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#SundaySevens 93

Published by Thimberlina

Hello!

Another busy week, and if I don’t pull my finger out I’ll end up doing a double bill next week, so here we go! Before I do though, I’ll just mention the ‘feature photo’ – our village has a soft furnishings/curtain shop and I’m just loving the Spring window display!

Monday I popped into Leeds for a pre cricket season cricket lunch with a lovely lady who I met through H playing for Yorkshire. Look at this for a healthy choice in a burger place!! What is happening to me!?

Though I don’t shop for clothes I enjoyed browsing and getting some inspiration for my summer wardrobe.

I fell in love with this top/jumper……

And also this dress………

Tuesday it was a gorgeous day (7 degrees!) and I played golf for the first time this year without a wooly hat!

Wednesday Sue had her 2nd proper sewing lesson and started making her first Cleo.

She took it home and finished it, made another and bought fabric for 2 more! (oh to have those legs!! – maybe if I carry on loosing weight with slimming world!)

Sue’s Cleo number 2………

Thursday, reality check and back to work, keeping the healthy eating going…

And more healthy eating – no I know it’s not the same as looking at cake, sorry!

Talking of healthy eating….

At my weekly weigh in (a day early!) I lost 1 2/2 lbs, mum ‘stuck’ but that’s still 12 1/2 she’s lost so is doing really well, and hubby lost 2 more taking him to 8. So all in all thats 28 1/2 pounds we’ve lost between us!!

Sunday Sevens – a short blog post with seven/a few/lots of (delete as appropriate) photos from your week, invented by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

February Hawl

Published by Thimberlina

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 be and I didn’t want to go to trouble of making my bras and then loosing weight and then being too big. But since loosing a few pounds and needing less support I thought maybe now is the time.

I chose this particular pattern as Madalynne who designed it has made a video tutorial to accompany it which i thought would be useful for a newbie bra maker like me. I’ve yet to decide if i’ll make the matching bloomers!! It might depend how much the fabric costs as they look like they’re quite fabric hungry!!

The next 3 patterns I picked up at the pattern and fabric swap at SewDownDewsbury. I don’t know who donated these patterns but thankyou!! I’m grateful you did!!

The Vintage one on the left cost 3/- and surprisingly is my size, or there abouts. Previously when I’ve seen vintage patterns they’ve been for a 34″ bust and a 22″ waist or other ridiculous sizes out of my range!

Newlook 6860 I thought would make some pretty summer dresses for the hot balmy days when I’m watching H play cricket (yes I’m an eternal optimist!).

McCalls 6083 – with Jumping Into June the Revival coming soon can a girl have too many Jumpsuit patterns??!

This fabric was brought all the way from Germany by Chris. I wonder if this is the most travelled fabric ever to be donated at a fabric and pattern swap! Well, me and Karen from Wakey Makes decided both liked it and there was quite a bit, maybe 2 1/2 metres so we’re going to share it. The colour was hard to photograph. It’s best describes I’d say as Air Force blue, and is a thick stable knit and feels like some sort of technical fabric. The squares are embossed and are shiny! Maybe Chris could shed more light on this fabric….?

Padding for my bottom!! Sharon from Stretch Nation makes active wear to sell and also supplies fabric for making your own. She’s recently started stocking padding for cycling shorts.

My goodie bag from Margeret in the goodie bag swap. She was all bothered that she couldn’t make anything as her arm had been in plaster until just before the meet up but she put together a gorgeous and thoughtful set of goodies.

I didn’t intend to buy any fabric at the meet up. My Cora app is almost crash with being overloaded and I wasn’t sure it could take any more!! But I couldn’t resist these 2..

Cream scuba with a gold leaf print. Now who wouldn’t want this in their stash at only £5 a yard!? It’s destined to be a skirt for golf, I’d only need 1/2 a yard for that to maybe it will be a dress….i’m not sure? Or maybe I should go back and buy some more as I’ve just ordered another jumpsuit pattern and this could make one crazy jumpsuit!!

Pink and black stretch cotton sateen – also £5 a yard. And also bought with the idea of making a skirt for golf.

I also have a bag of fabric that I’ve been gifted by a Helen, a sewing buddy but I’ve not had chance to photograph it yet, so I share that next month!

