Friday 19 August 2011

message to AllisonC

Sorry you haven't been able to get in touch, try:  ruth@thesewingstudio.vpweb.co.uk

Thursday 18 August 2011

Sunday Giveaway - belated results!

Sorry for the delay yesterday, we've been having some rubbish broadband connection over the last month and yesterday lost it all together.

Anyhoo, following the "names out of a hat" approach, the winner is..... (drum roll).....

AllisonC

Congrats Allison!  Let me have your postal address and I will send the book on its way to you.

I've had a huge sort through of my patterns so look out for the next giveaway on Sunday...

Wednesday 17 August 2011

New Look 6968 progress

Well, there is some progress....

Here's where I am with the toile


Nice pose!
What a great fit this pattern is.  My toile fit well although as you can see, I had to pinch out quite a bit from the arm to the top of the hip.  Oddly, I had to pinch out more on my rightside than I did my left. I think this is more to do with recent weight loss - which I really don't mind!  Notice the "round" tummy look has almost gone - yay! 
yes, I have black knickers on.....
  I will be picking the Sunday Giveaway later this evening, so stay tunned for the winner.  It will be names out of a hat as I have no idea how to use the random generator.  What with my dress, new job and a wedding dress to finish I haven't time to work it out.  Maybe for the next one!

And finally....

4th July saw my Sister turn 40 and 1st August saw my Mum turn 70.  So there's been a fair bit of eating, drinking and celebrating.

Here Mum wanted to take just her girls out for lunch.  We went to Raymond Blancs bistro in the centre of Bristol and it was lovely.  The food was REALLY good and service was great.  It has a lovely relaxed feeling and considerig it was lunchtime there was no rush.  I think we were there for around 3 hours.  We shared a half bottle of champagne and had a glass of wine each with our meal.  Mum settled the bill when we left so I'm not sure how pricey it was/was not, but whatever, it was worth it.  We had a lovely time.

don't I look like Mum?!


And here we are celebrating at home with a bbq, more champagne, beer, wine and cake.  We were fortunate with the weather as it rained heavily in the morning but cheered up perfectly for the afternoon.  The boys were with us, but camera shy!


Oy, mister.  Get off my snoozing chair.....

Ah, don't you just love family....

Sunday 14 August 2011

The Sunday Giveaway

I'm having a HUGE sort out of my sewing room, supplies, patterns and stash over the next few weeks.  To be honest I think it will take me until the end of the year, there is just SO much one collects/hoards over a 25 year period!

Because I'm going back to employed work I need to re-orgainse the sewing room properly.  It's been a tough decision but I will no longer sew for customers.  Rachel's wedding dress due at the end of this month, will be my last.  It's been a great experience but I'm putting the last 10 years behind me to concentrate on me, Ian and Jack.  I will keep the sewing classes going though as I really enjoy that side of my business!

Anyhoo, the reason for this post is to let you all know that I will be having lots of items to giveaway.  Books, notations, patterns and fabrics will be high on the list.  I will post most things anywhere in the world but some may have to be the UK due to weight. 

First up is the following book as I have two:  I can thoroughly recommend it to both novice and experienced tailors.  I have referred to it a lot since I took the Gill Arnold class at the end of June.  It covers traditional, speed and a mixture of the two type of tailoring with excellent photographic reference as we have come to love with the Singer Library.



This giveaway is open to anyone in blogland.  As long as you are a follower, and leave a comment before end of day Wednesday 17th August I'll include you in the draw. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  We're going our for our Sunday Lunch today, so no boubt we will be snoozing by 4pm (why does a Sunday lunch make me so sleepy?)




Tuesday 9 August 2011

New Look 6968 - something on the go at last!

Well, aside from clothes for Sally and the liquorice allsorts top there's been no sewing for me.  I am working on a wedding dress that's due early September and am at a standstill until the next fitting tomorrow evening so today I started work on New Look 6968 for me.


I'm working on view D, collar and sleeves included.  Having seen Kirsty's version and reading how well she found it went together I though I should give this pattern a chance too.  So far I have cut and fitted the tissue and am really pleased with the fit. It will be made up in some cotton "tweed look" fabric I purchased from Fabricland a few weeks ago.

I cut a size 12 top, graded out to a 14 at the waist.  The sleeves are cut to a 14 and the skirt section is a 14 graded to a 16 at the thighs to assist with fit over my pear shape.  I also had to take the back in approx 1.5cms  from the neck to the waist.  I used the size 14 bust dart and lowered the top of the waist dart by approx 1.5cms to accommodate fit around my bust.  So far it looks to be a super fit and shape (plus I've lost approx 9lbs over the last 6 weeks so clothes and patterns are fitting again - the lumps and bumps around my tummy, hips and thighs are smoothing out!)

Photos of alterations and fabric to follow, I was in a rush today. 

I'm reviewing my wardrobe (again) for Autumn as I have just been offered a PA role for a great company based in Swindon.  It's a 3 month contract initially with a view to permanent.  At the moment I have a lot of joggers, flip flops and summer skirts in the wardrobe - not suitable for the office environment.  I did have to buy a suit for my interviews as I just wasn't organised enough to make one in time.  But the offer has given me a reason to sew the clothes I love, smart and fitted so Betty will be busy over the next couple of weeks!

More to follow on the dress over the week.