An unexpected find - Op Art fabric

I wasn't particularly looking for fabric in Hunstanton, I went for fresh air and a change of scene, but I must be tuned in to finding it now and came away with this pillowcase set from a discount store!  No way would I use it as bedlinen, but I love the 70's style pattern and am thinking along the lines of making a top with it ...

Medicinal plants in the Sensory Garden

I should really have made a note of their names - next time I go I will ...

HUNSTANTON Sensory Garden & Bishopsgate Gardens, Manchester

Last weekend I had my first day out of the year on the Norfolk coast at Hunstanton.  There's a sensory garden there, with medicinal plants, standing stones, rock pool and sundial ....  so peaceful ....  Reminded me of Bishopsgate Gardens, behind Kendal Milnes in Manchester.  This is where I find peace and quiet when I'm in that city ...

Order of Sewing for the Chevron Skirt

To get a really impressive result, pin together your centre fronts and backs, matching up the stripes and then to stop them shifting when you start machining, just take a bit of extra time to tack them together with a tacking thread as well.  Machine up the front, back and right or left side seam  the one without the zip (depending on which side you want your zip to be).  Interface your waistband in the normal way.  Sew the top seams of back and front pieces.  Then sew together the sides where your zip isn't going to be, matching up the stripes as you do so.  Attach the bottom of the waistband to the top of the skirt, making sure the side seam is aligned.  Sew up your remaining side seam and set in a zip in the normal way, including the waistband in.  You could also try it invisibly if you're feeling adventurous!  Finally, hand stitch the inside edge of the waistband to the top of the skirt for a really neat finish and hem.

The Waistband of the Chevron Skirt

To make the waistband, you can either have your stripes vertical or horizontal - it doesn't really look right having them on the slant.  Use your left over bits of fabric or, alternatively, a plain coloured band would work well.

If you choose to do the striped one, cut your first piece as shown in the drawings.  Use this piece as a template to cut 3 more pieces exactly the same.  If you do this, for the horizontal stripes in particular, then you'll find that your stripes will meet at the sides.

Laying out the pattern pieces of the Chevron Skirt

Cut out your right front (1) on the slant, making your chevron as steep or shallow as you wish.

Use the right front piece you've just cut, rather than the paper pattern, as a template to cut your back left (2).  Use it to get your stripes in exactly the same place.

Cut your left front (3) by placing your pattern piece roughly as shown and use your back left piece (dashed section) as a guide to where the stripes exactly go.  Manouvre it a bit to make them match.

Cut out your remaining right back exactly the same as the left front piece you've just cut (4).  When you come to sew your pieces together, you will find that your side stripes will miraculously match up!

I'll explain about the waistband in the next post ...

Pattern pieces for the Chevron Skirt

Your right front and back left pattern pieces (1) will be exactly the same, as will your left front and back right (2).

How To Make A Chevron Skirt, a la Milly Molly Mandy

I've had a few requests to explain how I managed to match up the stripes on my Milly Molly Mandy skirt.  So, here's my first attempt at a tutorial.  I'll be doing this over the next couple of days.

First of all, you need a roughly A Line skirt pattern where the front and back are exactly the same.  I used the skirt part of the Colette Crepe dress because this has a seam down the centre front which allows for making the chevron.  I used the two front pattern sections and repeated them for the back.  I made the waistband from another skirt pattern, which happened to fit, but you could easily make your own by following the curve of the top of the skirt sections and tapering it slightly at the sides.  You make it in two sections - a front piece and a back piece.  The zip will be placed at the side of the skirt.

Ordinarily, the skirt would use a couple of metres of fabric, but to allow for stripe matching, you will need an extra metre.

I'll continue tomorrow with some diagrams of how to lay out the pattern pieces, so, until the next exciting episode, bye for now!  (Sorry to keep you in suspense - I've got to go and do the drawings ...)

UK Swap Meet Part VII - Goldhawk Road

Just a few image of the Goldhawk area which itself is interesting from a historical point of view.  Lots of Pie & Mash shops for example interspersed with the fabric stores ....

Some of the fabric shops and the Pie, Mash, Liquor and Eel shop (anyone??)  My photo.



Entrance to Shepherd's Bush Market.  My photo.

The original 'Bag Lady' herself!  (Why didn't I leave it to one side!!)  Photo courtesy of Rachel R P Silva.



My spoils of Goldhawk Rd and the secrets stored within my bag... My photo.

Bye' everyone!  Taken by Charlotte P-B's Mum.