Molly Top Hack #SOICITYBREAK

Published by Thimberlina

I’d say the majority of the fabric in my stash is in 1-1.5m lengths. As I’m very lucky and surrounded by lots of real life fabric stores I tend to pick up quite a few bargain remnants when I’m out and about. These keep my stash topped up and I can usually make a top or skirt from these shorter lengths. If they’re less than a metre I often have to have a mash up of 2 remnants and let the creative juices flow.

Like this cardigan….. boiled wool and a ponte knit….who’d have thought these would have gone together so well:

And these 2 pieces of jersey fudged together for a Molly Top:

So as you can see I usually have a happy ending when it marry up patterns and fabric.

But the Molly Top from SOI has had me almost loosing sleep. The grown on sleeves just make it that little big too fabric hungry for some of my remnants that are just shouting out to be a Molly. Like this wide striped ribbed knit I picked up in Samuel Taylors, Leeds. I didn’t buy it as a remnant, but when I pulled out the roll it only had 1.25cm on it, but it was in the bargain section at £2.50 (I think) a metre.

But as much as I tried there was just no way I could fit the pieces onto the fabric. Then I had had an idea.

How about chopping off the sticky out fabric hungry sleeve and adding that to the actual sleeve.

So I had a play around and this is how I worked it out. The fabric was 42 inches wide (sorry for swapping between metric and old money, I just can’t help it). So I knew the max width of the top could be 21 inches – that’s why below I’ve marked the new width of the top as 10 1/2 inches. And I knew the pieces would fit exactly.

I also wanted the reduce the size of the neckline so compared the opening with the renfrew and 2 other slopers that I’d made.

As you can see the Molly is much wider. It is supposed to have a band but like my cosy sweater I made I wasn’t intending to add the band to this. I changed the neckline width to that of the Renfrew.

So my new pattern pieces fit perfectly. As you can see I cut the length for the top piece and had just enough for the full length sleeve. There was no allowance for matching up the stripes of the sleeves to the body but as you’ll see later it turned out really well.

In case you’re interested the length of the fabric for the top is 27″ and the sleeves 22″.

It was a doddle to sew up – I hemmed the sleeves and the bottom hem in the flat, and when I sewed up the side seams just neatened up the overlocker threads.. This is so much easier, or at least it is for me! I use steam a seam to hold the hems in place as I sew.

For the neckline there was quite a bit of head scratching. But first, as soon as I cut out the pieces I stay stitched the front and back neckline.

In the end to finish it off I decided to add interfacing to the inside….

trimmed most of it away,

And a bit more! (the brown stitching is the stay stitching and the white was when I stitched the interfacing)

turned and pinned (yes pinned!!! a rarity for me)

and stitched with a 2 needle coverstitch.

Then trimmed away back to the stitching with my duck billed scissors.

Because of the staying stitching and the interfacing there’s no give in the neckline so no fear of it stretching out.

If you’re thinking of doing something similar make sure it’ll fit over your head!

Here’s the oringal length of sleeves. After a few wears and washes I shortened the sleeve to the top of the first blue stripe as it looked a bit big and as if I’d borrowed my dads jumper!

Verdict:

This is one of my most worn tops. It’s almost maintained the style of the original Molly Top with the dropped shoulders, but with a lot less fabric. It has turned out a lot bigger than my other 3 Molly’s, more slouchy, or maybe that’s because I’m shrinking! I wear it mostly with my jeans but in the summer I thinks it’ll be great as a sweater to throw on over capris and a t shirt.

#SundaySevens 92

Published by Thimberlina

I thought this week would be a bit flat after the excitement and build up to last weeks meet up, but it’s been anything but!

My week started out much like a normal person’s. By a normal person I mean someone who doesn’t work crazy hours, and does a 9ish until 5 ish job. I was starting at 8am. This is just the worst for getting to work, I don’t know how you normal people cope with it everyday! I travel on the motor way one junction on any other shift but the M62 is so unpredicatable I just daren’t when it’s busy in case I’m late for work.

So I take a few short cuts and sometimes the scenic route through the Forde. If we have really heavy rain I don’t risk this way though, luckily on Monday it wasn’t too deep and my undercarriage got a wash! My car’s undercarriage!

Some inspiration for those trying to eat a bit healthier. For tea I made the biggest omelette ever and had it with beans, then took left overs to work for lunch. It had everything in it, including sweet potatoes.

Tuesday at 8:30am I had a text beckoning me to the golf course. It was all a bit of a rush which resulted in a wardrobe malfunction on the golf course. But after 8 holes of having to keep hoiking them up they had to come off!!

