Excuses....

I haven't shared many finished garments with y'all recently, and I feel the need to explain myself. Firstly, there simply hasn't been much sewing output here of late due to the (quite frankly excessive) heat and humidity. We don't have any air-conditioning in our little flat sub-section, and the direction our two rooms face means by the afternoon (i.e. after work when sewing could potentially commence) it's a bit of a sweat box. The times when I have switched on the sewing machine and iron and got down to business, it has been whilst wearing nothing but my pants!

Secondly, what I have produced I can't really show you. I did finish another of my Summer Essentials pieces, but I'm not sure whether or not I'm going to keep it, so whilst its fate remains undecided, I'd rather not present it for some reason that even I can't really understand.

The other thing that I have been working I also cannot show you, but this time for more sound and logical reasoning. Like several of the sewers whose blogs I like to follow, I also was lucky enough to be asked by Burdastyle to contribute a garment to be included in their forthcoming book. The whole thing has been a bit covert in that we weren't allowed to mention it on our blogs until the official announcement was made. After that, I didn't declare my personal involvement straight away, but then I thought that peops might be interested in the process so far.

From what I understand, the book is going to be a bit like the Built By Wendy books, with actual patterns included and step by step guides on how to stitch them together. Some members of the Burdastyle site have been asked to make variations of the patterns to provide inspiration on how these basic patterns might be adapted, giving sewing infinite options. I was sent two line drawings, one a skirt style and the other a blouse, and asked to create two new designs for each using the original styles as a basis. After I sent them back, I was informed that I would be making one of the skirts. Then they contacted me to say that they'd rather use one of the blouse designs instead as they had too many skirts. I was a little disappointed as I was vibed about making the skirt, and the blouse isn't really something I'd wear but, me da igual, it's an awesome opportunity to have something included so whatevs (is 'whatevs' in the dictionary yet?). So with the pattern printed out and the fabric finally appearing from US, I've been cracking on with the project with a keen eye on the deadline. For the record, the fabrics I've been sent (in particular the colour) are not what I would have chosen, but that's largely my fault for not being more specific when submitting my preference.

It's been very interesting getting a glimpse into the inner workings of how something like this comes about. As I assume with the whole of the publishing industry, the deadlines seem pretty intense. The Burdastyle contact I've been corresponding with seems really nice and incredibly well organised. I guess with about 60 or so members submitting creations, you'd have to be pretty on to it. It'll be very exciting seeing the final book when it is realised in Autumn 2011. So, I'm off to strip down to my pants and get this blouse finished to the best of my sewing ability. May I be excused?