From Tablecloth to Travel: A Handmade Top for Morocco

I have been sewing again with an old embroidered tablecloth. This one was not a family heirloom, but I must have bought it from a charity shop, I think. So long ago I can't remember where, and like lots of other pieces of fabric it has been tucked away in a box, awaiting its turn. 

 

For this project I have used my go-to pattern: the Ethel Ruffle Blouse, from Tiana's Closet. Once again I put seams down the centre front and back to give the top some symmetry. My favourite section is the back, and after all it is good to look stunning as you walk away. 

 

Again I had to use the last bits of my plain tablecloth for the bottom section, and have not put any gathers, as that is what my daughter prefered.

 

 

Same v-neck, and this time I made it without sleeves, and improvised some facing pieces to finish the armholes neatly. Below is a corner of the original tablecloth. 

The top is already in the post to my daughter, who is off on holiday to Morocco next week. I am hoping she may send me a photograph of herself wearing it, but that may not happen. 

And no, the fez perched on top of my dressmaking model isn't because of the Moroccan theme. It's lived there ever since a New Year’s Eve a few years back, when—after watching Squeeze on a Hootenanny—we thought it’d be hilarious to order a fez as our first act of the year. Possibly too much champagne was involved.

Embroidered Tablecloth Blouse

This is a project I've been thinking about for a long time. I have a collections of embroidered tablecloths - some inherited from my mother, and others I've picked up over the years. I've always planning to sew with them, but the idea of cutting into these precious fabrics - and possibly getting it wrong - kept holding me back.

At last, though, I have got sewing, and I'm really happy with the result. I used the Ethel Blouse pattern, which I had sewn a few weeks ago from some old curtain fabric. I particularly like this pattern, as no tricky buttonholes or zips.

I made a few alterations to accommodate the embroidery layout, and the limited amount of fabric I had. So there is now a central seam at the front and back panels. This meant I could position the embroidery symmetrically. I also decided not to gather the peplum. A few reasons for this: first, I didn't want the gathering to obscure the embroidery, which is the highlight of the piece; second, I really was short of fabric; and finally, a peplum apparently makes me look like I may be pregnant, according to my husband! Cheeky.

I was a little nervous about cutting into the embroidery. Might it come unravelled? But by carefully placing the pattern pieces, I managed to avoid cutting through most of the embroidered sections. And by french seaming throughout, I managed to enclose all the raw edges. I really do love a french seam. 

The sleeves were made from a second tablecloth, which I bought in a charity shop for £2. I did consider using a contrasting colour fabric, but in the end, I stuck with white to keep the blouse cohesive—and true to the tablecloth theme. I love the sleeve design in this pattern, so I was glad I could keep that detail.

I think my mum would be really pleased to see her embroidery given a new life like this. And now, after seeing my blouse, my daughter has asked me to make her a sleeveless version. Luckily, I have another tablecloth in mind that I think will be perfect.

Ethel Blouse

I have been busy sewing again, and used my first ever downloadable pattern. This is the Ethel Ruffle Peplum Blouse from Tiana's Closet. This was a bit of an experiment, as I am still planning to make a blouse from an old embroidered tablecloth, but decided it was best to have a go with another fabric first. 

Possibly my favourite thing about the blouse is the fabric, which is an old curtain that came from a friend's mother. I would use it as a tablecover when I used to do craft fairs, and love the fact that it is old, a bit worn and has such soft colours. My new pasttime is looking in charity shops for interesting fabrics.

The peplum blouse was fairly easy to sew. Downloading and sticking together the many sheets of paper took a while, but probably not as long as a trip to the shops. I really like the sleeves on this pattern, which have a lovely shape. Although I like a long sleeve the elastic cuffs mean you can push these up if you need. I sewed the side seams of the body and arms with french seams, and then used bias tape to enclose the peplum seam on the inside so it would not fray. The blouse just slips on over the head, so no need for zips or fastenings. 

Very happy with the result, and I am now thinking do I go for the tablecloth blouse, or perhaps a skirt that will compliment this blouse. Perhaps faded denim. So many decisions to make.

