As you may know, vintage fabrics are my first love.

But I do occasionally find my head turned by brand new pretty fabrics (especially cheap ones.)

Which was exactly what happened when I was in Australia, on a trip to Spotlight.

I found myself overcome by cheap fabric beguilement. And I bought a few yards of the nicest of Spotlight’s stock, without any specific plans for it.

Recently I have been attempting to master rudimentary dressmaking. And failing, on the frock front at least. My most recent frock project has proven a problem too far. It resides in the “rethink at a future date” pile for now. I have not quite enough enthusiasm to keep going at it.

So I am in need of a new project…

But what to do when both funds and confidence are lacking?

Answer: revisit the Spotlight stash – and the A line skirt pattern that I managed to succeed with at first attempt.

But unfortunately, having no project in mind whilst fabric-buying has created another problem. Not only am I short of confidence, I’m also short of fabric.

I know that might sound ridiculous when I have a cabinet full of the stuff!

What I mean is, there’s just not quite enough of the one I want to use.

Because upside-down apples wouldn’t be any good, would they?

Bah.

The situation calls for some creative thinking and pattern adjustment…

My cunning plan is to add a band of contrast fabric at the hem to cover the shortfall (and a tad more of my legs).

So out comes another bit of Spotlight goodness, for it’s moment in the… well… spotlight!

I’ve drafted the required extra pattern pieces myself. But I’ve decided to run them past my dressmaking guru in class next week, before chopping into the bit of fabric I do have.

Not just because I’ve not quite enough confidence to go it alone.

But also because I’m not quite daft enough to risk wasting any more of my precious stash, vintage or new!