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#SundaySevens 48

Published by Thimberlina

After a crazy busy week it’s nice to finally sit down and write my Sunday Sevens. Unfortunately due to night shifts and storm Gertrude I’ve only been able to go out for a run once this week, hopefully next week will prove a little more active. I’m also behind reading all your blogs but I’m back to work tomorrow so hopefully I’ll be able to catch up between calls.

One of the highlights of my week was a phone call all the way from North Carolina – Del from CurlsnSkirls. We had a lovely chat, and it was surprising how easy it was to chat with someone who I only know ‘online’.

Here’s the other highlights which I was able to photograph….

1 H needed new trainers, this growing lark is just getting out of hand!

2 Monday was my mums birthday. For lunch we went to NANdos (where else do you take a super mum & super nan!) and in the evening we went to our favourite Indian and all the family could make it! Here’s a selfie of my talented nicee with me and cyber-mom.

3 I sent a parcel off to Del on Monday – a housewarming gift, though it’s a while since she moved! It’s well wrapped in case it hit’s a snow storm!

4 I had a very healthy lunch out with one of my pals….

5 Followed by a not so healthy creme brûlée.

6 Towards the end of the week talented niece was at my mums showing us what’s she’s been up to at art college. These are fabric samples that she’s had printed for an exhibition – she’s designing fabrics patterns for sports wear.

7 Cyber moms kitchen – it’s been a while since I’ve showed you it. It’s finished now and the new floor is down, just the adjoining dining room needs a lick of paint then all done!

8 This weekend we’ve been to North Shields to a surprise birthday party. I should have taken some lovely photos of the beach but I was either drinking wine or eating birthday cake and didn’t get chance to see the sea!

9 There was quite a few talented folk at the birthday bash. Hubby’s uncle was a roadie years ago for Lindisfarne who sung Fog on the Tyne. The band came to the do after they’d been performing at a different gig, and although they didn’t sing one of their lads did and had us all in tears nearly – obviously not singing fog on the tyne!

Feature image…. now why didn’t I take a bigger handbag and a spanner to the do! Last week i was showing you a fancy loo in the photo challenge and last night i stumbled across the nicest sink ever!

Fancy joining in with Sunday Sevens? You might think it’s hard mustering up 7 pics, it is at first, but then it gets harder to narrow it down to seven. Head over to Natalie’s blog to find out more…..

Top 3’s of 2015

Published by Thimberlina

I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s reflections and reviews of 2015 and thought it was about time I scrambled a post together for mine.

I’ve been blogging now since September 2013 but this is the first time I’ve looked back and posted on the previous year.

I’m basing my post around Gillian’s Annual Roundup but only doing the top 3 of each category and I’ve tweaked them a bit too.

So here’s my top Threes………

(CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO BE TAKEN TO THE ORIGINAL POST)

MY TOP 3 FAVOURITE GARMENTS

1 The Colette Wren. Love this! And so I should after so many muslins! I’ve worn it full length for a black tie do and at my works Christmas do, then I shortened it and have worn it a few more times at less formal occasions.

2 My umpteenth Coco. Love this and despite it not fitting as well as i’d like across the upper bust i’ve worn it more times than anything in my wardrobe.

My husband has bought himself a new toy. Stabilisers which turn his bike into a go no where bike. Thought I might use it as a prop in my photo shoot! Trouble is, he’s 6′ 3″ so I had a bit of trouble getting my leg over!

3 Vogue 1429 – a top I made to wear for golf. I also made matching Espresso leggings and a self drafted pull on skirt so i could wear the top whatever the weather! I really need to make more of these, there’s also a version as a dress which I should make too. The neckline is unusual and flattering and not too faffy either.

TOP 3 MISSES

1 Obviously the GBSB dress. Enough said, but why not have another photo? Why not!?

2 A cycling cap – beautifully made but never worn!

3 The By Hand London Georgia Dress. I love this dress but have never wore it. I thought it would be perfect to wear at a BBQ. Can someone please invite me to one this year!? I still love the style and am hoping to make another one this year. In it’s defense it did start it’s life as a muslin, so I shouldn’t be too harsh on it!

TOP 3 COMMENTERS (is that even a word, it must be, it hasn’t got a red line under it!)

