Summer Sewing Space

The past few days we have had glorious sunshine, which is a wonderful thing, when I am not working. I woke up this morning, determined to get some sewing done but wasn't prepared to miss out on enjoying the weather. So I moved my dining room contents into the garden, put on some music and began work. It was a bit breezy, so the perfect environment for being outside. I had to weigh everything down to prevent it blowing off the table, as I was pinning the front pieces together one bit got blown straight off the table and into the pond! Thankfully I keep the pond clear so it wasn't dirty just very soggy, I gave it a rinse and it dried pretty quickly in the sun. I am making a portfolio dress for my Mum at the moment.

 

 Tiger enjoying some shade bathing.

 

Trip to Chichester

Today I took a trip to Chichester with only one destination in sight, The Eternal Maker. It is about an hour drive away from Basingstoke and well worth the petrol used. I wanted to check it out after meeting Sarah the co owner, at the Creative Stitches show in Brighton.

What an incredible place, stocked full of impossible to find Japanese fabrics, unusual patterns and special little buttons. I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah's daughter and co owner, Anna today, who is as helpful, friendly and passionate about fabric as her mother.

I bought 1.5 meters of each of these fabrics and the highly esteemed Oliver + S Ice cream dress pattern. It will become gifts for two of my colleagues daughters who are both 8 months old. The fabrics are called Storyboek and Monaluna from Birch fabrics.

I could not believe my luck when I found Heather Ross, owl and pussycat fabric. I have been staring at this on my computer screen lovingly, ogling pictures of this seemingly unavailable beauty. There were 3.5 meters left on the roll so I snapped it all up. It may have cost £16. per meter but worth every penny, how could I resist!

 

I have also admired this fabric for a while, there was only half a meter left so they have another empty roll, now I just need to decide what to make with them.

Anna said "goodbye beautiful fabric" to my selection as she passed them over and I left with a huge smile.

On the way home the sun came out so I detoured to the nearest sea side and had a little walk along the beach. Tomorrow I am visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower show with my Mum and Nick, we all love gardening and I am very excited about seeing this years show gardens for ideas on how to squeeze more plants in my tiny little garden.

Birthday Girl

It was my 29th Birthday yesterday, I spent the day with my Grandma, Mummy and Nick, eating cakes and opening presents. I received lots of sewing related gifts, I think everyone got the hint that I am obsessed with sewing.

The postman arrived with two parcels, one from my Dad in Germany, and one from my Sister in Kent.
Below are the contents from my Sister Bex and her boyfriend Matt. What a brilliant present, the pattern and fabric to make the pictured Amy Butler bag, I can't wait to get started on it. There was also a bag with a giraffe printed on it, which came in handy for taking everything to my mums to show her.

On Thursday I had a day out in Brighton and went to my first sewing fair. Where I got to enjoy the experience of viewing fabrics I had only ever seen pictures of before, Nani Iro and Etsuko Furuya mainly. I have been admiring other peoples use of these fabrics and contemplating buying online but I do prefer to see and feel them for myself first.

I met lots of interesting people and discovered shops like Eternal Maker where I got some Nani Iro fabric, the shop is only about 40 minutes drive from me so I will be visiting soon, they also run some classes which I would like to try.

On return from Brighton I had Tapas with friends in Basingstoke followed by Rachel's home made Birthday cupcakes. Thanks to everyone for all the presents and get togethers.

Rainy day in Brighton, The Grand Hotel

 

Nani Iro, Melody sketch  - 2meters

 

Nani Iro, Peaceful cooing- 2.5meters

Some more of the wonderful sewing related presents I received

 This book came with a Cath Kidson bag to make from my Mummy and Nick

This book from my Mum, it is translated from a Japanese book and has caused some interesting reactions from friends and family I have shown it to. What do you think?

My Mum also got me 2.5 meters of beautiful light pink babycord from the Berwick street cloth shop. I want to turn it into something I can wear year round, like a short dungaree dress or pinafore to wear over things. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Pink Chambray Blouse

What a busy bank holiday weekend. I had planned on relaxing after finishing my Elephant blouse but instead, quickly set to work cutting another continental blouse in pink chambray. This didn't take long either, so I started sewing, I promised myself I would stop sewing at 7pm and I did. After completing two jobs at work this morning I was told by the office it was quiet and could take holiday if I liked, so I jumped at the chance and got straight back to sewing.

I am very pleased to have completed another blouse, it took me less than 8 hours in total. No mistakes in cutting this time and my darts are perfectly even, which was a relief, I added 2inches of fullness to the back gathers and 2inches to the length again. This pattern is perfect, easy to follow and great for beginners like me. 

Elephant Blouse

Here it is, completed in a pretty efficient fashion. I visited the fabric shop this morning and picked up the correct colour thread, the top looks black but is actually very dark navy. I made a size 10 and added 2 inches to the length which I think was about right for me.

  It is the perfect top for the current weather, the sleeves also look good rolled up, in case of sunshine.

Continental Elephant Blouse

The weekend has arrived and I have only one thing on my mind, little elephants. Recent weeks have been rainy and grey and I wanted to make something more weather appropriate to wear with jeans. I treated myself to some dark blue elephant poplin a while ago and have been sizing it up since, trying to decided which pattern would work best. I finally decided on another Lisette pattern I have been desperate to try, 2059 - continental blouse. I love the plain front and pleated back panel feature, and also wanted to have another go at setting in sleeves.

It has taken me six hours so far and I just have to stitch down the neck facing then hem, I have run out of the correct colour thread, how annoying at this time in the evening. I mostly made french seams and found it really easy to sew, the sleeves were no challenge for me at all, lovely and even with no puckers.

I did have a bit of a challenge with the cutting, I foolishly folded the fabric slightly off line and only realised when I marked on the bust darts, after cutting. One dart ended on an elephant the row above the other and there was no fabric left to re-cut. I folded the front piece properly and cut it even on both sides, this meant leaving out the bust darts so I had enough fabric left. I am glad I persisted as the fabric is so cute and I think it works perfectly with the pattern.