kiltsnquilts' creations

Nine months!

2011-06-24T19:12:00.002+12:00

That's how long since I last posted.........long enough to to be closer to my 26th Wedding anniversary than my last post which was about my 25th!!! It's slightly shameful and more than a little embarassing....if I have any followers left please accept my apologies.

I have lost count of the projects I have been working on since my last post........but most of them have been of the knitted variety rather than the stitched kind, but that's ok, it's just where I am at right now - and what I am enjoying :-)

I have rediscovered Ravelry and am loving the community there. I have also become addicted to knitting shawls - not traditional shawls or baby shawls, more like triangular scarves I guess. Westknits are some of my favourite designs so far.........here is a link to my Flickr photo's if you fancy taking a peek.

I will try not to leave it another 9 months til I post again ;-)

What a difference 25 years makes :-)

2010-10-19T07:24:00.003+13:00

Doesn't time fly when you are working hard, raising a family, moving half way round the world, having fun? My oh my, don't we look sooooo young! Where did the last 25 years go?!

We are flying to Christchurch on Friday for Labour weekend to celebrate. It will be our first visit to the South Island...can't wait :-)

19 October 1985

2010

Sigh...sewing?

2010-10-06T17:33:00.004+13:00

After reading Carolyn's post today, I left this comment.....

I am surprised - and slightly saddened - to realise that I have got to the stage where the whole process is kind of daunting now! Shocked actually.....as at one time I would have made at least 60-80% of my wardrobe, and have made just about everything from baby to bridal.

After a break of about 4 or 5 years I have now got to the stage where I don't know where to start to get back to what I loved! Sometimes I go into my sewing room....look at my patterns, choose one and match it with fabric...then think about everything I have to do before it becomes a garment, and instead of being excited....I am left feeling overwhelmed :-(

Got to get back to some kind of sewing pleasure again!

It is how I feel right now and I really do want to change that. I used to live, breathe and sleep sewing - particularly making my own clothes. I know things change and we all go through phases, but I would really love to feel excited about sewing my own clothes again.

So, with summer just around the corner I think I will try some skirts first......I have this lovely new Japanese linen that is ideal for this time of year, and a simple pattern that I know works.....so, baby steps :-)

New Niece and finished baby blanket :-)

2010-09-29T08:00:00.002+13:00

My new niece has arrived safe and sound. I was honoured to be at her birth and to be the person to dress her for the very first time :-)

After making great progress on the baby gift for her I had come to a standstill with the borders...but I finally finished it over the weekend. It has been washed and blocked and has turned out beautiful! I love it......and so does my Sister In Law (don't know about the baby yet, haven't really asked her Lol)

I realise it is not a conventional baby blanket....but nor is my SIL! It was knitted in Sirdar Eco Wool which is Undyed Natural Wool and the borders are cast off in red.

Sorry, the photo's aren't great but I will try and link to the pattern online if I can. It is called the 'Stanley blanket' and designed by Julie Bernhardt.

Got to go, late for work - will come back later and try to link this post!

Hamilton here I come.

2010-09-10T19:45:00.002+12:00

Tomorrow I am driving to Hamilton with three friends to visit the Hamilton Craft Fair. We are leaving very early....6.30am early! We want to get there in time for it opening so we can make the most of the day.

I don't have any planned purchases....I will just go with the flow, and the budget of course :-)

The Bead Hold's stand is on my must visit list.....one day I intend to visit the shop in Auckland at some time and do a class there. Their website and customer service is great, but nothing compares to actually being in a shop like that :-)

Latest knitting

2010-08-22T15:45:00.004+12:00

I usually have some knitting on the go, although I don't always think to blog about it! My latest project is a snuggle sack for my new niece or nephew who is due to arrive in about 4 weeks time. I just couldn't resist this beautiful pattern and yarn combination - and doesn't that baby look so cosy? Makes you want to climb in, doesn't it? Although, I would only get one foot in it so not much point really Lol.I am using a 60cm interchangeable needle, I have recently treated myself to some Knit Pro Symfonie Wood needles and I love them. In fact, we have decided to stock them in the shop as we are so in love with them :-) Seems like we aren't the only ones as they are already selling well.

The colour isn't that great in this shot. The pattern instructions have you knit 3 seperate pieces for this item!? A circular base, a rectangle for the main part and then a ribbed top. Then you are told to stitch all the pieces together. Why would you want all those seams in an item like this? And why would you want all that extra work?
It made absolutely no sense to me, so I didn't cast off the base, just increased the 6 extra stitches on my last row and am knitting the main part in the round, then I will only need to increase 1 stitch before doing the rib...........no seams at all!

The yarn is a new one to us in the shop. It is a 4 ply Machine Washable (got to love that!) NZ Merino, Alpaca & Possum (with a small amount of nylon to make it suitable for socks) It is already proving very popular and while knitting with it I can totally see why. Beautiful colours and so lovely to knit with.

The pattern isn't easy to see in this colourway but it gives a lovely feel to the knitting. It is knitted at a slightly loose tension which makes it feel very soft and 'snuggly' :-)

I am also working on another item for the same baby which has been a real labour of love over the past 6 or 7 months, I have had to work on other things in between as I needed small breaks from it. It is almost finished so I will show you once it is blocked - I love it and can't wait to give it to my Brother and SIL as I know they will too.

Crafternoon Tea

2010-07-25T22:23:00.002+12:00

I had a lovely afternoon at the Govett Brewster art gallery for their Crafternoon Tea. It is linked with a new exhibition by Yin Xiuzhen, part of which is this amazing installation of weapons! All of them are covered in knitting. On the floor was what looked like a huge knitted circular mattress - which turned out to be 1'000 scarves wound in a spiral - it was called Unbearable Warmth and is to symbolise the pressure that can come from parents and grandparents, particularly for those children who don't have siblings and carry the expectations and hopes of not only their parents but also their grandparents. Very interesting. I know I wasnt' the only one who wanted to dive on it and lounge around Lol. I am just annoyed that I didn't charge my camera battery in time!

On 15th August there is another event for Guerilla knitting which I plan to attend. It was like being part of a large knitting group.

Another part of the exhibition is the giant scarf they have there that is being worked on by anyone who cares to. It will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to a charity of the artists choice. The scarf has 88 stitches and is being knitted in white, to represent luck and purity.

Back again :-)

2010-07-22T12:08:00.003+12:00

I'm back. No excuses, no promises :-)

I really want to make some clothes for Spring and Summer, and I would like to use fabric I already have - which shouldn't be difficult. A few dresses are on my list and I want to start with a knit dress to take away with me when DH and I go away in October to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

I cut out Butterick 4976 which I have had in my pattern stash for ages and never made. The fabric is a knit that I bought in a sale - I only paid about $3 for the roll which must have about 10 metres on it! So, it will be my muslin.

I will upload a picture of the 'good stuff' that I plan to make it up in. There have been a lot of reviews for various knit dresses and I like the idea of a wrap top but not a wrap skirt. Hopefully I will get round to making it up over the weekend.

New patterns and plans

2010-04-25T13:16:00.002+12:00

I want to make another cardi-wrap. I think I will use this luscious rich purple. I might have enough to make a plain tee for under it also. I have yet to perfect a t-shirt pattern but think I will make it my winter project - nice and simple Lol! I have Pamela's Patterns Perfect T-shirt and Versatile Twin Set so will start with that. it would be good to have a 'go to' tank and t pattern for those times I just feel like making something fast.

In fact, I think I might make a start this afternoon! I am itching to sew something...the kilt I am altering is ready for a fitting so he is coming tomorrow evening, it will only need a couple of hours work once I know it fits. I have finished and delivered the tie back(s). There are a few other pending alteration/mending jobs to be done but I will tackle them one by one.

Actually, I really like the look of the bolero jacket on the Twin Set pattern - hadn't taken much notice of it before...but with long sleeves it would make a great addition to my winter wardrobe! Hmm, wonder if I can get hold of any of the $10 a metre Merino from Global fabrics??!!!

When these patterns got delivered I had completely forgotten I had even ordered them! I love the simple lines of the skirt and think it could be a very versatile pattern. The Cynthia Rowley jacket I love for the details but would need to make it slightly more shaped at the waist for me. For the life of me I can't imagine why I ordered the Vogue dress...............does anyone else have any idea Lol??? I know it wasn't for the jacket as it is about as wrong for my shape as you can get! Oh well, I will put it with my other patterns for now - maybe my memory will return!

OK, off to the sewing room now with visits in-between to the kitchen as I must do some baking today. The biscuit tin is empty and I also want to make a big batch of veg soup. We are having haggis for dinner - DH has had a tin (not as good as the real thing!) in the pantry for ages and we keep forgetting it is there. So, haggis, mashed tatties and mashed swede (no neeps to be had :-))

She did it!

2010-04-18T21:22:00.005+12:00

Jumped that is! And landed too!! What an amazing lady, I am proud to call her my friend :-))

A little over a year ago we were talking about things we would like to do in our life, and Isobel mentioned a skydive.........I asked her if she would really do it if she got the chance (although at the time I didn't know we would get her a voucher) and she assured me she would. So, for her 70th birthday 7 of us got together and bought her the chance to jump out of a plane! She was not at all fazed, not nervous and when she landed wanted to know when she could do it again!!