1 CurlsnSkirls

2 Navybluethreads

3 Sewchet

Thankyou ladies for your support and wise words, and to all of you who take time to read and comment on my posts.

3 NONE SEWING HIGHLIGHTS

H made the Yorkshire Cricket squad again in his age group and played all the games in the B team. Proud mum!

2015 was my first whole year as a none smoker! I stopped on the 27h Feb 2014, so it’s nearly my 2nd anniversary.

I did the couch to 5k and took part in my first 5k park run and am now hooked! I’m hoping to complete a 10k run this year.

2016 – Looking ahead

3 Garments I WILL make in 2016

1 A shirt for my hubby (that is wearable!).

2 At least 1 pair of jeans.

3 The Sewoverit Pussy Bow Blouse. I’ve lusted over it across the internet and whether it suits me or not I will have one!

Its not a garment, but I really want to try my hand at quilting. By quilting I mean proper quilting – something big enough to use as a throw on the bed or the couch. Maybe one of the Block of the Month’s that’s about might be what I need to spur me on.

I also want to dabble in making underwear – at least some knickers if not a bra. The thing that puts me off bra making is that i want to loose a few pounds, and inevitably the weight is likely to come off the boobs and not the waist line where I’d like it to! So then I’d be left with a bra that’s too big!

I also want to concentrate on quality rather than quantity, and challenge myself with at least one advanced sew.

This year we are planning an extension to our home which will not only give us more living space, and another bedroom, it will also give me a decent sized sewing room! The downside is that there will be quite a lot of disruption and walls being knocked down. No doubt the work will effect my current sewing space, but I’ve asked my lovely parents for a corner at their house for my sewing machine so hopefully production won’t come to a complete halt!

So to finish with a photo of my current sewing space – it’s a bit cramped and I have to run up and down stairs when I need to iron, and also when I’m cutting out. Fingers crossed in next years review it will look a bit different to this! (this isn’t what it actually looks like at the minute. That photo would be more embarrassing than the GBSB drapey dress!).

A belated good luck in all you choose to do in 2016.

May your seams be straight, your collars pointy and your reader be full of inspiration!

The Yorkshire Spoolettes – Who’s Going & Something For Those Who Can’t

Published by Thimberlina

It’s only 9 sleeps until the Yorkshire Spoolettes meet up in Dewsbury. Thankyou to all of you who said you can make it. There’s a great bunch of ladies going but unfortunately due to distance there’s a whole lot of you who can’t.

That got me thinking, and I contacted Fabworks to see if they would like to sponsor a competition on my blog for those who can’t go, and they said YES!!!

So, here’s out it will work.

I’m going to let you know who’s going to the meet up. You need to work out (or guess!!) the total mileage travelled to Dewsbury by all who attended on the day. The mileage will be worked out from each persons home to Fabworks.

I’ll list who is going. Then you can look them up and come to some sort of figure of how far you think everyone has travelled. On the day of the meet up I will ask each one how far they’ve travelled and work out the total mileage.

To give you a head start it’s 6.1 miles for me. For ease of adding up I’ll round each distance to the nearest whole mile.

So far here is who’s attending. Those with a * aren’t confirmed as yet. If you’re name is not here and you’re coming let me know in the comments below.

Amanda from Sew Deputy

Karen from Wakey Makes

Hila from Saturday Night Stitch

Margaret from Crafty Creek

Teresa from Navy Blue Threads

Corrine from Appleby Makes

Sally from Sew Sweet Sally

Becca from Red W Sews

Lucie from Love Lucie

Margaret from Sew-n-Style

Anne from Sew AnneUK

Karen from The Sewing Miserablist

Catherine from Cattern Lace

Manju from SewManju

Hannah from Handmade by Hannah

Jenna from stitched Up by Jenna *

Louise from Not Sew Simple

Jeanie from Love That Sewing

Holly from Fairy Elephants*

Ruth from Ruth Creates 247

Camilla from Making and Marking

To help those of you who do try and work it out rather than guess, would those of you who are attending be able to drop a hint on your next blog post as to your whereabouts if it’s not on your about page?

There will be 2 prizes – the person with the nearest mileage who lives in the UK and the person with the nearest milage who is outside of the UK. If 2 guess the exact same mileage and are correct, the one who commented first will win.

