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Vaahtokarkki blouse and dress


It looks like I finished this up just in time for Miss M to enjoy today's beautiful spring weather!  I joined Sandra at Sugar Cubes and Spice Cake for a sew-a-long (although I fell behind working on a quilt for the kids' room instead).  The sew-a-long was helpful and loads of fun! I really enjoy seeing other people's execution of the same pattern.



Being the overachiever that I am, I decided to do two simultaneously. Hubby picked out the butterfly fabric from my stash (I purchased it at Tall Mouse when Miss M was less than a year old!).  The yellow gingham was a high thread-count men's shirt. I had to do some creative cutting to get all the pieces cut out.  I'll tell you a secret: the underside of the collar is pieced together since I couldn't quite fit everything!



The pattern is from Ottobre 1/2010, #15.  I made the yellow one exactly as directed, and the only things I changed on the other one was lengthening it to just below the knee and leaving off the frill.



To be perfectly honest, the sew along came at a difficult personal time. My younger brother was admitted to the hospital for the third time in a year. He is suffering from pancreatitis due to chronic alcoholism. He was in the hospital a week going through alcohol withdrawal. All the while, I suffered midgrade depression resulting in part from feeling of helplessness and fear for his well-being. I'm glad I agreed to participate in the sew along because I needed that focus and something to do with my hands.  It was quite therapeutic!
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  1. cindyMarch 18, 2011 at 1:01 AM

    The dress and shirt turned out great! I really like the yellow gingham, it's perfect for spring.
    I'm sorry about your brother. It's hard to be in a situation like that knowing you can't do anything to correct it, other than be supportive.

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  2. Naptime SeamstressMarch 18, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    Very nice! I like the idea of lengthening the shirt into a dress. And pancreatitis - my youngest had that (along with her E. coli and HUS stuff) - definitely NOT fun.

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  3. SandraMarch 18, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Wow! Look how great they look :). I'm so sorry to hear about your brother, but I completely understand about having something to occupy your mind. I tend to sew more when I'm feeling a little bit stressed about work.

    I'm so happy you joined the sew-along!

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