tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352252282024-03-13T12:54:36.723+00:00Gabrielle's Sewing StudioA record of craft projects, gardening and general life.Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-68477438723535627672023-05-04T16:26:00.004+01:002023-05-04T16:35:54.364+01:00 Two Sidney Bags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiio-Ct23l_SNxtoyQg8SngXOiR_FryrgoYk_GXGjczOrcuNMPSDk3xq3gjw70FrxKMx0s_VfxsalicSyUipJCyO0JYXjP_N5dtaCcHVDfLxH_ZQFjEqRacpPd5vI0StPeyGMh1sNrUZ-9A_I3hs0l-siDF_uBqJ3oBht0E2Qtn7SGP8C22Jp0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3211" data-original-width="1995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiio-Ct23l_SNxtoyQg8SngXOiR_FryrgoYk_GXGjczOrcuNMPSDk3xq3gjw70FrxKMx0s_VfxsalicSyUipJCyO0JYXjP_N5dtaCcHVDfLxH_ZQFjEqRacpPd5vI0StPeyGMh1sNrUZ-9A_I3hs0l-siDF_uBqJ3oBht0E2Qtn7SGP8C22Jp0=w397-h640" width="397" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Last year I downloaded the <a href="https://www.makerist.com/patterns/sidney-mini-pouch" target="_blank">Sidney Mini Pouch</a> pattern, designed by Isy Sew, from the Makerist website, to try out their AR patterns. I didn't really get on with the AR technology - I still prefer paper patterns - but printed out the pattern and cut it out from some old, torn blue trousers that I had retired from my wardrobe. I used the trouser fabric for the main bag pieces, and the pocket fabric for the bag linings.</p><p>(The trousers were linen Shoreline trousers from Orvis, the trousers that I copied I don't know how long ago, and modified the fit of to make my basic trouser pattern. I have made these trousers over and over in the years since.)</p><p>In order to make the bag more interesting, I purchased some decorative ribbon from am Etsy seller and used it across the unzipped front slip pocket, and on one side of the strap. I decided to make the strap removable using some swivel clasps and D rings, and omitted the zip closure for the top of the bag. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTAM2xXmt4SwZd8uU2Dd3w9ZuoWo0qVmONTlSIcsvsR72FPXSTFIFPhvjkujYpD0_xI88qD1mJcHS5xGFavXwM78bhH0mIbvE--Eb3SU2RDyUHyPWP6ncvv6dgs8aMyYfvItYxMvshpCtqXFlTXgXkjoNn5RYUfO1Et6N86GV0yU4tHM7R5lw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2509" data-original-width="2114" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTAM2xXmt4SwZd8uU2Dd3w9ZuoWo0qVmONTlSIcsvsR72FPXSTFIFPhvjkujYpD0_xI88qD1mJcHS5xGFavXwM78bhH0mIbvE--Eb3SU2RDyUHyPWP6ncvv6dgs8aMyYfvItYxMvshpCtqXFlTXgXkjoNn5RYUfO1Et6N86GV0yU4tHM7R5lw=w337-h400" width="337" /></a></div><br />I also omitted the foam interfacing, deciding to use only an iron-on woven interfacing on the main pattern pieces. <p></p><p>I am extremely impressed with the clarity of the pattern instructions. This bag went together very well, and is very practical to use. My only issue with it is that the front slip pocket is just slightly too small for me to put my phone in, possibly because I use a phone cover that is a little oversized to provide a bit more drop protection.</p><p>I was so impressed with the bag that, when a friend asked for items to use as tombola prizes, I decided to make another bag. Once again I used fabric from no longer worn trousers, in this case a pair of black jeans. I re-printed the pattern pieces and enlarged the overall size of the bag by 1cm in width and 1/2cm in height. On the bag front, I made the pockets wider rather than the side panels. Since the fabric was so substantial, I decided not to interface it at all. I dug out a grey lining fabric to use as the bag and pocket linings. Once again I did not add the top zip, only the one for the front pocket. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOlyFkMFV0fYSJ7oS1XgIoi5Oj-DA63jVHxwiq36iv7aTZw3lNLG8dsh8mulyucI1Fm1VqLHB4wpzZfNfj4mqSgnGZR1BeGlUfxp7K-62Mf3EjMGyJ6HuxJJHU4M26O5xpzHwRETh7QaQMxbr-OYSqXv_31tISrOtMsQQTxcPWUyOMX81QUUk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3174" data-original-width="1960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOlyFkMFV0fYSJ7oS1XgIoi5Oj-DA63jVHxwiq36iv7aTZw3lNLG8dsh8mulyucI1Fm1VqLHB4wpzZfNfj4mqSgnGZR1BeGlUfxp7K-62Mf3EjMGyJ6HuxJJHU4M26O5xpzHwRETh7QaQMxbr-OYSqXv_31tISrOtMsQQTxcPWUyOMX81QUUk=w247-h400" width="247" /></a></div><p></p><p>This time I followed the instructions for making a pen holder on the inner pocket. I also sewed the strap directly to the bag.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3FV90teUJ0AOq37AKZ2y-kDH_VZlZJZhUT09FIZ-5osyXNvX87zA6Ii8AdQL7tuQPdyG2Yy0AR7sTSXd8UoDt3bttQ69o9c3CnTb72qcoG84kaP4zkgLVTRh_8tdPyGK0OgA83F-kxAS1J8JbhnPogI8OAuIsSoMeST-Jy_fZriD8b8yhvgw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3357" data-original-width="3299" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3FV90teUJ0AOq37AKZ2y-kDH_VZlZJZhUT09FIZ-5osyXNvX87zA6Ii8AdQL7tuQPdyG2Yy0AR7sTSXd8UoDt3bttQ69o9c3CnTb72qcoG84kaP4zkgLVTRh_8tdPyGK0OgA83F-kxAS1J8JbhnPogI8OAuIsSoMeST-Jy_fZriD8b8yhvgw=w393-h400" width="393" /></a></div><br />I used this bag for one day only before donating it, to check on the practicalities of the increased size. I am very pleased with it, so I may well make at least one more, probably in a brighter colour. A final modification I might make will be to divide the back into a centre and side panels, and merge the resulting side panels to get rid of the side seams, to decrease the bulk where the strap is attached. And I want to get to grips with the top zip closure.<p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-19510596972082448382023-04-14T12:30:00.002+01:002023-04-14T12:30:16.694+01:00Remade handbag<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqHdtIQaBvUzZDEMIsmxmDhKVE4R_ZqGT8rpnxH7Pfe83mySaFit6dLWjxaVGZOrITFcfPpUZUO8ZpTNfZoPfJRvLt7YajRoGokIx1Xbf0RBPytRZRMUvusylF7whEYI0tvuQ7CzooTU6FaJjTUdYDT3PAz_1YwK7IdFNfJX2DDNNyUad6m8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3064" data-original-width="2003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqHdtIQaBvUzZDEMIsmxmDhKVE4R_ZqGT8rpnxH7Pfe83mySaFit6dLWjxaVGZOrITFcfPpUZUO8ZpTNfZoPfJRvLt7YajRoGokIx1Xbf0RBPytRZRMUvusylF7whEYI0tvuQ7CzooTU6FaJjTUdYDT3PAz_1YwK7IdFNfJX2DDNNyUad6m8=w419-h640" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A number of years ago (2001 to be exact) I made a leather handbag at a workshop using some pink leather with shiny black leather accents and a large wooden button. I noticed that the edges of the pink leather I had ordered and the black leather the tutor had brought along were a similar shape, and that they looked like they would make a good bag flap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the tutor's advice, I made the body and flap of the bag in one straight piece, then made side gussets for the bag out of the black leather. I made a strap by wrapping some of the pink leather around a strip of cotton tape, sewing it to the top of the gussets. The lining was pale pink, and I used interfacing on it as I wanted to reinforce the bag in some way and did not have leather interfacing available at the workshop.