For the winner in the UK – A £25 voucher to be spent online at Fabworks plus free postage.

For the winner outside of the UK a surprise parcel from me of something bought on the day.

After the meet up I will be posting about the day and then you’ll be able to enter the competition.

In the meantime you can head over the Fabworks Online website and see what you might spend your voucher on, and also show your support by liking their Facebook page.

If you’re an overseas reader why not leave a link in the comments to your favourite fabric from Fabworks – it might help me choose what to buy for the winners surprise parcel!

If you need to see details of the meet, click HERE to be taken to the post, and if you’d like to join us and not come forward, don’t be shy…. it’s a bit nerve wracking for us all getting together with our virtual friends!

Want to read more about the Spoolettes and their history? Head over to this PAGE and there’s also link to posts about our previous Yorkshire Spoolette meet up.

Winter

Published by Thimberlina

Joining in with Wild Daffodils photo challenge. A different word each week for a whole year.

Both of these pics were taken on a day out to Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire. It’s a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. I tried to narrow it down to one photo but couldn’t (this won’t be a surprise to anyone who ‘knows’ me). I could have added another 20 it was such a fab day. From the size of H you’ll probably guess it wasn’t this winter. I think it was about 3 or 4 years ago.

Head over the Wild Dafodil’s blog (link above) where she’s linked up with the 3 others who’ve created this challenge. I’m posting from my iPhone so it’s a bit harder to do link ups from here.

#SundaySevens 47

Published by Thimberlina

Three 6am starts on the trot, finishing on Sunday evening can only mean one thing. Early to bed and Sunday Sevens will be done on Monday!

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog post of your week in 7 photos, thought up by the lovely Natalie over at Threads and Bobbins.

There’s no hard and fast rules and if you want to join in you can. No need for an invite, just jump right in! I love reading about the lives of my blogging buddies in other parts of the globe, and judging by the comments I receive, I’m thinking they must enjoying seeing mine too!

This first pic is nothing to do with Sunday Sevens. It’s the amazing hand-made Christmas card from Sewchet that was in my StitchingSanta parcel. Somehow I forgot to post it. Isn’t it fab!! (I play golf in case you’re wondering!!)

1 This is the view from H’s bedroom. It was a gorgeous morning and when I saw the blue skies it was an easy choice to put my trainers on and go out for a run.

2 My local wool shop Twist & Purl, 3 miles away. I could spend hours in here and I’m not even a yarn addict. Well not a proper one. I popped in to buy a little house warming gift and also came away with 4 balls of the chunky yarn in the basket at the middle-ish left.

3 Coloured my mums hair – sorry mum!

4 We’ve starting emptying the loft and I made the first of many trips to the local council household waste skips. We’re planning some major work on the house this year so we need to empty the loft and the garage. Not looking forward to this at all! (we will be giving away and recycling too!).

5 I usually colour my own hair but opted for a trip to the hair dressers and had foils for the first time ever!

6 I’m really pleased with how it turned out. Not much off the length as I’m trying to grow it.

7 Saturday morning in Huddersfield. The most amazing sky I’ve seen in ages. I took this with the panoramic function on the iPhone and was really pleased with how it turned out.

8 Saturday night out for a very good friends birthday. Another reason I was so tired on Sunday evens. Although I wasn’t drinking I only had 5 hours sleep. It was worth it though.

Feature image – Rory modelling slouching hat for Jo (above).

Hope it was worth waiting for!

Cheerio for now! x

Style Arc Misty Pull On Jeans - aka Jeggings!

#JeansJanuary -Style Arc Misty Pull On Jeans

Published by Thimberlina

I thought it was about time I wrote a post about something I’ve made. Lately it’s all just been about what I’ve been up to in my Sunday Sevens and what I’ve got planned for the 6th February!

Before I waffle on about my new trousers (which are almost jeans), I need to let you into a little secret!! As Fabworks are now online I asked them if they would like to sponsor a little giveaway/competition on my blog for those of you who won’t be able to come to the Yorkshire Spoolette Meet Up.

And they said YES!! So it’s not all doom and gloom for those who can’t make it! Watch out for a post all about it soon!

