A Sewing Haitus - My First Excuse

My mum and dad have very kindly come to stay with us for a few weeks.  I had a feeling that this might slow my crafting activities, and so far have been proved very right.  Sadly my busy-ness this week hasn't even had much to do with the parent's visit, just the craziness, lows and highs of my own parenthood.

Odds and Ends, Bits and Bobs

In the continued spirit of clearing out my to do pile, last night I got lots of very satisfying little jobs done.  And even more satisfyingly decided some jobs weren't worth doing.  I keep telling myself that I should have my bootleg jeans a sensible length so they don't fray at the heel, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I'm not sure sensible length equals stylish length when it comes to trousers.  The problem is mostly solved by the bootleg being the current trouser cut that equals fashion suicide.

NEWS FLASH: Blog succeeding at job for which it was intended

I read an article about Jane Fonda today, very insprational

I am extremely excited to have finished a second of the projects that I have had sitting in the cupboard for months.  I've wanted to make some leg warmers for literally years, but have been more than a little impeded by not knowing how to knit.  I tried and failed to learn, and also found a pair of (discounted) ethically made leg warmers for 5 pounds from People Tree , so gave up.

The leg warmers I made for last winter

The work in progress

When I learnt to knit from the both much-loved and highly understandable Stitch and Bitch it said that knitters hate the sewing the pieces together bit at the end.  My first thought was that I love sewing so that won't be me at all.  But lo and behold the first garment that involved sewing seams sat in my cupboard for 6 months before I dragged them out again last night.

One week in, one finished peice

The finished dress (not the potato sack).

Longer ago than I can care to remember, I started making a dress from the Sewing School pages in peppermint magazine.  It's a lovely idea, but unfortunately I fell down at the first hurdle.  It had a square in the printed pattern that you were meant to ensure was 10cm, so that the whole pattern was the right size.  Well it wasn't, but I had no idea how to change it so I just carried on anyway, schoolgirl error.  This, plus I don't think it always used best practice techniques, meant that at the end of following the instructions I had a prettily-patterned potato sack.  I was loath to throw away the time, effort and nice fabric so I embarked on a rescue mission.

Granny Squares with some Grannies

 

I made some more granny sqaures today while I was working in a very quiet clothes shop.  It works well for me as the older ladies who come in sometimes have some tips, and I've got no idea what I'm doing.  Apparently I need to be leaving more chain stitches in the corners.  I'm more concerned about the fact they're all slightly different sizes and they're never going to fit together neatly, but not worried enough to do anything about it.  The silly thing is I was embarrassed to call them granny squares in front of the lady I spoke to as I somehow had the idea she might be offended by the association to a small acrylic square.

The Shire Vintage and Collectables Fair

I had an hour or so to myself this afternoon, and my latest excuse not to sew was The Shire Vintage and Collectables Show.  I love this kind of thing but usually feel too guilty to go, also I rarely get it so close to home.  My heart melted at Vanity sets like my Grandma used to have and Sindy wardrobe's like I used to have. I saw some beautiful things, but mostly it inspired me to pull out some of the things I've inherited that I already have tucked away.

You've got to start somewhere

My almost-trusty machine

I've wanted to start a blog about my learning to sew for a long time but for some reason today is the day it's happening.  Probably because I have heaps of other boring jobs to do.

I've always loved altering clothes and charity shopping (as I grew up in England calling it).  About five years ago I inherited my Grandma's old sewing machine and started to try to construct clothes from scratch.  Some of the things I've made I've been very proud of, some have made me laugh and some I've just sworn at.  I love the process of dress making as it forces me to slow down, concentrate and try to do things as perfectly as I can rather than settle for good enough as is my habit.  I find it very meditative.