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Monday 18 March 2024

Trying a free bear pattern

As people know I sew, I thought the day might come when I'd be asked to make a memory bear. In order to be ready for this I decided to try making a bear out of quilting cotton with a free pattern. I've learned a lot but this wouldn't be a pattern I'd use again, and I'm going to take it apart and reuse the stuffing and what I can of the pieces.


Here's a link to the How Joyful Bear sewing pattern and tutorial

How to make a stuffed bear: The HowJoyful Bear

It's really lovely of Joy to provide the bear pattern for free, and I appreciate that. However my bear does have a number of problems, some from the pattern some of my own making.

Fabric: 

The successful bears I've seen using this pattern all use something soft and with some volume like fleece, french terry etc, I used quilting cotton as being similar to clothing which I would use for a memory bear. As it was quite flimsy I interfaced all the pieces with iron on interfacing. (I managed to use only scraps as the pieces are not that large, so that was a real win).

The original bears used a low contrast colour combo - cream and pink or cream and pale brown. Although my quilting cottons go well together the paisley is too dark which makes the nose area in particular very visually dominant.

Size: 

The pattern is for a one size only bear. Its a sitting bear about 17" tall (to top of ears). This was a lot bigger than I'd wanted to make and used a very large amount of stuffing.

Shape: 

The belly sticks out rather more pointily than I think looks good, and smoother less pronounced curve would look better.

The head is a rather odd shape, very wide at the bottom and with a very pronounced muzzle, though I'm not sure what would be a good size/shape. The head also seems a bit big for the accompanying body.

Instructions:

When Joy originally shared the pattern, she described in very general terms how to put the bear together. Later she went back and wrote more detailed step by step instructions which are interwoven with the original text and pictures. This is slightly confusing to follow.

The instructions refer to numbered pattern pieces, but the print out doesn't have these numbers. I tried to match up the names of the pieces to add the numbers after I'd printed it out. This was only partially successful and I mixed up two similarly named pieces.

The pattern includes letters at various points which are used to help match the pieces up. These are generally pretty helpful. Unfortunately there are a couple of mistakes which meant I had some unpicking to do and some moments of great confusion. The front legs have the letters the wrong way round so they don't match up later on, this was fixed by unpicking and resewing. There is also a wrong letter somewhere in the shoulder area which really confused me.

Following a blog post I had read, I stitched some fabric onto the back of the muzzle area to keep the stuffing in place.

If you follow the instructions, much of the head is sewn on by hand, fine for a decorative bear but unlikely to hold up with a child. I changed it round, leaving the rear seat open and stitching the head to the body by machine. I also left one side unsewn, and then sewed up the seat.

The pattern does not include seam allowances. I added 1/4" onto the paper pattern as I'm not used to adding the seam allowances by eye. I wasn't clear when sewing the bear up which seams to sew all the way to the edge of the seam allowance and which to stop at the stitching line. Consequently I had to unpick some short sections and sadly also have some small gaps at intersections (front neck, front leg join)

I made eyes from 3 circles of felt - white, brown and black - and stitched them on by hand. I didn't embroider a nose/mouth as I wasn't sure how well the black thread would show against the navy paisley fabric. The bow covers the hole at the front neck.

Conclusion:

I won't be using this pattern again, and I shall take this bear apart to reclaim the materials used!

Thursday 14 March 2024

Holiday Purchases

I've been away for a few days to Boston in Lincolnshire, England, which is less than 2 hours away.

It was cold and windy but we managed to see the coast at the beach and the marsh as well as a National Trust property and exploring locally. 

Happily one of the other Sewing Place members lived nearby so we had a chance to meet up for a walk on the beach, lunch, a trip to a fabric shop then a peek at her sewing room. A fabulous day.

This is the jersey I bought from Fabrique Creations in Skegness with J.
£1 spools of overlocker thread from Westlands Sewing in Boston.
Sewing pattern and elastic thread from the St Barnabas Hospice Shop

Tuesday 5 March 2024

Aqua print top

 At the end of last year I made some polo neck top (turtleneck tops) including one in this lovely aqua print.

I only had enough left for the front, sleeves and neckband of another top. As this was a cotton elastane knit it wouldn't have worked to use a softer and drapier rayon/viscose for the back, so I hunted about in my fabric resources until I found something with similar heft (but unknown fibre content).

I still have some small strips of the fabric left, so you may see it appear again in future, though only as neckband, cuff or pocket!


Saturday 2 March 2024

Floral Top

 

I want to embrace Spring but its still quite cold, so this polo neck top (turtleneck) is a great solution. Bright and cheery but with a snuggly neck and long sleeves.


It's made from my usual TNT pattern OOP New Look 6008 where I've altered the sleeve for a full bicep and the back piece for a high round back. 

Thursday 29 February 2024

Striped Tee for a friend

This is the Closet Core T-shirt with the full bust front and the cropped length. I made it for my friend C.


There was a bit of fabric left, so she'll get that back to play with (she's learning to sew, but has a busy full time job)


Wednesday 28 February 2024

Ivory Top

I seem to make a new ivory/cream top every year as they seem to shrink or get stained.


This is made from a pattern I created by tracing off a RTW top


For this version I added a sight V at the front neck by stitching a little line on the band from behind.