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG4JFgRg7TQvLs2sbhVzfQov6_xEg38-MhdaZUBlhNtk6s4IcmjF8y8rx3cO5ALefGzZ41yZZPdb9PtLvxqtxhx-RY_5hgZCVJnEKbK_ACreSlKuajWeJxomBxbnyHSyyl-gxWjgM0JT_lOTXvXHv_2ZwRFudp9Msxpgo2Mpd2XlU4NIc0t4k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="1890" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG4JFgRg7TQvLs2sbhVzfQov6_xEg38-MhdaZUBlhNtk6s4IcmjF8y8rx3cO5ALefGzZ41yZZPdb9PtLvxqtxhx-RY_5hgZCVJnEKbK_ACreSlKuajWeJxomBxbnyHSyyl-gxWjgM0JT_lOTXvXHv_2ZwRFudp9Msxpgo2Mpd2XlU4NIc0t4k=w373-h400" width="373" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was never really satisfied with the bag - the interfaced lining was just the wrong texture, and the straps were not the same width as the tops of the gussets, meaning the lining showed from the outside. I tried disguising it with some nail polish, but that did not really help. The strap turned out to be too short to use the bag cross-body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit1uYce0Rghu4dnw3h3Kcx2pviue29U2XyFpZCuc5r-Dk7g1jF8c0Gj7EVpcV98HorSzo3fRCdeWVTc42QgsQw1qS_rwKb8t11x7SsAe7a3Ycp4N4W94GPgNQHAqMu-ug5n3ZS4EL_iEhaszHQgp9LCYKwjdxkmADNwd-xab5dqyyIlfhsuIU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3888" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit1uYce0Rghu4dnw3h3Kcx2pviue29U2XyFpZCuc5r-Dk7g1jF8c0Gj7EVpcV98HorSzo3fRCdeWVTc42QgsQw1qS_rwKb8t11x7SsAe7a3Ycp4N4W94GPgNQHAqMu-ug5n3ZS4EL_iEhaszHQgp9LCYKwjdxkmADNwd-xab5dqyyIlfhsuIU=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I very quickly decided I needed to remake the bag, and tucked it away. Then I brought it out and unpicked it during lockdown. I managed to source some leather interfacing and thought hard about the best way to proceed. I decided to replace the side gussets, and eventually also decided to separate the front from the back of the bag and extend the gusset to form bot the sides and the bottom. I also found some darker pink interfacing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having got that far, I put the bag away again and ignored it for another 3 years. I remembered this and decided I needed to get it finished. Rummaging around in my bag findings box, I found some swivel clasps and rings that would fit the strap, and also a magnetic clasp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjjh1eFU2lVIphMr5MUbyffLdSPymipv9_kgs94gibSn9irZl9kqIguu3effJkh4CVFNeLwLJsnlwCLRsNFdvsMZyA3b9Mysxo1kLyRrxQ0ADgOeXczcYB53vzPMNHbd6GMhLAIpZNOGzsY8qIwQ2DiSo49c5b0t0PnMmWKmr21U89NJk_irg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="3508" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjjh1eFU2lVIphMr5MUbyffLdSPymipv9_kgs94gibSn9irZl9kqIguu3effJkh4CVFNeLwLJsnlwCLRsNFdvsMZyA3b9Mysxo1kLyRrxQ0ADgOeXczcYB53vzPMNHbd6GMhLAIpZNOGzsY8qIwQ2DiSo49c5b0t0PnMmWKmr21U89NJk_irg=w400-h184" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While remaking the bag, I added an inside pocket to the lining, tapered the tops of the gusset sides to match the width of the strap, made some additional strap-wide loops for the rings. I separated the flap parts of the bag from the back so that it would be easier to attach the lining. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCo45oZGVumQmQqWF8SbxP4rTrzHxphPkMCgqcwjpXUtHsY-yZJfO1RwD9N1ba2SS6SFI8L1x3hb-W5lZiI9wmmN7MF85uiqLwGY4svVvcZEtnDJOWIxKgkL5VwuSyA2aGEJWLIDcopIk3ISr6Nn5V4uPY0SuiVK0ACxhSa9PlNCOpJieE8LU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2445" data-original-width="3716" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCo45oZGVumQmQqWF8SbxP4rTrzHxphPkMCgqcwjpXUtHsY-yZJfO1RwD9N1ba2SS6SFI8L1x3hb-W5lZiI9wmmN7MF85uiqLwGY4svVvcZEtnDJOWIxKgkL5VwuSyA2aGEJWLIDcopIk3ISr6Nn5V4uPY0SuiVK0ACxhSa9PlNCOpJieE8LU=w400-h264" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first attempt to add the magnetic clasp turned out to be mis-aligned, so I put a rectangle of the black leather over the misplaced holes, this had the added benefit of providing some reinforcement for the clasp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9BSXSzvH1vCHAwM6Q4TbnO-fet4zku205euR3u05vJjvMK_-OEMJ4uMQ14AV0Oeg6xXU4bEgx9nAcFTTujJKWgf7oOn7NjEpBkPcdj17CejZVrlF82YjvSxZ8xp_-y5W1bbLNbx3WUBr84tVoumaHtGtJ3qhSBj3RVlukMSHgeDxeNlcarhI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="1990" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9BSXSzvH1vCHAwM6Q4TbnO-fet4zku205euR3u05vJjvMK_-OEMJ4uMQ14AV0Oeg6xXU4bEgx9nAcFTTujJKWgf7oOn7NjEpBkPcdj17CejZVrlF82YjvSxZ8xp_-y5W1bbLNbx3WUBr84tVoumaHtGtJ3qhSBj3RVlukMSHgeDxeNlcarhI=w275-h400" width="275" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am a lot happier with the new bag design, and feel I will now use it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghFH4_eLE-ZSp11z2Sd-OR4-qHM96rxap9rO5cj5U-ECITYtgjfMyQiBN2Jjsf5JfQvuYrW-0Q1A2SxrbUdOORtkMe1XOSuY_uPqWVDG70lUxA9NAIhS0_6aEgwpLA0viBi9ZW0ljwP-xyH92qZnW5E8kp2NCbkd_jC_fCX-wK2PR5A7I3sRI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3064" data-original-width="2003" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghFH4_eLE-ZSp11z2Sd-OR4-qHM96rxap9rO5cj5U-ECITYtgjfMyQiBN2Jjsf5JfQvuYrW-0Q1A2SxrbUdOORtkMe1XOSuY_uPqWVDG70lUxA9NAIhS0_6aEgwpLA0viBi9ZW0ljwP-xyH92qZnW5E8kp2NCbkd_jC_fCX-wK2PR5A7I3sRI=w262-h400" width="262" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-62245174797218047202021-10-08T11:20:00.042+01:002021-10-08T11:20:00.188+01:00Mustard Mae<p> I recently bought some <a href="https://www.dalstonmillfabrics.co.uk/recycled-cotton-blend-jersey-ochre.html" target="_blank">'Recycled Cotton Blend Jersey'</a> from Dalston Mill in the 'Ochre' colourway, and decided to make another <a href="https://doitbetteryourself.club/product/the-mae-poncho-sewing-pattern/" target="_blank">DIBY Mae Poncho Sweater</a> with it. (Though I think of the colour as 'Mustard' instead). </p><p>I got the fit right with the previous blue version, except the sleeves were just a little tight, so I increased the armhole and sleevecap slightly for this garment. I used the chain stitch/3 thread overlock option on my Babylock Gloria, and finished the neckband and hems with coverstitch. A really quick sew and satisfying sew. Not a lot more to say except I am really happy with this garment. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQGjf26ZhIo/YVbiN4Nyk2I/AAAAAAAAJ1o/GMcGvqyXjnI3rW4QxEgmgyWFi11hbGm6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/yellow%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1405" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQGjf26ZhIo/YVbiN4Nyk2I/AAAAAAAAJ1o/GMcGvqyXjnI3rW4QxEgmgyWFi11hbGm6gCNcBGAsYHQ/w440-h640/yellow%2B1.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I plan to wear it with a Gudrun Sjoden cardigan that I have had for years. I think brown or black trousers will go well with it. I also have a cinnabar necklace that matches this outfit, or I have some amber that might be good also.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gnJQ7FMJAo/YVbjbSAXVII/AAAAAAAAJ14/VELS8rM76mUu0X3nqcVAFwtXPGEhvnGaQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-29%2B08.29.12%2Bcropped.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1223" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gnJQ7FMJAo/YVbjbSAXVII/AAAAAAAAJ14/VELS8rM76mUu0X3nqcVAFwtXPGEhvnGaQCNcBGAsYHQ/w382-h640/2021-09-29%2B08.29.12%2Bcropped.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I have gone ahead and bought more of this fabric in red and grey, and may well make this pattern again in them.<br /><p>Oh, here is the blue one I made back in November 2020. Excuse the messy studio and lockdown hair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8bJuX2nils/YVbmhh-J16I/AAAAAAAAJ2I/C9hTDi2eDmQcRyGCKuqb-humVsL0tlQVACNcBGAsYHQ/s2462/2020-11-28%2B10.13.37-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="1114" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8bJuX2nils/YVbmhh-J16I/AAAAAAAAJ2I/C9hTDi2eDmQcRyGCKuqb-humVsL0tlQVACNcBGAsYHQ/w290-h640/2020-11-28%2B10.13.37-1.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-90088169600505682012021-10-01T10:24:00.005+01:002021-10-01T11:39:23.445+01:00Cover for my magnifier lamp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O8R_2XMT8_I/YVapcZJeZDI/AAAAAAAAJ0s/9CT_U7U-C4Q83PH7m-EFoLB83rURJHbwACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-19%2B18.07.42-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1612" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O8R_2XMT8_I/YVapcZJeZDI/AAAAAAAAJ0s/9CT_U7U-C4Q83PH7m-EFoLB83rURJHbwACNcBGAsYHQ/w504-h640/2021-09-19%2B18.07.42-1.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I have a very useful lamp on my desk that has a magnifying glass surrounded by a circular bulb. It is great for when I am doing something complicated or fiddly. For example if I am unpicking a seam, particularly using a dark fabric and thread, if I need to see more detail when I'm knitting or, heaven forfend, picking up a dropped stitch or 'tinking' back a knitting mistake. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3PDiOFzMZM/YVbRPK_YfXI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/Jh5lWlMAoag2InTWKcaWg5OG-8PHqN4GQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-10-01%2B07.20.