T H I M B E R L I N A

Latest Posts

A Sewing Room Miracle

Published by Thimberlina

Some things just never go to plan.

When they don’t go to plan in the sewing room, but the creative juices are flowing, a sewing room miracle can happen.

I printed off the pattern for the Pona jacket not knowing which fabric I’d choose to make it up in. I initially thought dark blue denim. I love denim and it goes with anything and everything in my wardrobe. So when my pattern was taped together I went to have a rummage in my stash. I say rummage because I had a huge pile of fabric on my table as I was up to my ears in organising my stash.

You can’t see it but under there somewhere was a piece of curtaining fabric that I acquired from one of my ‘real life’ sewing buddies. She inherited a close family friends stash who had sadly passed away. The curtaining fabric was from the 80’s and looked big enough for the jacket.

It turned out it wasn’t, but before I realised this I’d already cut out all the pattern pieces for the jacket except the front facings, and 1 of the 2 collar pieces. So I had another rummage. This time not too successful as I couldn’t find anything that would go, so I decided to sew up what I had, and just wing it.

As the fabric was free, I decided to experiment a little. A lot of the Pona Jackets I’d seen on insta had Hong Kong seams inside as the jacket isn’t lined. Although I love this finish on the inside of jackets it is really time consuming, and as I wasn’t sure how the jacket would turn out, I opted to finish all the raw edges with the ‘wave’ stitch on my overlocker.

I loved the look of this so much I decided to sew my pieces WRONG sides together and have the seams on the outside, stitching down the seam allowances to keep them flat.

Sewing exposed seams meant the inside was super neat!

The jacket was finished in quick time, but I wasn’t happy with how the jacket fitted. This pattern really calls for a more drapey fabric, and as this fabric is curtain weight how it hung wasn’t very flattering.

I folded the lapels (which should have had facings) towards the inside, and then turned up a deep hem which showed on the outside. What a difference!

But it still wasn’t quite ‘finished’. I decided to add the wave stitch to all edges, and added the pockets. And buttons.

And then that’s when the Sewing Room Miracle happened. Some may call it a happy accident, but I believe in miracles, and this was a bloody miracle! It just worked – the jacket was transformed into something truly stunning!

But it still needed something else.

As the collar wasn’t faced it was a bit too floppy. There was only a few scraps left. The biggest pieces included the selvedge, so I managed to piece together a few bits which could be stitched in place to reinforce the collar. I added the wave stitch to all edges before sewing them onto the collar.

Tah dah!

Todays the first day I’ve been able to take some photos outside.

It just goes to show it really is worth persevering if things aren’t going quite according to plan in the sewing room, you never know, you might even get a miracle!

Have you had a miracle happen to you?

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Sunday Sevens #ISEWLATED wk 3

Published by Thimberlina

Last week I had a couple of tough days at work. Tuesday was particularly tough and I didn’t think I could get through the rest of the week without having a total melt down. The C word is getting to us all. But I picked myself up with the support of my amazing work family, and lots of love and virtual hugs from my insta friends. Thankyou so much🥰

Monday started ok. No I didn’t buy these, I just modelled them! We bought cookies instead. No photos, they weren’t around long enough to take one!

Early morning pic on my way to work. There has to be some benefits to working the early shift.

Spring is definitely in the air with daffodils in full bloom everywhere.

Keeping ourselves safe…. (we wear gloves too)

There’s lots of support for the NHS to be seen around the village when I’m out and about having my daily exercise….

I added a few finishing touches to a denim jacket I made…

The neighbours at work have been baking for us… we’re all going to be a few pounds heavier when this is all over!

A very talented friend at work drew me a Bee on request. How clever is he?! Now why would I want a Bee sitting on a spool of thread I bet you’re wondering……….

Maybe you need another clue…………….😬

Well, the cat is out of the bag now! Only 8 sleeps until The Great British Sewing Bee graces our screens once more. Excited is not the word!!!!

Stay safe everyone

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

Sunday Sevens #ISEWLATED wk 2

Published by Thimberlina

Is it just me who is going around in circles and struggling to have focus and be productive. I don’t think so, but I’m going to try and have a bit more structure in my days off this week.

EDIT: I’ve been trying to do this for over a week and not gotten it finished and now it’s time for week 3 of isewlation. So I’ve decided to post week 2 now and post week 3 tomorrow, which will be a little bit more exciting! (Tomorrow’s post being exciting not you getting my posts 2 days running!)

Started the week with a group night in-in. I got sooooo tipsy that going to bed is a very vague memory! I can highly recommend it if you’ve not tried it though.

We got hit again! A wave and a clap is so appreciated when we’re out and about but chocolate really hits the spot!

I really need to get my stash organised so I’ve been spending some time measuring it, photographing it and updating my Cora app.

