Want, Need and Use Up

My sewing seems to be falling into three main categories at the moment. Things I want because I love them; things I need because of the time of year and projects that use up either time or fabric because I have both.

This was a wanty thing. A new Ottobre magazine arrived in the post and this top jumped out at me. I thought it would be easy but it was actually quite an involved make because of the sleeve detail. The fabric is from Sherwood Fabrics an online shop I use sometimes here.It was a remnant I bought just before lockdown.  In truth I wanted to try out the top because it also comes in a delightful dress version so a quick test of the top half was a on my radar. My alterations for the dress would be to add a little length to each shoulder seam as they fall a bit short making it a bit tight across the shoulders but for an evening out (in the future??) this is totally wearable because the fabric is so luxurious.

 

These shorts were needed. I have trashed all of my shorts with building work over the last two years and needed a nice pair - to keep as a nice pair. This fabric was given to me but I can't remember who by, shout out if it was you! The pattern is by Simple Sew called the Shannon collection. I have made the trousers (which are now too small) but I liked the hip/waist fit on them so I cut them a smidge larger for these shorts. I left off the sailor buttons and love the feel of them - proper mum shorts. I had to use some navy sheeting left over from backing a quilt to make the pocket bags and the waistband lining but it looks pretty intentional and not hashed together. 

To kill an afternoon of time I chose The Sailor Top by Fancy Tiger crafts which is a favourite pattern in my collection. Again, it is not as easy as it looks with all that gathering but this is my third one so I knew it would provide a couple of hours enjoyment in my sewing hidey-hole. The fabric is from Liberty and I have been saving it a for a long time, maybe I was waiting for a pandemic lockdown before I felt I could use it! There is a contrast collar for a reason. I managed to cut out two pairs of sleeve facings instead of one pair then didn't have enough fabric to cut out the neck pieces. Anyways... It is a lovely top and really comfortable so no dramas.

Finally, just to use up the fabric, I made a Scout Tee which is always a winner. I have a long sleeved and a short sleeved blouse now in this fabric so I can enjoy this dobby cotton for 12 months of the year.

So there is a little snippet of my summer wardrobe made over the last eight weeks. I mean I could happily sew everyday but using up what I have is always a real thrill. 

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy some sunshine. Jo xxxx

House and garden...nearly.

I am using the term 'garden' very loosely here but there have been some developments at our house build which involve the marking out of a garden boundary. It is making me think that someone is looking down on us favourably and that I can dream a little about an actual garden.

These gabion baskets form a ha-ha at the end of our garden They hold back 1.5m of ground and the field falls away as a slope. The wall acts as a barrier to stop the sheep getting in the garden because  we didn't want a fence, hedge or trees to obscure our view. 

Do you see? You can't put anything in front of that now can you? This is the view from the grown ups bedroom window. A bit less farm (s)crap and a little more soil than before.

From downstairs in the kitchen we are starting to see how the garden will really feel like another room in our house.

The large angled picture window in our bedroom was thought up by my late dad when he designed the house. It perfectly frames the view, how did he know that?

Other windows are getting a bit of TLC too. The girls went round and scraped all the stickers from the windows. They are good little helpers.

Stepping back from that window, I decided to paint the end wall in the lounge blue. It was going to be white but every time the dog heard the front door open or a car go past he jumped up at the window cill and the wall was filthy before we had even thought about living there!

 I love it. It is a rich blue called Dulux easycare sapphire salute which looks good with our old furniture. I have wiped off dusty paw prints so far and it came off well.

Other notable improvements are the completion of the bathroom except we don't have hot water but it is all ready to go.

The stair case is now finished, but not quite in this picture. We have been trying to train Beano to stay downstairs to stop him mucking up the white paint upstairs - it requires us to remember to close the bedroom doors just in case.

So lots has been done, lots more to do but slowly slowly...

Thanks for dropping in. Hope you are all well. Jo xxx

Ahoy there!

Just sewing along at the end of week 8. It was my little girls time for a new something. I could tell she was getting a bit green with envy sat on the sidelines watching me make everyone else clothes. I said she could have first pick out of my new Ottobre magazine when it arrived in the post.

This fabric was a gift from Christina at A colourful life, she didn't need it and was having a clear out a while back. Thank you my friend. Meg loves blue so she snapped it up, it was the perfect fabric to use right now.

The Ottobre magazine I bought was in French - I didn't mean it to be but I must have clicked the wrong one on the drop down list. Anyway with a little French and an understanding of how most things fit together, it worked out well.



The pattern is called Olive star which is actually a dropped waist dress but when she put it on she didn't like it, usual behaviour from this one. I made this however after my Bettine dress so I used the same elasticated waist technique from that adult dress to add a waist to this one. Problem solved.

This pattern is easily adapted to a T-shirt which is next on her wish list but I am out of jersey.

We rummaged through the motif pile and found a funky strawberry which she liked and I did a lot of swearing with a popper tool before deciding on buttons for the shoulders.

One happy customer! Thanks for dropping in. 

Jo xxxxx

May...ing

Lots of things happening in May but mostly stay..ing at home of course. 

Sewing - The Linden sweatshirt made in ponte roma leftovers for my friends birthday present in September.

Baking - My girl deserved a new apron which I made from an old tablecloth. She has become a demon cook.

Repairing - a tiny hole in my favourite jeans, then I spotted one starting to appear on the hip too so I resewed the seam and hid it with this rather appropriate knitting motif I had.

Supervising - Little one while she cracked open a Christmas gift kit to make a covered notebook. She loves going on the sewing machine.

Looking - at nature on our daily walks.

Moving - stone from one place to another. Forget online workouts, I have burnt some serious calories. All of those stones on the floor are now in a different pile for our driveway walls, moved by hand by bloke and I!

Celebrating - that all three of our machinery vehicles are working; OK so we had to jump start the digger from the tractor battery but all the same, it is a rare moment. Those machines do eliminate some of the hard work.

Noticing - the vibrant green of May.

Knitting - more baby things for my gifting pile. This cutie used up some of my Drops Paris cotton yarn and two evenings of my time.

and this tunic dress is lovely with leggings but I had to have a centre seam in order to use up the fabric.

Making - an accidental otter in pancake batter!

Trying - to keep this spaniel exercised. It doesn't matter how far we take him, it is never enough.

Smiling - for a selfie with the bluebells in the woods.

Dreaming - that one day I will grow my own magnificent Wisteria.

but currently very proud of my Aldi £2.99 clematis! This is currently my most favourite part of the garden.

Eating - too many welsh cakes.

Thinking - how much we are all enjoying each others company with very little falling out.

Do pop over and join in with Christina's ing post at A colourful life.

Lots of Love to you all. Jo xxx