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3PDiOFzMZM/YVbRPK_YfXI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/Jh5lWlMAoag2InTWKcaWg5OG-8PHqN4GQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h474/2021-10-01%2B07.20.00.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My desk is right by a west facing window, so I pay attention to the warning to cover the lens, because I have noticed that the focus of the lamp is pretty much the distance the lens sits from the desktop. I do not want small burn marks on my cutting mat. Recently the plastic hinged cover on the lens snapped off. On looking closely at the hinge, I realised there was no way gluing it back together would be successful, so I decided to make a fabric cover for the lamp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDz0l4mZC5s/YVbRaU1lF9I/AAAAAAAAJ1E/ku8hOxZgyVsxpW2RpTM1vmdM0Dg-nCOaACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-10-01%2B07.20.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDz0l4mZC5s/YVbRaU1lF9I/AAAAAAAAJ1E/ku8hOxZgyVsxpW2RpTM1vmdM0Dg-nCOaACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2021-10-01%2B07.20.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a lot of small scraps of blue fabric left over from making my sewing machine covers and the blue side of my reversible quilt. I used some of them making the thread catcher for my new overlocker but there are still many tucked into a ziplock bag. I have watched some youtube videos lately about what is known as 'crumb piecing', so I used that technique to create a rectangle of fabric that was large enough to wrap around the lamp. I didn't photograph the fabric flat, only when it was sewn together into a bag large enough to slip over the lens</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KewNiOTTETQ/YVapci1zVYI/AAAAAAAAJ00/8LkhWeT_D0kaqteLZqDPTeru5fZaSBgbgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-19%2B18.08.08-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2048" height="550" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KewNiOTTETQ/YVapci1zVYI/AAAAAAAAJ00/8LkhWeT_D0kaqteLZqDPTeru5fZaSBgbgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h550/2021-09-19%2B18.08.08-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D4TW2M5Xog/YVapciPNgzI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/QnoQr_2WToM5Q-8duRBvEFd7nC68_I4oACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-19%2B18.08.16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1776" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1D4TW2M5Xog/YVapciPNgzI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/QnoQr_2WToM5Q-8duRBvEFd7nC68_I4oACNcBGAsYHQ/w556-h640/2021-09-19%2B18.08.16-1.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><p>Having sewn the length into a tube, and sewed along one edge to make a bag shape, I boxed the corners to allow for the depth of the lamp and magnifier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vk1MJuRpkk/YVbRkVTQP9I/AAAAAAAAJ1M/7JcYwkk9t1Uj-ipe0HDTObpHLzfbA9VtQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1695/2021-10-01%2B07.14.43-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1695" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6vk1MJuRpkk/YVbRkVTQP9I/AAAAAAAAJ1M/7JcYwkk9t1Uj-ipe0HDTObpHLzfbA9VtQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h396/2021-10-01%2B07.14.43-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Since I planned to make a casing, I needed to make an opening for the cord. I could have made a machine buttonhole, but I'm not really a fan of tmaking them, so I decided to use a bound buttonhole instead - I feel they look nicer and are actually easier to make in my opinion. Given the thickness of the cord I used maybe a faced opening might have been a better option, but it is done now!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvS70bhs9l4/YVbSOnaI_cI/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/Xo1xBp17rOgBZp3npQbBzUDnK79GLarJgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-10-01%2B07.15.59-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvS70bhs9l4/YVbSOnaI_cI/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/Xo1xBp17rOgBZp3npQbBzUDnK79GLarJgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/2021-10-01%2B07.15.59-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>For the final step, I made a bag lining also from a scrap of leftover fabric, sewed it to the top of the tube, folded it inside, and sewed around to form the casing, which I then threaded the cord through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EwTuB-5csMI/YVbSzKlMRnI/AAAAAAAAJ1g/iOyphuUOPSEVM7JNHf843F1sZW3nmuBPQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-10-01%2B07.17.34-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1776" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EwTuB-5csMI/YVbSzKlMRnI/AAAAAAAAJ1g/iOyphuUOPSEVM7JNHf843F1sZW3nmuBPQCNcBGAsYHQ/w556-h640/2021-10-01%2B07.17.34-1.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It works a treat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-23738271832757985582021-09-11T09:29:00.004+01:002021-10-01T11:40:13.748+01:00Phone pouch for a friend<p> <span face="Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">A friend saw me with one of my phone pouches recently, and asked me to make one for her. I agreed, no fitting required and quite small, it took about 2 hours all told. I used the</span><span face="Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://ithinksew.com/autumn-phone-bag-pdf-pattern-1710" style="font-family: Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">Autumn Phone Pouch from I Think Sew</a><span face="Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">. (Which I have used before so I knew how to put it together.)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 15px; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">I used fabric from an old pair of black trousers (no longer wearable and not donateable) with a contrast front pocket and inner pocket with leftover quilting cotton from a quilt I finished last year. I even made the lining using the lining fabric pockets from the donor trousers. I made the interior pocket deeper and omitted the inner zipper pocket. I used the main fabric where the pattern calls for leather contrast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsVNLp6zh6g/YTxpOwtAUrI/AAAAAAAAJ0U/yWr2wqUMXtQ2SgYBBbsVr1Y-8QXwXfWNwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-09%2B16.51.41-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GsVNLp6zh6g/YTxpOwtAUrI/AAAAAAAAJ0U/yWr2wqUMXtQ2SgYBBbsVr1Y-8QXwXfWNwCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2021-09-09%2B16.51.41-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 15px; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Being black, I'm afraid the detail doesn't show up well, so here is a lightened image that makes it look grey instead of black.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Mcu2yXZ5Uk/YTxqD7K3IlI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/ZFXEvXVVAbcNGqMTDFdNjzlfi29t6n91gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-09-09%2B16.51.41%2Blightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Mcu2yXZ5Uk/YTxqD7K3IlI/AAAAAAAAJ0c/ZFXEvXVVAbcNGqMTDFdNjzlfi29t6n91gCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2021-09-09%2B16.51.41%2Blightened.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 15px; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 15px; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Now I want to make something for myself using the other leg, but probably I will use a different design.</p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-14006202760519917222021-08-14T09:02:00.015+01:002021-08-14T09:02:00.188+01:00Black Bento Tee<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_sBCQCxJ0M/YRIy0lh1SxI/AAAAAAAAJzo/Kuiqf7yw2voVBBTRwPb32j1iKuk5f8ilwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-02%2B08.58.03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1348" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_sBCQCxJ0M/YRIy0lh1SxI/AAAAAAAAJzo/Kuiqf7yw2voVBBTRwPb32j1iKuk5f8ilwCNcBGAsYHQ/w422-h640/2021-08-02%2B08.58.03.