knickers

Had to write something about yesterday evenings knickers class. All but 1 chose to make briefs as they were meant to be the hardest and indeed proved to be tricky (all down to adding the knicker elastic). I and a few others made the classic mistake of over stretching the bias waist but its all fixable and now have learnt my lesson. The class was enormous fun, and we left with 3 patterns for different styles of knickers and our tutor mentioned she uses Kwik Sew patterns if anyone wants to try at home, we did use over lockers for most of the construction and an elasticated zig zag stitch to attach the elastic. That was the trickiest part, but we all managed to make a fabulous fun pair in a few hours. Would defiantly recommend the classes there, lots of fun, glasses of wine, cups of tea and biscuits.

Miss T wanted to make a scarf for a friends birthday present but I forgot all about it until Tuesday afternoon and ended up dashing out to get wool, we managed to knit the Harry Potter scarf, finished very late last night. There were so many ends that needed weaving in, but Miss T's knitting is really improving. it's all ready for an outing to the new film when it finally comes out. Defiantly have to get more organised, and will be adding a large blackboard to the kitchen, just to jog my momoary! Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

olympia fare

Last week was very busy, not a lot of sewing and a house full of guests. My mother also came to stay for a few days and came bearing gifts too. I am now the owner of an invisible zip foot, I was a little skeptical at first as I'm not a gadget girl but this foot is brilliant! It has to be the easiest way of putting in a zip ever (click here for a tutorial). Have been practising with it and hopefully next post can show you several finished tunics.


On Saturday 3 generations wondered over to Olympia for the stitch and craft show, Miss T attended a scrap booking hour and loved picking out just the right papers afterwards too. I found Toft Alpaca and bought a fabulous kit to knit and felt a handbag and also a kit to knit a necklace. The yarn is so soft and the knitted beads are stuffed with alpaca fibre when finished too. Fabrics galore were there and I managed to buy a few pieces of linen for tunics and a dress (well I need to practice with my new toy!)

The jacket that I cut out is not yet finished and hope to have that completed this week. I am off to the Make Lounge later this week to learn how to make knickers, thought it would be a fun thing to do and also use the overlocker for something different too.
Hope you all have a great week, now I'm off to start on the jacket.

lovely sunshine

I managed to go over to Fabrics Galore twice last week, the first time I had finally decided what fabrics I wanted, when they asked if anyone in the shop owned the mini outside. Well I flew out just in time to move the car, knocked the windscreen wipers (total accident) as the ticket was produced.... AHHHH! but as the windscreen wipers were going he couldn't put the ticket on the car (I can laugh now at the look of suprise on his face, it really was a total accident). I have discovered (on line) that if the ticket is not handed to you or placed on the car it is not valid, does anyone know if this is true? So will now only go over there on a Saturday when its free parking and I can take my time without watching the clock (there is so much to see there). The aubergine wool fabric (bottom) and the lining (middle) are for a spring coat, the brown and white spots is for a dress. I have found that for me making a toile is important as I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to finish and fit, the spotty fabric was an amazing £2.00 per meter. The coat is going to be made without one and am hoping that it will be ok.

Miss T made this cute elephant broach for her Maths teachers birthday, it funny that all her favorite lessons were my least favorite! I remember my best friend and I joining the school choir, not because we loved singing but it meant we missed double maths first thing!

I have also been working on some Easter gifts, here is a row of bunny egg cosies for a friend and her familly from a pattern in last months Sew Hip magazine. I am also working on some Easter bunting, similar idea to the bunting I made for the Christmas Decoration Swap. If you love the Aranzi Aronzo books and expecting a baby or know someone who is they have brought out a new book called Baby Stuff. Is is full of very cute designs and even made J laugh out loud in Waterstones, so had to buy it.


The baby blanket is just adorable and a perfect gift for my sister in law who is now expecting, as is my next door neighbour and a friend of Miss T's mum to name just 3. It also includes a cute felt cake complete with candle, height chart, bandanna bibs and mini towels that look more like a toy for a tiny baby. It could be a dangerous buy as it may make you want another baby! Do hope you all have a great week, I'm off to start my new spring coat, after a brisk walk with the Hippos in the fabulous Spring sunshine.
PS. If anyone lives in London and knows a very good builder please can you e-mail me.

the dress

Only read on if you are brave, its me first thing in the morning in that dress. Strong coffee advised.