Go Isobel!

Slowly...

2010-04-18T12:56:00.003+12:00

...finding my way back to doing some sewing! I am not going to comment on how long it has been since my last post, or my lost mojo etc!

This weekend I had a couple of jobs I needed to get done. One of them was a pair of curtain tie backs for friends - I made them some a few months ago and they realised they hadn't asked me to make enough. Unfortunately the last pair took forever to finish - I just haven't been in my sewing room lately and on the odd occasion I have I would see the fabric mocking me and then promptly forget again as soon as I walked out!! The situation wasn't helped by the fact that, for some reason, I thought they only needed one more tie back - I proudly presented them with it on Friday and they had to break the news to me that I was one short!! Why on earth would I imagine they would only need one tie back?? Don't ask me! Anyway, I finished it today.

The second job is a kilt alteration. I have been putting this off - although I don't know why, why do we procrastinate about things when it is so much easier to 'just do it'?! So, Friday morning I unpicked the fringe and basted the new fold line (you can just see it in the pic). I am just off to do some more basting, the pleats need to be all basted to allow me to work with it without creasing, and also to press the kilt when I have finished. Not a huge job but it needs to be finished for a wedding next month and I am sure the groom is getting anxious. I have never missed a deadline yet :-)

I will have a few home dec jobs over the next few months but not big jobs, blinds to finish and curtains to make. We have decided to put our house on the market in the spring so have some 'little' jobs to do.

I am also excited for this afternoon as I am off to watch a good friend do a tandem skydive! She is one of our small sewing group and she had a big '0' birthday recently, we all clubbed together for a voucher........by the way, her big '0' birthday was her 70th!! Photos will follow - promise!

It's been....

2010-02-18T12:29:00.003+13:00

....almost a month since my last post! Oh dear, I am not a very good blogger at the moment. I am not a very good sewist at the moment either - which is why I haven't been blogging Lol!

I am seriously lacking in motivation, enthusiasm, inspiration and anything else I require to make myself sew. The thing is, I really want to be making some new clothes - I think about it a lot! Plan what I will make, read my BWOF and Threads mags, browse my patterns, peruse my stash - but nothing seems to make me go into my sewing room and actually sew! Even though I want to - does that make ANY sense???

Anyway, just wanted to drop by and let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth - just in case you were wondering :-)

Still here, still sewing......

2010-01-21T11:21:00.004+13:00

.......slowly!!! I have to confess that I haven't been sticking to my 30 minutes a day - are you surprised??? :-)

I have been doing more than I was though, both knitting and sewing. Yesterday I got my blouse to the try on stage and I am quite pleased with it - pleased enough to be enthusiastic about finishing it off and wearing it next week. I think I will let the darts out just a little but other than that I am very happy with it. It also needs to be shortened slightly, but I already knew that.

I am thinking about moving my sewing "stuff" to my eldest sons room (well, ex-room!). It is considerably larger than my current room but not as well lit - especially after my DH installed a very bright flourescent light for me! That won't be possible in the new room as the ceiling is too high, so I will have to rely on my daylight lamps. As my hubby is an electrician it would be easy to put in other lights but I want to make sure it is easy to reinstate the room to a bedroom when we eventually sell. I will have to think about that one. Also, we are expecting two lots of visitors in April and will need somewhere for them to sleep - I thought I would have a spare bedroom now that both my boys have moved out but the eldest is on his way back home at the end of Feb!! Probably just for a year while he studies, so maybe I will just stay where I am for now :-) I was told that they would be back! Not that I mind, really!

We are busy in the shop at the moment, working on our newsletter and class list and samples for the next 6 months. I am working on an amazing quilt designed by Judy Niemeyer which will become a Block of the Month. Not difficult at all, just time consuming and very detailed - just the kind of quilt I like - the more piecing the better :-) I also love foundation piecing!

Our colours are similar but we have made a few changes, I will post a pic when it is finished - it could take a while :-)

Daily minimum required.

2010-01-05T20:09:00.002+13:00

Ok, I am going to try a different approach to my sewing/knitting in the hope of locating my lost mojo. Summerset has often used the '30 minutes a day' rule to get extra sewing done when she is busy - and I am shamelessly going to copy her :-) Although for me, it is going to be the basis of my sewing and knitting for now. So, I am going to remind myself that I love to sew and commit to spending a minimum of 30 mins a day (social and class activities allowing) in my sewing room. I figure that I could probably get at least one simple garment finished in a week, especially if I spend a little longer than the 30 minutes. But, if I don't get a garment completed, I am not going to fret about it - remember... I enjoy sewing, it brings me pleasure not stress!

On that basis, yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and just start something - anything!! So I cut out New Look 6407, view D but with sleeves from view E. I am making it up in a white cotton voile with daisy print. The fabric is quite transparent in the areas where there are no daisies, but I think I will get away with it if I wear a skin toned under garment.

Monday: Cut out pattern pieces after making decision about what size to make. Cut out fabric and mark darts etc.

Tuesday: Stitch darts in fronts and back, stay stitch neck edges, cut out and fuse interfacing to pieces that require it.

Here is a close up of the fabric. The blue you can see underneath it is my magnetic pin cushion. the centre of the daisies has a different feel than the rest of the fabric, almost rubbery and I can feel it when I sew over it on the machine.

Next tonight, I plan to sit on the sofa with my hubby and watch a bit of tv - with my knitting of course! 30 minutes of knitting is about all my hands can cope with anyway so that isn't a bad thing. I am going to try to use this rule for my other crafts - I have been stamping and card making for a year now but never seem to make anything at home, only when I go to Stamp Club at Sharlenes or when Debbie suggests a card making get-together! Sometimes when I think of all I want to do it is a bit overwhelming, if I break it down into small chunks it isn't quite so scary :-)

Reminder to self............... sewing and crafting makes me happy, I do it because I enjoy it!

Tidying up...

2009-12-31T11:12:00.003+13:00

mentally and physically! That is what I need to do this weekend. I really want and need some new clothes and I have some gorgeous fabrics to make them with - but I am stuck! I don't know where to start.

I think there are various reasons:- I have some alterations that need doing, very basic ones like shortening some new t-shirts and altering a favourite skirt that is too big - but my secret is that I hate alterations! I would far rather make something from scratch than alter it. Also, I am trying to decide if I will take part in SWAP this year. I love the idea of it and it would be great to have an 11 piece wardrobe at the end of it, but I am not sure I can stay focused for so long, and although I could just go with the flow, really the whole idea is to Sew With A Plan! It doesn't finish until April so I can always join later on if I want to. I also have so many projects that I want to start (not just garment sewing) that I can't decide which one to work on first! Basically I have so much to do I can't do anything!!

So, I have to do some tidying up. Make a list, prioritise and 'just do it'! Simple, quick garments that can be easily altered as I lose weight (I am looking forward to going back to the gym after the hols, I am surprised to have missed it!) but that will make me feel good now. I have started pulling patterns/fabric out in the hope that it will help me past my mental block. Does anyone else have the same problem?

I am not going to make lots of Resolutions next year. I have already committed to improving my health and fitness in 2010 but I would dearly like to do some more 'me' sewing.

Ok, off to hem those 4 t-shirts - in reality it will probably only take me about an hour at the most!

Happy New Year to all my readers and followers (17 now! when did that happen?? Wow! :-))

eta; It is now two hours later and all 4 t-shirts have been shortened! They had all been pinned already and although it took me 2 hours, I was serving customers in between lol! I feel so much better to get them out the way! :-)

Not quite a finished skirt..........

2009-11-29T21:18:00.003+13:00

....but I did make a start on it and pin fitted it over the weekend! The problem was that I had already cut out the facings, yet when I tried it on I realised I really didn't need the front darts, they were far too long for my shape anyway. Not a problem, except that the facings were then too small as they allowed for me taking in some fabric with the darts!! This skirt seems a lot smaller than the last one, even though I have lost some weight since I made it. I think it might be partly due to the very heavy denim I have cut this one out of - the last one was a very soft (too soft) denim. I also seem to remember I didn't take the full seam allowances last time. But, never fear, I haven't lost enthusiasm for it and I will be finishing it this week.

I did get a lot of sewing done though. Despite owning a quilt shop I am ashamed to admit that it has been an age since I actually sat and made a quilt! I wanted something quick for instant gratification and I found this 'Charisma' jelly roll in my stash. I chose two very simple patterns and was raring to go on Friday afternoon. I started sewing about 4pm and actually got this completed, apart from the top and bottom borders, by the time I went to bed - about 11.30 I think?! Obviously there were lots of 'rest stops' for sustenance :-) I also spent about an hour and a half on my skirt, overlocked the edges and started putting in the zip.

This design is called Chinese Coin, great for showing off some lovely fabrics.

Robyn and I had to open up the shop on Saturday morning and then had something on in the afternoon, so it was almost 5pm by the time I got back to Isobel's on Saturday. I put the borders on the quilt above and made a start on the next one on my list, Stepping Stones. I used the teal blue fabric from the quilt borders above as my accent square, the other fabric in this one is a Loni Rossi fabric and it is quite stunning. A coral background with a metallic pink over the top - I am not usually a pink kind of girl but I love this fabric!

