Liberty Open Call - Last Chance to Vote

Today is the last chance to vote for me if you like my design.  Please vote here:

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/features/design-and-living/liberty-open-call-voting.html

Thanks for all the support received so far :-)

Macmillan Bake Off Apron

It's that time of year again .... last year I posted about the Tracey Island cake I made for our work coffee morning.  I actually won 'Best Baker' with it!  I'm reluctant to lose my title so this year, I decided to make a special baking apron which could be raffled as a prize and so raise money that way.  I used a metre of Michael Miller 'Home Ec' fabric which I've had in my stash for a while now.  I used a toning purple bias binding for the finishing touches.  I made a couple of changes to the pattern, which is a Simplicity 1940's repro, as I didn't have quite enough fabric to make thicker waist ties but saying that, I quite like how mine turned out ....  I also missed out binding around the whole apron itself but I don't think that matters either - it might have been too much ....  I might add the rick rack which should go on the pocket borders next time I make it, which I will!  I really didn't want to give this away ....  I love the fabric and the apron shape itself is great - it looks like a little dress :-)

Minerva Product Testing - Zandra Rhodes Vogue Jacket

You can read all about how I made this Vogue Zandra Rhodes Designer Jacket here on the Minerva Crafts blog:

https://www.minervacrafts.com/blog/product-reviews/zandra-rhodes-vogue-jacket-by-diane

It has to be one of the most technically demanding garments I have ever made ....  worth it though.

Minerva Product Testing - Clover Tablet Templates

You can see my latest product test over on the Minerva blog here.  I made a sewing wallet using templates designed for making both paper and electronic tablet covers, which I customized.  The product is from the Nancy Zieman range for Clover, who sadly passed away this week.  I didn't know anything about Nancy beforehand but have since found out that she was a huge sewing celebrity in the US.  I was sorry to hear the sad news.

https://www.minervacrafts.com/blog/product-reviews/clover-e-tablet--paper-tablet-keepers-by-nancy-zieman-review

Aviation Dress - Complete

I’ve been to two airshows since completing this dress.  At both, I was stopped numerous times to have it admired – one lady said I looked stunning in it and some others manning a Red Arrows stall said they couldn’t stop looking at my dress  …..  compliments indeed!

I loved making it, both using the pattern and fabric.  The Liberty Tana Lawn was so soft and sewed beautifully - it is printed with a mixture of current and historic aircraft.  I only made one adaptation to the pattern in adjusting the skirt to a couple of inches longer – which I’ve also done on another SewOverIt pattern as the length just seems to suit me better than the one supplied.  When I make this one again – which I will – then I’ll also add about another inch in the body as it is a bit short bodied but fine as it is so I'm nit picking really .....  I love the style of the dress which is so easy to wear and flattering for my shape.

Skirt's on ...

Well I've got the skirt on now ... that was very straightforward, just a matter of matching up the side seams and the bodice and skirt pleats.  I just made a minor grading alteration to cope with my apple shape and there looks to be plenty of room to fit me in!  It's a short bodice but that is flattering on a shape like mine.

I neatened the join with some matching bias binding which should also give it some extra strength.

Sewing Progress ....

I am so enjoying working with this Liberty fabric.  It is beautifully soft and runs through my machine like a dream.  There have been no snags or hold ups.

This description is from the Liberty website: 

Taking its name from Lake Tana in East Africa where the original cotton grew, Tana Lawn cotton is unique. Made from specially selected ultra-fine long staple cotton and finished without the use of crease-resisting chemicals or irritating allergens, the result is a famous masterpiece of fabric technology: fine, cool, comfortable and durable, with brilliant reproduction of colours and prints. 

I've finished the bodice section which was simple enough to construct, with some gathers at the shoulders and sewn down pleats around the waist - no darts.  The shoulder seam extends over from the back piece.  

The skirt is going on next.....

On My Sewing Table

Yes, (loud fanfare!)  There is something afoot ....  I am off to an airshow in a couple of weeks time and badly want a dress made out of this fabric which I bought in the Liberty Sale at Christmas.  It's perfect!  I want a shirtdress and although I already have patterns I want to try out the SewOverIt version so that's what I'm going for.

Will be doing updates on progress.  I've already cut out all the pieces (with help from Oscar of course ....).  More posts to come ....

Make It In Design

Another reason for being quiet on the blogging front is that I've been following Make It In Design, Module 2, 'Creating Your Professional Identity'.  I've loved doing this course and am still creating my logo and business stationery for it.  It's made me do a bit of soul searching about where I want to go with my designing ...  It's a fabulous course for helping you get to the nitty gritty of who you really are as an individual.  I've been able to take up where I left off at art school years ago ... it was all about drawing and creating then, which is ok but not so hot for preparing you for the business world! This course and the preceding one 'Designing Your Way' which I took last year are great for this.  I am planning to do the next instalment, Module 3, 'Monetising Your Designs' next year.  In the meantime, I have lots of time to practice, get proficient with Photoshop and organise my portfolios. I'm glad that I've kept all the art I've every done over the years ...  This photobook was created using some of it as well as more recent work. I've learned how to mock up my ideas on to products which really brings the work to life and shows how it can be used commercially.  The company that made the book is Saal Digital. I took advantage of an Instagram offer to create the book and thought it would be a good way of having a go at making a 'Look Book'.  I'm really pleased with the quality of it and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Cleo Goes to Work ....

