The Map Top as seen on GBSB

Hey hey,

There's been a short break in scheduling recently, due to epic work times. Last week we had a lot of work-related visitors, and above all the organisation, we also took them out for dinners two nights in a row so by the end of last week I was pretty wiped out.

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments regarding my PGP. It is much better now, I just have to remember not to overdo it and ya know... make a shelf or anything. Which I may have done on Sunday... 'cause I'm a fool. Totally worth it for happy flowers in the yard though. With regards the PGP, I would highly recommend getting to a physio as soon as possible, it has really helped me.

So in sewing news! I've been promising for ages a blog post about the top that I wore for the first episode of GBSB. I actually got these pictures in Whitby when me and Mr T went over at Easter but again... life is hectic blah blah boring boring. Pretty pictures!

I actually made this top the night before my GBSB audition, I wanted something exciting to wear for it, and to try and prove to myself I could sew something quickly. I was still sewing well into the wee hours so I don't think the speedy sewing thing really paid off, but otherwise this was a total success!

The top is made from the Sorbetto free pattern from Colette patterns. This is a simple tank top shape, with bias bound hems and an outward facing pleat design down the front. However, as you can see on my version I messed with this pleat a little. I like to have lots of room around my hip/ belly area, so instead of stitching down the entire pleat I inverted it, and left the lower half unstitched and pleated. This has become very useful during the expanding belly bump phase as I still have room for me!

So how did I actually do this? Basically I pinned the two sides together according to the design lines, up to where I thought the pleat should finish. However, I folded the excess material to the inside rather than on the outside. 

I then tried it on (trying not to jab myself in the boob with a pin), and adjusted the pleat so that it finished just under my bust. 

I then stitched to this line, making sure to double back over my stitches so that they wouldn't come undone at the bottom of the pleat. Et voila! One open pleated Sorbetto, the rest of the construction is very simple, just adding the bias binding to edges. 

It' a great top for comfy weekend wear, and I will be taking it away to Croatia next week for my holidays! I'm so excited, I'm going to lie down, fall asleep, bake myself and Spud in the sun (and occasional rain) read masses of books and plan things I probably won't ever have time to do. It's gonna be flipping brill. Have a great week guys X

GBSB Episode One: Pigs, Parks and Grimacing

Sooo did you watch the Bee last night? It was very strange seeing myself on the telly. I watched it with my Nanna and Grangy, Grandma and Grandad, my parents and the in-laws. It was really nice! I'd had an absolutely manic day at work with a huge event that I'd organised, so was shattered, and filled with nervous energy (and mum-made Chilli). I loved watching the show, and seeing what the other sewers were up to, I tended to speak to those people closest to me when in challenge mode as I was much too frantic to 'work the room'. I'm probably going to have to watch it again though as I was far too busy giving everyone the inside scoop than watching the show.

Love Claudia's eye make-up fringe combo - I reckon she'd rock the Cleopatra look

I was wondering how my accent would sound on the TV, but it turns out I had my 'phone voice' on so instead of sounding like my Nan, I sounded like I was auditioning to be a 1950s air hostess.

Me and Terence 'casually' walking around a Levenshulme park, as ya do.... apparently dressed entirely in blue that day.

I loved seeing everyone's back stories! I feel like this is different from last years series, didn't they concentrate on one person per episode last year? I like this way better though, as we get a little bit of an insight into my pals as we go along.

I was so sad to see Annie go! I didn't even notice her taking a lie down on the day! But I know exactly how she felt, I wanted a lie down myself. She was really fun, and we didn't have nearly enough time to get to know her.   However, we've had plenty of time to catch up, and I can safely say Annie is an absolute winner in my book.

I had to include this, what a cracking grimace! I don't think she thought I'd finish those trousers did she?

Lots of you have asked me about the pattern and fabric that I used on the show. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to divulge brands due to it being a BBC show, apologies. However, previous readers of the blog may have seen something similar, and I know that lots of people/ websites have tracked down the fabric used. Check out #GBSB on twitter for some hints and tips.

I'll be tweeting and chatting throughout the show again next week, I hope I'll see you there. Thank you again to everyone for your support and dress love! You've all been amazing :-)

Deborah