Author: Thimberlina

Halloween Costume

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I managed to finish Harrison’s scary clown suit in time for Halloween. It’s amazing how a costume can change someone so much.  I previously blogged on this here which shows the lekala pattern I downloaded.  When I came home from my night shift at 7am on the morning of Halloween Harrison was fast asleep. I was so excited I had to wake him to show him his costume. Here’s how it went: Mum: ‘trick or treat?’ H: ‘grunt’ Mum:  ‘trick or treat?’ H: ‘mmmm…..treat…..’ I laid his trick or treat bag at the side of his head…. H: ‘turn the lamp on…….’ (Sleepy voice) Lamp on, holding up his costume….. ‘WOW!   MUM, IT’S AMAZING!!!!!’ He was really really really pleased – I don’t think he was that excited when he got his xbox for Christmas!  We had a little photo shoot in the garden before he went out later that night: And one last one……this is my clinical supervisor trying the costume on at work (on the left)……it’s had quite a few comments on FB …

Spooky times ahead

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Is anyone making any costumes for Halloween? My 11 year old wants to dress up as a scary clown! Here he is in his new mask & wig – £1 each from the pound shop. Definitely scary!! I’ve bought some black poly satin with various coloured stars on and some luminous green and purple to make ruffles around the neck. He’s so a bit excited, even helped me cut out. I’ve downloaded a pattern from lekala of a ladies jumpsuit: I’m going to omit the buttons and add a zip at the front. I’ve also omitted the pockets. I’m going to add elastic to the arm cuffs and leg bottoms, and a ruffle round the neck. Oh, and hopefully I’ll have enough fabric left to make him a goody bag to take trick or treating. Hopefully I’ll get it finished off on my break at work tonight. ‘Have sewing machine will travel’ ….that’s my motto!

ssshhhhhhhh……don’t tell any one, but…..

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Wow! I just had to share this amazing giveaway with my fellow bloggers, though by doing so it will lessen my chances of winning as you’ll all want to be in it!!!! Here’s the link for Sewdixielou’s blog:  LINK!!!!! Good luck folks, and if you haven’t looked up Minerva do it now!! It’s fab!  I’ve bought fabric online and have also been lucky enough to go in real life!! Think I’ll hire a big van next time I go!!   There’s a link on one of my older blogs when I made a stunning outfit from only 1m of fabric – the fabric was originally bought to line a bag but it was toooooo nice to be hidden in a bag!!  Good luck & happy sewing!!      Edited with BlogPad Pro

Leather Mini Tote Bag and iPhone Case

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  Today is my big sister’s birthday. Since my birthday, 10 days ago, we’ve been the same age – we used to love being the same age when we were kids, but now she’s over taken me again for the 42nd time the novelty is almost wearing off. She is wanting to buy a new laptop as she’s just started a degree in podiatry so has asked for money instead of pressies from all the family. I gave her some money but also made her a little pressie too! I’d been thinking of making some tote bags, so with the leather I’d previously bought  I decided to make a mini one in leather – big enough to hold my sister’s iPad. I used the large piece at the back. It’s chocolate brown but the photo doesn’t show it too well. I’ve just come home from my night shift, shattered after sewing and saving lives all night.  Luckily there weren’t many people who needing saving and I was able to make the bag. The commentary with the following …

Adventures with Leather

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I recently bought 4 pieces of leather from Fabworks in Dewsbury  (West Yorkshire) for £10. Tonight, after much googling, I found a tutorial  on favecrafts to make a leather clutch bag.  The instructions were really simple, and I’d made it around an hour. For the lining I used some fabric from my stash which will one day be a frock.  So now I have a matching bag for a dress which is not yet in my wardrobe!  I was able to use my new roller foot which my lovely sister bought me for my birthday.  Here it is in action, and a few more action shots as I worked my way through the tutorial:   I cut out the leather then used it as a template to cut out the lining – remembering to have wrong sides together.  I used stationary clips to hold the fabric together.  Here is the bag before the sides were stitched (above) The instructions for sewing the sides together seemed hard to follow when I initially read them through, but once I started …

Prima 2005 – Vintage!

