with a ⅝" seam allowance (sewn first with a ⅜" seam allowance; then tried on and looked too big; sewn up again chopping off the previous overlocked seam).

I have also had problems with the length. The pattern as printed seems very short more tunic than dress length. My TNT version has been lengthened 10" at centre front and 7¾" at the side seam; centre back was lengthened 7" and 7½" at the side seam.

Other than that I have made my normal ½" forward shoulder adjustment but no sway back adjustment which looking at these photographs I should probably add.

The last change made is more to do with a sewing preference as I cut out the dart to mimic a french dart otherwise there is too much dart fabric sewn in at the side seam.

The sewing

A very easy sew whipped up on the overlocker using four threads. Took me longer to find the right colour grey thread in the little fabric store in Westport (Buller Fabric and Fibre) than it did to sew. And yes I took both my overlocker and sewing machine on holiday with me - well we did travel by car. Even I'm not brave enough to suggest I take both on holiday if we fly.

My order of sewing is to sew the darts first from the tip down to the side seam, then the right shoulder. Whilst the left shoulder is unsewn I attach the neckband then sew the left shoulder seam. The sleeves are attached in the flat and the side seams sewn. All seams are pressed to one side (to the back generally or down in the case of the bust dart) before the next seam is sewn over it.

For the hems I turn up the hem and press it in place whilst the fabric is flat, as it is easier to iron at that stage (I don't sew the side seams with the hems turned up). Once the side seams are sewn and pressed it is easy to fold the hem in place using the previously ironed crease and sew it down. The hems for this dress were sewn with a straight stitch on my old faithful Singer 221 Featherweight.

To make this basic dress a bit more interesting I did the Katherine Tilton twisted neckband as demonstrated on the Craftsy Artful t-shirt class. The twisted neckband requires a fabric where either side can be visible and whilst the dots are only printed on one side I didn't think that mattered for the neckband.

A 2½" strip of fabric folded in half was used for the neckband. The finished width is ¾" so the seam allowance was removed from the dress neckline before the neckband was attached. I sew the band to the neckline with a ½" seam allowance (the overlocker chops off ¼"). I mark two points (with a pin) on the front and one on the back neckline for where I want the twist to occur. I started sewing from the left shoulder down the front neck edge with right sides of the neckband fabric together, as I came close to the pin the fabric was twisted so wrong sides of the neckband fabric were together and sewn in place. The closer to the twist you hold both sides of the fabric together the tighter the twist will look. At the next pin the fabric is turned right sides together again and at the last pin it is turned wrong sides together.

Close-up shot of KT's Twisted Neckband

It is a bit persnickety to attach and get the twists sewn in but it gives an interesting finished neckband that is worth the effort.

The swinging winter red dress

This version of SP4000 was the first version sewn - sometime last year, ages before the Dottie dress. It was never blogged, partly because it took a while to become a finished garment. I thought it was so unlikely to become a wearable dress that I purchased more of the fabric to make something else. 

For this first version of I lengthened the dress the same amount at all seams which when worn the hem curved upwards very noticeably at centre front. This also started off as the size 8 and looked so baggy on. The fabric saved this dress as rather than going straight in the bin it sat on the sewing table for some months awaiting inspiration. Eventually having sorted out my starting size I only had the length problem to deal with. I decided to just shorten it to a long tunic length for wearing with leggings. At home it can be worn as a dress but it's a bit short for me to feel comfortable wearing it in public as a dress.

I loved this fabric and was only brave enough to fix the problem with scissors after I managed to buy some more. This version hasn't been worn very much and may eventually be sent to the charity shop and the dress made again (properly).

Another clue that it was sewn and photographed some time ago is I am actually dressed up complete with make-up. Post pandemic wave one getting all dressed up with nowhere to go is a rare event. 

