Pattern cutting

New project, copying a pair of trousers for a remake.

Egg hats.

Something silly I crocheted in a spare 5 mins before bed. Easy chain 6 then complete circle, continue with doubles for 2 rows then trebles for 5 rows. Add alternate colour or texture for final row and a little matching bobble!!!!

Kept the girl entertained, Cinderella now has a new hat!!!!

Weaving magic.

I've been having a bit of an experiment with textures, not sure what I will make out of the fabric yet.

Christmas

I know its a bad time of year to be mentioning Christmas but with just over 3 months to go and lots of things to make in readiness, I find the sooner I start the better. This years gifts are going to include patchwork tablet computer cases (one for me too) cushions (mum is redecorating the ground floor of the cottage) and fabric vases. Oh and there are the obligatory tree decorations to think about too. But that will be time dependant!
Work a also continues on the Vintage collection with 4 skirts and a blouse now complete, as soon as I have 8 garments ready I can call in the photographers!! I have already started work on the design of several summer dresses, these are 1940's style, very chic with the advantage of using as little fabric as possible.
I have one wedding dress commission on the go too, this is an odd one being a complete fantasy design, unfortunately no photos will be available until after the big day, for obvious reasons, but trust me it will be fabulous.

Update 24/10/11
See picture

Block Party

Block Party |

Jersey basics

Love designing and making jersey pieces because the process is so quick! Drew the pattern with all style adjustments in about 15 mins, using this picture as inspiration, expect to spend 10 mins laying up and another 20 sewing it together.

New season

This is a sneak peak of the new season collection that will be available in the next 2 weeks. Its all vintage inspired, expect 50s style with a modern twist... For info on how to buy go to my website.

Pirate Treasure Chest

Really easy!
You will need:
An empty shoe box with lid
An empty cerial box
Brown and yellow paint
Paint brushes
Glue
Stickey tape
1. Paint the shoe box brown all over, if the lid is already attached paint this too. If the lid is not attached you will need to make one. Draw 2 semicircles the same width as the short end of the shoe box, cut these out and paint them to make the sides of the lid.
2. If you are making you own lid cut a rectangle from the cerial box where the long sides are equal in length to the long side of the shoe box. The other sides should measure the same as the curved edge of the semicircle sides. Paint the rectangle brown.
3. Using stickey tape and glue attach the lid sides to the lid top.
4. Attach lid to box using tape.
5. Add detail to the box, i painted yellow edges to look like brass, or you could add a padlock.
6. Fill your chest with treasure! Arrgghhh!

Tate Collection | Chrysanthemums by Vanessa Bell

Tate Collection | Chrysanthemums by Vanessa Bell

The finished cushion

Here is the photo of the finished cushion complete with buttons. It looks fab, much better than anything I've found in the shops!

The 10 Minute Cushion

This is a really really easy envelope cushion, that can be made in 10 mins and involves sewing 2 straight lines. Trust me, simple!!!

You will need

1. a cushion pad (available from any good fabric, interiors or haberdashery shop).
2. a piece of fabric in a colour/ pattern of your choice, make sure the fabric is 2 and 1/2 times the size of your cushion pad in length, and the width is the same as the pad + 1" seam allowance (e.g. a 15" pad will need 37.5" by 16" piece of fabric).
3. a pair of scissors
4. thread
5. pins
6. sewing needle
7. sewing machine (if you do not have a sewing machine you will need to hand sew the seams)
8. Iron and Ironing board (there is no excuse for not having one of these)

How to make

• Measure your cushion pad (mine is 15")
• Cut a fabric rectangle of fabric so the length is 2 and 1/2 times the measurement of your cushion pad and the width is the measurement of the pad +1" (for my pad that will be 37.5" by 16")
• Work out what 1/5 of the total length of you fabric is (e.g. 37.5 / 5 = 7.5) fold one end of the piece of fabric wrong sides together by this measurement (e.g. 7.5") and press. 
• Starting from the fold measure again this time 2/5 (the width of your cushion pad) of the total length of the fabric. Fold at this point again with wrong sides together and press.
• From the other end of your piece of fabric measure 2" along the length and fold, wrong sides together, and press. You should end up with a piece of fabric that, when unfolded, looks like the picture above.
• Beginning with the fold line in the middle of the fabric, fold the edges over right sides together, (the opposite way to the pressed crease) and pin in place on each side as far as the 2" fold line
• Next fold the 2" section along the fold line wrong sides together and pin, this will create a neat edge when the cushion is turned right way round. 
• The final section will need to be folded right sides together along the fold line, ensuring that the edge overlaps the 2" section.

Fold like this

and pin in place

• Sew along both edges leaving 1/2" seam allowance.

 

• Turn cushion cover right sides out and press.
• Insert Cushion pad in opening.
• Congratulations your cushion cover is now complete!

Put the pad in the cover

All Finished!!

If you want you could put some button fastenings on the opening to make it into a pretty feature, or add some embellishments or trims, or whatever takes your fancy. 

Happy Making x 

Trend report

The Autumn/Winter season began this week, with most of the high street launching the new seasons collections and down playing the remains of the sale.

The typically muted autumnal colours are filtering into the new ranges with plenty of dark moody hues accentuated by the continuation of the summer bights trend. Am loving the brown, tan and orange/yellow combo, which seems to be replacing the flesh tones of the summer, as well as navy and raspberry spotted in Zara.

Am not too certain about the nun chic that vogue are channeling this month (Uk Vogue, Sept, page 284-295) but can't wait to try out the new monochrome look which is pairing all black with white accessories or all white with black. This should be very easy to imitate within the limitations of most wardrobes without the need of too many expensive additions.

Finally, cocoon coats, warm, cozy, practical, but odd looking. I want mine in charcoal grey with a big hood. Snuggles ahoy!

How to begin?

At the beginning I suppose!! Professionally I am a freelance Garment Technologist, Dressmaker, Tailor and all round handy crafty home made person! I also work part time as a bespoke tailoring consultant at Austin Reed the famous gentleman’s store. I have tried my hand at all sorts of craft  projects at home from making cushions, curtains, decoupage boxes, restoring furniture, wall art, painting… the list is quite long!!

I am a professionally trained sewing machinist, making anything from fabric is my speciality, but I often find I am making things up as I go along, so thought I would share my tips and advice as well as ideas for mini projects to make at home that, I hope, anyone can follow.

I also plan to share details of my collections and projects, both professional and personal! Hopefully this should turn into an archive of work that I can look back on and draw upon for the future, and share with anyone who is interested as well.

I tend to be a bit disorganised so rather expect this blog to follow that pattern too, I already have posts on vintage dress patterns, a decoupage box and some shower curtains planned, which should be online in the next few days.

Hx