Soul sewing

Hello my lovelies, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that it was as all or little as you wanted it to be. For me...it was all over in a flash. One day I will get to take it nice and easy on the run up to Christmas but I'm afraid this year (again) was not...I wouldn't change a thing though, it was lovely. I didn't get to spend as much time with family as I would have liked but still it was nice to see, hug and catch up with everyone.

I have a couple of days before I go back to the day job so I'm taking this time to relax and do some fun (me) things. Yesterday I spent the afternoon sewing, which I haven't done in a few months. One thing that I do know is that I am truly happy when I am sewing. I don't do it as often as I would like but I'm working on that one.

I'm not a one for new years resolutions so last year I decided to choose a word for the year ahead rather than something that I would probably never stick too. My word was "change" for 2017 and boy was there change in my life!!!

This time I'm going to chose the obvious word "SEW" I don't know at this point how but I intend to sew as much as I can in 2018. If I were to chose another word for 2018 it would be "Calm" lol. I think most people would chose that one!!

Its amazing how energised and fired up I get when I've been making something. Its a total mood lifter for me...every time. Its definitely in my soul to sew, I can feel it. And every time I make something new I feel an overwhelming sense of achievement that I just don't get from anything else and almost surprise myself.

I think it was in April this year that I decided to try and aim for the #Make9 pledge you can read my post here. I did think it was a little ambitious considering 4 months of the year were already over!! You will be able to see that there were quite a few changes to the list but it was more to fit what I wanted to make rather than the patterns that I had at the time of writing the list. 

To be honest I've never really kept track of what I did actually make. Until today where I made a list of all the things I have made this year:

1. SOI Ultimate Shift Dress

2. SOI Silk Cami x2

3. PJ Bottoms

4. PJ Shorts

5. SOI Ultimate Pencil Skirt

6. SOI Poppy Playsuit

7. Ogden Cami x2

8. Linden Sweatshirt

So all in all I managed 8, which I don't think is a bad effort. I could actually squeeze in one more if I wanted to but lets not put any pressure on the last few days of 2017....remember "calm".

OK so this is me signing off for 2017.....I will be back after New Year to tell you all about my sewing plans for 2018!

So whatever you have planned, whether it be dressing up and going out to parties or staying in your jammies (I will be doing the latter) have a truly wonderful New Year....here's hoping its the best year yet for us all. 

See you on the other side...

Emma xxx

Homeland

We Hello my lovelies, well what a lovely couple of days we've had. We had planned to travel up to Newcastle on Thursday but we needed to change our plans a little as Mr.B was recovering from an abscess on a tooth. We made it up north on Friday afternoon...boy was it cold :) lol I think I have been living down south too long! We met up with my Dad and had a mooch round the shops and the Christmas Market. 

The lights in Newcastle were so pretty and it was a comforting feeling walking around hearing warm Geordie accents...this is what I miss the most. Mine is ever so slightly diluted now, although some would disagree. We made the trip as 15 years ago we had our first date in Newcastle when I was still living up there. We even had our first kiss on the Millennium bridge. Awwwwww!

We also visited a favourite childhood memory of mine, Fenwicks Window. Every year they decorate their street facing Windows with some sort of theme, this year.....PADDINGTON BEAR!!! How adorable is he!

The Windows seemed so much smaller than I remembered as a child but still as magical. 

Then this morning we walked over the Millenium bridge and had breakfast in Pitcher and Piano. It was such a beautiful view sat overlooking the River Tyne and the Baltic Mill. It was bitterly cold but blue skies and sunshine. After coffee and pancakes we walked back over the bridge.

Now we are back home and unpacked....whirlwind visit indeed. Tomorrow I am ice skating with my lovely friend Mel, let's hope I don't fall on my ass! Then it will be all systems go....the last week of work and time to get prepping for Christmas Day. Food shopping, house cleaning and present wrapping.

Are you all ready for Santa? 

Emma xxx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The last week has been so hectic....hectic in a good way though. One minute it was the middle of November and I was casually planning Christmas the all of a sudden it's the week before Christmas and I don't know where I'm at!

