Keeping up with my weekly Sunday Sevens didn’t last too long, but at least I’m doing better than I did in 2018!
Hope you’ve all had a productive and happy start to 2019. And those who are able to are watching the Great British Sewing Bee!
Catch you all soon,
Ali xx
Last Monday I woke up wanting to sew. It’s a long time since I woke up with ‘the urge’!
I was meeting my crafty friends for lunch and ‘needed’ something new to wear. So after a rummage through my used patterns I decided upon McCalls 6612.
A dead easy pattern which I can throw together in an hour or so. It’s actually the first pattern I used when I got back into sewing in 2013, though it took me all day to sew up the first time as I was a bit rusty.
I wasn’t 100% happy with it, and it didn’t feel quite right, but I wore it. When I got home after the lunch I had a rethink and decided to finish the sleeves with a band of opposite fabric.
I’m a great believer of everything happening for a reason, and here’s proof of that. So thankyou Sewing Gods for my nearmiss and helping me creative something a little bit different which I love.
Happy Sewing & Cheerio for now,
Thimbers x
Well it’s been a busy week! Lots of sewing, work and time for sewcial stuff and golf too!
Phew! A few more than seven pix but on time!
Hope you’ve all had a lovely productive and happy week too,
Thimbers xx
I’m starting as I mean to go on in 2019. Not sure how long this will last, but I’m hoping to post in a timely fashion, and not getting behind as I hate playing catch up!
So here’s a little bit of what I’ve been up to in the last week….
That’s all for now folks, it’s quite a short post compared to some of my past Sunday Sevens. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, I’m working in a couple of hours and my weekend starts tomorrow when it’s my Crafternoon Tea at the golf club. An informal getting together from 11am if anyone’s local and fancies joining us. (not the afternoon and lunch not tea, but never mind!). It’s just a minute off J26 of the M62.
Cheerio
Thimbers
Hi Lovelies!
I’m like a bloody bus this week. No posts for ages, then 3 in quick succession!
For the 5th year in a row I’m organising a meet up (or 2) in Dewsbury for those of you who live far and wide and enjoy some proper Yorkshire Fabric Shopping!
If you’re thinking about coming, no distance is too far. In 2017 Chris came all the way from Germany (her flights were cheaper than Anne’s train fare from Newcastle!!), and last year Sheila spent over 5 hours stood up on a train all the way from South Somerset! In 2016 Manju came all the way from Carlisle. In 2015 Corrine came 90 miles from Scarborough, not knowing a soul and not knowing what she was letting herself in for as it was the first Yorkshire Spoolettes meet up.
They’re very informal, very friendly and very expensive!
Only kidding about the expensive bit! That’s all down to you! But I’d compare shopping in Dewsbury with like going to Lidl instead of Tesco – you get a lot more for your money!
Dewsbury has 3 main Fabric shops – Lucky Fashions (my favourite!), Fabworks and the Pound a Yard shop. There is also the well stocked Creative Craft Centre which stocks wool, sewing patterns and lots of haberdashery. And then there’s the market – more fabric shops and haberdashery. And you’ll probably be able to pick up a M&S bra too for less than a fiver too!
The only days to visit Dewsbury if you want to do it properly are Wednesdays and Saturdays as that’s when it’s Market Day. The first meet up I arranged was a Wednesday and the others have all been Saturdays.
This year I’ve decided to organise 2 Meet Ups
Wednesday 6th March
Saturday 13th July
As the numbers have grown for the last 2 meet ups we’ve met in Weatherspoons, as there was no where big enough to accommodate us. I think that will be the case for the July meet up, but I’m expecting the March meet up to be a smaller group. If it is I will arrange for us to meet up in a coffee shop. Obviously I’ll keep you updated.
Still undecided if you should come??
Here’s the photos from last years meet up which I never got round to posting. Better late than never!
Sheila was my house guest for the weekend which prompted the meet up. Here we are ready to set to meet the lovely Spoolettes.
The Creative Craft Centre
We were lucky our day coincided with the Creative Crafts Centre birthday celebrations!
Lunch including G&T in ‘Spoons’ for around a fiver!!