I had a few issues with the instructions for this quilt, I couldn't understand why they had me cut 40 strip sets for the 2 wide seminole bands and then only use 36 of them? So, I decided to use the extra strip sets and make my bands longer, I had plenty of sashing fabric so it wouldn't be a problem. It wasn't a problem until I realised that the reason for only using 36 of them was because when it came to making the 3 narrow bands, there were only enough strip sets to make each one 18 pieces long!!! I had already added in the extras on the wide bands and didn't really want to unpick them, but then I remembered that I still had two strips leftover from the jelly roll that I can use to make 4 more small strip sets so I can make the narrow bands longer. I couldn't do any more as the leftover strips were in the classroom at the shop so I decided to call it a day.

I have made a lot of quilts from the Strip Club Patterns designed by Daniela Stout and always found them full of information and easy to follow - I just wish she had explained why they had you cut 40 strips when you weren't going to use them all!

Still, after a few choice words I was very pleased with what I came away with. I have made two of the wide bands and three of the narrow ones. Once I have inserted the extra strips into the narrow bands it won't take me long to sash them together and put on borders. I am so happy with these quilts - and they are just for me! For a change :-)

Photos of the finished quilt will follow when it is done. Also the skirt which I hope to finish this week to wear at the weekend. Our local quilt guild are having one of their regional days on Saturday and we have been invited along as merchants. If the sun is shining I plan to wear my new green sandals :-)

This last photo is totally unrelated to the weekend. Sheila of Ephemera has just had her first tattoo and I commented about the matching tattoo's my Mum and I have. When my parents came over to visit us at Christmas last year I asked my Mum (sure she wont mind you all knowing she is 63 years young) if she wanted to have a tattoo done with me. We decided on a small heart on our left thumbs, somewhere we would see it all the time and think of each other. We both love them and she has said that when she comes back she wants another one! She isn't sure what or where though :-) I told Sheila they were addictive!

Phew, sorry for the long rambling post! It seems to be either feast or famine here on my blog doesn't it?? LoL, thanks for reading :-))

Happy colours, roll on summer.

2009-11-26T20:30:00.004+13:00

A little while ago Heather left a comment on one of my posts with a phrase she had read - 'act and then get motivated'. I used that advice on that occasion and it worked, so I am going to use it again :-)

Tonight my DH is at a meeting so I dragged my backside off the couch, where I could easily have spent the evening with my book and the tv, and cut out a Hot Patterns Metropolitan Superfly Skirt. I used some dark inky blue denim that I have a roll of - at least 15 metres!! I bought it for $9, that was the whole roll for $9, not per metre!! Anyway, back to the skirt. Very simple, four pieces, front and back darts, top stitching and a fly front zip.

One of the things I love about this pattern is that it has a contrast bias cut hem facing - I love the fact that I can have a totally different fabric that only shows in small glimpses when I sit or walk. I used this emerald and white stripe cotton that I also have a roll of - not sure how much but at least 6 metres (and this one cost me $3!!) I love emerald green but it isn't a colour I have ever worn - well that is about to change...........

......how much do I love these sandals?? I bought them when the summer styles first came into the shops - not something I normally do because I am usually worried I will see something I like better later on, then I wait and don't find anything I like as much and, as often as not, the original ones have sold out!!! Not this time! These were coming home with me for sure. I have had them out of the box and tried them on at various times since I brought them home, but I haven't worn them yet - still too cold for me to get my toes out Lol!

I think a plain white t-shirt will be good with this outfit - and the purple ring you can just see in the pic. I just love green and purple, it makes me happy :-)

This weekend I am away for another sewing weekend at Isobel's. I have got two strip quilts cut out, but I am very tempted to take my skirt! Lots of people there to help with fit and hem length - I might just pick up a zip tomorrow and make sure I have everything I need in case I feel the urge. There are a couple of us in our small sewing group who make garments, and it is my choice what I work on, just have to decide if I want to take my overlocker with me and all the extras I will need - doing patchwork requires less 'stuff'! Then again I would love a skirt to wear next week.

I will let you know what I decide - I may well stay up all night and do both :-)

Sigh,I want to sew something..........

2009-11-19T14:43:00.003+13:00

......but my mojo has disappeared! Have you seen it?? If you have please give it a good kick back in my general direction, I will be looking out for it!

Not sure why I am having this unmotivated moment - well, more than one moment actually! I don't know what to sew or where to start. Whenever my day off rolls around I am determined to get into my sewing room at some stage during the day - but it never happens! I am getting to the stage that I am annoyed at myself for not feeling like sewing - because I really want to make some clothes!! How can I have the desire to make new clothes yet not the desire to actually sew!?!

I know I need to start off with something very simple that will go together quickly. A long term project is not what I need at the moment. I have got some lovely fabrics sitting there but I am not sure if I want to make them up yet - I have joined the gym and know my size and shape will be changing over the next few months, maybe that is at the heart of my lack of motivation to actually sew?!

Maybe the trick is to choose some of the fabrics that have been there a while already, and make up a few simple garments for early summer - I am getting desperately short of clothes for this transitional time of year, especially as we are having strange weather! I need some basics to see me through the next couple of months.

Any ideas anyone? Got any motivational tips for me - or know of where I can look to find my mojo? Is there a lost mojo department anywhere? Should I post in the 'lost and found'? I wouldn't know how to describe it, but I sure miss it right now! Lol.

Forgive me, it has been two seeks since my last post!!

2009-11-05T10:24:00.003+13:00

Apologies, I can't quite believe it has been that long since I last posted! Time flies! There has been a lot going on lately, both at the shop and at home. On the home front, our eldest son (21) has moved down to Wellington! He has been planning it for months and he finally left on Wednesday. He has a job as a builders labourer (a first for him, he has worked in retail and as a teacher aide - tools and building materials will be a new experience :-)) that he starts very soon and then he plans to apply for uni to start in March. He will do a BA for 3 years and then a year of teacher training to be a primary teacher.

I have loved having him back home for past year or so and will miss him being around (he is my style consultant too!!) but I am so excited for him. He is more than ready to start living his life and being totally independant. As long as he is happy and doing well, then I am happy!

This photo was taken at his 21st birthday meal with our youngest son, their girlfriends and my nephew. Liam is the one with the bunny ears :-)

We have been spending a lot of time in the garden at the weekends too, my DH is enjoying growing veggies - I think he is hooked! Neither of us thought we would ever enjoy gardening but it seems we were wrong :-) I need to try to find a good balance between spending time outside and spending time in my sewing room! I want some new clothes to wear this summer as well as some home grown veggies on my plate.

On the sewing front - nothing! I am thoroughly annoyed with myself! I have got so many things I want to make but can't seem to find any motivation at all. I did cut out a cardi-wrap in this teal blue which I will make for my Mum for Xmas. I love mine and think she will enjoy wearing it. I am going to make my Dad a pair of cotton pj pants for lounging around in - I will use a Kiwiana cotton fabric which he will love!

I have got a few things planned for my day off tomorrow but I would like to get into my sewing room at some stage. I was hoarding three large bags of fabric that I knew I would never use, last week I took them to the Hospice shop and now I feel so much better! I was originally going to sell the fabric on Trademe but it was blocking my creative flow!! Every time I walked in my room it was there, mocking me, staring at me, taunting me - as fabric does!?! Now it is gone.

Work wise we have had our local quilt show which took place over Labour weekend. It is always good to see what the local guild has been working on and seeing new faces too. We sponsor a challenge and this year the theme was 'Recycle', the finished item had to contain something recycled and the winning piece was very cleverly done and was a person with a coathanger head and cardboard clothes labels for arms and legs! I forgot to take a photo though! How silly of me. The quilt show makes for a long weekend as we work there on our stand, it is fine if it is busy but the quiet times can get a bit boring!

My latest BWOF (Burda World of Fashion - now Burda Style but it will always be BWOF to me!) has just arrived so that will hopefully provide some inspiration. Unfortunately it is the September issue and we are coming into summer but I will still enjoy reading it and making 'pie in the sky' plans!

Mid-week murmerings!

2009-10-21T09:12:00.002+13:00

This will be a weird Wednesday...because I am having my day off today instead of Friday! It feels strange already and it is only just past 9am!

Thank you all for putting up with my slight negativity in my last post, I feel much better now :-) I gave myself a good talking to and loved the motto Heather posted in her comment - I have decided to 'act and then get motivated'! From past experience I know that if I start to see results I will feel more encouraged so this saying has lots of truth - it is my new phrase! Who says you have to be motivated before you attempt something? Attempt it first and then motivation will follow!

I tried on the red skirt from my last post - and guess what? It is too BIG! I remember feeling awful in this when I made it, apart from being cheesed off that the zip wasn't right and the yoke seam wasn't in the most flattering place - but when I tried it on yesterday it is at least 2" too big round my waist! So...obviously that has given me a big boost and I intend to finish it today to wear over the weekend when we have our local Quilt Show (we will be there with the shop). I really love the applique on this skirt - it was an idea I saw on a RTW skirt - which is probably why I wanted to save the skirt rather than just toss it in the bin!

I will post photos later :-)

What's next.....?

2009-10-18T09:50:00.003+13:00

I keep asking myself that question and have been since I finished the silver trench. I really can't decide. I think that it is partly because I have so many things I want to do and just don't know where to start - and partly bacause I really want to lose some weight and don't want to spend a lot of time and effort on making things that won't fit in a few months time.

