libra knits and sews: Olympia

I've just had a fabulous day out at Kew Gardens - the weather was beautiful, proper summer heat and sunshine and the place was blissfully uncrowded. I discovered parts of the garden which I've never seen before - and I've visited on and off since childhood. I must have walked miles!

More about Kew in a bit, first the Paper Roses part. I wore a Cambie dress which I made this summer - my second. I bought the fabric, a Liberty Tana lawn called Paper Roses, from Fabrics Galore at the Stitching Show at Olympia in March this year. I went to the show with my sister and we had a thoroughly enjoyable time there. This is the first time I've sewn with Tana lawn (I think, I don't remember sewing with it when I was younger, although I do remember my mother making us dresses from it when we were little) and I'm smitten. It is a delight to sew with and a delight to wear. There will be more in my sewing future!

Paper Roses A-line Cambie

I made the A-line skirt version and it took about 1.5 metres of fabric, so pretty economical. I cut a size smaller than the first one I made last year, which didn't fit particularly well and which I have since unpicked to recut and resew. I also moved the shoulder straps in by half an inch towards the centre front.

I love the fact that the fabric has scissors in with the roses - makes me smile!

Liberty Tana lawn Paper Roses (and scissors)

And now back to Kew...

This is outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse - yes cacti outside in September.

Outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse

Inside the palm house - I made the mistake of walking up the spiral stairs to the walkway which goes around the top of the glasshouse - won't do that again unless it's winter, it was really hot up there!

Inside the palm house

One of ten statues outside the palm house - this is the Unicorn of Scotland and photographing this particular one seemed apt since today the people of Scotland are voting on independence.