Navy blue bags

Yesterday I made 2 plain navy blue bags with striped handles for the craft fair in May. This simple style appeals more to some people so am hoping the variety will meet with approval.

Now I'm going to switch back to ivory and shorten some curtains.

Woven linen tee

I bought a sewing magazine which came with a copy of New Look 6217. What a great looking pattern.

I decided to use the woven tee (View B) and a strange T shaped remnant of navy blue linen from the scraps bag to make this.

 I've had to piece the upper front to get it out of my rmnant also the back is cut on the cross grain but the front is cut on the grain. I have just serged, turned and topstitched all the hems, including the neck, and in this stable fabric that has worked very well.

This is one of those garments which looks better on a real body. I was quite impressed with the shaping in such a simple little pattern. I am going to make loads of these in my size, keep the ones I love and the others will be on the May stall.

Denim trinket pots

I cut out 7 of these and have only finished 4 so far, I will do the others tomorrow.
They are about the size of a cup so reasonably fiddly to sew.

A very good test of how well I can sew a circle to a rectangle!

Patchwork miniskirt

This patchwork mini skirt is made with constrast plain blue waistband and navy blue lace trim.

Hope a teen would like to buy this for charity at the May Day event.

Quick make - drawstring bag

Here's a super quick little make, a drawstring bag.

Great for keeping little bits together in your closet or bathroom.

Plus some mini versions, handy for all sorts of things.

Tension rods for nets

I bought some twist and fit tension rods for my little house, I went to two different shops to get the lengths I wanted. I've used them to add net curtains to some of my windows.

The new house is on an estate with lots of other properties nearby and I wanted to give myself a little more privacy. I've also added nets to windows which are not really overlooked but which have a dark black hole when its dark outside. Somehow having a sheer white curtain makes it feel lighter and warmer.

I like the effect so much I think I am going to buy another one for the sewing room and also one for the kitchen.

These are a really great idea and I wish I'd realised this when I had first moved into the house as it would have allowed me to put a lightweight curtain up at any of the windows until I'd got things sorted.
As you can see they twist out to the right length, and the rubbery ends stop them from slipping.
Dunelm Mill had them in white (but not all the lengths) and The Range had them in white, silver and gold in various lengths. I gather they don't work well at very long lengths or with any significant weight on them, but are great for my needs.

Patchwork Bag

This one is a very simple make for my charity fabric crafts stall in May.

I originally purchased this as already patchworked yardage so I have just sewn it up into a bag.

White turtleneck top

Err its a white jersey turtleneck top using my usual mish mash of bits of patterns and a collar I made myself.

Its very fine jersey and wonderfully soft so it'll be great worn under other things when layering  but fairly unexciting on its own. It also doesn't photograph too well when hung on a white door. However it should be really quite handy.

Theoretically since the 3 machines (sewing machine, overlocker and coverhem machine) are all threaded up in white I should carry on making white tops with the rest of the fabric however I now really want to make blue shopping bags. Its a free country so I probably shall switch over to blue pretty soon.

The Deliberate Wardrobe

These thoughts about the deliberate wardrobe from recoveringshopaholic.com seemed very appropriate.
The Deliberate Wardrobe
What does a deliberate wardrobe look like?  I view a deliberate wardrobe as one that meets a person’s needs for her actual lifestyle, as opposed to an imagined or aspirational one.   All of the clothes in a deliberate wardrobe are valued, suit that particular woman’s personal style aesthetic, and get worn on a regular basis.  With the possible exception of a few formal or specialty items, everything is appropriately utilized.  Such a wardrobe contains the colors, patterns, and styles that best suit the owner’s complexion, figure, and style preferences, but is not overly large.   Everything fits wonderfully, is impeccably maintained, and is ready to be worn (unless it’s in the laundry, of course).  The closet pieces are organized in a logical and intuitive manner such that it’s very easy to find what is needed to get dressed well each day.   The deliberate wardrobe sparks joy and evokes a feeling of peace upon opening the closet doors.
I have a little way to go yet, but this very helpfully summarises what I have been aiming at.
I shall carry on with my mending and alterations with all this in mind.

