Bucket Hat for sunny weather

When I knew that the weather was going to be hot last week, I planned to sit out and enjoy it.  However, I burn easily and wanted a hat.  As I had Covid I wasn't able to shop for a hat so made a bucket hat following an Youtube tutorial by Love Crafts,  Here's the link if you want to have a go yourself.

I think if I were to make it again, I would make it a little smaller, but the instructions are really easy and clear to follow. I used some fabric I had purchased from Aldi to make the hat.

Unfortunately, my hat must have jinxed the weather as the next day was overcast with rain.  At least I have it for another sunny day,

Sewing - A Summer top (Simplicity 4552)

I couldn't sleep last night, so got up and made a summer top, using one of the patterns from the Simplicity 4552 pattern pack.

It was a straight forward make.  My top half is two sizes smaller than my hips, so I needed to alter the pattern a little when tracing it onto paper, but it fits ok.

I think I will use the same pattern and extend the length to make a summer dress.  The longest part of the whole make was sorting out the pattern.

A Papercrafting Break with Sewing Instead

Sometimes it is good to take a break.  This past week I've really not been in the mood for papercrafting.  I don't know why I feel like this, but I can feel that I have taken a step back from it.

The last week, I seem to have occupied my time with reading and shuffling sewing patterns and stroking my fabrics.  In true crafting tradition, one can never have enough stash and that applies to fabrics too, so I placed an order for some new fabrics which arrived yesterday.

Within five hours of the fabric arriving it was washed, dry, ironed and folded ready to use.  (I wash all my fabrics as soon as I have them, that way the shrinkage happens before it is made up into clothing or patchwork - I learnt this from experience!).

That Sewing Urge

The BBC TV programme called "The Great British Sewing Bee" has been back on the television for about a month.  Since it returned to the screen, I have been feeling an urge to sew, as I've not done any for ages.

Like most crafters, I have a stash of stuff and that includes fabric.  As soon as I buy new fabric I wash it, to get rid of any shrinkage, then iron it and put the fabric away, that way I know that all my fabric is ready to use when the urge to sew comes upon me.

Sewing Bee was on TV last night, which inspired me to pull out a selection of fabric.  Today I will be sewing.  I wouldn't call myself a confident sewist... wish me luck!

Sewing a skirt in an hour - using Simplicity 4552 pattern

Well my urge to sew continues, so mid afternoon, I decided to make a quick light weight summer skirt.  I used Simplicity Pattern 4552, which is an easy pattern and has plus sizes too.

I had the fabric in my existing stash.  I'd purchased it from "Fabricland" when I was in Bristol a couple of years ago, so in some respects the skirt hasn't cost me anything and was completed within an hour... i did say it was a simple pattern!

I think the fabric really lends itself to this skirt.  There is a slit from the left knee to the hem too, which can't be seen in this photo.

Sewing - A Shell Top

My urge to sew has continued today making a Shell Top, which featured in The Great British Sewing Bee book called Fashion With Fabric.  This is a really handy book as it has the full size patterns and very detailed instructions.

Sewing - making summer trousers

I’m in the mood for sewing. I knew the mood was coming upon me when I found myself in the fabric shop last week. Today I will make some light weight summer trousers.

So here are the finished trousers.  I needed to adjust the pattern to accommodate the extra pounds on my tummy area.  If I had allowed an extra half inch they would be spot on.  I know for next time.  At least they're wearable.

An Urge To Sew

I've been helping the student with her sewing project again this week and it made me get the urge to sew.

I braved the spiders and visited my attic for patterns and fabric.  The simple pattern I decided to use came free with a magazine a while back.  In hindsight, I wish I had opted for another one as this one had many issues that I had to overcome).  

I fell in love with the fabric when I visited Fabricland in Bristol last year.  I had no idea what I would use it for, but knew that I had to have some, so in true crafters tradition purchased three metres.

The pattern was originally for a dress, but I decided that I would get more use out of it if I changed it into a tunic top (lopping 4" off the hemline).  I also added small slits to the seam/hemline to ease movement.  The neckline would not sit correctly, so I decided against what the pattern suggested and did my own thing.

A sewing good deed

Last week I did a good deed, by helping the daughter of a friend of a friend with her college course work.  She's doing an art & design course and had to make three items of clothing, some of which would be in a fabric that she had designed herself.

Unfortunately, the course does not offer any assistance in dressmaking, so she was left stressing over how she could construct the items

I have limited experience of sewing and would only place myself as little better than a beginner, but we went through the basics of translating the pattern, machine, pinning & cutting, construncting a draft top out of calico.  This enabled her to see how everything goes together.Using those skills, she was able to work alone on the projects.  In fact, that evening she went on to make a skirt!