I know............I shouldn't be thinking about that because I should just dress the body I have now and worry about the rest later, and I should remember that if I feel good now at my current size and shape then I will likely feel more motivated to succeed. I am not happy with how I look and feel which is compounded with not having nice clothes to wear, so I know that if I made myself something nice I would feel better! I know all that.......but I am still stuck!!!

Also, I have a few UFO's around that make me feel guilty of starting anything else.

This red linen skirt has been in this state for months. I put in an invisible zip that I 'found' in my drawer - but it wasn't a proper invisible zip and I couldn't get close to the teeth, so I ripped it out and now have to go and get another one (not too hard, right?!). I also didn't feel that the yoke was in a very flattering place so might take a bit off the top of the skirt. I already have the lining made ready to go too.

This muslin for trousers has been cut out and pinned for weeks. All I have to do is stitch 4 seams together and try them on to give me an idea of whether I am going to have any major fitting issues.

I have also got a charcoal grey knit skirt cut out and waiting, and just need to hem the teal denim skirt I made for the August Wardrobe in a Week (which is too tight!).

So...............which one am I thinking of starting with??? Would you believe me if I said none of them? Of course you would - you saw it coming didn't you??? :-)

I have had this beautiful purple knit in my stash for a few months. I originally ordered it with one of the Hot Patterns 3 Graces t-shirts in mind, so I have got 3 metres. I haven't read very positive feedback about this pattern so have decided not to order it yet, but I do love the crossover tops and have got this Jalie pattern in my stash.

The colour didn't photograph that well, in real life it is much richer and a more red purple - very regal! If I remember rightly from what I have read, Jalie patterns run quite small so I will go to Pattern Review and see what others have said about it first.

Thank you for reading my ramblings! I hope my post didn't come across as too negative. By the way, I am not looking for comments of the 'you don't need to lose weight' kind. I am overweight - fact. I am doing something about it before it affects my health (breast cancer and heart problems in both sides of my family) but I do find it a struggle.

Rest assured this will not become a weight loss blog. On the other hand, I am using my sewing as a motivational tool and reminding myself of all the lovely patterns I own and all the fabric I have in my stash that can become a lovely wardrobe. Sometimes that thinking has the reverse effect because I feel I have to wait until I am slimmer to start making myself nice things!

To top it off I have caught my son's cold, so I am dosing myself up with home made lemon, honey and ginger - I think it's helping and if not, who cares, it tastes lovely :-)

Not much to show...

2009-10-09T15:16:00.003+13:00

...for my day off! I have had a very lazy day today, although I had very good intentions Lol! I had to go to the Post Office this morning, then I whizzed in to Starbucks for my Friday treat (Caramel Machiato, venti size!) which also included a muffin - yum!! I sat with my coffee and read my book for a while, and before I knew it, it was lunch time!

Oh well, sometimes it doesn't hurt to do absolutely nothing on your day off. I did spend a little time in my sewing room playing around with the new stamp set my Mum and Dad sent out for me, that was after spending a good half an hour - ok, maybe an hour!?!, on Splitcoaststampers looking for ideas.

So much for my plan to tidy up my sewing room, get some sewing done and plan some new projects :-) It is raining here again, for a change! Can I use that as an excuse for feeling lazy??

Oh well, looks like it's time for an afternoon cuppa..............

New fabric!

2009-10-07T19:29:00.005+13:00

I was very restrained when I went to Global Fabrics in Wellington - I had limited time before we had to get back to the meeting point and was trying hard not to make any rushed purchases that I might regret later......you know the ones I mean!

I knew I wanted some fabric for a maxi dress (I think I want to make one, not 100% sure though!) and something for a couple of spring/summer garments. Here is what I came away with...........

First up was this lovely cotton canvas - it was the second thing that caught my eye as soon as I walked in the door (the first thing was a beautiful olive green leather skin! I have always wanted to make a leather jacket as I can never find one in a colour/style that I like....it will have to wait but at least I know where I can get leather skins from!) Anyway, back to the fabric I did buy! This is quite a wide fabric and on closer inspection I noticed that there is a line through the pattern in the very centre of the width - I am not sure if this is intentional or if the fabric is flawed.

I decided to work with it and make a skirt that shades from the navy/white at the top and have the turquoise at the bottom, using the width of fabric as the length of my skirt. It is 150cm/60" wide and so I will have plenty of width to cut my skirt from, in fact I may have to shorten it a bit as this will be for summer! I will make a very simple style with a facing - possibly a yoke but not sure yet, it might be too fussy with one.

Here is a close up of the line through the middle. If I have any fabric leftover I think it will make a great bag for a Christmas gift.

The second piece I bought is this cotton/lycra fabric, I will use it to make a shirt. I like shirts but rarely make or wear them, this summer I plan to make a few shirts and short sleeved jackets to wear. No idea of a pattern for this one yet.

In the close up you can see that the print is quite large and the colours quite bright but the white makes it fresh and clean looking. I have a pair of emerald green patent wedge sandals on lay-by that will go beautifully with this fabric, I think it would look great with denim.

This is my 'will it/won't it be a maxi dress' fabric! It is a lovely knit that I think has rayon in it - I am annoyed at myself for not taking down the content. It has a lovely hand and drapes beautifully. I love the colours in it and the hem design. If I decide not to make a maxi dress I may make a wrap dress or even a t-shirt and skirt that I can also wear as seperates. I will probably change my mind many times before I make it up! I thought it would be lovely for our holiday to Oz in February but I don't want to make something that I will only wear on holiday - I don't have that many Lol!

Here you can see the scale of the design and, if you look closely, the fruit in the centre of the ovals. The dark colour in the background is actually quite a bright purple! I have a purple knit that will go perfectly with this for bands etc.

A close up of the hem design.

Lastly, a pic of me wearing my silver trench tied. It is still a little crumpled from being in my bag after the weekend. On reflection, I don't think it is as flattering as my RTW trench coat (it doesn't have a belt) but I don't really care - I love it anyway! I forgot to look for buckles when I was away, I probably wouldn't have had time anyway so may look online. In the meantime I have put a temporary button on the sleeve tabs and will tie the belt.

On Friday I plan to have a tidy up in my sewing room and plan a few new projects. I also want to finish off my two skirts from the August Wardrobe in a Week! I am embarassed to say that one just needs a hem! The second one is cut out and should only take a few hours to put together!!

I also need to make a start on making my Xmas cards, I have two new stamp sets to use so have no excuse!!

Sound the Siren for the Silver Trench!!!

2009-10-02T21:24:00.004+13:00

I. Have. Finished!!! Woohoo! I have loved making this trench..... I want to make another one!!

It took me the best part of the day to do the finishing touches - belt loops, belt, stitch shoulder pads in, stitch belt loops on, put in lining - actually, not so much finishing touches as a good third of the project Lol! I hadn't really thought about just how long it would take me to finish.

I hadn't felt like sewing in the evenings this week and kept telling myself I would have most of Friday and that I didn't have that much left to do - after all, I had the main coat together and the collar made and ready to go, facings done and lining attached to them....how much longer could it take?? Haha - I had a hair appointment booked for 10.30am, I spent the morning doing some housework and by the time I got back from the hairdressers it was almost lunchtime! In between washing and drying the mountain of washing that had built up during the (very wet!) week, I worked my way through. I finished at 9.30pm!! Phew. I have always been an optimist - but realise I should have done a little bit during the week! Still, it's done - and did I tell you, I love it??

Belt in progress.

Belt loops and belt finished....but I think the belt needs another row of topstitching.

Second row of topstitching on the belt - I realised when I did the second row that I had not used the topstitching thread for the first row! It isn't vastly different but the topstitching thread gives more definition. I used Gutermann Sulky 30 - mainly because we stock it in the shop Lol! Actually it is a great topstitching thread, not as heavy as Gutermann's actual topstitching thread and it has a great shine, it also comes in great colours.

Nearly there, stitching in shoulder pads.

Ta Daaaa!

Sorry for the creases - I have just finished hand stitching the lining, I will give it a final press later but wanted to post it before the weekend.

Early tomorrow morning - 7am - we are leaving for Wellington to see the World of Wearable Arts, I will wear my trench and get some photos.

Now.............whats next??

P.S. just wanted to add that I am hoping to get to Global Fabrics in Wellington this weekend - so I may have some eye candy to show you on Monday :-)

Slow & Steady on the Silver trench

2009-09-25T15:44:00.003+12:00

Progress hasn't been exactly speedy on my trenchcoat this week - but that's ok. I have managed to fit in small bouts of sewing and have put the lining together, stitched it to the facing, made the collar and pressed the hems up on the sleeves and coat. I am on track for finishing next week in time to wear it away to Wellington for my trip to the World of Wearable Arts. I am very pleased with it so far, fingers crossed it all goes together without a hitch. The only thing I am not sure about is what to do with the sleeve tabs. They are supposed to have a buckle on them but I can't find any locally. I may have to do a temporary job of securing them and look for a couple of buckles when I am in Wellington. I don't think I am going to put a buckle on the belt but I may do if I see one I like.

.......lining attached to the facings.