Shrove Tuesday – I almost resisted, but they were popping up all over instagram. I spotted a recipe for some made with eggs and mashed banana – they were actually quite scrummy. I think it’s the first year I’ve only had one though.

Wednesday was soup day – 3 different ones on the go, stocking up the freezer.

Took the MIL out for tea and cake. The first time she’s been out since being discharged. She’s doing really well.

Obs I didn’t have cake!

Another first – I have never not had cake in this cafe!! This is where I had a daft moment for those who’ve seen it on my IG! Maybe it’s the cake that’s kept me sane all these years and now I’m going crazy! Note, cyber mom also avoided the cake! Well done mum!

I’ve had a happy hubby this week as he was able to pick up his new van!

Happy post!! The left pattern is for an equestrian shirt/jacket. No I’m not a horsy person but I just like liked the thought of a fitted shirt or jacket for golf. And on the right my first bra pattern. Now that the boobs are shrinking I’m thinking I might be able to make something to support them and not need scaffolding. Not sure if I’ll make the matching Bridget Jones’s – there’s big and then there’s big!!

Three golfing buddies who also sew came round for an impromptu lunch. Mags brought her overlocker that she’s been struggling with and we twiddled with the knobs and hopefully have sorted out her tension problems.

We had posh soup for lunch, and not a bread roll in sight! Kale, cauliflower and broccoli soup with a poached egg and salmon flakes! Very yummy!

I’m itching to get sewing. It feels like ages since I’ve made anything for myself and it’s only 2 or 3 weeks. So I dug out this pattern and brazenly cut up the tissue pattern and had the skirt cut out in record time. I didn’t realise all the tracing I did was just so time consuming!

All this happened (i.e. in the above pics) up until Thursday night. Then it was back to the grind stone on the late shift Fri/Sat/Sun.

I went along to Slimming World before work on Saturday and lost a pound and a half! That’s 6 1/2 in total! Cyber mom lost another 1 1/2 too – that’s 12 1/2. And the hubby has lost a pound taking him to 6. So all in all a happy healthy week!

Sunday Sevens – a short blog post with seven/a few/lots of (delete as appropriate) photos from your week, invented by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Giveaway Time! How Far Would You Go?!

Published by Thimberlina

Remember I said there’s going to be a prize for someone who couldn’t make the #sewdowndewsbury meet up?

Well there’s going to be 2!

The ladies who attended were such a generous bunch, here’s what you could win in the giveaway……

All you have to do is guess the total number of miles that everyone travelled to get to Dewsbury.

There’ll be a UK winner and an international winner. I’m going to share the goodies between 2 winners. The whole lot of prizes weigh in at 7 pounds, so when I’m putting the 2 prizes together the UK one will have the heavier gifts. Also, if someone wins the international one and they live in Australie I won’t give them Chris’s wooly hat!

Please leave your guestimate in the comments below, and maybe say where you’re from and how far you’d go to have a fab day with sewing crazy ladies!

The giveaway will close on Friday 17th March at 2300. St Patricks Day! So let the luck of the Irish be with you and happy guessing.

Just to help you I’ve tried to update the list of who went. If you went and aren’t on the list can you tell me, and if you’re on the list and didn’t go can you let me know too!

So…..who went

Me – I’ll give you a head start – 7 miles!

Chris – Hand Made By Chris

Hila – Saturday Night Stitch

Pam – Sweet Pea Green

Margaret – The Crafty Creek

Simona – Sewing Adventures In The Attic

Eleanor – Nelnanandnora

Catherine – Catternlace

Natalie – Somuchtolearn

Jenna – Stitched Up By Jenna

Hanna – Hand Made By Hannah

Pam – travelling from Chesterfield

Katrina – Rolling Eyeballs

Anne – Anne’s Blog

Gemma – Mustachioed Threads

Helen – Just Sew Therapeutic

Sharon – Stretch Nation Clothing

Janette – travelling from Wakefield

Sam – travelling from Middlestown

Karen – travelling from Hull

Amanda – Apricot Mylo

Lisa – Lisalooby1234

Karen – The Sewing Miserablist

Katie – Monkeysocks Learns To Sew

Janet – JaySpangles

Lucie – Love Lucie

Samantha – CullenSamantha

Margeret – coming from the Yorkshire side of Manchester!

