Its been a while

Its been a while…………..  about 8 months! 

I did quite a lot of sewing in the summer but didn’t do any blogging about it, my sewing tailed off in the autumn and then a crazy period of Christmas present sewing resulted in 4 cosmetic/pen cases, glasses case, 2 hot water bottle covers and a Kimono style dressing gown in Liberty cotton lawn.  None of which I took any photos of!!

Another reason the sewing took a backseat was I got my knitting mojo back (its been lost for a very long time) I knitted a chunky sweater, 2 bobble hats and then I discovered knitting socks ! I have made 5 pairs so far!

Knitted  using circular needles,  great for TV knitting. After knitting with super chunky  on large needles, knitting with tiny  circular needles felt a bit like knitting with cocktail sticks.

If you want to try sock knitting, I recommend watching Tina of Simply Stitches on YouTube she uses the Unapologetic Knitter Vanilla Sock pattern which is a free download and converts it very easily to knitting on a circular needle.

But what to do with the left-over yarn? 

My Liberty hexagon quilt has been getting some love recently, I got it out after Christmas, as a sofa sewing project.

I currently have on the sewing table a pinafore dress in grey corduroy.  The pattern is Simplicity 1252 which I have made before

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I am waiting for a zip to arrive in the post but meantime I can’t decide whether to add pockets or not. 

What do you think yes or no to the pockets?

Simple Sew Sienna Dress

Really I should have been finishing 3 roman blinds for my bedroom make over  but I abandoned the boring blinds to sew a summer dress just because I wanted to.

I found a pattern in  my out of control collection, a freebie with Love Sewing magazine, Sienna Dress by Simple Sew

The Sienna Dress is a classic style with a flattering vintage-inspired silhouette. The fully-lined bodice has a gorgeous sweetheart neckline, and the optional short, fluted sleeves give you two styles in one. In-line pockets complete the look.

2m of fabric from the stash a cheerful viscose fruity fabric from Adam Ross, probably a late night purchase!

I didn’t make a toile which is a bit risky with a fitted bodice  but I really just wanted to sew a pretty dress and not faff about with a toile, so  I thought I would risk it, the Simple Sew patterns I have made before I have cut a size 14 with a 12 at the neckline and achieved a good fit.

The bodice front is not cut on the fold but two pieces with a seam up the front, next time I think I would cut the front on the fold and eliminate the centre seam.

The bodice is lined with a fine satin which was left over from the wedding dress I made last year. I also lined the sleeves, which gives a nice clean finish.

I am really happy with this dress, its great for twirling and its got pockets!!

 

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McCalls 7357

McCalls 7357 was a free gift with Love Sewing issue 49 and I thought it would prefect for one of the Seasalt fabrics I bought for half price in the Seasalt sale.

 

Loose fitting pullover tops have neckband self lined yokes, applied tab, side front and side back seams, three-piece sleeves, shaped hemline, and narrow hem. A, B: Stitched hem on sleeves.  B:Front sleeve and side slits.  C: Purchased trim. C,D: Sleeves gathered into binding.  NOTE Separate pattern pieces are include for cup sized A/B, C,D.

I made view C, size 14,   Cup size C.

The front band is closed together with hooks and eyes, I didn’t bother with this and just hand stitched the bands to together, I still need to wear a camisole underneath so I may yet put a few more stitches in.

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A few weeks ago we spent the day at Hidcote Manor Gardens and the reluctant photographer  was forced to take a few shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kwik Sew 4015 View B

After my success with K4015  view A, a quilted jacket here   I though I would give view B a try.

The back of View B is longer than front, is lined with contrast fabric, has patch pockets, hood with drawstring in casing and snap closures.

The showerproof fabric is called April showers and the lining is Oxford shirting fabric both from Fabworks Online.

I decided cut the back the same length as the front, as I was unsure I would like the back being longer than the front.

I found the buttons in my button tin, I think they were originally off a cardigan, and the large press studs I found in my  mums sewing bits which I have inherited.  I used the eyelets that came with my Prym pliers and then discovered that cord for the hood was too thick for the eyelets!  eBay to the rescue, and a long trainer shoelace was ordered and it worked well.

The reluctant photographer was persuaded to take a few photos.

Kwik Sew 4015 View  B

Kwik Sew 4015 View B

Kwik Sew View B

Just need some warmer weather now so I can wear it!

 

 

Molly, Erin and a 1940’s Wrap Dress

I always seem to be lagging behind and this a catch up post from last year, If I made New Year resolutions I  would probably  be posting about them in March!!

I had  never used any Sew Over it patterns until Christmas 2016 when part of my Stitching Santa gift from Corrine (who blogs at  Applebymakes) was the Molly pattern and enough fabric to make the top version, which I had sewn up before the new year!

followed by another…………..

followed by a dress version, I think I may cut this one off to a top length as it will get more wear as a top than a dress.

In the summer I found a free download for Erin Skirt from Simply Sewing, issue 22.  I didn’t have the magazine so no instructions, but its a very simple and self explanatory pattern I have made it twice now.

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I joined the PDF club and bought a couple of patterns (still to be made).   When the 1940’s  Wrap Dress was released it was just what I was looking for, a wrap dress for a woven fabric.

I bought 3 metres of Prussian Blue polka dot crepe fabric from Adam Ross fabrics with a discount code from a sewing magazine and free postage 3 metres  was just under £20 bargain!!

I cut a size 14 with out any alterations or making a muslin/toile which is always a bit of risk but it fits very well.

I love this dress and have worn it quite a lot over Christmas, but don’t have any photos as I never think about taking any when I am out enjoying myself.