My knitting s finally growing, mainly down to me picking up the sticks and they do seem like sticks not needles. I am now over half way, the back is completed and hopefully I will be able to finish the front today.

I found this lovely small milk jug at the back of a draw and had forgotten about. It is made by Sarah Grove, who I met at the Country Living show a few years ago. I love the way she uses textiles in her work and the attention to detail, down to the button feet.

Ok, enough stalling below are the dreadful pictures taken first thing, never a great look. But did try taking a few self portraits and they were a disaster. The navy dress was made for my mothers party (using a navy wool crepe) and then the red wool dress...


I have been reading Green is the new Black by Tamsin Blanchard, it has a pattern for a skirt designed by Antoni & Alison, how to knit an ankle bracelet from your pet rabbits fur as well as other ideas. Also where to look for some free dress patterns and tips on leading a greener fashionable life. As always I managed to follow India Knights suggestion, found it at the library, a greener way of reading; although I would have thought bookshelves lining a wall would act as insulation and sound proofing. Hope you all have a great week!

hattastic

I went along to the Hats an Anthology at the V & A this morning with a friend. It was just so fabulous, hats by Stephen Jones and so many more, just inspirational. The Duchess of Cornwall's wedding feathers, Carla Sarkozy's pill box as well as the most wonderful sequin beret owned by Marlene Dietrich. Definitely recommend going, although we went at 10.30am it was jam packed, so planning on going again.

I have finished the red wool dress, very easy to sew, although not so sure it is the most flattering for me. I chose it because of the neck line, as I am not too comfortable about people seeing the scar as of yet. So off to Fabrics Galore later this afternoon to start on my next projects. I just love the idea of a glamorous housecoat, maybe a matching turban too! (very 1040's hollywood)

The hall wallpaper is still undecided, although I think I have found my favorite. Above is a fab paper by Sandberg and below is a new paper by Osbourne and Little (my favorite), I'm waiting on the O & L sample and will then have to decide. We currently have Churlish Green by Farrow and Ball but as the lining paper has got to badly damaged we need to start again and I thought a fab pattern would help bring this space back to life. I have received the Timmorous Beasties London Toile and Miss T hates it; maybe she should have a say, looking at people being held up at gun point isn't the best way to while away the time in the cloakroom! Or maybe a point of conversation after?

Spring has sprung

The party is over and everyone had fun, no photo's as yet. I forgot the camera in the early morning and we arrived 40 minute late and had to get started immediately, my help was on route but when we called them a second time they were just passing Heathrow (1 and a half hours behind us)

We decorated the old school with several paper lanterns, pink balloons and huge 70 pink metallic helium balloons, the lanterns idea came from Martha Stewarts web site and look great hanging from the fabulous old beams. The birthday cake was a massive carrot cake (I made 2) one with all the candles on and another we cut ready to serve. The recipe worked brilliantly too, all I did was multiply the recipe below by 5 (took some mixing, thought the kenwood would give up)!

9oz carrots
5oz butter
7oz sugar
7oz self raising flour
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons of baking powder
3oz chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons of milk.

Topping
2oz icing sugar
7oz cream cheese
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
half a teaspoon of vanilla essence.

oven 180' recommended tin 11 x 7 inches.

method. Line a cake tin with baking parchment.
Peel and grate carrots.
Melt butter in a pan over a low heat.
break eggs in a bowl and beat, stir in carrots and sugar, followed by the melted butter.
add the flour and baking powder and mix.
Finally add the walnuts and milk again stir well.
Put into prepared baking tin, smooth top and bake for 45 mins. Test by sticking a skewer into the cake, should come out clean.
Place on a cake rack to cool.
While the cake is cooling mix the cream cheese, lemon juice, vanilla and sifted icing sugar. Spread on top of cool cake.

On other news my Mother had lots of pattern waiting for me, so even though I have just finished my 2 months pledge I will be busy making these 4 patterns up. The shift dress I made for the party worked well and I will show a picture in my next post. I have to start the red dress from my last post later today. Oh also discovered that my bunny egg cosy is in the latest edition of sew hip! They contacted me about putting it into the magazine last weekend and assumed that magazines work so far ahead that it may go into the April/May edition but its there!

Hope you have a great week!