Newy newness...

Got lots to show you today!

I made a lovely shabby chic pillowcase, I even experimented with 

decorative zig-zagging to applique the letters onto the case.

And I made a few of these knitted phone cases :)

I came up with the pattern myself, I love how it looks woven.

Ooh, and I made a Facebook page in addition to this blog and my Etsy shop. I won't be abandoning you though!

Is anyone else feeling Christmassy all of a sudden? I think now that it's gotten colder, I feel waaay more festive. Any Christmas makes on the go?

DON'T FORGET! The 10% off Etsy code is still live - PROMO1

In case you missed those links....

LOVE pillow

Phone case

Facebook page

Delphine skirt in Love at First Stitch by Tilly Walnes...

This is the last of those 9 projects I showed last week!

The Delphine skirt is a pattern by Tilly Walnes at Tilly and the Buttons.

http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/  

She was also on the sewing bee if you remember! 

The pattern was also featured in her lovely book, Love at First Stitch...

The skirt was also featured on the front cover! Proof of how lovely it is!

Here it is. I made a simple version just to get to grips with the pattern. It's rare that I stick to the pattern entirely, but I trusted this would be a good one, so I tried extra hard to be faithful to the instructions. Here are some detail pictures of the skirt...

The waistband,

Ok so The pattern called for an invisible zip. I didn't have one. So I stitched in a regular zip, and put a flap over it. Guess I didn't stay as true to the pattern as I'd hoped!

I also added a hook at the top to prevent the flap from literally flapping around!

I fully lined the skirt, as the cotton I was using wasn't sturdy enough for the A-line shape. 

I used french seams on the entire skirt for two reasons. 

1. To add to the strength of the garment. 

2. To enhance the A-line shape.

I did have to add some darts on the hips. I'm rather overly blessed on the bottom half, and I had to grade between two sizes. I wasn't sure what to do on the hips as mine are awkwardly sized. But adding in a dart wasn't an issue for me.

Fitting in the waistband facing to the zip wasn't as neat as I wanted it to be. 

But there's always next time!

I loved making this pattern, and I will definitely be making it again. I'll even allow you to see a photo of me wearing it!

Apologies for the bad poses/photography/lighting etc...I took the pics whilst staying at a hotel for the Grand Designs show, where my skirt made its debut appearance :)

Now the question is, do I add some buttons to this? I've got 6 round gold buttons ready to go on, but I don't know whether to just leave it as it is, and make another one....or to alter this one? Any ideas?

Until next time!

I did it!

Well, you all know I've been at uni for what seems like forever, but I finally graduated this week!

Best of all, my husbands graduation was on the same day, so we were able to get some photos of us both in our gowns which was lovely.

Our graduation was on Plymouth Hoe, so of course we had to get Smeatons Tower in our pics!

It feels awesome so have finally finished uni, it's been the hardest thing I've ever done.

Oh, yes that is the dress I refashioned a few posts back :) I got some compliments which was nice!

Speak soon!

An actual wearable item of clothing!

Hi guys! So I've not had much time for crafts lately, final year at uni and 11 weeks until my wedding is just consuming every waking minute right now. BUT! I had a spare evening last week so I decided to knock something out that I've wanted to do for ages...

(not the best pic, hastily taken in the mirror with my new camera that I still don't know how to use!)

Ok, so this may not look like the most technical blouse ever, but it had a lot of elements that I wanted to try. I've made clothes before - I used to make those massive dresses you see in old western re-enactments, but a lot of those techniques are different to what we do nowadays. 

(what I often made. Gorgeous pattern)

I've made clothes for myself before as well, but they were things like summer dresses, pyjama bottoms etc. Things that were allowed to be baggy and wonky looking. But I wanted to make something I could wear all the time.

I drafted the pattern myself, based on a favourite blouse I already had. I made a few changes. I allowed for the back to come down a lot lower, to allow for my builders butt that often comes out when I'm working in the studio!, I added darts, and I added bias binding around the neck and arm holes. The original top just had a seam and it was a bitch to iron!

(here's a blurry pic showing the length at the back and the lovely drape of the fabric)

(This shows how I made the sleeves thinner and added bias binding)

(Close up of my bias binding. Bit wonky now I look at it. Too scared to use the 

machine on my first attempt at it!!)

Now I was quite naughty. I didn't make up a practice top (muslin?) I had this beautiful silky fabric and only 3 hours. Luckily nothing went wrong and I had almost no wastage or anything like that. I got lucky!

So, things I learned:

-how to do bias binding

-how to hem a curve

-where to put a dart in without a pattern

-that this fabric was lovely to sew with and to stop being scared of anything new and just do it!

-that I'm smaller than I think I am! I tend to allow loads of room for movement, but I've actually lost weight!

-use a zig zag stitch in replacement of an overlocker

Most importantly, this little project has given me more confidence. I am good at sewing. And I'm not saying ti to brag or anything, but it's something I can actually do quite well. After finishing this blouse I had the courage to take in one of my cardigans that I've been meaning to do for ages. Bit scary cutting the sides of the knitting, but it worked and it's lovely now. I may show you that when I get another free evening.

Just remember guys, just do it. If you're afraid of a new technique, just have a go at it anyway. It might be easier than you think, and it'll open up loads of opportunities for you!

Contacts...

Hi everyone, if you could all take a look at a lovely little Facebook page that'd be great. It's called seconds away, and they specialize in vintage china. It's all so adorable! They may also be featuring a few of my items as part of a set soon, it depends on how it all goes, but it's looking good :)

So happy!!!

A few old projects...

Hello my lovelies. I'm sorry I have abandoned you, I have been a busy bee.

Here's a handbag I made over the summer, I also spoilt my mum and my fiances sister and made them one each too :)

 



It was more of an experiment than anything, the ones I gave away were much more lovely and higher quality. But it was a chance for me to try out some new and old things I hadn't done in a while.

Buttonholes...

 



 

 

Stitching the edges neatly so you can't see it underneath or on top...

 

 

 

And line it nicely. I've done this before, but I hadn't done it in a while.

 

 

 



Overall, a lovely short project. It only took me an afternoon, and it made 3 nice cheap and cheerful summer bags!


Something else I've done before is make Old Western style dresses for Reenactment groups. I don't have photos of the other ones, but here's one I made a year ago...

 

Here's the pattern I had...

 



 

This is the top part (shame you can't really see the shape properly unless it's on)...

 

And here it is on. The skirt needed a hooped petticoat to fill it out nicely, and the lighting doesn't do the outfit justice. But it did look lovely and got many compliments on the reenactment day!

 





Ok, so I think that's it for today, I've got to dash off to uni now, but I will keep updating! Oh also, do leave comments on what you do and don't like, it'd be nice to get some feedback!

Have a great weekend everyone! x