Scrappy Quilt Rainbow

Do you look at the big picture or are you a fan of detail? I am a big picture sort of person. I always try and stand back and look at things from a different angle. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In this instance it really works:

My scrappy 5" square quilt top is looking great. Little M said, 'Is it supposed to look like a rainbow?' 'YES!' I squealed in delight. That is why I was persevering with the yellow in the corners although initially it looked wrong close up, however when you took a step back to gaze at the big picture it turned out to be a fine rainbow accent.

Close up, nothing to write home about. A mix of 5" squares in random fabric patterns from my handmade clothes leftovers, gifted pieces from friends, a sneaky small charm pack and some recycled clothes but zoom out and it really sings.

A little peek there into where I usually sew on the top floor. I need some sort of border. Not sure yet. Any ideas? solid colour squares, plain border strip, patterned strip borders? 

Don't forget to stand back and admire, it really is quite uplifting. Thank you for looking at the Big Picture and not the detailed seam joins!. Jo x

Fi Fi swimwear style

I made this top just before I went away last week, in the final hour, when I shouldn't have really been sewing. I wanted an alternative to my handmade vintage bikini top and bottoms and I had just the right amount of matching fabric left over. I thought the Tilly and the Buttons Fi Fi PJ top could be a good style for a  swimwear top.

Pattern modifications:

cut two sizes smaller than I normally would.

cut the four way stretch fabric on the grain not on the bias.

cut swimwear lining for the cups and front panel.

crossed the straps over on the back for more support.

straightened the hem to remove the curve.

Fitting:

I just kept trying it on and taking new seam lines down all seams until it was snug, trimmed the excess, then over locked the seams but pinking would have worked too.

 

I wore it so much on holiday along with the bikini top. It was great to have a mix and match option.

Thanks for popping over. Back to work tomorrow! Jo x

Happy Holiday Knitting

We are back from our holidays after a restful, sunny time in Portugal. It was our first holiday abroad with the children. At aged eight and six it was a good time to take them away. They could carry their own bags, listen to instructions at the airport, play happily with each other in the swimming pool and deal with 30 degree plus heat. I have had some very happy times this week.

Knitting + Beach = Happy

Knitting + Poolside = Happy

Knitting + Shade = Happy

Knitting + Wine = Happy

Knitting + Airport = Happy

Holiday + Family = Happy

Happy times indeed. Jo xxx

Ps: More pattern and yarn details to follow as this is one of my Minerva makes for Autumn

The real #VintagePledge

I am excited and honoured indeed to be joining an esteemed list of bloggers and makers joining in the July 2016 Vintage Pledge guest EXTRAVAGANZA. It means a lot to me because without joining the vintage pledge last year I don't think I would have improved so much as a dressmaker without the inspiration it gave me. I had been an admirer of vintage patterns because I liked the artwork but now I can truly say I am a maker of a wonderful wardrobe full of them thanks to the Vintage Pledge 2015 and 2016.

My 2016 vintage pledge this year over at Stitching Odyssey and Kestrel Makes was to try to use an unmarked vintage pattern. You know, a little challenge to myself, a little step up. 

I love this pattern and have avoided it for over two years now because it is devoid of printed pattern markings and that is a bit scary.

Now if I am going to be totally honest with you, my heart was with the shirt dress. I wanted to try the princess seams to give a shirt dress better shape for me but in reality when I got the paper pieces out...

...I got a little bit frightened about putting on a collar and button band with out any markings. I knew it would be possible but I kind of chickened out. No matter, as the other tennis dress was really beautiful too. The square neckline attracted me because I didn't have anything like that in my wardrobe. So I cracked on cutting out and marking every tiny hole.

I tacked the whole dress together. That is how I have been working recently. I have only ever made one toile in my life and that was a self drafted pattern. Tacking a whole outfit works for me because I have made so much now that I have a good idea of what I need to alter when I cut right at the start.

