My first skirt

Look out Dorothy Perkins... There's a new label in town... (with two items on the rack now!)

I've just finished my first skirt (Butterick B5466) and compared to the dress I made in the previous post it was easy-peasy! I'm very pleased I managed to follow all the pattern instructions and remember how to do darts and the likes without the watchful eye of my sewing tutor.

As you can see by my special modelling skills below I've decided to accessorise my new skirt with thermal leggings, hiking socks and slippers. (Anyone would think it was cold in Scotland!)

This sewing palava is truly addictive.

Classy

SUCH a good look!

My very first dress!

I'm so proud... I've just finished making my very first dress and am quite pleased with the results. Thanks to my night classes for the past 9 weeks I've learned the basics on dressmaking and loved every minute of it. The result is below:

Chuffed to bits

My son thinks I should accessorise with sneakers

The zip on the back looks like it was done by an amateur but I'll probably cover it up with a cardigan or the likes. I'm incredibly proud of my efforts and can't wait to make something else! This was a Burda 7798 pattern, and I'd definitely recommend it for a beginner!

Another felt animal

I've spent the last two evenings avoiding all the rubbish on tv and making this wee toy instead. I got the inspiration from a link in Pinterest (addicted much!!!) and thought it would make a lovely gift for a new baby in Hong Kong, and would finally give me the opportunity to dive into the stash of wonderful ribbons my Mum bought with her when she visited in summer.

Roar!

I'm definitely going to attempt more of these!


Posted from my iPhone

Everyone needs a beer companion

Rascal - beer companion

I made this little guy last night for a friend. I was having a terrible time trying to bind the quilt in the last post that I gave up and decided to make something fun instead. I've named him Rascal... he looked after my beer and we chatted about life.

Shame I have to give him up for adoption.

Baby quilt #3 - nearly done

In a post a few months ago I was having a 'fabric dilemma'. I was a little stuck on this project because I didn't really like the fabric combination all together (it was a Moda charm pack and my first attempt at 'Disappearing Nines') and kept putting the project off.

After much scratching of the head I decided what the vibrant patterns needed was to be broken up with plain white material, to make it a little easier on the eye. So, my third baby quilt is nearly done (need to sew the binding and I'm going to attempt to machine bind it this time, seeing as my hand sewing is crap!)

Feast your eyes on the recovered project below:

The front

Thank goodness for the white!

Oooh... look at the fancy stripe!

Wish me luck on the binding (arghhhh)

My sewing night classes are brilliant and I'm learning loads. I did my first ever 'darts' last week (pretty badly, but still!) I'll take some photos this week when it starts looking more like a dress. 

I LOVE SEWING!

Dressmaking fabric success

On Sunday I made a very exciting trip to Mandors in Edinburgh to hunt down a dress pattern and some fabric for my first dressmaking project. The shops is lovely and the staff are incredibly helpful. My tutor from class works there during the week so I mentioned I was taking her class and that I needed all the help I could get - and they (being Lucy) were brilliant.  I'm very glad I spent a lot of time researching what patterns I like on the internet, and pinning photos to my Pinterest board. I ended up buying this one:

Burda 7798 - pale blonde hair optional.

I think the style will suit me and it looks like a good beginners project. So the next task was hunting down some fabric - which turned out to be mega easy as I fell in love with this straight away (I've been wanting a navy and white polka dress for ages!) 

Tomorrow night we learn how to pin the pattern to the fabric and cut it all out. I haven't been this excited (and nervous) about a project in donkeys years! 

The added bonus for me on Sunday was having a good look through Mandor's craft fabrics downstairs. I still need to do a small quilt for my brother-in-law and fiance but ended up buying this for Logan instead: 

Logan's going to have the coolest bedding!

I think it's a Robert Kaufman range (need to get better at my fabric knowledge) and I'm hoping to make him a duvet cover as we're wanting him to get out of his baby sleeping bags for winter. 

It's quite sad how excited I am about making all these lovely things!

Cushions and class

I've learned many things these past few weeks from the World of Sewing! I attended my first Dressmaking for Beginners class on Wednesday and discovered how to read patterns and other general 'beginner' basics. I need to hit the fabric shop this weekend to find a pattern for a dress I'm to make on the course and get some material. I'm both terrified and excited at the same time!

The other lesson has been more 'hands on'. As I've mentioned in previous posts, my sister requested some cushion covers which I've nearly now completed. But not without some mishaps!

Rule 1: make sure you have the fabric the right side around before sewing together.

Rule 2: don't make the covers the same size as the measurements given. What you get is saggy cushions!

Rule 3: don't use pale yellow thread on a mint colored cushion.

Rule 4: never sew when you're tired. Ever.






I have one more cover to re-work tomorrow then I'll be concentrating my efforts to my course project. Eek... Making a dress!


- Posted from my iPhone

Not too cool for school

I've enrolled in an evening class! Check me!

I shall be one of twelve 'beginners' attending the Dressmaking for Beginners class, starting mid September. It's a 10 week course which covers all the things I really really need to learn. Like how to read a pattern (What? You mean you don't just make it all up?), learning about fabrics and how to cut them, sewing basics and lots of other goodies. It's crazy to be this excited about going back to school! (Albeit for two hours a week).

Two whole hours of 'me time' doing crafty-sewing-goodness (and then unpicking it all again).

Happy happy.

Envelope Cushion Cover

My sister has faith in me. Still with my wobbly training-sewing-wheels on she's given me a big bag of fabric that she wants made into cushion covers. Of which I've never made before.

Until now!

