Postcard from the Isle of Purbeck

The Isle of Purbeck is a peninsula (not an island) and lies on the southern tip of Dorset. We headed by train and taxi to Swanage, destination the lovely family-friendly campsite at Kirkwood Park. Swanage town - just a 10 minute walk from the campsite - is full of old-fashioned British seaside charm. It has a small sandy beach with fine views across the bay, great fish and chip shops, a choice of amusement arcades and a magnificent working steam railway. 

Daytimes we rode the chuffing, puffing steam train through an Enid Blyton landscape, climbed up to Corfe Castle and took coastal walks along Studland Bay, marvelling at the glory of Old Harry Rocks. By night we wandered through town following the sound of ringing church bells and sat around a campfire toasting marshmallows under star-filled skies.

 

The Good, the Fab and the Snuggly: Stylish Dress Book 2 - Dress D

Design D: Box Dress with Boat Neck from Stylish Dress Book 2 is a contender for my favourite Japanese sewing pattern ever. I like it so much I've made three of these dresses (and counting). It's a simple slightly A-line t-shirt shaped tunic with useful front pockets. The underarm seam is curved and the finished garment is roomy and elegant. When I first saw a picture of it on the book's front cover I wanted to squeal with delight. It's rather Cos but you won't have to wait for one of their sales to afford it (or until next May if you've stopped buying clothes).

The dress takes a couple of hours to make and here it is in three different fabrics. The red one (above) a 'Super Java Print' Hollandis heavy cotton. I hung onto this material after parting with this ukulele tote bag and had enough for a tunic. The bold geometric yellow/blue print (below) is a wax print fine cotton from Worthing's Wednesday market. It's printed slightly off-register and so was reduced to £2 a metre. Intended as a beach cover-up, the finished frock is so spectacular I'll wear it everywhere.

The final blue longer-sleeved fleece version I made to wear when camping. I lengthened the sleeves and cut the neckline higher to keep me warm on a cool summer's evening. It's soft and snuggly and reminds me of a Cornish fisherman's smock.