..........collar stands stitched to the main collar - thankfully these came out well as I substituted a different stand from another BWOF pattern, the original one had a full stand and I didn't really like the look. this melon shaped one was suggested by a member of Stitchers Guild and it is perfect.

.........I top stitched very close to the seam on both sides.

........this is the finished collar. I left it pinned to my tailors ham for a while to shape it - the wrinkles around the back neck don't show up so much 'in real life'!

so, next step is to attach sleeves to main coat, attach lining and collar and then sort out lining hems etc. I have left a seam open in the lining in the hope that I can bag line it. I plan to turn the sleeves inside themselves and machine the lining to the hem and then catch stitch the hem to the seam allowances. Hopefully it will work. I can't hand stitch on this fabric and I dont' really want a machine stitched hem - if it doesn't work I will machine stitch the hems. I mustn't forget to make the belt and belt carriers - and indeed attach the belt carriers before I put the lining in Lol!

I am still enjoying the process of making this trench - I hope I enjoy wearing it as much!

On tenterhooks ?

2009-09-20T10:26:00.003+12:00

Do you ever wonder where certain phrases originated? I do - often! So I was delighted to find out where the phrase 'being on tenterhooks' comes from. You may already know this....but if not I will explain in due course - first of all I need to tell you about something I re-discovered in my sewing library. I have owned this for years and have looked at it on and off over th3 years, but I have never really read it seriously. With all the Chanel style jackets on the scene at the moment I already knew I would make myself a tailored jacket at some stage which has made me think more about this item.

I am talking about the 'Terry Fox Speed Tailoring Workshop'. It consists of a box which contains a ring binder of information and a plastic storage box for all your samples you make, allowing you to store them for future reference. Sadly I discovered that Terry Fox isn't involved in teaching/writing about sewing any longer, although her company 'The English Couture Company' is still being run by others and her books and dvd's are still available on their website.

In addition to the folder (which has 131 pages of instruction and information!!) is a pattern for a classic jacket...........

.......and the neccessary fusible interfacings, tapes, shoulder pads, hair canvas etc to enable you to complete a jacket using her methods. She also includes a length of calico (muslin) to make a test jacket out of, although I don't think I would make a test jacket using all the interfacings etc as that would seem a waste, I would use it to make a basic fitting muslin and then use a wearable fabric for my first one.

Yesterday afternoon I wanted to research different methods of inserting a lining in a coat/jacket (for my silver trench, I am using a BWOF pattern and their instructions for lining are very basic!!) and so I started reading through the folder...........several hours later, I am about half way through and am already planning a jacket in the not too distant future :-)

So.........this very long winded explanation brings me to how I discovered the meaning of the phrase 'being on tenterhooks' - get this, it comes from fabric!! On page 10, Terry talks about 'Preparation of Fabric' and starts off with how to determine the right side of your fabric. She explains that some fabrics have tiny holes running along the selvedge edge, the smooth side of the holes denotes the right side of the fabric (this was in my memory banks somewhere but I was never sure which side of the holes was the right side!). She goes on to explain that the holes are caused by the tenterhook pulling the fabric smoothly into shape - hence the expression 'being on tenterhooks' !!! :-) Well, I never knew that!

Just thought some of you might like to know that useless piece of information as much as I did Lol!

I am 'home alone' this morning so am making the most of it in the sewing room. I am working on the lining for my silver trench and hope to make some good progress today. I will update you during the week - a whole week off, yippee!! Can't remember the last time that happened, that's what comes from being self employed I guess, but I love my work and wouldn't want to do anything else!

We interrupt our regular programme....

2009-09-18T17:37:00.004+12:00

...of work on the Silver trench, to show you what is on and off my knitting needles! I have been desperate to start some summer knitting - the new summer yarns were delivered to the shop about 3 weeks ago and I have been itching to start something with them! I made myself wait until I had finished what was on my needles, once it was finished I started on a new project! Which is why nothing was done on my silver trench coat today!

Yes, I spent almost my entire day off knitting!!! I feel slightly guilty about it - but hey, it doesn't happen very often - and I did wash and hang out 4 loads of washing in between :-) One of the reasons I feel guilty is because I have got a sewing job to do for good friends of ours and I am putting it off - I have to make 5 curtain tie-backs! I will make it my mission to finish them next week - promise!!!

This wrap/scarf is knitted in Cleckheaton Bamboo 4 ply. It is a delicious silky yarn and has a lot of weight to it! I have to confess I started this last summer *hangs head in shame*! But, I have been very focused on getting it finished and promised myself (and my friends!) that I wouldn't start anything else (knitting that is) until I had finished it. All I have to do is sew the buttons on :-)

It isn't that easy to photograph but the long edges button up so far to become sleeves - in the photo I have shaped it slightly to show how it will be when I am wearing it.

The buttonholes are quite small and there are 7 on each side, these are the buttons I have chosen, beautiful paua shell buttons!

Now, you may be fooled into thinking that this new project is the same colour - but let me assure it isn't. Well, it may be a similar colour, but the shade is quite different! This one is much more intense and strong than the 4 ply. I Love This Yarn!! It is beautiful to knit with!! I haven't got a picture of the garment but it is a Sirdar Sublime Soya Cotton DK yarn and I am making a sleeveless garment with a twist at waist level that holds the two fronts together. I will try and scan the picture and post it later.

I keep forgetting that I am only working Thursday and Saturday morning next week! We have a young friend coming to stay for a week, the last time I saw her she was about 5 - now she is in her early twenties!!! She has decided to come and live and work in New Zealand for a while and is staying with us for her first week to find her feet. I will spend some time with her, help her open a bank account etc and generally help her acclimatise to a new country. Although the culture in NZ isn't a million miles away from the culture in UK, it will still be pretty daunting for her. Hopefully we can help her settle in and show her the ropes - and let her know that in NZ a pack of crisps becomes a pack of chips/chippies, a portion of chips becomes a scoop of hot chips,
sweets are called lollies and ice lollies are called ice blocks!! All the important things .... of course!

I hope to get some time to do a bit of sewing on my trench as I would like to finish it soon.

Sunday Sewing on the Silver Trench!

2009-09-13T17:05:00.007+12:00

** Warning, picture heavy and long post!**

Ok, so this is not going to be a weekend project !! :-) But then, you probably all knew that long before I did - right??

I don't mind, I haven't sewn as much this weekend as I thought I would, but I have had a really relaxing time, done a bit of reading, a bit of knitting and watched a bit of tv. I didn't really get stuck in to the sewing until this morning - maybe I was putting it off a bit as it has been a very long time since I had a challenging project. I had totally forgotten just how much I love the process! How can that have happened? Anyway, I took some progress shots as I went along....

Stitched inner sleeve seam, made loops and stitched them in place.

Made tabs for sleeves. Whenever I have to stitch a point like this (also at the tip of a collar) I always take one stitch across the tip of the point. when it is turned through it is far less bulky and, surprisingly, still a perfect point! It was a tip I read years ago and have used ever since - my points are never as good if I forget! You can just make it out in the photo above.

The tabs were turned through and top stitched very close to the edge. They are then stitched in the outer seam of the sleeve.

Both sleeves done!

Here you can see the tab stitched into the outer sleeve seam...

.....and this is how it will look when it is finished. I will have to get some buckles. The tab goes through the loop which is attached to the inner seam.

Darts and side front seams stitched.

Pocket welts made. I read a couple of my reference books for a bit more info on a welt pocket as it has been sooooo long since I last made one! One thing suggested was to cut the welt on the same grainline as the angle of the pocket. I am not sure of the exact angle but this is approx 45 deg across the side front seam, so I cut the welt on the bias along with the interfacing.

Front and back pocket bags, the welt is underneath the lining piece. (It's all coming back to me now!!)

Not bad............of course the second one was so much better!

The burda instructions tell you to hand stitch the welt down from the inside. I decided to top stitch the ends from the outside but I didn't want any reverse stitching to show. In the end I left very long thread tails at the start and finish of my seam, pulled both threads through to the back and then back stitched the welt right next to the machine stitching. It should be plenty strong enough now!

All in all I am happy with what I have achieved. I am a fairly impatient sewist and am quite proud of myself that I have taken my time, thought everything through and loved every minute of it! I am keen to get the trench finished but not so desperate that I want to rush it. I will continue to work on it during the week and continue to take progress photos.

I am also very glad that I made the decision to line it - I would not have been at all happy to have all the pocket 'stuff' showing, I would probably have had to leave the pockets off or do an inseam pocket to keep it neater.

More later :-)

Silver trench - slow progress!

2009-09-12T15:03:00.003+12:00

Debbie asked for a progress report on the silver trench - the report is 'my progress is slow'!! It took me longer than I thought it would to cut out the fabric and lining - I forgot how much I hate having to add the seam allowance to BWOF patterns! I remember that I used to add them at the tracing stage so may do that next time. I am just about to cut out all the interfacing pieces. I will interface the top of the sleeve pieces as well as the top part of the front and back. The pattern interfaces the complete front but they only used a stretch satin for the trench - I am confident that my fabric will hold up to not having quite as much interfacing as that but will stabilise the chest area and upper back, I want it to keep it's fluidity and not be too 'stiff'.

