Wednesday 29 June 2011

Work in progress


So, I'm still around. As you can probably tell from the above picture I'm currently knitting a pair (well, still singular actually) of socks. This is my first time using double pointed needles and knitting in the round. It is a lot easier than it looks I am pleased to say. I am especially pleased with how the heel turned out. It's like magic how the shape appears from the stitches as you knit. Looking at the instructions you think this is never going to work, I'm going to have a holey mess, but voila. For those of you interested, here's a close up.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

My new toy!!!


I am now the proud owner of a binder foot. I first came across this cool toy when reading about vintage sewing machines. They used to come with a large array of feet. The cassock I've been working on calls for prefolded bias binding to finish the visible seams. It is slightly time consuming, but the finished look is so neat and professional. So, being me, I decided to go hunting on ebay, and the rest was history. Hopefully I'll have a go with it in the next few days, and let you know how I get on.

Monday 4 April 2011

Pattern Naughtiness


Why is it that whenever I go on ebay I always seem to find myself browsing through vintage patterns? Especially the nightwear/underwear. Grr. I completely fell for the above pattern, and ended spending more on it than I usually do on patterns. It's from the 1930s, and has that lovely gathering at shoulders and bust that I always go for. And the jacket!!! Look at that cute little bow. I know I'm going to have to draft the skirt up a size or two, but I couldn't resist once I had seen the pattern, it had to be mine!

Sunday 23 January 2011

The absence of SWAP

So, I fully intended my next post to be a list of items I want to make this year. Nothing long, maybe five items, something achievable. Clearly even the thought of sewing with a plan sent me packing. Ok, so that's not entirely true. I have been 'thinking' about which patterns I want to make, but the final list is a long way from ready.

To be fair, I haven't completely been slacking off. The husband of a friend of mine is soon to be ordained as a deacon (vicar/priest sort of to you and me), and rather than spending £600/£700 on a polyester monstrosity, my friend and I decided to have a go at making his cassock. She tracked down the pattern below online.

Friday 14 January 2011

Sew much for sewing!

Well, so much for starting a blog getting me to pull up my sewing socks. This has drifted some what. So, new year, new start I figure. To start with I am going to give myself a gentle nudge (kick) in the right direction. I am going to take part in Casey's of Casey's Elegant Musings sewalong using the swing dress pattern from Sense & Sensibility patterns (http://www.sensibility.com/). One of the things I've been wanting to do is have a go at a forties inspired dress, and I think this fits the bill. Even better there is a deadline, so I'll have to get a move on.