Almost a year ago, I upcycled a vintage cotton overall into a skirt. I was never completely happy with the skirt, it just didn't fit well and consequently never got worn. I love the fabric though and couldn't stand to part with it, so a couple of weeks ago I cut it into a dress bodice, using Simplicity 2444 (again!). I didn't have enough for sleeves which is a shame because I really don't like wearing anything sleeveless.
I was initially going to add the bodice to the mustard linen I used on my tablecloth dress, but the colours really didn't work, so I bobbed into Abakhan in Manchester and picked up this lovely teal linen blend.
I used the brilliant circle skirt app at By Hand London to draft the circle skirt, which I wish I had cut slightly longer, it feels a tiny bit too short. (Especially with my very white legs!)
The fit on this bodice is probably the best so far using the 2444, I think I have finally, maybe got it right..well nearly anyway!
I'm afraid I just wasn't brave enough to wear the dress without a cardigan today, so popped this short sleeved cardy on top.
I love living in Greater Manchester, I've been in love with the North and Manchester particularly since I moved here in October 1989. Even the rain has never put me off, and honestly it doesn't always rain.
Woody works in the centre of Manchester and often I'll catch the train in, mooch around my favourite shops in the Northern Quarter and then meet him for lunch in one of the many great bars and cafes.
One of my favourite shops to visit is Fred Aldous, three floors of art and craft materials plus great quirky gifts and cards.
The basement of Fred Aldous is also home to Ministry Of Craft , where you can take workshops in a whole host of craft disciplines, from absolute beginners getting to know their sewing machine, making a tailored skirt, stitching your own knickers, getting to grips with embroidery, making jewellery and so much more! They even run hen parties, which seem like a lot of fun.
One class recently added to the programme is my very own! I'm really excited to be joining the other fabulous tutors at The Ministry Of Craft to bring you an upcycling class.
As my long term readers know, I love a bit of upcycling, am often found elbow deep in a box of old linens in various charity shops.
I have designed a class for Advanced Beginners; Short and Sweet Pyjamas .
As any regular charity shopper knows, there are always plenty of mens shirts in stock in most of the charity shops, and even if not, mens shirts are easy to come by scrounged from the men in your life. Woe betide any man in my extended family throwing out shirts just because the collar is frayed!
These pyjamas are made using three mens shirts, keeping details and features of the shirts to add interest.
Trim is optional, but adds a cute little feminine detail.
There is an option to use pillowcases instead of shirts for the pyjama shorts. That is what I have done here.
Taking this class you will learn how to layout patterns on challenging fabric, how to make french seams, to use bias binding to finish a raw edge, to make casings and add trim. Once you have completed your first upcycled outfit, I promise you will never look at old clothes in the same way again, everything will have potential!
To book this class, head on over to Ministry Of Craft for more details. I can't wait to meet you!
My third Simplicity 2444. This time I upcycled a vintage tablecloth for the bodice and used some mustard linen for the skirt.
Again, I moved the pleats to the hips to try and balance my top heavy curves and shortened the darts by 1cm. This version fits better across my shoulders than the last one, but it's still not quite right. My round shouldered narrow back, but large ribcage are not easy to fit.
My sewing buddy Mary and I have similar fit issues and have agreed to spend some time over the summer fitting each other for a basic bodice. A project I am very much looking forward to!
The tablecloth works well as the bodice. It was a vintage linen cloth with a border print, so had to do some careful cutting out, but I'm pleased with the results, and have another I plan to use in a similar way.
Trying to take self timed photos with Ernest is not easy, but at least he makes me laugh!
Nine months ago I bought this slightly bonkers Dirndl dress in my local charity shop. I suspect it had been made for a theatre production or similar. Despite some of my friends suggesting I wear it as it was, I knew I never could, at least not without two giant tankers of frothy ale as accessories!
Yesterday evening I had 30 minutes of time to myself so whipped up this skirt. I'd already cut out the skirt and waistband several months ago, so it was a simple task of adding in a zip and sewing on the waistband. I've actually made it a touch too big, so should probably re do the waistband. I wore it today anyway with a safety pin to make it the right size. I suppose I should just be glad I didn't make it too small!
I bought this pattern as soon as it was released, not entirely sure it would suit me, but hopeful. I've gained a lot of weight over the past year and I'm once again in that weird place of trying to figure out what suits my current shape. I hoped the high waist would flatter my curvy shape, and the peplum would balance my hips with my bust, and I think it does?
I used a thrifted tablecloth for this skirt, it cost £3.50 from a local charity shop. I didn't want to cut into good fabric for a first try, when I wasn't sure of whether it would even suit me, and wasn't sure of the fit.
I had to do some creative cutting out to fit the print onto the pattern pieces, it was a bit of a head scratcher, but I'm fairly pleased with the symmetry at the front and the back, I just wish I'd been able to match at the side seams, and realised after I'd sewn it together that the two back side panels would have been better if I'd flipped the pattern piece. I'm sure very few people will notice, but still, it would've been nice.
