New Year Sewing plans - delayed by one month oops

Well just managed to get this in before the end of January (unless you are based in Australia or nearby).  My plan sounded achievable at the beginning of the year, and it is, if I hadn't got sidetracked by knitting so I have decided that rather than trying to play catch up I will just move everything round a month - sneaky huh.  So this month - by that I now mean February my sewing plans are to make two tops.

Easy.

Well I started with inspiration from Ruche which do modern vintage and normally have some cute stuff.  For February my two designs are below.

Inspiration from Ruche

I do not intend to make something identical to these, this is just my starting point.   Looking at the white top I choose to make it using Grainline's Scout pattern, but as yet do not have a pattern that is similar to the second top - ideally it will be from an independent designer.  If you know of a pattern please let me know.

I've not made this pattern before so will make a simple toile first to check the size and become used to the pattern- that said from what I have read it is not a difficult pattern.  

I also want to become more familiar with different fabrics as my knowledge is extremely limited at present.  My toile will be made in good old polycotton  So now I've written about it I have no excuse but to get on and make it.

If you have any suggestions for a pattern for the second make please leave a comment below.

Knitting update - Promise more on sewing soon

Yes I know this sewing blog has been taken over by knitting.  Normal service will be resumed soon.  Well the good news is that I have completed my January plans and have made both a hat and scarf.  The scarf was made with double knit wool and involved 20 stitches cast on and then knit until I felt it was long enough then cast off.  Very easy and a great starting point to get confidence up.   I like the stripes that just knitting gave the scarf. The hat was a success in that it is indeed a hat but I don't think I will be wearing it. It also included more skills so cast on knit decrease and cast off but also sewing together to form the shape.

The knitting for February is a flower and a childs cardigan.  This seems like quite a leap but I will may close attention to the wool I buy as I think that the hat was less successful as this was odd ball of wool from the back of the cupboard so I'm not really sure what it was maybe too stretchy.

Well with the weather getting colder here at least my neck will stay warm.

New Year Knitting Schedule January

source

New year and new challenges.  Having seen some beautiful cardigans and hats recently,especially LLadybirds and Tasia's Owls I have decided that it would be good to be able to knit, especially as I love to be warm and wear cardigans almost everyday.  So having been given a knitting book by my Mum aimed at beginners - yep thats me I'm a complete beginner - I have decided upon a rather ambitious schedule.  All the designs come from the book, which has perfectly placed them in order of difficulty.  There are a few designs that I will not be making either because I do not need them (baby booties) or I'm not keen (ZigZag scarf) but there are many that I can see myself not only making, but wearing.

So the schedule (January -April) is as follows and I will try to keep up with it.  Each month has two projects.

January Scarf and Hat

February Flower and Childs Cardigan

March Cable stitch project bag (to keep my knitting in) and lace wrap

April Mittens and Wrist warmers

I will post up as soon as I have completed each make - Not much of January left so need to get a wriggle on wish me luck.

Review of 2013 The wearable scrapbook

Well when I think that at the start of 2013 I could not sew (I did own two sewing machines though - another story) I feel very proud of how far I came and also of every item I made. That's not to say they were all good but each one reminds of the time I made it and its like a wearable scrapbook.

 So it all began from a Google search and a longing to be creative and ended with a really cool hobby and a daily addiction to reading sewing blogs.

  So first there was Alma - which taught me I don't like peter pan collars and that chiffon sari scarf fabric is not the easiest first sew fabric. I also fell in love with independent patterns and invisible zippers.Then there was Ginger which taught me that with single sided fabric it is really important to fold the fabric wrong sides out before cutting - My coudroy Ginger was actually cut to have the coudroy on the inside and required some - ahem bodging- to get it to work but it is wearable although kicks out a bit in a strange /un ginger like way. It also introduced me to Colette patterns which I fell for big time.

 There was two Laurels - one knit and one strange sparkly sari blue. The knit I've worn lots and lots. I also entered into a competition with these

There was a really wearable Mathilde - which also ended up being my most read post of last year after Tilly retweeted the photo I sent her - Thanks Tilly This I've worn to several friends birthdays and also my trip to London to buy fabric.


