Month: October 2017

#SundaySevens 102

Published by

It is Sunday but there’s not 7!  How could there be when it’s almost 3 months since I last wrote a Sunday Sevens post.  So I’ll just get on and try it keep the writing short and snappy.  Make sure you’ve eaten – there are a few food posts and they’re not all Slimming World! Baby Moorhens on the golf golf.  They weren’t very willing subjects when I tried to photograph then, they couldn’t half shift! Stunning sunset one Summers evening at work. Gorgeous meal after a team match at golf.  So healthy, not the usual pie and chips which we often get. Followed by a not so healthy dessert 😻 An evening with H watching Yorkshire Cricket in a 20-20 game. Rory being very cute and not minding having her photo taken. Stormtroopers at our local shopping centre, whatever next! A very English Band Stand at Ripon racecourse. Cold baked sweet potatoes, I just love ’em with everything! English Summers at their best I’m not a fair weather golfer so battled on in the …

Another Day At The Races M6612

Published by

Before I ramble on and tell you about yet another McCalls 6612 I just need to say this flurry of blog posts isn’t due to me being in the middle of a sewing frenzy.  It’s me playing catch up from what I’ve made over the summer and due to one thing and another (the main thing being cricket) I’ve not done much blogging. A few weeks ago I had a last minute invite to a day at the races.  Last minute, as in the day before. It was ladies day so some sort of head gear was in order, along with a frock, shoes and bag. My first thought when I was thinking about what to make  (a ‘normal’ person would think “what to wear”) was this fabric I bought at Lucky Fashions at this years #SewDownDewsbury and how well it would go with this handbag…. It’s a rich cream coloured scuba with a gold leaf pattern and was a steal at £5 per yard! I quickly cut out McCalls 6612 and basted it together. …

Fankenpattern to the Races – Newlook 6648 and 6730

Published by

For the last few years we’ve been invited to Ripon races and I’ve always made a new dress for the occasion. This year I almost deviated from wearing handmade as I finally was able to fit into a favourite RTW dress that has been too small for ages…..or I’ve been too big! Unfortunately I gained about 4 pounds after this picture was taken and it wasn’t as comfortable so I had to have a plan b. I still had some of the blue ITY fabric (from this years SewUpNorth) left after making Simpicity 1613  So then I had a crazy idea to make some pull on wide legged pants (Newlook 6730) and create a jumpsuit if I shortened the dress and stitched them together. I cut out the pants in a small which is a 25 1/2 – 26 1/2 inch waist and a 34 1/2 – 36 1/2 inch hip. I’ve not been that small since I started school but due to the stretchiness of the ITY knit and the close fit I was wanting …

Hacking McCalls 6612 – 3 very different Tops

Published by

Following on from the success of my Little Red Dress I decided to use the sleeves I’d cut out but not used,  and some double knit jersey from my scrap bin, to whip up a t shirt. I raised the neckline by an inch and shortened the dress pattern to hip length. I feel a bit like a 5 year old but I’ve worn this loads and it’s been in regular rotation worn with old denim shorts during the last month of what we call ‘summer’. I was thinking of making another when Bea mentioned on her IG feed that she had this gorgeous jersey going spare, I couldn’t believe my luck when I was able to snap it up.  She sent it with a lovely note and some other sewing goodies! As I’m a serial tracer and muslin maker it’s a real treat to be able to whip up a new garment in an hour or 2.  I’ve not really had any TNT patterns in the past but I think I definitely need more …

The Little Red Dress – McCalls 6612

Published by

Back in June 2013 I bought a dress pattern which changed my life.  It was the Mcalls 6612 dress and tunic.  I made it up in a size 14 without even thinking I needed to measure myself.  Luckily due to the very stretchy nature of the fabric it fit. I’d not used this pattern again, until earlier in the summer, and I’ve since made 5 very different garments.  I measure a 16 chest and 12 hips but generally sew with a smaller seam allowance and keep my fingers crossed that it will fit.  So far so good! The first M6612 was a little red dress made with a cotton jersey from John Lewis.  I was going to add short sleeves but after sewing up the side seams whilst in auto pilot I decided not to bother as I nearly always sew sleeves in in the flat and couldn’t be bothered easing the sleeves in.  To jazz things up I added a striped trim to the neck and arm openings and absolutely love how it transformed …