I completely understand why SOI patterns are so popular in the sewing world,  I don’t know what took me so long to try one!  Are you a SOI fan?

 

 

Quilted Jacket – Kwik Sew 4015 View A

Another catch up post.

Kwik Sew 4015 is one of those patterns with terrible photos, you really have to look at the line drawing and look past the front of the envelope and use your imagination.

Jackets have long sleeves. A: Stand-up collar, button closures and purchased bias binding.

Double sided quilted fabric is recommend for this jacket, but I couldn’t find any so I settled for 1 sided cotton quilted fabric from Minevra and added a lining from my stash

I originally cut out a large, but it was far too big, so I unpicked it and cut it down to a medium, I always seem to think I am bigger than I am.

I cut out the lining using the same pattern pieces as the jacket except for the collar which is constructed from two pieces of quilted fabric.

There are pockets in the side seams but they seamed to be too far back to be comfortable, so  I added patch pockets to the front and I am so glad I did.

I finished the jacket with  ready made bias binding, 15mm anorak press fasteners, instead of buttons    I treated myself to a Prym Vario pliers kit, although I had difficulty getting the fasteners into the fabric, I had to enlist my husband to use a bit of brut force.

 

I am really pleased with the fit and have worn it a lot with jeans, with skirts to work and here with an unblogged Molly dress.

 

 

Stitching Santa – part 2 (The Reveal)

I kept my #stitchingsanta parcel until late on Christmas day when our guests had left or gone to bed so I could enjoy all its loveliness in peace.

My Santa was  the super talented Margaret who blogs at thecraftycreek.com

my parcel even had a button tag

pretty fabric, lace, ribbon and beads

felt heart, a cute pin cushion

a fat quarter of bee fabric, flower pins and buttons

and a very pretty fabric covered notebook.

Thank you Santa  for the lovely gifts!!

 

Liberty Tana Lawn Pyjamas & Kimono

I made these PJ’s  back in September but never got round blogging about them, I am using these lazy days between Christmas and New year to catch up with my backlog.

Whenever I go to London I always try to visit the Liberty store to admire all the lovely fabrics,  I also love the ladies sleepwear but as the pyjamas in Tana Lawn sell for about £130  they’re a bit out of my price range!  So when I found 3m of Liberty Tana Lawn, Maddock design on ebay for £18  I knew I wanted to use it to make pyjamas and if I could squeeze it in, a matching robe.

For the pyjamas I used Kwik Sew 2811 which I used before here

For the robe I used a free pattern from Love Sewing that I found  by searching the internet for a free robe pattern Floral-oriental-kimono-robe

I shortened the length by about 6 inches as I am only   5’2″ and by happy coincidence was the perfect length to fit on my limited fabric.  All sewn with French seams which with kimono sleeves is easy.  I  remembered to add a hanging loop for hanging on the back of the bedroom door.

Belt loop

Hanging loop

Sleeping in Liberty Tana Lawn is every bit as  luxurious as  I imagined.

 

Stitching Santa 2017 – part 1

Once again this year I joined in with #stitchingsanta very kindly organised by Shelia who blogs  at Sewchet  Being even more unorganised than usual in the run up to Christmas I didn’t get round to blogging about presents I gifted.  My recipient was Nikki, who does lovely embroidery and blogs at Sewingnikki.

 

My parcel contained two large pieces of 18 count Aida, a selection of threads

Three wooden hoops

A little bird needle threader/cutter and vintage style tin

Fat quarter  and some lace

I made a  small project bag, a drawstring bag in Downton Abbey fabrics with a large base, which I hope will be useful.

I hope she received the parcel  and likes the contents!

Simple Sew Amelia Tea Dress & Notch Collar Jacket

When I read that Simple Sew had released the Amelia Tea Dress pattern, it reminded me with all that happened since the wedding,  that I hadn’t blogged about the Amelia dress I made to wear to my son’s wedding , the Amelia dress was a free pattern with Love Sewing way back in issue 28.

After I finished and handed over the wedding dress I only had a couple of weeks to make my own outfit.  I started looking around for a suitable dress  pattern suitable for  small and informal wedding following by a plough man’s picnic in a 16th century Ale House, very much a homemade handcrafted wedding.  So a formal two piece and a large hat would be a bit over the top.  I wanted a Tea Dress and luckily I had just the pattern.

I  made up a muslin with some fabric from my stash and cut out a size 14 straight from the envelope, the fit was pretty good and the only change I made to go down a size on the shoulders and neckline.

Then the question of what fabric to use, well if you follow my blog you will now I love a bit Liberty Tana Lawn, perfect for a Tea Dress.  I wanted to wear Navy shoes and the theme of the wedding was books and the colour red.

 

I searched the internet and found it on e-bay 2.2 meters of Liberty Tana Lawn Kayleigh  Sunshine.

The instructions on Simple Sew patterns can be a bit sparse  and though I don’t really mind too much I do wish when the seam allowance  changes  it is mentioned on the instructions and not just on the paper pattern because if you don’t use a 1cm seam allowance at this point the front won’t align with the back of the dress.

As the weather is always unpredictable in this country I made a navy jacket from another Sew Simple pattern and again another free pattern from Love Sewing magazine .

I used 1m of navy triple crepe from Minerva Crafts.   This was not my best sewing, the crepe seemed to stretch as I manipulated it,  this is an unlined jacket but I always prefer a lined one so I cobbled together a lining at the last minute with lining fabric and bias binding (the binding was part my Stitching Santa gift last year from Corinne who blogs at Applebymakes@wordpress.com –#Stitching Santa thanks Corinne)