Different piles – denim, jersey, satins, crepes to name but a few. I’ve not finished as I still need to go through what I have in my lady cave, but I’m getting there.

A gift from a patient – so I could make a chilli!

Social distancing – having a brew with the cyber parents when I dropped off their shopping.

I made a jacket from an old piece of curtaining fabric….

And blew my own trumpet….. not quite a trumpet but still gave it a blow!

A moment of madness caught on camera whilst fuelling up at the pumps.

Cyber pops having his daily exercise cutting my grass. So grateful for this – if there’s a key worker on your street whose grass is looking a bit neglected I’m sure they mind won’t you cutting it!

Feature pic at the top is my amazing crew mate, with one of our fabulous community first responders. You guys rock😍

Stay safe everyone

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

Sunday Sevens #ISEWLATED wk 1

Published by Thimberlina

Well it doesn’t really matter that I’m late with my Sunday Sevens as no one really knows what day it is as the moment!

I thought I’d change the title and add #isewlated too as there will definitely be a different feel to my Sunday Sevens for the foreseeable future.

Everyone is struggling as they adapt to a new way of life. Hopefully it won’t be for too long, although I image it will be the back end of summer before we can have some sort of normality back into our lives. And have real life sewing meet ups! I really miss you guys, but aren’t we lucky having our social media to keep in touch! And sewing to keep us sane!

At work it’s business as usual. I say usual, but definitely not normal. It’s actually a relief to go to work and have some social interaction, and the public continue to be amazing with the support and encouragement we are receiving, which is a real morale booster.

This photo was taken Sunday Evening – the night I posted my last Sunday Sevens (on a Sunday shock/horror!). The manager at McDonalds gave us all free donuts. It actually seems quite odd seeing a ‘group photo’ now we’re exercising social distancing – this was the night before it was announced.

Monday night I had a ride over to see my fella, and was glad I did as now I’ve no idea when I’ll be able to see him again. With the new restrictions in place my love life is now on hold. Heading back Tuesday morning over the Pennines was quite surreal. The M62 usually looks like a car park at 8:30am.

Yay! I pegged out for the first time this year!

Sewing…. my latest #minervamake … the fabric is super soft, with a suede feeling, and a small amount of stretch.

I dusted off my bike and hit the roads. One of the good things at the moment is the roads are sooooo quiet!

I finished my latest minerva make – another faux jumpsuit. This was taken just before the start of my early shifts, my work buddies thought I’d turned up in my PJs 🙈. With the right shoes and my hair done this outfit I do look less ready for bed!

Oops! I was so shocked to see loo roll on the shelves in my local Co-op I dropped my wine whilst stood in the queue. Luckily there was more wine on the shelf!

I had 2 parcels delivered this week. The left is a gorgeous dark navy/white jersey from Fine Fabrics of Harrogate and a snap fasteners kit and overlock needles arrived from Jaycotts.

Sunset from my Lady Cave

The weather changed quite dramatically towards the end of the week so I was out walking instead of the riding my bike. I’d actually been poorly for 2 days before this was taken – really sick. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sick before when sober! But I lost 3 or 4 pounds so not all bad!

A very green omelette…….

One of the lads at work has a wicked sense of humour and tweaked a photo of Bex and I.

I cut my fringe!

Stay safe everyone

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

Sunday Sevens 2020-3

Published by Thimberlina

What a week!

Scary times ahead with ‘you know what’, but I did manage to pack quite a lot in to this week, but socially I think that will be it for quite a whilst we exercise social distancing.

The week started with a little sewcial gathering at Hicklteton Golf club and a little shopping spree in Waltons when the Yorkshire Spoolettes went on tour.

Monday was also Childrens Day – something we’ve celebrated in our family since I was 11. Not quite a child any more but H still gets a pressie and I get one from cyber mom and pops.

I got lilies, they are beginning to open up – I wish you could smell them!

On the way back from the meet up I called off at Castleford Outlet and bought a pair of new boots….

Tuesday I managed a game of golf, only the 2nd time this year. Yorkshire Karen spotted me from the Greenway and sent me this picture, though I never saw her.

Wednesday I popped down to Lucky Fashions with my sewing wife, Lisa. I wasn’t buying anything but I obviously did! She’s such a bad influence on me!

Then we had a coffee and I had cake. Old habits die hard.

Lisa finger wagging at me as I took her pic, I usually catch her by surprise and we’ve been close to divorce on more than one occasion.

Thursday back to work after 6 days off but I managed to whip up a new top for #wearyourmandyboattee organised by Sam over on Insta.

Works been tough. But there’s been some lovely gestures from members of the public. We got HIT on Saturday night. If you’re wondering what that means there’s hashtag #hittheambulance and #hittheambulancegamers We got given a box of choccies from staff in a small Tesco.