Teresa – Navy Blue Threads

Samantha – Manfa697

Boz – agirlcalledboz

Shauni – The Maginificent Thread

Liz – so_momma

Jenna – Stitched Up By Jenna

Good luck ladies! Before I go, just a thankyou to Margaret who I received my goodie bag from her in the swap. She was a bit worried that she wouldn’t be able to go as up to a few days before her arm was in cast. And then she was worried that she couldn’t make anything handmade. No need to worry Margaret, I love everything what you put together for me, THANKYOU XX

Hopefully see you all at the next meet up, Thimbers xx

#SundaySevens 91 Featuring The Bronte Country

Published by Thimberlina

This week has all been about #sewdownsbury. But I have managed a couple of other things. Mainly work and healthy eating.

I had to drag myself away from my sewing machine for my 10am start on Monday. Working shifts I don’t normally get Monday morning blues on a Monday but I did last week. I wanted to stay home and finish my moneta! Instead I put on a big smile and headed off!

I stopped at Tesco on my way home and picked some whoopsed flowers….60p!!

They’ve perked up quite nicely since I took this photo over a week ago and are still going strong.

2 night shifts followed my 2 late shifts. At 4 am as I was pulling out of the drive of a nursing home when I had my first sighting of daffies this year.

I was running out of time for getting things done so I had to take my name badge to embroider on Thursday night. Luckily I got it finished.

My diet has been so healthy and I’ve been sticking to it religiously. Kale, courgette and cauliflower soup ready to be whizzed up in the magi mix.

It was soooo tasty, not quite in the same league as a vanilla slice, but tasty none the less.

Lunch at Weatherspoons at Sewdowndewsbury….. whilst everyone else was tucking in to chips and onion rings…..I had a healthy pasta dish.

Saturday was just the best day ever, but Sunday really wasn’t far behind.

If you remember, Chris came over for the meet up from Germany. She stayed in Haworth on the Saturday night so on Sunday I met up with her and my pal from work and we walked to Top Withins. Brian was brought up in the area and has walked round here all his life so there was no chance of us getting lost. When he was a boy he said tourists would ask them for directions but they always send them the wrong way! How naughty!

Obligatory stop at the pub for beer and food!

The first lambs I’ve seen this year!

Until next time……come back soon Chris!

So all in all an amazing weekend! What’s next? Well me and Chris are cooking something up…… Jumping Into June – The Revival! When we did it the first time 2 years ago Jumpsuits weren’t so on trend but they are now…..are you in??

Body shrinking update

I lost 2 1/2 pounds again, so thats 5 in total!

Mum lost 1 – that’s 11 in total (she started a couple of weeks before me)

The hubby’s joined in too but not going to class. He’s lost 5 lb in his first week!!

Hope it doesn’t seem too weird not having any cake photos, but eventually I’ll be having the occasional treat but not yet, sorry!

Sunday Sevens – the brain child of the lovely Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

#SEWDOWNDEWSBURY -a photo speaks a thousand words

Published by Thimberlina

Hey there! You all asked to take lots of piccies, so we did! I’ll keep the words brief, or I won’t have time to post (I don’t watch much TV but Broadchurch is on in 15 minutes!!)

First just a few thankyous! To my lovely prefects for helping everything run smoothly….Hila, Karen and Karen. I’m so lucky that these ladies live close to me and are real life friends now, as well as on the screen!

Karen and Karen – how crazy is it that these 2 discovered whilst doing their goodie bag duties that they were in the same class at high school!! So as well as having a sewists meet up, little did I know that I’d organised a school reunion!!

We took over a section of the pub, it seated about 28, but before long there was standing room only.

The goodie bag swap went down really well – I’ll write a separate post for that as there’s the competition for you to win one too to announce!

This picture (which I’ve borrowed from Eleanor) really sums that day up!

And I met Shauni’s amazing new dress. It’s even more stunning in really life!

Before we hit the shops we had a group photos for the Moneta Party – I’m sure by now it needs no introduction!

And then 30+ ladies hit the shops!

FABWORKS (thanks for this pic Eleanor)

As Dewsbury is only small, even though we didn’t all stick together we all kept ‘bumping’ into each other.

LUCKY FASHIONS

Hila being her usual not very restrained self! I can’t wait until she updates her you tube channel with her Dewsbury fabric haul – it’ll be a feature length film, be sure to stock up on popcorn before you sit down to watch 😆.

We headed back to the pub for a bite to eat and for a pattern/fabric swap…..

