Daily Drivel

More sewing...

I had a go at making a zippered pouch today - it's turned out ok. I need to do the lining. It's a bit on the floppy side - I used up some heavy interfacing I had in my stash but it's not nearly stiff enough. I was intending to use this to keep the bits for my overlocker in but it's quite big so I might use it as a knitting project bag and make a smaller one for the overlocker. The fabric was from my little stash too - in fact I used the stripey fabric to make a knitting needle roll - one of the first things I made. I'm pretty pleased with how the zip turned out - it's a little bit wonky in places but I think it looks ok. I'm going to have to get some nice funky fabric to make some more of these in different sizes I think!

 

Yucky weather and snuggly fleece...

It's SO windy here. It was lovely first thing - we went to our local farmer's market early this morning and it was bright sunshine. It started raining when we were on our way home - the weather has been disgusting since! I suppose it sounds worse in here because of having an open fire - but it really is horrid out there tonight.

I bought some fleece this morning - blue 'camoflage' print - and spent the afternoon drafting a pattern for PJ bottoms and making them up. It worked! I'm wearing them now - perfect for lounging around in - if a bit on the baggy side. I think I overdid the 'ease' a bit but not bad for a first attempt. There are quite a few other things in the book I want to make - there's a nice jacket and a longer coat which look nice. I've been trying to find some embroidered fleece - but no luck. Maybe I can embroider it myself?! I think I've really caught the sewing 'bug' now. I just wish I was a bit quicker - but I guess that will come with time. I keep having ideas for making things or wondering how I can make things a different shape etc. It's interesting drafting your own patterns - I've started to really look at how clothes are constructed (which is a bit worrying - as I've never really been 'into' clothers).

Off to search for fleece suppliers now!

Fingers crossed...

Today I'll mostly be sewing!

Got up early today (well, early for a Sunday!). Events so far:

8.35am Realised that the brown roll of paper I was intending to use to draft my pattern was too short - by a lot. Got v. annoyed that I didn't buy something suitable yesterday.

8.40am Decided to try using greaseproof paper (we buy massive rolls of it from Costco - I love Costco!). Wasn't sure it would be wide enough. It was. Happy dance!

9.00am Finished drafting pattern for skirt.

9.05am Narrowly missed squishing fingers in table while pulling out the extra 'leaf' to make it nice and wide for cutting out. Ouchy.

9.20 Finished ironing fabric. I don't really do ironing. I only bought an ironing board when I decided I wanted to sew (hangs head in shame!)

To be continued...

Made a start!

Just spent a happy hour or so messing around with drawing a snowdrop. I grabbed a couple of photos from the web (Google image search is so cool!) and did some sketches. I took a photo of my nice messy workspace:

A new challenge!

So, I've signed up for a year-long 'quilt along'. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I seem to remember doing some patchwork at school (and I definately remember that it never got finished!) - A bought me a lovely book for Christmas which I had seen in a local fabric shop and said how nice it was. It's a great book full of clear instructions and ideas. Anyway, each month there is going to be a different theme/idea around which to base the design for a square. This month it's 'snowdrops'. I've been doing some thinking and I wanted to have an overall idea as well so that the different squares come together nicely so I think I'll try doing each square to look like a stained glass panel (jeez, says me - who's never done quilting before!). Anyway - at least I have a plan. Whether or not I can make it work, well you'll just have to wait and see! I fear I need to go and buy yet more stuff for this or maybe do a little internet shopping. I'm going to try Applique so apparently I need 'freezer paper' - and some iron-on bias tape. I also need more fabric. Eeek. Greens and white. I love green so that's good!

All I need now is a design. Arghhhhh!

Productive weekend...

Had quite a productive weekend for a change. I finally got round to making the cushion I bought the stuff for 2 years ago (eeek!) when I got my sewing machine for Christmas. It didn't take too long to make and I even managed to put the zip in ok (well, ok-ish - but it's only my 2nd ever zip so I'm pretty pleased with it!). It's a snowman pattern on one side and plain red on the other. I suddenly realised how I should be positioning my zipper foot while I was sewing it on - DOH! The instructions I was following weren't that clear and I think the foot was different to mine. My first time using basting tape too - very cool stuff - it worked a treat holding the zip in place. I think I'm going to make some more cushions soon!

I also made something else - but I can't put that up because it's a secret! I'm going to have to make myself one as well I think.

I did manage to knit a swatch for my course today too. I really do need to get on with it and try and get a bit more done. I need to keep the momentum up a bit.

I'm working on a pair of socks for my Dad for Xmas - first 'fitting' tomorrow hehe. I don't rate my chances of actually getting them finished for Xmas though. I'm also making slow progress on my Forest Canopy shawl - I keep getting it wrong. Very annoying as it is such a nice, simple pattern.

Tricky but fun!

I had my first go at free machine embroidery tonight. My back hurts now so I've given up for today. I just tried drawing the shape of a couple of leaves and then this bird shape. I sketched it on with tailors chalk first. I've just used some 'normal' Gutermann thread for my first attempt - I did buy some cool Madeira variegated thread to have a play with once I've got a bit more of a clue what I'm doing! It's very tricky - I'm not what you might call 'in control' at the moment! Going to have another play tomorrow. It's very mesmerising - hope I get good enough to be able to do some on bags etc. I bought a nice book today too - Creative Machine Embroidery: A Practical Sourcebook Anyway - here's my first attempt!

That was hard!

Well, today I was mostly sewing. Almost all day. Eeek. I decided I wanted to have a pocket in the skirt I'm making. Well it's certainly stretched my sewing skills that's for sure. I decided to do a bound (slashed?) pocket. I tried it out on some scrap fabric first - it didn't turn out quite right but I got the general idea. I've just finished putting one in my skirt and this time I worked out what I got wrong the first time - I kept reading one of the steps over and over - suddenly realised where I went wrong the first time. Anyway - it could do with being a bit deeper but the width is just right and I'm pretty happy with it! Photos later. I'm worn out and I have to go back to work tomorrow - boo. I want to stay home and finish my skirt!

Prototype pear is done!

I got a square of green felt when I was at our lovely little local fabric shop today and I just finished off my prototype pear pincushion. I'm certainly no Heather Bailey but I'm quite pleased with my effort. I'm going to make another one in some nicer fabric - I just used some leftovers for this and non-matching thread, just to see how the shape would work. I think I'll make the next one a little bit slimmer! I stuffed it with the insides of an old duvet as I didn't have anything else handy! It could do with being a bit heavier and I know some pincushions are filled with sand - how does it stay in though?!

I bought this fabric today (and some more which is in the tumble drier at the mo. Photo later) - needs a good iron - it's drying. I wasn't going to get it as it said hand wash only - but I loved the colours AND it was reduced to £3.99 a metre so I got 4 metres. It's been in the washing machine on the 30 degree 'hand wash' cycle and seems ok.