So comes the end to one of the best of days and it's 'bye until next time to Goldhawk Road and Station.  I'm sure we won't leave it too long until the next visit ...

UK Swap Meet Part VI - Fabric and Pattern Swap

And so the fun begins with the pattern and fabric swap.  We took over a cafe on the Goldhawk Road ... as we hadn't done this kind of thing before, it was a kind of, 'make do and mend' session.  After sorting everything out into size order, the fairest way to divide up the spoils was to do a draw with several rounds.  Lucky me of the larger size! (I never thought I'd ever say that ...)  I could more or less choose what I wanted and am happy with my lot!

If I look a bit pale and washed out, it's because I was up the night before until midnight preparing!  Don't know the photographer of this image ...

OOh it's all so exciting!!!  My photo.



And the lucky winner is ...?  Debi reading out the winning names.  My photo.

Which one should I choose???  My photo.

UK Swap Meet V - At the Tube Station



OK - who knows where we're going??  Don't know who this  photo belongs to ...

Time to take notice of shoes!  Photo courtesy Rachel R P Silva.

Heading off to Goldhawk Road now and some general milling around at the tube station ...

UK Swap Meet Part IV - V&A Exhibition



Debi's photo of the Yamamoto exhibition

OK - time for action and first up the Yamamoto exhibition at the V&A.  I was quite taken by an 'inside out' coat.  The sleeve linings, which were striped, were attached to the outside, so, not unlike my own jacket but in an oddly creative way .....  I can never get over the practical side of my nature .... silky sleeve linings are meant to be on the inside of a coat aren't they, to help you get the coat on?  Why hide the rich red wool outer?  All the same, it was attention grabbing, along with the 'inside pocket' detail appearing on the outer.  I'm sure Debi won't mind if I pinch her photo of the whole exhibiton to use here.  The prices in the V&A gift shop prompted a swift exit to Goldhawk Road ...., though I did come away with a postcard of the 'inside out' coat ...

Some souvenirs of the day ... My photo. 

UK Swap Meet Part III - V&A Photo Session

After deciding to fortify ourselves with tea and cake at the V&A before doing anything else, we headed off to the courtyard cafe. Along with a chicken wrap, I was impressed with the Victoria Sponge filled with strawberries as well as cream ... Time then for another spot of photography. What a great way to record our different outfits and remember everyone we'd met. We divided ourselves into, 'tall, medium and short'. I am distinctly medium ... The overall group shots worked well, particularly with the help of Mr/Ms Pigeon - how could we have managed without him/her? Charlotte P-B's mum cleverly caught him on my camera.

Me, Kirsty and Charlotte P-B, courtesy of Sofia



Rachel, Lauren and Sofia (my photo)




This is terrible - I can't remember all the names - ?, Charlotte T, Amy(?), Victoria and Debi (my photo)



Marie, Mimi and Stevie (my photo)

Mr/Ms Pigeon et al - taken by Charlotte P-B's mum on my camera

UK Swap Meet Part II - Meeting up at the V&A

Ready for the off!

Here we are, all the Sew Weekly sewists meeting for the first time in the V&A shop.  Managed to get these two images before being told off for taking photos!  All are wearing their own makes - Debi is resplendent in her red 1940's style hoodie dress with Union Jack peek-a-boo lining.

Swap/Meet Dress - Colette Crepe

Taken at Butlin's holiday camp in the late 40's/50's.  My mum is on the far right.

I finished the dress for the London Swap/Meet this week.  I used Crepe by Colette Patterns - I like the shape of it even though I'm used to sewing and this is a beginner's pattern.  It has a sweetheart neckline and there is no zip fastening - it crosses over at the back and is held together by two ties that circle the waist and form a bow at the back.  I found the big, splashy roses print fabric in my local sewing shop.  I used it as an excuse to link in with the theme of a garment inspired by 'mum' which is one of the Sew Weekly challenges.  My mum is very artistic and the print is very much like something she would paint.  It reminded me of a photo of her in the late 40's/early 50's when she would have been in her twenties.  She tinted the image herself.  And so, I'm all set for the big day!  I am squinting a bit in the top photo as it's very early morning - going to London means a very early start for me .... worth it though!  Looking forward to meeting fellow sewists in person!

UK Swap Meet Part I - Outfit Plans

There's so much to say about the Sew Weekly Swap Meet that I'm doing my report over the course of this week.  So, here's the first part.