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>I used the <a href="https://oliverands.com/shop/digital-bento-tee-sewing-pattern.html" target="_blank">Liesl & Co Bento Top</a> pattern to make a t-shirt out of recycled cotton/polyester/lycra fabric bought from <a href="https://www.dalstonmillfabrics.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dalston Mill</a>.<p></p><p>The largest size of pattern was not sufficiently large for me, so I made it larger by comparing with my Mandy Boatneck Tee pattern - including making it slightly A-line in shape, and repositioning and increasing the depth of the pockets. When I tried on my toile, I also decided to deepen the armholes and widen the sleeves. </p><p>I cut it with a centre back seam to save fabric, and omitted the horizontal seam on the back. Initially I used the cuffed cap sleeve but was not happy with how this looks on me, so I took the cuff off and added short sleeves instead.</p><p>This is a very comfortable garment to wear, and the fabric feels soft and appears to launder well.</p><p>I think having pockets in a knit fabric is perhaps not very practical, but it might make a nice garment in woven fabric - though I think I will have to modify the neckline to be able to put the garment on. Maybe using the centre back seam again with an opening and fastening at the top? I would also need to bind the neckline instead of adding a neckband.</p><p><br /></p><p>In other news, in common with other people who made the Marcy Tilton Vogue pattern 9161, I felt swamped by this top whenever I wore it, despite being a fan of oversize tops. I therefore removed the godets and sleeves, recut the sides with the sides using my Mandy Boat Tee, T&T pattern, and resewed the sleeves and side seams. It now feels more comfortable and I'm wearing it regularly.</p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-55841949027699362962021-08-08T15:35:00.001+01:002021-08-08T15:35:48.356+01:00Gardening dungarees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQCE7GU14V0/YQ_S1WOUpqI/AAAAAAAAJx0/CK6VFahgrz0LlBXmO24mTDJMdgO0oSE7QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gardening%2Bdungarees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1176" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQCE7GU14V0/YQ_S1WOUpqI/AAAAAAAAJx0/CK6VFahgrz0LlBXmO24mTDJMdgO0oSE7QCNcBGAsYHQ/w368-h640/gardening%2Bdungarees.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><p>One of my sewing friends recently made some dungarees for working in her garden. I thought this was a good idea, the trousers I have been wearing for gardening have a tendency to fall down because of the amount of bending, kneeling and sitting on the ground that I do when I'm gardening. However I felt disinclined to use BRAND NEW fabric on gardening, as it gets so dirty and distressed. Then it occurred to me, I had some old corduroy trousers that I had replaced as they were getting rather tatty, much too bad condition to give to the charity shop. Why not use these to make some gardening dungarees?</p><p>I searched the internet for inspiration and help in the design of my dungarees, and found the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgaoJpGx2j8&t=21s&ab_channel=PaperStxrs" target="_blank">video</a> made by YouTuber PaperStxrs that provided me with a lot of help.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdib0xW2w4U/YQ_TLvZkHmI/AAAAAAAAJyA/WPIOtZTPyvQenNR5RWXH-XNG5VN4XgbkQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-05%2B08.07.17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1282" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdib0xW2w4U/YQ_TLvZkHmI/AAAAAAAAJyA/WPIOtZTPyvQenNR5RWXH-XNG5VN4XgbkQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-05%2B08.07.17.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first step was to remove the waistbands on all 3 pairs. One pair was far worse than the other two, having some tears around the bottom of the leg, so this pair was destined to become the bibs and pockets. I cut them off just below the crotch, separated the front and back legs, and evened up the sides. I then overlocked all round the pieces and hemmed the top and side edges. I decided to make both front and back bibs to provide extra coverage for when I bend or kneel down - the leg backs became the front bibs, and the fronts became the narrower and shorter back bibs.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2gxReO060wI/YQ_TKW-WrpI/AAAAAAAAJx8/lCGbTMrXrU4_3UrBk95DhQlCHBWlDkGEwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-05%2B10.09.53.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2gxReO060wI/YQ_TKW-WrpI/AAAAAAAAJx8/lCGbTMrXrU4_3UrBk95DhQlCHBWlDkGEwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-05%2B10.09.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wNmb8oO82s/YQ_TNrdq4oI/AAAAAAAAJyI/E1SyYVrjw3scChcboSYs2KOAarxj0iG6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-05%2B10.14.28.jpg" width="320" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the pieces cut from the bottom of the legs to make pockets to put on the front bibs. These will hold my mobile phone so I can play music while working without the danger of dropping the phone or getting it dirty or damaged. These pocket pieces I overlocked all round, hemmed the top, and attached to the centre of the front bibs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8etcsU0sLSc/YQ_pmJpq2KI/AAAAAAAAJyc/3VkCgKWbTE84jwbxrrj0dO7ze4uHgKZdgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.36.42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8etcsU0sLSc/YQ_pmJpq2KI/AAAAAAAAJyc/3VkCgKWbTE84jwbxrrj0dO7ze4uHgKZdgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.36.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I removed the side pockets on the other two pairs. One had some holes that needed to be cut away, so I inserted triangular gussets to patch the opening and leave then wide enough to fit over my hips. The other pair, I just sewed the pocket openings closed. (Afterwards, I realised it would have been OK to leave these pockets in place, but hey-ho!)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rdj4hdRKA88/YQ_TLl4LihI/AAAAAAAAJyE/zXu_mRhLhpYLp7ozydGBI1efHbB-jyeOgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-05%2B08.34.55.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rdj4hdRKA88/YQ_TLl4LihI/AAAAAAAAJyE/zXu_mRhLhpYLp7ozydGBI1efHbB-jyeOgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-05%2B08.34.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the remaining part of the 3rd pair to make back jeans-style pockets for both pairs of dungarees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bzYFDC9f_FQ/YQ_p9u8DEPI/AAAAAAAAJyo/-57OQ7xtmdMnI6r8eE-PYr9FFTYXTiMwACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.34.28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bzYFDC9f_FQ/YQ_p9u8DEPI/AAAAAAAAJyo/-57OQ7xtmdMnI6r8eE-PYr9FFTYXTiMwACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.34.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I was also able to make a single long leg pocket for the right leg of both pairs from the small amount remaining. They both have seams and are not on-grain, but whatever, they are gardening trousers! I can put my secateurs in there when I am not using them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qigb1PsF3T0/YQ_p9dLUgkI/AAAAAAAAJyk/lHeV2lDt_IgjABZyBEawbF63KmM-BmCVACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.34.46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qigb1PsF3T0/YQ_p9dLUgkI/AAAAAAAAJyk/lHeV2lDt_IgjABZyBEawbF63KmM-BmCVACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.34.