Is anyone else using an iPad?

I'm not liking my iPad. It's impossible to do the most simplest of tasks, hence no posts.
I have been sewing and want to share my projects with you, but there doesn't appear to be any way to add photos to my posts. And we all know a too many posts with no pictures makes for a dull blog!
If anyone out there knows how to add photos I would love to hear from you, otherwise the old laptop will be dug out and the iPad will go in the loft!!
A frustrated blogger......

Hello strangers!

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a nice summer(if it was summer at your end of the world?)

Last week I received an iPad for my birthday - it was a shock. Ian and I are not big on presents as we have a lot of things that make us happy so typically a present from Ian is a few pounds and a trip to my favorite fabric shop.

I downloaded an app called fabricstashxl which I have yet to try but other than that I'm a bit lost. Can you re recommend any good ones, sewing related or not?!

Well the wedding dress is finished and will be delivered tomorrow evening and i am really looking forward to getting back to sorting through all the bits and pieces that I need to pass on. I have already posted some patterns out to other bloggers I know will make better used of them then I ever will and have a LOT of things to give away over the coming weeks

I'm. Also looking forward to sewing for myself again and have a few ideas tucked up my sleeve, mainly an Autumn jacket (as I have a 10 min walk from the car park to the office) and some shirts, a black pencil skirt and another dress. I finished the New Look dress so will have to post some photos later in the week.

I have one sewing related picture in my iPad so will post that to close. It's a corset I made last year for oNe of my lovely customers, Lori

Oh dear - how do you upload pictures from the iPad?!? I'm not convinced this gadget is for me....

I'll be back to regular posting again over the next few days - see you soon!!

message to AllisonC

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

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...

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....

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?)

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. 

Autumn Planning

That's right.  It is still summer and I'm thinking long sleeves, knits, trench coats and boots.....  I desperately need some transition pieces.  It's raining here again this morning, the sun isn't up and it's just blah.  Perhaps summer will come to us late again this year?

I need:
Casual Basics:
Long sleeved white classic shirt
Neutral jacket
Trench coat
Skirt
Trousers

I've been having a good look around the Internet at a couple of my favorite sites.  Some are still showing Summer sales, but Hobbs are forging ahead.  Their colour palette this year is black, blue, white, red and coral.  Here are a few of my favorite things....



Hobbs




Hobbs




Hobbs



Hobbs



Stella McCartney




Marc Jacobs




Hobbs




Hobbs




Balmain




Lela Rose

 Aside from the Trench Coat, I don't think there's anything too scary.  Obviously I'll have to save up for the watch!!  I truly love the denim skirt and that belt, it takes me back to early school days (remember snake belts?).

I'm waiting for Liberty to update their website.  I just know there will be lots of Vivienne Westwood designs to ogle over.....

Have a lovely weekend all.

A long time friend in need....

Sally and I have been friends for over 35 years.  We've dipped in and out of our friendship, as true friends do.  She's always "just been there" and one day last week I thought she looked a little unloved and slightly scruffy in her brown velvet jumpsuit, sitting on my sofa in the sewing room.

I know, I'll make her something new to wear.  Well, it's the least I could do after all these years of friendship.  I started with some lingerie made from the finest handkerchief lawn (incl knickers, but Sally is a lady and didn't want to show those to the world) and put a bow in her hair ....

Next up, a new dress.  I made a special trip to the fabric shop for this pretty cotton.  Well, she deserved it....

And I have tied a new piece of ribbon around her dummy.  That used to be around her neck with a piece of red wool....

Doesn't she look pretty?  I'm working on a lilac coat and bonnet next, but keep it a secret, I don't want her to find out until end of August because I think that's when her birthday is.

Sally is, of course, my 1976(ish) tiny tears.  I still have the original dress but lost her bottle years ago.  Anyway at 35+ she doesn't want to cry and wet herself anymore.  Her hair is very matted after years of Sunday baths but she still closes both eyes when she lays down.  I loved her so much and took her everywhere.  There is a photo of us up the mountain in the Isle of Man (very exotic childhood holidays in the 1970's).  I still love her to this day, but just neglected her for a little while.

