All posts filed under: My Stash

Ali’s Been Busy!

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A lot has happened since I last posted…… I’ve been on the telly for one! But that’s another story! I’ll tell you all about that shortly – I kept a diary throughout filming, it might need a little editing before I publish it here though. But for now this is just a quick post to let you know what I’ve been busy doing the last couple of days. My stash is out of control to say the least. A combination of ‘no where to sew’ – by that I mean I’ve no where to go (due to the ‘C’) word, so I’ve not got the same inclination to sew. But then I’ve still been buying fabric like there’s no tomorrow! I used to keep a record of my stash on an app called Cora – but it’s stopped working (pained face), so now I’m feeling totally disorganised which I find makes me even more unproductive, and my sew-jo has gone into quarantine. And for longer than the recommended 14 days! I decided to go back …

February Hawl

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Time to share my pattern and fabric additions from February! This is a new thing for me.  I often add the odd photo to my Sunday Sevens but then I forget where I bought or acquired fabric and patterns so hopefully by writing a monthly post of my acquisitions it’ll help me and might be of interest to you too!   Simplicity 1361 For starters the description absolutely cracks me up! Make a riding shirt that’s uniquely yours. Misses’ fitted equestrian performance shirt has front separating zipper and uses heavy weight interfacing in collar and cuff for a stiff shape. It’s years since I last sat on a horse, but I was drawn to this pattern as I thought I could make a lightweight jacket for golf or to wear with jeans.  Or shorten the sleeves and make a zip up T shirt for golf. Simplicity 8229 I’ve been watching the underwear making antics from the sidelines for some time.  Since stopping smoking I’ve always felt I was a few pounds heavier than I would like to …

When Jenny Met Ali

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I’ve 3 blog post on my to-do list and half an hour to spare.  So first up and straight to the top of the list and bypassing my belated Sunday Sevens is when Harry met Sally, oops I mean when Jenny met Ali!   It has a similar ring to it though don’t you think! The whole blogging and sewcial media scene has changing my lonely hobby into something really exciting, and I’ve friendships blossoming all over the world.  I’ve already met some of my new sewing buddies in real life but the chances of meeting those from outside of the UK are pretty slim. But then Jen – from Let The Sewing Begin -mentioned she was going to be holidaying in South Wales.  Not anywhere near Yorkshire, but we just HAD to meet up.  I checked out where Jenny was staying and tried to find somewhere in the middle which would be easy for us both to get to.  We eventually decided on Chester – it was about 2 1/2 hours each by train AND …

Oops! Accidentally Adding To The Stash

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A couple of weeks ago the Tall Boy went on a cricket tour to Arundel in the south of England.  We didn’t have to go with him as the whole team went together on a coach.  But the hubby and I went to to watch, took our bikes and golf clubs and expected to make the most of the warmer southern weather that we’d heard about. Unfortunately the only good days weather wise were the day we arrived and the day we left.  So we played no golf, rode zero miles, and only saw 1 hour of cricket. We did however stumble across 3 different fabric shops in 3 different towns!   First up, and totally by chance – Sarah Louise Designs in Arundel   The hubby still doesn’t believe me that I didn’t plan the visit to this shop! How cute is this chicken tea cosy!? I just love this gold spotty cotton! I didn’t buy it but I’m still in 2 minds and might have to buy a couple of metres online as it’s a …

Gadget Envy Giveaway!!

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Remember my recent post about the amazing Goodie bag from Janome? There was a certain amount of gadget envy going around the blogasphere after then so I contacted the lovely people at Janome to see if they would like to sponsor a giveaway on my blog. And guess what!? They said YES!! So, I have 6 swatch buddies to give away!! Not sure what a swatch buddy is? Everyone wants to find the perfect materials for their projects but few really have the time to invest in creating and organizing their fabric swatches or paper samples on swatch cards for their shopping trips. This problem inspired a hassle-free swatching solution with the fast and easy Swatch Buddies Kits. Once you try them youll realise Swatch Buddies are just what you need. The main kit comes with a lockable cable ring holding 12 plastic swatch cards, 12 stickers to hold your fabric on the card and 12 labels for identifying your fabric. As a bonus the kit includes 12 extra stickers and labels as the cards …

Organising PDF Patterns

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I usually roll my PDF patterns up into a tube after using them but today I had a brain wave of a better way to store them. Strengthen one corner with lots of cellotape then make a hole with a hole puncher. Do this for each pattern piece. I then cut the straight end of a plastic ‘D’ ring and slipped each pattern piece onto it. I then put the ring onto a coat hanger. Now all I need to do is find somewhere to hang them up!

IS THIS NORMAL?!?!

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Hi fellow fabric horders collectors! I decided to sort out my little stash today and was shocked to discover all this…….(it’s a good job my hubby’s at work!) Is it normal to accumulate so much fabric?!  I’ve organised it into piles – plain jersey, patterned jersey, cotton, leather, wool blends, Lycra,slinky poly, stretch cotton….I could go on… but I won’t.  Here’s a few close ups, including one with Rory the cat trying to camouflage himself! I really need some reassurance that this is quite normal and I don’t have a problem!!  Also, any suggestions on stash busting would be greatly appreciated. I’m intending to make quite a few totes etc for Christmas Pressies, but most of my fabric is for dressmaking not bags. I may have to go shopping!!  Edited with BlogPad Pro

My latest additions

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Say ‘hello’ to my latest stash additions, and my mum! Top left: Very soft cotton jersey, I’m thinking maxi dress with sleeves for winter to wear with boots. I bought 1.5m, it’s 150cm wide, only £3.99/m. Top right: Silver, textured, feels a bit like upholstery fabric, but I’ve washed it and it still looks ok. This was a remanent for £4. I’ve ordered Vogue 1036 pattern to make a jacket. I won’t have enough in the silver so I’m going to find a really dark blue soft denim to fill in the gaps. Vogue 1036 Bottom left: A semi sheer fabric. Was a remnant (£4) so no idea of composition. Has stripes running horizontally around 5 inches wide in 6 different shades of grey (not 50!! Lol). Think I’m going to make a slouchy hoodie with this. Finally, bottom right Another remanent (£3). It’s a semi sheer viscose. No stretch. Oh no! Will have to make sure it fits properly! Think I may make something for my best friend mum. Crossed it out cos I …