Do you recognise the pattern below Del – I took the pack of patterns you sent a while ago and they all went to good homes!

And then the sad part came when it was time to go home. But I smiled all night, and I’m still smiling now!

I’ve some more to tell you from Sewdowndewsbury, including my haul and how the goodie bag swap went, and of course to open up the completion, so hopefully later in the week…….

Until then

Cheerio

Ali x

The Cold Shoulder – Lekala 5669

Published by Thimberlina

I was browsing through the Lekala website a couple of weeks ago and stumbled across this little on-trend beauty! Lekala 5669…..

I just fell for it straight away – the cold shoulder detail was bang on trend but subtle enough for a someone approaching middle age to wear – not that I feel it.

So it was downloaded and stuck it together before you could say boo to a goose. Then came the hard bit.

I have quite a few jersey’s in my stash. 32 to be exact if I check my Cora App!!! And true to form I fancied making a muslin of this pattern. Mainly because it looks a bit confusing how it’s put together, not because of the fit – when I’m sewing with jersey and using Lekala I generally find the fit to be spot on.

So I had a rummage through the app on my phone and decided upon this very stretchy see through mesh fabric.

I had bought 5 panels, each being 1.2m, for less than £6 inc P&P from an ebay seller last year. So I thought i could make the top, and if it worked out all well and good, and if id didn’t I had loads of this fabric so it wouldn’t matter.

I gave a little thought to the pattern placement, but not much. Just to mention, you can see below the seam allowances. I bought this pattern without SA (you have the option of them being added for about 50p). As I intended to sew this up on the overlocker I thought I would need different allowances on the neck, side seams and hem so opted to add my own. And I traced too.

“Traced a single sized PDF?” I hear you cry. Errm yes, I just can’t help it – sorry!

So this was a speedy make – it came together without any major hiccups, except I didn’t add the notches to the cold shoulder armsceye so added the shoulder too high. I’d sewn it on with a chain stitch so it was easily unpicked and rectified.

I’ll write another post later of how I hacked it into a dress, and also a few construction pics in case you’re thinking of making this – it might help visualise things as it is a little unusual.

But I’m too excited to do it now – I just want to show you my dress!!

I look pleased to be wearing it too don’t I!? I don’t think I could do a cheesier grin if I tried!

Remember I said I didn’t give a lot of thought to the pattern placement. Well, looking at the photo above I’m kinda regretted that now!

I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out! Can you see how it’s see-through at the top, but for the skirt I cut 3 layers of fabric and pattern matched them all to reduce the opacity and save any embarrassment – I didn’t want my silhouette illuminated with the disco lights!!

Here’s a close up of the 3 layers of the skirt. I spaced them equally apart – this doesn’t quite show the pattern matching – I was leaning forward to take the photo, but it does match up, honest!

The highlight of the evening wasn’t my dress unfortunately. It was the tribute act – George Michael – sorry not sure of his real name! But he was soooo much like him – the moves and the voice and the mannerisms! Everything!

So there we go. Would I recommend it? I sure would!!

And not just in the mesh, I imagine it would look fab in all sorts of stretchy fabric. The mesh was really easy to sew with – I sewed all the seams up using the rolled hem on my overlocker. I even used the rolled hem stitch to add the binding to the neckline which worked a treat. I’ll share all the photos once #sewdowndewsbury is over, it’s kinda taken over my life at the minute so it’s good to talk about something else!

Talking of sewdowndewsbury, when i was in lucky fashions the other day I showed Sanjit this dress and she proceeded to unearth loads of different mesh fabric! So if you’re heading there tomorrow and fancy making a stretch mesh colour shoulder number you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Happy sewing guys, and if you’re going tomorrow – only 1 more sleep and I’ll see you soon!! Now best get back to finishing off my name badge!

Thimbers x

#SEWDOWNDEWSBURY – an update and teasing you with more photos!

Published by Thimberlina

Only 3 sleeps for you guys! I’m not sure how to count mine as I’m working the night shift tonight and tomorrow so it’ll be 2 ish I think!

It’s all getting just too exciting!

So I thought I’d write a short post as I keep thinking of things to tell you!

I’ve been down Dewsbury today to make sure Weatherspoons have saved us a corner. They have – we’ll all be directly on your right as soon as you walk in.

Errm, what else.

Have you made a badge?

