Makes and Trips

 Hello everyone I thought I would do a catch up as September has just gone in a flash!  We have been away last weekend to Leek in our Caravan and then we have just one more weekend away in it booked for this year and then that will be it for the caravanning for this year until next spring.  I know people still use theirs in the winter months but I would rather be home when it is very cold to be honest, and go out from here, it is so much easier to get the dogs dry and warm if it is a wet miserable day. 

So we went to Leek and that was very lovely, while we were their we also had a really good walk at The Roaches, staffordshire to Ludds church, which is actually caves and quite a workout on the way back up. 

As you can see from my images we are already experiencing the darker days on our little trips out, I am in full Autumn mode here with the candles it every night and a fleecy blanket to  hand.  We have checked the heating still works today then promptly turned it back off again, we will not go cold but we are trying our best to hold off as long as we can.  They are not profiteering off me!  Bizarre as it sound having the candles lit does make it feel warmer, or am I just imagining that? Either way it's good. 

I have made quite a few things this past month so I will share a few below, all in viscose challis...

Simplicity 1107 in Pebble stone (minerva).  I really like the shape of this one but it has definitely had its season so will  be worn next year now.

Simplicity 1609 in Pop Cheetah  Loving these colours and think I may be able to get away with some wild tights and a long sleeved t shirt under this  to extend its across season wearablity.

     Simplicity 9133 view E in popcorn Jelly.  T-shirts always  handy, a sweater can over this one to keep me toasty.  Notice I have keeping warm on the brain.

                Simplicity 8921 in Urban Cheetah  view B, a balck top under this would work I think.

Simplicity 9122 in expressive butterflies, agian I can layer up!

That is just some of them and I have also had to repair my patchwork quilt that I have on my sofa and one of the dogs sits on it and sort of rubs it to get comfy.  Well he has managed to make holes here and there with his burrowing so I have has to add to the design I will get a photo one day when the lighting is better. 

I would like to do more patchwork as I have so many scraps and I do hate waste, I have not done as much bag making this year as I have had very few sales and storing them is the thing plus paying out fees all year ok  the listing fees aren't  massive (they make on you when you sell!) but they all add up. Quilting may be the way to go with them but I am not super accurate with all the shapes, I watch Kate at the last homely house on you tube as she works it all out and I think no, my work is a lot more haphazard than that when it comes to patchwork!

Just having a catch up now on all your blogs, I feel as though I have not  really had much time this month for just having a read through, lots of making and editing, also been a bit unwell and very low in energy.  Hoping to shake that off and start the Winter good and strong. 

Well I hope you are all keeping warm, saving the pennies, and enjoying lots of making.  I am off to read your blogs now so have a good weekend. Take care. 

Vintage Sewing 1940's

 Hello, today I thought I would share this little set that I made a few weeks ago for work. It is such a cute make and at first I wasn't sure when I would wear this becuase of the style of it but last week when we ent on a bike ride it was just the thing.  The shorts are really comfortable while still being pretty and the top is made from the same fabric inside and out (self lined) so a nice make there.  I enjoyed making this and I also love the fabric, I have a dress in the same fabric and it is so  cheerful.  Now on the cover of the pattern the lady is wearing the top with nothing underneath, well I wasn't going to wear it like that riding around town, maybe on a beach holiday it would be more fitting.  So I layered it with a strappy top underneath and I think it worked really well.

One thing my husband noticed was that the top of my shorts were catching my back wheel every now and then, I didn't appear to be dusty or get caught at any point and I didn't feel like it was catching so maybe it was just an illusion of him riding behind me. If you didn't want to make the shorts the pattern also had the option to make a skirt, but I think the shorts give you the best of both as they are quite shapely and have these nice pleats around the top.  My matching trainers were not planned that is just the colour! 

Here is a clearer image indoors when I had just finished it...

So a bit about the pattern, it is a Simplicity pattern number 8654 and I think it is a good make for a beginner as the top has a really nice simple shape to it.  The skirt would also be a nice easy make, the pleats just take a bit of care and also you need to be able to insert a zip but if you were just starting out you could make the top and the shorts could be something to work towards.  I don't have many vintage patterns but the ones I do have always have such lovely shapes and fit, as I do like clothes with nice details and fit maybe I should be making more of these kinds of patterns.

This week I have made some fabulous little savoury/vegan GF scones in my mini oven, I was trying it out for baking seeing as how I intend to use it more.  They came out really well and I enjoyed as a sort of open top sandwich being as I don't eat bread.  I just did two large ones to try, a small amount of mixture and little energy used.  They were experimental.  The only downside is that they are great when just made but quickly go dry even in a airtight container  more negatives for the gf baking!

That's all for now, have a good weekend.

Last days of Summer and Saving Energy

 Hello everyone I hope you have all had a good summer, I say that like it is over I am hoping not just yet but it is feeling a touch cooler and the nights are getting darker already so unfortunatley it is on its way out.  Still tme to embrace the Autumn I do love the colours and in past years there has been still lots of sunshine into September and the beginning of October so fingers crossed. 

I have been trying to think of ways to winter proof us this last few days, there is so much talk about the energy prices that it puts you off turning anything on but I think perhaps the main culprits are anything that heats up. We have a mini oven (very small) for the caravan and although you can only fit a couple of things in it, it is very energy efficient.  So we have brought that in and whenever I want to just heat up spring rolls or a garlic bread for family to hve with dinner I am using that.  All this time I have been putting on the main electric oven but when you think about it all that heat for one thing.  People do say use it to its capacity but what if you only need to heat one thing?? So we have brought that in but as I said it is tiny.  If I had the room I would buy another slightly bigger mini oven, or I am even considering removing the main one and just replacing in the space there.  There are only three of us and when we have company it would be hob top meals!  Drastic I know but up to 6K a year on bills for a family, I don't think so.

We had some of  our double glazing replaced earlier this year, the front of the house as that was the worst but there is one back window not done that is a bit drafty.  I have had the idea that my husband will make a secondary frame for that, we have turned the water heating temperature down and are experimenting with how far that can go. So the main thing is going to be the heating, now people lived without heating for a very long time and we didn't have it when I was a child up to a certain age, then our second house didn't have it at first for the first winter we were in. Therefore the thing is we don't need it on as much as we all do, unless you are older or ill.  Have we become just too soft? I am speaking mainly for myself here so please don't take offence, I have always said I don't see the point in being cold at home but now no way am I contributing to the profiteering, yes there may be a shortage but why then are companies having record profits?  I will be wearing lots of layers, exercising and keeping a close eye on our usage.  If you have any tips please leave them below.

Right back to sewing, over the weekend I made the Bertha Cardigan from Make it Simple.  My friend has let me borrow this book and while it is a lovely book I am pushed to find much I want to make out of it.  Mainly because a lot of the patterns are just things I already know how to make as they are just very simple shapes.  Great for a beginner though so still worth a look if you are just starting out and don't have these patterns, and as laways super instructions.  One thing I did like was the Bertha cardigan, so I ordered this fur backed sweatshirting to make it.  It is a quick make and I really like the shape so I think there will be more of these for my winter layering up.

I think I might choose a more sweater style fabric next time, so something softer like a nice drapey knit, any suggestions.  If you have made this and it worked well please let me know what you have used, I really need to make them in some solids but there I went again chhosing a print!

Well that is all for today, a bit of an energy rant really take care everyone.