Her best friend is Gillian.  Gillian lives with my sister and is approx the same age.  She is a teeny tiny tears and is wearing a knitted ensemble from my great auntie Phyllis from approx 1978.  Maybe it's Gillian's turn next?

I hope you aren't neglecting anyone important in your life?

RIP Amy

May you now find peace. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14262237

How to get your mojo back...

It's simple.  2 hours, 1.3meters of printed cotton lawn and McCall's 5977.

Phew, I think I'm back.  This week I have made a navy pencil skirt (own self drafted pattern) and another McCalls easy-peasy-lemon squeezy top.  They don't go together at all, but in times of sewing crisis you just have to go with what you need to do....

Navy skirt is way too boring to blog about, so here's the top

This top reminds me of liquorice allsorts.  I'm thinking about the brown and black one (I actually don't like that one at all!) and the yellow and black one!

Nothing exciting to report about it.  I used french seams at the sides and shoulders and turned a narrow double hem on the frill.  Because the frill is so curved I stitched 1cm from the edge with a long stitch and pulled up the bobbin threads to draw it into the curve to make hemming easier.

That's it for now.  Except to mention that I went fabric shopping earlier this week and found a couple of bargains which are hanging on the line drying as I type.  More on those later.

Have a lovely weekend all.  I hope those of you in Central and Eastern America are managing in the heat - we are hearing snippets of news of it being incredibly hot right now.  Our summer's disappeared again - I'm wearing joggers and long-sleeved top again today (sigh....)

My 100th post

Crikey here it is, my 100th post since last August. Hasn't the time flown?

Sadly I've lost my sewing mojo. I have a jacket toile (half done), a chanel jacket (half done) and a pencil skirt (75% done) plus a HUGE stash of summer fabrics that I just can't seem to get through....

I'm not fretting, it will return soon I'm sure.  I'm just sad I don't have anything truely wonderful to show you on this milestone post.

On Sunday I will be taking a look at some of the new Autumn trends and patterns and planning a new wardrobe for the cooler months ahead - that will get the creative juices flowing again I am sure.

In the meantime has anyone else an issue with blogger?  I'm struggling to leave messages on certain sites so if you haven't heard from me for a while I'm still reading your posts and enjoying your creations!

Have a lovely weekend all

The joy of stats

This is in no way a sewing related post, but something I just had to share with all you lovely readers in blogland.

I've just watched the most AMAZING programme on BBCFour called "The joy of stats".  Some of it went completely over my head and some of it had my jaw on the floor.  As an example, if all the data available to us on the internet were in written form then there would be 90 piles of books stretching from the earth to the sun(!).  But here's the interesting stat for all us bloggers.

In California there is a place that analyses EVERY blog in the world and reads our emotions....  So if you write something along the lines of "today has been a good day, I feel very blessed" or "today has been a rubbish day and I feel tiered"  or "today I'm feeling very sick" the software picks up everything related to "feels like" or "feeling" or "feel".  Since all blogs are in the public domain they can analyse every blog and run their stats by age, sex, country, continent.  Isn't that fascinating?!  Apparently most of us are happy, most of the time.

You may be able to catch up with this programme on the BBCiplayer later today.

Did I ever mention I'm a number geek?!?!

Sewing posts coming soon I promise.  I FEEL as though my sewing mojo's still on holiday....

Hanging a Garment Properly

I was browsing the Threads website this afternoon because I'm missing the June/July issue and came across this great article.

Some of you may already have seen it and one of the techniques I have already discussed here.  I use the hanging loops and tacks on all my strapless garments and am loving the idea of the hooks and eyes / snaps.  Such a simple idea!

Hanging a Garment Properly - Threads

Enjoy!