So what’s all this about? Jeans January? Last January I rushed out and bought a pair. Well 2 pairs actually. They were the first things I bought when my 2014 RTW Fast was over. And now a year later I’m considering making a pair.

All thanks to Chris over at Said & Done – Handmade my Chris . It started off as just a comment to her blog, a bit like Jumping Into June, and before long there was a few of us agreeing to jump into the world of sewing Jeans. If you’re thinking of making a pair Chris has a post “My Top Tips for Jeans In January“. A must read for would jeans sewists!

Last year I bought the Ginger Jeans pattern and also the Misty Pull on Jeans pattern.

I decided for my first foray into parallel top stitching I’d go easy on myself and avoid rivets and front flies and chose to make the pull on style.

Oh, and to cheat even more I chose not to use denim either. So are they Jeans? I s’pose not, but they’ve spurred me onto wanting to make some more in denim and also to make some proper jeans.

I didn’t make life so easy in the end as I chose a patterned fabric that could have looked quite disastrous if I hadn’t done some careful pattern matching.

And what was really strange was only having one size at once to be able to print off. With Style Arc you don’t buy a complete range of sizes. My hips size is always 1 to 2 sizes smaller than my waist. I think that sounds better than my waist being 1 to 2 sizes bigger than my hips! Maybe I should eat less cake!

I opted for the size 14. My waist was nearer 16 and my hips measured a 12. As the fabric had a fair amount of lycra content I thought it would be ok. And the fabric was only about £8 so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they didn’t fit.

The cutting took a whole evening. With a plain fabric I’d have probably done it in around an hour as there weren’t too many pieces, but I spent ages matching the pockets. I took quite a few pics of how I got it “spot on”.

Mark the whole area of the pocket placement not just the top part.

Choose a piece of fabric that will easily fit the pocket piece onto. Fold over the top, matching the fold line with the marking of the top of the pocket. Pin the fold so you don’t loose it!

Using the outline of the pocket as a guide, draw the pocket outline onto the piece of fabric that you’ve just bent over and pinned.

Use the pattern on the fabric to help you.

Cut out the pocket – but remember you’ve already accounted for the seam allowance on the top edge. Once cut out you should be able to put it in position and it will be camouflaged!

When I came to press the sides of the pockets I just eyeballed the seam allowances.

Although they were a tiny bit smaller than they should have been the 2 were the same, and they matched, so all was ok.

I even got carried away and did some hand basting. After all the effort of pattern matching I didn’t want they to move as I was sewing them.

Once all the faffing about with the pockets was over it was down to the nitty gritty of sewing and topstitching. I could’ve dug out my old machine and had a separate one for sewing and one for topstitching but I didn’t bother. It wasn’t such a big deal swapping over the top thread, the hard bit was remembering to alter the stitch length!

I machine basted the side seams to check the fit.

All was well so I unpicked, restitched and added the waist band. And smiled!! A big beam actually! I was so pleased with the fit and how they turned out.

Here’s some close up of the finer details of my “Jeans”:

Coin pocket and pocket…….

Other front pocket, and a sneak peak of the mock front fly……

The rear!! I thought a close up without me in them might be better! Check out those invisible pockets! I wish now that I’d have thought to add some dark blue piping as they do disappear when I’m wearing them.

Inner seam…..

Double stitched hem. I used a single needle everywhere as I’ve not had much success with twin needles. I’d also say the colour on this picture is fairly true to the real colour of the fabric.

And now for some 3D real life photos! Wish this modelling lark would get easier!

I had a bit of a strange thing going on when I first put them on. I think it’s known as a camels hoof or something. Anyway, avert your eyes if you wish, but here is them pulled up. I could have done with cropping off the belly but then it would be hard to see where they were pulled up to.. The elastic is only tight as I’m planning to eat less cake, run more and loose an inch at least.

If I wear them slightly lower, about 1 1/2 inch below my navel then the camel miraculously disappears! Phew! You can just about make out the mock fly too. I’d say this is a great pattern to do before embarking on proper jeans. Especially if you choose a patterned fabric that would hide any wobbly stitching.

Warming my butt in front of the fire!

See what I meant about the pockets not been noticeable? By the way it was freezing outside but I needed to take my jumper off otherwise you’d not have seen the jeans properly.

Thanks Mum for taking the pics!