I still have enough lining to line a skirt - I know it is a long way off but I am going to base next winters wardrobe around grey as my neutral. I already have quite a few pieces of fabric that will make great basics for next winter and I am discovering that I really love grey! It is as versatile as black, possibly more so as it looks great with brown, tan, navy and everything black looks good with. I can wear black but grey in all it's shades is so much more interesting :-)

Off to the sewing room, fingers crossed I will get some actual sewing done later on this afternoon!!

Every trench has a silver lining!

2009-09-09T18:51:00.004+12:00

My pattern is traced off......

...the collar has been modified to eliminate the collar stand....

.......and I have decided to line it after all! I have to confess that while I like yellow, it isn't a colour I ever wear. I loved the print on this fabric and decided that as it isn't going to be near my face I can get away with it. It is actually more lemon than yellow. It is in the washing machine as I type, along with.........................

...................this red poly/wool tartan! As I was waiting at the counter for my lining to be cut, I spied this roll of tartan reduced to only $9 a metre! It looks and feels almost like a linen type fabric, slightly rough - not in an itchy way though, quite matte in appearance and with slubs through it. I was amazed when I read the composition label and it said 80% Polyester/20% Wool!!

I have had my eyes peeled for a while for a tartan suitable for this jacket. I did see one similar to the pattern in BWOF but decided I didn't want grey and I didnt' really like the feel of it - too much like 'cheap suiting'. That was months ago and I had put it on the back burner, the fabric is going to be washed and put away for next winter :-) I just love the bias bands round the edges of the jacket, I have some great fabric buttons too but will have to wait and see if they go!

So, tonight I will start my cutting out and see how far I get. I am out Thursday evening but have Friday off with no plans (apart from the bare minimum of housework, Lol) and I have cooked extra dinner tonight which will feed me on Friday, takeaway on Saturday night and I will be a happy sewist! I have been eagerly following Carolyn on her sewing vacation, she has 10 whole days to do not much more than sew and feed herself, how great would that be???!!! Still, I am looking forward to my weekend and hope to get a lot done on my silver trench.

Watch this space :-)

My plans for next weekend & a birthday card

2009-09-06T11:22:00.004+12:00

Don't ask me why but I have this urge to make a silver trenchcoat! Crazy? Impractical? Wrong season? Probably! But.............I have the pattern waiting to be traced out, I have the perfect fabric, and I have a DH free weekend coming up (not that he would stop me sewing all weekend, you understand - but, you know...............) lol!

So, BWOF 11/08 #135 is my pattern choice. The only thing that I am not sure about is that I didn't really want a collar stand. I am going to try to figure out if I can get away without it - or see if I can include it in the collar pattern piece when I trace it off. For some reason it just isn't in my 'vision'!

This is my fabric. I Love It! It is like liquid silver, not too shiny but more than a sheen. My initial thought is that I won't line it and I have bought some bias tape in a tiny black and white gingham to bind the seams with. I am still pondering this, the wrong side of the fabric isn't slippery and I wonder if that will be irritating when I put it on over clothes - will it stick to whatever I wear underneath? I may see if I can find a nice lining but I would want something special - I like a little surprise inside :-)

I spent an enjoyable half hour in my sewing room this morning creating a birthday card for my Dad. I will post this tomorrow with his pressie - not sure if it will reach him in time as his birthday is next Monday but fingers crossed. I usually send him Amazon gift vouchers and am used to waiting til the last minute - I forgot that this year I had bought him something to post! Making cards suitable for males isn't easy as most stamps are geared towards women - but my Dad loves his coffee so this Stampin Up set 'Like it a Latte' is perfect for him. I used puff paint on the coffee foam - something I did with Sharlene when I first used this set at Stamp Club. It adds a bit more texture and dimension and is a bit of fun :-)

So, watch this space! I hope I don't end up looking like I should be taking my first step for mankind in my silver trenchcoat, roflol! I am going to make it anyway - sometimes we just have to give in to our sewing urges, don't we??!!

My room is so bright......I've got to wear shades!

2009-08-30T21:10:00.004+12:00

Ok, I can't really post a photo of the difference in my sewing room - you will just have to trust me on this one!

This afternoon my hubby installed a strip light in my sewing room for me and put in daylight tubes - WOW! Before I had a single light bulb that used to cast my own shadow on my sewing, cutting and ironing area -now the light is almost blinding!!

Even my youngest son commented when he came home today! Not sure it will help me sew any faster but it will certainly make it all a lot easier :-)

In other news, on Saturday afternoon I spent a few hours at Debbie's place doing a card making shoe box swap. I came away with 6 new xmas cards and only had to come up with the idea for one of them! Great! Now I just have to make the time to do some in time for posting to UK!! I always miss the last guaranteed posting day, my parcels etc usually get there in time anyway.

I didn't completely finish my WIAW garments. I got a skirt and top finished, have worn the top and just have to hem the skirt - which is a little bit tight, but we won't talk about that!!!!! I have almost finished the second top and plan to sew tomorrow evening as it is one of the few weeks I don't have to go out on a Monday night.

Tutorial; Fabric Weights

2009-08-25T21:59:00.007+12:00

Ok girls, this is my very first tutorial - so please be gentle with me Lol :-)) I started off with two square washers per weight. The washers measure about 2" square and should be available in most hardware/diy stores, the hole in the middle isn't huge as you can see in the second photo, just perfect for stitching the buttons through! Here goes.......................

First stack both your washers one on top of the other and measure round them - this measurement doesn't need to be really tight but the thickness of the tape measure and the fact that it bends at the edges, seems to give enough extra room for the 'pockets'.
Make a note of the m/m (or, if you have a better memory than me, just remember it!). Mine measured 4.5", although in the photo the tape had slipped a bit so it looks like more.

Next make sure you have a rectangle of fabric that is large enough to wrap round the weights with a 'bit' to spare. I was using a scrap of leftover quilting cotton and it just happened to be the right size - incidentally, I could have made covers for 8 weights out of one width of fabric (112cm/44"). If you want to be exact you can double your previous m/m and then add a bit for seam allowances but it is easy to eyeball this. You will need extra fabric on the three raw edge sides of the weight pocket, the fourth edge will be the fold of fabric.

Take the m/m from the first step (or, if you have forgotten it, measure again Lol!) and halve it. Fold your rectangle of fabric right sides together and mark that measurement on the fabric, centre it so you have a seam allowance on each side but it doesn't matter if they are exactly the same.

Stitch the seams down both sides on the marked lines. Reverse at the folded edge for strength. Trim the corners at an angle and trim the seam allowances to approx 6mm/1/4".

Turn your 'pocket' through to the right side. Slide your two washers in, they should be a snug fit but not so tight that you are forcing the stitches apart at the seams.

Tuck the leftover fabric in at the top. This takes a bit of fiddling with, I used the blade of my scissors to push the side seams down as that is where the bulk is. It should look like the picture below.

Stitch the opening closed with a hand stitch and matching thread, only takes a minute!

Finally, as an optional extra, stitch a button on through the hole in the middle of the washers, this also tightens the 'pocket' round the washers. I just used a stranded thread, Madeira Decora, and left the ends to tie.

This is the thread I used and the huge needle!

Finally, after about half an hour....................Ta Daa! Six new fabric weights! I love these as they are nice and flat and don't get in my way when I am cutting out.

Thanks for reading to the end :-) It is highly likely that those of you who were interested, may have already figured out your own way to make these, if not I hope this was a bit of help :-))

Weekend Retreat - what a treat!

2009-08-24T18:37:00.006+12:00

What a great weekend we all had! Although I didn't arrive until lunchtime on Saturday, I still got lots done - in fact everything I took with me to do except for finishing the binding on the quilt, I have still got to hand sew about half of it down.

We stayed up until about midnight on Saturday (as predicted by Isobel, whose house we were at!) and even managed to watch the rugby in between stitching! By the way, in my previous post I said that Isobel would be watching a cricket test match - I was wrong, it was the rugby test match, and the All Blacks won!

I finished my pattern weights and will post the tutorial tomorrow - although they are very simple so I don't want anyone to think I am being patronising :-)

So, to finish off I will share a few pics of the weekend - and at the end show you the reason why it was hard to concentrate on sewing during the day when it was light, although my machine was facing the view so all I had to do was look up! Warning - pic heavy!

Chocolate quilt top almost finished - just borders to add.

Billy took a liking to it too!

Grommett bag finished - sorry for the sideways pic!

Fabric weights done!

Our sewing area - Isobel's lounge! 3 tables forming a T shape, perfect!

Head's down!

Decisions..................

.......decisions! 3 heads are better than 1.

The view! Even though we live at the base of this mountain and see it most days (weather permitting!) it is still a stunning sight and always a distraction!

Covered in snow and a bit of cloud.

Square washers and my Friday morning

2009-08-21T14:55:00.005+12:00

Goodness, I never knew square washers would have caused such excitement Lol! They measure about 2" square and have a hole in the middle - they came from the deep, dark, depths of our garage where my husband stores all sorts of rubbish - sorry, important items! He says you should be able to pick them up from a hardware store like Placemakers etc. I used two together for my pattern weights. Now..... I don't want to teach anyone to suck eggs, but I will take some photo's of how I cover them and post them here on Sunday/Monday. I really do find them the best weights for my dressmaking as they are flat. I have some filled with sand/granuals of some sort but they are too high and get in the way, these are perfect for me.