With the wee man taking an extra long nap this morning I've used the time to finish boring chores, then sit down and watch this video tutorial on YouTube.  Using my own fabric first (didn't want to ruin my sisters in case I did something wrong) I knocked this up super fast!

It will be nice to get to the stage where I'm good enough to make the front a bit prettier or add buttons but I'm pretty chuffed. It seemed almost *too* easy so I'm hoping I didn't do anything wrong!

Wayyyyy easier than making quilts anyway!

Rosie love

I finally met my new niece this weekend! We plodded down to London on the train Friday morning and spent the weekend in the company of my sister, my nephew Toby (3) and wee Rosie (2 months). Ab-so-lutely gorgeous kids!

I managed to get some photos of Rosie posing on the quilt I made her. She was a very willing model!

Bean bag fun

I've made the wee man his own little bean bag! The sewing detail is pretty shoddy - but the cars and colours on the fabric makes up for it! I followed an online tutorial, till it got confusing so I just made it up as I went along.

Bean bag for the wee man!

Testing the bounce

Bottom test... passed.

It's a hit!!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

Material dilemma

I thought about doing a new project and learning how to make cushion covers (my sister has put in her first request) but I found myself sucked into the world of quilting again! I quickly threw this together (doing my first 'Disappearing Nine' patchwork) thinking it would make a nice baby quilt for future gifts. However, after looking at it for a few hours I'm not sure I like all the material in it.
I need some ideas on how to make it look 'less retro' and more cute.

Failing that... a tutorial on how to make one of those plastic bag holders for the kitchen!

Not as cute as I'd like!

Lollipop Quilt - Done!

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I've done it! I've finally finished my second quilt - following this brilliant tutorial made up by this clever lady. Feast your eyes on the Lollipop quilt:

My second ever quilt. I'm chuffed with the results. 

Just don't look at the binding too close.

Moda "Lollipop" quilt (well, the bottom half anyway)

Logan gets his first peep at his new quilt

Checking Mummy's stitching up close

After all my hard work, he thinks it's fun to jump on

Baby Rosie enjoying her new quilt

The hours of hand-sewing are totally worth it after my sister sent this photo of my gorgeous new niece enjoying her quilt!

"This is the best quilt I've ever laid on..."

Welcome Rosie Leigh! I'm glad you like my present xxx

Why why why?!

I need help please. Why oh why does the underneath sewing go like this?


I've taken the bobbin out and it's still doing it. Can a pro please help me?

*kicks machine*

- Posted from my iPhone

A week of firsts

Making life difficult for the hairdresser

My baby boy had his first haircut yesterday.
And he took his first steps last Thursday.
I cried.

Kitchen renovations

We just need to decide on a colour to paint the Walls and the first room renovation in our new house is done!

So far our kitchen looks fab - sooo much better than the 60s disaster it was. My favourite purchase (so far) are these delightful canisters for our coffee, tea and sugar. I could look at them for hours!

Lollipop loveliness

My next project is now all jig-sawed (new word) together! Hubby thinks it's "broon" (brown in a Scottish accent) but he's a boy so his opinion doesn't count.

Lollipop, lollipop ooh la-le-la-le-la

I love it! If only our house renovations didn't keep interrupting my sewing space!

- Posted from my iPhone

Nearly finished my first quilt

Hooray - I finally managed to find the camera and take some decent photos of my first ever quilt! I've done one side of the binding but am not very good at 'invisible stitches'. If anyone has a good link that could help me get to grips on this stitch I'd appreciate it. 

The binding is a bit dodgy... there must be an easier way

 I also took some piccies of the Lollipop quilt I've started.

Lollipops!

First taste of chocolate

Logan had his very first taste of chocolate today after getting an Easter Egg from his Nana & Grandad. He seemed quite pleased with the brown goodness!



More Easter weekend photos below, with a Billy Idol impression, and storytime with me. Sweet wee man that he is.

Binding Tutorial

Binding with Mitered Corners 1, a photo by WendysKnitch on Flickr.

I've been saved! After reading loads of online tutorials on how to do binding on quilts this one actually makes (visual) sense to me.
I attempted a mock run-though last night with pins on the baby quilt and now have enough confidence to take the next step to sew the binding together this weekend.

I've also begun my second quilt using fabric from the Moda 'Lollipop' charm packs. I'm in love with quilting!

I won! I won!

I'm currently in 'chuffed mode' at the moment. Yesterday I received an email from Cloth Magazine saying I had won their bumper prize pack and could they get my details so they could post the BOX out! Yes... BOX! It arrived this morning (fast huh!) and I've been gushing over the lovely contents.

Although my husband laughed at me because I TOTALLY missed this page in the latest issue:

Yep, that's me!

This is what I've won from issue 6

Unbelievable. How on earth could I have missed seeing my own name in the magazine?! But how exciting. I never win anything... and to win a box full of crafting goodies just when I've been bitten by the sewing bug is brilliant. 

Here is my lucky stash...

What a lucky lass I am!

Fabulous florals from the new Freespirit collection 

Berisford ribbons, giant buttons, and gorgeous fabric from one of my favourite bloggers M is for Make

Wooden vintage pegs and Liberty print binding on a wooden bobbin. Too cute!

Logan gets a children's apron and some fish scissors!

A fabulous book to teach me lots of goodies to make

And wonderful Christmas fabric as a wee bonus.

At this rate I'm going to need to build an extension onto our new house to keep all my sewing goodies in! A massive massive thank you to the team at Cloth Magazine. You've made this lass very happy indeed.