October...ing

 Hello everyone I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the Autumn.  I am really loving all the colours at the moment even though I would say I am very much a summer time person this season really does create some beautiful scenery. I thought I would close the month with an 'ing' post so here goes...

Travelling  to North Yorkshire for our last caravan trip of the year, we stay at a  little CL site called Spruce Gill farm and if you have a caravan I really recommend it.  Gorgeous scenery and it is a really well kept site.  It is also perfect for exploring the area and walking of course, we did have a really windy night one evening though and i thought we may end up finding the awning in the field opposite but it held up!

There were three caravans on the site while we were there now it does only aloow five anyway as it is a CL site but it really is gorgeous having so much space to ourselves.  It also means you can usually get in the toilet /shower block always a bonus. 😁

                              One of  our many and beautiful walks, it did rain a little but it soon blew over.

Dramatic grey skies, we saw a lot of people on this walk even though it was early and in term time.

Making lots of sweaters for work, I haven't got images of them all here as I have just chaged ny phone and they are not all on the laptop I nw realise.  Some I love some are being passed on, the latest one I made I think is my favourite and that is the one below...

Simplicity 8982 Brushwork Prints (Minerva)

This one is a really good shape, I did notice though that after having it on all day it made me a bit itchy at the front of the neck, I suppose that is the downside of having a high neck on a sweater knit.  Still love it though, I think maybe I had become a little warm.

                                         Simplicity 9385  Bubble Shoal sweater knit  (Minerva)

Simplicity 9450 Mimi G in Monstera street design (Minerva)

Simplicity 8177 Animal Glow (Minerva)

                                                    Rugged Trail sweater knit (Minerva)

So this last one has gone to my brother's girlfriend and the animal glow is going back to the office with a few other things.  I do find obviously I can't keep everything and in the spirit of not wanting to create waste I worry about this also I am sure a few other people will be with me on this.  No matter how much you love doing something you don't want to be responsible for added waste.  I would much rather things were used and loved. 

Reading  Priviledge by Guinevere Glasfurd, a really interesting story, historical fiction but with factual bits.  I always love a story about a period in history where the author has used real events it makes it much more fascinating and enjoyable.  I was pleased with this as I has a run of bad books before it.

Re-vamping my bathroom blind and also redecorating my bathroom, now the blind has gone through a number of transformations over the past fifteen years so you may have known me to do this before if you have been  around a while.  This time I used a thick oil cloth table cloth from Dunelm mill, as it was a nicer design than the fabrics they had on the roll.  It was a pretty quick job, just take out the old staples, remove the bottom bar or rod, sew a channel in the new fabric and restaple.

Framing some post cards tht I have had a year from Angelsey, they were just 30p each and the frames were £2 each from the charity shop.

                               It was a dark day when I took these photos, but I think they look cute.

Watching Buddy Holly and the Crickets tribute band at Penistone Paramount, we have had this booked for a year and they were really good.  We were sat right at the front which seemed like a good idea but then I actually felt quite conspicuous especially when they had everyone get up to dance to the slow songs.  A fabulous night out though.

Loving my new coat that I have just made, a friend gifted me the fabric as she didn't want it and the lining has just arrived today so I will be lining it now.   I will share more on this in another post.

Planning a bit of an overhaul of my wardobe, in terms of looking at what I can remake into more wearable items.  I make a lot now for work but it is not all practical  day to day or even my style.  The thrifty part of me thinks I should be using and wearing all of it so it is not wasted ans also so I don't waste money when I make clothes all the time.  However does this mean that I don't make clothes I love or that I have chosen the fabric for anymore in the spirit of being thrifty, and also making myself wear clothes that are not me is not going to make me happy is it?   I am going to be quite ruthless and refashion what I can, save some as they are for filming of course keep my favourites and of course whe have the option to pass on for demonstration purposes.  Anyone else feeling the same who is doing this?

Looking  forward to the new month ahead.  Thank you for stopping by today and if you have the time please watch my latest youtube video, I would also love it if you could comment and subscribe it would be great to meet you there.  Have a lovely week. 

                                                                                  watch here

 

The Saraste Top and Another Trip

 Hello, what a funny week it has been. What with the heat, I hope you have all kept yourselves well.

This week I made my first make from the book Breaking the Pattern that I bought a while ago, it does seem a bit of a faff about tracing all the pieces for the patterns when I have so many patterns already but I do like to try things out.  Also I made this into a much bigger job than it needed to be by making it into a refashion of a man's shirt. 

