Too Many Photo's! or It's My Blog and I will Post if I Want To....

Tildy, modelling her Wren dress.
Nuff said.

Thanks for looking at my snaps!

xx Tilly

PS Tilly's boots are on sale. I am not employed or receive goodies for this link, just sharing the 'shoe love'.

A Velvet Wren

Tilly's turn and she needed a smart frock.
So it was a good chance to use one of my 'pins'.

Pinned from Bon-Point Boutique.

I flipped over this dress and immediately thought of the Wren  by Clever Charlotte.
My sister had been volunteering in a Charity Shop and she found a beautiful piece of light weight upholstery velvet.

Don't you love the boots?

So here is my version.

I am tickled pink!

Thank goodness for the invisible zipper.
I would have been loathe to sew against the pile of the velvet.

I used a special pre-wound thread for top stitching. The bobbins are meant to fit into the bobbin case but were a bit fat for mine.

I remembered with shirring that one hand winds the bobbin so I decided to try that. Perfick!

It is a silky thick thread in a rich cocoa brown.
My machine struggled a wee bit with the unfamiliar thread and thick pleated fabric but it coped and it was worth the trepidatious sewing.

The only change I made was to slightly lengthen the sleeves.

Matilda loves it and made me laugh when she declared that she would have to be cuddled upwards.
(As the nap runs up to give the lustrous sheen)
I made the size 3t which is perfect-to-a-little-to-big, just right for the beginning of Winter.

Modelled pictures soon, I promise!
xx N

PS If you would like to make your own Winter Wren I have a tute here

Me Me Me

You guessed it, its my turn.
Jed and I have a dinner Saturday night and I really needed a dress.
Something dressy but not too dressy, you know what I mean-don't you?

So I went with a tried and true favourite.
This time in a black linen.

 The Lisette Portfolio, one of Liesl Gibson's (of oliver+S fame) first woman's patterns.
Its not readily available but you might find it if you are lucky.
My favourite detail is the lovely scooped pockets.
Pocket tute here

The neck line is so flattering.
I do add an inch to the centre front piece for extra bust ease.

Mother-of-pearl buttons for the back closures seemed the perfect touch.
Now, perhaps you would be so good as to help me?
I can't decide what jewellery to wear and I would love your help.

The Twins bought me this necklace on the weekend.

Or my Anniversary pearls.

Which I am leaning towards but the Twins say 'Not'.

What do you think?
xx N

And Now.....Back to Lidia!

I cut out a Finch set to make for Liddy to wear during summer.
And it didn't happen.
But as Lid's pointed out, she wore her last Finch set over tights and a long sleeved tee.

 I was convinced. I do love this pattern so.
The top I made from my stash of precious Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley. I lined it with khaki voile from Spotlight.
To keep maximum length I bound the hem.
Top tute here here 

For the shorts I used some natural linen I purchased from Pink Chalk and I lined them with the same voile as the top.
Short tute here
Lined short tute here

 The bow is made from a delicious Alexander Henry (I think) voile.
I love the painterly flowers.

 As usual I stitched my pleats in place.
Looks sharp and saves on ironing time.
Pleat tute here

 The lining gives a fine finish and will guard against 'scratchy' linen.

 Don't you just love that beautiful back?

We decided on timber buttons and to make sure it co-ordinated with all Lidia's fabulous red shoes, I sewed them on with red embroidery floss.

Now all I need is some sunshine after 4 pm and I can take a photograph of the ensemble modelled.

xx N

PS I made Liddy the size 5 top and the size 5 shorts lengthened to a size 8.

Catch Up

Hello hello, is there anyone there?

I have been sewing, just not blogging. 
Very remiss of me. I have a partially completed Satsuki tutorial and several items waiting to have modelled pictures taken.

'No, you may not wear that until I have taken a photo of it'

Any hoo, I give up on achieving perfection.

Here goes.

Zara chose the Satsuki tunic by Victory pattern for her comfy travel/evening outfit.
I used a very stretchy cotton/rayon knit which falls beautifully but was a pain to sew.
As mentioned above, I am working on a tute as it is a really nice pattern and I look forward to making it in a woven.
I was worried the look was a wee bit sophisticated so I made some leggings from a vintage Big4 pattern in a black/white stripy knit.
She was very very pleased.

I also made Jed a new tracksuit. (Again more for travel/evening then running)
I used a vintage Kwik Sew pattern, 1242, which is no longer available to buy new but does appear on eBay every so often.
The knit is a firmish mid weight fabric which sews up really well.
I went with a navy woven for the collar and tab and used rubber buttons.

The track pants are unremarkable except for the fact that they fit perfectly.
Jed has a long torso but short legs and lopping off the bottom just looks tragic.
So, I took the time to adjust the pattern at all the correct places and  Volia, pants that fit.
I used a thick unbrushed cotton knit.

I had some special little girls birthdays coming up and when I asked their mummies what they would like the over whelming request was 'Leggings like Tildy's'!
So I made a few pairs......
I used the best legging pattern in the world , the Sunki by Figgys.
They put a serious dent in my cotton/lycra stash but were very well received so it was worth it.

Whilst I had my overlocker set for knit and with dark thread I ran up a tee and a pair of leggings for me.

There is a long term saga of sewing tee's for me and my wardrobe has many prototypes for wearing 'on farm'.
I have a Kwik Sew ladies pattern which was almost there. Good sleeves,shoulders and back but too firm across my five child belly.
After wearing an old maternity top for work I noticed how flattering the fit was. With that in mind, I re-shaped the front piece to give me more ease.
Perfect.

The leggings are a McCalls pattern that finishes nice and high. I use extra wide elastic in the waist for a smooth comfortable finish.

Hugo is often called on as a waiter and his size 14 Sketchbook trousers where just not going to fit anymore.
Using the Vogue 1753 mens trousers pattern and some very nice black drill I made him a pair of dressy strides.
Its the same pattern I use for his school cords but this time, rather then a lazzy waist at the back, I made them properly fitting the centre back seam before finishing the waist band.

I used a Japanese lawn for the pocket lining and fly facing. To look nice and to make things a little more interesting for me to sew.
I can't wait to show you these modelled as Hugo recently purchased himself a very nice pair of Italian dress shoes from a vintage shop.
He looks very sharp!

Finally, my latest sewing adventure and one I am very proud of is Elsa's winter coat.
It is the lovely Pavot by Deer and Doe.
I used a wool flannel which is very warm but quite soft so it will roll up nicely in her school bag.
The pattern suggests top stitching and Elsa wanted white. I wasn't sure but it was her jacket.
Once the white river stone buttons were sewn on I had to admit she was right.

Elsa was also keen to have the jacket lined.
She chose a charcoal bemsilk and I added a back vent (basted together here).
I lined with my usual method of making two jackets, putting them wrong side together and then attaching the facings.
After that I hand sew the facings in place to the lining only.
Its a beautiful fit.

Well chaps, thats is for now.

Sorry for the over load.
xx N