I've finished my first Cleo and it won't be the last!  This Tilly and the Buttons pattern was a joy to sew from start to finish and ended up looking so professional - nothing homemade about it at all!  I stayed safe with my choice of fabric in navy blue, figuring that I could then wear it with a variety of tops.  I found it at The Fent Shop in King's Lynn, Norfolk which is a small, family run store which has been there for years (it even has it's own Royal Warrant!).  They now sell online too for anyone who's interested, although a visit in person is a treat as it is well stocked upstairs and down with all kinds of fabric treasures and discoveries - they are known as an 'Aladdin's Cave' of fabrics.

I've never sewn with corduroy before though but that was a pleasant experience - I used a thick cord which holds its shape nicely.  I only made one slight alteration to the pattern to suit my shape which was easy enough, grading the bottom half slightly larger to suit my shape.  The cord sewed up beautifully and is wonderfully soft.  I used a single row of topstitching all around to finish off.  It's a perfect outfit with a stripy top for our dress down days at work - I always stress about what to wear but this is perfect!  Watch out for more versions as spring and summer draws near ....... want to do a print version next ......

New Dress!

I am actually sewing ... yes, you did read that correctly!  It isn't that I haven't been thinking about it ... oh, I've read all the blogs and magazines, have all the pattern giveaways and have watched the latest series of Sewing Bee.  I even took part in an international pattern swap at The Monthly Stitch.  I think that having a break has done me good though - seriously.  When I did Sew Weekly in 2012, although the experience was enjoyable to start with, I did start to feel a bit jaded towards the end of that year and 50 makes.  I was starting to 'throw things together'.  My sewing started to decrease gradually in the following years until I stopped completely for a while and concentrated my energies on other things.  I now find I am taking my time, making sure I do things properly and it's becoming fun again!  

As we are experiencing the rarity of a heatwave here in the UK at the moment, I've found that my wardrobe is lacking in some summer basics - dresses for work and home.  Actually, the dress currently on my sewing table is one for my honeymoon in October, though it might have an outing or two before then if it turns out OK.  I am using the 'Sew Over It' 1940's Tea Dress pattern that I received in the swap during Indie Pattern month at Monthly Stitch.

I found the cherry print fabric at Croft Mill.  I've always wanted some 'proper' cherry fabric after seeing all the retro dresses on various blogs and when I saw this in the current catalogue (they still have it! - sadly no longer, all sold out since end July) I ordered some straight away.  As you can see, I don't sew solo any more ... I have my little 'helper'.  Although Oscar has a whole house to wander around, there is nowhere quite like the area where I am working ...

  

I think I may have been influenced in my choice of dress style by a 1940's day I went to here in Norfolk about a week or so ago.  A gloriously sunny day where individuals wandered around King's Lynn in 1940's dress - I took loads of photos.

They all looked so smart and such a contrast to current day dress.  I hope to achieve something similar ... I have a whole week off work at home next week and sewing is high on my list of priorities.  More dresses I think!

New Designers 2016

Amongst the wedding preparations, I did find time to go to this show last Friday.  I've been meaning to see what it's all about for the past few years now and finally I had the chance.  It's held every year at the end of June in The Business Design Centre, Islington and has been going for 30 years now.

The main angle is for the various UK (and one from Sweden I noticed ...) Art Schools to bring their final textile shows to London.  There is a lot to see and take in.  However, it is possible to identify various strands and themes running through the work.  I noticed some designs reminding me very much of Memphis from the 80's.  Most of the work though seemed to take its influences from Natural History and Botanical Prints.  Insects, butterflies and moths were a recurring theme throughout the show.  I was also surprised at how much hand painted work there was, in that there is a noticeable shift at the moment to digital printing.  There was even a demonstration of digital fabric printing:

The students were very eager to chat and talk and I enjoyed finding out more behind the work I was seeing.  They all had their own business cards and some had printed flyers and booklets.  Now the show is over, it's possible to look at their websites and find out more.  I don't want to post close-up photographs of their work here for copyright reasons.

These are some of my favourite business cards to give you a flavour of what was there:

Make It In Design also had a stand at the show and I was able to meet and talk to the ladies who organise everything, as well as take away a goodie bag.  It gave me inspiration to finish the last two exercises I have to do from my course, Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.

I've signed up for the Summer School which begins in August.  I have a week off work then so should be able to make a fair job of it.  Looking forward to then!

I Win Again ...