 

Fish Skirt

Forgive the terrible photo above. I made this skirt from the same pattern (New Look pattern 6271) that I used for trousers last year. I really believe in getting value from a pattern, but am probably not going to move on to the shorts option.

I love the batik fish fabric (which was bought in Bude), but decided it had to be lined. Spent more online buying a navy cotton fabric for the lining, but it had to be done. I added pockets using the same tutorial Soften Studio, on how to sew a french seam pocket that I used on the trousers. It is really good way to add pockets and keep everything french seamed and neat. I love a pocket. 

This was the last of several attempts to photograph it. I just seem to shut my eyes in photos, look very self-conscious, or just angry. So although I look a mess, this is fairly realistic, and at least I am not in my usual wellington boots.

There is going to be another sewing post soon, as I have just discovered downloadable patterns, and am midway through a blouse.

Reupholstered Bed Headboard

We are doing some DIY, and decided that part of redecorating my son's room meant recovering the headboard of his bed. I've not really done anything like this before, but as I used to be a teaching assistant, have had plenty of experience with a staple gun. We took off the covered buttons which matched the old headboard, but decided to pick a fabric that would contrast. We bought the fabric at Sooz Custon Clothing in Okehampton, which is the best fabric shop I have come across locally. There was an enormous selection of furnishing, dressmaking fabrics, and haberdashery, as well as some great advice about the process of covering the board. I will definitely be calling in there again.

We went for a fabric to match the look of the bedframe, which is a bit industrial looking. I've still got to fasten the frame in place, which will be a little lower and fit under the lower bar, but I think you can see that the end result looks great. To get the buttons in place I used a very long and large needle (which I found in my sewing box), which went through the holes already there in the board.

 

Sewing with Handprint Fabric (and Trouser Update)

I just thought I would show you what I have made with my first piece of block printing. You can read more about the printing process here.

Despite Andy, the teacher's, adversion/phobia to mushrooms, I still am glad with this choice. I used the tutorial on the link below to make a large pencil case. It is for my daughter to store some of her sewing tools, so is on its way to London. You can't see from the photo, but it has a dark denim back, blue cotton lining and red zip. The tutorial was really helpful, showing how to insert a zip neatly in a case with a lining. 

Youtube Sewing A Sewing Life 

Last Friday we went to a local primary school, helped with some blockprinting workshops. The children worked together to make banners, with insects, leaves and flowers, which hopefully I will show you. Fun beng back in a school. Now we have the rest of the course to complete our own banners for the school. Not very happy with mine, but there is still a bit of time left to work on it.

My daughter is now at her second internship in London. With the first company, Nicholas Daley, she went to the British Fashion Awards at the Albert Hall, and wore the denim trousers I made her last summer. We laughed a lot that her "intern trousers" made it to the big time. She did say that apart from her boss Nicholas Daley they were all quite underdressed, but somewhere there is a photo of the group of colleagues on the red carpet. I would so like to see that photo. She had such a good time with Nicholas Daley, learning a lot and being given a lot of responsibility. I think she fell on her feet here, so am hoping the next internship will be just as good.

More Trousers

I wrote last month about some trousers that I had made for myself, from New Look pattern 6271 - my Hippy Chick trousers. My daughter was very keen to wear them, but I managed to hang on to them. But I have made her two pairs of trousers from the same pattern. 

 

I felt I had to sew carefully, as she is a fashion student. We are calling them her intern trousers, as she is in the process of looking for an internship for some of next year. So I am imagining them swishing around some trendy studio in London, with the stitching being admired.

For the first pair she bought some lightweight denim, and the changes I made for the pattern were the run and fell seams down the outside of the legs, and the top-stitched patch pockets. About 20 years ago I did a City and Guild Fashion course, so had to get out my old file of notes and samples for these.

The second pair is a lovely silky striped pattern, and for these I added some in seam pockets on each side. I found a fantastic on line video from Soften Studio, on how to sew a french seam pocket. There is also a link to download a free pattern piece, and the explanation is so clear and the end result so neat and pleasing, I would highly recommend this.

So getting my value from this pattern, I am now thinking about fabric for the skirt option.

Hippy Chick Trousers

At this time of year, when The Great British Sewing Bee is on, I suddenly remember that sewing is something I can do.

