City Gym Shorts - stitching with a free tutorial. Not visiting any gyms!

I've wanted to make these shorts for ages - usual story of 'Bought the fabric, project on hold'. The easy to follow tutorial is from the The Purl Bee site and the results are fab.

First up I made a small pair for my daughter: 'We could have them as bedtime shorts too.' 

Next - a pair for me. Obviously I didn't need to go out and buy any fabric as my stash hardly noticed the removal of this flowery fabric. 

I'd check out the #citygymshorts on Instagram to get inspiration from other makers of combos with fabric etc. Happy stitching.

Embroidered portrait

Stitching a portrait, this time for a friend, weighed the task down with more responsibility. Would she like it?

Getting other eyes to look at my stitching always helps and they make useful suggestions.

I was so pleased with this piece that I wanted to keep it!

Initial sketch

Stretched & ready for framing

A close up!

Sublime Stitching - Flamingoes

I have this fab little transfer embroidery book, Sublime Stitching craft pad by Jenny Hart which I used to o make a little something  last summer. The images transfer onto the fabric, so it was a case of repeating the image and then I stitched some curly waves underneath the 'lingos. I think it’s a cushion cover in waiting….

The palest one on the right has slipped on some sea weed!

We were on holiday, hence the flamingo theme. I deliberately stitched the flamingoes in lighter shades of pink, as the flamingo colouring naturally lightens.

 

Colette- Sorbetto top with sleeves

I wanted to make one of these tops with sleeves and one lovely blogger shared her pattern and 'how to' add a sleeve to this top at the Sewweekly blog here. 

Here's the original link to the tutorial: Colette Sorbetto tutorial here.

I'm really chuffed and the Michael Miller fabric from Paper Village in Bristol; it has brought sunshine to the summer!

T-shirts - free pattern from Nani Iro

I like INSTAGRAM - images and ideas are pretty instantly shared. I saw this top that one user had shared - here's a link to her blog http://fancytiger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/jaimes-nani-iro-nuance-t-shirt.html.

You can download the pattern plan here and away you go!

I decided to add a tighter panel around the hem of the tops to make them snug rather than floaty. As the 'summer' we are currently having is a chilly one, I'm wearing my skintight long sleeve tops under them!

Applique textile picture - for Teddy

Well the gorgeous Teddy got his 'welcome new baby' picture at the ripe old age of 4 months old! I really enjoyed making this picture and thought I'd share the process with you, if you are interested in trying something like it your self.

The skills/materials used are:
- machine applique
- stash of fabrics - I've got plenty!
- using invisible stitching
- hand embroidery
- using 'doublesided' Bondaweb - holds fabric securely in place while you stitch around it
- fabric ink
- letter stamping kit - I use this one loads

1) The main picture of the elephant came from a Selvedge Magazine flyer. I drew the image to scale and then cut out each individual piece as a pattern piece. I choose my fabrics and attached Bondaweb to each piece, drew around the pattern piece and then ironed the pieces on to the elephant.

Ready for attaching to main fabric

2) I stitched the elephant to the main fabric using invisible stitch - taught to me by Quliter Dawn Cameron-Dicks. Here's the image from the reverse side.

3) I then added the other fabric pieces, which are only attached with Bondaweb, as the image is going to live behind glass, so did not need to be ultra secure.

4) Next I added some hand embroidery, using a range of stitches and matching tones. The picture was completed by the addition of flowers, circles cut from a gorgeous piece of fabric, which made the composition pleasing to my eye!

The only completed picture I have is a bit blurry....

Colette - Sorbetto top

Sewing a summer top on a wet Easter Sunday? Well I did. I improved on my technique by using a Bias Maker, rather than the method I used on the last top. here's the link to the patterns and the first top I made: Colette top-free pattern.

Using the Bias Maker was fab and it has made for a better finish on the top.

Here's the finished top. Now I just have to wait for some sunshine to wear it....or I could just chuck on a cardie!

P.S. Fabric from Flo-Jo Boutique.

Baby, baby, baby...bib

I've had this tutorial sitting in one of my Pinterest pages for a while now and have finally got round to making a snazzy chevron one made from Riley Blake fabric.

It's a really great tutorial by blooger Seeshesews.

Have a go!

Lampshde kit: 'My name is Alli and I'm addicted to fabric....'

I bought one of these kits in November and got round to making it up today after falling in love with some fabric in John Lewis. I feel myself getting all over-awed when I visit a fabric shop and then choosing the fabric becomes even harder.

Today I was restrained. I reminded myself of the colour scheme in my bedroom, my bedding and plumped for this delicious beauty designed by Wayne Hemmingway. I can't find a link to it - must be very new.

You can buy the kits here at: Make your own lampshade kit.