So that’s it! A tentative dabble into making Jeans.

VERDICT:

Love them!! Only draw back is the fabric – they hardly match any of my tops as I don’t have many solid colour ones. The elasticated waist is ingenious. It has you using 2 pieces of elastic which are sewn together to give a strong waist band that doesn’t fall down. I don’t think I’ll make any alterations to the pattern for my next pair. This stretch woven has a lot of lycra in it, but I think a pair in a denim with only 2% lycra would still fit ok as they’re not too tight.

So next stop proper Jeans. But not before I crack on with my Jungle January Sewing! Even if you’re not planning on making any animal print clothes you want to head over to Pretty Grievances blog to read all about it and see her funny captions – she cracks me up!

Here’s one of my favourites (she doesn’t mind us Jungle folk borrowing them!):

Vintage

Published by Thimberlina

Whilst out and about today I decided I would find my vintage photo. I actually found 2!

The above feature pic was taken as I was cooling down after my run. There was a young women at the bus top dressed in vintage style clothes. I daren’t ask her for a pic but managed a sneaky one from behind! Isn’t the coat gorgeous!?

And next a plant holder at my mum in laws home. It’s actually the toilet from an old Victorian terraced house she used to live in!

Linking in the Wild Daffodils weekly photo challenge!

#SundaySevens 46

Published by Thimberlina

Hello from a chilly Yorkshire. We finally have snow. Not much, only an inch or 2, but enough to cause havoc and make getting to patients a bit of a challenge. I had a hair raising moment last night coming down some snow covered cobbles but did made it down one piece. The car I drive is 4 wheel drive, but it was the ABS that saved me! I think my heart was racing more than the patient’s when I finally got to her!

Here’s my Sunday Sevens round up for the last week. It involves mainly cakes! But I have run 24 km this week and managed a new PB at the park run yesterday. This is a screen shot not a photo but I’m excited and proud to share it with you! The cakes must have helped!

1. On Monday I sent off a fabric parcel to Kathryn in Iowa as part of Pretty Grievences Jungle January. I bought this on holiday in Truro ages ago and have just been waiting for the right moment. I know you’ll know what I mean! I’ve also posted off 3 other pieces. We’ll each have 3 pieces the same so I’m going to have a matching swap partner from America! Kathryn doesn’t have a blog but I’ll be able to hopefully post pictures for both of us when we’ve made our garments!

2. The first game of golf of 2016 and I polished my golf shoes especially for the occasion. They didn’t stay clean for long, it was so wet and muddy I was surpised the course was open. It was Lady Captains New Year Comp followed by a lunch for all the ladies.

Luckily we have air compressors to clean our shoes and trollies after we’ve played. Here’s Tina and Debs (they don’t know their photos being beamed around the world!)

No photo of the pie I’m afraid. I was staaaaarving so not time for photos, my main course hardly touched the sides. Here’s my pudding. Or should I say my second pudding. Tina was too full to eat hers!

Back to work on Wednesay, working on the ambulance doing a favour for a friend who needed the day off. 12 hour shifts are really no good for your tummy. By 10:30am I’d eaten my spag Bol so a pit stop at Greggs was needed later in the afternoon. I couldn’t decide so had 2 cakes (and a pasty!).

The view over Elland and into Halifax from Ainly Top. When I was new to the job someone once said to me ‘if any of them lot over there take poorly it’s us who’ll have to go’. That’s always stuck with me and it’s a weird feeling!

I won a sewing pattern this week! The Brooklyn Hoodie from SBCC. Betsy kindly posted me a hard copy as I prefer them to PDFs. Can’t wait to make this, but need to get jungle and jean January out of the way first!

H finally been able to play on his new scooter/sledge. Hubby said he was soooo excited last night when it started snowing as he got this for Christmas and it’s been redundant since.

Hope you’ve all had a lovely week! If you fancy joining in Natalie’s Sumday Sevens head over to her blog. (Link above). The more the merrier!

Calling All Yorkshire Spoolettes!

Published by Thimberlina

I’m feeling a bit nervous writing this post.

Arranging a meet-up is a lot like arranging your own birthday party and hoping someone other than your mother and your best mate turn up!

Then there’s the venue and the food to worry about.