The tree is up, however I have to admit that it was actually up with no decorations for 2 days before I dressed it lol 

Mr.B was an absolute star for getting all the outside lights up before we had snow. He's a keeper that one, he knows how much I love the Christmas lights! 

But it's definitely starting to look like Christmas :)

All of my Christmas shopping is done and half are wrapped, I've written my food list for the next 2 weeks so I just need to get myself organised with that. One more week left at the day job and we have a trip to Newcastle planned for the weekend. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

Emma xxx

WIP basket

Hello my lovelies...I'm so sorry that it's been a while. again since my last post, life is a bugger for getting in the way!!! Even more so at the moment as I'm trying to get things ready for Christmas. I hope you are all enjoying the festive season.

One of the things I have started and is still in my whip basket (there are a few lol) is my second crochet blanket. The colours that I chose (above) were in mind for our snug but when the wool arrived I decided that it needed a shade of red so I ordered some more the very next day. 

I worked out a quick pattern which I would repeat until I was happy with the length and away I went...

I stuck with the zig zag stitch as I love the pattern it creates with the wool but also because I feel that I am pretty confident with this stitch now. Crocheting really relaxes me, I can quite happily sit on an evening with my project on my lap with a cup of tea. I loved how it was turning out but I think I made the right decision adding the red....what do you think?

For now I have put it to one side whilst I focus on other things. I'm looking forward to having some spare hours over Christmas to getting it finished.

Take care my lovelies...

Emma xxx

A note to self....

Happy Saturday my lovelies! Its almost hard to believe that tomorrow is Bonfire night, does that mean its only something like 7 weeks til Christmas!! *insert photo of eyes popping out of head*

Crikey, well I did have a post filled with lovely photos' planned but I feel like today is in need of one of those posts where I like to remind myself of what I haven't done and what needs doing. Do you ever do that? How do you keep yourself focused on the 'list' of things you have to do? Do any of you feel like if its not written down on old fashion paper then it will just get mushed up in the pot inside your head where you store the million things that you know you need to do? And why do the important things only float to the surface when you are either at that point where you should be doing it or after the time has passed? I'm hoping I'm not on my own with this.

Mr. B is always commenting about how much I "love a list"....he'll say why dont you just save it as a reminder in your phone...and I'm like errrrrrm no I will just silence the alarm and forget AGAIN. There is just something about a handwritten list that seems to stick in my brain. So cue my favourite pen and my (one of many) notebook.

So the first thing I did this morning was make a coffee and some toast and sat down to finish two orders of gingerbread men that need to go out Monday morning....good there is one ticked off already. I'm now (well not right now as I am typing and drinking coffee - again) juggling with the washing, ironing, vacuuming and writing lists. I have to also point out that I am sat here typing with nails on one hand painted. That was last nights half arsed job not completed :D yes this is where my head is at at this very moment. I still never got the pieces cut out for my SOI Ultimate trousers :( I have been busy with gingerbread men decorations though which you all know I love to make so at least I'm getting my sewing fix!! I have so many things that I want to make, for myself and for gifts for Christmas, that my list is ever growing and when the time actually comes when I can tick something off I'm almost punching the air and doing a little bit of a happy dance! lol

One thing I did do which I have been thinking about for absolutely ages was to create a group on my Facebook page to host a pattern swap, here's the link if you would like to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/127665174555316/ I have a few patterns that I have that I would love to swap. I also thought it would be a great way to get my head back into the sewing world. I will write another post about it here once I have nailed down all the details. So I guess thats half a tick on the list :D

Right I think I have procrastinated enough, the rest of this list is not going to complete itself is it!!! Have a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned and enjoy the fireworks if you are going to any displays. 

Take care my lovelies,

Emma xxx

Planning: my next dressmaking project - trousers!

Hello my lovelies, I hope you've all had a good week and are once again looking forward to your weekend. Where does the time go? I'm sure in my last job the time never went over this quick!! Monday starts and before I know it it's the weekend again.

I have been able to fit in some sewing and crochet during the week but mainly that's because I haven't been working out like normal. I really do need to get back to it but I just find that at the moment it's either or. And since its getting to that time of year again that peeps are starting to order gingerbread men, I'm pleased to say sewing takes priority. I am obviously aware that the pounds are creeping on again slightly but who needs a Summer bod in Winter when you live in the UK....right?

