Top 10 things I hate about sewing

So we all talk about the reasons why we love sewing (post on that to follow!) but we never really talk about the things that drive us nuts. So here it is, my top 10 pet peeves (in no particular order) under the cut.  Feel free to comment and add more suggestions!

vintage pattern shopping!

On the way back from lunch a friend and I popped into Snoopers Paradise in the North Laines, and we did a little shopping. Katja picked up some lovely 30s buttons and some cute knitting patterns, I found two fab 60s dresses! the shirt dress really has an air of the 50s about it which I love! (Though I don't think I'll be making the hat any time soon!)

Aren't they fab! :)

OMG what?

So I was looking for a pattern for my lovely bf Paul, (long suffering partner who has to put up with the loving room looking like Fabric Land threw up in it....) And wanted to make him a nice Spring/Autumn jacket as all he has are winter coats and hoodies.

So off I trot to look for patterns. O...M...G. WTF??? Below is a quick piccie of all 11 (yes a whopping 11) styles that Simplcity do for men. What kind of 21st Century man wears this kind of stuff??

pretty things!

Oooh two posts in one day! :)

I just thought I;d do a quick update on the lovely things I'm wearing today! A lovely new hairband I bought from New Look for a fiver (excuse the picture I'm at work and not having a great day..)

And some lovely shoes I bought from Primark yesterday for a tenner! size 9 wide fit!!! OMG can you believe Primark have started stocking size 9s again! Seriously made my day!

Aren't they beautiful! They are so comfy too, I had to pop some heel grips in as they are just a tad lose around the back (I'm technically an 8.5 not a 9 and that's UK sizing!) but no shame in adding some little grips! I love the nod to 40s fashion with these shoes, the little conical heels, and front detailing!

Today they have been teamed up with some navy skinny jeans, a green rouched strapless top and a gray cardie, sounds odd but it actually works!

Anyway, more posts coming soon, I swear I will do this more regularly, Honest!!

Jargon Explained 002 - Blind hemming

Blind hemming, we've all heard it mentioned, and if you're anything like me you only vaguely paid any attention until the day you realise you need to blind hem something. Which amused me as I only sort of knew what it was (mostly becuase my Sewing machine Aurora came with a blind hemming foot) but somehow knew I needed the stitch.

What? - A blind hem is a type of stitch that is done so that it prevents the fabric from unraveling, but isn’t visible from the “right” side of the fabric. 

Why? - Blind hems are often used when you don’t want to be able to see a row of stitching on the finished product. For example, window hangings, skirts, and dressed are often hemmed along the bottom with a blind hem.

How? - Although I have used a blind hemming foot in this tutorial it is possible to do it without, it will just take longer and you will need to pay very close attention to where your needle is on the fabric. You also need a blind hem stitch on your machine, this looks like a few straight stitches followed by two zigzag stitches (one off to the side, one back to the line) using the powers of keyboards this is a rough representation _ _ _ /\ _ _ _ /\_ _ _ etc

Step 1: - Fold and pin a standard double fold hem (fold once wrong sides together, then fold again to catch all loose ends)

gorgeous fabric!

I was out at lunch having a look round the fabric stores for yellow tshirting jersey (not as easy as it sounds) for a costume project when I came across the most amazing remnant of fabric! Not sure what it is, it feels like a silky chiffon with gold thread detailing! My plan is to turn it into a simple A line skirt so all I need to pick up tomorrow (payday fabric shopping!) is some lightweight black fabric (as this is rather see-through), a little dress zip and some matching thin ribbon to tape the edges as a rather fraying type of fabric, Shouldn't take more than an hour or so to knock up though!

It's not the biggest piece in the world, I'd say it's about 50x40 but big enough to make it just above the knee! No room for mistakes though! I also have some soft black jersey left over from a winter dress I made which I'll probably turn into a little blouse/t-shirt to go with it!

Help me name my dressform!

OK so the time has come to name my dressform. My sewing machine is called Aurora for two reasons, A) I'm a big Disney geek, and B) for those not clued up on Disney princess names, Aurora is the princess from Sleeping Beauty, you know, the one with the spinning needle...

Anyway you can sort of see my dressform under the progress of my Dino Dress

All suggestions welcome, just leave a comment!

Jargon Explained 001 - Stay Stitch

Over the next few months of so as I work through my newly acquired sewing book bought for a whopping £2 at my local Oxfam book store (only 5 minutes from work and deadly for stealing my lunch breaks) I intend to explain in normal human language what patterns and books mean from jargon to simple English.

Some of these JEs (Jargon Explained) will be really obvious to some of you, so apologies for that, but for the 5% that don't know, I'm hoping that next time you take a look at pattern instructions you will no longer break out in a panic sweat!

Some of the topic I'm aiming to cover are:

• Hand stitches
• Zips, buttonholes and pockets
• Collars
• Pattern Jargon

Many of these are simple to do and do well, but are often breezed over in pattern instructions, with little or no explanation on how to accomplish the tasks,  let alone why we should do them, and I don't know about you guys, but if I can't see a purpose to a stage I'm guilty of skipping it then wondering why it just doesn't look right!

Anyway enough of me rambling, time for the first JE!

Dino Dress is GO!

So after cutting the pattern pieces out a few weeks ago I finally last night started cutting the pieces and have started putting in the darts and pleats!

Front pieces on the dummy, back are still on the sofa with the sleeves! This dress also have little concealed pockets which is an awesome idea! I love having somewhere discrete to pop a tissue! I think I'm going to have to lower the neckline a little as it's not the most flattering on me, and possibly add some extra little darts from sleeve seam to bust, juts little ones, as even though this pattern is for larger curvy ladies it doesn't quite seem to curve over boobs very well, but nothing I can't adjust!

vintage fair

On Sunday me and a friend ventured into the Frock Me vintage clothes fair, I think I was a very good girl, I only bought a 50s polkadot button fronted dress and an awesome pterodactyl pendant (well right now it's just a piece of metal which used to be attached to something, but give me a trip to the bead store for fixings and 5 mins with my soldering iron and it will be a necklace!)

I've put a petticoat on the dummy too, though it's not the right size or colour it gives you a better idea anyway! I also recently bought some pretty demi heel mary janes which will go perfectly, all I need now is a white clutch and a small string of pearls and the outfit will be complete! Most likely going to wear this to a wedding I have in 2 1/2 months, but I'm sure it will be worn before that!