We also got left some primulas on the door step of the ambulance station with a thank you note.

Today is Mothers Day and although mum and dad aren’t letting us in the house, the sun was shining and we enjoyed bacon butties and each others company in the garden.

And here’s how you hug when you’re socially isolating!

Just one last one, I risked life and limb at 2am to take a pic of this stunning display of daffies.

Enjoy your week whatever you’re doing. Stay safe.

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

Please read and share

Published by Thimberlina

A helpful explanation from a government NHS worker. The best and most informative I’ve seen..

I work for the NHS. I am going to try and fill in the gaps from the governments plan for corona virus and to try and explain it:

The plan is to segregate all vulnerable people (older, ill, disabled and at risk) let’s call this group A

Anyone looking after the older, ill and at risk can be group B

The general population / generally healthy can be group C

Group C needs to go about it’s business keeping the country moving, kids at school, us at work

Group B looks after group A and avoids contact with C

Group C is allowed to contract the virus and because it’s generally healthy it can cope with it better than group A

Group A and B are almost self isolating without the virus to avoid putting strain on the NHS and reducing the risk of getting the virus and then needing the NHS

Group C (the generally healthy) go through the cycle of contracting the virus self isolating and being looked after by healthy family members, friends and the local community

Anyone who has complications gets looked after by the NHS while groups A and B are kept away The NHS are not strained by A and B while its looking after complicated cases in C

As group C comes full circle and recovers it divides in to groups that take group B’s position looking after group A allowing group B to go though the cycle

With B and C though the cycle, A is free to have NHS to itself because B and C are now clear from illness and infection and hopefully have a degree of immunity from getting it again this season.

Sunday Sevens 2020-2

Published by Thimberlina

As well as few pics from this week, I thought I’d add a few extra ones too. I’ll explain as I go along!

You might know that about a year ago after working on the rapid response car for 10 years I went back to working on the ambulances. As a result I have adopted a little sister – Bex. I work over half my shifts with her. She’s so lovely and the 10 hour shifts with her just fly by.

Living the dream when we ended up having our break out of area!

As well as a work little sister I’ve adopted a work son too. Aaron. He’s a newly qualified paramedic and is from the other side of the pennines so has no family over her, so I mother him a bit, and he comes for tea and we have the occasional gin night.

And not forgetting my proper family. Cyber mum and pops are doing well, and little H is now 6’5″🙀

Bit of a do at mine……

I need glasses – a little bit for reading and definitely for sewing. These aren’t what I’ve chosen, I’m wearing the cheapo pound ones at the minute, not sure if these are my style😂

Just after Christmas I took H to London for 3 nights. He’d never been before and we had a fab time.

I think bumping into some Chelsea football players in the hotel lift was the highlight of his weekend!

Cake has as usual played at part this week – I’m trying to cut down but it’s soooo hard. I’ve discovered how easy American pancakes are to make! I’d be proper skinny if I didn’t have such a sweet tooth. Yes I spilt my cream at Nando’s but they were really good and brought me another!

I’ve been healthy too – eggy bread this morning for breakfast!

That’s about it for this week, I’ll leave you with this one – if you can’t decide on gin or coffee have both! Cheers!

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

Sunday Sevens 2020-1

Published by Thimberlina

Looking back I never knew how I used to find photos from my week that warranted writing about. I’ve just had a look through the photos I’ve taken over the last week and bit the bullet and am going to try and get back into my Sunday Sevens.

I started the week with meeting my sewing wify Lisa. We called at Yorkshire Born and Thread. They were having a pop up sale, I bought this gorgeous flocked chiffon type fabric, There’s just over 2 metres and I’m thinking Pussy Bow blouse with fancy sleeves. It has an amazing drape and soft feel to it.

There’s a lovely country pub, The Hare and Hounds, only 2 minutes drive away so we popped in for a spot of lunch. It’d have been rude not to! Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Tuesday is normally my golf day when I’m not working, but yet again the foul weather closed the course. Before meeting the ladies for lunch (we still usually go down for a catch up) I managed to make a new pair of trousers using Newlook 6217.

I’ve struck up a deal with one of my golfing budding who is an amazing knitter. She’s going to knit me a jumper and I’m going to make her a Sapporo coat. This is the jumper I’ve chosen, now I just need to decide on the wool. Or yarn if I’m using proper lingo!

This might seem weird me posting the next pic which is a screen shot. I’m usually a rubbish sleeper and manage on 5-6 hours but I woke on Wednesday after having over 8 hours!! I felt like I’d had a weeks holiday😂

After all that sleep I had too much energy so had to burn some off. How else do you do that but go fabric shopping! A friend has just had a baby and I’m making the Honey Dew Hoodie so popped into Fabricate Mirfield and bought this:

Inspired by the pic on the left I cut out a new top. I used Threadcount Patterns 1902 as a starting point, and redrafted the sleeves to make them big and floaty. It’s nearly finished but here’s how it started. I inserted 1 1/2 inches where each of the broken lines are on the sleeve head.