Following the instructions, I got confused in a few places:

1) Make sure you leave a 1 cm piece of fabric at one end of the strip, once you've applied the PVC.

2) Leave the tape on the fabric top and bottom edges ON until you reach step 18.

I didn't do either of the above so

1) Ended up with a rough seam :(

2) Got in a bit of a sticky mess, but I manged to sort it!

I am now the owner of a new bedside lamp. I feel this lampshade making malarky may be addictive....or something I could teach others to do. Mmmmm. Roll on 'extension' to my house and all those possibilities to run craft parties!!

Happy Feb 

Alli:)

Fabric book: Amy Butler 'Little Stitches' book

I've wanted to make this for ages and the need arose!  It comes from an Amy Butler book Little Stitches. Lots of fab projects in it - but I would change some of the fabric combos for my taste. I choose bright fabric for the outer fabric, including the vintage house fabric which I've used on other projects in the past.

I have lots of ideas for other fabric books to make and will post here soon. I'm off to make a different fabric book now, well not right now as I'm going out to the theatre to see The Little Mermaid', which I will share with you when finished.

Take care

Alli
xx

Kilner Jar pin cushion tutorial

Men sew, you know. I made this beauty for a male friend who is handy with a sewing machine and added into the jar some classy needle wear, Merchant and Mills needles and pins, newly stocked at Flo-Jos Boutique.

The tutorial was from Little Ruby Robin blog - here's the link

My top tip would be to not overfill the top with stuffing and before you pop the lid back in, make sure the edge does not have too much stuffing around it - my first attempt was too thick and the lid would not go back on. Version two was less stuffed and better.

Toodle pip!

Alli
:)

Simple scarf - tutorial link

I've been wanting to make this scarf for a while and now I have an overlocker the task is easier. The horsey fabric was left over for a simple t-shirt I made for my daughter, when I no longer feared stretchy fabric!

I used this tutorial for inspiration from Birdface blog. I think my daughter will like it.

May the new year be kind to you and yours.

Alli

x

Patchwork workshop - New York Beauty @ paper Village

In November I went on a fab patchwork course led by Dawn Cameron-Dick. She is a really interesting woman, a great teacher and so knowledgable in all matters patchwork, fabric, thread and needles. I think I'll have a go at making some more this holiday so I don't forget how to do it....

Here's the ins and outs of my work:

Here's a sample of work produced by others on the course at Paper Village.

Oh My Godet!

If you're a Strictly Come Dancing fan then you'll know all about godets and how Julien MacDonald refers to them when reviewing costumes. We love them!

I had an opportunity to use godets when I made a glamorous fancy dress frock for my daughter. I had some stretchy remnants of silvery fabric and we got going on the project.

I admit that I didn't add the godets properly, I squeezed them in, but we like the effect!

For the basic dress shape I used a t-shirt pattern I'd used previously and extended the shape to make an a-line shape skirt. 

I cut two splits at the front and back of the skirt in line with the legs.

There are lots of tutorials on You Tube to follow, if you plan on doing this properly!

This has to be one of the scrappiest things I've made, technique wise, but most satisfying.

Who knows, might even use godets properly one day, and put them in a frock of my own!

Lauren Child - fabric, collage and Chandeliers for the People

All images copywright Lauren Child

I have a little daughter Hettie.
       She's not so small but very funny.
She has always loved the books of Lauren Child.
       We have most of her books now.

Ms Child's books range from picture books to
        detective novels for pre-teens now.
When Ms Child's is in town we love to go and listen to her
        because we are inspired by her illustrations
            and          QUirkY 
                                         wriTiNg.

This Saturday we found out a bit more about her way of 
           working.
      
Lauren grew up in the 60s and 70s, like me, and her mother
        made clothes for Lauren and her 2 sisters.

We were also dressed in clothes my mum made for us.
      I feel a connection to Ms Childs and her homemade 70s
childhood. 

When Lauren creates her illustrations, she draws, 
        photocopies fabric, collages and such like.
She likes to use the computer to play around with the fabrics.

One source of fabric for her pics is the scrap stash at her 
        family home.
She also had a business called Chandeliers for the People -
        and has many remnants from that time that
               make their
                          way into her
                                marvellous illustrations.

Lola's pjs are made from fabric that was used to make a
       nightdress for young Lauren.

One small remnant was copied several times and overlaid to 
           make one larger image.
A patchwork background a bit like this one.

All images copywright Lauren Child

We are now into the 3rd Ruby Redfort book and think Lauren

       writes fab books for pre-teens.

In the Q & A I didn't get to ask my question. Boo hoo.

Me: On your slide you were using you whizzed forward to an image of Starsky and Hutch and Hart to Hart - how did they inspire your writing?

Lauren:   .........