Merchant & Mills The Top #64

For Christmas a couple of years back my daughter bought me this Merchant & Mills pattern, in the past when I have bought their patterns online they have arrived in a cardboard tube and the pattern pieces are made of card, you can read of my previous M & M patterns here http://finelinenandpurple.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Merchant+%26+mills

The designs are beautiful and their shop and website sell fantastic fabrics and haberdashery items. 

For Mother's Day my daughter gave me a voucher for Cloth House, a really quaint fabric shop in London, where I bought this spotty Indian fabric to make the top. 

I know I have made a mistake around the neck as my interfacing was too short so I added a bit in and although the neck is wider than it should be, it looks ok and I'm really pleased with the result. 

Next time I will buy some thicker fabric and make a shirt for the winter, hopefully I will get it right then!

 I have found a really helpful blog on www.raystitch.co.uk they have made this same pattern and have written a review on it and now I know I have to figure out the sleeve part of the pattern correctly to get the neck right :)

                    

Cushions

Yesterday I managed to make 10 cushions for Christmas gifts. I have over time bought sample fabrics from curtain/upholstery shops, I then bought some cushion pads. I don't like inserting zips and I find using Velcro a little fiddly so I wasn't sure how to make the closures for the covers, I came across this idea in a magazine and used the buttons and ribbon that I bought in the Cloth House in London. I am really pleased with how they turned out and think I may keep some for using on our Ercol Daybed when it is finished. Of course this means that I shall have to make more for Christmas!

Cloth House....via the macaroon shop

On Friday we went into London to meet up with our sons for lunch. I wanted to call in the Cloth House which is a fabric shop near Carnaby Street, they have lots if interesting fabrics. I bought some velvet ribbon, some vintage buttons and a little bundle of fabric off cuts. I am planning on making some cushions for Christmas gifts and will use the ribbon and buttons on them. We went via a lovely tea shop called Yauatcha which sells these beautiful cakes and macaroons. I have never been inside but have tasted the macaroons when our son in law bought a box for our daughter.