Dreaming of travel - Stitcher's Guild Sunset SWAP

Once I caught up with the Stitcher's Guild SWAP 2020 rules late last year I began playing with a plan of my own. The ideas were all over the place and whilst I had an inspiration photograph and fabrics to execute it deciding on which patterns to sew with which fabric was elusive. The other fly in the ointment was that in the first half of this year whilst I made ten garments they were chosen based on ease of sewing rather than my SWAP plan. So all in all, despite being very enthusiastic about this years rules, it was a very feeble attempt at participating

The SWAP rules

The Stitcher's Guild SWAP 2020 rules were simple and very achievable. You had to make eleven pieces, in two groups:

• nine or ten that may coordinate (be worn together) to form outfits
• one (if you make ten) or two (if you make nine) that MUST coordinate with all of the others
• no required garments
• no required colours
• one garment could be knitted, crocheted, or handwoven
• one garment may have been sewn before the SWAP rules were announced on 29 October 2019 plus one RTW garment (or two pre-sewn garments)
• one garment may be included that was sewn after the rules were announced but before SWAP officially started on December 26
• one garment to include a technique that stretches your skill set and is something you have been wanting to learn
• all garments to be finished by 30 April 2020 (later revised to 30 June 2020)

There were supposed to be two overseas trips this year one back to England to visit family and the other a creative sewing trip to the Design Outside the Lines retreat in Ashland Oregon then on to the International Quilt Festival in Houston. As usually happens with thoughts of travel for me I wanted to sew some new clothes for the travel wardrobe. Then as travel fell off the list of things you could do and 2020 became the year of staying at home sewing to a plan became elusive.

The SWAP intentions

There were many ideas for inspiration with Diary of a Sewing Fanatic back in mid March posting about a Chico's advert for twelve pieces to make twenty-four outfits and Fit 2 Stitch series 700 being about making nine garments for a complete wardrobe. The potential fabrics were even curated into a plastic tub so the ideas could ferment.

However, nothing could compensate for the lack of focused sewing and the SWAP remains a work in progress.

My eleven piece Sunset SWAP wardrobe

My plan was for five tops, two dresses, two pairs of trousers, a jacket and a coat. Both the jacket and the coat went with everything. The Centre for Pattern Design Smaller dress was the garment to stretch my skill set, as it was based on subtraction cutting a technique I had been wanting to try for some time. My Morse Dot Sun top was the item sewn before the rules were announced (finished way back in 2017) and I included the Untouched World Weekend jacket as my ready to wear item. Not required by the rules but all of the tops would go with either pair of trousers.

I managed to make four versions of the Katherine Tilton V8710 top and the Swing dress #4000 from Silhouette Patterns before 30 June; with the Megan Nielsen Flint trousers made at the beginning of July.  Three of the garments remain unmade.

The SWAP mini travel wardrobe

The Sunset SWAP, with a few additions, did however become a mini travel wardrobe.

So what did I take besides the four finished tops?

Top row: This is the ready to wear section! Moochi black Puffed coat; Untouched World Ecopossum Weekend jacket in colourway Kowhai; Untouched World black Pure Skinny jean; and Andrea Moore black Boyfriend jean

Second row: V9243 Twirling Rebecca Taylor dress; Sew Different Sheer Fly Birdie Fly top; Silhouette Patterns #4000 Swing Dottie dress; and B6232 Morse Dot Sun top

Third row: Four Katherine Tilton V8710 tops - Busy City; Dreams of Summer; Fall Blues; and Little Mustard Stripe

Bottom row: The accessories - Uashmama dark grey Mini Bag; Ernest Wyler Keesha boots in Sunflower; and Ivy Lee Courtney flats in Yellow Faux Python

Outfits of the day

A miracle occurred and I managed to take an outfit of the day picture every day we were away.

Okari Lagoon

X marks the spot!

By the end of May we were quite keen to take our postponed Easter break and just laze by the sea. As this trip was about relaxation rather than frenetic sight seeing (and we drove to our destination) I took my overlocker as well as the Singer Featherweight. Both of which were used. This was my opportunity to make the Silhouette Patterns Swing Dottie dress (and then wear it), as well as finish Silhouette Patterns Lana's wine metallic linen jeans started in Easter 2019 whilst we were away in Northland. It seemed appropriate to take them with me to finish sewing them on our Easter 2020 trip even though it was postponed until May.

Our most strenuous activity was walking on the beach and talking pictures of the view.

