Happy New Year! so, what will 2012 hold?

What a great year 2011 has been - a journey of discovery in my attempt at making some items for my (and my two girls) wardrobes!  I must confess, I still shop for clothes (definitely not good enough yet to home - make everything!) but truly admire the many wonderful bloggers who seem to effortlessly create beautiful, original items for their wardrobes.

The Christmas period has been hectic, the usual last minute shopping (note to self: try and handmake some gifts throughout 2012 to ease the burden of poor choice in the shops and expensive!), cooking, wrapping, visiting family, etc etc... just great though to have time to to spend doing these things.  I've not managed to fit any actual sewing in, although I've managed a few more lines of daughter 2's  aran cardigan (no need to panic yet, it has to be ready by 2nd February!).

What I have done though is blitz my sewing space so that I can start in 2012 with a tidy, organised little sanctuary - it now looks something like this:

I know it's not spring, but I feel so much better now that its clean and tidy!! Does anyone elses' get in as much a mess as mine?

UFO's to tackle in the New Year: (1) Colette's Peony dress - the bodice is done (see pic above) and the skirt is nearly ready to attach.  It's taken a bit longer than I'd hoped as there seemed to be loads of fit issues with this pattern and this is the second attempt at the bodice - but much better now!

(2) a second version of the Market Skirt - I love the green velvet one I did earlier, which I have worn lots with brown flat boots, so wanted one I could wear with my black boots - more to come once I have ordered some curved petersham to finish the waist...

(3) the dreaded Jacket (Built by Wendy) - this is going to take some serious patience so will have to wait till I have a couple of days to dedicate to it...I've also purchased the following pattern from Ebay as it includes extended instructions on how to construct a jacket which I am hoping will help:

Plus I love LOVE version B! May be adding this version to my future wish list (depending how I get on with the above first he he!).

I'm so looking forward to keeping reading all the lovely blogs - soooo inspiring - and so appreciate and am thankful for the lovely comments and help I've had from lovely bloggers

Happy New Year to everyone!

Round up, UFO's and thoughts on a year of sewing and knitting...

What a lovely year it has been! Here in the UK we don't have a 'Thanksgiving day' which I think is a real shame, as it seems to me that it is a great way to head into the holidays and acknowledge all we have to be thankful for!

I've had a wonderful year attempting to create some lovely things (some successful and some less so, but all part of the fun!).  UFO's at the moment are:

(1) the Peony Dress! I had hoped to have this finished, but have had lots of fit issues which I am trying to work through.  Here is a pic of the bodice (second time around, I scrapped the first one!):

The fit is now much better - The under bust darts have both been moved outwards by an inch (!) and the side bust dart raised (thanks to LLadybird for the great tips!).  I've also had to bring the neckline in an inch as well to stop the bodice falling off my shoulders. The skirt is nearly made up so I'm hoping that now I've finished work for the holidays (yes!) I'll have some time to complete this project very soon.

The Built by Wendy jacket is going much slower, probably because I'm not sure what I'm doing he he..., here it is so far!

New Year's resolution may have to be to devote some slow time to learning more about jacket construction and getting this finished, as I love the colours of the fabric and I think that the fit is looking good...

Sewing seems to be something I only enjoy doing in the day time when the light is better...I'm lucky to have a small room (a tad bigger than a broom cupboard, but still!) that I can keep as a sewing room cum store room... but I do feel anti-social leaving hubby sat in the lounge in the evenings and hiding away sewing ... so I think that this is where I've picked up knitting needles to try and create something knitted that I can have in my hands whilst chatting and with the TV on.  Confession time: I have knitted before (although no expert!!!) I did learn when the kids were smaller and I didn't work full time!  Why I ever stopped I do not know, but I can tell you I am loving picking it up again!  The only down (UP?) side is that my two girls have a constant stream of requests! The latest is for my younger daughter who is going on a school trip to Austria in February which comes just after her birthday and she desperately wanted a long aran cardigan - so here is progress so far:

The pattern...

left and right sides (they are the same length, honest! it's my rubbish photography (well it is 7.30 a.m.!)

The back so far! can you see all my working out? There are two patterns, one a four row repeat with two panels of 28 row repeat, so I like to have it written down - if I get interrupted (usually lots!) I can easily pick up again where I left off.  After the back there are just the two sleeves to do and finishing off.  I'm particularly pleased with the pockets on the front as its the first time I've attempted these!  I think I like working to  a deadline (2nd Feb!) as it keeps me focused to finish in time.