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the waistbands had been in such poor condition I needed to find some other fabric to form the waist treatment. I found some cotton fabric left over from some previous trouser making that had enough long, narrow pieces to be able to cut the new waists for both pairs. I sandwiched the bottoms of the bibs between these strips and continued to join them along the top on both sides. I then attached the other edge of the right side strip to the top of the trousers, centring the bibs to the crotch seams. I was then able to work out where to join the waistband pieces to match up with the side seams, allowing them to form a continuous waistband. I then topstitched the upper edge of this waistband, then folded in the lower edge of the inner bands and topstitched them in place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbfdX2-muHo/YQ_qVFNDb0I/AAAAAAAAJy0/8SUBXYi6LrMUlLosGX2rCZwvszU473Q5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.36.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbfdX2-muHo/YQ_qVFNDb0I/AAAAAAAAJy0/8SUBXYi6LrMUlLosGX2rCZwvszU473Q5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.36.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This waistband was of course loose, being large enough to pull over my hips, so I made small holes in the back at either side of the front bib, and threaded elastic through the band around the back to the other side of the front bib to draw the waistline in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlzWNOrnhEg/YQ_qvY1yD8I/AAAAAAAAJy8/h3wxlo9ASSs-hTfv_LXQDwfChJOIfyieQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.35.42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlzWNOrnhEg/YQ_qvY1yD8I/AAAAAAAAJy8/h3wxlo9ASSs-hTfv_LXQDwfChJOIfyieQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.35.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the removed waistbands to make the straps. These were in extremely poor condition, having worn on the top edge. I split them lengthways along the worn fold, and overlocked both edges, then turned the edges towards the middle and used triple zig-zag stitch to make them into narrow strips. Since I did not have any dungaree clips, and Hobbycraft does not stock them, I improvised the strap fastenings using some D rings I had on hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqOtROD604/YQ_rE8F9EzI/AAAAAAAAJzE/IDOwtNsVtWcCytXhb9PrlTYLAD9zEHZawCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-08-08%2B14.36.24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqOtROD604/YQ_rE8F9EzI/AAAAAAAAJzE/IDOwtNsVtWcCytXhb9PrlTYLAD9zEHZawCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.36.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have already used one pair for a gardening session, and found them practical and comfortable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On reflection I wish I had either kept the inseam pockets, or sewn on some patch front pockets, but I can always add some at a later date, maybe using some of the leftover cotton fabric that I used for the waistbands. I may also use some of the leftover straps to make some tool loops. Another thought is to add pockets inside the legs at knee level for kneeler pads, for those times when I want to avoid kneeling on holly leaves or brambles. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg7t2D9YD8M/YQ_rVjXD1II/AAAAAAAAJzQ/LYHcv3A-S4AJRY1ZmBVpMgiQpTTk-7gAwCNcBGAsYHQ/s975/2021-08-08%2B14.48.48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="597" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg7t2D9YD8M/YQ_rVjXD1II/AAAAAAAAJzQ/LYHcv3A-S4AJRY1ZmBVpMgiQpTTk-7gAwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.48.48.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRmmY9AKTjo/YQ_rVl0nwxI/AAAAAAAAJzU/jCJBdK-YcEUgYOmOeyCm4s7VnOGZJCAWACNcBGAsYHQ/s2117/2021-08-08%2B14.49.07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="891" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRmmY9AKTjo/YQ_rVl0nwxI/AAAAAAAAJzU/jCJBdK-YcEUgYOmOeyCm4s7VnOGZJCAWACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.49.07.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHlZrGoEqYc/YQ_rVsO8HOI/AAAAAAAAJzM/nG-TJR8utDU29jkwTXmMTBbiduPgoMqDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1156/2021-08-08%2B14.49.32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHlZrGoEqYc/YQ_rVsO8HOI/AAAAAAAAJzM/nG-TJR8utDU29jkwTXmMTBbiduPgoMqDQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.49.32.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY4oDLYqc-M/YQ_rWkTfyMI/AAAAAAAAJzY/p6zIDsyl3IIsz8g1mGCXFl7pknBXOUMiQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1562/2021-08-08%2B14.49.52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="839" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MY4oDLYqc-M/YQ_rWkTfyMI/AAAAAAAAJzY/p6zIDsyl3IIsz8g1mGCXFl7pknBXOUMiQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-08-08%2B14.49.52.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-14505228329306086862021-07-24T16:10:00.001+01:002021-07-24T16:10:44.766+01:00Recycled Sari Silk Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a9Z6CbRuGg/YPwj8MAI_MI/AAAAAAAAJvk/Eb4fQWaGkocItr8X0OUD97JkHXkYacNhwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-05%2B09.23.42%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1769" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a9Z6CbRuGg/YPwj8MAI_MI/AAAAAAAAJvk/Eb4fQWaGkocItr8X0OUD97JkHXkYacNhwCNcBGAsYHQ/w552-h640/2018-11-05%2B09.23.42%2Bcopy.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><p>This is another project from the past that I have not previously blogged. Back in 2018 I visited the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, and bought a Fat Quarter of fabric made from recycled sari silk from <a href="https://www.thesilkroute.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Silk Route</a>. I purchased it because there was a very attractive bag made from similar fabric on display, and I felt inspired to make one for myself. I took a quick photo of the bag to remind me what it looked like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q480lPve3k/YPwkF9s_HrI/AAAAAAAAJvo/5xUeuE5Qsyw_5et4mtb-CvAMm2UcTEMxACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-10-11%2B17.07.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q480lPve3k/YPwkF9s_HrI/AAAAAAAAJvo/5xUeuE5Qsyw_5et4mtb-CvAMm2UcTEMxACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-10-11%2B17.07.13.jpg" /></a></div><p>One thing I noticed about the fabric was the way it was prone to fraying, so my first step was to iron on some stayflex woven fusible interfacing to the back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJpHn_Tmp1s/YPwlP4uLx-I/AAAAAAAAJv0/mTcIhgPopvEueU8LE-QTB-2ZD2RgzMF2wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-03%2B15.29.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJpHn_Tmp1s/YPwlP4uLx-I/AAAAAAAAJv0/mTcIhgPopvEueU8LE-QTB-2ZD2RgzMF2wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-03%2B15.29.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The fabric had a very interesting and decorative selvedge, so I decided to make a feature of it. I made the fabric into a tube, lapping the selvedge onto the top of the cut edge, and sewed it down. I made 2 parallel lines of stitching, and also a line of zig-zag stitches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_HMiNCnROo/YPwmL4vDkTI/AAAAAAAAJwA/odoMG_fER_86HiYL6sPlXSVJ-k6zuR7YACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-03%2B16.07.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_HMiNCnROo/YPwmL4vDkTI/AAAAAAAAJwA/odoMG_fER_86HiYL6sPlXSVJ-k6zuR7YACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-03%2B16.07.23.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_YooYus9yg/YPwmLQKt1zI/AAAAAAAAJv8/Zx4AhDd-S1YeKo5UTn2NDaRlKBuuv-_mQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-03%2B16.08.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_YooYus9yg/YPwmLQKt1zI/AAAAAAAAJv8/Zx4AhDd-S1YeKo5UTn2NDaRlKBuuv-_mQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-03%2B16.08.26.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>On looking at the resulting tube I decided that the lapped seam looked good at about 1/3 of the way from the edge, and marked the place I wanted the side of the bag. I then turned the tube wrong sides out and stitched along the bottom, then folded and sewed across the ends of the seam to create boxed corners, trimming away the ends. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__1IfKjXRBM/YPwnXs3zIII/AAAAAAAAJwM/w4rZ-VT5Gn4TCTATcB1t6bo51Z_3YnjlACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-04%2B08.34.