October...ing

 Hello everyone I thought I would share a few things that I have been up to this month, and today we change the clocks here in the UK so it definitely feels a little different already. 

Sew...ing So one of my recent makes this month was a  pair of trousers from burda September, they were a success and I will make them again. The fabric I used was one of the the ones I was given a while ago after a clear out.  It is a linen blend I think and I just thought I would try the pattern first of all but I have actually worn these a few times already.  My only issue with this type of fabric is the slubs in it, it always looks to me as being worn or damaged already and i know a lot of people love that linen look but this is an issue with it I feel, you don't want your clothes looking snagged immediatley do you? Or am I just being fussy? Well anyway I love the trousers, the pockets and fit are really good.  I did choose to make these all in one colour but in the magazine the pattern is designed for a two tone effect on the bottom of the leg.

I do have  a sew along video on youtube if anyone would like a peek and you can find it here

Another make was a bag I made for my friend as a gift, she wanted something a bit bigger for her holiday and she had certain colours in mind so I made this for her birthday.  It has a zip closure and an adjustable strap so she can wear it across her body (with two little ones she needs her hands free).

I have made some other things of course for work but my own sewing has taken a back seat just recently.

Watch...ing the ballet 'Giselle' at Buxton Opera house last Sunday, we really enjoyed that and it is a little reminder to get out and do something different every once in a while.  I haven't been to see a ballet for a while now as the theatre we usually go to seems to have stopped putting it on (The Penistone Paramount) they used to be quite reasonable.  This particular show was more expensive but as it not something we do often we justified it with an upcoming celebration.  There were a lot of people in Buxton but then it was the first weekend of the School holidays. 

Eat...ing or trying to eat a bit more variety especially in the morning.  I have been having a bit of a relapse with my stomach so trying all I can to settle it down. Last week I documented a different breakfast each day mainly as a reminder to myself to change things up and not just eat porridge every day.  I did find though that the gluten free muselie by deliciously Ella is a trigger so I won't be eating that anymore plus it is very expensive. I am glad it was on offer when I bought it or I would have been very annoyed!

So my selection if anyone is looking for ideas was. Gf branflakes with fruit and flax seeds, the muselie (that i will swap for soemthing else!) gram flour vegan pancakes with blueberries, scrambled tofu and tomatoes, soya yogurt, fruit and nuts,  gram flour wrap, vegan sausage, salad and advocado and porridge with apple and almonds. 

Read...ing Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue, I enjoyed this,  it is historical female centred and had relationship at it's core but i would say I found it very graphic.  I don't know why every book I pick up recently has to be like that but there you go! Well written and super characters but a bit much in places. 

Then 'Pine' by Francine Toon this was very atmospheric  for this time of year and another good story, a great one to pick up for the cold dark months or maybe halloween if you are into that kind of thing.  Not very scary just spooky.  After that I read 'Loved Clothes Last' by Orsola de Castro, I loved this book it gives you so much to think about.  As someone who makes clothes I know the hours that this entails so seeing clothes so very dirt cheap in shops has always made me feel that clearly people are being exploited for this to be so.  Then of course the sheer waste as all the fashions change over each season, well worth a read for anyone.  The Witches of Vardo was my next read, another historical fiction about a very real topic and so very sad, I don't think this topic comes up enough in regards to needless loss of life and also how beliefs can be twisted to cause harm or even death to others.  My Current read is Babel by R.F Kuang and I am loving this! Fantasy mixed up with real language and historical facts, the issues of race and colonialism there is just so much going on, a very clever book indeed.

Look...ing at the coming month and wondering what positive habit I can add.  I will get back to you on this one as I feel it is always good to start something new.

Have a lovely week. Back soon. 

October Plans

 Hello everyone I hope you are all well. This past weekend I attended the Minerva Pop up shop in Manchester and was there all day. If you were there too you may have spoken with me, I met lots of lovely people who love sewing and it was such a nice atmosphere. Now that it is all over I may keep adding in a few of the recent makes I did for it as I was uncertain about sharing before the event.  I also have a few things to make for myself now that the rush is over. 

Unfortunately one of the things i had planned I put in my order for on Sunday then today recieved a message that there wasn't enough fabric left so I have had to cancel the whole order as it contained matching thread, buttons zip etc which were no good without the fabric, also sadly it cannot be reordered.  It was a lovely dusky pink twill for some cargo trousers, oh well I will have to choose another shade.