I had fully intended last weekend to fit is

in some selfish sewing lol but that went out of the window. However I am still determined to get these cut out, then maybe I could get them sewn together in the week. Maybe? 

Even though the dark nights are drawing in and it's starting to get chilly, I think I'll still be able to get away with these colourful trousers. I'm thinking Christmas party with sparkly shoes and a black silky vest. Yes?

On another note, myself and Mr.B are celebrating 15years together this week so tonight it's homemade stew and a glass of my favourite red and tomorrow night were out on the town, I'm over exaggerating, we're off out for a meal and drinks. 

Have a fabulous weekend, I will be back soon to show you a huge stash of fabric I have 'acquired' 😂

...Emma xxx

One off the bucket list

Hello my lovelies :)

Brace yourself this is not pretty...this was me attempting to crochet sometime last year. 

I had bought a "How to crochet" book, a set of hooks and some wool. To say it didn't quite turn out how I had imagined in my head was a bit of an (OK a huge) understatement. How could a creative person make a piece of wool look so ugly 😆 

I decided to put the book, hooks and wool in the bottom of a drawer in my sewing room not really knowing when I would, if ever, pick it back up for a second attempt.

Well I did....eventually, after I had been on the crochet course at Toft. I can't believe the difference. When I read the book over a year, it was like reading a different language. But this time it was different, something just clicked! And look what I managed to do! Not only did I master all of the stitches in the book, including the granny square. I then went onto YouTube and learned how to do basket weave stitch.

At last! I have finally learned how to crochet!

Well that's one off the bucket list... LOL I just wish that I had learnt it sooner, I would've loved to have made blankets or little booties when friends had babies. Never mind, I will just have to make do with making blankets for myself.

Have a great week xxx

My 1st Crochet blanket

Hello again my lovelies! Wow have I got some catching up to do, so I'm jumping straight in with this one. Back in the early Summer I went on a crochet course to learn (at last) how to crochet without it looking like something the cats had been playing with :) I did try to teach myself last year but it was a disaster (probably because I had too much on my plate at the time) all that I got out of it was frustration. My lovely friend Andrea (*waves*) and I went to Toft in Rugby and was taught by a lady called Emily who was a fantastic teacher, she even compensated for the fact I was a lefty!! 

From the second I'd finished crocheting the first row of colour it clicked and I was hooked lol and I just couldn't wait to get started on my first blanket!

Of course it had to be a blanket for my room and of course it had to be mint green and lime green.

It's addictive, I can literally lose myself in it for hours and it feels so therapeutic. Not to mention the self pride when you start to see the blanket take shape.

I literally crocheted every where and whenever I could, I even took it with me when we went to Liverpool for the weekend. It didn't bother me in the slightest that the Lorry drivers were giving me funny looks as we passed them on the motorway :D ha ha!

Even though Mr.B kept asking 'when will that be finished?' I thought it didn't take me that long to make, but when I think back now it took me about 2months to finish it completely. So it was definitely a labour of love.

It's so warm and cosy and will be perfect for the colder days/nights in my sewing room! I just need to learn a different stitch to the zigzag now...the challenge is set!!! 

Emma xxx

Crochet hook rolls, oh yes and pretty button too!

Happy Friday my lovelies, I hope that you've had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend. I know I am, I'm hoping to be able to spend a couple of hours sewing at some point. Skimming through my saved posts I had almost forgotton to show you this....

What do you do when you learn to crochet, you buy some pretty crochet hooks and you want somewhere to keep them safe????? Well you go and make yourself a hook roll of course :D

In my favourite colours too!

I actually added a loop later on to safely store my embroidery scissors too....perfect.

It wouldn't be complete without some cute buttons.

Finishing touch...one of my labels. 

I love it, practical and pretty.

Have a fantastic weekend,

Emma xxx

True x Bias - Ogden Cami

Hello my lovelies....I am so sorry for the extended silence from my blog, let me explain. You know that I started a new job a couple of weeks ago right? Well I am pleased to say I'm still there and starting to settle in. On the down side, I have to travel more which means I am out of the house for longer than normal...so sewing, blogging and generally being creative has taken a bit of a back seat. I'm sure things will settle a bit more and I will find more of a balance between work and being creative. 

