A Waistcoat Make

 Hello, how are you coping with the dark days.  They seem to come on pretty quickly this year I think and mainly due to all the cloud cover we are having but it does feel very dark all through the day at the moment.  I am trying to keep on top of that by making sure i take the dog out earlier in the day.  This does mean that I have to stop work and have abreak to do this but if I leave it until I am finised for the day I will miss all the daylight!  I know that is not an option for most people, I was lucky in that when I worked in school we were out on break duty every day so that did mean that I always saw some daylight.  Office workers are usually in artificial light all day long and I know that can be hard.

There has been lots of research on  how this lack of daylight impacts our health and well being, so whatever you do for work it is best to try and make the most of any daylight that you can get.  Go outside at lunchtime and have a walk, you will feel better for it. 

Today I have been working on something that I wouldn't chhose for myself but I really like the way it has turned out. It is a waiscoat, and I don't wear them myself but I think it is the fabrics involved that have caught my eye so I will definitely be trying to incorporate them into some sort of little bag. There is really only crumbs left of the charmuese fabric but I am sure i can work them in somewhere.  So The project was newlook 6914 waistcoat or vest.   I made view A for work in a needlecord and charmeuse for the lining and back.  I really like the two fabrics together and the silver buttons...

My Mannequine is a bit wonky, whenever I try to make it bigger it drops down and feels like it is going to fall apart. 

I love that print!

So yes that was quite a surprise, I really love it.  Not in my style but still a cute combination.

In other sewing I managed to use up some fabrics to make my mum a fabric scarf, I did it bouble sided so there were no seams showing so it is warm enough but smarter than a wool one.  She was happy with it.

Today I have had a new pump fitted for my central heating system, earlier this year it was a new boiler and last summer a complete flush out of the whole system.  Let us just say central heating is eating up our cash in many ways at the moment and not just in switching it on.  I am hoping that is it for a while now. 

Reading wise,  I am battling through a book at the moment and I don't know if there is any point carrying on, it is called Mrs March.  I did say on my youtube channel that I thought it might pick up, so far it has not and the character herself is really getting on my nerves.  In fact typing this right now I have decided to chuck it in!  I mean what is the point if it is winding me up? I have other books on my TBR list so I'm off to pick up one of those.  Have a great week all,  and get outside. 😊

Making and Making it Last

 Hello, a new month and a fresh page, at least that is always how it feels.  I was listening to the radio while cutting out the other day and they were discussing the need for everyone to consume less and to make things last.  It is a double edged problem for me in a way as I have always made clothes and really made them last, but I also make and create sewing for my job.  This always leaves me feeling a mixture of emotions relating to that.

 One.. I love that I get to work on sewing projects for my job and I really enjoy that.

 Two.. I am teaching other people to make their own, cherish those clothes and reduce the need for fast fashion.

 Three.. There are those who now just use this as another area to splurge.  It is awkward and of course none of my business, then at the same time all of our business.

I have made myself a couple of things this week, the first being a top from french terry that was bought months ago and the second being a dress from all the offcuts of a work project I made earlier this week.  Now because I am a small size I can often use up all the fabric in this way.  I like to use it up and I am always on the look out for ways to use the fabric scraps. I do watch a few sewing you tubers, but I don't watch any haul videos.  I am not against a chairty shop haul video, if someone gets their fabric or clothing in that way as it keeps it all in the loop. 

 Then again I promote new fabric in  my work,  but that doesn't mean that everyone has to buy every piece and every pattern, rather that everyone should find something just for them.  I would hope they would enjoy making that item, love it, keep it for many years and that it would become the norm again to make all our things.

The need for constant newness has become quite obvious in a lot of home decor too, I see many vloggers who do makeovers constantly changing their homes in a way to keep up with the need for content creation.  In fact there is one who I can think of who has moved house about five times in the last few years.  What is it that is missing?

  Now I personally need to repaint my hall and bathroom, not for fun! Rather that these high traffic areas are in need of freshening up, I am also hoping to choose better paint this time so that it can be washed.  The paint in my hall just wipes off with the cloth when I try to get hand prints, so trade paint is just false economy. 

Getting back to the radio show someone suggested that they always swap out their wardrobe seasonally and that the act of getting all their clothes out again each season was just like having all new things and provided that much needed novelty.  I like to do this too, although I only swap some of it as I have clothes that I wear year round but I layer up.  It was quite eye opening when I was doing this recently to see some of the colours together.  Having recently been looking into what colours suit me best I could quite clearly see that I already gravitate towards the right ones, and my autumn palette is there already.  

I will leave you with a little peak at my memade top, I can assure you I will have this for a long time.

The pattern was self drafted so no pattern to share, I cut a slit a the neck then backed it after that I made topstitched darts either side to pull the front open and add interest.  There is also bias tape on the inside for a neat finish.  That  is all for today, have a good week. 

A Few Autumn Days

 Hello, another week almost at an end and Autumn has really taken a hold now hasn't it? We were just saying while out walking that it all looks very lovely for a short time as the leaves begin to fall and cover the ground, however it is not long before it is all dark smush beneath your feet.  All the more reason to get out for those Autumn walks every day and make the most of it.  We have a little reminder in the form of a dog but I bet plenty of peopke just let this season pass by, thinking they will do it tomorrow.  We do that with a lot of things don't we? Give it a day, or two or three.  Get out there now and have a look around and it won't disappoint. I like to make a point of stopping on my walk and looking around, listening, even if it just to the peace and quiet.  It can be tempting to rush if you are fitting a walk into a busy day but if we try and stop in a couple of places I think we benefit more, there will always be that to do list.  I think 'to do' lists are the only thing that is not going anywhere!  

This week has been a busy one of sewing as usual, I had a couple of new patterns to test/teach /make up.  I can't share those as they are work projects.  I also finished a second dress for a neighbour, I am making her a number of items for her holiday.  She is commsioning me to do this as the summer clothes are out of the shops. In other sewing news I did finish a top for myself yesterday afternoon, it is self drafted and was a quick make.  I made it using french terry that I bought earlier in the year, I have yet to photograph it so I will share another day.  It is plain so hopefully will go with a few things as my patterns creations struggle to do so.

I did make a Maison Fauve pattern for work also it is called the bellinin blouse, so although this particular one is not for me I will make it again in future.  I really like the cover art on these patterns but I must say as with a lot of indie patterns they are expensive. I will share that here as it is not top secret...

I think these patterns are pretty enough to make good gifts if you are thinking ahead for Christmas.

We made a rare evening trip out last night to the cinema, we went to see Speak no Evil, not a horror I don't like those but it was a thriller and I was jumping a few times.  We went to Penistone Paramount, it is quiet and old fashioned and we love it.  The funny thing was as we were leaving the house my husband said, this is so weird, leaving the house in the evening that is.  We really do not care for going out at night, and if you want to go for a meal it is cheaper in the day time.  So with this in mind we often take days off work week days and go out to celebrate things then. 

Well I hope you are all well, that is all for now. Take care.