View from the bach

Ripples on the lagoon

Sunset over the water

The birds

Quilt at the bach of the local wildlife

and here is the Google movie

Vogue 8710 a versatile Katherine Tilton top

In a search for the perfect top pattern to use with a wonderful Liberty of London jersey knit I rediscovered a Katherine Tilton pattern Vogue 8710. Like many of my Tilton sister's patterns it had never been used. I seem to admire the style lines buy the pattern and store it as a collectors item rather than using it. Don't know why because I usually love the finished garments made from their patterns.

Once it was rediscovered I proceeded to make view B four times, only the second top pattern I have sewn since Christmas. Other top patterns have been selected and the fabric cut out but they haven't made it to the sewing machine. I normally loathe the cutting out stage and can't wait to sew. This year however garments have been cut out and no sewing has followed. There are currently about ten to be sewn items sitting on my sewing table.

The finished garment

All four of these tops have been on constant rotation since they were sewn. Even though it is Winter now I am still wearing them with the addition of a woolly layer.

V8710 KT Dreams of Summer top

V8710 KT Dreams of Summer top

V8710 KT Little Mustard Stripe top

V8710 KT Fall Blues top (never to be worn again with these trousers)

V8710 KT Busy City Top

The fabric

The journey started with a wonderful Liberty of London jersey (94% modal and 6% elastane, 160gsm) called Dreams of Summer and sadly sold out. It was pretty expensive so I only bought one metre (137cm wide). My first plan had been to combine it with a plain mustard jersey knit but as luck would have it there was enough fabric for Vogue 8710 in size small.

The second version made from the mustard stripe knit fabric (95% cotton and 5% spandex, 190gsm) was chosen because I wanted to emphasise the little cut out by placing the stripes vertical with the rest of the garment having them horizontal like the top on the pattern envelope.  This fabric is extremely wide (175cm) and was bought from Fabric Vision here in Christchurch but is available online from Miss Maude (Torpedo Little Stripe Jersey Knit). There will be more versions of this top as I bought the same fabric in two other colourways duck egg blue and blush pink.

Then followed Fall Blues a brushed ITY knit from Silhouette Patterns. This is a light weight fabric originally intended for Vogue 9243 the Twirling dress. I made the mistake of cutting the fabric for the dress double layered creating a hideous pattern join at both the centre front and back seam. It looked so bad that I only sewed the centre front and back seam before throwing it in the bin. The positive side to this was using the left over fabric for V8710.

Finally I used the off-cuts from another dress Giorgio's Busy City Dress made using Silhouette Patterns 312 Giorgio's Top lengthened to the knee. The remains of the Busy City French digital print viscose knit 130gsm also from Silhouette Patterns was intended to be combined with other left-overs for a different Katherine Tilton pattern B6492. As soon as I saw how much fabric remained it inevitably became V8710. Maybe the scraps could be combined with two or three other fabrics to become B6492. I do want to get better at using up the fabric remnants rather than just storing them. If I continue to sew in themes combining the left over fabrics should be easier.

The pattern

The pattern includes two tops. I was attracted to View B for the little cut out piece and if you make it with short sleeves it fits on less than a metre of 137cm wide fabric. View B is described as a semi-fitted pullover top with top stitching details, forward shoulder, mostly cut on crosswise grain, bound neck edge, long sleeves, and stitched hems.

The pattern card

Back in March 2020 Grainline Studio wrote a getting organised blog post about pattern cards they specifically designed for home sewers.  Pattern cards are used in the garment industry to accompany a pattern around the sewing facility giving the people working with it the information they need to correctly cut and sew the garment. For me the value is in having notes about what pattern adjustments I made, the pattern pieces and fabric used, my measurements when the garment was sewn and the pattern size cut.

I downloaded the pattern card and have been trying to remember to fill it out as I alter the pattern and cut out the fabric. Not entirely convinced of the value of having one for each garment sewn from a pattern, when they are sewn in quick succession like these, as opposed to one per pattern or one each time the pattern is altered.

Storing them is a challenge I haven't quite conquered yet, as I don't keep my patterns on pattern hangers and even reduced to A5 size they are too big to be inserted into many pattern envelopes.

The pattern alterations

As this is a Vogue pattern it has ⅝" seam allowances. I chose to use the size small sewn with ⅜" seam allowances which increased the circumference from 35½ to 37½". This provided me with 2" of negative ease (the right amount for me).

