Linen Tunic

After a lot of deliberation I decided to use my bargain blue linen for a sort of tunic top.  It has a scoop neck, three quarter length sleeves, side slits at the hemline and a large patch pocket - useful for a large handkerchief when my hay fever starts!  It's quite a loose fit but that's good for layering throughout different seasons, and the shape is not very flattering - more of a comfy, pottering about garment, but I think I'll get a lot of wear out of it - I'm good at pottering. 

Notice how I joined some small bits together for the pocket, so as not to cut a chunk from the rest of the spare fabric; there's just enough for something else to be made from it.  Also, I couldn't resist making some spotty bias binding for the neckline, a bit of hidden fun!

Tweed Crotchet

After completing my last little crotchet project I couldn't resist sorting through the other wool to see which colours might go well together for another little project.  I put all the greens and browns together and created my second small rug.

It's a long narrow one that fits just nicely on another of the stone steps in our garden.  It's rather cosy and reminds me of tweed fabric and moorlands.

Oh, and some excting news that I heard this morning is that I became a Great Aunty to my niece's new baby girl which they are going to call Heidi.  I can't wait to see her, it doesn't seem 2 minutes since I was baby sitting for my niece herself - how time flys!  I'm now sorting out pastel colours in the wool basket, I can feel another small rug coming on!
Here is the welcome card that I made for them, it's just small triangles of fabric and ribbon atttached to the card with a line of machine stitching, simple but effective.

Short Cuts

I was following a woman through town yesterday morning -  well I wasn't actually following her, just going in the same direction - and I was inspired by her skirt!  I came straight home and thought "that's exactly what I need to do with those two old skirts in the wardrobe."  You see I have these linen skirts that I can't possibly part with because, well, they're linen.  I haven't worn them for a few years because they're ankle length and look rather dated now.  So, here's the solution.

 I cut the skirt about 2 inches above knee length and hemmed it.  Then I cut a piece about 4 inches wide from the bottom of the bit I'd cut off, therefore utilising the existing hem.  I had to take it in a bit down the back seam to make it the same width as the newly shortened skirt, and then I placed it underneath and inside the skirt and stitched it in place to create a layered effect.

My other skirt then had a similar treatment but with a slight variation.  I gathered the bit that was to go underneath and then added some bias gingham tape that I had.
I can now wear these skirts with thick coloured tights and boots until we get our summer!

A Fair Exchange

Recently I made a couple of bags for a friend and as I don't like to take money from friends we did a swap.  You can't beat a good old fashioned barter!  I'd suggested to her that I wanted to try my hand at weaving and so if she had any left over bits of yarn they would be appreciated.  However, I wasn't prepared for the amount she had spare.  Carole is a very prolific knitter and I was over the moon with the stash she gave me - this is a very deep basket as well!

So, because I couldn't decide what to make from my recent purchase of linen (beautiful, lovely linen) I got to work sorting out the wool.  First I put it into colour groups, then changed to types, ie wool, boucle, cotton, manmade etc. then finally settled on just groups of what looked pleasing together.
Unable to stop there - the night was still young - I started to crotchet.  Using four strands together and a 8mm hook it only took a couple of evenings to produce this little blanket.  It's simply done in trebles and when one colour ran out I just introduced another one.

It's just a rectangle of wooly colours that suggest tweed to me.  I thought it would be nice to sit on in the garden on the stone steps - a bit of padded warmth with my elevenses.  It was so therapeutic that I want to make another one - maybe greens and browns next time.

Second Hand Fabric

Just thought that I would show you my latest bargain purchase of fabric yesterday.  I wasn't really looking for fabric (actually that's not true - I'm always looking for fabric) but when I went into a charity shop in town and realised that somebody must have been having a clear out of sewing related stuff I was delighted.  There were spools of unused threads - admittedly unusual colours - but I couldn't resist.  Then there was this piece of charcoal needlecord, only half a metre but 60 inch wide; I thought a pleated skirt on a yoke with the yoke cut along the horizontal stripes would be rather nice, only £1.49 as well!

Then, the most lovely piece of fabric in the whole wide world to me - indigo blue linen!!  OK I may be alone in my happiness (my husband certainly can't understand the excitement of finding such fabric) but to me it's the ultimate prize. 

I washed them both as soon as I got home and they're still damp in these photos, so they probably don't look too inspiring to you.  My blue linen was only 2 metres long unfortunately (cheap at £2.49 though) so my biggest problem is what to make.  There's enough for dress, shirt, pinafore, skirt or trousers - but not all - I'll have to see what I can squeeze out of it.
Here's a close up with a better depiction of colour for our indulgence.  Garments will follow shortly I hope!

A Pale Blue Sewing Day.

 It was a very wet rainy day yesterday and I had the whole day uninterupted, so what better creative thing to do than to make a few more clothes from my favourite sewing book.  This is a raglan sleeve blouse which I made from a fine blue and white striped cotton.  The pattern suggested a small keyhole opening for the front fastening with a loop and button.  I rather fancied making a placket with half a dozen small buttons.

Then after lunch (only time for a coffee and a toasted tea cake) I chose my next pattern.  I decided to use the pinafore pattern and added the small sleeve and a couple of patch pockets.  It's one of those dresses that can be worn with layers underneath or just by itself.  I love the versatility of being able to wear them all year around.

The fabric I had was a mid blue cotton which is quite thick but also soft and snuggly.  I used some left over fabric from my daughter's climbing pants for the facing around the neck - it's a cotton lawn from Liberty.  I love the wrapover shoulder seams - they remind me of the vests I used to wear as a small girl.

Summer Shoulder Bags

I've just put these 3 lovely Shoulder Bags on my Etsy and Folksy websites to sell.  I made them from some canvas that I've been keeping for the Summer months.  I think that the bottom one is particularly jazzy and fun - just right for getting us in the mood for some lovely weather!

Purple Pompom Primulas

My Purple Pompom Primulas are blossoming now (try saying that quickly!)  There is also a rogue white pompom too - just the one.

The Sweet Peas and Nasturtiums have now ventured outside into their summer positions too.  I'm hoping that the pleasant weather we've been experiencing this week holds out, otherwise I'll be regretting my decision - I always find it difficult trying to decide when to plant out the tender young things that I've grown from seed - I feel sad for them if they get too cold during the night!

Pintuck Blouse

When I started doing Pinterest boards last year, one of my first Pins was of this beautiful spotty blouse with a few pintucks on the front.

 

Well, I've just found some spotty fabric of my own, albeit in brown, and I was so excited that I tried to re-create this object of desire.





It's turned out to be not quite the same shape - a bit fuller around the middle - but I'm still happy with it.  Why not take a look at my Pinterest boards (link on the right) there are some fantastic linen clothes from a company called Envelope - I'd love to find a good source of linen so that I could get a similar look, but we're a bit short of fabric shops for dressmaking around here, not good for a seamstress like me!