This really is proof that it pays to complete those fill in forms at the back of magazines for the giveaways.  I'm delighted to have a copy of this book from Sewing World.  I was hoping that out of all the prizes on offer, this would be the one I won - and I did!

As you can see, I have trouble taking a decent photo these days ....

Boutique Bags is a collection of 19 projects from which 76 bags can be made.  It's written by best selling pattern maker Sue Kim and published by Stash Books.  I like the Violet Bag and this will be the first one I tackle.  I'm thinking that a bag will be a nice, small project to get back into sewing again.

I've also entered the pattern swap over at The Monthly Stitch and am looking forward to seeing what my swap partner will choose for me - I'd forgotten how exciting things like international pattern swaps can be!  This is for indie pattern month in June ...

A Look Back ....

I was quite productive in 2015, just not so much as in previous years!  The first part of the year saw me working hard to fulfil deadlines for my City & Guilds course, which I passed in February.  This was the culmination of years of hard work, sampling and designing along the way ...

I feel as if I now have a good, solid background to work from.  I've enjoyed taking time out since February to re-charge and evaluate where I want to go next.

My final project was this mohair jacket based on Autumn Leaf falls.  I feel so much more confident now in my ability to follow a design through from start to finish.  

Things weren't quiet on the sewing front either ...

I completed my first menswear item in a beautifully soft Yorkshire wool fabric with a satin back.

This Colette Aster is complete now - just need to get some decent photos when the weather improves a bit.  I also sewed a silk robe ...

I want to sew more this year and have a look round the Independent Pattern Companies.  What are your plans?  Would love to hear from my neglected sewing pals! 

Oops, I did it again ...

Missed another deadline that is ....  I didn't quite make it for 'Made Up' - see below - and am still sewing Aster.  Life is busy ... and this is an untried pattern ....  I would have liked to have made the reveal party - another time - but am glad to have supported the cause.  Don't know about anyone else but I've found Aster to be quite slim fitting and I've undone the sides once already and made smaller seams to allow for extra give.  When I make it again - which I will, because it does look good on - I'll add a bit extra in the width.  I am making my current version sleeveless with bound armholes, so it will have even more 'give'.  I'm lucky in that I have a lot of the fabric I'm using left over, so I'm planning another version with short sleeves.  Going to take some 'in progress' photos tonight ....  

Aster Sewalong ...

Well I'm still in the midst of sorting my supplies but the actual act of doing so has inspired me to sew again and I'm keen to join in with everyone else ... so the Colette Patterns Aster Sewalong seems to be the ideal place to start!  I've hunted down a pattern in the UK - there seems to have been a run on it and it's out of stock in all the usual places - I found one of only two at a quilt fabrics supplier called Simply Solids.  So, I'm expecting that there will be loads of entries from the UK ...  Here are a few of my favourites from around the web ...

I don't know where the images originate from so can't credit - although I think the bottom right is a Colette Patterns image.  I'm not revealing my plans until I've finished ...  The sewalong is running now and finishes on 14 August, so there's plenty of time for you to have a go if you wish ...  See you there!

Waistcoat - FINISHED!

It's been a long time since I last posted but I didn't realise how long it would take me to complete a sewing project ...  I am very out of practice.  Plus, I wanted to be sure to do a good job ...  I've never made a waistcoat before but I plan to do more now - this pattern turns out so well and looks so good in wear - I'll try and get a photo soon.  It's kind of magic how it all comes together in the end - the turning right side out process was a bit of a mystery to me but I'm fine with it now.    

Looking forward to creating some more posts very soon!

Craftsy Sale Time ...

I didn't really take much notice of 'Black Friday' or 'Cyber Monday' except for the fact that Craftsy had their sale on!  So I bought 3 classes for what would have been the price of 1 - could have easily gone further as there were some great bargains on there in terms of supplies as well as classes, but I really need to de-stash a bit in the New Year.

My leaning is still towards knitting at the moment, so I bought classes in pattern writing, lace shawl designing and finally, sewing an iconic tweed jacket ... really can't wait to do a bit of sewing in the New Year ...

More Patterns ...

I went back to that shop (see below) to have another trawl through their pattern stash.  Sadly, most of them had gone ... but while I was looking, the shop lady said she had another box full in the back and did I want a look ...  Did I want a look!!!  Came out with these - I love the crossover back top and trouser combination on the far right ...
Commercial patterns still give me a thrill, even though I have the skills to start from scratch now ...

Pattern Haul

Oh, I'm itching to sew something but absolutely can't yet until next February!  Went for a walk into town last week and thought I'd pop in one of my favourite charity shops, just to see if they had anything and bingo!  All of these patterns are uncut and in my size.  There were tons more but in smaller sizes - I should have bought a few for swaps really, as they were all only 95p each.  Anyway, this little lot are all the kinds of look I love - they must have been brought in by the same person with the same sense of style ... I'm dying to make that patchwork skirt and that sundress for next summer ... even a hat!