Author: Thimberlina

And the winner is……

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Last Sunday I posted my 1950s outfit I’d made for a themed party I had been invited to. I had some fabric left and made some cute coasters with a pattern from Craftsy. I’d never done a ‘giveaway’ before and decided to give the coasters to one of my fellow bloggers. Although I know you’re all extremely capable of making them yourselves I still find it nice to receive handmade gifts from others and thought you might too!! Originally I was going to pick the names out of my crocheted hat, but I can’t find it!! So I’ve used the online random number generator: Congratulations to OurSewingPatch at ‘Sewinlove‘! Her blog is amazing, full of inspiration! If you drop me an email Ali underscore kelly AT me.com And let me know your address I’ll pop them in the post! X

It’s Only taken me 21 years to have a go!

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I received my overlocker as a gift from my parents for my 21st Birthday. It’s taken me another 21 years and 3 months to get around to attaching the roller foot and plate and attempting rolled hems! I bet we’ve all got extras (optional or otherwise) that came with our machines that we’ve never tried. I’m a sucker for reading instructions, so although I’d never attempted a rolled hem on my overlocker before, in my head I could do it. Tonight was the night! After being full of sewing enthusiam after last nights welt pocket success I was ready to tackle something else new. Afterall, the Monthly Stitch didn’t say we only had to aquire one new skill in January! And, since i found my sewing mojo last June I’ve not challenged myself properly, I’ve only made fairly straightforward things, mainly in jersey that dont need much fitting or concentration. I’ve previously whizzed up an outfit whilst the kettle boils! So, with the prospect of not buying any clothes in 2014 (as I’ve joined Goodbye Valentino‘s …

My first ever welt pocket!

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I joined the Monthly Stitch a couple of months ago and this months challenge is a ‘New Year -New Skill’.  I’d decided to challenge myself to learn how to make welt pockets. After much googling and reading countless tutorials I found one over at Oliver and S that seamed easy to follow with clear photos. It took 3 hours but I’m so pleased with the result and would be confident enough to go straight ahead and add one to a garment. Now, I’m really not sure what to do with 13″x10″ inch piece of fabric with the most gorgeous welt pocket on. Maybe I’ll just frame it! Edited with BlogPad Pro …..the next day….. Just one last one, honest! This shows the inside, I woke and swooned over it again!!

1950s Finale & A Giveaway!

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 Hi Folks, here’s my 1950s outfit and details of a little giveaway in celebration of absolutely nothing, it’s just a thankyou to those of you who take time to read my blog, and especially to those of you who take time to comment.   For those of you who’ve seen my Parts One, Two & Three of me putting together my outfit for the 1950s themed party I went to last night, here it is finished.  The above pic was taken at my parents, I called in on the way to the party. Below I’m with my one of my Bestest Friends every – Martin – who I made the Boxy Dopp Kit bag for and have previously blogged about it here. Out of everything I’ve ever sewn I think I’ve enjoyed making this the most, and I’ll probably be wearing it the least! It’s not the sort of thing I’d throw on to nip to the supermarket!! I eventually opted for the poodle appique as they were all the rage in the 50’s.  I didn’t want anything …

1950s theme party – part 3

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Hi folks, this is just a quick update, it’s almost 11pm in the UK and I’m ready to hit the sack. So here’s where I’m at….. I’ve made the petticoat – hence the puffiness under the skirt! Here’s how it went From this…. To this…..! I’m so pleased with the petticoat except it’s really itchy so I’m going to have to make a lining. Next job is to refashion this (An old hoodie of Harrison’s) into a T Shirt with spotty bias trim….. Only 20 hours to go before I go the ball! 50s party! There’s nothing like a tight deadline to get you motivated!

1950’s themed party Part 2

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This morning I woke at 5:30am, my alarm was set for 6 as I was due to start work at 7. ‘Ooo’ I thought, ‘I could get up and cut out my tulle for my petticoat to go under my full circle skirt’ (which can be seen here).   I did some working out on my iPad:   I managed to cut my net out before I went to work so I’m all ready to get sewing when I finish work tonight.  I’ve been thinking about adding some appliqué to the skirt. I’ve looked on the internet and seen this: I’ve seen this…… And this: So today I am going to attempt drawing appliqué templates. I think ice cream or maybe a single big flower. What do you think? If I do add appliqué then it will mean I probably won’t be able to wear the skirt for anything other than dressing up. But hey oh, it hasn’t cost much to make it.  Edited with BlogPad Pro

1950s themed party Part 1

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On Saturday (only 2 days away – yikes) I’ve been invited to a 60th birthday party with 1950s theme.  I planned to make a dress but as I’m running out of time I’ve now decided to make a skirt and top.  The main reason I’ve left this until the last minute is due to my current addiction/obsession with crocheting. (More here about that.) At the end of December I went shopping to Harrogate and bought 2m of each of the following fabric: The fabric is only 45″ wide so not wide enough to make a full circle skirt (well not for my waist size!).  I had a re-think and rather than make a less full skirt I used some white 100% cotton sheet and made some bias trim for the bottom.  I used my new rotary cutter – whoppee – super easy to make 157″ of it! I love it!  I think one rainy day I’m going to have a full day making all sorts of different bias binding! I’m not sure how I’m going …

Crochet: my new addiction

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As if sewing, and the odd bit of knitting, wasn’t enough to fill all my spare time.  Thanks to Emmely over at Infectious Stitches I now have a new addiction!  This is all very good and positive – it gives me something to do when I sit down on an evening with the family and watch TV.  Usually I’ll get bored and sneak off to my sewing sanctuary, which my hubby thinks is unsociable (he’s never said but i just know!). First of all I enrolled on the Craftsy course that Emmely did, and by the end of the evening (in front of the TV with the family!) I’d learnt to chain, single crochet, double crochet and made a granny square – from now on referred to as Nanny squares as my mum’s a Nanny not a Granny.  I used a ball of yarn which was cotton with no loose fibres, and a 7mm crochet hook. Here’s what i managed to make in my first evening: The next day, though only less than 24 hours into my …

How come my rotary cutter doesn’t spin round?!?!

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On Sunday I treated myself to a rotary cutter and mat, today was the first chance I had to try it out. I decided to make a simple A-line skirt that I’d seen in Sew magazine. I was all ready with my measurements, fabric, rotary cutter and mat but couldn’t understand why my cutter didn’t rotate. After much googling and watching You Tube I discovered much to my surprise how to use it. It wasn’t like a circular saw after all!! But, I love it!!! Loads!!! I made my skirt in an hour and here it is, modelled by Gertrude….

My first Polly Top from By Hand London

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Just a quick short post to introduce you to my first Polly Top from By Hand London.  It’s their first free pattern and can be found here. Here’s some more pix: It was really simple to make, the instructions are well written and there’s even a video tutorial. I usually buy a 14 top (uk) but had to cut an 18. It was too big so I needed to take the seam allowances in another 1.5 cm. the patterned fabric is a peachy poly, and the black is a crepe.  It looks lovely on, and I’m sure I’ll be wearing this loads. Happy New Year Folks! Edited with BlogPad Pro