On to photo's of my morning at Debbie's house for a project we have been trying to get together to make for ages! It was a class with Sharlene but we had to postpone one or two (or more :-)) times! It did take us a little longer than we thought it would although it was the first time - second time is always faster! Mind you, it was all cut out for us too, so perhaps it will not be quicker the next time :-) This is a great little gift, all it needs is a pack of stamps and the envelopes for the cards and that's it.

A good way to spend part of my day off, I am now going to adjourn to my sewing room and do some work on my first WIAW garment. See you soon :-)

Rev your engines, put your pedal to the metal!

2009-08-21T07:57:00.006+12:00

It is Friday 21st August and as of 7am I can (could have!) officially started sewing for Wardrobe In A Week! I haven't got anything else done this week, not sure if it is because the things I want to make are cut out waiting for WIAW? I did have plans to cut out my Pamela's Patterns t-shirt and tank but didn't get round to it!

I am off this weekend for a sewing weekend with friends but I won't take my garments as this is mainly a patchwork weekend - not that I couldn't if I wanted to, but taking my overlocker and all the threads I will need, and also trying on during the sewing process (which I always like to do - just in case Lol!) is something I would rather do in my own place. Instead I am going to work on some projects for the shop:

a bag with grommets for the handles to go through,

a quilt in the chocolate fabric we had recently,

also, these square washers will become more fabric weights! 10 minute job :-)

I am not sure if I will get them all done - the quilt has only got to be joined together which will only take about half an hour - another half hour if I want to add my borders (which I probably should while I am working on it :-)) but the bag has to be quilted with a grid pattern and then a diagonal grid pattern - lots of quilting, must remember my walking foot! I will do the quilt and the fabric weights first then work on the bag. Isobel has assured us she will be up until at least midnight as there is a cricket test match on - and she is a BIG cricket fan! I will post some pics when I get back, note to self; don't forget to take camera!!

WIAW progress

2009-08-18T17:09:00.003+12:00

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I last posted! Since then I have cut out all my WIAW garments, all that is left is to fuse interfacing to the facings of the skirt, make sure I have all the threads I need and then wait for Friday to arrive :-))

Last night I traced off Pamela's Patterns T-shirt and Tank , I will test these as soon as I can, possibly this week as they won't take long. If I use the same fabric that I made my last t-shirt in I still have the overlocker threaded up.

I have got a class tonight so won't get anything done, but tomorrow I can do some sewing. This weekend we have a sewing weekend at a friends house, a small group of us get together on a regular basis. I will only spend Saturday out there as I have plans for Sunday but I should get some work done in that time.

Pamela's patterns, Simplicity 4076 & meet my new pet!

2009-08-12T21:53:00.005+12:00

Phew, long title! I didn't think they would make decent posts separately so I lumped them all together :-)

My Pamela's patterns arrived today. I got a lovely surprise as I had completely forgotten I had even ordered them! I am keen to test them out so I might see if I have got some time during my WIAW prep week, it all depends on how long it takes me to cut out my garments and 'prep' them.

I have almost finished Simplicity 4076. I tried it on tonight to check hems etc - and it is quite snug and a little bit short in the body. The hem as it is now, just overlocked but not turned up, is a bit shorter than I would wear but I could put up with it and would wear it as is, no hem. I think next time I will cut out the 16 right up to the underarm, then the 14 around the armhole and neck. Apart from that I really like it and will definitely be making more. This one will hang in my sewing room until I lose a little weight (and a few inches in height Lol).

One thing I didn't like was their instructions for the neck band. They wanted me to stitch the band on and then turn the seam allowance away from the neck and top stitch close to the seam - this would have meant stitching over the gathers - made no sense to me?! So, I left it unstitched.

Finally, meet my Gorilla :-)) I decided it might help if I got myself a tripod to take my own photo's with, this gorillapod was in the camera shop across the road so I thought I would give it a home. I have yet to try it out. I think I will also have to consider a remote for my camera, if I can get one for it.

So, Friday is my day off (yay, I had to work last week so am really looking forward to this week!) and also the start of the August WIAW over on Stitchers Guild, so I will be spending a good bit of my day 'prepping' my choices - and likely changing my mind a few times - well, isn't that a sewist's perogative?? :-)

I couldn't sew without....part 1

2009-08-08T17:05:00.004+12:00

I was having a tidy up in my sewing room the other day and was making sure I placed my most used tools near my sewing machine. I started to think about how much I use some of them and how they make my sewing life so much easier. I thought I would do some posts over the next few weeks and each one will feature one of my most used tools.

I have had this sewing gauge for so many years I can't even remember how old it is! It has been ironed (almost lost it as it warped!!), thrown in the bin with my scraps, lost on numerous occasions! I always panic slightly when I can't find it straight away, after pins and scissors (and sewing machine of course :-)) I think this must be my most used item when I sew! It has inches on one side and millimetres on the other - mentally, I tend to jump between both when I am sewing so I find it really handy. I have never seen another one of these the same. I did find a metal one once but the edges were sharp and it wasn't as nice to use - I also have the terrible habit of putting it between my teeth while I pin and the metal one felt horrid in my mouth, haha - gross I know!

What can't you sew without?

Hey, I won :-) - and 'down and dirty denim skirt' pics.

2009-08-05T20:59:00.008+12:00

First of all, I am so excited! Jane, from 'The Small Fabric of my Life', chose my idea for her airport outfit for when she goes off on her holiday to Spain! She asked for suggestions as to what she should wear and will bring back a souvenir for the person who chose the outfit she liked best! That was me :-))))) How great is that? I'm still smiling ;-) Actually, I hadn't absorbed the bit about the winner getting a prize from her holiday, it wasn't until I read the post on her blog asking me to email her with my snail mail address that I went back and re-read it - thanks Jane, you made my day:-))

I love Jane's blue and silver striped skirt she has just bought, and I plan to make my own version this summer. I have the perfect fabric, an emerald and white stripe cotton - slightly narrower stripe than in Jane's skirt but it will still work. I also want to make myself a version of her American Apparel circle scarf, it looks so versatile and I love scarves! Watch this space.........well, blog :-)

Ok, I had my son take some photo's of me in my denim skirt today - I am putting them on here but I have to say that I don't like them! Does everyone feel they look terrible in their own photo's? I don't know how to stand, what to do with my hands, to smile or look serious...and I feel I look totally shapeless Lol!

when it came to it this was the best of a bad bunch - clearly I need to work on my photo's. I need to get a close up of me and not so much 'stuff' (it probably doesn't help that my lovely, helpful son is 6 feet tall so the angle isn't good! my story!!), but without cutting off my head or legs.............then again, maybe that could be an improvement! Ha ha ha!

Simplicity 2603 - finished, I think?!

2009-08-04T14:59:00.006+12:00

Over the weekend I put together Simplicity 2603. It went together very fast, partly because I didn't bother with any kind of edge finish. I decided to wear it today to see if I liked it that way, and I think that I do. I am not sure if I would leave it unfinished in a different fabric, but in this strange nylon/polyester type knit it seems to be ok.

This is it left loose - not sure it is very flattering so probably won't wear it this way too often.

I had originally made this up as a test run for the August WIAW over on Stitchers Guild, but now I have made it I am not sure I want another one! Also, the other fabric I had in mind is much heavier and would make it very weighty! Will have to think about it.

Also, on the advice of my eldest son, I shortened my denim skirt. He is my stylist too *smile*, I always know he will give me an honest opinion, and he cares! He is also one of those unusual breed of (straight) young men who are quite happy to go clothes shopping, hang about outside the changing rooms, get a bigger size (don't usually need a smaller one, Lol) etc. I tried it on with my new boots and he said it was too long, so I whizzed round the bottom on the overlocker and took off about 3 inches! Of course, because it is my down and dirty denim skirt, I didn't bother changing the red thread that was already in the machine - after all it is my down and dirty denim skirt!

A word about the photo's, I felt very strange having a photo taken for my blog, I asked my son to take it as I had no luck with the mirror!!! I will have to get myself a tripod - I am sure I will get more comfortable with practice :-)

Down and dirty denim!

2009-08-01T16:12:00.005+12:00

Meh! About 2 months agoI started this Hot Patterns Metropolitan Superfly skirt in a lovely soft denim I had in my collection. I was really looking forward to wearing it and thought it would be a great piece to add to my wardrobe for wearing with boots for the winter and into the spring. I stopped working on it when I just had the hem to do! Why?

Well, for a start I was not too happy with the shape. The pattern picture looks much slimmer than the skirt is and I didn't think to check that beyond making sure it fitted round the waist and hips - and I had topstitched all the seams before I realised.

Also, I had a horrible 'bulge' at the bottom of my zip - seriously, I looked like a guy in drag! It was that bad! Now, after agonising over the instructions for the facing and fly (I knew I could do it my way but was determined to follow the pattern! Perverse, I know) I was so p****d off I almost threw it in the bin.

I had made the pockets and decided I wouldn't put them on because they weren't flattering on my substantial behind, and all in all the skirt was very plain and boring! What a waste of time!