Gill Arnold Speed Tailoring class - A review

Sorry for the delay since my last post - sometimes life just gets in the way doesn't it?

I mentioned that I booked a place on Gill Arnold's 2 day Speed Tailoring class 28th and 29th June and thought I would give you an overview of the class, venue and Gill.

To learn more about Gill and her classes you can see her website here:  http://www.gillarnold.co.uk/.  I won't reiterate her experience, but would add that her teaching style and manner is relaxed and you learn so much without realising it!  Gill always goes over the basics of any process - ie when pressing the jacket seams open she talks about the 3 steps of pressing.  Even though you may already know the information it is presented in such a way it still feels new.

Classes start at 10am prompt and I decided to drive each day.  The studio is located a few miles from the motorway and it was an easy run form me (albeit about an hour and a half each way). Places are limited to a maximum of 6 students.

Gill started by explaining the difference between formal tailoring and speed tailoring and we looked at jackets she had made using both methods - it was hard to tell the difference even with a good feel.....

Here Gill is explaining how speed tailoring will look and that to have a successful
jacket you need to line it - hong kong finish really doesn't work. 
She is also showing us the variety of fabric weights you can utilise with this method. 
This sample is a lightweight poly blend.

We then looked at the different types of fusibles we would be using, including a non-fusible which would be used for the chest plastron.  Of course Gill sells everything you need and makes up packs for you to take away. The packs are round £16 and include enough fusible to do 2 jackets, some fabulous shoulder pads, sleeve heads and bindings.

Here is Sylvia adding her back stay

 As a group we worked through each stage together and broke off into 2's at the ironing stations which works well when trying to remember everything!  Gill provides everything in the class so you don't need to bring anything other than some lunch.

Remember to use your pressing cloth the right way around! 
Here the roll line is being pressed

 Unlike some speed tailoring classes where you literally just press the pieces in place Gill goes through other techniques and we sew one side of the jacket together on a lovely Bernina machine.  She shared with us a great way to get the notched collar to go together so each side is symmetrical, how to steam and turn the facings, and my personal favorite was how to turn the collar keeping the edges square - no trimming of corners allowed!

My finished, fused front. It has written notes all over it!

My only niggle with the class is that you don't get a full set of notes.  But I completely understand why Gill doesn't provide these - apparently there are two ladies locally who are now running this class using her full class notes and undercutting her prices.  The notes you do get are excellent but there's always something you forget isn't there?

***  Added later:
Sorry, I forgot to mention the venue.  Gill has a dedicated sewing stuido that is very light and airy and has a lovely clam feeling about it.  There is the front classroom as you walk in the door which is set up for 6 students with desks and sewing stations.  There is a cutting room which also includes two pressing stations.  Along the corridor there is a small, but beautifully formed,  kitchen where you can help yourself to tea and coffee and sit during lunch time - if you don't busy yourself looking through the beautiful garments Gill has made which are used for demonstation!  There are a couple of minimarts, Post Office and chemist for anything you may need over lunch and the free parking is a bonus too.
I will definitely be taking another one of Gills classes and am thinking about the Foundation of Fit in November.  My big issue with sewing at the moment is personal fit.  I'm uber fussy and am reluctant to spend time and money on something I'm not 100% happy with. 

So for those of you living in the UK I would thoroughly recommend taking a class with Gill and recommend her fusibles too - I have my first lot drying over the banister as we speak.

***  Gill is also holding a one day Linton Tweed event on Sunday 4th September.  The ladies from Linton are "on the road" and will be at Gills between  11am and 3pm that day.  I'll be going as I love their fabrics and it's very handy to be able to purchase the fuisibles at the same time.

Have a good day all.  It's a beautiful day here so I don't think there will be much sewing - again!

Sometimes you just have to stop

We are home safely from Ireland and had a lovely time.  I think Jack enjoyed it the most.  He chased cows, cats, mice and pheasant, ate cow food and drank their fresh milk.  Ian and I also had a great time.  How couldn't you with these views around you all day long?