So this year I decided to make my some trousers, with this lovely piece of Africa waxed cotton, that I bought from a charity shop for £6. The pattern I used is New Look 6271. It also contains a pattern for skirts and shorts, so thought it was good value. My one worry with it was would that the waist look too elasticated. I am usually a jeans girl, and avoid elasticated waists when buying trousers. This waist has a combination of elastic in a channel, and a functioning tie, which confused me a bit at first. But I am really happy with the end result. The thing I really like about this pattern is the width of the legs. They are quite wide, but not silly wide.

 

My daughter was here in Cornwall when I finished the trousers, and also liked them so much, that she tried to persuade me to let her wear them to work. Before I had even worn them out myself! I pretended to be annoyed, but was actually quite flattered that she liked them so much. So they are still my trousers, but I now have two more pieces of fabric to make some for her. Pleased about this, as I love to get more than one garment out of a pattern.

 

After that I am planning to make, in the style of The Sewing Bee, a blouse out of an old embroidered table cloth. I have a few of these to use, but if anyone can suggest a fairly simple pattern, without gathers so the embroidery will lie flat, I would love to hear from you.

Tartan Dressing Gown

Busy sewing a dressing gown again. It does seem that this is the only thing that I sew, but it does mean I have had very good value from this pattern.

 

But this time the pressure was on, as my daughter asked me to make a dressing gown for her friend, as a birthday gift. Both girls are studying fashion at Brighton, so I felt that I should do my best job. 

Actually having said that, with sewing I always try to do my best with each part, however long that takes, as in the end you have a better finished garment. It is one of the two things that worry me with "The Sewing Bee". Firstly have they neatened their seams? And secondly the thought of sewing with a time pressure would be horrendous. It will take as long as it takes. But anyway for this version I did most of the seams as French seams, handmade the binding, as well as a handsewing the hem. Oh dear, I do sound grumpy.

Here is me doing a part way try on, and below is the birthday girl in the finished garment. She looks happy!

Forgot to say that I bought the brushed cotton online from Dalston Mill, as I couldn't find the right thing locally, and was very pleased with it.

Fashion Project Bag

My daughter had her eyes on a bag that I use for my knitting, to take as a project bag for college. But I didn't want to let it go, so said I would make her one of her own. Looking back at my blog it is hard to believe that I made the original bag over 10 years ago. I guess it is doing fairly well, as I use it a lot.

I was hoping to find some heavy weight denim for the new bag, but my local sewing shop didn't have this, but did have two lovely pieces of linen in the remnants bin, which were the perfect size. Like the last time I made this bag the sewing was not too difficult, and the biggest job was ironing interfacing on to every piece. I have now realised what the term "bagging out" means.

Knowing it is off to fashion college, I took a lot of care with my sewing. This time I have got the pockets the right way round, so this time it is a reversible bag. Photo below just to prove this. Last time my cat decided to have a nap in the bag, so I wonder if she will do the same with this one before I mail it off.

 

Lots of other lovely patterns in this book, so I may have a go at another style of bag.

Cushions and the Cat

 

A few weeks ago I showed a piece of 1950s curtain fabric, which I has bought from Penny Baker Vintage in Tavistock market to make some cushions. Finally the cushions are made, and these are just two of the four cushions. I love them. Although genuine old fabric, I don't think that they were ever hung as curtains, as there was no fading on it at all.

 

The backs were made from some linen material bought from Soft Touch Needlecraft. I liked this colour, and wanted to make as many cushions as I could from the 1950s fabric.

 

But although I had intended these cushions to be for the kitchen, I haven't quite brought myself to put them out yet. Mainly because of my cat, who is a little old lady now. Despite having two lovely soft baskets, she likes to hang out in the kitchen, and will sit on anything soft. I keep finding her having made herself all comfy on the oven glove. And although I think she is fairly healthy, and still brings us home the gift of the odd mouse, she is occasionally sick. Although I am not overly house proud, I just can't bear the thought of the cushions having to go through the wash straight away. So for the moment they are still by the sewing machine. But last winter there was a point when she decided to spend most of her time in the airing cupboard. So that may be when the cushions come out. Am I turning into the sort of person who keeps plastic covers on their sofa? Possibly.