Progress on my 20's cardigan is somewhat slower, but as this is more a summer knit, I've plenty of time before I would think of wearing it:

The back is nearly complete (it is knit in one piece) ... I hope to get this finished for summer so that I can wear with a cream vest under...I think it would be great with some 40's style trousers and I'm very much coveting Rosy's 40's style trousers which I think are fantastic ... target for 2012?!

I hope everyone has a fantastic (and not too frantic!) holiday season, I've so enjoyed reading the many blogs out there, which inspired me to keep a record myself, I can't think of a better hobby than sewing and knitting!!!

One last confession though...I am trying to fit something else in - for a long time my jogging shoes lay dormant in the cupboard... but inspired by wanting to be a bit healthier and fitter (and look better in the creations I'm making!) they have been dusted off and for the last week I have been trying to go out every other day for gentle jog - and I love it! Not so much the rain and the wind (which here in the north of England we have had plenty of just lately) but the wonderful glowing feeling afterwards of achieving a goal!

Here's to 2012!

Christmas is coming...

The build up to Christmas seems to have well and truly started! This definately interferes with sewing time, which for me mostly happens on a Sunday morning or afternoon depending on childrens' activities!

 Shopping started at the Twisted Thread Show in Harrogate. Despite a very early start to catch the train at six forty five, a three hour journey on very packed trains, it was fantastic!!! For anyone wanting a one stop show of all things sewing, knitting, crafting etc this is the one!  Here are a couple of photo's (limited, as a lot of the exhibitors didn't want photo's taking of their work):

Isn't this amazing? piped silicone encrusted with jewels, some made into unusual jewellery! So many talented people!!!

Gorgeous knitted samples, framed - I think they look beautiful!

Whils most of the day was spent looking - in amazement - at the hoards of stalls, everything from lots of different sewing machine exhibitors with machines being demonstrated to wool, textiles, beads - soooo much stuff! I did come away with a couple of purchases - Sasha Kagans latest knitting pattern book (but can't show you pictures yet as mum has taken it to have a look through!)  Daughter One has asked if I would knit her a 'Sweet William Jumper' from it, but the kits alone were £95!!! Out of my price reach unfortunately - but hopefully in the New Year there may be sales!  In the meantime, I picked up a vintage Sirdar Aran book as Daughter Two wants a long aran cardigan for up-coming birthday in February! I'll post progress over Xmas when I should have a bit more time.

I've also been trying to make progress on my jacket - the fit seems really pleasing so far, but progress is slow because I don't really know what I'm doing!!! I've made up the lining (I love the color with the colours in the wool - they should brighten up the most miserable of days!) but am stuck on attaching it to the facings - Handmade Jane is absolutely right that the Built by Wendy Jackets is not the book for beginners to give you detail of how-to! Anyway, it should be good to tackle over the Christmas holidays.  So far its looking like this:

At the Show I also picked up some lovely black fabric (sorry content unkown! but feels lovely) which I am making into Colette's Peony Dress - photo's to follow!

Have a great weekend!

Twisted Thread!

Off to spend the day in lovely Harrogate at the Twisted Thread show tomorrow, which promises to be a fantastic sewing, knitting and all things crafting heaven!

Frustrations and lucky finds...

Hello,

I could quite get used to not having to work Fridays! I played truant again today (flexi-time, honest!) to catch up on a bit of housework (excuse) and cut out a toile for my planned jacket - frustration! Here's a couple of pictures so far:

Can you see the massive gaping armholes? The front seems to pull across the bust, but there is a ton of spare fabric across the back!  After much mulling, fiddling and plain old head scratching, I finally decided I actually don't like the pattern - I was looking for something with more shape, princess seams etc and I came round to thinking that no matter how many alterations I made, this wasn't going to be the jacket for me - and I like my fabric too much to risk that!

So, only thing for it was to go shopping and acquire the Built by Wendy Coats and Jackets - I've seen Handmade Jane start a jacket from this book so hopefully I may even be able to pick some tips up!  Whilst out shopping I had to pass our local Barnardo's (charity shop - or thrift shop!) and snapped up this little bargain!

This looks and feels like pure wool - 60 inches wide and there is 3.5 metres of it! I've never heard of Semler of London, but it feels lovely quality wool houndstooth with tones of green grey and taupe! Not sure what it will make yet - any ideas?

See you soon :)

Thank you

Thanks Rosy, you have been more than helpful.  I will omit the front facing and take the lining to the band edge and just interface the band edge.  I'll post progress soon :)

Help!