View near Kanturk Co Cork





View from farm lane




Looking up the lane to the farm




The dairy farm




The lake at Kilarney




Mucross Abbey




Ladies View - ring of Kerry



MMJ at Ladies View.  It was windy!

I managed to tissue fit the two jackets and make a toile for the one I want to take to class next week.  Other than that, I read a great book (The Red Queen), made lots of cups of tea, visited Cork, Fermoy, Kilarney and Ian's family.  It was a lovely break and I'm already looking forward to going back in September.

MMJ's gone out the window.  I know I'm wearing and using something I have made every day, but have no real photographic evidence to back it up...

On the sewing front I'm making another shirt as the one pictured above, in pink and have the Speed Tailoring class on Monday and Tuesday next week and will do a review on it later.

That's it from me for today, enjoy your weekend and "c'mon Murray!"

New Look 6922 - I must be MAD!

Also entitled - "are you mad?  Trousers AND knit in one go?!?!"

I REALLY won't be beaten.  Do I win a medal for persistence?  Okay, so I'm almost there with knit, thanks to Betty, so I though I should tackle trousers next.

I have made plenty of trousers in my time but as my body shape has changed, they give me the jitters.  I have mentioned by huge generous thighs in the past and that's where I struggle, that and a big bottom., a sway back and a round tummy.

So I found the most simple pattern I could and made sure they were styled with wide legs (no skinnies for this girl!).  New Look 6922 looked just the job and anyway, I like the cardigan too.

I won't reveal what size I cut, lets just say I had to sit down once I referred to the pattern sizing chart!   I tissue fit it and noted where there were problems.  I used "Fast Fit" again and made the following adjustments:

added 2cm to back inner leg (to enlarge the bottom area)
added 2cm to the enlarge the bottom (did I mention I have a big bottom?)
reduced the tummy by 2cm - ha, ha, a tummy tuck!!
I forgot to do a sway back in my haste
I didn't need to adjust the length as I knew I would be wearing these with my summer wedges which are around 3" high.

I wasn't quite sure where they would end up sitting around the hip/waist area because there is no waist noted on the paper pattern so I decided to cut out a waistband.  I quite like the idea of an elasticated waistband rather than a turned over top with elastic threaded through - not sure why, just one of those personal things.
When I was making them up I ended up taking in around 1" from the waist grading down to the hip.

I used the same grey double knit as Simplicity 2424.  They took me about an hour and a half from start to finish and do you know what?  do you?  THEY FIT!! 

Here are a couple of rubbish photos to prove it!

I know they are high waisted, but that's where I wanted them to be.  I want to be able to bend over and not show anything I shouldn't!  Not too shabby are they?

I have worn them for a couple of afternoons at home and have noticed that the front crotch is a little too low.  Does that mean I have to shorten the front crotch length again - a bigger tummy tuck for the next pair?  I also  need to tighten the elastic by around an inch, but that's not a big job.

I now have a lovely outfit with Simplicity 2424 and Butterick 5147 - It'll come up in MMJ!

No time for sewing this week before we set sail for the emerald isle - too much to organise and extra shifts at work.  So if I don't post before we go, I'll catch up with you all when I get back.

Have a good week.

Simplicity 2424 - another go at knit!

I can't let it beat me, I just can't!  So here we go again...  This time with a double knit, which I find easier to work with. 

I made the red cardigan

Before Betty came to the rescue, I used Jennifer to make this, and boy did we struggle.  She really does not like knit.  Skipped stitches, blah, blah, blah.  Thank goodness this was a simple cardigan to make so we got through it in the end!

I cut a size 14, made a small sway back adjustment and added my usual 1" to the sleeve upper arm.  I didn't worry about doing any other alterations - it's a cardigan for goodness sake!  I did use some stay tape at the shoulder, but other than that it's just front, back, band and sleeves. 

It was super easy to make and looks great with Butterick 5147!