As for fit, I cut out the second to largest size, thinking the waist would be a tiny bit tight and the hips a tiny bit big, but when fitting found I was just 1 cm out on both, so took 5mm off each of the side back seams when joining to the back. This morning the waist is a little loose, but my waist grows during the day sadly.
I also added the wrong size zip, I just reached for a regular skirt size zip, thankfully though I can wriggle it easily over my hips so it's not a problem.
I really love this pattern, and plan to make another very soon.
Ernest is mostly worn, but sometimes we use the pram. Winter is well and truly here, and not relishing the idea of spending £85 on the buggy snuggle that fits the Xplory, and not having the time to sew something from scratch, my lovely friend (and thankfully hoarder) Mary sent me over a gorgeous little warm baby nest that fitted perfectly. Only problem was the colour didn't quite work with the purple of the pram. (guess who forgot to take before pics.)
So, using an inexpensive fleece blanket I'd bought from Ikea, initially intending to use it to make India a hoody, I re covered the baby nest and we now have a lovely bright buggy snuggle.
There is still enough fabric left for India's hoody,but she's reluctant to wear anything that matches the pram...oops!
This little monkey is teething, having a growth spurt, and generally just rather grumpy. Of course I think if only he was breastfeeding he'd be so much happier, and that sets me off crying with him!
In between the grumps, I managed to run up a few pairs of woolly bootees this weekend.
All made with felted sweaters.
Ernest gives me, his Daddy, the other children, infact everyone really big big smiles, but as soon as I get the camera out, he stops, it took about three hundred million attempts just to catch this flicker of a smile!
I actually became re aquainted with my sewing machine yesterday! Oh I do miss her, but I guess cuddling Ernest is more fun.
I ran up three pairs of wool longies from some of Grandads old sweaters.
Of course a thirty minute job took more like three hours with pumping and feeding and cuddling breaks, but they are done. (and yes clearly I had no time to steam the creases out of the blue pair!)
I made this little cardigan from a cardigan of my own that I accidentally spoiled with paint. It's a nice soft, well worn in cashmere mix, so I decided to recycle it for baby boy. I used my smock pattern pieces for the bodice and the sleeves, and bound the neck edge with the left over neck edge from the original cardy. I also made casings at the sleeve edge for elastic, and used a hook and eye for closure.
Only the shoulder and side seams were sewn by machine, everything else was sewn by hand, which I think looks better, and was actually very therapeutic.
This week has been rough emotionally, starting with my birthday, and ending with the sad news of baby Freddie. I've been crying in public again, and the flashbacks are more frequent.
Yesterday it was warm, I risked removing my coat on the school run, but held it protectively over my bump. I was walking with a good friend, but then saw heading towards me a lady I just did not want to talk to. She's a nice person, but just, well, just a little odd, and tactless. My friend also spotted her, and I think our sudden "deep conversation", plus my expert "FO vibes" headed her off...phew!
Today, the sun is shining, I can hear next door's little girl bouncing on her trampoline, and Eden singing...some days there is nothing to do but focus on the good stuff and keep those demons at bay. x
On my list of things to do today I wrote "make something pretty". I thought it might stop me crying.
So, here are all the pretty things I've made today.
Firstly this beret for India, made from a felted sweater,with a little purple flower hair clip to keep it in place.
I also made some wrist warmers from the same fabric.
Then I remembered that my friend Vanessa had crocheted these lovely ear warmers for my girls last year, and I still hadn't sewn them together, can't believe it took me until now!
(Believe it or not, Eden has been off school with a sick bug for the past two days, she looks pretty healthy in these pics!)
Finally I made myself a cotton petticoat. This was on my sewing list last winter,but once I was pregnant I didn't need one. I plan to wear this under my winter skirts for warmth, and a bit of shushy girly ness!
I used my usual A line skirt pattern,with a ruffle, some lace and a simple elastic waistline. (trusty old fold over elastic).
So, there ya go, it's not all tears all of the time.
I found this skirt in Oxfam in Hockley, Nottingham a month or so ago. I spotted it immediately on entering the shop, the gorgeous Art Deco style print catching my eye. On closer inspection I found the skirt was a rather nasty acetate fabric, but the print so gorgeous I couldn't leave it hanging on the rack.
The skirt probably dates from the 1970's judging by the nasty synthetic fibres and the maxi style.
The waist was absolutely teeny tiny at only 22", but there was so much fabric in the skirt I knew I could easily get another skirt out of it that would fit me.
I started by chopping the skirt off just below the zip fastening to see how much fabric I had to play with...rather a lot as it happened.
I then cut off all the previously sewn seams. I evened up each panel, 4 in total.
I then stitched up three seams and added an invisible zip to the fourth before completing that seam.
I tried it on, and it was a little large for me, so since I didn't want to lose any of the fullness in the skirt length, I added four waist darts .
I then finished the waist with bias binding and a hook and eye fastening.
I had kept the original hem in place on each panel and simply ensured they matched up when I stitched each seam.
The result is a lovely circle skirt, and I'm really pleased with it.