 

 

 

 

1950s Curtain Fabric

 

I saw this fabric in a vintage sale in Tavistock Pannier Market recently. Original 1950s curtain fabric of barkcloth - cotton with a bit of texture.  I really liked it, but then I dithered! I am a bit of a ditherer sometimes. Not sure if 1950s would look right in our cottage. When I got home I really regretted not buying it, as I want to make some new cushions, and my husband is a bit anti-floral, but I thought this would be an interesting compromise. 

Luckily though someone on my printing course knew the name of the stallholder, and with a bit of searching on Instagram I found and contacted her. She brought the fabric back to the market for me next time she was there. Sometimes the web is really useful. The cushions aren't made yet, as I need to get zips and perhaps a different fabric for the back.

Summer Mushroom Dressing Gown

Whenever The Great British Sewing Bee comes around I marvel at the contestants talents and nerve, and remember that I can sew, but just haven't done it for a while. All the finalists were great this year, although my favourite didn't win, I think because she just missed the brief on the final garment.

I bought the material for this dressing gown several years ago, and have finally got around to making it. I guess it is a bit unusual for a dressing gown, but I really liked it. There is a little bit left over, and I am trying to work out a good purpose for it.

I have used the same pattern that I used to make a winter dressing gown for Mr Ginx a few years ago, and now my daughter is saying she might like one, so I really will have got my  value out of this pattern

 

 

Ginx Woolly Linx Party November

The end of the month has crept up on me as ususal. I really enjoyed seeing all your projects. Slightly more to look at than usual, but maybe that is the autumn evening effect. 

Carolyn of Flickensalat adapted a doll pattern to make Heidi for her granddaughter's birthday. I think this is just adorable, with her frilly knickerbockers and wild hair.

Alexandra of EyeLoveKnots has shared this free pattern she has written for a cactus coaster square.  Very original, and also check out her crochet peace square.

I love the simplicity of this angel, shared by Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner. I mean the simplicity of the design, as I am sure it was not simple to make.

And finally you might think that I have chosen a knitted project, but Liz of Howling at the Moon's elegant plant pot cover is crochetted in waist coat stitch.

With Halloween over, I am expecting to see a few more Christmas projects. I have booked tables at two more Christmas Fairs, so am feeling a little bit of pressure to make a few more  things.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

 

 

Cushions and Country Shopping

One of my concerns about moving to the country was shopping. I'm not really a big shopper, but in town I was very lucky being within walking distance of a big shopping centre on the edge of London. But even there, sometimes it was hard to find what I needed, and I have recently been buying wool online. 

But I have found that the small town that we live near in the country, Launceston, has more than one really good wool shop. The Cosy Little Wool Shop, runs knit and natter coffee mornings, and I am going to try and be brave and go when they start again. There is also somewhere out of town called Cowslip Workshops, which runs craft classes and has a cafe, but is only open by appointment at the moment.  

One of the other shops in town, Threads Designs, not only has wool, but a whole range of fabrics for dressmaking and furnishing, and everything else that a sewer might need. Nice ladies who can advise and cut whatever you need.

I have made these cushions, with everything needed bought from Threads Designs. I am going to take them with me to the flat. Less than two weeks now, and me and my daughter will be heading back to town for school. Her final school year. Perhaps then I may get back to a bit more crafting, as there seem so many outdoor distractions here.

What is nice in the country is shops tend not to be chains.  I have not even mentioned Cornwall Smallholder Supplies, where you can look at the large range of brewing and jam-making equipment. Or Maunders, more geared to agriculture, so among the gardening supplies, you can also find tags for your livestock and other more mysterious equipment.

Just a reminder that there is still loads of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for August. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Ginx Woolly Linx Party May

It is hard to believe that a whole month has passed, and apart from our weekly trip to the supermarket, and the occasional parcel delivery, I have seen no one except my immediate family. What also puzzles me, is why have I not got more knitting done? I really should have, but I have been a bit distracted by the garden, and having more wildlife to photograph.

