Author: Thimberlina

I’ve Made a Crochet Pattern!!

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Now I don’t know what to do with it! Last weekend we stayed in a cottage in Seahouses, Northumberland to celebrate my mums birthday.  I couldn’t take my sewing machine so I took my crochet hooks instead! I made another head warmer (my 3rd I think) and I’ve used the band as the ribbing on a hat too. On Tuesday I wore my blue one to play golf and one of the ladies asked if I’d followed a pattern.  I hadn’t. I’d just made it up as I went along.  I’ve written a proper pattern out now, so if anyone wants to have a go it’s really easy.  Leave me a message and I’ll email it to you.  I need to put it somewhere like Ravelry but I’ve not worked out how to do that yet!  Watch this space!! PS I’ve only been crocheting just over a year and I love it!! UDATE! PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS BLOG POST FOR THE PATTERN!

Stripes, Stabilisers And Sagginess

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I think we all have made at least 1 Coco.   But have you made a stripy one? STRIPES STABILISERS SAGGINESS I bought this gorgeously soft ponte roma knit from Fabworks down Dewsbury. (if you’re local to me you’ll know we don’t say in Dewsbury, we go down Dewsbury…)  I think it was £5 per metre and I splashed out and bought 2m.  Initially I thought I might make another Coco dress, or another Victoria Blazer, but yesterday I needed a top to go with my new jeans (first clothing bought since 2013!!! I joined the RTW Fast in 2014). This is a slight sidetrack from the intended post, but I NEEDED some jeans.  I didn’t dash out on the 1st January for a crazy shopping spree, I do still to try and make everything I wear.  But I don’t have a pair of jeans that fit me, and there’s only so many Espresso Leggings a girl can wear. Back to the stripes and Fabworks.  Don’t be put off by their website.  You can’t buy anything on it. But if …

Oh No! I’ve lost a Coco!

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First of all, a belated happy new year! What with holidays in Mexico and a poorly mum-in-law there’s not been much time for sewing or blogging, but I’m back! I’ve not made any firm resewlutions this year, except I am only going to make things with a definite outfit in mind. I have a wardrobe full of handmade clothes but not too many full outfits. I’m not carrying on the RTW fast this year but I’m only going to buy things which I can’t make and really need (I’ve bought a waterproof coat today!). After reading about Tilly recent makes of straight style Coco dresses I decided to make one from some fabric in my stash, and also one for my mum. I need more everyday casual clothes for the cold weather, and thought these would look great with some long boots, and they do! Only trouble is I prefer my mums, and so does she! The sleeves are the wrong side of the made fabric, so the tones are perfect. Here’s a close up: …

My Leopardy Francoise Dress

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Last month Tilly released her latest pattern – the Francoise Dress.   I bought it the first day it was on sale and couldn’t wait to get started. I really couldn’t decide which fabric to use so got to work on making a muslin.  Then Tilly announced a competition!! So here’s my entry!  If you need some inspiration for your Francoise there’s loads over at Tilly’s pinterest board. I was a bit stumped at first deciding which dart lines to follow I was blending different sizes from the wait and hips. The cat helped!  I really don’t know how other cat-less sewers out there manage.  They always like to get involved! I made the muslin, complete with sleeves, using an old cotton sheet with no stretch.  I wanted to know how it would be with a not very forgiving fabric.  The only adjustment I decided to make was to alter the position of the darts. (photos of my muslin are floating about in the cloud somewhere and unfortunately I can’t locate them at the minute!) I ummed …

