Pouch

It's a balmy night inside the house tonight and my fingers just seem to be sticking to the keyboard tonight.

A few weeks ago I really didn't think that I'd be able to achieve my goal of 52 blog posts for the year. However, here I am with my 52nd blog!  Fanfare music playing here!

I had purchased as a gift for a friend a quick unpick.  Odd gift, but this is very special.  I had originally purchased one for myself from Alan's Pen Making after rave reviews from other sewers on a group site I suscribe to on Facebook.  It's made from wood.  So pretty, and every sewer should have special tools to work with.

Here's the one I purchased for a friend:

I decided to make some sort of bag for it to go into.  I downloaded a pattern off the internet from Flamingo Toes called the Spring Zipper Pouch Pattern.  It is very simple to make.  I used a vintage fabric I'd previously used on some aprons I had made:

Well that makes 52.  Sewing goals for next year?

I will aim to:

* make and blog about 52 of my creations
* choose three mediums in sewing that I have not worked with, first cab off the rank will be leather

Happy new year everyone, it would be good if you could just leave me a short message about yourself and what you enjoy sewing.

Stay safe.

Happy sewing.

Sandra

Sewing Room clean out

I'm fed up with my sewing room!  Yes, I said it, in the craziness of the end of the school year and then Christmas, everything seemed to be dumped in there.  So, when I began tripping over things - it was time for a clean up and cleanse.

In my journey through this room I found some hand embroidered bibs that I had from a time when I was in a small business with a friend - guess what?  I'm going to sell those now.

Then I found some watch making kits - you guessed it, I'm selling those.

Smocked socks:

Then, there's a bag of fabric, yes, I'm selling some fabric.  Quilt hangers.

I just need to make some room, besides the cash can be used to buy something else I'm after.

Better get back to that sewing room.

Hope your Christmas was a good one.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Red dress - The Tunic Bible

I am feeling the pressure now, I have to complete my red dress for the Red Dress Challenge, but this challenge is double edged, these are the Christmas dresses we will wear on the final day of work for this year.

A few years ago  Ronda and I made up our own challenge - Christmas dresses for the last day of work.

To add to this we both decided that we would also complete the Red Dress Challenge.  No problems, right?  I love red.  Shouldn't be a problem...I stand corrected.  I have lots of after five fabric in red, but, only one piece that Ronda had given me for either a Christmas or a birthday a few years back.  Since I did not want to go out a buy fabric, this had to be what I used up.

The pattern I liked from The Tunic Bible.  In the book it is made out of a knit fabric.  I chose it because I liked the sleeves and had not made a dress with sleeves like this before.

It is a good pattern, for someone that is experienced in sewing and pattern alterations.  I need to clarify, I am very happy with the final outfit.

However, there is an adjustment on the front neckline for the scooped neckline, however, this does not correspond with the back neckline (it had to be lowered).  Also, because I chose to use a woven fabric, and not a knit I also had to create a front neckline facing.  To cater to my measurements, there was only one adjustment I needed to make, that was to lengthen the bodice at the waistline by 1" (2.5 cm).

The fabric I had was a very light voile, so sheer in parts that I have my husband worried that I might leave the house with just this on.  Not so, I will be wearing the voile slip I made in my last blog post underneath!

Here's a photo with the two of us:

Kris Kringle gift - McCall's M6132

Maybe I just work better under pressure.

As a part of my Kris Kringle gift I decided to make my KK an apron.  Why an apron?  Because if you willingly clean out the fridge at work, you need a special apron to make the task more bearable!  Besides this pattern makes me smile.  I hope it does the same for her.

I have combined two things I know she likes into this apron.  Cats and the colour green!

I had this vintage fabric that I have had for a while, I have come to the conclusion in my life that I need to use things instead of them becoming objects that you just look at or that become someone else's problem when you're no longer around.

This is a lovely pattern, I have used it before.  It is easy to put together.  It allowed me to do some applique and use some of the other types of stitches I don't usually use on my sewing machine to complete the whiskers, mouth, ears and nose. So, if you are looking for an apron to make, this is a bit of fun.

I actually made two of these in the same fabric, the other is for a friends birthday.

I want to make another two, one of which will be for me.  More of that at a later date.

Merry Christmas everyone, the real gift is in the giving.

Happy sewing.

Sandra

Lingerie Design - Full slip

In my next post, I'II be revealing my red dress, for the little red dress challenge.  Trouble is, it is made from a fabric that has see through bits.  I don't think my husband will let me leave the house until it is less see through!!

I contemplated lining it, threw out that idea and decided to make a slip instead.

Trouble is, I am not in the mood to draft the pattern, I just wanted to get it done and move on with other sewing.

I decided I would use the same pattern that I used in my red dress, but alter it using some basic drafting techniques and apply it to this alteration.

I am pleased with the outcome:

It fits quite well on me, appears wonky on my dressmaking dummy because my room is a mess, and,  my dress is no longer see through!

Tell me, do you want me to post a tutorial on how to do this?  It really was very simple to do.

Well, I'm determined to make it to my blog goal of 52 blog posts for 2016.  I can see that I am fairly close to this now, so, I will work hard to attain it.

Any suggestions as to what you'd like to see on this blog in 2017?

Merry Christmas everyone.

Sandra