FO: Nora tee shirt



Detail of fabric

 Two weeks ago I was having a bad day, nothing major but a more than usually sleepless night, feeling so crappy, squabbling children before school, Little I getting soaked while teeth cleaning and having to change all her clothes just as we were due to leave, then instead of being able to go home and have a rest, I had to be at the doctor's for my routine postnatal check and the baby clinic.  To top off  my bad mood I stepped in some dog poo outside the surgery.  Who takes their dog for a poo right outside a doctors' surgery?  And leaves it there? 
By the time I got home I was fed up. But then my day brightened up as a friend dropped by bearing gifts.  A gift that would brighten any sewer's day I think....a bin bag of old fabrics that her mum was going to throw out.  Dog poo, arguments, sleeplessness were all dissolved. 

Finished top

 The fabrics were mostly manmade and there are some that will make good lining fabric - something I am slack at buying.  There was also this patterned fabric - I am guessing it is a polyester.  It has a slight stretch and a slight sheen to it.  The pattern reminded me of an old friend's art work from when we were students together. 
I set to and over the next week, in little tiny steps, made myself a Nora top.  The pattern is from Ottobre Autumn/Winter 2010.  I made one before so already had the pattern pieces traced and cut out. 

The Nora pattern

I have to confess I sewed this up really quite badly.  I used a zig zag setting on my machine.  There is no high quality finishing - but luckily no fraying with this synthetic fabric.  I omitted the interfacing for the yoke.  I handstitched the hem and the sleeve hems.  This was because I can do handsewing in the car outside school while Rocket Girl naps.  I am not sure how long this top will last.  But right now I am in an awkward place with what to wear, lots of my old tops are a bit too tight in the chest and I don't want to spend lots of time and energy making new tops when I will be changing shape again once I stop feeding Rocket Girl. (I hope)  So this top fills a gap which in turn fits with my sewing plans and aspirations - to make a wardrobe that fits my life and I actually wear.   



You cannot see this season's accessory du jour: baby sick on the left shoulder.




Nora tee over Lumpy Me (hey, I am a poet)

Now you may think I am mad to even attempt sewing with an eight week old baby but it is a kind of therapy and relaxation for me.  I have made a little summary below of some dos and don'ts if you sew with a baby:
DO: choose a pattern you have sewn before, something simple and something already cut out
DON'T: Choose a new pattern which requires a muslin, fitting and thought
DO: Use cheap or old fabric you are not attached to
DO: Keep your sewing machine and equipment in an easy to reach place - for once not having a special craft/sewing room is a bonus as my sewing stuff is in the dining room and I don't have to walk far or make any effort to get it out
DO: Pick a project that can be broken down into ten minute bursts of activity
DON'T: Beat yourself up if it goes wrong, or set yourself any time-related goals
DON'T: Try to be a perfectionist
DO: Enjoy it!