Print jersey skirt

Traced off the skirt of a RTW dress. Cover hem at the hemline elastic waist. Beautifully soft and drapey to wear.

Print knot front top

Scraps and various patterns.

Next collection: red?

I've been thinking about what I would like for my next collection and I am currently very inspired to sew up some red pieces.
I want to use some classic red ponte knit, some red linen, the new red sweater knit I bought last week and some other fabrics for Tshirts etc.

I would only wear two red/red print items together adding in a third more neutral colour (navy, black, white) so although this is The Red Collection, the pieces will get mixed into my wardrobe when worn.

Last summer I made lots of tops to go with white trousers, and three of them contain red, so would work in with my new colour scheme.

Always nice to have a head start don't you think?

Holiday Fabric Purchases

On current Madiera holiday.

Bought some fabric remnants from Feira dos Tecidos
The navy is a stretch woven, perhaps for trousers.
The two prints are sweater knits. The red is thinner and will be a turtle neck. The brown/burgundy is heavier and will be a skirt and trim on a plain Cardigan.
The burgundy is a lovely heavy slubbed ponte, perhaps a dress.
The silver grey a special occasion blouse.

Charity Event

I had a stall at the May Day Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday selling my sewn bits and pieces for the Stroke Association. I took along a few of my SWAP pieces which I loved a little less, and 3 of them sold (I charged £5 each) - the aqua crinkle skirt, ivory angled hem tee and navy ponte cardigan.  (all to different customers)

I also sold cushions, bags, draught excluder, bunting, denim change pots and other items.
I took a few smaller items into work this week and now have made £120 so far which work's charity scheme will match.
I am now almost out of stock so will start sewing bits and pieces again and given the unexpected interest at work will have a table there one day in a few months time.
I enjoy doing the items for charity as I feel I am using my skills to give back a little, but in a way I can cope with, and avoid any tax implications of people paying me, so its a real win-win.
Sorry no photos as I didn't take a camera and then found my phone battery was flat. However you have seen everything I've made at some point if you've been reading the blog over the last year or so.

SWAP 2015: Gallery and Voting

All the collections are here
SWAP Gallery on Stitcher's Guild

And the voting instructions are here
How to vote for SWAP 2015

There are 12 entries this year which is lovely!

SWAP 2015

Burda Style May 2015

Most months I buy Burda Style magazine if I can find it, though occasionally I am unlucky so don't quite have a full set.
May is full of what I would call 'daft dresses' that have no place in my life, though may work for other people. I did buy this edition mostly for this trouser suit which is very my style.

This is basically a more glamorous version of the sort of thing I wear to work most days (though obviously I do button my blouse before I leave the house).
It is slightly odd with a petite jacket but standard sized trousers, and since I'm between a 42 and a 44 may be too small.
So I love them enough that I will be tracing them (at some point), altering the jacket and actually having a go at making these.

I often wear my purchased suits with coloured brogues and self sewn knit tops, so could see these fitting right in to my actual wardrobe!

New fabric - Monday Market finds

On Monday lunchtime I managed to visit the Monday Market Man and bought myself some goodies.

1.5m of white jersey with aqua flowers.
1.5m of dark navy woven fabric
3m of navy and white striped jersey (very soft)

Spring collection Navy ponte cardigan

Navy ponte cardigan with dolman sleeves to fit nicely over all the dolman sleeve tops.

From Simplicity 1945.

And the collection now looks like this.

Spring collection Navy ponte pencil skirt

This neat little pencil skirt skims over the figure and finishes just below the knee.

It has a centre back seam with a small walking split at the hem.
I used a dark navy ponte fabric bought from the Monday Market Man and as a pattern the back piece only from Vogue 2989 (which I've altered to the length I like). I cut on the fold for the front and added a centre seam for the back to be able to have the little walking split.

It is very simple but I really love it!

 Here's the whole collection. I would quite like to have time to sew a little ponte jacket, if not I will use an existing purchased one for the SWAP.

Spring collection print trousers

Still need a press and the hems stitching but otherwise complete.

I shall have to see if I am brave enough to wear these out the house!

These are from an OOP pattern, New Look 6875.

Here's how my Spring Collection looks now.

New Shoes

From the Clarks Outlet, so not current styles, but very comfortable.

Having found the sandals in blue were super comfortable, I looked for other colours in the same style/size and bought the orange ones as well. I did this last year and got another style in both black and a pinky red.
The navy brogues will be great with my navy trouser outfits.

Draught Excluder

This is a simple make for the craft stall on May Day Bank Holiday, though I shall be reasonably happy if no-one buys it as I can bring it home again and use it myself at the front door.

It was made from a rectangle of pre quilted fabric (I think intended for coat linings) measuring 36" by 18" sewn into a tube with one end left open.
It is stuffed with scraps of wadding and knit fabric from all the projects I've made since November. This makes it a bit heavier than purchased ones, but hopefully that is a plus in terms of staying put and blocking draughts.

I also hemmed the blue trousers and started to work on the navy print trousers.

Stripe top

This top is again made from the blouse in New Look 6217.

Due to a shortage of fabric I have been creative in the cutting out. The back is pieced in 4 pieces and has the upper section cut on the cross grain.

I added a facing with a loop and button closure at the top. This enables the top to be reversed, the button undone and a V neck with collar effect when worn the opposite way round.

The small mother of pearl button was recycled from a worn out silk blouse and works well here with a small ribbon loop.

This works with all the bottoms in the plan.
Here's what the collection looks like now.

I'm going to turn the culottes into a skirt and start on the print trousers, then move on to the ponte pieces later.