However...today I decided to see if I could save it and at least wear it for a few months (I am on a weight loss programme so hope it will be too big in a few months anyway :-)). I spent an age unpicking my carefully sewn in zip - complete with bar tacks! - and taking off the facing. I found this silver funky zipper in my drawer and decided to make it a feature in the front, in an effort to make it a bit less 'plain'. After inspecting a friends denim skirt (that had cost her a fortune) I took note that it had just been zig-zagged at the hem and waist (no facing), so I whizzed round the waist on my overlocker that was threaded with cream thread from L's dress, and then decided to do the same with the hem.

When I had finished and was pressing it I decided to stitch one of the pockets on after all - at the hem!

At the end of the day I am glad I saved this skirt, I hate to have to give up on a project. I am hesitant to make another one of these - shame.

Phew - finished!

2009-07-31T23:01:00.003+12:00

The dress is finished - with time to spare! L collected her dress tonight, unfortunately things have been happening to work against her and she can't go after all! She is not happy about it but I have quite enjoyed making her dress and hopefully she will be able to wear it on another occasion.As with most things, it looks much better on but I was unable to get a photo of her wearing it. I will post one if I get the chance but flat hanging shots will have to suffice for now.

Tomorrow I will start work on Simplicity 2603 that I have cut out. I think I will leave the edges unhemmed, as it is a knit it won't ravel and I think it may hang better without stitching - we shall see.

Work on the dress - at work!

2009-07-30T11:29:00.008+12:00

One of the pro's of being my own boss is that I got to spend some of yesterday sewing 'L's ball dress while I should have been working! (one of the con's is that no one else will pick up the slack! It was all waiting for me this morning Lol) It also helps that the friend I am making the dress for is my business partners daughter!

I made good progress on the dress; I had already interlined the bodice pieces with a lining fabric, I made my own fusible bias tape and fused it to the interlining (silly me didn't think to measure though and when I stitched my 5/8" seam I missed the fusible altogether!).

I stitched the bodice and lining pieces together, understitched the neckline and armhole edges as far as I could reach, made the piping for the empire seam and made the drape.

The drape turned out to be much easier than I expected, I folded the fabric in half along the bias to make a triangle and then stitched both sides, leaving a small opening at the tip of the triangles - the drape will be stitched in to the shoulders about 11" down from each point so I knowI will be cutting some off.I have fitted the skirt and today (another work day!!) will overlock the edges - we are not lining the skirt as the fabric is so heavy - and stitch the skirt to the bodice. Tonights job will be to insert the invisible zip (oh what fun, with a piped seam to have to match it might take me all night!) L will come for a fitting later on this evening and we will sort out the hem length with her shoes and also make a final decision on how long she wants the drape. With luck all I will have left to do on Friday is stitch the drape in at the shoulders (which I have left open) and hem it. I am going to do a rolled hem on the overlocker because I don't want to machine it and hand stitches will show - plus I don't have a lot of time!

I will post photos once it is finished!

Eta; I didn't get anything done at work as I had forgotten my tool for taking the 2nd needle out of my overlocker and it just didn't stitch well with two needles but only one threaded! I could have used 4 threads to neaten but didn't think about that til later - duh!

Back to the drawing board!

2009-07-26T09:07:00.005+12:00

But not for long as I only have this week (minus two evenings and every day except Friday which is my day off ) to get the dress finished! It turns out that what L wanted was really a drape that looked like a hood, which is apparently what is on a graduation gown.

Fzxdoc on stitchers guild posted this picture for me and when L saw it she said that it was exactly what she wanted!! While she liked the dress we (I) muslined, she really wanted something very simple, singlet/tank style top with empire line and the drape starting at the shoulders. I can get the drape effect she wants if I fold the square of fabric in half on the bias and hang the points from her shoulders - it was that simple!

So, todays job is to trace another pattern (I could go to Spotlight, but by the time I do I could probably have traced the bodice - we are using the original skirt pattern) and then compare it to the bodice I already made a muslin of - which fits. It is possible I may need more of the brown fabric and I have to get some piping cord - so a trip to Spotlight might be on the cards anyway. She doesn't want a lot of the brown elsewhere on the dress, but we thought maybe some piping round the empire line would break it up and relate to the drape.

Watch this space.............!

New patterns & WIAW fabric.

2009-07-24T10:35:00.011+12:00

This is my fabric for two or possibly three components of my August WIAW. They are both knit fabrics and go together really well. The plain knit will become Simplicity 2603 from my previous post, along with a plain top, possibly the tank that goes with said pattern. The patterned knit will be another top, yet to be decided. I am not sure yet what I will make as item 4, it will obviously be a bottom half garment of some kind - what kind, I dont yet know.

I took advantage of a recent offer on http://www.sewingpatterns.com/ when they had Simplicity patterns at only US$1.99. I bought 7 new patterns, amazingly 3 of them were dress patterns! I am determined to make myself some dresses this summer and would particularly like a maxi dress. I also plan to use some of my fabric 'collection' because I have decided that I won't save fabric anymore - if I like it I will use it, as long as it is suitable for the pattern that is!

P.S. I am getting seriously frustrated with putting photos where I want them in my posts! Any advice anyone??

I've been and gone and done it!

2009-07-23T10:20:00.007+12:00

Joined the August Wardrobe In A Week (WIAW) contest over at Stitchers Guild, that is! After failing miserably to complete last years June Capsule Contest and this years SWAP, I think this is slightly more achievable. We get a week to prepare during which time we can cut out, fuse interfacing, mark darts etc - anything that isn't actual 'fabric piercing sewing'. Then we get a week to put the garments together - sounds like plenty of time..........right?

I would normally never attempt to use a new pattern for pressure sewing - but I have just received this pattern, Simplicity 2603 which I have been waiting impatiently for. It looks fairly simple, no real fitting involved and I have the perfect teal drapey knit for it. I will do a t-shirt or tank in the same fabric and I have a lovely print knit that matches really well, that may become another top to go underneath or I may decide to do two bottom pieces. At this stage they would be a skirt and a pair of pants, both in charcoal which is going to be my new neutral.

I will post a photo of the fabrics tomorrow - after I have finished the muslin for 'L's dress as she is coming for her first fitting tomorrow after work! Fingers crossed!

Do you 'Stash' or 'Collect'?

2009-07-22T20:19:00.003+12:00

Carolyn at 'diary of a sewing fanatic' has posted about her fabric 'collection'. Her post but a BIG smile on my face :-) I love how she is so proud of her cupboard (and more!) full of fabric. Fabric she has collected over the years, that gives her so much pleasure even while she isn't sewing with it. Her post really struck a chord with me. I love to stroke, fold, unfold, put together mini wardorbes with, match patterns to then change my mind about - my fabric! I even lie in bed at night when drifting off to sleep and plan what I will make with a certain piece! I never know when inspiration might strike - I have been known to stand behind the counter of my shop and 'sketch' a customers garment while they browse!!

While my 'stash/collection' isn't anywhere near as substantial as Carolyn's, her post made me realise that my fabric gives me great pleasure also - even if I am not sewing with it! And I am going to enjoy it on a regular basis. If, at some stage, I manage to make some of it into a real garment - even better. The only thing I haven't decided is...wether to call mine a 'stash' or a 'collection'!

I have started...

2009-07-19T17:40:00.003+12:00

...work on the school ball dress for my friend. In the photo you can see the lovely fabric she has chosen, oyster coloured heavy satin with a lovely chocolate brown as the hood lining and the band under the bust. The pattern - BWOF 12/08 #109 - has a shawl collar and is empire line - I am hoping I can extend the collar to make it into a hood, she said she wants it to look like the kind of hood there is on a graduation gown, I think they are pointed? Will have to research that a bit - never having graduated!

I have almost finished tracing the pattern, we are using the skirt style from BWOF 12/08 #104 and shortening it to knee length. My first job will be to make a muslin - of course :-) 'L' has slim hips but is generous in the bust area and I will probably need to alter for that - I hope the style doesn't cause problems with being too revealing, time will tell - and I don't have much of that! As this is a quick job and the satin is so heavy, we have decided not to line the skirt part of the dress, just the bodice.

Tomorrow I will have a play with some muslin and see if I can come up with an extension of the collar to make the hood, I don't think she wants to wear it, just have it as a feature - but I had better check that first!

To List or not to List

2009-07-15T20:09:00.005+12:00

That is the question. I am deliberating over whether or not to list my current projects in progress. One of the reasons for starting a blog - although far from being the main reason - is to encourage/help/shame me into finishing some (or maybe all?) of my many projects. Will having them listed on here help me? Or will it work to my disadvantage? I will ponder a while longer on that one.
Meanwhile, I have agreed (in a mad moment) to make a ball dress for a young friend - by 1st August! She wants a fairly simple style but wants me to add a hood - a hood on a ball dress? Original I suppose! We have bought the fabric and I have a pattern in a BWOF that I can use for the main part of the dress - now I just have to make/start it!!

Watch this space.

Welcome!

2009-07-14T17:43:00.001+12:00

I have finally taken the plunge and set up my own blog! I hope that it might encourage me to finish some (or all) of the many projects I start. I am very good at starting a new project, be it knitting, quilting, jewellry making, beading, stamping, cross stitch and garment sewing - I am not quite so good at finishing them!! Perhaps having my projects listed here for me and all to see will encourage/shame me into getting them out of the UFO pile :-) Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join me on my journey through my creations.