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1971" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__1IfKjXRBM/YPwnXs3zIII/AAAAAAAAJwM/w4rZ-VT5Gn4TCTATcB1t6bo51Z_3YnjlACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-04%2B08.34.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I pressed the ends and sides well to give the base some definition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYpEBVPOZDA/YPwsrYgFiQI/AAAAAAAAJw0/fQ88hjDCuT0UzRTIpLo6fhcEJpl7wowtwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2611/2018-11-04%2B08.35.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2611" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYpEBVPOZDA/YPwsrYgFiQI/AAAAAAAAJw0/fQ88hjDCuT0UzRTIpLo6fhcEJpl7wowtwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-04%2B08.35.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I rummaged in my fabric stash and found a cotton print that had the perfect colours to go with the sari silk fabric. I cut a lining to match the size of the bag, and added 2 pockets, one with a zip and the other a plain pouch. I also added my label at this time. I constructed the lining in the same way as the bag, with boxed corners, leaving an opening at the bottom for turning.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VY_Y5Wx0Czk/YPwo5oLY-2I/AAAAAAAAJwU/Ecc7H5x3n-AufeSiFiCE1Mxlwhq38LsDwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-05%2B07.12.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VY_Y5Wx0Czk/YPwo5oLY-2I/AAAAAAAAJwU/Ecc7H5x3n-AufeSiFiCE1Mxlwhq38LsDwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-05%2B07.12.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><p>I looked at the size of the bag, and decided to take a small amount from the top to use for making a strap. This needed to be cut in half and joined lengthwise to make a long enough strap, and to make it double thickness with a joining seam would have made it too thick. I had another rummage and found a length of blue ribbon that matched well, then I joined the ends of my trimmed off strip with a zig zag stitch, folded the sides in, and covered the back with the ribbon, zig-zagging along both folded edges to hide the raw edges. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UiReJkxcmyU/YPwp8j5u8kI/AAAAAAAAJwc/qXTbFQFgaEUhVJjA-p2cdrKxmrT-hPHqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2512/2018-11-04%2B08.36.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UiReJkxcmyU/YPwp8j5u8kI/AAAAAAAAJwc/qXTbFQFgaEUhVJjA-p2cdrKxmrT-hPHqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-04%2B08.36.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I decided I wanted a zip closure on the bag, so I constructed a zip gusset using the lining fabric, and attached it between the outer and lining fabric around the top of the bag. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJscUvRZfw/YPwqizGQ89I/AAAAAAAAJwk/NEjXo39sOykPtO_wp3OCZTZRaEcJLdLCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-05%2B07.52.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJscUvRZfw/YPwqizGQ89I/AAAAAAAAJwk/NEjXo39sOykPtO_wp3OCZTZRaEcJLdLCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-05%2B07.52.19.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>When I turned the whole thing out through the opening left in the lining, I turned the top of the outer fabric inside for a small amount, and topstitched the top edge in place - the sari silk fabric is so busy this does not show at all. I caught the ends of the zipper gusset in place by hand, and attached the ends of the strap in place on the inside of the bag.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8vEBd3A7RA/YPwrphlsQjI/AAAAAAAAJws/8RUftqjODlMhcEj8R-fWYDayt9p2O1rewCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2018-11-05%2B09.24.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8vEBd3A7RA/YPwrphlsQjI/AAAAAAAAJws/8RUftqjODlMhcEj8R-fWYDayt9p2O1rewCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2018-11-05%2B09.24.17.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am very happy with this bag. The gorgeous colours mean it goes with many different outfits. Despite being made with a luxury fabric, it feels very sturdy, though I am unlikely to load it with more than my phone, purse and a few other essentials when having an evening out.</p><p><br /></p></div>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-13795973209172044452021-07-14T09:23:00.008+01:002021-07-14T09:23:55.655+01:00Headphone Band Repair<p>A very small hand sewing job. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWa62rL2CQ/YO6eblFzuyI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/E4I1hpgixH0godNvMAm9RNscPL1OH8S3gCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/2021-07-13%2B19.25.13-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWa62rL2CQ/YO6eblFzuyI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/E4I1hpgixH0godNvMAm9RNscPL1OH8S3gCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h480/2021-07-13%2B19.25.13-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Earlier this year, I was given some headphones by a friend who had 'too many pairs of headphones'. They are a lot more comfortable than the pair I already had, so I have been using them a lot, and noticed that the padded section of the headband was starting to show some wear, the outer layer of faux leather was starting to come away from the foam padding. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gUcC1rwJVM/YO6ebTd8VaI/AAAAAAAAJvA/CpKnJq5nqaswbfDsXFyYNfWybjcZreMMQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-13%2B19.01.59-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gUcC1rwJVM/YO6ebTd8VaI/AAAAAAAAJvA/CpKnJq5nqaswbfDsXFyYNfWybjcZreMMQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2021-07-13%2B19.01.59-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I decided to re-cover this. I found some scraps of a grey knit fabric left over from a t-shirt upcycling project, cut a strip from it, hemmed the short ends then wrapped it around the headband and sewed it into a tube. Makes them pretty snazzy.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MMDxoD1gh8/YO6eblwShUI/AAAAAAAAJvI/secdyB9uXVc5dj_BRZrw4L7t6KnLwaAWACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-13%2B19.25.08-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MMDxoD1gh8/YO6eblwShUI/AAAAAAAAJvI/secdyB9uXVc5dj_BRZrw4L7t6KnLwaAWACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2021-07-13%2B19.25.08-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><br />Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-68490264587138073422021-07-10T10:31:00.001+01:002021-07-10T10:31:00.174+01:00Sarong into dress<p>Here is another 'historic' garment make. I bought several sarongs from the charity shop some time ago with the intention of upcycling them. Most became tops, but one was larger than the rest, and made of a polyester chiffon with an interesting print design. Unfortunately I do not have an image of the sarong in its original state.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPrRAxlZuYw/YOLVbBTJuRI/AAAAAAAAJuE/znMdDlEtrDcZs4eIl0vrAfNjAkKEnw2VwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2333/2021-07-04%2B14.08.23-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2333" data-original-width="1035" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPrRAxlZuYw/YOLVbBTJuRI/AAAAAAAAJuE/znMdDlEtrDcZs4eIl0vrAfNjAkKEnw2VwCNcBGAsYHQ/w284-h640/2021-07-04%2B14.08.23-1.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Threads magazine had an article some time ago that described how to make a length of fabric into a bias tube - this is similar to a method used to make bias salwar trousers. The article suggested this could be used to cut garments on the bias with far less wastage than cutting on flat fabric. I have used this several times for tops, but when I folded, then stitched this particular sarong into a bias tube it was obvious it was large enough for a dress. (I only realised afterwards that the flower could be considered to be unfortunately placed, but I feel I can live with this.