The Saraste top does require more fabric than you would first think for a little sleeveless top, because of the shape of it and the panels plus ruffles.  So I disassembled my shirt then thought oh, there is no way enough fabric to make this!  However I don't like to let things beat me so I set about using every last bit of the shirt, including unpicking the double yoke bit at the top of the shirt back.

•  I made the ruffles with lots of little pieces sewn together then top stitched.  This did also mean that some of those pieces were on the cross grain. I aslo only did the ruffle to the front panels.
• The front side panels are in two pieces.
• The back side panels are four pieces sewn together.
• I utilised the button band to save fabric there.
• The collar stand was carefully unpicked and re-used.
• The bias binding was some that I made previously from an old duvet cover.
• I placed the ruffles a little higher to further save on fabric required.

I don't think the joins are too obvious and of course you could see it as a design feature;)

It pays to think things through and not give up I think, I have made  two short videos for youtube showing the process if you would like to see exactly how I did it.

See the videos here

                                                                           Part one here

We went away at the end of last week in the caravan to the east coast and stayed just outside Scarborough on a lovely site, we stayed from Thursday to Monday and it was just as well because with monday being the start of the heatwave my dogs would not have coped I dont think I would either in the caravan.  So fortunatley we were back home just as it started to get hot, we had a lovely break and visited Scarborough, Whitby, Staithes and Bridlington while we were there. My sister in law lives at Bridlington so we got to visit her too.

I did not take as many photographs as I usually do as we visit this area alomost every year and I am sure I am just doubling up on the pictures so just a few this time.  The reason we visit so often is because not only do we like it but also because it is inly a few hour drive away.

Staithes is very pretty but only small, it was very busy on the day we visited but well worth a look if you are ever in the area.

The views below are from Whitby at the top, because you can't go to Whitby and not do the steps up to the Abbey.

We got absolutely soaked through in Scarborough on Friday as it rained on and off all day on Friday, it was umbrella up jacket on then ten minutes later boiling, jacket off sunglasses on!  So at least we dried quickly inbetween downpours. I bought the jazziest umbrella from a charity shop and my husband said I am not holding that, it had a design of a woman all the way around holding up her hands to the rain as if in praise, very 60's. Well the rain came down and he held it. 

Thursday I went to lunch with a good friend of mine, she had suggested a new restaurant on a farm and it catered for me with Gf and vegan options it was very nice.  I managed an image of my pudding before I tucked into it.  (It is sorbet on top)

I hope you all have a lovely week. Take care.

A Catch up!

 Hello, I don't know where the time is going but this is well over due!  We have had another trip, we went to Angelsey for a week and fell lucky with a fabulous week for the weather, it was so sunny all week and this is the third time we have been so it does seem to me that it is a place with its own little climate.  I am sure people who live there would probably think differently but my view is one of sunny Angelsey.  I will share a few images.

There was a nice breeze near the sea so that made walks along the front doable with dogs, fabulous as it is to have lovely weather we don't walk them in it for long when it is hot or we try to get to wooded areas.

This is a lovely coastal walk that we did, we also did it a few years ago with our sons with us.  This year it was just us and the dogs.

We try to get to a different place each day when we are away, I remember years ago we just used to go away somewhere hot and sunbathe all day, I really can't imagine doing that now.

Once again we stayed on a small site with just five caravans, it was beautiful overlooking a field of sheep. 

While I was away I read 'The lying Lives of Adults'  by Elena Ferrante I had ordered it before I went away and was so looking forward to reading it.  I read it all in a few days and I have to say I was disappointed. It just felt unpleasant with no purpose, there were elements of her other characters I felt from the My Brilliant Friend quartet. If you have read those you will know what I mean, of course there will be similarities when you read the same author but this time the stotyline was just bleak throughout.  I would not recommend this one sadly. 

As usual there has been lots of sewing, I am giving things away to family as I can't keep all of it but I am not complaining it is a dream to be able to sew for work so I am counting it as a blessing.   This does mean though I have passed a few things on without  saving a still image.

I made this one a few days ago in Blossoming Floral Minerva viscose challis and the pattern is Simplicity 8602.  There were quite a few sleeve styles to choose from on this pattern I went for this one with the drapey sleeves with vents. 

This top is for my mum and this design is called Shingle Path, the Pattern is Simplicity 8052 and she hasn't seen it yet so I am looking forward to giving her that. 