I was happy to help her and maybe sewing will become an interest that she will enjoy for many years.  I certainly hope so.

It saddens me that these types of skills are no longer available to the youngsters at school.  Not everybody is academic, I certainly wasn't.  I feel there is a place in the world for not only sewing but crafting in general.

So, I'm stepping off my soap box now.  Thank you for reading my rant.  I'm going to disappear to stroke fabric now.

Symphony Rose (Red Rooster Fabric) Cushions

I've had a lovely day today, gardening, walking the dog, a little housework and I made some quick envelope backed cushions for the new craft room too.

Talking of which, the exterior of the new craft room has been painted today.  Once the plaster is dry inside the interior decoration will commence.

I've not done any sewing for weeks.  In fact I had to blow the dust off the overlocker - the shame of admitting that!  Fortunately, being a crafter I have plenty of fabric to hand, so I was able to use what I had.  Although not ideal for cushions this 100% cotton fabric that I had originally purchased to make a quilt has turned out very well.

The fabric is called "Symphony Rose" designed by Anna Fishkin for Red Rooster Fabrics.  The material on the reverse is also from the same Red Rooster collection.  I think the cushions will look very pretty on the new green sofa when it arrives.

The Blue Dress

I've not sewn for a few weeks, so today I made a blue dress. The fabric is a blue cotton with a small white floral design in it.

The pattern that I used is "New Look" 6095.  It's the third  time I have used this pattern. I had previously made the dress in a larger size and made a tote to match.

Dressmaker Tag

Due to my interest in sewing, people often ask if I do clothing alterations. My reply is no, I sew for pleasure. They often state there is money to be made from alterations but like many crafts, people expect you to work for peanuts instead of a decent hourly rate.

With this in mind, I created this tag. The words are part of a Paperartsy set. The thread reels are by Hero Arts. The background is an off-cut of scrapbook paper with a tape measure pattern

Love Sewing Magazine (issue 28)

While in the supermarket this morning, I spotted the new issue of "Love Sewing" magazine.  Initially at £5.99 it seems quite expensive, but when you take into account you get a free pattern and other bits as well as the information in the magazine it is actually good value.

The free pattern in this issue is by "Sew Simple" and is a beginner level tea dress (covering sizes 8-20). It has suggestions for both knee and maxi length of this dress. There are also two other free gifts - a pair of thread snips and a handbag sized sewing kit too.  All this along with other patterns for skirts, tops, bags and more.

There are a host of sewing tips in this issue, including how to create a perfect exposed zip in a garment, working on fine slippery fabrics like silk and satin.  As well as the usual May Martin page.

Talking of The Great British Sewing Bee, I see that on page 42-43 there is a feature on "Sewing The 60's" with pattern suggestions for vintage style dresses & tops from Simplicity.

So having flicked through the magazine, I'm going to sit down with a coffee and study it in more detail.  Have a great Saturday x

The Creation Of A Lampshade.

Last week on TV, I watched a programme on BBC4 at 9pm called "Make! Craft Britain".  It was a fantastic programme featuring two crafts.  Intricate paper cutting and making an embellished lampshade.  You can watch this programme on iplayer by clicking this link.

I absolutely loved the programme as the people teaching the craft were obviously loving what they do and they were not talking down to the group of mixed ability learners in their charge. Reknowned embroidery expert, Marna Lunt was the expert for the embroidered lampshade.  She creates amazing work. Have a look at her site for more information. Having watched the programme, I felt inspired to have a go at the lampshade. So ordered the lampshade kit which has now arrived. (I ordered mine from on-line shop Elephant In My Handbag).

I have an idea of the landscape view that I would like to interpret on a lampshade and have started to sort through my fabric stash for suitable bits.  Most of my fabrics are suitable for dressmaking or patchwork, so I popped along to a local charity shop in search of some woollen tweed type fabrics.  I actually came away with a bag full of goodies, including jackets, shirts, scarves to name just a few.  They've now been washed and are waiting for me to get creative with.

I am feeling a little nervous now that the background work has been done and that I can now start creating.  I suspect it will be a work in progress for some time.  I'll keep you posted.  Here's a photo of some of my fabric selections so far.

A Sewing Morning

This morning I was in a mood for sewing, so made myself these comfy trousers using Simplicity 1668 pattern using a petrol blue coloured fabric which has a small floral design on it.  This is the fourth item I've made using this pattern. Each time the item has turned out perfectly.

It looks like Polly our dog approves too!  These are the other items I've made using the same pattern.

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to "A Crafting Niche" where I will be sharing with you crafting makes and craft related things that interest me.