Buttons and Bobs

I really like the Izzy Top free pattern from Teri on a blog she called "Climbing the Willow" here . I have learned a lot whilst making four of the tunics though it is a very easy pattern. 1 I learned: The importance of accurate printing. When I measured the 1 inch test square I could see that my printout was measuring slightly less but I carried on just adding a little extra to the width and length. The resulting tunic fitted a 6 month old rather than a two year old.  When I printed via Acrobat Reader from my laptop rather than my Tab the printout was exact. 2 I learned: It is best to find out the makeup of the material. I bought the fabric for my Izzy 2 from a remnant stack in Aberkan Mill, Flintshire. I thought it was cotton. I pre-washed  and dried but then parts of it hardened and shrank when I added iron on Vilene to the bodice. Adding rick rack trimming can cause problems - I practised again and again making button holes and there was no problem. ...