A long overdue girls night out on Friday 🍷

I’d been rummaging through my stash and found this fabric which I bought at Ditto back in August 2016. Turns out my sewing wify has the exact same fabric so I’ve challenged her to sew something up with hers, and I will with mine. We’ve a 4 week dead line. If you’ve something too special to cut into in your stash why not join our little challenge. The hashtag on insta is #cutmeupandsewme

To finish off the week I had a walk with my ‘friend’ to Hartshead Pike. The views were amazing. I think this is the first blue sky I’ve seen on a weekend this year! He took a panoramic shot on the iPhone – he started it and as e moved the phone away from where I was, I ran round the back of him to be in view at the other side of the pic. I’d not seen this before but I think it’s pretty cool!

So that’s my week! Hope you’ve had a good one too!

Cheerio for now

Ali x

Fancy joining in Sunday Sevens or wondering what it’s all about? Head over to Natalie’s blog Thread and Bobbins and read all about it…..

The Thea Boho Sleeve Shirt

Published by Thimberlina

It’s taken a crazy shirt to get my fingers flying across the keyboard and to get me to update my blog! It feels good to be back, I just need to make a brew now and have a look at my feed and see what you lovelies have been up to too!

So I spotted a new pattern from Liberty on Insta. It was a bit steep at £17 but it was love at first site and it was in my shopping basket before I knew it. I bought it direct from Liberty and was very restrained by not buying anything else!

Once I’d got going making it and posted on insta what I was up to, someone mentioned that the Liberty shirt is actually Vogue 9331. So I checked it out and sure enough it is. Not only is it the same as the Vogue pattern, it’s also cheaper. Especially if you buy it when it’s on sale. But the downside of buying the vogue pattern is that you have to choose which size range you want, whereas with the Liberty pattern all sizes are included. So if you’re not planning on sharing the pattern, or making it for anyone else in a different size range from yourself I’d buy the vogue pattern.

It took quite a few hours to make, so not something I’d decide to make in the day for a night out, but definitely worth the effort. I hoping my next one will be quicker. I’m fancying one in white and more classic looking. I have some gorgeous semi sheer crepe with a slight stretch which I think would look amazing!

So here it is……… my new favourite shirt, definitely one that stands out in a crowd!

I added piping below the yoke on the back but not the front, and used the burrito method for sewing the yoke. It doesn’t tell you to do it that way in the instructions, which I think is bonkers as it’s actually quicker as neater too.

A little tip when when attaching the collar – the collar is generally bigger the the top of the shirt with most shirt patterns. This was the case here. I made snips into the neck seam allowance to the stay stitching, and then the collar fitted perfectly! Hope that makes sense!

Also, just to mention, it doesn’t tell you to stay stitch the neckline until quite a way into the making of the shirt. But I always find it best to do any stay stitching before you start constructing any garment to ensure none of the pieces ended up being stretched out.

Just a few close ups…….

So there you go, my new snazzy shirt!

I’m loving the fashions at the moment – big sleeves and animal print! I think this trend will definitely be in my wardrobe this year!

Cheerio for now, I’m hoping I won’t be leaving it as long til I’m back showing you what I’ve been getting up to in my lady cave.

Ali xx

#sewdowndewsbury 6th March

Published by Thimberlina

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the late update on our SewDownDewsbury meetup next Wednesday.

We’ll be meeting at our usual spot – Wetherspoons – the area on the right as you go in. I’ll be there from 9:30. We usually hang around until about 10:30, before hitting the shops.

If you haven’t been to Dewsbury or not sure where Wetherspoons is, there’s a map and photos of landmarks on THIS blog post from our 2017 meet up.

There’s lots of cheap parking in Dewsbury (see the map on the link above). Please don’t park at Fabworks for the day. One it’s not a big car park, and two your car might get locked in as has nearly happened before! No names mentioned!

If you’re going to be arriving a bit late and need to know where we are, drop me an email ( thimberlina.blog@gmail.com ) or message me via instagram and I’ll give you my mobile number so you can contact me when you arrive.

There will be a pattern and fabric swap if you would like to join in. I think we might do this at the Creative Craft Centre but I’ll let you know when we meet up. It will depend on the numbers. They now have a cafe and will look after you if you need to be refreshed during your shopping trip around Dewsbury.

Looking forward to catching up with “old” friends, and meeting new ones, see you in 3 sleeps,

Ali xx

Oh, and I’ve you’ve got a name badge, or have chance to make one, don’t forget to wear it – I did last year!