It’s week 4 at Fabric Focus’s Beginners Dressmaking class and I’ve not had to unpick a single thread – woo hooo!
Simplicity’s 4789
Amazingly I’ve not had a tantrum with pockets (Simple Sew’s Sophia Skirt has the blame for that). It went a bit like this with the skirt hitting the floor and scaring my husband in the process. It went a bit like below!
So moving on (quickly) (in fact, the speed of light quickly)… I’m seeing this cotton fabric is quite slippery whilst getting it on the sewing machine. I’m still in love with it despite it trying to escape the sewing needle.
Darts are now in the front with the front part of the pockets attached. I’m going to attempt to attach the back pockets on the back bodice/panel then tack the sides together.
Front Pockets on!
Darts in!
Remember in my first project I said I wasn’t going to go full steam ahead of the rest of the class, well I’ve kept the pace – woo hooo (again)!
Also, I’ve learnt how to do tailor’s tacks, which I will be using from now in my sewing!
I’m still collecting fabric and patterns, that won’t stop (now that would be weird if I did) and in a few days time, I will release a post about my November Haul! Plus there will be a post on the #SewScottish / #ScottishBloggersMeetup and also on my visit to Dovecot Gallery. Plenty of reading for you to look forward too (plus lots of photos!!).
Only 2 more days until #SewScottish / #ScottishBloggersMeetup (at the time of this post-release) Woooooppppppeeee!
Over and oot!
Disclaimer: All images are my own and opinions are too, in no way are they sponsored!
With only 4 more sleeps to go until Sunday’s meet up with fellow Scottish Sewing Bloggers, it’s impossible not to get too excited about it.
#SewScottish #ScottishSewingBloggers
I keep pinching myself that this idea is actually real and it’s really happening on Sunday. Little did I know that the thought between myself and Lesley would actually develop into reality. EEEEKKK – exciting!
I’m looking forward to meeting like minded people who sew and blog and hopefully exchange a few ideas for our next meetup too. I’m hoping that this could become a monthly/bimonthly thing … you can dream!
As you know I do like to keep topping up my fabrics for all of these projects I have in mind. But Boy, the list is now bonkers – I don’t really have a list on paper as most of the ideas are in my head!!
Most of you know I’m doing the #thelittlereddressproject by the lovely running with style’s Renata and finally I’ve got my fabric – woot-woot! To date the PDF still has to be printed, which I’m concerned about as time is tick, ticking, tocking away – should I opt for a pattern I already have? The answer to that one should be a yes, now the big question- WHICH ONE? I think it should be a nice easy number, something that’s straight forward but party bound.
Next, we have some gorgeous cotton and it’s a John Lewis own brand. I instantly fell in love with it as it has lovely wildflowers on a dark green background. It was £14.99 per metre but it’s totally gorgeous and has a lovely feel to it.
I also bought the rather Christmassy Nordic fabric at the same time as the green John Lewis fabric. It was reduced to £5 per metre, so couldn’t say no to the bargain. Plus I actually need it to back my homemade advent calendar. And on that note, I’m still looking into wadding as I don’t want polyester wadding. I got a metre of the Nordic fabric to back the advent calendar. Looking at the date, I better get this done and dusted. Might have some time this week to sew it up. Might. Otherwise, I’ll be sewing it for next year 😂😂😂
Next up, is the fabric I bought from Susie D Designs Shop in Penicuik on her most recent open day. See post for more details about her shop! I have a soft touch for geometrics and this called my same. I bought 2.5 meters of it so it will be a dress! It’s an Art Gallery Fabric, 100% cotton and a lovely feel to it.
Fabric focus has this gorgeous suede in both Khaki and tan colours. I opted to go for the Khaki. Got 2.5 metres of it. More than enough for a simple shift or CLEO!
Erm … I added something else and that was the trip that the Lovely #SewScottish Meetup and this was some more lovely suede polyester material. At £9 a metre from Edinburgh Fabrics, it has a lovely texture. I thinking another classic shift style dress , perhaps the Bennett Dress from Marilla Walker. Edinburgh Fabrics has a good range of colour with the suede – it’s worth checking out. Also, I bought matching thread but now I’m thinking contrasting thread and with that i would have to ultra careful of stitching!