Like the goodie bag swap badge making isn’t compulsory. I only just traced mine off last night (using just my iPhone and a frixion pen) and am hoping to do a quick running stitch over the fancy writing and then stitch it to something a bit more substantial. Not sure when this is going to happen, I’ve not even hemmed my Moneta yet! And I’ve not got a goodie bag to put my goodies in! Oh my, I really need to kick my butt into shape!

I think you’ve all seen the map I created, but I thought I’d just use it again to introduce you to a few of the shops in Dewsbury for those who haven’t been before, or for those who have only been to Fabworks.

There’s quite a lot to see (and buy) in Dewsbury so it might help you plan where you want to go, or in which order.

Fabworks

This is just outside the town centre, a 5 minute walk from the market and Weatherspoons. It closes early on a Saturday at 2pm. It sells most types of fabrics, including leather, and if it’s scuba you’re looking for then this has the best choice. Fabworks online has brought them to the limelight in the last year or so, although they have been trading for donkeys years as a brick and mortar shop.

Lucky Fashions

I shouldn’t have favourite but I do! Manjit the owner is so lovely and really cares about what she sells you. It’s only a small shop but she has so much choice and specialises in dressmaking fabric. The last couple of years she has put on refreshments for us and offered to do it again. I declined her kind offer, so it’s my fault she hasn’t, as I think it will be too busy this year – the numbers have more than doubled on last years! So sorry ladies, but she did offer!

The Pound A Yard Shop

As you can see from the photos it’s been here quite a while and is well established! The fabric unfortunately is no longer a pound a yard!

This shop is huge and is over several levels, so would be difficult for those with mobility problems. It would be a fab place to play hide and seek!! Maybe I should add that to the itinary!

All these photos are just from the ground floor! They sell crafting cotton, curtaining, wadding, upholstery fabric, and all sorts of fabric that you’ll not have come across before. Don’t be put off by the exterior!!

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Creative Craft Centre

This will be moving round the corner in April to bigger premises, so if you’re reading this and it’s one of my old posts it will have moved – but not far!!

The craft centres entrance is just inside the undercover area you can see on the photo. Simplicity and vogue pattern are half price, and by the way of habbadashery there doesn’t seem to be a lot they don’t stock. And if yarn is your thing you won’t be disappointed.

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And then there’s the market. There’s several fabric shops, habbadashery stalls, and a wool shop. There’s an undies shop that if you find it easy to buy bras you might drop lucky and pick up a marksies one for less than a fiver. It’s a ‘real’ market with proper bargains. There’s a tripe stand too 😝 not something I’m contemplating any time soon, but you might!

Don’t forget there’s a giveaway for those who can’t make it for who guesses the total mileage travelled by all the attendees. There’s a prize for in and out of the UK. Hila is our Prefect of all things to do with numbers so she’ll be checking with you to make sure we know how far you’ve travelled.

As the number of attendees is now 30+ I think I might do the goodie bag swap before we head out shopping at 11. So if you’re taking part and are going to arrive later than 10:30 am it’s really important that you let me know so you’re not left keeping your own goodie bag, though I’d be more than happy to keep mine 😆.

Talking of goodie bags, I have 2 Goodie Bag prefects!

Karen and Karen…….

And the prefects even have prefect badges! Thanks to Karen 😘

Also, I realise some of you already know people and will have lots of catching up to do, but could you keep an eye out for those who aren’t. If you turn up and don’t know anyone, come and find me, don’t be shy!

I’ve probably missed some things but I’ll publish this now, and add to it later if I think of anything. So by for now, and hopefully I’ll see you on Saturday!

I’ve just thought of something else!!

The Moneta party!!!!! Here’s a sneak preview of mine!

We really really need a group photo of everyone wearing their Monetas, so I was thinking (yup, I’ve been doing too much thinking, my brain is aching!) 11am just before we hit the shops – if that’s not ok with anyone who is planning on wearing their moneta please let me know and I’ll try and do some more thinking!

#SundaySevens 90 – Double Bill

Published by Thimberlina

Hi Folks!

Apologies for the double bill! I’m thinking back to when some used to say I don’t know how you fit it all in! And now I’m wondering the same as it really is a struggle at the minute.

But I won’t dwell on it, I’ll just say (like for most of us do) that there’s just not enough hours in the day and it’s generally the blogging that suffers the most for me.

I am hoping to catch up on some reading this week, so if you get comments popping up on not so new posts you know why.

