Separates

Hello today for me made May 2020 day 25 (are we there yet??) I am wearing the bibi skirt and the frankie t shirt from the tilly stretch book that I made quite recently.  The good thing about this outfit is that because I used the same fabric on the piping of this skirt as the t shirt front I can wear these together.  I also made a sweatshirt to go with the skirt so when it is cold I can wear those as a set too. at the time it was a case of using up bits of fabric but it actually turned out well.

I do find with this skirt it is a bit of a wriggle to get on, the fabric had the correct amount of stretch I believe but I think I may still add a little concealed zip in one of the seams at the back just for ease.  I wouldn't want to spoil it pulling it on and off.

This morning I finished the  bag I started yesterday and here it is...

So this one is a mixture of recycled bits and bobs, the stag fabric was a bit that was left from when I made a friend of mine a blouse.  A lot of people throw all the bits of leftover fabric away but I never do that.  I also used a little of this a while ago to make a make up bag coupled with another fabric.
The denim is from recycled jeans and the lining is a recycled Paul Smith shirt.

After I had finished that and had a read outside I started another bag this time a bit of a wild design and again I love this one.  An appliquéd design on the front and more recycled denim and shirting.

 Now don't ask me what that is it just sort of took shape, I would say it is some kind of bloom probably because I had been out in the garden looking at the flowers.

My sons have been out playing basketball together again today as they did yesterday, if there is one thing that has come out of this period of being at home is that they have been spending some time together.  They have also been out riding their bikes recently a number of times, normally my oldest would often go straight to his girlfriend's from work so it is nice they have reconnected a bit now that they are older.

We watched a really good film last night based on true events, it is called The 15:17 to Paris I really enjoyed it if you have time it is really worth a look. There is also some real footage at the end of the film, it starts with an event unfolding on a train and then it goes back in time, I'll not give too much away I sometimes think that spoils the viweing.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Flamingos

This month by trying to wear all  my summer makes it is making me think a bit differently about some of my clothes.  It has also highlighted gaps in the form of trousers for when it is cool and I want to be out walking the dogs (wearing leggings under everything won't cut it forever!) and also plain skirts to go with my patterned tops.  That is not usually an issue as when I am home normally I reach for the jeans so I just wear my tops with those, I have plenty of summer tops it is autumn and winter when I find I don't have many warm clothes then I just layer everything.

For today's me made May day 24 I wanted to wear my flamingo blouse but I didn't have a light weight black skirt, I made a black skirt recently but it is really heavy and also too full and I think I will change that one.  So  I put on a basic black dress that has a partial circular skirt, the trouble is the blouse is loose at the bottom so it looks silly with this dress.  Not to be put of I tied the bottom of the blouse just a little then pinned it under through the bit of knot, I had to do this as there really wasn't anything much there to tie.  It worked and I liked it instantly in fact I will wear these together in future now like this.

So a bit of thinking how to wear things differently and I feel like this is a whole new outfit.

I felt like I beat the game at the supermarket today as I got the bill total down ( don't worry we will not starve this week and have everything we need) I was trying to be a bit more aware of the prices while still being quick.  Also making it into a game can make the food shopping more fun I think so I will see if I can win next week too.  I was back to my usual weekly average although if that lasts when they hike up the prices further we will see.


This afternoon I have cut my husbands hair, I always cut my own hair and both my sons but my husband has had it done by me out of need , ha! I was very cautious and didn't take too much off.
After that I made a start on another handbag in fact it is all but finished just attaching the lining and fastener to be done but I will do that tomorrow as we are going to watch a film in a little while.

In fact I have to go now as I have been asked how long I am going to be ;) back soon.

An Easy Basic

Today this is just a quick post it has been a bit of a lazy day today, my me made may 2020 day 23 dress is an example of a quick make with a few details.  A favourite style of dress to make, loose, elasticated waist and turn ups on the sleeves.
I may have mentioned before that find the correct placement of elastic I either put the dress on the mannequin or on me then slip the elastic over the top, once it is on you can manoeuvre to just the right place then pin it in position.  It is a good idea to find the side seams and centre front and back then you can arrange the rest from there.  I have added a red belt just to cheer it up a bit.

There is such a lot of mess on  that sewing table behind  me I think I am just in front of it, ha! Well if you are  too tidy how can you create?  That is my excuse anyway.

I had another look at the burda subscriptions today, my husband said get one if you like why do you talk yourself out of things.  We found on their site it was £71 for the year for twelve copies,  (which is still a lot of money, but as a gift) however on clicking it to the basket it went up to £96 they want to charge £25 for postage!  The whole idea of a subscription is they deliver it and I have never seen this added on a magazine subscription before.  I decided to leave it.  Then on another site my husband found three copies delivered for £22 pound.  I have gone for that, at least this way I can see how I like it.