I made a few changes. If you are a long time reader of my blog you will not be surprised to know it was too long in the body. This is just what happens on me and why I make my own clothes.

I also made it longer because I was not going to be playing tennis in it even with those big ball pockets stood on a tennis court! Lengthening was a strange phenomenon because I usually have to shorten things.

The fabric is a thick viscose with a lovely drape purchased from the stitching show last year at the NEC in Birmingham. The grand purchase total being £12.00. At the end I added on the ric rac because I am a sucker for the stuff and the buttons are shown as on the pattern. I added three purely because there were three in the packet.

Will I be tackling another unmarked pattern? I wouldn't specifically hunt one down but if I really liked a pattern/design/image, it wouldn't stop me from having another go.

Do join in with the pledge if you haven't already - it could be something as simple as a skirt to get you going or you could end up like me and make nearly all of your clothes from Vintage patterns by then end of the challenge.  My motivation to sew more generally definitely started with the Vintage Pledge back in 2015. It really has been an inspiration.

We are off on holiday for a week now to Portugal. Our first flying holiday as a family, the children are excited, I am looking forward to some sunshine and this dress is going into my suitcase.

Jo xxx

Sock yarn stash

There are rumblings on a few blogs about sock yarn blankets, much respect to you all but I am a thrill seeker, knitting a blanket in sock yarn leftovers will never be on my list of things to do.

So I just started to crochet my leftovers instead and a pleasing combination of rows appeared before my very eyes. I was surprised with the combination in crochet as opposed to the yarn balls in the first picture.It was better so much better than I thought it was going to be.

I will keep you guessing though because I am not sure what it is going to be yet but I needed something easy to crochet on holiday.

Any nice surprises lately?

Jo xxx

Beginners Shirt

This month I chose a beautiful cotton fabric from Minerva to make a shirt. I wanted to hone my collar skills so I went for a simple shirt design from the GBSB book One, yes people, I am still on book one! There are so many useful patterns in it I haven't felt the need to buy another sewing book until I had thoroughly enjoyed using the first one.

Ta dah! I invite you to admire my pattern matching which was a bit GBSB too. It is called the Boyfriend Shirt and is perfect for weekends and when I am working from home. The pattern is by William Morris, it is pretty timeless. Unfortunately they have sold out of this pattern but they have other classic patterns to try.

There are no cuffs to deal with so it is a good project for a first shirt. 

The birds follow across the front and round the sleeve heads - so very proud of myself.

I am going to wear this shirt for years I can feel it. The cotton was a good weight and soft to the skin. It would have made a pleasing skirt, shift dress or vintage style gathered skirt dress. I doesn't drape so it is good for things which cry out for a nice stem press and a crisp finish - like this shirt.

Thanks for looking. Jo xxx

Replica Cover up Blouse

After the success of making a replica blouse of an old favourite I decided to repeat the process again.

This is an old blouse - how old I do not know because I bought it from a second hand vintage shop eight years ago. It was when Big Sis was not a sister, she was a lonesome baby and I bought this East blouse because it was good for breastfeeding and fitted my post pregnancy bigger frame at the time.

It does however have a beautiful embroidered centre piece at the front which was what stopped me putting it in the recycling bag.I also liked the relaxed peasant style for summer days when I don't want both my arms and legs out at the same time.

I made a toile out of a duvet cover after cutting up the old blouse to gauge a smaller fit. All looseley tacked so that I could rip it out easily after fitting. Check.

These became the new fabric pattern pieces ready for some new sparkling white embroidaise anglais fabric which I had left from my last blouse.

Ta dah! A new peasant blouse which is really easy to wear and has saved that lovely piece of embroidery.

Perfect for today when the UK had a scorcher and I had seen enough sun on my arms, especially my car driving right arm which is a touch rosy.

Perfectly floaty and comfortable for the school sports day today - Ouch! Hot by you today?

Jo xxxx