When Edition 34 of Fibremood was announced I considered the options carefully and then chose Marley which can be made either as a sleeveless dress or as a top, which can be dressed up or down. The collar is sewn with a classic collar stand and the top has a relaxed cut. It has a double yoke and bias taped finished armholes and is suitable for a woven.

I had a burrow in the stash and came up with a white table cloth which I had previously dyed a raspberry colour, which I thought would be perfect for the Magamsewalong Jammy June theme. I was so happy with my choices!

The pattern comes in three lengths; cropped, short and dress, and I decided I would make it a shirt length. I managed to forget which line I was cutting to which meant that the front and the back were different lengths. No problems, I’ll just add a section and it can be a design feature. Oh, and it will be fabulous with pockets inserted into the horizontal seam and it will look completely intentional. I duly sewed, pressed and admired and I even took a photo!

The next instruction was to add the yokes to the back, so I went off looking for the back pattern piece, only to find it with pockets beautifully sewn into the back. Well that wouldn’t work.

Unpicking ensued and I finished up with a nice horizontal seam.

I finished off the top and tried it on. I didn’t like the armholes as they seemed quite big so I threaded elastic through to bring them in. Then I took photos. Was it my imagination or was that relaxed fit very relaxed indeed? The top seemed huge, especially at the back. I had made a size M, which is what I normally make for my bust size.

I was going to leave it until the summer, but then decided I wouldn’t want to be modifying it in the summer, so out came the seam ripper again and I unpicked the hem, the side seams and the bias tape around the armscyes.

I removed 4cm at the bust on each side tapering to 6cms at the hips on each side. That was a fair amount and I was nervous about the armholes. I printed off the xs size for just the armholes and laid them on my M pattern pieces and calculated the difference. I added a little bit so the shirt finished up slightly smaller than an xs at the sides. I wasn’t prepared to tackle the collar and the neck, but I actually really like the collar.

It looks so much better.

I made a little sashiko heart for the Sewdoitforheart25 initiative, which promotes awareness of heart health for women.

I sewed it on to the back shoulder.

I chose some fabulous buttons from my stash, engraved mother of pearl tinted in exactly the right colour. I think I bought them in Hong Kong years ago.

I played around with coordinating garments and of course love it with my green Stokx flirt skirt made out of a sheet.

The back horizontal seam can be seen quite clearly here. Together with a stray thread!

I think it looks great with my cream linen Pattern Union Hannah culottes

and brown Fibremood Dasha wide legged trousers, although myt attempt at a French tuck is rather pathetic. The feature photo at the beginning of this post shows the Dasha/ Marley combo too. I am a fan of hot pink and brown, which I think has a ’60s vibe. I remember it well!

I would deem this shirt a success – now. I’m sure I’ll be making another once summer arrives in a few months.

You’ve made it this far and I thought I’d show you Miss G balancing on her dad’s hand.

It was going so well until her little sister wanted a go too. Bench pressing two little ones is quite tough!