The bust point was lowered by adding a 1½" strip above the bust point in the front pattern piece. For the side front piece I cut across to the side seam and created a wedge 1½" larger where it joined the front pattern piece and nothing at the side seam. I made the alteration in this way to increase the depth for a 1½" FBA.  For the fourth version (the Busy City top) I increased the FBA by an extra 1" as I was still getting a little fold of fabric at the bust which can be seen most clearly on the Little Mustard Stripe version. It is a bit hard to see in the before and after photos below due to the print in the Busy City top but in real life the difference can be clearly seen (if you sew and are attuned to these things).

The difference in the pattern pieces after the total 2½" FBA change can be seen in the photo below.

Pattern piece 8 (at left) is the side front; fitting into the curve on the left of pattern piece 6 Front

Rather than use the long sleeve intended for view B I altered the armhole to match my preferred sleeve from Silhouette Patterns 195 sweater set and used the short sleeve length.

Writing this blog post highlighted a small faux pas. Reading the pattern envelope and the notes on the pattern card identified I made a forward shoulder adjustment when one was already incorporated into the pattern. This explains why the finished garment sits a bit oddly on the shoulders. However this is preferable to the top always falling backwards strangling me with the neckline as tops without a forward shoulder adjustment do. For the next version of this top I will correct the double forward shoulder by putting my ½" adjustment back on the front pattern piece and removing it from the back.

The sewing

The pattern instructions are good and include some design studio tips. I veered off from the instructions by using the overlocker and not top stitching the seams. Also whilst the neck binding was attached as per the pattern instructions (albeit using the overlocker) I didn't use the neck binding pattern piece cutting a 1½" strip instead. This strip is stretched slightly as it is stitched around the neck to give a nice snug neckline.

The old Singer Featherweight was used for the hemming and stitching the neckband in the ditch.

Outfit of the day

These four tops went with me for a week away by the Okari lagoon near Westport on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This was meant to be our Easter break but we weren't allowed to leave home then so it was deferred until late May.

V8710 KT Fall Blues top: Andrea Moore Boyfriend jeans; Ivy Lee Courtney Yellow Faux Python flats
V8710 KT Dreams of Summer top; Andrea Moore True Love orange pant; Birkenstock Arizona Metallic Silver sandals
Untouched World Ecopossum Weekend Kowhai jacket; V8710 KT Busy City top; Andrea Moore Boyfriend jeans; Ernest Wyler Keesha Sunflower bootie
V8710 KT Little Mustard Stripe top; Andrea Moore Boyfriend jeans; Face & Cie glasses

On the way home we stopped at the Maruia Falls. This waterfall was created by the 1929 Murchison earthquake which triggered a landslide in the Maruia Valley diverting the course of the Maruia River westwards and forcing it to cut a new channel over an old river bank. Once the river had eroded the gravel, the bank became the Maruia Falls. Immediately after the earthquake, the falls were only about a metre high, but after a year, the drop was 5 metres, by the early 2000s it was 10 metres.

Moochi Puffed Coat; V8710 KT Dreams of Summer top; Andrea Moore Cropped Boyfriend jeans; Ernest Wyler Keesha Sunflower bootie

This outfit was worn to breakfast and for my first haircut in eleven weeks. When I arrived home I took a selfie in the sewing room to record the moment! All of the other pictures in this post were taken at various points during this eleven week period. Is this proof I don't need a haircut every six weeks?

Untouched World Ecopossum Weekend Kowhai jacket; V8710 KT Little Mustard Stripe top; Andrea Moore Boyfriend jeans; Ernest Wyler Keesha Sunflower bootie

Vogue 9243 Twirling Rebecca Taylor Dress

I impulsively purchased a linen top in what to me is a pale orange colour (they call it vanilla), that has an extreme high low hem. The high is so high it makes it a cropped top but I envisaged it being worn over the orange dress in my imaginary orange summer wardrobe. I wanted to use Vogue 9243 for my orange dress but then I bought a sleeveless knit dress for a work event (no time to make anything) which left me pondering an alternative fabric - enter this lovely Rebecca Taylor ponte like knit.

