Read more about the article Completed PHD: Pyjama pattern from The Makery

Completed PHD: Pyjama pattern from The Makery

After a review of my work practices, I decided that it was time to stand up and confront my PHDs (projects half done)! The list of incomplete projects is threateningly high so I decided that this list needed to be dealt with (or at least cut back a bit!) Enter Simply Sewing Magazine's exclusive pattern from The Makery - pyjamas.  I think I began this pattern last August and then became distracted by a looming deadline for something else.  I'd cut all the pieces out and even sewn a couple of sections for the shorts but then put it away until now. This project has been a good introductory one for tackling the PHDs because as the cover of the pattern boasts, it's an "easy sew".  I was a bit thrown off by the shorts being made out of two pieces instead of four, but once I got my head around it, the pattern was even easier than anticipated. I haven't done much gathering, and I feel  that it shows on the final piece.  However, as they are pjs, this doesn't matter much and it's been a good way to practise gathering as a skill. The gathering works well for shaping, and personally I think the fit is good for this make.  I could have done with cutting the ribbon for the shorts waistband a little longer than instructed.  I needed assistance for fitting the straps as well.  Overall, a lovely weekend project!

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Read more about the article Free Motion Embroidery – drawing and writing with my sewing machine

Free Motion Embroidery – drawing and writing with my sewing machine

Got your eye on an expensive yet impressive embroidery sewing machine?  Think again! I've been admiring the lovely embroidery machines with their numerous stitch options and the possibility of embellishing handmade gifts with a name at the touch of a button (or a few).  I remember watching a demonstration of someone programming in a word and then watching in awe as the machine punched out the letters perfectly.  All I wanted to do was justify the cost of buying a sewing machine which did this! Well, my bank budget (and boyfriend) will be relieved to know that I no longer have this impulse!  While embroidery machines are amazing - especially the ones where you can put your design into the computer and then transfer it to the machine to stitch it - I discovered free machine embroidery this year through a local course. I signed up to this course without much thought about what it entailed.  I've always wanted to do a textile based course, but they've always been a long commute away or I hadn't been able to justify the cost at the time.  This course was a reasonable price, within walking distance, and with my new working hours, I could make the time of the session. Free machine embroidery (also known as free motion embroidery) is when you drop the dog teeth on your sewing machine, which normally propel your fabric in one direction (away from you).  You attach a new type of foot - a darning foot - and reduce the upper thread tension a little.  You can do it without a presser foot attached, but it's a lot safer with one!  You use an embroidery hoop to keep your material firm and you're ready to go! It's best to move the hoop really slowly and have a play at first.  It takes time to learn to keep your hands smooth and steady as you stitch.  Originally, I practised drawing lines with the machine, then made loop patterns and some basic shapes. In the course, we learned shading, appliqué, writing and using water soluble fabric (which is a whole other aspect to discuss another time). I really enjoyed all of it, but I am quite fond of writing with stitch.  I love looking at people's handwriting, and I used to enjoy writing stories as a kid, which may explain my fondness of handwriting.  I have used writing in combination with other free motion embroidery techniques in producing the designs for some of my Etsy items- cards in particular. Ultimately, the reason I'm addicted to free motion embroidery is that it is creates personality and individuality in makes.  Embroidery sewing machines are programmed to be perfect, but I am always going draw something with stitch a bit different every time I use it, which makes it more interesting. It's also a great stash buster! Here are some useful resources and artists to look at if you fancy a go: Craftsy has a useful 'how to' on creating embroidered works of art.  It's very clearly…

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Read more about the article The Poppy Playsuit

The Poppy Playsuit

Once again, it's been a while since I've had another go at dressmaking.  I remedied this by combining a recent pattern in Simply Sewing with a recent material purchase! There's a lovely charity shop nearby who sell craft supplies.  I was very lucky to go into the shop when they had a material sale on, which meant I got two fabrics for the price of one!  One of the fabrics I came across is this lovely one above. I am not sure what type of material it is, but it drapes well and there was enough to try out the Poppy Playsuit by Sew Over It, which came with issue 16 of Simply Sewing.  The main criteria for the material for this pattern was one which drapes well so I had the perfect match! This is the first pattern I have tried making a basic alteration with.  I found that the bust and waist measurements were close enough to one pattern size, but my hips definitely needed a smaller size.  The pattern pieces did not highlight where the hipline was, which was a shame, but I still made a basic alteration from the waist to one of the notches which I felt was close to the hip measurement area. The fabric was a challenge to cut out as it moves easily - I found that pattern weights and then pinning it helped.  The pattern's instructions suggested pinning the edge of the fabric too, which was a useful tip. As I was concerned about the material moving too much, I pinned and tacked at every stage.  Tacking increases the time considerably, but it did mean that I didn't have any major unpicking sessions! The pattern directions are clear and and concise.  Key terms are defined, which saves a google search part way through your make!  The only section I had to re-read again was how to do the turn-ups, and they turned out to be really simple once I focused on the directions carefully. The only bit of unpicking I had to do was related to the hook and eye.  I attached the hook so that it would meet the edge of the right hand side opening.  This caused a gape in the material when fastened.  I changed this by placing the hook on the very edge of the right hand side opening and put the bar further in on the left hand side.  Also, I didn't read the pattern carefully when attaching the facing and did a 1.5cm seam allowance instead of 1cm! I was surprised by how long it took me to make this item, but that's mainly because (a) I'm rusty at dressmaking and (b) the material required more care than a standard cotton or linen.  However I think it's well worth it and I look forward to some warmer weather soon so I can wear it!!  I would definitely complete this pattern again, and I expect I would find it even easier and faster second time round.…

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Read more about the article #miymarch16

#miymarch16

#miymarch16 may have been a couple of months ago, but here are the resulting images I posted from it below. Make it Yourself March is an Instagram event.  It involves posting an image based on the daily photo prompt - a list can be found on Wendy Ward's blog from this year. New to Instagram, I found this event coincided beautifully with a couple of my goals - to become more familiar with using social media and to push myself to create more.  It was a great way to be inspired by fellow dressmakers. Instagram is an easy form of social media if you have a smart phone and I've carried on using it since. During March, I made 4 dressmaking items, completed upcycling projects, planned future projects, made gifts and machine embroidered.