I had a complete day of self indulgence on 14 May when I went to the Meet in London.  It was so refreshing to abandon everything and just 'go' to something like this.  I'd made my outfit in preparation - a denim 'blazer' type jacket and a 50's inspired roses print dress.  Here's the jacket on it's own.  I made it at the time of the Royal Wedding and it has red, white and blue striped details in the sleeve lining and facing, as there was lots of this kind of 'stuff' around.  The denim is stretchy and very comfortable.

The photo just gives you an idea of what it's like - it's a hot day in the garden, which explains the floppy hat!

I used a Simplicity 8301 pattern that I had had in my stash since the 80's.  I just cut it out and gave it a go!  I wish I'd done it sooner as I love it - it went together so easily, it does say 4 hour jacket on the packet although it did take me a bit longer than the time stated.

See next post for details about my dress ...

My little 1930's jug




I like the colours in the flowers

  I love to collect old china, particularly 20's and 30's teacups and saucers, Royal memorabilia and little jugs etc...  I found this one for a couple of pounds in a charity shop last week.  I know it's from the 30's because my mum has a child's teacup and saucer done in the same lustre.

Another (pleasant) diversion ...

This little beauty arrived yesterday, all the way from Western Canada.  It's my 'Sweet Skunk' pincushion, which I won on the 30 days of pincushions giveaways at Sew Weekly.  It's made by 'Bluedaisies', and this is what they say at their Etsy shop:

'Welcome to Bluedaisies! There is a little bit of everything in here from vintage kitchenware, jewelry and accessories to items that I have handmade. Please enjoy your browsing and have fun!! :)  Please take a look at my Sugar Deer pin cushions. Their happy retro style is unique to Bluedaisies. I have always loved vintage pose dolls and retro styled deer - these are the resulting combination of the two :) They are colourful, functional and sweet - which is why I call them Sugar Deer - I will be listing more over the summer months :)' .

I think he'll be named 'Pepe Le Peu', after the cartoon skunk!

I've had some great things happen to me since I joined Sew Weekly ... thanks go to Mena.

Two more MANCHESTER images...

The drawing of the old sewing machine in the Milly Molly Mandy illustration reminded me that I had this photograph.  I read somewhere that there were 10,000 of these decorating shop windows in the UK alone.  Unfortunately, the store 'All Saints' is now in administration (the results of home sewing???).

Finally, the ultimate in luxury, a Hermes scarf.  This is the only photo I managed to take - there was a lovely one in pinks and blues to the right, but I found I was being stared at from within the shop for taking this one!  I've always admired the drawing qualities and composition of these scarves. 

Milly Molly Mandy - The Skirt ...

I meant to say in my last post that 'Milly Molly Mandy' was originally published in the 1920's and created by Joyce Lancaster Brisley, who was also a talented artist and had work hung at the Royal Academy.  She made all the illustrations as well as writing the stories.

This is my finished Milly Molly Mandy pink and white striped skirt.  It took some doing to work out how to match the chevron stripes all the way round.  I am giving away my secret soon ....

Pretending to be Milly Molly Mandy ...

The caption reads, 'Milly-Molly-Mandy showed her frock with the tear all down the front' 

I've lots of other things to blog about that have happened in between this and the last post, but it seems appropriate to place this here in that it connects in with the pen drawings I've been doing lately.  I've always loved detail and remember the 'Milly Molly Mandy' illustrations for this aspect.  The skirt I've made is for a Sew Weekly challenge to create a garment inspired by a book from childhood.  Milly Molly Mandy always wore pink and white stripes!  I'm glad that I could combine my love of sewing with drawing ...

Drawing again ... at last!

I've been asked to do a bookplate or, 'Ex Libris', so I'm playing around with images of books and inkbottles ...more to come.

Having fun ... Kidding Around!



Who needs a computer to hula hoop with?!

 I'm making use of the '60's shift dress shape, edged with white ric rac, little girl sandals and a 'Mary Quant' type print motif - the flower with 5 petals!

Northern Quarter - Remaining Images

I rounded off my trip with a visit to Abakhan Fabrics and found African waxed cotton in there for a very reasonable price.  Their system of selling fabric by weight can be too tempting sometimes, resulting in buying far too much, but the African prints were lovely and I'm sure I'll use it all.  Photo to come.




Abakhan Fabrics

 



Fashion Market again ...

 I also enjoyed Magma Books and found a pattern cutting book in there.  The Fashion Market was on too... 




Fashion Market

 



Royal Wedding window - similar dress!




The 70's still in evidence ...