After a bit of a break where hockey matches and other things have occupied the weekends, I've finally got a day off from work and immediately set to starting a jacket out of a lovely boucle wool with purple satin lining that I have wanted to make for ages.  However, I've not found a pattern I really like, so finally settled for trying to use this basic Prima pattern and try and modify it (hence the Help!):

Having consulted Betty Foster's book "Creating Fashion" page 98 shows how to add a strap front band as so:

The instructions say to cut a band 8cm wide and as long as the centre front (done!), then fold in half and stitch to centre front edge - my question is the jacket pattern has a front facing, do I still need this or does it need any alteration? Do I interface the strap front band?

And I've not started the collar yet!

Any help would be very gratefully received!

it's been a while...

It's been a little while since I last visited my blog, life just seems to slip by...but I have been keeping at it and practising the stitching.  Here are some of the latest additions!

This was taken at my 50th birthday celebration, a great party was had at a gorgeous place called Watermillock which is near Ullswater in the Lake District.  We hired the village hall for a weekend which has a camping field attached - as usual the rain fell and all became rather muddy, which goes some way to explaining the wellington boots on the photo.  The dress was made by me, following a Simplicity retro pattern for a 60' s dress

I had an attempt at making matching shoes, covering a pair of Primark specials with the same fabric as the dress was made out of - a bit harder than I thought! but everyone thought they were fun (looked better on the night with purple tights but don't have a photo :(

Onto the next, this week I have made the olive velvet skit (Simplicity Lisette Market Skirt) which I thought went great until I came to topstich the waistband (not photo'd on purpose as I made a mess!).  I don't know if it was my fabric choice (the velvet is 97% cotton and 3% spandex) which had stretch in it, but when stitching to the twill tape it kept pleating!  After four attempts (any more and I would have had to buy more twill tape!) I left it at a less than perfect stitching as it is covered by a belt in any event!  I do love it though!!! I have put flat brown boots at the top of my shopping list which I think will make a great winter outfit!

And finally, a few more e-bay purchases - would you believe these were a job lot which I got for £4 !!! A great bargain as when the patterns arrived they were all in perfect condition and there were a few that I really, really like and have added to the growing list of things I'd like to make (if only I didn't have to go to work every day....)

These are going to be my first attempt at a pair of trousers, but not for a little while yet as I have a list by daughters want me to make!

See you soon :)

Today was THE day!

...that the other half took me to collect the duplicate me! aka the Lady Valet dressform - simply beautiful! I couldn't wait to get started and use her, so set out to make this lovely blouse:

The pattern is from Simplicity Lisette - didn't look too promising on the envelope, but when I saw this lovely lightweight cotton at £2 per metre (and the blouse only takes 1 metre!) with cream, olive and green colourways, I couldn't resist.  Here is the pattern:

Seeing as the colours in my blouse are definately heading towards an autumn palette, I decided I also liked the look of the skirt at View B (the shorter length) and have purchased this lovely olive coloured stretch cotton for my next project:

PS this is just draped around the beautiful Lady Valet as the skirt will have to wait another day whilst I catch up with the housework tomorrow!

Happy sewing :)

joy oh joy

Been really rushed this last week, so not too much to report in the sewing department - have had a lovely long weekend in the Yorkshire Dales ducking the showers! Still, have managed to get a bit of knitting done and progress on the Twenties wrap cardigan has been made!

Why joy oh joy?  Well,  there is a milestone birthday fast approaching which in itself is not too much to celebrate except that the alpha male in my life is on his laptop ordering my adjustable dressform!!! Cannot wait!

Good sewing day!

Today was a successful day spent at the sewing machine.  I had some colourful cotton with stretch in my stash from a trip to Leeds Market a couple of months ago and which was purchases for a bargain price of just £3 per metre!  This is what I produced:

The pattern was from Prima Magazine:

I did take in the neck and a small amount across the back shoulders, but it could probably do with a bit more! I am a typical english pear, small shoulders but definately curvy bottomed!

Overall I'm really pleased with this and am planning to make a plain navy version for work.

In between the sewing, I'm having a go at knitting a cardigan which is a reprint of a 1920's style from Woman's Weekly magazine:

The picture above includes the start of the back (the cardigan is knit all in one piece), the wool is a cotton 4 ply, colour 'Acorn' - this project may take some time to complete!  I'll post progress as and when.

Friday 19th August 2011

Hello,
Here is my blog to record my ventures into the world of sewing and crafting, after being inspired by wonderful blogs such as HandMadeJane, Gerties and many many more.  I'm very much a beginner, and am trying to improve all the time.  I have some fabulous projects that I want to complete and will record my progress here.

Here are a couple of recent acquisitions:

My favourite is this Vogue pattern from circa 1960's which I hope is going to be my project for my perfect Xmas dress: