Author: Thimberlina

Mum does a runner with my New Victoria Blazer

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I’ve spent most of the weekend making my 2nd Victoria Blazer from By Hand London. (Link added in case by some crazy chance you’ve not heard of those talented London Girls who make fab patterns!). As usual I was struggling to find a photographer so I called at my mums. Before I could hand her my camera iPhone she had my jacket on and was away down the garden! She gathered speed when she realised I was hot on her heals: So here’s my mum modelling MY new Victoria Blazer: I did eventually recover my blazer, but I think when I get round to making Victoria No. 3 it will be for my mum! Back to the nitty gritty…..’how did I find this pattern?’, and ‘what changes did I make?’ LOVE the pattern! Who couldn’t or wouldn’t?!?!   I bought it (only a month ago) after spending the last 8 months drooling over all the Victorias around the blogosphere I really didn’t know what to make it with. I wanted a soft denim one, a …

Plaid Victoria Blazer BHL #1

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I’m desperately in need of a coffee break after a morning pattern matching my latest project – my 2nd Victoria Blazer. My first one is unfortunately not blogged as yet (soon to be), totally different to this one, and 2 sizes smaller as I made it in a ponte knit. Here’s a peak of it in the cutting out stage…. Some major decision making went into this one, choosing where to place the embellishments. ….back to today’s project…. About 2 months ago I bought this light weight wool mix (definately wool as it smelt of sheep when I washed it!) from Dewsbury market for £4 per metre. What a bargain! Turns out to be a second, I found a few holes in it today when I came to use it, but as I bought 3 metres I’ll be able to work round them. Holey moses! Not quite a bargain after all! Not sure why, but I tend to be make life difficult for myself when I start a project. My first (and only) Renfrew was …

A Ruffled Blankie for our new addition

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    My brother and his partner’s latest addition, Layla Rae, is one week old today. For the last 7 months I’ve been pinning to my ‘ideas for the baby’ board on Pinterest.  2LittleHooligan’s tutorial has been at the top of my to-do list for ages – a Ruffled Lovey:  Christina’s tutorial is brilliant, really easy to follow with lots of photographs.        I was so pleased with the blanket once finished, it almost made me feel broody!        I really loved making this, it was super easy and the cutest make ever. I can’t wait to make her a matching little dress from the left over fabric. Does anyone know of any cute/easy downloadable patterns? Preferably free!  Edited with BlogPad Pro

TMS – Sew Stretchy

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For May’s challenge at The Monthly Stitch I’ve made a top and also refashioned one of my favourite T Shirts. Whilst flicking through the Great British Sewing Bee’s book from the 2nd series I decided to make the simple T Shirt.  It calls for a floaty fabric, not a ponte knit as I chose! I only had 60cm of the stripey ponte knit so had to be a little creative and decided to adapt the pattern so it had raglan sleeves. I also lengthened it by 3 inches for adequate tummy coverage.  As you can see from my pattern I’ve cut out a size 18.  This is the biggest size, here’s the size chart from the book: It all went together fairly straight forward.  I stitched sleaves to the back and front, pressed the seam downwards top stitched.  I now think I should have maybe pressed the seam upwards and had the top stitching (or is it edge stitching?!?!) on the sleeve, not on the main body of the top.  I then stitched the side seams. …

2 down, 3 to go – Vogue 1353

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As some of you will know we have 5 wddings to attend this year, and Vogue 1353 was made for one or two of the weddings.  It could even be for all 5 as there will be totally different guests at each one! If been putting off blogging about Vogue 1353 which I managed to finish in time for wedding number 1. Reasons being: Lack of photos of it being worn.. Well, lack of flattering photos. Photo top left is of me doing the “…..Y…M…C….A…..” I’ve gone off the fabric a little bit, and am regretting making it in such bold material. I had a few hiccups whilst making it which ended up reducing it’s likeability factor. But, hey oh, it’s finished and I’ve worn it 3 times so I’ll share it with you. Before I carry on, I NEED to show you Cheryl’s, from Redknits Birthday dress a.k.a. Vogue 1353.  It’s gorgous, and it gives you an idea how mine would have hanged if I’d have used the right fabric! Can you see how …

Maria Denmark’s Yasmin Yoke Skirt

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Introducing my new favourite pattern……. The Yasmin Yoke Skirt I’ve made 3 in the last week.  It’s rare I ever make 2 of anything never mind 3.  The last time I made more than one of anything was when I made my Bridesmaid’s dresses almost 14 years ago! I stumbled across Maria’s patterns when browsing the different Indie patterns I’d never heard of after reading various blogs promoting  Indie Pattern month.  The Yolk is designed to disguise “tummy fluff” (as she describes it).  I’m all for that!  Since I stopped smoking just over 12 weeks ago (pat on the back…) I’ve put on about 7 lbs.  This feels to have been distributed very unevenly – bust 1 lb, waist 5 1/2 lbs, hips 1/2 lb. It’s driving me mad – the extra pounds more than the no smoking.  Most of my clothes are too tight and as I’ve joined Goodbye Valentino‘s 2014 RTW Fast I can’t nip out to buy anything new and stretchy to tide me over til I loose these new found inches. …

The Frock – Vogue 1353 – #Wedding No 1

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I should really have gone to bed 4 hours ago after working my 4th and last night shift but I’m too excited to sleep!! My fabric arrived in the post on Saturday and today is the first chance I’ve had to cut it out. It’s a very drapey poly crepe which hangs beautifully, but I think it will be the totally wrong fabric for V1353 which has 6 pleats round the neck, and pleated round the top if the skirt. I’ve decided to underline my fashion fabric with some white cotton that has more body than a pint of Guinness and will hopefully add some definition to the pleats. Over the past few weeks, whilst my sewing machine was in hibernation, I’ve been reading several blogs and also Threads website regarding different techniques of under lining fabric. Some say to hand stitch all over, some just to whiz around the edges……mmmm, how shall I do mine? Here is my fabric spilling off the table, organised chaos as usual, and more TV dinners I think lay …

5 Weddings and hopefully no funerals!

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So far we have invites to 5 weddings this year! Because of the 2014 RTW Fast I won’t be able to buy new out fits (loud sigh of relief from my hubby!) and I don’t think I’d be able to produce completely new outfits for each occasion. Luckily there are all different groups of family and friends so 1 or 2 new outfits should be ok for all the weddings. I’m a big fan of hats at weddings, but so far have not given wearing a hat a thought. All my time had been spent searching for THE perfect dress pattern. And here it is…. So far I’ve made a muslin of the bodice in a gorgeous stretch cotton sateen. I only had 1/2 metre, so wish I had enough to made it all! From the muslin I’ve worked out I need to lengthen the bodice by an inch, but other than that it should be ok. (This is my first proper muslin!!) I’ve found quite a few reviews and completed dresses on the web, …

Ikea Throw Transformation

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Last Saturday was Day 3 of me being a non-smoker. So to take my mind off things I thought I’d sew the current challenge for Stitch Once Rip Twice, organised by Diane over at Vintage Zest.   The challenge is ‘A Simple Top’ so I decided to make SergerPepper’s new pattern which I’d recently downloaded from Craftsy. On a recent shopping trip to ikea I bought a lovely red super soft throw with the intention of turning it into something wearable. Here it is on their website:  The 2 ends of the blankets were hemmed which I thought I’d used for the bottom, but once I came to positioning the pattern piece I thought the hem would be too bulky so used the selvidge which had a nice neat finish. The fabric wasn’t quite big enough for me to use the selvidge as a hem so I lost 2 inches from the back and front pieces (both the same) placing the centre of the top 1 inch past the centre fold.  It’s a loose fitting top and I …