I have just finished reading Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue, the story was very engaging and she writes very well but I have to say a bit vivid in places! I am always interested in books that are based on real life people or historic events. As we are in the Autumn now I feel the need for some spooky reading so I will choose later which book to start next.

This week is a slightly slower pace as I am waiting on some work, I do however have a bag to make for my friend which is almost complete.  I have been working on it all morning while listening to a podcast, now I can't normally do that when I am filming.

October has a few plans ahead, we don't normally have very much going on but this month we have a birthday, an anniversary, a meal out with family, a meet up with friends and a trip to the ballet at Buxton planned.  That is a very busy month for me, I think I am very much a close to home person and I have accepted that is ok as we are not all the same.

Here are a few recent makes, some of these are actually for me and a couple were event pieces at the bottom.  First up is the croissant bag that I spoke of in a recent post, I opted to make it in a leftover pieces of cotton sateen, I backed it in linen, lined it in lining fabric and also did a youtube for it here is the link I haven't used it yet but as we are out  for a meal soon I will use it then.

So the bag was from Burda September as was this next make, and this is a zip through top also in leftover fabric but this time a vsicose jersey.  I am making the most of all these bits I have left. 

A very easy top that I have worn twice already as it is so comfy, I had to do the sleeves in two sections as in scrap busting there wasn't enough fabric to cut them all in on piece.

For the event I made two more coats recently, the named Isla trench coat...

This was a very time hungry make, I had thought I may make one for me but realistally I am thinking when would I wear this, unless I modify and make it a short version so perhaps I will do that.

Then I made the kelly anorak...

I had to save a frame from a video here as I can't find my still images of it, my son took a fancy to this as I think it is quite neutral. 

So that is all for now as the dogs need walking, enjoy your sewing whatever you are making this week and I'll be back soon. Take care.

Coat Making

 Hello everyone, I hope it has been a good week for you and at least we are still getting a bit of sunshine in the mix here in the UK. That said I am moving towards my warmer makes and this week I have made a coat although it is not for me I thought I would show it here in case anyone is planning a coat for the coming season.

Now this coat is a sample, and it is Butterick 6720 and made up in boiled wool, now that is something I wouldn't buy for myself and I have to say if you making this you need a strong machine as the layers are thick.  Sewing seams of double thickness is fine but once you get onto the areas where it has pockets and lots of layers around the collar it is super thick.  Of course this makes for a very warm coat but do be aware that you will be walking it through in many places. 

 Unless of course you have an industrial machine and then it will be a breeze.  I have a very old one in the garage that I can't have in the house as it is so noisy and is not working properly anymore, time to time I think of getting it repaired for times such as this however as I can't have it in the house there doesn't seem much point.  I don't wish to sit and sew in the garage amongst my husbands mess and that would not be a nice video either when I am filming.

I made version B of the pattern that is medium length, belted and with four larg buttons up each cuff, although you do have options for length and adding a fur cuff or contrast if you wish.  It is fully lined and has shoulder pads, again had this been for me I would have left omitted the shoulder pads.  The boiled wool comes in lots of colours if you are interested and this shade is red but there are a few different shades of red.

When I made a coat for myself I used the vegan wool coating and I thought this to be much easier to handle and super soft if I was wanting a fabric that was easier to handle for this particular coat and if you are vegan you mat prefer to make this in the Vegan wool coating.  Both fabrics and the pattern are from Minerva.

Winter makes aside, yesterday was so glorious that we went for a walk around Dam flask, lots of people were out walking and running and generally making the most of the late sun. We stopped at The Plough for lunch half way round and also noticed that a cute little ice cream parlor has opened up across the road from the pub.  It had four flavours of vegan ice cream for me, this was unexpected and most welcomed.  I had the mango flavour which I think I enjoyed all the more because I thought I was only going inside to buy one for  my husband.

In other sewing I have cut out the pieces for the Croissant bag that I have planned to make from the Burda magazine and also purchased some fabric for a bag that my friend wants me to make for her.  I am still planning what other bits of contrast I want to add to that one though.

Here is the Croissant bag, pictured above.  I have to say I do think Burda sometimes give limited instructions and make things look harder than they are.  This bag would be finished already I had I just made it my way and not opted to show how it it is put together for the magazine version.  In fact I may still do that and explain my way.  

Well have a good weekend, and take care.