Author: Thimberlina

STOP Everything for Cleo!

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I couldn’t help myself.  I know I was supposed to be getting on with making blocks, especially stretchy ones, but I just needed a Cleo so badly after seeing them popping all over IG and the blogasphere! And I had these shoes which I recently purchased, and had nothing to wear with them!  And a Cleo or 2 with opaque tights would be just perfect! So I whipped it up in an evening (I’d already traced off my size). The only measurements you need to take into consideration are your hips and waist.  I’m a tilly size 5 on the hips (I like Tilly’s sizes – they make you measure.  As they are sized 1 to 8 you can’t just go with your ‘normal’ size and be lazy. I would be a size 6 waist, but looking at the finished garment size I knew there should be enough ease in the size 5 for it to fit my waist. And it did.  Perfect!  No muslin!!  Not even One!  Which is a miracle as I think …

#SundaySevens 81

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  It’s been a while since I shared any Happy Valley photos in my Sunday Sevens but here’s one taken only about 200 yards off the main road from Halifax to Hebden Bridge, only a couple of miles from town.  Such tranquility but close to civilisation fabric shops. Here’s a screen shot of what I’m planning for Linda’s Designin’ December.  I’m thinking i could make a similar effect from my husbands tie collection – I’ve not told him yet!!  If you’ve not heard of it, click on the link and have a look.  It’s all about copying a designer garment. Sue and I had our gym Christmas Do – we went into Leeds to see The Monty – it’s well worth a trip to see it if it goes to a theatre near you.  Afterwards we hit the German Market. This arrived in the post.  I was totally baffled as I didn’t recall meeting a Sue at a table top sale in Hawes.  It turns out cyber mom did though! A slight accident whilst attempting to …

#SundaySevens 80

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The week kicked off with a night at the movies.  Not the real movies – that was the theme for this years “Welcome to Yorkshire’ White Rose Awards held at Harrogate show ground. There were about 1200 guests and it was a huge event.  I just wish I hadn’t have been running late as it would have been great to get some photos whilst everyone was mingling before they were seated. The food was stunning… And as you could probably have guessed my highlight was the dessert. Back to each and a pub lunch in our local-ish pub.  H skipped dessert and had a hot chocolate instead.  I think it’s getting hard for him to look cool and have his photo taken in public! My missing parcel arrived from Fabric Rehab.   My purchases from the knitting and stitching show. Can you believe no fabric!! I also spent my £10 stitching santa allowance at the show.  Here is the ‘main pressies’…. Friday I had my first Christmas Dinner.  It wasn’t a christmas celebration – it was …

The Harrogate Knitting & Stitching Show and The #BVSEWALONG Afternoon Tea

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  I thought I’d share with you my whole day as those of you like me who have never been to anything like this will be wondering if you should make the journey and go to one near you (the show not the Tea Party – the Tea Party is a bonus!) So how do you start your day if you’re going to be attending a Vintage Tea Party? With your hair in rollers of course! (Excuse the bare back, at least it’s not the front!) When I bought my ticket for the Tea Party a few weeks ago my initial plan was to go on my own.  But then I mentioned it to a Glen & Mags who I play golf with and they really wanted to go too so we all travelled together. When we arrived we headed for a coffee first, there was a bit of queue, it was so busy, so be prepared to queue for the loo and refreshments if you’re heading there in the next 3 days. There’s a few …

Me and O – The Start of Something Marvellous!