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5B9l4_ZOao/YOLVb8DFb5I/AAAAAAAAJuM/pA6Q2bGdrmkM0Y-aE9cu6S11yMXZtaoKgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2559/2021-07-04%2B14.12.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2559" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5B9l4_ZOao/YOLVb8DFb5I/AAAAAAAAJuM/pA6Q2bGdrmkM0Y-aE9cu6S11yMXZtaoKgCNcBGAsYHQ/w206-h640/2021-07-04%2B14.12.46-1.jpg" width="206" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSCfmRbcA4/YOLVbrwdkNI/AAAAAAAAJuI/DtYWHRhZa2QarRZpbTBQe0UkXQ9WTUEdACNcBGAsYHQ/s2284/2021-07-04%2B14.12.31-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2284" data-original-width="734" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtSCfmRbcA4/YOLVbrwdkNI/AAAAAAAAJuI/DtYWHRhZa2QarRZpbTBQe0UkXQ9WTUEdACNcBGAsYHQ/w206-h640/2021-07-04%2B14.12.31-1.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>To make it completely simple, I just opened the ends of the tube, designated one as the neckline and the other as the hem. I tried flattening the tube in different places and decided which would look best as the front of a dress, and cut vertical slits at the sides to serve as armholes. I used an overlocked rolled hem around the armholes, neckline and hem. and closed the shoulders by stitching the outer parts of the top opening together after making the rolled edges. The neckline folds back on itself to make a small collar, and the armholes make cap sleeves.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0s5kV96FyM/YOLVbF3Z21I/AAAAAAAAJt8/2a_mFE908MU-8W6uMrIqmR0WWAA5EYhxgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2179/2021-07-04%2B14.12.14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2179" data-original-width="1043" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0s5kV96FyM/YOLVbF3Z21I/AAAAAAAAJt8/2a_mFE908MU-8W6uMrIqmR0WWAA5EYhxgCNcBGAsYHQ/w306-h640/2021-07-04%2B14.12.14-1.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><p></p><p>Since the fabric was so sheer, I needed to make a slip. I had some Bemberg rayon in a pale teal blue which I made into a bias tube also. I cut armholes into this with a triangular opening. then sewed a casing around the top to make into a 'pillowcase' style garment and added a similar colour ribbon to gather this and form shoulder straps. The armholes and hem are finished with a narrow double fold hem.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nMFCy2Z334/YOLWmZQHHpI/AAAAAAAAJus/nliQ0uYQGdUDep6BsZo0F4s5o--S6IWcgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-04%2B15.39.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1885" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nMFCy2Z334/YOLWmZQHHpI/AAAAAAAAJus/nliQ0uYQGdUDep6BsZo0F4s5o--S6IWcgCNcBGAsYHQ/w369-h400/2021-07-04%2B15.39.39.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofYwnG7U5FQ/YOLWmuBWSqI/AAAAAAAAJuw/DYQQpV3roT4i_6yXf4ESFLIjRVU1shuYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-04%2B15.40.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2021" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofYwnG7U5FQ/YOLWmuBWSqI/AAAAAAAAJuw/DYQQpV3roT4i_6yXf4ESFLIjRVU1shuYQCNcBGAsYHQ/w395-h400/2021-07-04%2B15.40.21.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-17801547012017256852021-07-04T15:47:00.001+01:002021-07-04T15:56:42.796+01:00Issey Miyake jacket in silk<p> I haven't been making much recently, but there are many things in my wardrobe that I made years ago and have not posted about. Recently I have been looking through my wardrobe to decide if there is anything I no longer want to keep, and was reminded about this jacket which I love and want to wear more often.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STeFMENphOg/YOHF1cjIXxI/AAAAAAAAJto/1YjMHrZ9gFAiuKNIpzEWxcI5Wb3nBNaLgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1616/2021-06-27%2B15.22.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="972" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-STeFMENphOg/YOHF1cjIXxI/AAAAAAAAJto/1YjMHrZ9gFAiuKNIpzEWxcI5Wb3nBNaLgCNcBGAsYHQ/w384-h640/2021-06-27%2B15.22.40.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><p>It is made using the Vogue Issey Miyake pattern 1328, sometimes called 'The Ethnic Set'. I have made this pattern 2 other times, once for the indigo dyed silk viscose velvet jacket I have posted about before. It is a simple design, and I made it even simpler for this garment, omitting the facings and hems on the body and the cuffs, and shortening the sleeves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXaw3hOm1lw/YOHDuH-temI/AAAAAAAAJtM/v4AzgK1UYjYlnYpXvU5HKGuo7-ERENwuACNcBGAsYHQ/s767/v1328%2Bfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="695" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXaw3hOm1lw/YOHDuH-temI/AAAAAAAAJtM/v4AzgK1UYjYlnYpXvU5HKGuo7-ERENwuACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/v1328%2Bfc.jpg" /></a></div><p>I had a narrow piece of silk fabric, mostly black and ecru, with flashes of red, teal and purple, and small amounts of yellow and orange too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtyfKx84-gM/YOHFFxAteJI/AAAAAAAAJtc/Ao71NiSXtFgqHniPTAZ_BTeuCI34akCCgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/fabric%2Bcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1870" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtyfKx84-gM/YOHFFxAteJI/AAAAAAAAJtc/Ao71NiSXtFgqHniPTAZ_BTeuCI34akCCgCNcBGAsYHQ/w365-h400/fabric%2Bcloseup.jpg" width="365" /></a></div></div><p></p><p>The amount of fabric I had to work with was limited so when I cut the 2 main body pieces (each taking the full width of the fabric) and the 2 sleeves (that together made up one fabric width) I was left with just a very narrow, uneven strip left over from straightening the end of the fabric. I managed to cut and piece this to make the final pattern piece, a triangle that forms the back neckline. I lined this with a small scrap of lining fabric which I turned over all the edges to bind it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxnYTdRp_Go/YOHC0Xk61NI/AAAAAAAAJss/nbkTzgHatqsOw7EZc8XbTmjn_bJhgXnegCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-06-27%2B15.26.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxnYTdRp_Go/YOHC0Xk61NI/AAAAAAAAJss/nbkTzgHatqsOw7EZc8XbTmjn_bJhgXnegCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-06-27%2B15.26.21.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbVnFluSUV4/YOHJWxL02DI/AAAAAAAAJt0/TMZhHyfjyPgf5Th8A4ol2hPT-e_RtonCQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-07-04%2B15.10.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1813" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbVnFluSUV4/YOHJWxL02DI/AAAAAAAAJt0/TMZhHyfjyPgf5Th8A4ol2hPT-e_RtonCQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-07-04%2B15.10.28.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>The other pattern pieces I bound with a long bias strip made from charity shop silk ties, which pick out the bright colours from the main fabric. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvvWjZO7wvw/YOHC4HtLatI/AAAAAAAAJs0/CaWFx-VlmXsXTW8aXtkww33IH8ByhcTRQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-06-27%2B15.28.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvvWjZO7wvw/YOHC4HtLatI/AAAAAAAAJs0/CaWFx-VlmXsXTW8aXtkww33IH8ByhcTRQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-06-27%2B15.28.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I then sewed the garment together using lapped seams, meaning the inner edges are bound also.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldc8sAh6lz8/YOHC4y39s2I/AAAAAAAAJs4/3nYpp8yUuKkkaZGK6isGbIms4IjcabSiQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-06-27%2B15.28.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1911" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldc8sAh6lz8/YOHC4y39s2I/AAAAAAAAJs4/3nYpp8yUuKkkaZGK6isGbIms4IjcabSiQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-06-27%2B15.28.53.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I don't have as many opportunities to wear jackets now that I'm retired, but when I do, I can see this one being very useful.