BENNETT DRESS by MARILLA WALKER – Gorgeous in suede!
Not only fabric lies in this “Haul” but some niche little tools have been purchased also …
Both purchased via amazon. And a bargain as under a fiver each. I picked up from a youtube video by Last Stitch
Some tailors chalk … I seem to lose mine quite quickly and no idea how!
This handy box should keep the chalk from getting bashed!
Patterns on my radar …
Yes there are always patterns on my radar, don’t you know I have a list? Ok now you do and boy it is long. It only seems to be getting longer 😂
And to add to the list is the cute “Cleo Pinafore & Dungaree Dress” by Tilly and the Buttons – isn’t it just adorable? I ❤️ it! I’m head over heels for the dungaree dress 😍!
With Black Friday looming Cleo was quickly purchased with a nice 25% off!
And then ALIX from By Hand London was also snapped up in PDF form! SO WHEN THERES A NICE DISCOUNT – it’s just impossible for me to say no. Impossible.
ALIX from BY HAND LONDON – so in love with this dress.
And then there are all the Seam work patterns that I have in my library – eek, I just love seam work (I actually did a wee post about them a wee while ago and all about why I love them). The “Kennedy” and the “Mesa” are the top two favourites to try first from seam work. And I’ve just heard that you can now use your credits to buy Collette patterns- Eeeeek! YES, YOU READ RIGHT!!
Seamwork’s KennedySeamworks’ Mesa
Adding to my stash of patterns and these were from the swap at the #SEWSCOTTISH meetup –
With these patterns came two bits of fabric – I may have to ask who put them in to the haul and also if they remember what it is … I have a mind like a sieve!
Then there’s this month’s gorgeous pattern from simply sewing magazine – well I think the Audrey dress is stunning and at one point I will try and make it.
So not just fabric, notions, patterns and tools have been added to the haul but also books 📚! Yes, I am also a sucker for a good sewing book.
The most recent one is “The better bag maker” by Nicole Mallalieu. One of my many projects is to make a bag, a weekender bag specifically and this book shows you how with handy techniques, tips and tricks. It’s got loads of lovely bag to make as well as a weekender.
I spotted it via Instagram and I’d say it’s a good find judging by all the hashtag #thebetterbagmaker attached photos!
Beautiful makes from various instagramers.
Next we have
Couldn’t put this one down …Love the look of these garments!
I was just in Dobbies and spotted these two and somehow they managed to be brought home with me … mind you total bargains!
Talking of bargains, the buttons below were too. I bought them from a stall at the North Berwick Quilters Exhibition. I will post more on the actual exhibition very soon on the blog. The buttons were £1 plus a book, which was also £1 too. I’m hoping this holds a couple of good shortcuts for garments.
A little less of a bargain were these buttons bought from Kathy’s Knits on Broughton Street – there’s a nice selection to choose from and are vintage finds! The thicker metal ones are ideal for a jacket!
Remember I said I have a mind like a sieve. Let me reinstate that dramatically – I received this “Simple Shift Dress” Sew Over Pattern yonks ago with a magazine subscription, only now I realise it has actual fabric in the box – total revelation and I realise I’m quite ditsy at times!
So for December, I’ve decided no fabric, no books, no nothing unless it’s interfacing or lining for projects. We will see how long I last … Day 3 and still nothing bought!
That’s all for now,
Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and I was not sponsored in any way, shape or form. All copyrighted pictures are my own.
With being quite close to me and pretty easy to get to by car, I’m wondering why it actually took me until now to visit this cute little shop in Penicuik.
Not where I’d imagined the shop to be!
The ideal opportunity to pop by was one of the monthly “open days” but I was suspicious with my sat nav when it started to direct me further into more of a residential area than the high street. I stayed with the sat nav, which I’m glad I did as I arrived outside the shop with parking spaces to spare.
The open days look quite popular as there were a few ladies in buying fabric. It’s great to see offers too (20% off non sale fabric and selected tools) – before you ask I was straight in at the sale fabric but didn’t really spot anything for a dress making project. Instead, I went for an Art Gallery Fabric with a geometric print. I totally see a dress in this.