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Here’s a quickie (with quite a few piccies) about how me and my new assistant O are getting on. Anyone who knows me in ‘real life’ will know I’ve a bit of a thing for instruction manuals.  It drives me bonkers to have something and not know how it works properly, and what all the different functions do.  (hence the hubby still can drive me crazy as his mum lost the manual I was supposed to get when we got married!) So when O arrived I was super excited, had downloaded and read the manual more times than I could remember and felt fairly confident that I could jump in feet first and make something. But I didn’t! Instead I cut some strips of fabric and started from the beginning of the instruction book and began working through the different stitches. As I practiced each stitch I wrote on the fabric what the stitch was, but soon thought this could get a bit disorganised so stuck them onto paper using a regular glue stick. I was able to write …

My First Pattern by Gertie – Butterick 6390

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Back in September I attended my first proper meet up – Sewbrum.  I had an amazing day and met some fabulous ladies.  Sitting down for lunch outside a pub with lots of women I’d never met felt really strange, but it was stranger that in no time at all I felt like I’d know them all ages. One lovely lady I got talking to was Lucy from Sew Essential. and not long after returning home she got in touch and asked if she could sponsor a post on my blog.  Could she!!  I was really excited, and it took ages for me to decide what to make.  I came up with a few ideas – I wanted to make a casual style jacket but in a dressy up style fabric.  I found Gertie’s close fitting button down jacket and thought it would be perfect for me as I’m short waisted and not very tall. Lucy suggested their faux silk dupion.  I was sold!! It came it quite a few colours.  As I wanted my new jacket …

#SundaySevens 79

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    Hello Sunday Seveners! I work either 2, 3, 4, or 5 10 yours shifts a week.  It averages out at 33 hours per week.  This week was a shocker as I had to work 5 shifts.  Luckily these weeks don’t happen too often and I somehow managed to cram in quite a bit to share with you. Before starting work at 4pm on Monday I had a lovely hour with Hila and Eleanor in the Shuttle in Shipley.  The name kept popping up and Hila just HAD to pay a visit.  And like all fabric addicts good sewing friends do we went to keep her company.  I did have to make the obligatory purchase or 3!  The Shuttle isn’t online but see THIS website for reviews and where to find it.  It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in the area, or not! As soon as I got home from the Shuttle I dug out my rulers and set about making my first block.  I’d been wanted to get started for ages but needed …

#SundaySevens 78

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This week has seen our first snow fall, which seems really strange after having such a mild few weeks.  We only had an inch or 2, but enough to cause chaos to the commuters.  Luckily I was tucked up in bed – I took the photo below when I returned home after my night shift. I placed a couple of orders with Fabric Rehab.  The first one arrived, and after looking through it everything looked familiar, but only because I’d scrutinised the website when placing my order and nearly bought everything!! I couldn’t remember what I’d ordered but thought I’d ordered 3m of the top fabric to make cushions for the lounge.  There was only 1m so I checked my account. None of the other fabrics were mine!!  I got in touch with Fabric rehab and they were going to refund my money, but then a day later another customer got in touch as she had my parcel! H and I called into Curry’s to look at TVs and ended up having a go at …

Stitching Santa

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I’m starting to feel proper Christmassy now I’ve received my email telling me who my swap partner is!!  I’ve been having  a good look at her blog today and come up with a couple of ideas already. This is the 3rd year that Sheila from Sewchet has organised the secret Stitching Santa and this year there’s a whopping 44 taking part.  I missed out the first year as I didn’t feel brave enough to join in, so last year what my first.  I was soooo lucky to have been the person who Sheila was creating a Santa parcel for.  I wrote a post HERE all about what I received from Sheila, and also what was in Corinne’s parcel from Appleby Makes.    

#SundaySevens 77

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I’m feeling a bit like a bingo caller – “all the 7s – Sunday Sevens – Seventy Seven” I’m blaming Sew Up North (S.U.N.) for my lateness this week.  I know I have regular readers who watch out for my Sunday Sevens (that’s you Mom!), but the S.U.N. post just had to jump the queue, and I don’t think there’s any apologies needed. So what else happened last week? I started the week in true Thimbers style with cake.  You’ve seen these meringues before but not in the pink version.  Whitleys Garden Centre had a fire earlier in the year and has been shut for ages.  It has reopened with new, not sure if improved, but still lovely and huge meringues.   If you’re around Mirfield way on the run up to Christmas it’s worth a visit.  The decorations are to die for, they do a great afternoon tea, and Santa’s there too.  And there’s a great cafe. I have to show you the inside too! My sewing cave has had slight makeover in readiness for …