Whilst dinner is cooking I thought I'd pop by and say hello and then I realised that there are a load of draft posts that I have yet to finish. This was me kinda preempting that I wouldn't have much time in the first few months to regularly blog!! Win win!

So I thought I would start with another make, I can't remember exactly when I made these, it seems like such a long time ago now. I'd seen so many creatives out there making them and they all looked so fantastic I knew I had to get the pattern and try it myself!! So off I trotted to down load it from http://shop.truebias.com/product/ogden-cami. The fabric I chose, I did because I had seen others making Ogden's in them and they looked fab....

Again it was an easy pattern to follow, a front and back piece, front and back facing pieces and the strap piece. The instructions were easy to understand and in no time I'd whipped up my first and was already onto the second!!

With the sizing on this one I made the size 4 as per my measurements, although it was a good fit I think for the next one that I make I will go for the next size down or maybe the one below that? Surprisingly I did make a toile in the size 4, which I thought was perfect but seeing it in the finished fabric I think I would like a smaller fit. I think that's the beauty of making your own clothes, if it's not quite right you can change it next time. I love learning from mistakes...trial and error makes it all more worth the effort when you get the perfect fit.

I am still yet to take some full length photos of me wearing them, but I think it will be a while before I get round to that. If you were thinking about buying this pattern I would highly recommend it. I think the style suits a variety of body shapes and you can dress it up or down with the type of fabric you choose. I'm hoping to make some more in a nice crepe for work wear. 

Well that's all from me tonight...hopefully I'll be back tomorrow to show you some more makes. Hope you've had a fab weekend. 

Emma xxx

September.....

Well my lovelies, I can hardly believe that it is September!!! Does that now mean that the Summer is over? I hope not, I dont think I'm ready for tights, big jumpers, log fires....hang on they all sound pretty nice to me, I love being cosy :D Maybe Autumn wont be as bad after all!

As you all know I finished work back at the end of May and I have had a wonderful three months to myself, sewing, baking, cooking, reading....just generally being creative without any timelines or routines. It has been amazing and although I wish it could continue, reality is I have to get back to work. Bills have to get paid, you all know how it is.

So cue the many job applications, interviews and me stressing myself stupid about going back into a job. Then finally this week it happened.....I sent in my CV, I was asked to go for an interview, I was nervous - god I was nervous, so much so I couldn't even eat breakfast. Five minutes into the interview and I was totally fine. The company is small but with a large turnover, the people are lovely, the office is AMAZING, the job is exactly what I was looking and hoping for......it almost all sounds too good to be true!!! And then they offered me the job on the spot!!!!! My first day will be 11th September and I cant wait, I'm so excited. Do people actually say that about going to work lol :D

I just hope it all turns out as I hope and that I am good enough to fulfil the position, 13 years in the same company was a very long time, so it makes you nervy about something so different and new.

So this means that everything changes again, I will be stocking up my website and etsy shop this coming week and I'm afraid that will pretty much be it for the short term. I am still trying to set up my new venture (I can never just do one thing at a time lol) which will be slow and steady. But until I settle into my new job, which is different hours and further to travel to, I have no idea what 'spare time' I will have. I will still hopefully be making clothes for myself and will try to keep my blog updated as much as I can. 

They say, nothing ever stays the same, well that is very true for me. Another unexpected chapter to be written and I'm going with it, who knows where it will take me???

I have lots planned for next week so hopefully there will be a few posts for the next couple of weeks to keep you going :D

Have a fabulous weekend, we have my Dad visiting this weekend so that will mean, good food, good wine and good company......

Emma xxx

Sew over it pencil skirt - by accident!!!

So its Friday night, I am half way through cooking a shepherds pie, I have a glass of wine and The Gypsy Kings are serenading me through the stereo :D Oh shit yeah and I forgot I've left the washing out.....back in a second!!!!!

Right where was I.....Oh yeah this is how I roll on a Friday.

This week has been a busy one, how on earth did I fit in a full time job before???? Lol....well however I did it I will have to master that skill again soon (hopefully). I have two interviews next week, wish me luck!! 