A striped blazer, oversized very colourful and the style is so oversized my husband tried it on, of course it was too short in the arms but he enjoyed trying it ;)

I love this cardigan/robe it is such a fun print and would be great for the beach to wear over a bikini I think.  For me it is a sort of throw on for over shorts and pjs.  I will not bore you with any more right now as there are so many things I am losing track.  There hasn't been much bag making of late but to be honest at the moment I just feel like I am just paying Etsy each month and there are very little views.  People probably have a lot on what with the cost of everything at the moment but it doesn't leave me inspired to keep listing things to pay out fees so I am in a bit of a slump with that.

We had a trip to the cinema to see Elvis  the other night, a very long, very odd film.   Not what any of us expected I feel like I am being a real grump today but why do they have to try and make things weird and edgy??

All three of my dogs had a luke warm bath today and then we went for a walk so they dried off it was the ideal time to do it. We also met a great Dane puppy in pets at home and he was beautiful, the owners were talking to us for ages and he looked all shy, massive paws at just eight weeks old and a gentle face. 

Well I hope you are having a lovely weekend and enjoying the sun, take care.

This Month so Far

 Hi everyone, it has been a busy month so far  and we have been off on our travels again this time to Cottingham in Leicestershire.  We always try to stay at CL sites as they are set in beautiful countryside and usually part of a working farm.  Only five caravans allowed and just the basic toilets and showers on site.  What more do you need?  I know for people with children you may want the playgrounds and pools and things like that but we just want some peace and quiet and a bit of nice scenery.

The site we stayed at this time was called Rockingham CL and was excellent so if you are a tourer you may want to give it a look, we will definitley return to this one a s it was so well maintained and the view was spectacular.  I will share a few photos but they don't give the full effect as it was panoramic!

A b it grey when we arrived but it did brighten up.

The view from the awning while eating my dinner, it was a bit brighter here but we eat in the awning with the door and front window flap down to keep all the dogs contained.

 

              Just as we were leaving I took this one, trying to capture more of that wonderful view.

We had a few days out from there as always so one of those was a day in Cambridge, it did pour with rain on and off all of that day so we saw what we could while it was dry and then ducked in a pub with the three wet dogs.

I love little side streets with unusual shops, I am not big on shopping I just like to look in the windows.

Kings College

Corpus Christi College

We also visited a few little villages and passed this...

Gretton Viaduct

So a lovely time and not expensive at all, well fuel but the less said about that the better.  Oh almost forgot we had another reservoir excursion to Rutland water, we will return to this one day too with the bikes jus for a day trip perhaps.

On Thursday evening we went to see the new Top Gun film, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  It was very much a rip off of the original but I think it must be the nostalgia as it was such a long time ago it made me smile anyway and the place was full.  We saw it at our favoiurite cinema the lovely old fashioned Penistone Paramount with original seats, curtains and half time interval.  My two sons are fans as they say you can't recline in the seats and there is no cup holder, well you can sit up for the duration of a film surely.  They did not come with us they prefer the modern cinema experience. 

I have almost finished Mrs England by Stacey Halls and I have really enjoyed it, I enjoyed her other books as well.  Also read a few books on sewing and I did a youtube video on those, and made the Lilou dress from Tilly Walnes Love at Firts Stitch.  I also have a sew along about that and will share the video link below.

I used a viscose tencil for this and it was not the recommended fabric but I like it so that was what I bought.  Also opted to change the back as a full one as that is what I prefer, it is no good making things if you wont wear them so I do change patterns up to suit me sometimes.  Here is the video link if you are interested  The Lilou Dress sew Along

Well I hope you are enjoying the month so far and I will be back soon, take care.

                                         

The Megan Dress

 Hello everyone I hope you are having a restful weekend.  I have had a good week, yesterday I made the Megan Dress from the the Love at first stitch book that I got from the library.  I am currently working through it and making videos for that on each item so I will link that below if you want to take a look.  If you do can you please subscribe and leave a comment as it is like a drop in the ocean being on there and I don't know how you ever get seen! 

Anyway I enjoyed making the dress and I used fabric that I bought a while ago as a treat but have not used because I was saving it until I knew what I wanted to do with it.  So this dress was on my mind but I only had 1 meter.  Well the fabric suggestions always state too much don't they so I got out the fabric and faffed about with the pieces until they fit and hey presto they did!  I was very pleased about that and I think the simple style of the dress goes well with the patterned fabric. 

A few adjustments that I did make were...

