All posts filed under: Summer wear

The Mary Quant Style Dress

Published by

Wonky pockets! No one noticed them when I posted a Reel on my insta. I think they were distracted by my groovy moves! If you’re not an insta fan and not sure what a Reel is I’ve attached a link to the bottom of this post. This dress incorporates a couple of challenges: The #frugalfrock21 organised by Sam at Frugalisma, and Ruan at the Yorkshire Sew Girl and #so50patternmixing organised by @sewover50 The idea behind frugal frocks is to make a dress using a free pattern and to use fabric from your stash to create Frugal Frock! As soon as I saw Alice & Co pattern for the Mary Quant style dress I was sold! HERE’s the link if you fancy downloading this free pattern. The dress is designed for a woven fabric, but my initial thought was to use this pattern to make a dress for golf, so I sized down and made it up in lycra. Most patterns given finished garment measurements which is really useful if you are changing from a woven …

What I’ve been making during my absence

Published by

Vogue 8903 Mc Calls 7542 Burda 6626 Vogue 1449 Vogue 1411 Sexy Lounge Pants! Vogue 8888 Yasmin Yoke skirt by Maria Denmark Vogue 8888 A Huge Granny Square More Crocheting Cushions! Curtains! Teaching Henry to Crochet A Beanbag for my DSLR Fleece drawstring bags Infinity Scarf Stitchin Santa Crocheted things for my bathroom Lastly an alteration I didn’t think I’d been up to much, but now it’s all here on my blog I’ve actually been more productive than I thought!! Cheerio for now Thimbers x

Fankenpattern to the Races – Newlook 6648 and 6730

Published by

For the last few years we’ve been invited to Ripon races and I’ve always made a new dress for the occasion. This year I almost deviated from wearing handmade as I finally was able to fit into a favourite RTW dress that has been too small for ages…..or I’ve been too big! Unfortunately I gained about 4 pounds after this picture was taken and it wasn’t as comfortable so I had to have a plan b. I still had some of the blue ITY fabric (from this years SewUpNorth) left after making Simpicity 1613  So then I had a crazy idea to make some pull on wide legged pants (Newlook 6730) and create a jumpsuit if I shortened the dress and stitched them together. I cut out the pants in a small which is a 25 1/2 – 26 1/2 inch waist and a 34 1/2 – 36 1/2 inch hip. I’ve not been that small since I started school but due to the stretchiness of the ITY knit and the close fit I was wanting …

The Little Red Dress – McCalls 6612

Published by

Back in June 2013 I bought a dress pattern which changed my life.  It was the Mcalls 6612 dress and tunic.  I made it up in a size 14 without even thinking I needed to measure myself.  Luckily due to the very stretchy nature of the fabric it fit. I’d not used this pattern again, until earlier in the summer, and I’ve since made 5 very different garments.  I measure a 16 chest and 12 hips but generally sew with a smaller seam allowance and keep my fingers crossed that it will fit.  So far so good! The first M6612 was a little red dress made with a cotton jersey from John Lewis.  I was going to add short sleeves but after sewing up the side seams whilst in auto pilot I decided not to bother as I nearly always sew sleeves in in the flat and couldn’t be bothered easing the sleeves in.  To jazz things up I added a striped trim to the neck and arm openings and absolutely love how it transformed …

On The Ball! Simplicity 1613

Published by

Being on the ball is not usually my forté but since my trip to the recent SewUpNorth meet up I’ve actually used 2 pieces of fabric I acquired at the swap and used a pattern that came free with the current issue of the Dressmaker magazine. I’m not a regular of the Dressmaker magazine as I subscribe to Love Sewing and Sew Direct.  I think the hubby would raise an eyebrow at more sewing publications dropping on the mat, but I still have a peek at the others when I’m out shopping. This pattern caught my eye immediately and I was drawn into buying the mag’ and I knew just which fabric would be a perfect match. This John Kaldor ITY knit which was kindly donated to the swap from RuthRuth at Ruth Creates. The pattern was a super simple make, I whizzed it up in a couple of hours (after cutting out) despite having to unpick the off the shoulder part – I’m not sure what it’s name is.  The shoulder band maybe? I’m …

McCalls 7577 – A playsuit with frilly legs!

Published by

Back in February I joined Slimming World.  I’d lost about 10 pounds on my own, well not entirely on my own, I’d been hitting the gym classes with my bestie but I needed a bigger push to shed another 20 pounds. One of the things that spurred me on to loose the weight was the Mc Calls pattern 7577. As soon as I saw this cute little playsuit I really wanted to make it for my June holiday.   So as the inches melted away I rummaged in my stash and found the perfect fabric for View A but without the sleeves.  I bought this crepe from Leeds Market last November in the first SewUpNorth meet up.   Shockingly (for me) I didn’t trace the pattern and I didn’t make a muslin! My thoughts on tracing have changed slightly.  Before I used to trace absolutely everything as I was hoping to be a smaller size in the future, now i’m tending to cut straight into the patterns as I’m adamant I’m staying the size I …

The 2nd Half of MeMadeMay17

Published by

No don’t rub your eyes, you have read correctly, and yes I am that behind! No apologies necessary, absent friends don’t need to do that….right?  I hope so! I’m here, I’m back and I’ll just get on with it! You can read the first instalment of MeMadeMay HERE.  With me writing this so late I’m just so pleased I posted on IG otherwise it would be a struggle writing this! Day 18 & 19 – I worked 10-20 so it was uniform all day.  If I’m starting earlier or later I do tend to wear ‘my own’ clothes either before and after my shift but with this rubbish shift it’s all work, PJs then bed.  But my trusty Brooklyn Hoodie saves the day when I need me made on a work day – this was made with a colleague’s old fleeces that were destined for the bin! Day 20 – I took part in the Forget Me not Trust Colour run.  My jazzy Espresso leggings were perfect.  I looked like I’d been splattered even before …

A Quick Polo Shirt Refashion

Published by

I think MeMadeMay spurs us all into action and opens our eyes to gaps in our wardrobe. Last week I was wondering what I could wear for golf, then I remembered a top the hubby had discarded and put aside for the charity bag. It was kinda huge on me but I thought the collar the the zip opening didn’t look too big and once the sides were taken in it would still look in proportion. I measured it and decided to take the side in for it to measure 40″. I measure 39″ so I thought with a little stretch in the fabric 1″ of ease would be enough.  I’m still now sure now if i remembered to include a seam allowance as the finished garment is a bit snug (though I could get off my butt and go measure it and find out!). The marks drawn on were with a frixion pen.  I recently bought some felt tip style ones.  I’d always recommend testing to make sure the heat from the iron removes all marks …

Belize Skort Hack

Published by

I’ve had loads of compliments this week wearing my different variations of Itch-To-Stitches Belize Shorts and Skorts – both on and off the golf course.  My favourite feature of all the 5 variations is the curved back skirt on the skort version. I thought I’d have a go at making a version with a curved hem at the front as well as the back.  It was really successful so I thought I’d share it with you. First of all I measured the width of the back curved skirt and compared it to the front short pieces – the ones without the pleats.  I couldn’t use the pointy skort pieces as these overlap so I would have be hard to work out the width. Taking the seam allowances into consideration the skort back piece was near enough the same width as the shorts front so I felt able to just use the back piece for the skort front. I compared the shape of waist/hip curve of short piece to my new skort front (i.e. the skort back!). I’ve drawn an …