I have realised as well if you follow me over on Instagram that I am significantly behind on blogging....so you will have already seen some of these photos. I fully intend on catching up....at some point ;)

Now I know I said that I promised that I would be posting a make from a pattern other than a Sew Over It one, but, in my defence I did think I was going to make it from a Simplicity pattern, but........

When I went to open the pattern to cut my size out, I thought, hmmmmm where is the size 10???? Then the brain kicked into gear and I realised that I had bought the US 14-22 which I think is UK 18-26. Picture eyes rolling back into head., really!! Yes, that will teach me for speed buying when the patterns were on sale!!! And obviously because I was waaaaaaay too impatient, I was straight on the internet looking for a pdf pattern that I could download straight away. Well I have never been one for waiting for anything, my Mother will tell you that!! So within the hour, I had downloaded, printed and cut out the SOI Ultimate pencil skirt. This was purely because it was a similar shape to the Simplicity one, which meant I could use the zip I had bought.

This was the gorgeous fabric that I had in mind for the skirt....you may recognise it from my bag making days, as I also have it in a sage green colour which I made a clutch bag out of but sadly not enough to make the skirt, so out came the blue.

The pattern again was really simple, front and back pieces with front and back facing pieces. No lining on this one....WINNER!!!! At some point I will attempt a skirt with lining but just not yet :D

It calls for an invisible zip....which to be honest I wasn't that worried about, even though its been about fifteen years since I last sewed one lol I have to add here that I did not follow the instructions for inserting the zip as I followed MimiG's tutorial on how to insert an invisible zip. You know I love MimiG and her tute is so simple and her method I think is the best!! Just look at that zip!!!!

Also I am going to admit that the zip I had bought for the other pattern was an 8" one but this pattern requires a 12" zip, I thought I would try it anyway to see if I could get away with it. Its OK but because of the high waist and where it sits you would need the 12" zip....I have to do a little wiggle dance to get into it.

This pencil skirt is quite high waisted, probably a little too high for my taste to be honest, but as this was my first attempt I went with it. It does look very classy but I think next time I will amend the pattern so its not as high. 

The skirt also has a vent at the back centre seam which I love!!!!! This part was so easy to sew, the instructions are really clear as to what to do.....loving a vent!!!!! I really enjoyed making this skirt and I have to say hats off to Lisa at Sew Over It for making yet another fantastic pattern. I love the skirt, its a snug fit, but not so that its not comfortable. 

And here it is......

What do you think?

At first I thought this fabric/print would be too much for a pencil skirt, but I gotta say it......I love it so much, I've tried it with this white vest and a black one and its definitely a winner in my book!!!

Queue my really bad poses at the top of our stairs lol its the best light in the house for taking photos and considering these were took with my iphone attached to a tripod with a hair bobble I dont think they are that bad :D

So I have to say that this skirt was a fantastic accident (due to the Simplicity pattern fiasco with the sizes) and I can see this one being replicated many times. You gotta love a pencil skirt. Would love to make a black one for work and maybe a tweed one for a bit more of a classic look.

Have a fantastic weekend my lovelies and I will be back soon with some more of my sewing adventures...

Emma xxx

Sew over it - Ultimate Shift Dress

Hello my lovelies and happy Friday to you all!! 

Well what a week it has been, I did plan on writing this post on Wednesday but time just seems to have slipped by me. I've just taken a break from cutting out some fabric, made a cup of coffee and plonked my bum down in my chair in the corner of my sewing room. Now, this is becoming a rarity as Summer, my youngest furbaby, has now decided that this chair belongs to her! Cheeky monkey! 

If there are times when I cant find her any where in the house its because she has sneaked up here and snuggled herself into the throw on it. There has even been times when I've been sat in it and she has walked into the room with a look as if to say "Errrrm scooze me Mama you is sitting in meez chair!!" and of course I move and go and sit at my desk (I know what you're thinking, idiot, but how could I refuse that face?).

So in amongst the job hunting (here has been a lot of that this past week, as my time of semi retirement has almost come to an end sadly) I have made another item for my wardrobe.