The Awful Dressmaker’s Book

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Today I’ve spent an hour or 2 rummaging through a friend of a friend’s Mum’s stash.  We came across this book which really made us chuckle: The book was published in 1967 and there were other books in the series. Two extracts caught my eye. The first was instructions on how to change the elastic in your knickers!!  Check out the paragraph underneath too…telling you not to tie knots in the shoulder straps of your slip as it may chafe your armpits!! The next I thought might be a handy tip for Amanda over at Sew Deputy.  She reckons she’s a wonky sewer, but has made the best trenchcoat you’ll have ever seen.  So Amanda, be sure to have a good read of this next picture and how to rectify those crooked seams! Can you imagine what people will be thinking in 40 or so years when they’re reading our blogs!!  It’s amazing to think our blogs are keeping such a great record of how things are done now. Wouldn’t it be fab if we …

The Hudson Pants #PatternParcel6

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Back in October I bought Parcel 6 from the Perfect Pattern Parcel.  This is the 3rd parcel I’ve bought but I’ve not gotten round to making anything until now. The Hudson Pants, although for a lady, looked a great style for my 12 year old son. I initially made the 3/4 length style but he felt they were a bit too tight so i chopped them to above the knee and just overlocked the hem. I’m pleased with my button holes.  My one step button hole on my machine is a bit iffy so I just did it by twiddling a few dials as I went! They were really easy to put together. I made each pocket a different colour. Not because I was feeling particularly creative, it was because I didn’t have enough fabric! I can’t persuade him to wear them inside out. He doesn’t quite get how good they look on the inside – all his clothes look like this!! On one leg front piece I had to use the fabric vertically as …

My Colette Albion #2

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Remember the ARRRHHHHHH moment in the first installment? I eventually pulled myself together, and several deep breathes & days later I had a plan.  Here’s some more pix of the Albion: VERDICT: This is the best casual jacket I own, but also the most expensive.  When I was 3/4 of the way through making it I ran out of thread (soooo much stitching to do – buy 2 spools if you intend to make the unlined version).  I called into Boyes in Brighouse, about 7 miles away, for a second spool.  On the way home I had a bump in my car (my fault) which ended up me paying an excess of £400 to the insurance company!! Hence the very expensive coat. It’s not put me off it though.  It’s roomy enough to wear a thick jumper underneath, but looks equally good withjust a thin top underneath. I’ve lost count of the number of  “No! You didn’t make that!?” moments that I’ve had. Not including the cost of my car, and the pattern, this jacket has …

Colette Albion #1

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A few weeks ago I bought a Colette pattern – the albion jacket/coat with the intention of making it for my hubby.  As we sewers do, I spents hours some time looking on the net for ideas.  I couldn’t believe how many versions there were out there for ladies.  This caused me to think that I didn’t want my hubby thinking I was making him a jacket as a practice run for mine, so I decided to make one for myself first! I had some cotton herrinbone twill in my stash, which I bought when I was in Cornwall in August 2013.  Perfect! I bought the accompanying ebook Companion from The Coletterie to help me along, and I soon had all my pieces cut out and a narrow shoulder adjustment made.  (I don’t have narrow shoulders, but I made a one armed muslin and decided I needed to loose a good inch due to it being a man’s pattern.) I even made all my own bias trim!! I didn’t go for the continuous method. I just did it …

Deluxe Coco – with sprinkles & cream

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Deluxe Coco coming up! Not quite with sprinkles and cream, but does have lots of topstitching and a smattering of ric-rac. Remember earlier when I was trying to squeeze a coco from just 1m of fabric. A remenant I bought last time I visited Fine Fabrics of Harrogate.  I wanted the funnel neck.  I wanted cuffs on the sleeves.  I wanted more fabric! Eventually I opted to add a colour blocked top after rummaging in my scraps in my stash. Even though this is a simple make I took my time and tried to add the finishing touches to this garment. I’ve made 2 already (unblogged). The first one was black in a cheap double knit.  Its pilled up but I’ve worn it loads and everytime I wear it someones always asks if I’ve lost weight!  Result!  I need one for everyday of the week! I usually use ribbon for reinforcing the shoulder seams, but used this bright blue ric-rac instead:  When it came to the hem I’d already managed to squeeze a couple of inches to …