Feeling festive!

I decided this year to make myself and T a stocking each for Christmas and I managed to get some lovely material from the knit and stitch show that wasn't too tacky but still festive.  I then started researching how to make one on the tinternet as I wanted them to be lined to so that they would stand up to being used!
There were lots of different ones but I found this one the easiest to understand;
Crafty Staci

I decided to use this but did not put the furry collar on instead I put a snowflake material.I also added a layer of wadding in the front section so that they are a bit more substantial!

This one is mine with snowmen on and a green lining.

This one is for T and has Father Christmas on with a red lining.

I know they are not the perfect stocking shape but I am quite proud of them! And can't wait for them to be filled, hope I have been a good enough girl!


Happy Christmas!

Knit and Stitch!

On Sunday I went to the knit and stitch show at Harrogate Conference Centre and it was brilliant!
I have never been to one before and there were so many stalls! I went with Mrs H and we both cam eback ladden down with goodies!

So what did I get...............well I can't put any pictures on yet because some may become Christmas presents-if I get time to finish them all! But I will keep updating on here.

One thing I am going to make is a Christmas stocking for myself and one for T! Yes we are both 28 but hey I am starting to get excited about Christmas and found the most gorgeous material at the show to make these with-not too chintzy but Christmassy enough!

Anyway thank you Mrs H for a lovely day and I can't wait to see all our creations! Same time next year???

Finally!

Sorry it has been ages, everything has been manic recently what with school work and starting to get ready for the big christmas!

I bought this material in the summer to make aprons for my sisters wedding but she then hurt her back so I ended up helping with lots of other preparation for the big day so didn't have time!








So the next plan was to make them for their Christmas presents so I have been doing them gradually when I have time. Now they are moving into a new house so I got my bottom into gear (or sewing machine!) and finally have finished them so I can give them in a weeks time when they hopefully will have moved in.
Hope you like them, sorry the pictures aren't great I took them on my phone.

'Mr'

'Mrs'

The 'Mrs' apron had frills along the bottom and I was quite pleased with how they turned out!.
I thought a 6 foot 4 rugby player wouldn't be that keen on frills so did one large pocket on the front.

I'll let you know what they thought of them.

Getting there.....

Well it's been a busy September, I've started my new school abd settling in there so have had very little time to do much else. But it is my lovely mums 60th birthday in a few weeks and we are having her birthday meal on my flat so T and I are trying I get the office space finished (although I'm using it already for work!)and we are nearly there it's all the boring little buts lwft to do! So I decided to do something creative and have made us a memo board! No sewing involved just some serious stapling with my wall gun! I thought it would brighten it up in there and it matches my union jack chicken door stop!

I have also bought this gorgeous wool mix material to try and make the dress below and I am determined I am going to do this over the next few weeks so that I ensure I have some Me time rather then all school time (We will see of that happens!) I am going to use a grey linning with it and want to make it soon so i can wear it during Winter.



















Hopefully now we have nearly finished the office/sewing space I will be able to show you pictures of that and all the sewing I have done in it...sigh!

A quick project

Today I did a quick project and I have made a bib for one of T's friends who have just had a baby girl, and I used the tutorial from the Sewshesews blog it was very easy to follow although I think I could have used a thinner wadding inside it. I really like the floral pattern with the spotty, both materials courtsey of Mrs H(part of my lovely leaving present!)


I have put the link at the bottom to the tutorial.
Sewshesew

Busy times!

Well i'm on the school holidays at the mo and I have been really busy! My sister, E, is getting married next week so I have been making candles for her wedding- these are cream candles in jam jars, made 36 some are scented with vanilla and some are not. I am really looking forward to the wedding and wishing them both lots of luck and love xx.

I also have been making some candles for my sewing sister, J, she has another stall this weekend and wanted some candles in cups so i have made her some, quite pleased with them but now i need to go round the charity shops to find some more interesting cups. I really hope the stall goes well for her because she desrves it as she works very hard. (This pictures is one of the rejects because i have sent them all- the wax cracked around the edges slightly.)

Last but not least we have knocked a wall down in our flat to create a work/sewing area so i have been busy painting and today we are fitting the carpet! T and I are learning lots of skills as we are doing a lot of it ourselves to save some pennies!

Gettting frustrated!

I'm trying to make a slightly different apron for my Mum, it needs to be more practical because it will get a lots of use (She is a brilliant cook!) So I had a go tonight trying it out. The pocket looks good but then I have been experimenting with bias binding to go around the edge and I think I need more practice on using it as its a bit wonky so i have got  abit frustrated so leaving it for tonight! So I am going to have another practice on my practice one before i make the final one for Mum as she deserves a good one to go with her new kitchen-she's been waiting for it for a lonnnng time!

