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.

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