• Altering the shoulder as things tend to stand up on my small shoulders so I have taken a cm out of each side.
• I used a regular zip then topstitched down each side to hide it. (I like to use what I have in. )
• The hem is finished with bias binding as I had to cut the length  a fraction smaller to fit the pieces on the 1 meter of fabric, binding the hem means it still has a good hem on the inside.
• The sleeves are also about a cm shorter but that is not much is it?

So I would recommend making this dress it is easy to follow and if you are not sure just watch my video 😊  as I go through it with you step by step. 

                                                   Sew along video for the Megan Dress

We also had a night away in our caravan last weekend, I did think it was a bit much going for one night with all the stuff and getting the caravan off the drive but it went smoothly the weather was lovely and it actually made the weekend seem longer!  We went to Carsington water, we have been there before when our boys were young twice and it is lovely, plus it is just about 1 hour 20 minutes away so not too bad for a quick get away.  We did the walk and it felt longer than it use to, we must be getting on.  Lots of families with children refusing to go any further, hah, that brought back memories.   Here are a few photos...

How glorious is that sky?  You don't have to go far to see such beautiful places.

Lots of lambs in the fields too and that is always lovely to see.

Of course I have to pop in a picture of our little orange holiday home. 

We didn't bother with the awning as it was just for the night, as it was dry this ok.  Sometimes it is better to have the awning up if it is wet so you can store things out there in it but the weather was gorgeous.

There was a bit of bag making at the beginning of the week too here is the latest one...

Find my etsy shop here

Well that is all for now have a super week and take care. 

A New Month of Sewing

 Hello where ever you are I hope you are doing well.  I have had such a busy month and it has just flown by.  Last week we went to the Cotswolds in our caravan and that was lovely as we had to postpone our trip to the lakes afew weeks ago due to the weather.  Having a small van and three dogs we at least need some dry weather for it to be enjoyable and this time it was, a fair amount of sunshine too.  I will share a few holiday snaps with you...

This is the tower at Broadway,   we did the walk from the bottom of the hill and up across the fields.  I love this village it is so pretty with beautiful buildings and cute little shops we also had chips at the best chip shop called Russel's with a glas of wine no less.  I had vegan pie too and my husband a a fish.  He is mainly plantbased now but will occasionally have a fish.  I really enjoyed this as we don't often eat out when we are away I always cook and to be honest there is rarely much on offer for me to eat so this was great.

 Here I am looking pleased with my lunch outside!

This is our little caravan set up, we mainly use CL sites now as we like the peace and are not big on large sites with clubs and so on because we wouldn't use them.  

This is one of the many pictures of churches that I took and this particular one is at Blockley where some of father Brown is filmed if you have ever heard of that. I have watched it and there is such beautiful scenery in it, it made me want to visit the area.  The show is filmed over a number of places in the Cotswolds and other places I believe.

I stood there because I thought the car went well with my memade jacket, only a dress maker would understand.  This was in Chipping Camden.

So that is first little jaunt in the van for the year and we have a few more booked in, not too far way I think the furthest we are going is Angelsey.

There has been much sewing and I have just been doing that today too, I have shortened and fully lined the trousers of two jumpsuits this morning  for a customer and she came to collect and dropped off another.  She does love a jumpsuit.

Here are a few of my makes this month...

I enjoyed making all three things from this pattern and the jacket is a lovely fit.

Another Tilly dress from the stretch book i have made four of these now and this fabric was only £2.99 a meter so that was a win.

This is a beautiful dress but requires a night out to wear it, it is fully lined and a super shape.  I really like the colours.

This coat with the oversized collar, I am sure that huge collar will keep me super toasty next winter.

My mustard t shirt from sweatshirting fabric, great for an inbetween day, I had a piece left that I didn't want to go to waste.  I hacked a sweatshirt pattern and added the pleat details myself to pull it in a little bit.  I have worn it a few times already.

Gingham shorts, another good fit so all we need now is a good bit of sunshine worthy of shorts!

A coat or maybe a cardigan either way it is warm, this is teddy coating.

All my fabrics are from minerva.com I haven't listed all the pattern numbers here just because I don't have them to hand right now, but if you are interest in any in particular just leave me a comment and I will let you know the pattern make and number.

Me made May has started today  too, so I will be trying my best to keep up with posting on there so if you don't follow me already you can have a look at that @sewingreenlady.  Are any of you taking part, if so let me know so I can follow your makes/wears too.

Well that all for now, have a lovely week.