Sheila was my first house guest in my new home. Here’s a few more pics of our weeks – a trip to Hebden Bridge, crochet/knitting at a cricket match, a curry, cake and of course something alcoholic!
Sheila heading back on hopefully a less stressful journey, with a seat!
Hope you can make one or both of the dates! Have you started looking at flights yet Del!!
I’ll keep you updated on times etc for the days. There will be fabric and pattern swaps, but they can get a bit big, so if you only bring just 1 or 2 of each that would be great as there’s usually quite a few bits and pieces left after.
Hope you’ve got those dates pencilled in your diaries,
See you in a few weeks!
Thimbers xx
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
Hello Lovelies!
I’m wondering should I mention my absence and apologise for it? Or do I just crack on and bombard you with lots of photos of some of my goings on over the last few weeks? Yea, I think I’ll just do that.
I picked up a leather skirt from a charity shop, it was either £5 or £10. It needed shortening and taking in at the hips – I forgot I had done this, I must dig it out of the wardrobe!
My birthday lunch back in October!
Cyber mum….not looking to impressed but looking very slim!
Girlie night out – the same place I went for my birthday but it’s totally different on a Friday night, when there is usually a band on. The food is always great – here’s the link if you live over this way and fancy going – Jeremy’s at The Boathouse
More eating out! Not wonder I’ve put on 1/2 stone (or more!) since I reached my target back in May last year! This time for my sister’s birthday.
Magnetic signs for above patient’s bed – I think I should have this permenantly stuck over my mouth!
A rare sunny day for H and I to practice our putting.
Proper Yorkshire puddings!
Fell in love with these boots I found in TKMaxx
Catching up with the cricket mums – this has reminded me that another one is now overdue!
Another birthday meal out. This time with my lovely niece Lucy is is now 20!! OMG, saying that makes me feel really old! Do you remember the post about Lucy’s Lace when she borrowed my sewing machine for her GCSE textile project.
As usual I found it difficult impossible to resist a pudding!
I picked this up in a charity shop. It’s destined for a refashion but still in the to do pile.
Family photo – is H growing or are we shrinking?!
H being in touch with his feminine side – swapping coats with his (now ex) girlfriend.
Me and my bestie all ready for a night out. Yes it was fancy dress, honest.
Cyber pops turnbed 70 back in November and we had a few days away in Whitby. My room was in the attic of an old house. There was no wardrobe but instead this gorgeous hangers on a coat stand.
My big brother who I don’t see too often as he lives down south.
Family photo – it took quite a few attempts with the self timer before we got a half decent one!
Our ladies golf team at the presentation night – we won the team championships back in April 2017 but the presentation is always later in the year.
Every year we have a golf comp where we all dress up and play golf. Unfortunately Sue and I got the date wrong and turned up dressed like this a week early! Oops! We still played in our costumes, and everyone had a laugh at our expense!
Works Christmas do! These are some of the crazy bunch who respond to your emergency calls! We certainly know how to let our hair down!
A little more sedate…..an overnight spa break at the Titanic Spa in Huddersfield. I would recommend this place whole heartedly!
The apartments which you stay in have balconies with stunning views.
And there’s a fab menu with gorgeous puddings!
A Chick flick night in our apartment finished off a fabulous day.
Me at work!
Christmas Twister!
New Years Even celebrations…
Eating out at the Alchemist in Leeds…. this looked amazing and tasted just as good.
Our local ducks having a skate instead of a swim.
Still trying to eat healthy and H photobombing.
I’m in the middle of buying my own house!! At 46 I kinda feel all grown up as I’ve never done it on my own.
The house has a loft conversion! Errmm…. I wonder what this room will be!
I saw this crazy lamp in Debenhams and was tempted to buy it but it was £100! I’ll watch out for it in the sales.
I popped into Fabricate when they celebrated their first birthday and bought this little gem of a pattern. I was hoping it spurs me on to dust off my sewing machine but it’s not worked yet.
Cyber mom celebrated her birthday last month…
And I’ve gotten back into photography, and had a go at taking pics of birds. This was the best from about 500 i took in a day!