I have two hanging areas and I am currently moving things from the unworn section on the left to the has-been-worn section on the right, I also add a loop of ribbon to the hanger of the has-been-worn to reinforce this.
I have moved items for other seasons up into the loft area to a hanging rail there so only currently have winter items plus the fairly seasonless. I plan on doing a switchover in April and another in September and a final one in November. I find I like to wear my brown/orange things mostly in September and October.
This will give me 3 times a year to really assess my clothing.

The Deliberate Wardrobe

What does a deliberate wardrobe look like?  I view a deliberate wardrobe as one that meets a person’s needs for her actual lifestyle, as opposed to an imagined or aspirational one.   All of the clothes in a deliberate wardrobe are valued, suit that particular woman’s personal style aesthetic, and get worn on a regular basis.  With the possible exception of a few formal or specialty items, everything is appropriately utilized.  Such a wardrobe contains the colors, patterns, and styles that best suit the owner’s complexion, figure, and style preferences, but is not overly large.   Everything fits wonderfully, is impeccably maintained, and is ready to be worn (unless it’s in the laundry, of course).  The closet pieces are organized in a logical and intuitive manner such that it’s very easy to find what is needed to get dressed well each day.   The deliberate wardrobe sparks joy and evokes a feeling of peace upon opening the closet doors.
- See more at: http://recoveringshopaholic.com/#sthash.4bggLJXk.dpuf

Mattress topper with extra wadding

The sofa bed in the living room isn't particularly comfortable, but it is also not used very often particularly now I have a guest bed in the study/guest room.
However I thought I would try to make it a bit more comfortable when it does get used.
I took a thin mattress topper and a spare summer weight duvet. I cut and pieced the duvet so it was the same shape and size as the mattress topper and then sewed them together with a zigzag stitch all around the edges.

This is the side showing the original mattress topper as is what you would see when its on the sofa bed.

This side shows the extra wadding added from the spare duvet. I have pieced it on the end which is on the right, and cut, stitched and overlocked the edge with the label showing. Its now folded up with the rest of the bedding in the storage table, ready to be pulled out for guests.

I must admit managing all that wadding under the sewing machine needle was really quite a challenge, and I am super impressed now at anyone who makes quilts.

Mending, alterations and other small sewing tasks

Every so often I have ago at sorting out the recent backlog of alterations, mending and small tasks.
This afternoon I did just that. Nothing much to show you all here on the blog but the list of things done is below. This involved quite a lot of rethreading ofthe sewing machine as nearly every project seemed to need a new colour of thread. However it is quite satisfying that they are now done.

• trousers - hemmed and button sewn on
• jacket - button sewn on
• trousers - hemmed
• torn and worn out blouse - harvested for buttons
• holdall strap stitched back into place
• bag for spare bedding - handle stitched back on
• excess curtain lining overlocked for laundering
• jeans hemmed to sensible length
• Extra wadding layer made up for mattress topper for sofa bed (needs stitching on to mattress topper still)

remaining are

• pillowcases from extra sheet (to match new on-sale bedding)
• take in waistband on taupe skirt
• take in waistband on light grey trousers
• hem medium grey trousers
• repair ripped lining on jacket
• repair dolls clothes for friend and her daughter (having found them when sorting out)
• shorten 3 curtains and let down a fourth.
• making bunting detail for bathroom
• many projects for my stall in May.

The print PJ pants

These are made almost identically (I just ran a row of stitching round the top of the casing) but seem much crazier due to being from the print fabric.

They are a lot of fun though and are making me smile.

The stripe PJ pants

Here's the stripe PJ pants. They seem to fit quite well, though sit below the waist.

The ribbon and elastic combo is very comfortable to wear.
A good piece.

Spring 6PAC: PJs

Over on Stitchers' Guild, Elizabeth hosts a quarterly 6 piece collection sew along.
I am joining in with the Spring 2015 (Feb-Apr) 6PAC and decided my greatest need is in PJs.
I've started 2 pairs of PJs based on Burda December 2007 #127 Pyjama Trousers turned into a wide legged one seam, though you could adapt any elastic waist trouser pattern.

My fabric source is a lightly used duvet set which doesn't work with the decor in the new house. This first pair are cut from the bright but fairly classicly striped side.

The second pair are cut from the floral banded side and are a lot crazier, though still using the same colours.
I'm planning some co-ordinating tops and maybe a kimono style wrap.
I'll finish these off over the next few evenings after work and should brighten up bedtime a bit!