Watch this space - there's more to come.  I set myself a goal yesterday, and have almost succeeded!

Happy Monday everyone!

Burda 05/11 101A

I fell in love with the May edition of Burda and read it cover to cover on the train to London when Esther and I went to see the Wizard of Oz at the end of May.

I knew our plans included Liberty of London so a great edition of Burda and Liberty = fabric buying.  I know, I know, I'm working through the stash, but you can't pass up an opportunity like that!

We hit the scarf dept first and then topped for afternoon tea.  It was delicious and included teeny tiny macaroons - here is Esther tucking in and you can see just one chocolate macaroon left (I was very gracious and let her have it!) SO elegant!

Once we were completely refreshed (and a tad full) we visited the fabric department.  My sister is such a star, she can't thread a needle but ooo'd and aahh'd in all the right places.  In fact she got quite enthusiastic about some of the (ahem, childrens') sewing kits so I bought her one which will be saved for Christmas.  Anyhoo, this is what I purchased.  Tana Lawn 137cm wide so I bought 1.6 meters.  It's nearly £20 per meter so I wanted to get exactly what I needed!

So here is the line drawing of 101A.  It's a tunic top, with a BIG neck opening, one button closure and grandad collar.

 My neck opening ended up being quite wide, so I used two loop/button closures.  I know it's to be worn with a vest/Cami so am not worried that it is very long/low.

I cut a 40 and decided to shorten the length by approx 1" and of course I shortened the sleeves by 1" too.  I cut out VERY carefully placing the pattern pieces so that I had some symmetry with the fabric pattern and made sure the two sleeves had identical pattern layout.  The fabric was an absolute dream to work with.  It presses beautifully and my overlocker liked it too.  I mitered the ends of the sleeves for neatness.  Although I did overlock and turn up a single hem, you could quite easily utilise a rolled hem with this soft fabric.

I boobed with the collar in that I sewed the bottom edge, thinking it was the top, and pressed and trimmed before I realised what I had done.  To be honest I just couldn't be bothered to cut another one so I trimmed 1cm off the neck edge and finished it with a strip of fabric cut on the bias.  I may change my mind about that once I've worn it!

It will be lovely and cool, easy to wear and look fab with jeans or white linen trousers.  As ever, here it is on Vivienne for now.  Watch out for it in MMJ!

Why does this look so tiny?!  It does fit, but it looks as though it's a size 8?!

Enjoy the rest of your Weekend.

Holiday count down and sewing preparation

We're off to Ireland next week.  We will be visiting Ian's family who farm near Cork - well, approx an hours drive from Cork.  We are going on the ferry and taking the old car (trust me it is VERY old!) which means we can pack it to the rafters with "stuff" we may need, including Jack and all his paraphernalia!

It's time to lift the hay so Ian will spend the week farming and helping his Uncle David.  No doubt my holiday will consist of cooking and feeding the men.....  I'll be taking Betty with me!  I'm hoping to get some sightseeing done as I haven't spent much time in this area of Ireland, and perhaps some horse riding, but I haven't been for years so not 100% convinced I should go out on my own...

Anyhoo, Betty will be coming with me, along with some calico, a large spool of black thread and the following patterns.  Now I really am not expecting/hoping to get much sewing done, but could do to get the jacket made up as I have a Speed Tailoring class when I get back and hope to take the opportunity to have my toile "tweeked" by a professional.

Here's what I'm taking with me:



McCalls classic Jeans
Ha, I live in hope!!





New Look 6617 I will make View B or C

 


Butterick 5147
This is the jacket I need for class

 

Simplicity 3690 
A simple pair of trousers before I try the Jeans!

As I said, I have no idea how busy or quiet this holiday will be so I'm not hanging my hopes on achieving a lot.  Even if Ian's up to his eyes I can walk the fields with Jack and catch the bus into Cork, soaking up all that beautiful countryside. 

I will be keeping MMJ up as best I can whilst away too.