2.Next I took the bottom piece of the skirt and sewed about 1cm away from the top edge all the way round from button to button hole. This stitch is going to be gathered so if you are using a machine set it to the longest stitch length that you can and leave about 10cm thread on each end.
Thursday 1 May 2014
Mens Shirt to Cute Skirt
2.Next I took the bottom piece of the skirt and sewed about 1cm away from the top edge all the way round from button to button hole. This stitch is going to be gathered so if you are using a machine set it to the longest stitch length that you can and leave about 10cm thread on each end.
Friday 18 April 2014
Busy busy bee
Just realized it has been over a month since I last posted! I apologize for my silence and I'm afraid I cannot even say that I have been busy sewing!
Somehow time has disappeared - I've blinked and April's nearly through. It's been good though filled with all sorts. After some time with friends and family, a promotion, a new voluntary position, re-organization of the house and and an attempt to reclaim the garden for veggies I haven't had much time for stitching.
As things quieten down (in theory) I have a few plans for my sewing in the next few weeks.
- to start that pair of trousers I keep talking about
- to sew some more cushions for the lounge
- to make some more bits for my etsy shop and hopefully sell a few too
- to make time to sew with other people because I love that!
And now I've blogged all of that I have to do it right :-D Well watch this space and I'll keep you posted on how I get on!
What have your April makes been? Do share :-)
Thursday 27 March 2014
Pink love!
Monday 10 March 2014
Time gone by
The truth is I'm not sure - there is just something very peaceful about it for me. I enjoy the steadiness of the machine, I love the colours of the fabric, I love unusual things and I love the finished products. Sitting on my own in a room may not come naturally to me but it has become something I treasure - stitching and snipping away to create something I love.
The time that I got into sewing clothes was when I was at school - sewing with friends for a textiles GCSE and somehow I came up with the mad idea to make my prom dress. It was before the time of so many people owning digital cameras so I don't have a picture. It was a satin purple in a medieval style with flowing sleeves - definitely not the top fashion of the day but I absolutely loved it. From that point I dabbled on and off with crafting until I made my wedding dress and then continued on from there.
I had a good think though and realised that actually my earliest sewing memory was making this little chappy with my Mum.
I was given a little sewing pack and set about - probably one set of holidays - sewing him up. I still think he is pretty good and definitely very cute! I cannot remember how old I was but it would have been in primary school at some point. I remember setting all the pieces out on my Mum's bed and her helping me figure out what went where. Then I remember being very proud of the finished product - I can't remember much of the actual sewing process but it made me smile to think about this little duck. Definitely a happy sewing memory for me!
What is your first sewing memory? Can you remember sewing as a child or was it an adult hobby? Do share your first creations with me!
Friday 28 February 2014
Tablecloth skirt
I set about pinning my gathers. I used 8cm per gather and folded it so that the 8cm became 4cm therefore by the time I had finished my skirt is half the length of when I started. I used the same gathering as I did here so click on the link to get the full tutorial. Once you have pinned your pleats run a line of straight stitching to hold them in place and press firmly.
Now I added a bias binding waist band. This can be made as thick or thin as you like - I really liked the little band on this skirt so I went for it.
And here you have it the finished skirt.
And the skirt on me . . .
And with a little shake of the hips you see the full swing-y-ness of this skirt and the reason why I was so happy to find such a lovely circular fabric. This is a skirt to go dancing in! Today it shall simply accompany me to a lunch date with a friend but one day I shall take it for a proper spin!
Saturday 22 February 2014
Some fabulous Upcycling
I thought I would take some time to do a bit of a post about some of the fabulous upcyclers that I come across. I keep finding the most amazing creations made from old or unused things so thought I would do a post to shout out to some of these fantastic artists. So here goes . . .
A gorgeous upcycle of a toddlers tunic made from an old top! This is by xoxo grandma - just click on the link to pop across to a whole load of sewing fabulousness! I love the gathering on this and the belt is too cute!
A sweater from a charity shop to a gorgeous bag - the detail on this is fantastic! Pop over to visit Gina at Gina's craft corner
This comes from Callaloux Bikoux and you can buy these lovely things on facebook so pop across and say hi!
Well I hope you have enjoyed my little wander around some fellow bloggers work - I certainly have. Do pop across to their blogs and shops and give them a follow or a like. I think this post represents what I love so much about upcycling really well - reduce waste and be super creative and innovative while your at it!
Monday 17 February 2014
Knickers
Well I have been doing a bit of a trial on making my own - I know crazy right! My impression was that it would be incredibly fiddly and technical and generally an absolute nightmare! Well apparently not - the hardest part about making knickers was the fact that my machine broke about every line of stitching I did!
I did a bit of a pinterest search and found this fab instruction sight from drumbellina.
So I set about chopping and stitching - I have some t-shirt fabric that I have not used up completely yet so thought I would do a bit of a trial run with that before I advance to more fancy fabric.
I changed the instructions slightly and instead of using pinking shears to edge I used my overlocker. So here are my very rough test pair!
Monday 10 February 2014
Re-imagining
The past week or so has been about trying to re-imagine how I use my time - where do all those little pieces of time disappear to that could be used in a much more positive way. I set myself a little challenge to actively avoid the tv and see how that went.
I have to confess, quite ashamedly, to feeling mild panic about three days in when faced with a morning off. The rain was pouring, I'd done gym already and I wasn't feeling particularly creative. Obviously it was ridiculous to feel that way and I continued my day happily sewing and doing jobs round the house before work but it highlighted to me how programmed my mind is to think I need this box in front of me in order to relax. Over Christmas I was surprised again at the number of ads flying through my mind each day. I grew up without a tv and I realized I didn't know I was supposed to want to visit Disney land and therefore was quite happy with some fab family holidays in cottages and the countryside. I'm not sure I want a tv to dictate how I think so I continued to try to keep it off. Now a week and a half in I feel great - I love the peace in the house, I love reading and listening to music. I love eating dinner at the table instead of off my lap because that program I just have to see is on right now. We all know I love sewing so that's a given! ;-) but I can say in all honesty I don't miss it in the slightest!
So for now my decision is definitely to keep the tv off - probably to remove it altogether in the long run - and try to explore some simple pleasures in life.
Have you made any changes in 2014 that you'd like to share? Do send me a message - maybe I'll look at a feature post of all of your transforming moments so far!
Till next time
x
Friday 31 January 2014
Heart Bunting Tutorial
2)Like so . . . .
4) You then should end up with 4 pairs of hearts. Place them right side of fabric facing towards each other.
Sunday 26 January 2014
Tunic top
I didn't have a pattern so I used another top to get the sizing right.