Earlier on I was looking at sewing room ideas, I put in small sewing spaces on pinterest then youtube you should see the size of these rooms, people must live in mansions to devote that much space to sewing!  I think the search engine had completely ignored the word small. I currently have a desk as you see above (top right of my title bar) with lots of stuff pile on and around it.

Tomorrow I am off to the shops (food shopping of course) I am going to try and plan it a bit better this week as I don't know if it is just me but my shopping bill has been up for weeks? Now I always cook at home so it is not that but I think prices may have crept up in general and due to lockdown and the whole get in get out of the supermarket mentality maybe we are overlooking this.  I could be over paranoid about this but before I always took good care to get the best prices because as something we do every week this is an easy way to save.  

That's all for now, stay safe.

Orla Kiely

There was a more enjoyable morning of sewing today as I made a bag and I really enjoy  making these. Just restful sewing, however my machine is making some very odd noises at the moment.  I do understand that it probably gets more use  and wear than a lot of machines as I am often forcing faux leather through it and it is only a domestic machine.  I think I will give it a good once over tomorrow to see what is going on.

Anyway here is todays creation...

Like this on one side.

Like this on the other, now this is Orla Kiely upholstery fabric and the print is too big for a handbag unless you are making a really big one. So I cut it down the middle and I like the half pattern look.

There is repurposed duvet fabric for the lining and a recycled denim pocket, I am already wondering what to make next.  The good news is I just sold one bag so I feel justified making another each time one sells.

Earlier today I had another  look at those dodgy shorts that I was working on and I feel that with a bit of tweaking (removing the ridiculous high waist and possibly putting in a proper waistband) they may look better.  I sent my friend a picture of me in them as she wanted to see, and have a laugh  and she agrees they would look better without the high waist. 

Today for me made May day 22 I have on a self drafted a-line skirt fully lined, and a self drafted v-neck t shirt. I watched a really good youtube when I made the t-shirt that shows you how to do a perfect v, it turned out much better than ones I have done in the past.

I went for a very windy walk earlier with the dogs and they ran around the field going mad, what is it with dogs and wind?  Although I have noticed it can also have a rather odd effect on children too. When I got back I made the discovery that the burda magazine I thought I had bought I had only bid on!  Honestly you would think I have never used ebay before, the thing is I was looking at buy it now ones so that must have thrown me off.  It went for £6.80, for a used magazine I don't think so you can buy it in the shops!   I have been looking at a subscription today and wondering whether to treat myself, not sure if it would be worth it as I make so many things without patterns, I think I just like the idea of a magazine treat each month to look forward to.   

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Not for Me

Oh dear sometimes things that you start  sewing are just not meant to be and I am happy to share that as so many sewing projects turn out well.   I have been working on the McCall's shorts today and thought they were looking ok, pleats in, pockets done and while they may not have the crisp look I would have liked that couldn't be helped as I just used the left over fabric rather than one specifically for the task. I tried them on and oh dear, they look ridiculous on me.

 Now not sure if it is the fabric, or this style just does nothing for me (maybe both), my son came in and said are you going swimming? Ha, ha, I said I know they are not flattering at all.  There were a few bits left to do like belt loops, hook and eye. pressing everything and finishing seams but do you know I can tell I will never wear these so why go any further.  I have already spent a bit of time on them and they are really not bringing me any joy!

I wasn't going to take a photo in them as I really do look like I am about to enter the sea for a swim in an old fashioned costume, not a good look.
The fabric is partly to blame as this pattern has a bit of structure and this fabric will not hold any shape, so even with pressing it was never going to hold the pleats or the turn ups.  The main thing is I tried this pattern and didn't break into favourite fabric, I know that even with the perfect fabric choice this pattern is not for me.

Here are my pockets of many pieces that I faffed with to get just right, I think I will unpick and save them to use on something else;) Along with the zip I put in, don't want to waste that.

There will be a pair of shorts but next time I may self draft as I seem to like my styles better.  My husband said to me I told you they wouldn't be right when you showed me the pattern, how can baggy shorts look good? Well I'm sure they look good on some people but obviously we are all unique, something different tried.

There is  a bag all cut out on the side that I prepared this morning I am sure I would have had more fun making that. After my disappointment with the shorts I sat outside with a drink and a packet of crisps reading War and Peace. (Yes I am still reading that)   There are a lovely few lines in it I have to say that made me think of our current time.

There are two sides to the life of every man, his individual life which is the more free the more abstract its interests, and his elemental swarm-life in which he inevitably obeys laws laid down for him.
Leo Tolstoy     (War and Peace)

Is that what we are all doing right now? Obeying the laws for the sake of the whole and in every sense not feeling very free at the moment.  It is strange I could have read that at any other time and felt nothing as I read those words but of course we are different every day.

