Busy, busy, busy

Another week of sewing activity with some great results, really pleased with the last 7 days work!

This corset is made using Chinese Brocade, it was worked in 10 panels which were joined together and the seams were covered with casings for the spirals (modern boning). The spirals give the garment the support it needs, each casing was made using a contrasting silk which has been embroidered using a simple pattern on my Bernina Sewing Machine to reflect the pattern of the fabric.

It's Sophie my nieces birthday in two weeks, and she needs a special dress.  Today she came to my house from Somerset about 163 miles drive for a fitting. It needed to be right after such a journey.  I'm really pleased it looked brilliant. What do you think?  Comments please.

I did the toile fitting at Christmas, the dress needed some adjustments, but they were only minor.  It's a Simplicity pattern with an adjustment to include thin straps.  It's made in duchess satin and I decided to line it fully, the commercial pattern only lines the bodice, but it was simple just to cut the skirt pattern out in the lining, but just that bit shorter.  It will look better when I've taken out the tacking stitches, and hand sewn the lining in place  and put up the hem.  I've spent about 12 hours working on it so far and have enjoyed every minute.

The Start of the New Sowing Season

Today I started sowing my broad beans and peas for the new season.  I have used root trainers because I think they are great for getting a good root system before planting out.  I have planted Feltham First Peas and Aquadulce Broad Beans.  I know the later should be planted in the autumn, but after the last two years, where I've lost all my pre christmas sowings of broad beans, I've decided to leave it until now.  In 2010 and 2011 I replanted the broad beans in January and had a good crop both years.

One of the gardening magazines I subscribe to had an offer for Hostas last autumn and I ordered some, they arrived this week.  They are great, with really good root systems and ready to plant, I want to give them a head start by potting them up into small pots first.

They arrived with a leaflet giving clear instructions for what to do, so out in the greenhouse I went to get them going.  I am new to growing Hostas, over the last three years I have bought a few because the garden has a large shady border and they are a good plant for these conditions.  I have grown mine in pots, so when the early seasons flowers are over I can move the Hostas into the gaps .  Each year I bring the pots up to the side of the house for additional care in the winter, being in pots and not in the ground I think they need some extra TLC.

In my garden the slugs don't seem to bother Hostas, is this because they are in pots? Or am I just lucky! I wonder.  As it works for me I intend to continue growing them in pots, just as soon as January is over I shall put them out into a cold frame and at the end of the winter plant them into some nice new pots and find a shady spot in the garden for them.

A BAG TO MATCH MY HAT

My Blossom Handbag

After Christmas I made myself a new hat, last week I made the bag to match. All of the fabrics, in the bag were from fabric scraps I had in the cupboard, I did not need to buy anything except the zip for the inside pocket and the trims, I was pleased with the result and the money I saved, what a way to start the New Year.

I used a pattern from Amy Butler's book Style Stitches 12 easy ways to 26 wonderful bags. Once I got used to the way she writes, I found the instructions easy, I had made one of her bags last year and struggled to follow the instructions, so now I've got the idea I can't wait to find time to make another. I think I need a new shopping bag!

The inside has two pockets made from some of my left over patchwork fabrics one pocket is left open for my diary and the other has a zip.  The hardest part was stitiching the pockets in at the side, because of the thickness of the fabric, but by using a jeans needle, it made the job far easier. I used a magnetic clip, which finishes it off nicely. 

NEW YEAR PROJECTS

I've just started this camel jacket for a friend, it is a commercial pattern, but I've adapted it to make it a little longer.  She did not like the patch pockets of the pattern and I was inclined to agree.  I experimented and have incorporated the pockets into the side bodice panel and it has worked well. We are both pleased with the results and the look.

Once the jacket is completed I will put some more photos here and include some of the details in close up. It was quite a straight forward garment to construct apart from the sleeves, which not only add extra class to the jacket but gave me a bit of a challenge with their construction which was fun.

Thanks for the pattern Elaine

My friend in Spain sent me a pattern to make a Cloche Hat in September, it was quiet here on Tuesday afternoon, and look what I made! I found the trims in Hobbycraft yesterday, and stitched them on last night.  Now I'm off shopping to show it off.

Thank you Elaine



My coat was made back in November, I found the fabric in my cupboard, where I keep all the fabrics I buy that I will make up one day!! (Sewers will know what I mean.)  I wanted a coat to keep me warm when I'm out walking to the local shops, but big enough to allow me to wear one of the chunky jumpers my sister knits underneath.

Box Making is Fun

This week in the evenings I have been making this box, I've had the kit in the cupboard for a few years since I bought it at an Sewing Exhibition at the NEC. It was time I got it out and make it up. I am pleased with the finished box, but what I shall keep in it, who knows. Any ideas please?

Christmas Presents and Corset

In December I was busy making everyone presents for Christmas, I did not  take any photos as they were all supposed to be secret. However, I did finish my sisters corset, she chose the fabric back in August, when she came to visit, I made it up for her and she tried it in November during her next visit.  I have finished it now and am happy to show it off.

We now need to make a skirt and jacket and the outfit will be complete to wear in February to Sophie's Birthday Party. Sophie is my niece, the model in some earlier photos this year.

When I went to visit my sister last week, I took a toile of the dress Sophie wants made for her party.  She will be 21 next month and wants a special dress. The toile needs a few alterations but it is going to look good when its done.

Christmas Day

A lovely quiet Christmas the tree went up late,  as usual it was covered with our collection of birds and the embroidered angels I did about 15 years ago, they come out every year! I started  watering the tree and feeding it when it went outside after last Christmas. Although it lost a lot of needles in May and I thought it was dying, so I put it in the border in the garden out of the way and in the shade and almost forgot about it, then one day in August I noticed it has put on a lot of new growth, so I brought it back out into the sunshine on the patio and gave it lots of care, watering it and feeding it again and it lives to serve its purpose for another year.

A few days before Christmas I watched Lorraine Pascale on TV and had to rushed up the allotment to get some leeks and to Sainsburys to get some Cranberries so I could do her nut roast pie, it turned out brilliantly, I could not believe the pastry would stand up!!  But it did and the pie tasted wonderful, I shall certainly try it again.

For the recipe look on the bbc website and type in 'Vegetarian nut roast pie with cranberries'