Friday 28 June 2013

Holiday Sewing

I'm sure I'm not the only person who decides, just days before going on holiday, that I REALLY need to sew [insert pattern name of choice] before we go away. Well, that was me a few weeks ago when I decided Tilly's Miette skirt would be the perfect whatever-the-weather skirt to pack for our trip up north. 
'Scuse the wrinkles, I'd been wearing it all day.

Luckily it is a super simple pattern to follow and goes together quite easily between putting on loads of laundry, packing and giving the house a good clean.  

I made the size 2 but ended up having to take in about an inch either side as I have non-existent hips. This was no surprise to me and one of the reasons I have chosen to start sewing all my clothes.


I chose this lightweight denim, which I had in my stash, used some red poplin for the waist facings and top-stitched in red also. I enjoyed doing the fancy stitches on the pocket openings!

Overall I'm pleased with this skirt. The pockets do match, even though it doesn't look like it in that top photo. The only major slip-up I had was the top stitching on the bottom of the pocket, It doesn't meet in the middle. If I hadn't been rushing I would have unpicked it and re-sewn it, but I was so I didn't! 

Oh and it WAS the perfect cool climate holiday skirt. I wore it with tights for cooler days and without on the odd day the sun shone.

And look, no knicker flashing!

Monday 24 June 2013

Error Code 5011

I was supposed to be cutting out my Hummingbird skirt pattern this morning. however, when I went to print it out, the printer was dead :o( I can't believe it, I think it is barely 18mths old, I'm NOT happy.

So  consequently no sewalong for me this morning. This is doubly  annoying since I missed out on last weeks sewalong for the Hummingbird top. I got as far as cutting the pattern out and then a busy week of  normal life stuff, plus a trip (just me and my husband!!) to Coventry to see Bruce followed by a lovely morning in Stratford-Upon-Avon, meant very little sewing got done.

Here's hoping we can get it sorted one way, or another before the Colette Hawthorn Sewalong starts. I have the pattern at the ready and I'm itching to get started.

Sunday 23 June 2013

Grainline's Scout Tee


For the past couple of days I have been working, on and off, on a wearable muslin of the Scout Woven Tee. Thanks to its simplicity it was a joy to sew, because of this I decided it would be a good candidate for my first attempt at French seams. I used Jen's tutorial which was very easy to follow. So nice to make the inside of the garment as neat on the inside as it is on the outside.

As for the finished garment I am pretty pleased with it. I cannot decide if I need to add a little extra width across the shoulders. I'm so used to wearing stretchy fabrics that I think maybe I just need to get used to it being at bit more restrictive. I'll have to wear it a bit (if it ever warms up) and see how it feels over the course of a day.

The fabric wasn't the best choice as it doesn't hang quite right but I have some cotton lawn
or some silk that I have in my stash ready for the next one.Actually, i'm going to save the silk for a third attempt as it scares me a bit.

Apologies for sloppy phone photo. What can I say, I've had this draft written for over a week and I just wanted to get it posted!

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Here I go again....


Having spent the last few years as a home educating mama of two (clearly too busy to keep up with a blog, ahem, moving on...) I suddenly find myself with a bit more spare time on my hands. At least I will come September, when my youngest will be going to school. I have sat through a couple of Me Made Mays and thought I would love to join in, so have set myself a little goal.

I have challenged myself to make as much of my wardrobe as possible over the next year (and beyond if all goes well) so that I have enough to wear by next May.

 I have been sewing for years, but I still very much a beginner when it comes to sewing clothes. It recently occurred to me that if I worked hard to build on the skills I already have, I could actually end up with clothes that fit my style, body AND purse.

 I will post my successes and failures here and hope people might be able to chip in with advice from time to time.