Sewing

So I realised the other day that although I have shared a few of my sewing projects with you I haven't really shared much Sew let's get sharing (sorry awful pun)

The trouble is knowing where to start so I thought I would start with my proudest moment make.

I made these waistcoats for my friend Dawns wedding. I'm not going to lie, when she asked me if I would do it I very nearly turned her down. But I think my brain is wired up wrong because the fear actually made me say yes. I started by making cheap cotton mock-ups that I used to create the final templates for the real thing. It actually took me a couple of weeks to get up the nerve to cut the beautiful fabric she had bought. I'm so proud of how they turned out and also because they fitted them so well.

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This is a little dress a I mage for myself for work. Because I usually cycle to work (traffic here is abhorrent) I needed something simple but smart. The last thing you want to do after cycling 3.5miles to work is to struggle with a zip. I found this lovely fabric at Eagle centre market.

It is slightly stretchy and although it feels quite thick it is surprisingly little weight. It flows nicely too.

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This lovely lady is my friend Dawn, who took me to one of the best shops in the world. ABAHKAN!!! OMG, it was a brilliant day out and I found this fabulous lacy material.

As a thank you I just had to make her something. So when I spotted this "No Pattern" top in simply sewing magazine I just had to try it out. Basically you need to cut out 4 rectangles, sew the seams, make two curved cut (One for each armpit), sew the sleeve rectangles to the top rectangles  at the curves, the fold the top edge over twice to create a 1.5 inch channel, stitch this in places but leave a 2inch gap to feed your elastic through. Feed elastic through, then sew the ends of the elastic together. Finish by sewing the gap shut and hemming the bottom. 

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This is a little clutch bag I made for a Christmas pressie  for my friend.
I had never used metallic thread before or magnetic fasteners for that matter.
I was quite pleased with how it turned out and also because it was the first time I had ever used my 1/4 inch foot (my sewing machine came with loads of feet but I have no idea what most of them are good for)

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So as well as the lovely lacy fabric I bought at Abakhan I found these fantastic sports fabrics. Yeah, yeah I know there a little on the loud side

BUT

(and yes there is plenty here)

When you cycle to work you can NOT be shy, the bolder the better I say. Trust me when I tell you that I have had to dodge drivers who haven't noticed me in the past. I will let you know if these babies get ignored. 

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I know it's been a little while since I updated this page so her we go

First I would like to introduce you to my first grandchild, she a little angel. The Totoro toy you see by her head was the first toy I made for her. I hope she will always have it with her.

As she was born at the beginning of March, I didn't spend lots of time making her stuff as I decided to help the all our local volunteers by making masks

I then joined the Scrubberdubbers and make lots of scrubs for Royal Derby hospital

Including skull caps (top image)

After several weeks I was back to sewing for fun and managed to whip up a few items for my granddaughter and my neighbours granddaughters

I made this lovely little summer frock for her, with matching booties and over-pants, for my neighbour I just recreated the pattern in the sizes for their two little granddaughters, just the dresses but still wonderful to do something positive.

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Then there is my youngest daughters Cosplay 🙈

Please ignore the magnificent armoured suite in the background, it's not my creation (but I wish it was 😲 it's amazing and took him 3 months to complete)

No we are look at the first cosplay outfit I ever made, the blue outfit my daughter is wearing. She wanted to be a female Jak from one of her favourite games.

 Soooo I made her a blue skirt with brown trim grabbed her blue top and added brown to match the skirt, then we wrapped kitchen foil around a Styrofoam ring and made brown straps. 

 That's not a wig by the way, we actually dyed her hair those colours.

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We then get to one of the most complicated outfits I have, so far, ever had to make. MIKU

but not any Miku outfit, oh no, Circus Miku.....

 

Backless just to make it a little more awkward.