Sewing Projects – Sew Do It Emma

Oooopsa lacy!

Published on July 8, 2018July 8, 2018 by Emma_Ciarrocca2 Comments

Since the 5th May I’ve been on a fabric ban but this Friday past I broke it and I broke it hard!

You see when you see something RTW and the stock is low in your size but you have the sewing skills (this does not include boning or lace!!) you go what the heck and go all in, pretty much head first.

So this is the RTW dress I’ve fallen IN LOVE with and just wanna swosh about in.

The RTW dress is a beautiful Monsoon one but as said a second ago, the size I was looking for had gone out of stock. I would definitely pay £139 for it but that’s if they had it. But I’m not going to buy that dress, I’m going to make it eeek!

Fabric:

After ordering several different swatches and doing a ridiculous amount of searches for “mint guipure lace” online I wasn’t anywhere forward. Locally I was starting to loose my confidence in getting what I really wanted. It was on the final straw that I took the tip from a previous co-worker to visit Fabric Focus. It should’ve been first choice – doh!Above the linings, there lay the beautiful lace guipure in exactly the colours and shade I was looking for and too even make my July better the lining was there to make it pop! It’s a-lot more minty than the photo suggests. The lining is a skin tone. But I may have to double it up with a cotton because of the boning!

The Pattern:The pattern was a lot easier to find and in the end the McCalls 7720 was a very close fit.

I’ll get the boning, hook & eye, threads and zip organised at a later date. I might make a toile and see how that goes before I start back at my evening classes in August if I get other projects finished! I can’t thank Kevin at Fabric Focus and his lovely Mum (who actually served me) enough for stocking this lace. You made a very happy lady. This is just a perfect example why we should support local shops like this!

Disclaimer: all opinions are my own!

My Sewing Room

Published on February 11, 2018February 11, 2018 by Emma_Ciarrocca2 Comments

Having “had” to sew in living room because of my lack of tidying up mojo of the sewing room this week I’ve been focusing trying to find the floor of it.

I had a great idea last year to wash all of my fabrics, iron, fold away whilst measuring and recording them. It was such a monumental task, it all became quite overwhelming to dealt with. It was all very well in idea form but when you decide to get a puppy all things and plans go out of the window. I’m not blaming the puppy nor myself here, I’m simply addressing the matter that I took too much on and something had to give.

Move on 4 months and I finally can sneak up to the sewing room and finally get to grips with the hoarding of fabrics and goodness knows what else! Don’t think for one second did the puppy stop me from buying fabric nor the billion bags of fabric already up in the S.R. Ha!

I’m seeing a clear path now. It’s looking pretty organised now. There’s a plan to go through all the magazines and pull out projects that I might get round to. I’m going to be stopping my magazine subscriptions as I’m finding I just don’t have the time to read them just now and feel I can keep up to date with other methods. Plus I’ve got to keep the momentum up with my make nine and need space to concentrate on that!

Here’s some photos of the progress so far – sorry don’t have any “before photos” but just imagine lots of bags on the floor!

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ks for popping by!

Happy Sewing xx

Sewing Plans: My #MakeNine2018 Choices

Published on January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 by Emma_Ciarrocca6 Comments

DRUMROLL PLEASE …

So, it’s taken me until now to get my shit together. Yeah I know I’m already slipping!

However, rather than ramble on anymore to delay it even further here are my choices for #MakeNine2018 …

1. Cleo – Tilly and the Buttons (TATB)

2. McCalls Top 7360

3. Seamwork’s Mesa

sw3013-mesa-03-thumb-7857ee3564fe3915ef4de3c43e6ce241bc4db51b1675b17884a6ff17924fe557 — Seamwork’s Mesa Dress

4. Penny Dress By Colette

5. Toaster – Sew House 7

download-1 — The Toaster by Sew House Seven

6. McCalls 7536 Dress

7. Colette’s Moneta

8. The Washi Dress – Made by Rae

pattern_RAE_washidress_a_1024x1024 — The Washi Dress – Made by Rae

9. The Scout Tee by Grainline Studio

I’ll be able to match them up with Fabric without purchasing anything new. Most of the patterns I’ve also got. You may know That I’ve already sewn a Cleo and the McCalls 7536 but definitely attempting another of both!

Once I’ve dug out my fabric choices, I’ll do another post.

Here’s a sneak peak of my 2018 Sewing BuJo too, which I’ll leave you with!

Thanks for visiting!

What I love: January

Published on February 2, 2017 by Emma_Ciarrocca1 Comment

I’ve been finding so many things recently that I thought I might as well share them with you too! So much so, I’ve decided to do a monthly thing!

Ok so first up is the tailors’ ham and sausage! I didn’t realise how useful they are until I used them myself and further more I want to make a pair. So I found a pattern from Jennifer Lauren Vintage and now planning that into my projects!

Other sewing related items to make are pattern weights and a pin cushion! Ok, I’m torn between these macaron pattern weights and my own handmade ones! I could have both? You can never have enough pattern weights, can you?

So that’s a few more things I have to get on & make and I can’t wait to show you!

I’m loving the sound of the #monetaparty by @sewpositivity on Instagram. The Moneta pattern by Colette has been in my stash for yonks and it’s been a firm favourite since seeing so many vlogs featuring it.

One Vlog in particular, caught my attention and that was Gingerthread girl‘s version of Moneta. I’m definitely raising the waistline as I prefer a higher waist line and suit it. I’ve been tagged so I think it’s only right to join in with everyone! I’ve bought three bits of jersey for Moneta in mind – yes three.