It seems like ages ago now, but I had a lovely surprise when I turned the page to find myself in the Sew Today magazine! Back in October (I think?!) I attended the Big Vintage Sew-Along Tea Party at the Harrogate knitting and stitching show. It was great fun! The Vogue 9082 i made for the occasion had so much wear at the races, weddings and dinners last year it was worth every pain staking hour cutting out all those appliquéd flowers!

And another lovely surprise! A parcel came from the lovely Del across the pond! She knows I’ve made peg bags for everyone except myself so she made me one! Complete with pegs! (the begs are currently serving a different purpose stopping my pasta from spilling out in my cupboard!). Thankyou Del I love it! x

Aw, and she sent a pressie for the cyber parents too…some crocheted coasters, which just happen to match the colour scheme in their kitchen.

I had a whole morning which was very dull and probably had something to do with me not been able to be so selfish with my time off through the week. I’ve been roped into joining the Health and Safety Committee at the golf club. Enough said!

I’ve been stretching my sewing skills – quite literally! This very fine and very stretchy mesh was surprisingly well behaved when I made Lekala 5669. I’m proper giddy about how this turned out and can’t wait to show you it finished!

I’ve solved the problem of the wide neckline of my thick woolly Molly Top – I wear my ultra chunky arm knitted scarf.

I’ve had fun and games hacking the Moneta pattern – the gathers weren’t really me, so I’m planning to have pleats in a contrasting fabric. Yes, it was just as complicated at it looks!

Eleanor from Nelnanandnora hosted a pre #monetaparty party! It was a great afternoon, catching up with friends and making new ones!

I dashed home from Eleanor’s to finish my frock as I was hoping to wear it to a do at the golf club – the singer was a George Michael tribute act. How much does he look like him?!! The night was a total sell out and it was liking giving George a good old send off as we boogied the night away!

I mentioned in my recent Valentine’s post that the hubby and I had been away, so you’ve already seen one or 2 pics from there. But here’s one more. Every now and again, maybe 1 in everyone 5,o00 pics (i take a lot!) I see of myself I like. And this was one of them.

In the background is the golf practice range. Yes! You hit out into the lake! It felt really strange. For the last 20 years I’ve always tried to avoid the water!

I’ve started taking a tropical pet to work…… Only kidding!! It’s my lunch!

I’ve signed up to support the Eve Appeal’s Make Time For Tea Campaign. So for those living in the vicinity look out for an invite for tea! I’ve not decided on the date yet – i need to check my shifts, but you’ll be the first to know!

The other day I was at a ladies house and saw this crocheted pot stand hung behind her kitchen door. She said her daughter bought it from a craft stall. I was quite disappointed as I thought she was going to tell me all about it and how she made it. Doesn’t it look fab though? I’m going to have to add this to my to do list!

Today the hubby and I have decided our house needs a big sort out. Well, we actually decided ages ago but today was the day and we made a start. A huge early spring clean has happened in the kitchen, this was went the contents from under the sink were everywhere but under the sink!

Much better, only a little bit untidy as I had just started making lunch….

What no cake!! For those of you who I leave drooling over the yummy puddings which I can’t resist, and the onion rings, well, there will be no more!! Not in the near future anyway. For lunch we had spinach and cauliflower soup! Much nicer than it sounds, especially when it had a shit load of noodles in it to make it more filling!

So there we go, my week in a nut shell!

I’ll just mention that I joined Slimming World last week so at the end of my Sunday Seven’s I’m going to document how I’ve done. It’s my 3 year non-smoking anniversary and in that time I had put on about 30 pounds. I’ve lost a stone on my own, but now I’m wanting to get back to where I was and an really determined. My ladies trip to Portugal is a great incentive!

Cuber mom goes too, and so does big sis’. So sorry Cyber Mom and Sis’ (i’m sure you won’t mind really), here’s the scores on the doors for how we’ve done this week.

Me: lost 2 1/2

Cyber-mom: lost 1

Sis’: lost 3 (but missed last week so hers is a 2 week loss)

So collectively we nearly lost half a stone!!

This is really good as my mum is quite convinced that we have a combined weight that remains constant, and generally over the years if one of us looses weight another one of us put it on!

Enjoy your week! And those of you going to #sewdowndewsbury it’s only 6 sleeps!! It feels really real now as tonight Chris and I have been what’s Apping each other sorting things out. I still can’t believe she’s flying in from Germany!!

Sunday Sevens – a short blog post with seven/a few/lots of (delete as appropriate) photos from your week, invented by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.