The orange wardrobe may become a Stitcher's Guild SWAP 2020, a yearly wardrobe sewing contest to sew eleven garments that all work together. This year the rules are extremely permissive which is what tempts me but I'm not very motivated by deadlines in my sewing life. SWAP sewing happens over a four month period, beginning during my Christmas holiday so eleven garments should be extremely doable. All I need to do is commit!!

The finished garment

This dress is fantabulous for twirling, as well as feeling lovely and swishy when you walk. For the twirling action shots a large area of garden was needed and I wasn't entirely steady on my feet but it was fun.

Excuse the closed eyes the sun was blinding (but the best light for photographs)

The fabric

The Rebecca Taylor cotton poly knit has a lovely brushed back that makes it snuggly to wear but on the downside not suitable for a really hot summer's day. The fabric came from Silhouette Patterns and was bought to be paired with some leather (also from Silhouette Patterns) to make a trench like coat. The leather is more of a black brown colour than I anticipated and the Rebecca Taylor knit was completely the wrong colour so on to plan B...

The pattern

Vogue 9243 is copyrighted 1985 so an oldie but a goodie. A few years before I got back into sewing I had a big clear out of my patterns and most of them went to my local Bernina Sewing Centre. The ones I kept were mostly Vogue Designer patterns as well as a few other Vogue patterns that I felt were classics. This is one of the survivors.

It was a very interesting exercise to look at the pile of patterns and decide which to keep and which to discard especially to find the vast majority of those retained were Vogue. Nowadays I hardly even look at the offerings from the other big four pattern companies.

Discussing the age of the pattern with a colleague and the fact that it had survived a cull she immediately guessed it was a Vogue pattern. What is it about the Vogue patterns that make them keepers?

The dress is described as a semi-fitted and flared pullover dress, below mid-calf or lower calf, has back neck slit with button/loop, low cutaway armholes and side pockets. Narrow hem. Purchased belt.

Suggested fabrics are: Jersey, stable knits, light weight linen, crepe-de-chine and silk likely Jacquard. So for once I followed instructions as the Rebecca Taylor fabric is a very stable knit.

The pattern alterations

I overlaid the V9243 pattern pieces, matching at the waistline, with my TNT knit dress (a Silhouette Patterns combination of #195 Sweater Set and #2010 Yoga Skirt) and used that for the upper part of the dress merging back into V9243 size 10 below the french dart. The shoulder seam width is as per the original V9243, but the neckline was lowered slightly. The pattern was also lengthened 4".

Vogue 9243 compared to the TNT knit dress pattern

Vogue 9243 original pattern compared to the Twirling Rebecca Taylor Dress

This pattern would be fine to use for a woven version but there was too much ease for a knit fabric.

The sewing

Yet another extremely quick sew on the overlocker, apart from the hem and stay stitching around the neckline and armholes. The neckline and armholes were turned under at the stay stitching line and sewn down. As this was a knit the back neck slit with button loop was unnecessary.

I wasn't sure how the pockets would work in this knit so I only added one pocket on the right hand side really just as a place for my handkerchief to go. The pocket has proved quite stable so if the pattern is made again I might go mad and have two pockets.

The orange wardrobe part II

The week's workday wardrobe was planned around black/white and orange. None of these garments featured in my orange summer wardrobe so when I do start sewing that plan I will have no shortage of other clothes to mix in.

Monday to Thursday, left to right: Style Arc Maris Orange silk linen top with WORLD Two Wrongs Trouser Black White Mosaic; Witchery Vivid Coral Detail Swing Knit Dress; Witchery Vivid Coral Rib Elbow Sleeve Knit Top with same WORLD trousers as Monday; V9243 Twirling RT dress with Minx C Reed Clothing Vanilla Short Angel Wings linen top; all week I wore the Ulysses Horizontal Hold trench coat with an orange bucket bag, CODA orange paper brooch and United Nude Solid Fold mono shoes

The Witchery Vivd Coral Detail Swing knit dress was purchased for a work event after I spied it in the Witchery shop at Wellington airport. It looked fabulous paired with my blue jacket, CODA orange paper brooch and Vic Matiē Theo navy shoes. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it, the closest I got was an outfit earlier in the same week, with a carefully staged selfie in the bathroom at work!