I'm also having a busy time because I am starting  anew job in September at a different school and I am getting a bit nervous and sad but getting ready for a new challenge!

Pressies!

This week has been manic but I have had time to complete two little projects.

I created a cape for one of T's neices because we went away with them and all the boys had capes and she didn't. So i have created her own cape that is for her own superhero Ziggy! I have altered it since taking the picture by adding velcro to the elastic bit for safety. It had it's first outing today at a birthday party with matching leggings and shorts!Very cute!

 I then had a friends birthday and she hinted that she liked the aprons i had made so i created her one for her. (please excuse the mess in the background i put off tidying so i could do some sewing! It wasn't a hard choice to make!)






Also want to say congratulations to my sister who had her first stall today selling her fantastic gadget holders that she sews. They are so glam and chic! Well done Jo!

Reports, reports, reports!

It's that time of year again when i am permently attached to the computer trying to write my reports for school and various busy weekends coming up mean i need to get them done now! My aim is to have a break on Sunday to make an apron for my Mum who has just got a new kitchen that she has been wanting for over 15 years! I have some lovely fabric for the pocket from Fabric Rehab (great for lovely material) and I am going to have a go with some bias binding on it, not sure whether i have enough but i will keep you posted with how i go because I know if she likes i then this apron will get a lot of use! Thought i could make some for my friends at work that I will be leaving this year but not sure what people would think of them? There is a link to the material that i am using for the pocket below;Fabric rehab

Long time no write!

Ok I haven't written for ages because I have been busy sewing but i wasn't sure whether i had the time or patience to blog but i am going to have another go especially after my sister (a seasoned blogger) said she is using it to catalogue everything she has made because she gives some of it away which i though is a really good idea. So here goes!

I have been really busy sewing some clothes, some other projects. I have made a silk dress which luckily my Mum helped me with me becasue i got stuck towards the end it was all these silly little bits where i hadn't finished off properly but i got  there in the end and learnt a lot. Here is the finished dress, looks a lot better on and i am really pleased with the end result.

 I've also created some aprons for some birthday presents. I prefer the turquoise one!

Sorry about the rubbish photos i'm taking them in the mirror in my crowded bedroom that needed a tidy! whoops!

I have also made these owls for my boyfriend's twin neices for their christening; E for Ella and A for Annie!

Anyway that is it for now, I will try not to leave it as long next time!

The dress!

As it has been half term this week it has ment that i have been able to do some sewing!Yeah! I also have had time to be a domestic goddess and make lots of cupcakes with delicious toppings!But hey ho back to the sewing because if I eat many more then I won't fit in my current projects :)

At the moment I am making a floor length dress from a Vogue pattern and I was advised to make a practice one because I hadn't made it before and I want to wear the end result to some weddings this year. I am using a brown crepe back satin that has a nice shimmer on it for my practice with a plain brown as the lining, I have managed to complete the bodice with only one bit of help from the lovely Mum and Jeanie-G (my granny- who i'm finding is an encylcopedia of sewing!) and now I have got to sew the skirt to the bodice-eeekkkkk!Hoping it all matches but feeling quite chuffed I have got this far.

For my 'proper' dress I went to Fine Fabrics in Harrogate and the lady who works there was lovely. Really patient with me and I have picked a grey silk with a white and black pattern on it with a grey non-static lining. It is gorgeous and I am really excited about using it! The silk is Italian and just looks beautiful!> Hopefully I will get pictures on tomorrow because T is going to help me do it!

Starting off

Well I am trying some new things at the moment I have never blogged before so we will see how this goes!
In September I started a sewing course in dress making to be able to make my own clothes as I like different bits and wanted a hobbey! I wanted to show what I have been learning but also thought if I blogged about it then I could get tips from others!

SO what have I made since September,
1) a jersey dress that was a pain to make because of using a 37year old ELna machine that like to jam with Jersey material! it doesn't fit me very well but i did manage some pockets.

2) I then made a skirt with some gorgeous material from my Gran with a pattern that my lovely friend Catherine got me from a vintage fair. I'm proud of this because i added a zip made most  of it on my own and used an overlocker AND i've actually worn it out of the house!
Before making number 2 I got bought for Christmas a lovely Janome sewing machine which is lovely to use.

So that is what i have made so far! I will put pictures on to show you what I have done as soon as I can work out how to put them on here!
Bye for now
Learner