H was measured at a friends house. He is officially the tallest person they have had in their home. Currently 6ft 3 in his stocking feet and not 16 until June!
Lunch at Salts Mill in Shipley – they always, always have lilies and they smell devine.
On the hook – I bought some variegated wool – each ball makes a 14 inch granny square – I’m hoping to make a big blanket for my spare room for when any of my lovely sewing buddies want to come and stay over!
H looks even taller next to the mini trollies at IKEA!
I found a cafe in Newark that serves tea in the most stunning china …some of which is for sale.
I snaffled this bargain on ebay for my new house – only £26 and I managed to somehow get it in my modestly sized car!
I’m still eating egg and chips! Not quite as often as I used to, but more than I should.
Road trip with the cyber parents!
How tall!!!!
And lastly, this popped up on my Facebook feed…………love it!!
Sunday Sevens – nothing like what I’ve just done – it’s usually a weekly blog post of 7 ish pics from your week. It started a long time ago by Natalie at Threads and Bobbins and it’s now followed and joined in by many.
And now after going back and reading Natalies blog she too is playing catch up too so I don’t feel so bad, and am going to follow her suit and pinch her title for 2018. Wanting to join in too? Go one….it’s great to see what happens in other peoples lives in different corners of the world.
It is Sunday but there’s not 7! How could there be when it’s almost 3 months since I last wrote a Sunday Sevens post. So I’ll just get on and try it keep the writing short and snappy. Make sure you’ve eaten – there are a few food posts and they’re not all Slimming World!
Baby Moorhens on the golf golf. They weren’t very willing subjects when I tried to photograph then, they couldn’t half shift!
Stunning sunset one Summers evening at work.
Gorgeous meal after a team match at golf. So healthy, not the usual pie and chips which we often get.
Followed by a not so healthy dessert 😻
An evening with H watching Yorkshire Cricket in a 20-20 game.
Rory being very cute and not minding having her photo taken.
Stormtroopers at our local shopping centre, whatever next!
A very English Band Stand at Ripon racecourse.
Cold baked sweet potatoes, I just love ’em with everything!
English Summers at their best
I’m not a fair weather golfer so battled on in the horrendous conditions.
An afternoon in Skipton…. I stumbled across Cool Crafting, I’d previously been to their shop in Kirby Lonsdale but this one is new and much bigger. I took some more photos and will write a separate post….It really lives up to it’s name and is a really cool shop!
Delicious carrot cake in Shipton but I just had to complain. Nicely of course. The pointy slice of the cake was missing but the waiter thought I was kidding when I said I wanted the rest of my cake. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so polite.
Another photo in Shipton – I took the lolly out just long enough for me to have my photo taken!
Doing what I do best, at least in the summer – watching H play cricket.
A different game – this was Harrison’s last ever under 15s game, and potentially last ever junior game. I was a bit slow taking the pic though.
But he gave me a big cheesy grin once he’d gotten changed. I’ve no idea who he gets that from! 😂
I resisted this cake at the golf club…..honest!!
I won the Mike Ingham Vase! A beautiful crystal vase which I could’ve taken home, but daren’t so it’s in the trophy cabinet at the golf club.
Tidying up the back of my car at work!
This was in August on my way to work about 5.30am.
Also in August, and the highlight of this Sunday Sevens post – I went to Scarborough and met up with Rachel who came all the way from Malaysia (not just to see me!!) and Corrine, who lives in Scarborough. I’ve met Corrine several times in the past but this was the first time I’d met Rachel – from Sew South London. We had such a lovely afternoon, it’s amazing how you just know you’ll get on with certain people!
Another sewing pal, Bea, who I’ve now met in real life but hadn’t when I received this in the post…it never made my stash and was made up in no time!
My niece Lucy (remember Lucy’s lace?) is at Leeds Uni and popped over for the afternoon.
T
I made this mini quark cheesecake for a taster session at our Slimming World group.
Road trip – H’s girlfriend came camping with us for a few day (separate rooms of course!!)
How tall!!?? I’m 5’4″, H is now 6’3″ and his girlfriend is 5’10” I almost was tempted to walk with shorter families as I felt I didn’t belong!!
