Update: Running The Marathon One Stitch At A Time.

So lately I feel like I've been running a marathon, while trying to complete the first garment for my sewing course.

Yes you may say it's only an apron however there have been set backs, for example Betsy missing stitches and my having to wait to get her fixed.

Anyway.... never mind... moaning over. Now lets get onto the good stuff....

Since I have now finished my garment (the apron) I thought I would show you some pictures of the final product. I had a lot of fun making this one especially since it was my first time in my new sewing room and using bias binding (which was very hard round the curves.)

Something I have also learnt is I am not as big as I thought I was and as you can see the apron is toooo large!

So let me know what you think (be kind there is lots of issues with it) and till my next blog.... keep stitching!

Sewing Expo

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted recently however it has been a very exciting few days. So let me get you up to date.

On Saturday ( 28th March 15) we (we being me and the mother in law) attended a sewing expo in London called;

 The Stitching Sewing & Hobbycrafts Show. 

We learnt so much and probably spent to much however I highly recommend it for all you sewers next year.

As we entered the hall the first stall we saw was a sewing clinic. Now the lady working on it, Thelma was amazing she had so many hand outs on how to make adjustments to patterns and also showed me how to adjust a pattern for a bigger busted lady like myself and her. (So their will be a blog on that for you all later.) She also recommended to books which is pictured below to help you adjust a pattern to whatever issue you may be having with it. Which funny enough the mother in law already owns so of course I am now borrowing! 

 

Next we found the pattern bar the place were I spent so much money however they were half price! Once again lots of lovely helpful handouts.

Next was mostly stalls, selling a range of beautiful items. 

So I purchased:

• Some beautiful pink butterfly embroidery scissors for cutting thread off my garments.
• Bias Binding.
• Cat Buttons.
• An Amaze Brush for removing bobbles, lint and cat hair off of clothes or furniture.
• Bobbins - 12 for £2.50 such a sewing! 
• A Bobbin holder. Which doesn't allow them to move or unravel.

Unfortunately no dress makers dummy so that looks like an internet purchase for me! 

Finally in the afternoon their was a talk (which there will be a blog for) about how to dress and create illusions with your body shape. No I won't go into too much detail in this blog however lets just say I'm loving my body more, and now I know how to dress with be feeling more confident. But please don't be deterred the blog will be for all size women after all I have some junk in my trunk and like to cover it. But after this talk I want to show the gorgeous curves I was given. 

Anyways as always till the next blog... Keep Stitching. 

Weekend Cheeky Purchases

Hi guys,

So my partner took me on an outing on Saturday and I found The Aladdin's cave which is The world of sewing! 

So retraining myself here is what I purchased: 

These are:

• New look pattern 6125
• Mccalls pattern  M7085
• 5.5 meters of bias binding

So I bought the first pattern because I have a dress just like it from Evans and love it. So want lots more in different colours. 

I bought the second pattern for a wedding I will be attending later this year. 

And finally the bias binding is for the apron I am currently making. All of it needs to have binding round it, so I bought some wider binding to make it easier to attach since it's my first go! 

Course Update: Shrink Test

Hi guys, sorry if I've been neglecting you lately, there hasn't been much to share with you from the course. However today a gem came up and I really want to share it with you!

So today we are going to talk about fabric and seeing if it can be washed using a washing machine or if it needs to be dry cleaned. 

So to conduct a shrinkage test you need to: 

1. Buy the fabric you like from your local fabric store. Remember to get a bit extra to make sure you have enough. 

2. Press your fabric.

3. Fold it in two and cut two identical in size, small squares. 

4. Give them another press. 

5. Take one of the squares to a sink and fill it will a small amount washing powder and some rather hot water. 

6. Place the square in the water and give it a wash. Make sure to squeeze and ball it up a bit. 

7. Empty the sink and turn on the tap and wash all the powder out of the fabric using the running water.

8. Dry the square of fabric. 

9. Once the fabric is completely dry press it.

10. Now get your other square lay it flat and then place the freshly washed square on top. 

11. If the two squares match and the fabric hasn't shrunk you can use your washing machine to keep your garment clean. If it has, it will need to be dry cleaned or a new fabric selected. 

So there you have it, how to test your fabric to see if it will shrink before you make a beautiful garment out of it. 

Bargin Patterns

Where I live is notorious for having lots of charity shops,  a new one seems to pop up each week. Which is fab for bargain lovers like me!

So when I'm browsing I always look for patterns even,  if they're not my size to put in my collection. So today (Saturday 21st February 2015) I had a great little find and what makes it even better is they are my size!

For 99p I got 3 uncut prima patterns. Yes, they may not be the best patterns any of us  have ever bought, but they will do and should make some beautiful garments if sewn correctly!

I got a pattern for:

• A flared skirt in different length. (The shortest is my favourite... hey no judging I'm young!)
• A Top and Tunic - Great for beach wear.
• A Kimono.

What's the best sewing accessory you've found in a charity shop? Let me know and watch this space for blogs about making these garments.