Make Nine 2018

Whoooooo look at me....another post! Hello my lovelies. Since I had such a blast doing the Make Nine 2017, there was no question about doing it this year. Making a plan back in April, even though it did change slightly, gave me a goal to aim for which was amazing for my motivation. Pop back to this post here if you want to see what I did make.

Last years Make Nine list was full of patterns that I confidently knew I wouldn't have too much trouble getting stuck into. I didn't pick anything that I felt was out of my comfort zone. Remember this was my way of getting back into dressmaking and I didn't want to put myself off before I'd even started. As I said in my previous post I was pleased that I had managed eight of out the nine considering I only started in the April.

Now that I feel more confident with my machine and making clothes this years Make Nine I have made a challenge for myself. I have purposely picked items that I know will push me wayyyy out of my comfort zone. And to be totally honest some of the patterns scare the shiz out of me lol

Here is my list (see photo above):

1. The Drop Set by Made It Patterns

2. Bettine Dress by Tilly and the Buttons

3. Overalls by Burda Young

4. Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns

5. The Jenna Jumpsuit by Cotton and Chalk

6. Ginger Jeans by Closet Case Patterns

7. Ultimate Trousers by Sew Over It

8. Agnes Top by Tilly and the Buttons

9. Ultimate Shift Dress by Sew Over It

There are two in the list that make me nervous just by looking at the illustrations on the front, the first one being the Kelly Anorak. I mean come on its a coat!!! Look at all the pieces and the notions required not to mention the zip and poppers!!!! SHIT.......see I told you it made me nervous. I'm totally gonna do it though!!! I have made a promise to myself that even if I'm petrified of it I'm gonna do it anyway!! Whats the worst that can happen? 

I dont have a fabric picked out yet but I'm twoing and froing over plain or patterned fabric? What do you lovelies think?

My second terrifying pattern is the Ginger Jeans, I love skinny jeans and because of my height I do struggle to find ones to fit my gangly legs sometimes. If I could actually pull this off and make my own jeans......well that would just be it for me!!! Life mission accomplished (almost te he!) I mean how amazing would it be to be strutting around in a pair of skinnies that I'd actually made with my own hands!!!!!

I've popped in a couple of patterns so that I can get some practice in of sewing stretch fabric and some dungarees and a jumpsuit, again for those blimmin' legs of mine. I've always wanted an adult pair of dungarees, I practically lived out of them when I was a kid. 

So wish me luck on my Make Nine, I will come back and try to do a review of some sort of each of the patterns.....let me know if there is anything else you would like me to cover.

Till next time my lovelies.....stay smiling :)

Emma xxx

My Make Nine 2017 - almost

Hello my lovelies, well as promised here are some photos of my Make Nine from last year. There were also a pair of pj shorts but I have no idea where the photo has gone so I've popped in a photo of my Linden Sweatshirt that I finished over the Christmas break...didn't quite finish it before the end of 2017 but the intention was there so surely that counts rights?

Its been a busy couple of weeks here again but I have managed a little sewing, I've finished my latest crochet blanket and I've been working on some more plans for 2018.

Hopefully blogging will pick up a little bit now as I have a stash of photos to show you all and still some more to take *thumbs up* could this be a sign of me finally getting my sh*t together and getting organised? 

This is part of the reason I love my blog, its great for getting my head straight. Getting all those ideas and plans down and out there so that you kinda said it out loud so that means you have to get your ass into gear and get them done! :) 

How do you all find it best to lay out plans? Are you a list writer? Have you got any suggestions on how to be more organised? I'd love to hear them, I am a terrible (I should say expert) procrastinator so anything that gets me organised and focused is a win in my book.

Right I'm tootling off now to go and make another (3rd of the evening) cup of tea and start planning the rest of this weeks posts.

Have a fab week guys....see you soon,

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

And sew it begins : PJ bottoms

Good morning my lovelies, another glorious day out there. I love Summer :) there's nothing better than sitting in my sewing room creating, other than sitting in my sewing room creating and the sun is shining!!

I have a very large mug of coffee so lets get started before I go and finish some more pen cases and tackle the rest of my to do list (yes I am most definitely keeping myself busy). I thought I'd show you my first Make 9 project. Now I know its a little late in the year to be starting only my first project as I posted about this back in early February, but there is still plenty of time in the year to get the other 8 done for sure!

So first from the list I chose PJ bottoms, mainly because I live out of them (dont judge me, I like being comfy lol). The very lovely Lynne from The Make It Room kindly offered to send me the pattern and instructions that she uses in her classes. If you have never heard of Lynne before pop over and take a look at her website. She runs workshops and courses in dressmaking and sewing, feltmaking, needlefelting, knitting, crochet, lampshade making, rag rugs, painted furniture and découpage. I do wished that I lived closer so I could attend all of her sewing classes :(

I bought some beautiful cotton from a shop on ebay which was about £11 for 2 1/2 meters which I thought was really cheap, I didn't want to buy anything too expensive as this was my first project. Once I get a little more back into the swing of things I will be a bit more adventurous with my choice of fabrics. I have my eye on a few :D I bought some elastic for the waist band and already had this beautiful cream ribbon that I bought from John Lewis many moons ago.

I added some length to the pattern as I have very long legs so 6" extra was necessary! And that was it I was ready to get going!!

This was the first time in a long time since I had used an over locker. It is ridiculous how excited I was to thread it up and over lock something. Although it had been ages since I had used it I still managed to thread it up like it was only yesterday. I could have literally spent all day just over locking stuff (yes I need to get out more).

Anyway I did manage to prise myself away from the over locker to actually sew them together and start sewing the casing for the waist band. My one mistake was that I ran out of the thread and had to use two different colours, if you look carefully at the photo below. But I dont think I will ever notice!!

I started to get a real pang of excitment once I started feeding the elastic in for the waist band.....they were actually looking like a garment!! 

I hemmed the bottoms and added the ribbon...........

.........and this is how they turned out!!!!!

I couldnt be happier with my first make. In fact I was a mix of emotions of 'why the hell have you not been doing this all along' and I was so proud that I had made something that I could wear! 

These wont be the last pair I make...I have already ordered some more fabric to make my next pair. They were so easy to make, Lynne's instructions were so easy to follow and the fit was perfect.

It has really fuelled my passion for sewing again, I feel like I just want to spend every single day sewing!! So if anyone can find me a permanent job where I can sew all day then please let me know lol.

I'm already planning my next two projects and cant wait to get started.....

Emma xxx