Tilly and the Buttons book, “Love At First Stitch” is getting me all excited as the pictures and details for each project are simple to follow. I asked for the book for my birthday, which my lovely Bro bought for me! However, there will be a lot of grading up as the pattern size of a 20 ain’t going to fit around my hips! It’s one that I’m going to work through from the first project to the last. It’ll do me the world of good!

That being said I’ve already graded up Cleo and sewing that up as we speak (ok it’s not in LAFS but at least it’s one of my make nine 2017). Yes, I’m a bit slow to catch the Cleo train but I can’t wait to see how it turns out! There will be a post about this separately when it’s finished!

Editing my first vlog is taking way longer than expected but I am getting there and I am learning as I go – so all in all, it’s getting there.

I’m not loving the Anabelle dress at the moment as I’ve had to rip the seams a few times. And I think it’s way too small – eek & BOOOOO! I’m going to leave the LRD for a while as there are plenty of projects that I need to get on with AND FINISH.

So with January being over, it’s time to think what I’m going to be doing in February. I must start using my stash. So this month I’m going to rein in my splurges on fabric. I know I said that in January but there were too many sales going on and it got the better of me! February can be that month where I indulge in my stash (AND TRY AND NOT BUY ANYTHING) and really start using it as it’s starting to get to extreme levels!

Hope you’ve had a more productive January than I have!

SEWING: SMART GOALS FOR 2017

Published on December 31, 2016January 1, 2017 by Emma_Ciarrocca5 Comments

So, a few days ago I added a picture on my Instagram, showing off the projects I intend to do in 2017.

As you can see there is still space for another two patterns/projects but I’m still deciding which ones from my stash – yes I’m trying not to buy any patterns.

I get quite a few free patterns from my sewing magazine subscriptions. I have 4 – yes four! It’s definitely one, two many, so I’m deciding which one I don’t need. It’s actually harder than I thought. It’s like going through a break-up. Which one should I ditch? They overlap each other on some degrees, so I have to make a decision. Geez, it’s tough!

Right, back on to the free patterns, yes I have a good stash of patterns, paid and free and I ought to put them to the test and also put myself to the test of actually making a few things. So the Granville skirt and the waterfall jacket (free with this issue 25 simply sewing mag) are on the planner. Simple Sew’s Bardot dress (free with love sewing) is also up there (I swear I’m going to make this red dress, even though it might be past it and out of season!). Sew Over It’s Ultimate Shift Dress is finally up there too. If anyone knows of any exercises to get rid of middle fat on hips (FAST) – please let me know – it will avoid me altering the patterns hugely. That being said, I’m going to hit the swimming pool this year to try and work it off.

There I go again … always going off piste with the chat!

On the topic of SMART goals and because it’s actually the title of this blog post here are my SMART goals for early 2017.

Next topic, fabric. Urghhh Ummm, yes I have a confession. I bought fabric in December when I specifically said I wouldn’t.

Moving on swiftly – ha ha …

Vlog time. I’ve been canoodling over this for a wee while. I’ve done a rough draft (yes it was fairly rough as I bed head and I was still in my pj’s so that’s not going to go viral) so next is to re-do it and get a little less uncomfortable with the camera. That way I can show you the latest fabrics and talk you which projects I’m going to try in January/February. See what I did there RE: Moving on 😀

I’ve set up my YouTube channel – you can, of course, subscribe to it so, you instantly get notifications of when the first vlog goes live!

I got a few sewing goodies for Christmas too – one of which was on my last blog that I did and that was the sleeve board! My Brother In Law wasn’t too sure about getting me this as he thought it was too do housework but I said it’s fine it’s for sewing!

See you soon! And Happy Hogmanay when it comes to you all!

Sewing: Simplicity 4789

Published on November 25, 2016 by Emma_CiarroccaLeave a comment

It’s week 4 at Fabric Focus’s Beginners Dressmaking class and I’ve not had to unpick a single thread – woo hooo!

31068742412_7501bdabe4_m — 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!

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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!

Lessons: Fabric Focus

Published on October 30, 2016 by Emma_Ciarrocca1 Comment

Yeap, I’ve signed up for a block of lessons: Dressmaking for beginners at Fabric Focus, Edinburgh. Ok I’m no beginner but I’m no expert. I think confidence is the key but it’s always good to pick up tips and tricks for future projects and gain that extra confidence and experience to make a garment. I’d say I was a borderline novice. I’m happy to go at the class’s speed and not show off. Plus it’s always interesting to see what other sewers are using for both fabric and pattern! I’ve already noted a McCalls pattern which I like the look off! Yes, I AM A PATTERN MAGPIE!

Lesson one:

We were all sat down and guided through our hand outs. Abi introduced us to our surroundings and what we would cover in our classes.

There is a sheet for marking all your measurements in the handout, which will be handy for the project and for future ones too. Our task was to take our measurements and jot them down – Hips, upper hips, waist and bust are the important ones for this now as I’m making a simple shift dress, Well at least I’m hoping too!

Grading the pattern – my hips are wider than my waist, which is seriously annoying sometimes. Abi showed me how to do this for the front and then I did it for the back. We then all cut out our patterns according to our sizes.

Abi has sent us all home with strict instructions to pin the pattern pieces to the fabric for the next lesson. This includes ironing the pattern but absolutely NO CUTTING! I’m chomping at the bit, I will NOT CUT THE FABRIC!

Next class we will cut the fabric and start sewing!

I’ve chosen this beautiful Vintage blue cotton twill digitally printed fabric (see image below) from The Cloth Shop.

It’s a simplicity number for the pattern and it’s good value being the “easy-to-sew wardrobe elements” pack as I’m eyeing up the coat to do next.

I’m going with the “simple” shift dress (option C) for classes. I just want to be able to finish and wear it!

I’ll continue to update you with my lessons as I go to each one!

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