Snippets of WIP's

Lots on the horizon, nothing quite finished yet but I continue to make something everyday.

One more sleeve to go here:

Halfway through this:

Waiting for a sheet to arrive for the back of this:

Just cut out this:

Got a bit stuck on the heel of these:

Hope your WIP's are moving along. 

How many Works in Progress do you have? 

Go on, spill the beans...

The Three Bras

You know the story of the Three Bears, too hot, too cold, just right etc. well this scenario has happened in my bra making. The first spotty bra I made was really supportive to the point where I could have joined the cast of Call the Midwife and blended in perfectly. The stretch cotton had 20% stretch it was really good to wear and very comfortable. But now I have made a jersey version with 50% stretch and it is too saggy - even though it is really pretty.

The jersey really needed lining to stop the cups stretching down. It is totally wearable, no problem but whilst I am learning I am noting improvements I could make each time.

You can see where the fabric has stretched along the neckline, this stretches out while wearing it but it shows that it needs stabilising. The knickers are from a free download at Sozowhatdoyouknow? They are a very good everyday style that happen to be perfect in this jersey.

The third fabric I am going to try is simplex. It has 30% stretch. How do I know?. I lined up the direction of greatest stretch (DoGS for short) and measured 10cm and then measured how far I could stretch it comfortably, it landed on 13cm so it has 30% stretch

I have found a great supplier of underwear notions. She has great products at reasonable prices, delivered really quickly, with friendly emails and I believe you speak as you find. It is called The Sewing Chest and the choices are vast. This flowery jersey fabric, fasteners and elastic all came from Kellie.

So third time lucky? I am happy to report it is just right and looks like a bought one, I am so pleased.

Black is a little tricky to photograph so the bra looks super pointy because of the light and shadow!

I used the last scrap to make the insert in the front of some knickers to match. They really are tricky to get a picture of, they are not wonky as the photo suggests!

And for nosey people out there this is the back. I omitted the fabric straps on this one and went for all shoulder strap elastic and it was much better (for me, anyway!) 

'You can give a man a fish but... teach yourself to make a bra... and you need never... stand in M&S bare breasted again.' or some such proverb like that. I've cracked it, I am totally self sufficient in bras while enjoying myself immensely along the way.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Jo x

Handmade Lampshade

I made a lampshade. It was so easy. 

I used a kit I was given at the CHSI show to try out. They are from Needcraft.co.uk and it is an awesome project requiring nothing but an hour of your crafty time, some scissors and some fabric.

Everything you need to make a lampshade in a pizza box!

Stick your fabric to the stiffener.

Fold back and crack the scored PVC edges.

Add tape to the rings.

Roll the rings onto the fabric. It was really smooth and easy to do.

Be patient and fold over the excess using the natty little tool included in the kit to conceal the edges.

Ta dah! done. I didn't realise how yellow and crispy the old one was until I took it off. I am so miserly when it comes to buying such home items, I would rather make my own things for our home, it feels good for my soul.

This company do litter bins, clocks and wall mounted light kits too.

Such Fun! Thanks for looking. Jo x

March Cowl

In honor of this glorious month I have made a cowl. The colours of Spring wouldn't you say? blue skies, green shoots and daffodils. 

You may have used Natura cotton by DMC but this is Natura Medium, a new line in heavier weight yarn (aran) that I am working with that comes in 35 shades. It is better than the Natura DK Cotton because it doesn't spilt and has great stitch definition. It would be great for hats, cowls, toys or home decor.

It was gifted to me with a 4mm bamboo hook but for the cowl to roll properly it needed to be 'sloppier' so I used 5.5mm

Pattern: Alice Cowl free from Ravelry.
Yarn: 3 balls of DMC Natura Medium
Hook: 5.5mm Hook
Time: Two nights crochet
Difficulty: Easy, it is a folded rectangle!
Buttons: Thrifted from an old cardigan I shrank

Thanks for looking. Jo x

Quilting along

I go to a craft group once a month at Kemberton, the girls are welcome too which they really enjoy. I taught a card making class on Saturday. This folded flower is so easy for new people to do but so effective. You can find out how to do it here. 

I also took my quilt to sandwich because the group is held in a village hall so I thought the space would be ideal and people didn't seem to mind my bum stuck up in the air!

 

50 safety pins later, with a little help from my minions, I have it all clamped together. Now starts the process of hand quilting it all together. Keep you posted.

Happy making folks. Jo xx

Blanket Ta Dah!

Welcome if you have just popped over from Jen at Thistlebear for her Winter Project Link Party. Today is the day I reveal my finished Cabin Blanket.

If you are new here, the long and short of the story is we had a beautiful log cabin at which I used to make the squares; only there never at home. Then the cabin blew down in the UK Hurricanes in Autumn, subsequently it went into hibernation because I had to pack up all the stuff to bring home and we were so sad about it.

I decided to get it out the other day because we have bought a new cabin. Don't get too excited it is a pile of wood on palettes at the moment, but I really felt like we had turned a corner on the whole episode. Talking of corners look at these beautiful right angles, I love them, so neat and precise.

It is a lacy square surrounded by a Cherry Heart Spice for Life inspired border. No pattern just a round of this and that as I pleased. The colours are inspired by our time at our family farm - berries, blue and grey skies, leaves, logs and all things nature. It also used up all of the rest of my stylecraft stash which is a bonus because I hate having lingering left overs. In reality it only really needed another week of evenings working on it as it was nearly finished.

I really like it, it is a good size and I love that I made most of it sat out the front of the cabin looking at the wonderful Shropshire view.

Thanks for stopping by and do call again if this is your first visit you are most welcome to this happy place.

Jo xxxx

Stash Busting Vintage

I am joining in with the vintage pledge again this year over at Stitching Odyssey and Kestrel Makes. I really enjoyed it last year and found that I wore the items I made a lot and they really were part of my everyday wardrobe. I have got used to looking for bust size rather than the women's sizes we are aware of these days. You can join in or just take a peek by clicking on the tab in the sidebar.

I bought this pattern last Autumn. I was tempted because, what other skirt could you possibly want when you have all these styles in one packet?

I am short so I knew I would have to shorten the circle skirt. I have never made this style before so I was not sure if it would suit me either. I tried it out using a piece of black and mustard tweed hounds tooth which was gifted to me in a huge box of unwanted vintage craft goodies from a work colleague just recently. I accommodated the pattern piece by shortening my skirt before I cut it.

The waist was a great fit. I have worn it to work a few times and now my black cardigan is in circulation, it certainly has a perfect partner. I enjoyed a bit of experimental frayed applique with some ric rac along with some buttons.

A success with some free fabric. Win Win!

Thanks for looking. Jo xx