Making for my Man

This was made before Christmas as a present. 

While working my way through my donated fabric, I felt this super thick satin lining as I thumbed through the diminishing pile in the cupboard. I decided to use it to line a new waistcoat for Andy.

The brown wool and lining was donated stash so I was pretty free and easy on the waste in order to get the pattern matching correct.I invite you to swoon at the lined up and fully balanced pattern...

My new Brother machine has automatic buttonholes which makes every one the same after you have set the first one. Those sorts of tricks turn sewing from looking handmade to bought in an instant. 

On his last waist coat I chickened out on pockets because the wool/tweed was too thick to make the welts but this was a little finer so I went for it. Beautifully lined pockets ensued - for what, I have no idea - what do men put in those tiny pockets?!

It looks really rather dapper.

Thanks for dropping in. 
Have you ever made anything for a man in your life?

Woodfolk

This blog is about what I make but I think you may have come to realise we are a pretty resourceful family all round. Today I want to share with you my bloke's project over the winter which has started to come alive now that it is Spring.

This is actually the end product. A tidy stack of wood to burn on the log burner at the cabin. 

There was a little investment present wise for this project when I bought him this helmet for his birthday last August and he purchased some new tools. 

He went on a hedge laying course to learn how to cut the base of the wood but leave enough for the sap to rise in the Spring to form new growth. Three places were booked: one for him, his brother and his dad. He was very excited about it in the run up to the weekend course - he even washed his boiler suit!

This is the hedge before laying. It had grown into a full row of Hazel, Holly and Field Maple trees over the years but really needed to be a hedge to stop it restricting traffic on the road. 
Plenty to practise his new skill on.

You can only lay a hedge between October and February because of nesting birds and of course encouraging the wood to regrow. Here it is after many weekends of work, taking a photo in the same spot as the one above.

So I am no longer a weekend hedge widow. Work has stopped and he is pleased to see the Hazel is throwing out new shoots. Hooray!

We can all talk knitting here but my bloke has talked hedge for a long time now. I don't mind, I like someone with a passion for 'their' thing, what ever it might be.

The light can now get through to the base so look at these lovely cowslips - a childhood favourite of mine.

and whats more but a few more of these little lambs, this one is still damp.

Thanks for looking...at a hedge! Jo xxx

Can you guess what it is?

I made this, can you guess what it is for?

It is for a man.

It rolls up.

It covers the tops.

There are twelve of them.

Here they all are, now in a nice safe place.

I bought the book and whittling tools for my Bloke this Christmas because he likes woodcraft but once the tool packet was open they kept falling out of the plastic moulding. They are too sharp to have lying around with small crafting children who might be tempted to have a go on a bar of soap or an apple or something!

He has started an envelope opener which now needs to be sanded.

This weekend we will mostly be whittling, knitting, doing homework and painting the girl's bedroom.

Have a good weekend. What are you up to?

 Jo XX

The fabric is from www.craftyourselfsilly.com. They print bespoke designs digitally straight onto cotton. You can even choose your own design!

Minerva Pj's

Well hello there! Happy Christmas! My Minerva post this month has landed on Christmas day and isn't that clever because I made a Christmas present for my Bloke with my fabric this month.

In fact I made two pairs of Pyjama bottoms - his and hers. Mine were from some Minerva cotton leftovers from my tartan summer dress this Summer and his were from a beautiful brushed cotton from my choice this month.

I have had the pattern for Yeeeaaarrs. I picked it up in a bargain bin at a haberdashery in Shrewsbury in the 90's! I have never used it but the shorts and trousers looked just the right.

I stamped a little label for the bottom for my bloke.

If you are looking to make PJ bottoms then this blue fabric is the cotton for you - soft, brushed and cosy. 

 These short ones are so comfy and light, a great way to use up some leftovers. I added a bit of cotton crochet lace to make them look more like ladies PJ shorts. 

Do you get dressed straight away on Christmas day or do you lounge around in your pyjamas for a bit first?

Happy Christmas! Jo xxxxxx

Weekend Smorgasboard

Today's post is a weekend smogasboard of colour and activity.

Brightly coloured allotment fayre for us to tuck into over the next week.

A little light crafting:friendship bracelets and beading.

  
We went to a local folk/arts festival at the Edge in Much Wenlock.

I was dancing there with the Severn Sisters Tribal belly dance group with my friends...I did smile for some bits of it, a skill I need to work on. My concentrating face always takes over.

We danced alongside the raucous Ironmen Morris team. Can you spot my neighbour there wearing his jacket I repaired for him? He made me my yarn bowl.

and the Severn gilders women's team. We all dance in the same spot as their musicians play live music for us at outdoor events.

There were also great activities for the children too: circus skills, storytelling, crafts, a clog dancing workshop and general running around in the sunshine.

Oh how we laughed as we watched bloke having a go on a unicycle. Thank heavens our baby making years are over, that's all I'm going to say!

So the children are yet to find out that tomorrow the mundaneness of Monday will soon be upon them when we all have to go food shopping and do an entire week of washing together. It can't all be fun!

I hope you had a colourful weekend in the sunshine.

Jo xxxxxxx

Teepee

Thanks for stopping by. Look what I've made...

This weekend I made a Teepee out of an old duvet cover. The joy of this is that you have two ready made pillow cases for the inside. Our bloke cut hazel sticks for the posts from the farm so it was all FREE!

Ideal for inside or outside. I will add some peg loops because our land is on a bit of a slope and it might fall over with a windy day in the garden.

Big Sis was delighted she had a matching outfit on for a photo shoot so was Little M. 'We match the material,' they said.

 The tutorial I used had really clear instructions and was from mypoppet follow the link here if you want to have a go.

We went for a pond dip but it was hard to stand close to the waters edge for all the hopping baby frogs emerging from the water.

Little M caught a dragonfly in her net and was squealing with excitement.

After they had tired of trying to catch hopping frogs I lay down on my tummy in the grass and played 'camera' for a while. It was fun but they were everywhere, I am sure we must have sadly trodden on some.

Also this weekend Bloke made the girls a rope swing and they loved going really high, screeching and laughing with pleasure.

We stayed the night, had porridge for breakfast and headed home on Sunday morning for a wash and scrub up!

So a little glimpse into what we got up to at the weekend. I am off to check out your posts. What have you been doing this weekend?

Jo x

One for the boys?

Here is one for the boys. We have been invited to a wedding with a dress code called 'a touch of country tweed'. Bloke has been asked to read a poem for his very good friend and also has to wear a tweed style waistcoat of his choosing. This is where I stepped in.

I have recently joined the blogging team at White Tree Fabrics so I ordered a pattern and some sumptuous satin lining. The main fabric I already had, it is some welsh wool from years and years ago, the 1980's I think, which someone gave me. Ta dah!

 

The colours in the wool are perfect for matching any colour trousers or shirt - grey, navy, brown, white.

The quality of the lining from White Tree really made the back though. I looks so luxurious.

The pattern construction was not for the beginner. It did have little pockets on the front with welts but the fabric was too thick to get the welts to sit flat (and I was a bit rubbish at it if the truth be told!!) so I binned that side and cut out another one. He was happy with a smooth fitting flat front. "What would I have put in a tiny pocket like that anyway?" he quizzed. 

I popped in a little label from me to him.

This is the pattern from White Tree Fabrics. You can be a real master and try the one with the collar - it has 13 pieces in it, or just make a plain one like I did. 

So I know you will be wondering what does it actually look like.

We went to the wedding in our homemade outfits and lapped up the compliments.

Thanks for looking at my project, I love it when you visit.

Thanks to all at White Tree Fabrics.

Jo xxxx