I do hope that everyone who visits here is keeping well, in body and in mind. It is very hard times, but I do think that keeping busy with creative activities helps.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the party for April. It gets more and more difficult to pick the features, and even if you were not selected this month I do enjoy looking at all your projects.

First of all Lalka Crochetka has made this wonderful old motorbike. It is just amazing in all the details.

I love this blanket, made by Sandra of Hakelfieber. The 3D effect created by the shadow is really great.

Tonna of Sew Crafty Crochet has made this, and another equally lovely baby blanket, to donate to the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society for new babies.

And finally Con Hilos, Lanas y Botones has made this adorable little baby - Ruben. If you click on the link you will see how his little dungarees can be taken off.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Remember if you were picked as a feature you can put the "I was featured" button on your blog. 

Completely Handmade Cushions

I put a picture a few weeks ago of some chunky wool I had, and decided in the end to make some new cushions from it. My husband was not keen on this idea, as the last cushions that I knitted looked lovely at first, but went saggy quite quickly. But I found a lovely pattern on ravelry Knitted ZigZag Cushion, and convinced him and myself that if I made these with slightly smaller needles than suggested, combined with the fair isle pattern meaning wool will be carried across the back, they would knit up into a nice firm, dog-proof, fabric.

I think I was right, but I guess only time will really tell. The pattern has a stripe of moss stitch at the top and bottom. I did start off with this, but because I did not have the right sized needles, it was much wider that the rest of the knitting. So I back unravelled this at the very end - not that easy a thing to do.  I really love the way the colours look together.

So I had quite a bit of wool left over, but not enough to make another cushion from this zigzag pattern. I started off trying to knit a very simple fair isle design, just with spots, but half-way through realised that I was going to run out of wool before it was a square. So that was unravelled too, and cushion number two is a bit simpler, just rows of stripes.

 
I have called this my "completely handmade cushions", as the intention had been to machine sew the fabric backs. I don't have my own sewing machine here, but thought I could use my daughter's mini John Lewis one. But unfortunately we can't get this to work - the stitch just keeps going long and then short. So the only solution seemed to be a bit of hand-sewing. I do enjoy a bit of hand stitching, but this was a bit much, as it involved removing the zips from the old cushions, sewing them into a new back, hemming the back pieces, and them sewing the knitted fronts to the thick back fabric with wool.

I am really pleased with the finished cushions, but am not going to sew anything by hand for a while. Finally I can start on my mail order wool.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for April. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Ginx Woolly Linx Party April

Welcome to Ginx Woolly Linx Party for April.  Your projects for March were amazing, and as ususal it was very hard to pick the features.

Julie from Sum of Their Stories has shared this pattern for a lovely lightweight shawl. I find this type of knitting a bit scary, what if you drop a stitch. But her post has given me confidence to give it a try.

Alexandra of Eye Love Knots teaches us how to make these cute little applique carrots. She has used some for plant labels, and I am sure they could be used for all sorts of things at this time of year when there are lots of Easter rabbits about.

Lilah of Lilah's Treasures has made some really stunning crochet earrings and pendant. Aren't they great.

And finally Gema of Hebra de Lana has made this lovely little hedgehog purse. Check out all her photos to see how beautifully it is made.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 
Remember if you were picked as a feature you can put the "I was featured" button on your blog. 

Art Deco Dress

I haven't written much about sewing for a while, but thought you might like to see my daughter's school art project. She insisted on editing the photos.

This is her final piece in an A-level art project. She printed the material with a lino cut. The theme of the project was art deco, and she decided to make her fabric into an art deco inspired dress.

Her bravery always amazes me, and I have to say that nearly every bit of advice I offered was ignored. "Buy a pattern" "V-shaped necks are difficult" "A v-shaped waistband will be tricky"  All ignored!

So despite my advice, she has made this beautiful dress, and without a pattern. She made the top initially out of calico and "shock" sellotape, so she could desconstruct it to make the pattern pieces for the printed fabric. It is all fully lined as well.
  

The photos are taken in the stairwell of our flat. The metal railing seem the perfect match to the gold print on the fabric. Though we were both keeping a look out for anyone coming in, ready to dodge back into our flat.

Just a reminder that there are still is still a little bit of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for November. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.