We camped near St Austell at the same site as Cyber mom and dad were staying with their caravan. As usual there were a lot of laughs, I can’t even remember what we were laughing at here!
In one of the villages they made use of an old phone box and it now home a defibrillator.
Our last night before we heading home.
Aw, love this pic of me and little H. It was the end of the season for the senior team he plays for and they won the league so we had one or 2 drinks to celebrate.
Sue and I at the races….before i took advantage of the all inclusive bar, wearing a speedy McCalls 6612
H shattered after a hard day at school, Nanny had given him a head massage and he was zonked out!
A little zipper pouch I made as a pressie
Last Saturday at a surprise 50th party. We’re having quite a flurry of 50’s this last year or 2.
Another yummy pudding at the golf club that I resisted! Only because I’ve crept outside of my target weight at slimming world!
En route to see a sewing/golfing buddy last Tuesday night there was the most amazing sky.
After a tour of her new Sewing Room we spent 3 hours chin-wagging in her hot tub. Yup, I was like a shrivelled up prune!
Friday I called into Brighouse. There’s a charity shop, well, there’s loads, but one of them has a designer shop next door and I picked up this jacket in a ponte knit for £15 which I thought was a good price.
And this Betty Jackson full lined dress, also for £15. I also picked up a black leather skirt for £12.50 but haven’t taken a photo yet.
Friday afternoon I had a walk with cyber pops around Tong Village, this horse was oblivious to me taking it’s picture.
And these cows were gathered around a smouldering fire keeping warm. If they got any closes they’d have been cooking!
Yesterday my nephew took part in a promotion of Les Miserables which is at the Bradford Playhouse in November. He’s playing the lead role!
Here’s the flyer if you’re local and would like to go see it. Click HERE for more details and for tickets. They’re only £10 each and if any of their previous performances are anything to go by it will be fantastic.
Today H played football in Hebden Bridge. I called into the train station to use their facilities and just had to snap a photo of the olde worlde station.
If you’ve managed it to the end, Thankyou!
Hopefully I won’t leave it so long for my next Sunday Sevens post.
And if you are new to my blog and haven’t heard of Sunday Sevens, it’s the brain child of Natalie from Threads and Bobbins. They’re weekly-isn posts of 7-ish photos of what’s happening in your life outside of the sewing room. You can join in once, and make it a regular part of your blog, or dip in and out as you fancy. There really are no rules but I love having a diary of what I’ve been up to, and love reading what’s going on in my blogging buddies world too.
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Before I ramble on and tell you about yet another McCalls 6612 I just need to say this flurry of blog posts isn’t due to me being in the middle of a sewing frenzy. It’s me playing catch up from what I’ve made over the summer and due to one thing and another (the main thing being cricket) I’ve not done much blogging.
A few weeks ago I had a last minute invite to a day at the races. Last minute, as in the day before.
It was ladies day so some sort of head gear was in order, along with a frock, shoes and bag.
My first thought when I was thinking about what to make (a ‘normal’ person would think “what to wear”) was this fabric I bought at Lucky Fashions at this years #SewDownDewsbury and how well it would go with this handbag…. It’s a rich cream coloured scuba with a gold leaf pattern and was a steal at £5 per yard!
I quickly cut out McCalls 6612 and basted it together. Although i’ve made this pattern in all different fabrics this is the first time i’d sewn it up in a Scuba. I basted all the seams as close the the edge as possible with minimal seam allowance as this fabric had much less stretch than all the other fabrics I’d made it in, and I didn’t want it too figure hugging.
Yup! That would do! I’d take a full 1.5cm SA on the shoulders to alleviate the gaping on the armscye but other than than I was happy with the fit.
Do you like my sandals? Cream with gold….what a stroke of luck that they matched so well!
At this point I went to bed. I’d leave unpicking and restitching until morning. It was getting late and I didn’t want to make an fatal errors.
So the next morning, in true Thimbers style, it was like something out of Ready Steady Cook but with sewing machines instead of cookers!