Before I go I will share todays me made my 2020 day 21, a self drafted shirt and skirt.  The skirt fabric came in a lucky dip bag from Minerva, it is a sort of stretchy twill and was just the thing for this sort of skirt as it is fitted but with a bit of give, think stretch denim. There is a zip at the centre back seam.

Keep making, trying new things and be free in your thoughts. Until next time, bye for now,

Something from the Past

I found the picture of the little upcycled dress I made years ago for a toddler, it has taken me ages we save so many photos now, far more than we ever did when we had paper copies it is quite overwhelming to look through!   Here it is made from the bottom legs of bootcut jeans with buttons at the back.

I came across this yesterday and I had completely forgotten about it, it was so nice for it to pop up as a memory.  The butterfly on the front had been cut around from a back pocket I remember and then appliqued on.  The little girl it was for was two at the time she will be about sixteen now, our boys were friends and they moved away so we didn't see them much after that.  It is nice to revisit past projects sometimes.

It has been such a glorious day that I did not stay in and sew, I have been gardening, planting and tidying up then I had a distanced visit with my mum. It is the first proper face to face conversation we have had since this all started.

My me made May day 20 choice for today was a Burda shirt pattern made into a dress, lovely Minerva fabric.  I think this challenge would have seen more repeated outfits had it been done during the winter months.  I don't know about everyone else but I definitely make more summer clothes and I think sew more in general at this time of year.  It probably has a lot to do with lighting and the longer days.

 On a more mundane level I got all of the dogs bedding and cushions washed and hung out and they are now back on their beds.  It is one of those jobs you need a warm day for as they need to be out on the line.

My mum was getting a bit annoyed that the window cleaner hadn't been for a number of weeks, the windows don't look dirty but she does like her routine. My window cleaner stopped coming to us because we had the cheek to ask if he had done the back ones one day and he got offended.  We know he hadn't as a bird had flown into the window leaving a mark and it was still there (we didn't mention that fact).  I wouldn't mind but when he lied and said he had we just politely said oh ok and paid him in full, then he stopped coming!   Bit of a cheek on his part really but never mind it saves me a bill.

Well that's all for now, take care.

Making Fabric Fit The Pattern

Not a bad day here again, a bit dull this morning but still warm enough for a dress.  This dress for me made May 2020 day 19 is once again made with Minerva fabric and I also made a bag with some of the scraps but that has now sold. I used New Look pattern 6125 but I found it was too loose for me so I added darts and a bit more shaping, I also lined it.  Once again it was comfy to wear all day not impractical and while fitted there is still plenty of movement, if I make this pattern again I may use slightly stretchy fabric and just make it a bit smaller then that would save the need for all my modifications.

Being a bit impatient with sewing as I am I got out my odd pieces today and made a start on the McCalls shorts.  There was I found just enough fabric for the front and back pieces but not enough for the pockets or belt.  So I have used paisley for the back of the pockets, a different fabric for the bit that shows but pieced on  a matching bit to the tops.  I will show more when they are finished, I have to say the instructions were not very clear (I don't like instructions!) I really do think if you didn't sew already that is the kind of thing that would put you off.   I usually just cut out and off I go but I thought I would have a look at them, now I know why I don't usually bother.

See it only just fits on, if I want belt loops there are at least little bits for that.  This is John Kaldor fabric that I made a dress in a while ago, here I have used the reverse as the right side as I didn't want shiny shorts. It remains to be seen what the oddments pockets will look like.

There is not much more to do on them but now my husband said he is not sure he will like the wide style.  We will have to see what they look like on.  I had to break off from my  busy sewing as I had to go into work for a meeting, real life getting in the way!

I think I am becoming something of a recluse, at first I thought great get out and go to work and see everyone.  Then I was relieved to get home, that is a strange way to feel but then these are strange times.  The thing is we tend to get used to how things are no matter what, that is part of our make up for dealing with situations I guess, it would be a shame if we all got too comfortable staying away from each other wouldn't it.

A little sample of fabric arrived that I ordered, I paid for it but it is so small it made me laugh they didn't even get all of the pattern on. I will not be paying for samples again I'll just use my judgment looking at the pictures.

A few memories of past photographs popped up earlier, I have had a laugh looking at us all looking younger.  Then I saw a little dress I made for my friend's daughter about fourteen years ago, it was from a pair of wide leg jeans and I had forgotten all about it.  Now I can't find it and I wanted to share it, I will have another look and hopefully you will see it tomorrow.

Right I am off for a cup of tea, stay safe.