Saturday 24 February 2024

Remy Raglan adapted

This is the Remy Raglan pattern with the full sleeve add on, but then instead of the woven cuffs and bias neckline I've cut jersey bands, copying something I saw in the Whitcomb Top.


It is an experiment, that I don't think has quite worked, what do you think?






Wednesday 21 February 2024

Metra Blazer in a Printed Ponte

 

I've made another Metra blazer, this time in a printed ponte knit.


For this version I made the shawl collar version as I felt that shape was more in keeping with the swirls of the stylised floral print on the fabric.

I kept the full bicep alteration and did a high round back alteration of 1 inch.

When I wore it out for lunch with a friend I wore it with blue jeans (Itch to Stitch Mountain View) and a plain aqua turtleneck (poloneck). It worked well.

I think plain coloured versions would be more versatile, but I'm trying to sew from stash and this was a suitable weight.

Tuesday 20 February 2024

Sparkling Stars - Citrine Blocks

 In March 2023 I made the Ruby, Amethyst and Emerald Blocks for the Sparkling Stars quilt from The Sewing Place.

After a long pause, I gave myself a nudge, and have now done the Citrine blocks


I've done them as neatly as I am able, which for now is good enough.

The yellow fabrics all came from my lovely Auntie Joy's quilting stash.

I still have the Aquarmarine and Sapphire blocks to do, but maybe a bit of garment sewing next.


For a chuckle I include the first picture I took of the blocks, only for a dear friend to notice the 'deliberate mistake?'. Once I'd seen it it was glaringly obvious so I had to upick and resew that section!


Here are all the blocks I've made so far.


Monday 12 February 2024

Black Pinstripe trousers

My final piece in this collection are some black pinstripe trousers.


This is my altered New Look 6735 pattern. I also added extra hidden inseam zipped pockets.


 And here are all the pieces together


Tuesday 6 February 2024

Black and white print top

Yup its another turtleneck top, this time from a viscose (rayon) fabric printed with an irregular squares pattern

I used the same pattern as the previous top, but I love how it shows the difference in the drape, particularly in the collar.


My accidental SWAP is looking quite good now with 5 tops, 2 layers, 2 bottoms, a coat and a hat.

I'm planning one more pair of trousers and then I'd like to switch colours!

Monday 5 February 2024

Rib knit sweater and hat

I had some pieces of tubular rib knit and decided to make a turtleneck top and a hat.


Yet again I used I used OOP New Look 6008 which I've altered the sleeve for a full bicep and the back piece for a high round back. 




The ribbed hat is made from the Fleece Fun free Beanie Hat pattern

Easy Fleece Hat Free Pattern with Video Tutorial ♥ Fleece Fun

With the red pieces I made in December I have a little capsule wardrobe coming together



Thursday 1 February 2024

New Look 6216 trousers


I've slightly tweaked New Look 6216 and made it up in some lovely black suiting from stash. 1.6 metres of 150cm wide was just enough. I can't remember when or where I bought the fabric but it seems to be a viscose, polyester and elastane mix.

For fit I have extended the crotch on both the front and back as I needed the body depth. I've also lowered the front waist and raised the back waist as well as scooping out the back crotch. Much nicer fit!

I finished the hem with the blind hem stitch.





In addition to my fit alterations I also slightly widened the legs and enlarged the pockets

Tuesday 30 January 2024

My first Metra Blazer

 

I've been noticing people's versions of the Metra blazer, and when it was the $5 Friday pattern a few weeks ago I bought it.
Metra Blazer - Love Notions Sewing Patterns

I watched a few YouTube videos on construction as well as reading the instructions and watching the linked videos. They all varied a little so I mostly followed the advice and did a few bits my own way. Its all worked out fine.

Sizing - I measured myself and chose the size which matched up with my measurements - this was an XL. I did a full bicep alteration on the sleeve. The fit is fine. 

As you can see the back hem is slightly raised which is more pronounced on me, I think on the next version I need to do a high round back alteration (normal for me).

Fabric - I used 2 co-ordinating jacquard double knits I had in stash. These were very spongy, and a bit thick when it came to topstitching etc. It also ravelled and needed to be finished with the overlocker.

I used the larger design for the front back and sleeves, and the smaller design for the side panels, pocket flaps and collar facing. I think it's worked out quite well.

The sort of welt pockets are really clever and I enjoyed doing them. There are not really any pockets, its just an opening into the inside of the facing. You do get a glimpse of the wrong side of the fabric, which isn't that attractive in this knit, so bear that in mind.

The shoulder and neck seam was a bit tricky in this fabric. I would probably had an easier time if I'd interfaced the snip area. Maybe next time!

I really like the pattern and will be trying the other view next.

Monday 29 January 2024

Slim leg black trousers

 


I made some slim leg trousers from a stretch bengaline fabric and decided to use the Monsal lounge pants pattern. This is for knit fabrics, and didn't translate directly to the stretch woven. However scooping the crotch and tightening the elastic has sorted the problem and these should be good basics.

Monsal Lounge Pant pattern from the Wendy Ward Book "A Beginner's Guide to Sewing with Knitted Fabrics".