By 9am, I’d unpicked the basting stitches and sewn up the seams ‘properly’. I’d decided not to bother finishing the hem, armscye or neckline, and instead made a mad dash to Debenhams to see what they had in the way of hats and fascinators. I was in luck, but the fascinator ended up costing more than bags, shoes and dress put together!
I dashed home, applied makeup, straightened my hair and was ready when Sue picked me up at 10am!
We had a great time, but again I was unlucky and lost all my money.
The blow was softened by the free bar and I came home happy!
I’d taken the sticker off the fascinator so wasn’t sure which was the front, and ended up turning it around at some point in the afternoon. I’m still undecided which is the right way.
As I was leaving I bumped into the Lady who won the best dressed. I think we were both a little worse for wear!
She had made her entire outfit including the bag and hat!! I just wish I’d have been breathing in!!
And have you noticed (you probably haven’t!) that I’m wearing a different fascinator!? It’s mine honest – Sue had borrowed it as it went really well with her dress.
I think I’m nearly getting there. Just one or 2 outstanding posts to catch up on, including a mammoth Sunday Sevens which I really must get on with soon!
Hope you all have a fab weekend, and if you’ve nothing to wear for Saturday night there’s still time to whip up a new frock!
Cheerio for now,
Thimbers x
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 I thought it would be the right size.
I sewed all the seams with a regular 3 thread overlocked seam and after trying them on I needed to taken all the seams in approximately another 1/2 inch.
The fit was then spot on!
Now to see what they’ve look like together…..
I’d not stitched the two together in the above photo, I just wanted to get an idea if it would work. I asked my instagram buddies what they thought and the general opinion was “yes”. But then I had a dilemma as to whether I wanted to sacrifice this dress, or should I make another top to go with the jump suit.
I still had some of the blue fabric left and after rummaging through my pattern stash I decided to use Newlook 6648 which has a cowl – there was just enough fabric. It must’ve been fate!
I’ve made this top before, but as a dress and was able to pull it on over my head. As this was going to be pulled up over my hips I was worried that the neck opening might not be wide enough, so I made the back the same as the front with a cowl to make the opening a little bit bigger.
Yup! That worked!
When I stitched the bottom and the top together the top was wider but I was able to stretch the bottom to fit.
I needed to create a casing for the elastic. I was getting a bit lazy at this point, so used my cover stitch machine which was already threaded. And I inserted my elastic as I was sewing the casing as I find this way easier and quicker than doing it afterwards with an old safety pin.
Look at the old elastic I found in my stash! 65p from Woolies!
I used 2 lengths of elastic for the waist as one didn’t feel strong enough. And instead of tying a knot and creating bulk I stitched over the elastic when I closed the elastic casing.
I added binding to the armscye and stitched the hems on the pants with a double cover stitch. The neck of the cowl didn’t need finishing as it won’t fray and is turned over when stitched at the shoulder seams.
Overall it was a really simple make and I’ll definitely be making more jumpsuits this way!
I was really really pleased that I made the back and front with a cowl as totally by accident the jumpsuit could be ‘off the shoulder” and have a completely different look!
A few more photos posing at the races!
Looks like the 2 guys in the background were enjoying the photo shoot!
Everyone’s a winner! This was as far as I got at being a winner on the day! It’s amazing how brave a few gin and tonics will make you!
I’ve since worn this jumpsuit for a night out at the golf club too, and it was perfect for boogying the night away! One of the ladies commented on how well it fitted and couldn’t believe how it didn’t fall off the shoulders when I was dancing. It was a pure fluke, but I just smiled!
I’m wondering if I should wear is when I go to Yorkshire Cricket – one of their colours is blue and they give out head pieces for the crowd to wear….. I don’t think I could’ve got a better match if I tried!
This is jumpsuit number 4 that I’ve made, if you include the playsuit I made in the summer. I also have a black RTW. When Chris and I decided to Jump into June a couple of years ago a lot of people thought we were crackers but now jumpsuits are everywhere, and becoming more popular each season!
I’ll really want to make to more, and I really fancy a red one for our works Christmas do! Have you got a jumpsuit on your sewing to-do list?
Cheerio for now
Thimbers
T H I M B E R L I N A 