Love, love, love geometric patterns!
As well as art galley fabrics, Susie D also stocks Cloud 9, Dashwood Studio, Tilda, Micheal Miller and lots more!
Ooooooh nice fabrics!
There is also a small selection of wool with knitting and crocheting tools. With some haberdashery staples like buttons and machine needles there is a good choice of D-rings, wadding and much more.
Good selection of wools!
Susie D runs classes as well. I’m intrigued as would love to make a bag. I spotted these patterns, but then thought I would (should) go to a class rather than purchase one and have it stored doing nothing as I’ve got lots of patterns doing exactly that! Don’t get me wrong – I probably will end up getting a couple as they look good, but I will do a class and see how things go!
Plenty of table space for classes!I’m really liking the look of those patterns but I’m proud of myself for refraining myself!
I’ll definitely be going back as I’ve had a few itches to make a bag – especially a weekender. Also there a good range of fabric, even tho it’s normally used for patchwork or quilting it’s still cotton!
Susie D Designs has a Facebook page and a WordPress blog too! Do check them out!
Disclaimer: All images are my own. I got permission to take them. All opinions are my own.
Well, I think I’ve found the pattern for my LRD in regarding to #thelittlereddressproject …. Cue the drumroll everyone … meet Alix, the new pattern from By Hand London.
Alix is only available in PDF form, so I’m going to have to get my skates on if I want it printed out by a print shop (i.e. I can’t be bothered sticking numerous amounts of A4 pages together!) buts it’s such a me dress! I love the long length as well as the short length so at the moment I’m toying with the final chosen length!
The Alix is looking gorgeous in red 😍 Short Version of AlixLong version of Alix
Ohhhh which one!?!? Because I’m short, I think having it just below the knees will suit me best and I’m pretty sure if all goes well I might even do the long version!
“Light to medium weight wovens will bring out the best in Alix – cotton lawn, voile, chambray, annel, double gauze, cotton silk, sandwashed silk, silk noil, wool crêpe, viscose crêpe, rayon and cupro.”
Oooooh – cotton lawn? Chambray? Silk? Crêpe?
Which should I choose?
I think 💭 Alix will look stunning in red silk … but I haven’t worked with silk before – eeeek!
What is sand washed silk? Silk noil? That’s something I’ll have too look up and see if it’s a viable option x
Some of you may know I have a little problem with fabric and I just love collecting it, so much so that my little Billy “fabric wardrobe” is full (I can just about squeeze in a couple more, but it will be a squeeze!).
you could say it’s full
I can’t say no to a bargain or a fabric pattern that catches my eye. Working in a fabric shop is sheer dangerous for me as I rarely walk out from week to week without purchasing something sewing related. Then again if I don’t get something as work then I usually buy fabric online or another shop.
In this post, I’d thought I’d share my recent purchases with you. Usually, I post the fabric on my Instagram feed but I thought I’d give you a little more detail on what project/pattern I’m going to pair it up with, where I purchased it and the story behind it.
It all started with a customer trying to find the ivory version and I was helping to source it. We didn’t have much luck, but I did find the navy variation on eBay. I kept this in mind and decided to splurge as I love the nature theme on it. There’s definitely enough for a simple shift …
I love the vintage print of the roses. Those of you who have read the class post will know what pattern I’m using. I’m going to pair it with a grey lining as it’s slightly thin and you can see through it. The lining will also help give it a bit more body.
Can’t wait to have tea and cakes in this dress!
Seeing Red
No. I’m not angry! But it’s getting closer to the deadline for #thelittlereddressproject as I write! It won’t be long until have to down the thread and scissors and show off my creation with the hashtag. I’m crapping myself! Have I taken on something too short of a time period?
Anyway, I saw this Ditte cotton Fabric in Ikea and thought what the heck, it’s only £3 per metre! I don’t think it will be for the #thelittlereddressproject but it’s back up. I think I have found a shade that I like and that would suit my skin tone at Fabric Focus but want to check that out when it’s daylight!
It’s not that easy get the right shade with a solid colour!
That’s the 3 most recent fabric spurlges … you will probably see another injection of colour pretty soon on the blog!
Sew Do It Emma 