This time its the Sew over it - Ultimate shift dress. I can hear you all moaning from here, uurrrggghhh why doesn't make something from a different pattern company? Its coming soon I promise, its by accident I keep making from their patterns, another way you could look at it is that they must make very good patterns. They are easy to follow, good for beginners (I think), and the fit is true to size (for me anyway).

Right lets get to it!

So this fabric, I purchased from an ebay shop, I think its called Regencyragsfabricstore or something similar. As I said before I bought a load of fabric from them, mainly because it was cheap and great for practising dressmaking. So if I did make any mistakes it didn't matter so much.

The pattern consists of one front piece, two back pieces, two facing pieces (depending which version you make) and two sleeve pieces. Now you have got the option of making, a sleeveless, short, 3/4 or full sleeve. I'm a huge fan of a short sleeve, this is due to my obsession with cardigans and the fact I love to throw one over a dress. Again another first in a long time for me with this pattern was setting a sleeve in. Now, it wasn't perfect there was a little puckering at the back seam, but all in all it was quite good and I'm fine with it :) Next time I will nail it!! 

It was another hook and eye fastening at the back, I love this, partly because I love sewing this type of opening but also because I think it looks really nice.

I found sewing the dress together pretty easy, the only part I was a little nervous about was the sleeves but I needn't have been as it wasn't half as scary as I had been picturing it in my mind (from previous experience years ago).

And of course, one of my labels. At this rate I will have to get some more made!! That's a good thing though, right? I cant tell you how much I am loving making my own clothes. I have to give a little shout out to the people who taught me to make clothes in the first place, now I know that they will never get to see this but its nice to give them the credit they deserve. When I was at Newcastle College studying Fashion Design we had two technicians called Joan and Christine and they were AMAZING!!!!!! Thank you for teaching me the skills I have today!!!

And here it is the finished dress, for the next one that I make I have adjusted the pattern ever so slightly. I have added 1cm to the front and back pattern pieces at the centre seam and I've added 2 inches to the length. The length on this one is OK but I wanted this dress for work wear and I think its a little short.  I think could get away with it with thick tights and boots for the winter of course. That is very me :D

Saying that though I do love it, its definitely my style, it should be worn without a belt as its a shift dress but anyone who knows me knows I cant live without accessories, so out came the belt. I was also a little unsure of the fabric when I first bought it but I think it works well with this dress pattern. 

My verdict then: big thumbs up for Sew over it, this pattern is easy to make/follow and looks great on. I would definitely recommend this pattern to anyone wanting to try a simple dress. As always looking forward to making another soon!!!!

Have a fabulous weekend.....

Emma xxx

A little more hams and sausages?

Whhooooooo I really am on a roll this week with blog posts hey? I have just parked my behind down on our very comfortable sofa (I do love our sofa, its one of those ones where when you sit on it you never want to get up again lol!!), with a very large cup of coffee and I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends so that Mr.B and I can spend the whole weekend relaxing together.

So while I was also on a roll of fun making, I decided to sew together some of the Tailors Ham and Sausage pressing sets that I made myself a few weeks ago. This kinda happened by accident, well I say this, I'm blaming it on you, the lovely people who asked would I be making any more....well here they are :D

I've made two sets and although I do enjoy making them, I don't think I will be making anymore, due to being focused on other things. So if you want to get your hands on a set be quick!! 

Obviously I had to make a sewing themed set!! And I have to admit I am a little bit in love with these ones!! One side there are vintage sewing items and on the other a gorgeous yellow letter set print.

The measurements are : 

HAM : 24cm x 18cm x 10cm

SAUSAGE : 29cm x 8cm x 6.5cm

They are made from cotton and are filled with sawdust....the good old fashioned way!!!

This is the second set, a gorgeous lime and teal floral pattern with a teal abstract floral print on the otherside.

I think they would make a fantastic gift for a sewing enthusiast or if you just really love ironing and want some fun and colour in your life, you totally need these!!!!

The sets are £20 plus £3.40 postage.

They are listed on my website, facebook and instagram but if you're interested just leave me a comment below :D

Have a great weekend my lovelies, I will be back on Monday with the next instalment of my dressmaking adventures!!!! 

.......

Emma xxx