And what shall I wear???

But when I really think about it, there’s nothing to fear. I’m just feeling a bit nervous. I’m praying it doesn’t snow and that no one’s child-care arrangements fall through. If they do, bring the kiddos – I’ll do my Nanny McFee bit whilst you shop!

For those who can’t make it, Fabworks are now online so there’s still lots of bargains to be had!! Lots of Scuba I’ve noticed! The staff there are all proper seamstresses too, so they’re really helpful if you contact them and need help with your fabric choices.

So here’s our itinary. It’s the other way round to last time because Fabworks close early at 2pm on a Saturday and it would be a bit daft if you didn’t get to see everywhere.

I made a map by rejigging last years. I’ll be able to add a link to download it as a PDF on Monday but here it is as a photo for now…..

10:30-11:30 Meet at Kenny’s Bistro. (This is not the same place as last year – it’s on the main road opposite the arcade where Benneto’s cafe is).

11:30-12:00 Have a wander around the market. (We’re still close to the cafe if anyone’s late arriving).

12ish to 1:oo ish Fabworks (only a short walk). There’s a loo there so don’t worry if you’ve drunk too much coffee in the cafe!

1:00 ish til 2:oo Lucky Fashions. I’ve called in to let Amjit know we’re coming and she said she’ll make sure she remembers her kettle so we’ll be able to have a warm drink. Aw, bless! Last year it was a lovely warm day and she’d bought in bottles of water and cans of pop for us.

Literally around the corner from Lucky Fashions is a haberdashery/wool shop and also the pound a yard shop. It’s no longer a pound a yard, but is still very cheap. Last year we had to hang around a while as we all bought loads and it’s not a quick process all that measuring and chopping! So those who’ve done their shopping could always pop round the corner.

From there I thought we could maybe go to Weatherspoons for a bite to eat and a drink. It’s not the classiest of haunts but it squeezed us all in last year.

A bit of help/info for getting to Dewsbury.

I live at Birkenshaw which is 5 minutes from Jun 26 of the M62. If anyone would like to leave their car at mine I don’t mind driving – it’s 7 miles, 20 minutes from my house to Dewbury so we’d need to be leaving by 10am. Or if you want I can arrange to meet you and we can have a convoy!

If you’re going to meet us there, the best car park is Cliffe Street car park, off Sharp Street!!! (Just to confuse matters!) Parking is really cheap compared to other town centre car parks:

I’ve taken some photos today to help you get your bearings when you come out of the car park.
Walk down the hill to exit the car park:

Cross the road and go under the bridge:

Past the market on your right, then turn right. You’ll see an arrow for the cars to turn right.

As you turn the corner keep walking straight ahead:

cross the road and Kenny’s Bistro will be on your right.

The view from the other side of the road so you know what to look out for!

For those arriving by train, just cross the road and head down the hill.

I’m happy to give everyone my mobile number in case you struggle to find us. Drop me an email and we can exchange numbers if you like. Thimberlina.blog AT gmail.com

I’m writing this up on my iPad as I’m at work. On Monday I’ll link up to those I know are coming. Margaret from Crafty Creek mentioned that on a meet up in Leeds last year they held a fabric/pattern swap. I think this would be a great idea except I can’t think how we could do it e crept maybe in the pub after, and it would mean carrying more stuff so we may potentially end up buying less!!

But, feel free to bring whatever you like!

Any other suggestions of how to make our day a roaring succes would be most welcome! I did consider creating a closed group on Facebook, what do you think?? And if I think of anything else I’ll let you know!

Looking forward to meeting you all! Is hoping for a spring like day in February too much to ask? I don’t think so! Cheerio for now, from Ali the eternal optimist!

PS just a few photos I took in lucky fashions today to wet your appetite!!

The wall of jersey and scuba!

The top row here us all sheer net, just like what i used on the sheer arms of my Coleete Wren – all £3 per yard!

stunning fabrics everywhere!

I neeeed some of this and darent risk it still being there in 3 weeks so will be having a trip to dewsbury on wednesday!

Wools and stuff!! Last year i made a short Coco from the fabric top left. its a coating fabric that felted when i washed it but its so cosy and i love wearing it.

One more pic! This is the Spoolettes after last year’s meet up – all shopped out!