A Mini Travel Wardrobe for Akaroa in the Spring

I have been a bad blogger recently finding myself indulging in more dream sewing and blogging than the real thing. Just to top it off Blogger is being a very selective friend. Does it have feelings? Have I offended it with my inattention? Why does it not publish my post (when I finally write one)? Or tell me when I have comments? These are the big burning questions of the universe - oh alright stupid first world technology glitches which if I don't stress will miraculously cure themselves so onto the real point of this little missive.

Normally my beloved is responsible for travel arrangements when we are together but as it was a surprise for him the organising of this trip was all mine. And I managed to do a good job even if I do say so myself. There was a little hiccup to begin with due to a small double booking glitch which was sorted by a change in location and bach. A bach (pronounced 'batch') is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house in New Zealand.

As this was a short trip away I didn't want to spend most of that time travelling so we drove over the hill to Akaroa. Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for 'long harbour' which would be spelled 'whangaroa' in standard te reo (Māori).

The travel wardrobe

Despite only being away for two nights I took two pairs of trousers just in case. Nothing worse than slopping your dinner over yourself and having no spare clothes to change into. In reality this many garments would have been fine for a longer trip away. At least between us we only needed my Hedgren duffle bag. We took way more food (and alcohol) than clothes.

Top: Untouched World Zip Through Parker; World SS16 Napoleon jacket; Camper Twins Luis Gordillo Sneakers

Middle: Untouched World Zephyr Ecopossum Coat Cardi; Untouched World Pure Skinny Indigo jeans; Papercut Peter and the Wolf Coloured Mote jeans
Bottom: World SS17 Slang T; Silhouette Marie's Nicholas James Sweater; Style Arc Rosie Alice top

The holiday bach

I managed to find a really wonderful place to stay, a little way out from the centre of Akaroa, set in extensive grounds with access to the sea, and what appeared to be a great garden for meandering. Due to the inclement weather we didn't take advantage of the outside spaces but we did greatly enjoy the log burner and the plentiful supply of logs.

We had a large open plan space with a fully equipped kitchen at one end and the bed at the other. Just the weekend for that wall of books!

The view from the deck was stunning, across Akaroa harbour to Tikao Bay and Wainui. In the evening we could watch the car and house lights shimmering across the water.

The garden

Out and about on Banks Peninsula

First stop after a leisurely morning doing nothing and a lunch of leftovers from Friday night's antipasto tea we drove into Akaroa for a small taste of the Frenchfest. Crowds were minimal probably because of the wet weather and our late start.

And at the other end of town...

Yay the sun came out. Briefly.

Up the hill to Ōnuku Marae, close by the waters edge.

On the way back down Onuku Road I took this panorama of Akaroa harbour and an OOTD picture with the sheep.

On Sunday we drove home with a slight detour to Tikao Bay and Wainui to see Akaroa from across the water.

Duvauchelle Bay with its colourful boatsheds

Petit Carenage Bay

Tikao Bay, complete with boating club and wooden fisherman, looking across the harbour to Akaroa

On the windy road ever upwards out of Wainui looking back down Akaroa harbour and up toward the harbour entrance. The OOTD picture is missing the sheep as they all ran away.

And finally...

The Silhouette Patterns Marie's Nicholas James Sweater has never been blogged even though it accompanied me to Houston in 2018 and is a firm wardrobe favourite.

Marie's Nicholas James Sweater posing in the foyer at the Doubletree Downtown Houston

It was made using a wonderful Liberty of London Dufour jersey purchased from Miss Maude. I really wish Liberty would produce jersey knits again, it is a great substrate for their wonderful prints, 100% cotton and so comfortable to wear.

Liberty of London Dufour jersey, design Nicolas James in colourway coral

For this top I wanted more of a swing shape at the bottom so I combined Silhouette Patterns #195 Sweater Set with #310 Marie's Top. The French dart in this top is a bit odd as it finishes in the hem. I will fix this next time I make the top. Otherwise the pattern mash up was very successful. I intend to make another version of this top and will write a proper blog post about it when I do.