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Read more about the article Bee Themed!

Bee Themed!

One of the best parts about handmade is that you can make whatever it is you're making personal! This is how my bee themed gift and card came about when a couple my partner's friends with had a baby recently.  As the father currently does work relating to bees, the gift became centered around this! The crocheted bee mobile was a lot of fun to make.  I used clear nylon string to attach them to an embroidery hoop for the top of the mobile.  Acrylic yarn was used so it should be hard-wearing. I love the little sting detail too!  They were made on the round which meant no seams to sew up! I've been learning how to free machine embroider this year so I used this technique to create a simple card.  I'll be adding an improved version of this card to my etsy shop in the next week.

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Crafting with Family – March

It's been a while since I have posted and my post is all about a craft meet up two months ago! Mum's house is quite a good meeting point for her, my sister and I to meet up.  We managed to meet up in March and here's what we got on with: Having purchased a lovely new Singer sewing machine recently, my sister put it to the test by having her first attempt at appliqué!  Not one to be daunted by a challenge, she decided to appliqué a friend's name.  A very impressive feat, going around all sorts of twists and curves when you're still adjusting to a new technique and how your new machine works! The great part about this bright and colourful cushion is that it's all made from remnants.  The main cushion is made from an ex-display curtain from a department store, with the money going to charity.  The letters were cut from a swatch book, which had been picked up the same way from the same store. I didn't embark on a sewing project this time, but I did finish the second sleeve to a short sleeved cardigan I began two years ago!  It's now at the sew up stage before the neck band and button band are tackled... There's the progress of my mum's doll, which she began in our February meet up.  It's coming together now it has a head!  She wasn't able to progress with it that weekend, but she did hem up someone's new net curtains by hand!

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Read more about the article Making Individual Gifts – for Dad

Making Individual Gifts – for Dad

For my dad's birthday this year, I decided to use my new skills to make some different gifts to normal. Cufflinks Here is a photo of him wearing the cufflinks I made in glass.  I had no idea you could make cufflinks from fused glass (or didn't think of it until it was pointed out to me)! I'm quite limited in my glass fusing skills at the moment, particularly in cutting, so I used inclusions for the decoration (note: inclusions are when you include certain metals between the two layers of glass so that they become sealed into the piece).  The inclusions are feet.  I chose feet as he enjoys running, so it fits in with one of his hobbies. The class pieces were fixed onto the cufflink backs with an amazing adhesive called Hang-your-glass, which creates a strong finished piece. Toiletry Bag Here is a photo of the toiletry bag I made.  I used free machine embroidery to decorate this item.  I made up the design from a family saying - "A bath is worth two hours' sleep" which I believe he relies on to keep up with his busy schedule! I really enjoyed making the personalised design on this bag.  The bath tub was appliquéd on with an old curtain swatch remnant.  I particularly enjoy writing with the machine, which is great because I no longer gaze longingly at impressive but expensive embroidery machines with preset lettering options.  Sure, a machine program for lettering is faster and accurate, but free machine embroidery comes out differently every time.

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Read more about the article My college of handcraft
My craft studio

My college of handcraft

Hello! Welcome to my blog. The goal of this blog is to charter my journey through my own rather roughly laid out 'craft school'! Last year, faced with yet another temporary job coming to an end, I decided to apply for a part time position instead.  Sure, not the best option when you are renting, have no savings and your boyfriend is due to finish his PhD in the next year! Okay, so this may turn out to be a financial mess in the end!  But on this occasion, I have decided to follow what I want to do and enjoy, rather than opt for financial security. I write this blog for those who look back at their education and wish they had studied something else.  I enjoyed my education, but I've never learned to do any textiles or crafts- any of my hobbies- in an educational setting, and that is what I am focusing on now. Since September, I have been going to some glass fusing and ceramics classes for fun.  Neither are my forte, but it's fun to try something new and something I really couldn't afford to do at home (or have the space for)!  I am very lucky to live nearby an adult education centre which puts on classes which are affordable and although it is a outgoing expense, it is a fraction of the cost of going back to college to study - and a lot closer to home. From January, I have been extremely lucky to be a part of a free machine embroidery class.  It's a technique I have always wanted to get round to but never have.  I'm hoping to follow these sessions with a creative textiles course after Easter if it runs.  The stitching class is a real boost to my inspiration at the moment. I have a lot of extra space to fill in my 'craft working week' so this blog will charter the gaps between my official classes too.  This may include putting what I learn in short courses into practic or undertaking my own challenges. Besides learning new techniques and setting up projects, I will be looking into the entrepreneurial side of hobbies as businesses (well, I believe the government likes all courses to have an enterprise module included!), so I will be tracking my endeavours with my recent little start-up: Clobber Creations. In the next blog, I'll be letting you know how I get on tackling some unique birthday gifts for my dad.  In the meantime, I am following/taking part in the #miymarch16 event by @thatwendyward and @dressmakerssocial which involves a themed photo on instagram a day!

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