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Here is a top I made from a Prima pattern I found in the loft dated September 2005. Another 2 years and it will be officially vintage! I started it on Monday hoping to wear it for my birthday lunch, but didn’t quite manage it so finished it this morning. Here’s the original picture, it was supposed to be a top but extended it to cover my bottom and made it tunic length: I bought the fabric from Topstitch of Brighouse a few weeks ago when I called in during my meal break. It was £3.99/m, I bought 1.5m because as usual I bought it for no project in particular and I think 1.5m is a good length! Here’s more of me having a fun photo shoot with my mum in her garden! Happy Sewing!!

The Lekala Jersey Top – Part 2

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I didn’t quite make the 3pm deadline for the school run, finally finished it for 6pm. I did break off to do my motherly duties. Enough of domesticity, back to sewing! (Click here for Part 1) Here it is – excuse poor photos. Poor light + bored 11 year old + iPhone camera = dodgy pix   Check out the stripes!!! I couldn’t believe it……as I was pinning and sewing it was like a little miracle happening in front of my eyes! The extra time spent cutting out was worth it after all!   The instructions for the Lakale patterns are very vague and I think a beginner would struggle. Don’t know about you but I like pictures to look at!  Here’s the instructions:  The company who make the patterns are Russian, and often the translation from Russian to English may be a little out.  From the beginning I made it up as I went along. I made facings for the front and neck edges. I attempted my first ever sewing with a twin needle. My …

The Lekala Jersey Top – Part 1

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Phew!! Just finished cutting out my first top from Lakale. I discovered this website yesterday. You tell them your measurements and ‘voila’ they email you a pattern in YOUR size. No adjustments necessary! The cutting out of the PDF pattern was really simple as the cutting lines were very clear. When you order your pattern you can choose to include the 1cm seam allowance or not. I cut out a stripy light weight jersey. I’ve not sewn with stripes before and I think I’ve managed to line up the stripes for the seams. All will be revealed in part 2! So far it’s taken me 2 hours – cutting out the pattern and the fabric. Anyone’s who’s read my previous blogs will know that that has probably driven me slightly crazy. I like thing to happen super fast and would expect to be wearing my new project after 2 hours. Hopefully I’ll be wearing it for the school run at 3pm! Here’s a photo of my cutting out weights: And another of the mess on …

My new sewing machine!

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  Today’s my birthday and I’ve been spoilt rotten! My dad’s made me a sewing machine birthday cake! My parents also bought me a ruffling foot. My hubby bought me a dress form called Gertrude. My sisters bought me some new scissors and a new foot for me to sew leather. A friend bought me 2m of some purple velvety material and my mum in law gave me some money which I think I’ll buy some wool to make a jacket. I also got some plants, a home made apple pie, flowers and a Prima magazine. I feel very very lucky. Unfortunately I had to come to work at 4pm, but after tonight I’ve 3 days off and can’t wait to start sewing something new!

Meet Gertrude and Newlook 6123

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Here’s Gertrude proudly modelling my (wearable-ish) toile of Newlook 6123.  It’s my birthday on Monday and my lovely hubby has bought me a dress form, and let me have it early! He was a little worried that Fred (pictured below) would be taking residency in the conservatory, AKA my sewing room. I made a toile of Newlook 6123 (view B) earlier this week but kept pricking myself whilst pinning the sides to get the fit right. Now I’ve managed to get the fit right, thanks to Gertrude (named by my hubby, but I think it’s going to be Gertie for short).  I’m really pleased with the dress, it made in a light weight cotton so I don’t think it will be making its debut in public until next summer. In the meantime I’m on the lookout for some bright red wedges and a wide red belt to finish off the ensemble!  After cutting it out I graded the hip in 2 sizes to match my measurements, I’m straight up and down: Here’s some more work …