  There was a beautiful Hawthorn - in plaid that kinda matches up that i wore to my daughters 2nd birthday

 A made-by-rae buttercup bag - think i need the bigger pattern though as I like to carry a lot of stuff

 There was a Staple dress that I wore to see Matilda the musical with my mum and other daughters 8th birthday. This i always wear with a chunky belt so it may need more elastic next time - shirring is so much fun

 Then there was my last project of the year Victoria Blazer - which I loved making but think I need a more tailored - less eighties style pattern and that i need to have more adventurous fabric choice - it was a bit dull. I had hoped to make an avocado hoodie but that is still to be made and will probably have more adventurous fabric as the choice I had in mind was a bit dull - see learning from my blazer mistake.  What I really love about all these is that I remember not only where I have worn them but also when I made them and what we were doing at the time. Some clothes remind me of the film that I watched whilst sticking the printed pattern together or the music I was listening to whilst assembling it   I have learnt so much in a year and wonder what I will have achieved by this time next year. Next post I will tell you about my plans for 2014 until then thanks for reading

eek!!! that was a rather long time, sorry

Hello Happy new year, Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Halloween. Well that's me up to date now. Sorry for disappearing on you all, but I am safe and well just took some time off. Well I think after making the Victoria Blazer, I realised how much I still needed to make to reach my challenge and well gave up. Now the coast is clear and the year is over I can start sewing again. I still plan to only sew independent patterns though as I love them. Anyway, My next post will be a reflection of last years sewing

My question to you - What do you listen to when sewing?

Whilst sewing my Victoria Blazer on Saturday night I began to wonder how other people sew?  I have my sewing space in the living room so often sew whilst having the TV on in the background.  Usually catching up on Downton Abbey or The Great British Bake Off.  My favorite was to have it tuned into 6music.  I especially like Cerys on a Sunday Morning.  But this Saturday night was different in that I was listening to podcasts.

Whilst making the Victoria Blazer I was referring to the photos on the By Hand website. They are very good.  So I had the podcast running in the background. I haven't really been one for podcasts but these were featured on a blog that I just started following on Bloglovin.  They were all about the recent BFI London Film Festival and featured interviews with independent film makers. What is it with me and the independents?  I do not have much knowledge about this subject but found it fascinating.  The podcasts are not very long but contained so much information in the form of friendly interviews.  I was not able to attend any of this years festival but feel that I would love to in the future.

So my question to you this month (as this will be a new monthly feature) what do you listen to when sewing? Do you listen to music whilst sewing and if so what is on your playlist? Do you have the window open and listen to the birds?  Or is it films, tv series or podcasts, radio stations? I look forward to your comments

The site I was listening to is called Directors Notes and can be found here if you wanted to have a listen too.  I know it will take me a while to get through their back catalogue.

Victoria Blazer. By Hand London.

Well I've made it and if you had asked me at the beginning of the year "could I make a jacket?"  I would have replied "not a chance".  The pattern is brilliant and there are some very wonderful and beautiful versions out there, but I'm afraid to stay this isn't one of them.  I have to say that I am not in love with mine and it has nothing to do with the pattern - which is fabulous and so very well supported on the web site that even I could make this.  I'm not in love because of my styling.  Others have done the shell in a gorgeous to die for pattern - but mine is solid navy.  Very functional but far from exciting.  Others have contrasting collar and main shell - mine is very tame. I had considered - and may still do this - having the collar, cuffs and lapels made out of the very same, lovely navy polka dot that I have lined it with.


I've not made many things so far that have been this plain.


So I am proud of the shape, the size, the finish on the cuffs, collar, lapels.  I didn't enjoy easing those sleeves but they really are quite good.  I traced this pattern something I have never done before.  I love the way when I turned the whole thing inside out at the end - I 'm sure there's smoke and mirrors involved- but it actually looked well, properly finished.   I'm so glad I made it as I can see my dream of making my own cosy winter coat coming ever closer.  I also love the pockets and as the instructions mention - I will be unpicking side seams to add pockets from now on on every dress - genius.

So it may just need a really nice brooch or button, or maybe the contrasting cuffs and /or lapels and collar.  Maybe you have some ideas cos it really does need some help.  Please let me know any suggestions in the comments below.