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbKzO1oZ76g/YOHF1SxOUvI/AAAAAAAAJtk/l6L5QeJ0cD4XFzMQFXu33ZFGJ9iRlHKnACNcBGAsYHQ/s1664/2021-06-27%2B15.22.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbKzO1oZ76g/YOHF1SxOUvI/AAAAAAAAJtk/l6L5QeJ0cD4XFzMQFXu33ZFGJ9iRlHKnACNcBGAsYHQ/w432-h640/2021-06-27%2B15.22.59.jpg" width="432" /></a></div></div><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-3174211523504638902021-06-21T11:51:00.002+01:002021-07-04T15:54:29.994+01:00Reading Waterfest<p> I belong to a LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) group that covers Reading and Bracknell, and the area between and surrounding them.</p><p>We trade our time (and also items such as allotment produce and unwanted gifts) without the use of money. If you want to know more, you can visit the <a href="http://www.bracknell-lets.co.uk" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><p>Last Saturday we took a stall to promote the group at Reading Waterfest, and I went along to help set-up (though most was done by others) and interact with the public to tell them about what a great group it is. I thought I'd just post a picture here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uV5PPAq_ZO8/YNBsF-VsjAI/AAAAAAAAJsY/-HFAUiccmc0NCpDxEcM7LHZPWXOWAWwYgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-06-19%2B11.57.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uV5PPAq_ZO8/YNBsF-VsjAI/AAAAAAAAJsY/-HFAUiccmc0NCpDxEcM7LHZPWXOWAWwYgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2021-06-19%2B11.57.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This was a fun day out, there were other stalls from local organisations, live music and street food.</p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-59507451839176060592021-06-12T15:08:00.001+01:002021-07-04T15:54:16.828+01:00Necklaces earrings<p> I got a sudden urge to string some new necklaces recently. Nothing special, just stringing beads on some Beadalon beading wire, and attaching clasps with crimps. And of course I had to make matching drop earrings.</p><p>First some polymer clay from a couple of bracelets I traded from a friend. I used turquoise colour seed beads as spacers to improve the hang and make the necklace a little longer. I also added a length of chain to make it a bit larger</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NssLjCalDEQ/YKu1m4xe8ZI/AAAAAAAAJp8/uJiic2OFjq0ie7n5OnAu1HBD_1eebIBKgCNcBGAsYHQ/s3300/2021-05-16%2B18.47.53-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="3300" height="184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NssLjCalDEQ/YKu1m4xe8ZI/AAAAAAAAJp8/uJiic2OFjq0ie7n5OnAu1HBD_1eebIBKgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h184/2021-05-16%2B18.47.53-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ic-lu-nM9g4/YKu1mSpcHBI/AAAAAAAAJp0/Bee29mYKutIQZkhV4D1GJStqzxjUBftIwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1821/2021-05-16%2B18.48.04-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="1591" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ic-lu-nM9g4/YKu1mSpcHBI/AAAAAAAAJp0/Bee29mYKutIQZkhV4D1GJStqzxjUBftIwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-05-16%2B18.48.04-1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then some pink dyed jasper that I bought from <a href="https://www.ilonabiggins.co.uk/" target="_blank">Illona Biggins</a> at a Knitting and Stitching show back when we could go to such events. The spacers here are small silver colour beads, and the clasp is magnetic.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I04DcpU747k/YKu1oAj5LDI/AAAAAAAAJqA/VPVXuuMKO-ILPyNUEB8o_CyLFLrwpqAEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s3447/2021-05-16%2B18.48.16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="3447" height="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I04DcpU747k/YKu1oAj5LDI/AAAAAAAAJqA/VPVXuuMKO-ILPyNUEB8o_CyLFLrwpqAEQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h170/2021-05-16%2B18.48.16-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZFdIn1D5v0/YKu1mq5MsYI/AAAAAAAAJp4/V_OOkSLl0RMNexiHtmHY4idDeMDcNLx7ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-05-16%2B18.48.10-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2017" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZFdIn1D5v0/YKu1mq5MsYI/AAAAAAAAJp4/V_OOkSLl0RMNexiHtmHY4idDeMDcNLx7ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-05-16%2B18.48.10-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">And finally some black glass beads with silver foil. The spacers here came from Hobbycraft, I'm not sure about the source of the beads themselves but it may have been the same place, or they may have been hanging about in my bead stash since Jackons was still trading in Reading.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6XNZP0NO14/YKu1oWyln9I/AAAAAAAAJqE/A6tbcg4lwfYMSL69AprbIHfaz3h7m3RmACNcBGAsYHQ/s3275/2021-05-17%2B11.37.02-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="3275" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6XNZP0NO14/YKu1oWyln9I/AAAAAAAAJqE/A6tbcg4lwfYMSL69AprbIHfaz3h7m3RmACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h188/2021-05-17%2B11.37.02-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XI0ndv2UO_U/YKu1oePcHsI/AAAAAAAAJqI/L6ckssE24hEroDwg3_nhq7jz0Vp_Qgs1wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-05-17%2B11.36.07-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1596" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XI0ndv2UO_U/YKu1oePcHsI/AAAAAAAAJqI/L6ckssE24hEroDwg3_nhq7jz0Vp_Qgs1wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2021-05-17%2B11.36.07-1.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-37425975858445131052021-06-04T14:19:00.028+01:002021-08-10T10:05:10.154+01:00Another new top<p>I bought some blue fabric at the same time as the stripy fabric for the stripy top in my previous blog post, and having remade that top I decided it was time to use this fabric too. Looking through my new <a href="https://www.tapforms.com/" target="_blank">Tapforms</a> pattern database I came up with a number of candidates, and decided on a Marcy Tilton pattern, Vogue 9161. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C2l9Sf2Hqwc/YKuqv33sIYI/AAAAAAAAJoM/lHwDH7JM-qkE4HajJ6CSgHVWepB6qIMNQCNcBGAsYHQ/2021-04-25%2B12.53.43.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C2l9Sf2Hqwc/YKuqv33sIYI/AAAAAAAAJoM/lHwDH7JM-qkE4HajJ6CSgHVWepB6qIMNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w376-h640/2021-04-25%2B12.53.43.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I decided that the amount of ease on this garment would mean that I would not need to adjust the pattern for fit, however I decided I wanted the finished garment to be longer. I therefore cut the front and back pieces longer. The godets in the side seams have a right angle at the top on the original pattern, but I felt this would result in a much too wide hem, so I lengthened them without increasing the hem width, making the top angle more acute. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEmJbQ2XpSE/YRJAQSBLF1I/AAAAAAAAJz4/-dTovzAw5WkHNp1UIKtNuX4Zf-7FkxEmgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-04-24%2B18.44.52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1057" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEmJbQ2XpSE/YRJAQSBLF1I/AAAAAAAAJz4/-dTovzAw5WkHNp1UIKtNuX4Zf-7FkxEmgCNcBGAsYHQ/w330-h640/2021-04-24%2B18.44.52.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><p></p><p>I would have liked to make the neckline higher, but with the way the shoulder seam is moved forward on this pattern I wasn't able to achieve this, but I did manage to make it a bit narrower. </p><p>This top is comfortable and I'm reasonably happy with it, however I don't think I will use this pattern again. With the experiments on oversized tops I have done recently, I have come to the conclusion that the <a href="https://doitbetteryourself.club/product/the-mae-poncho-sewing-pattern/" target="_blank">DIBY Mae Poncho Sweater</a> and old faithful <a href="https://www.tessuti-shop.com/products/mandy-boat-tee-print-at-home-or-copy-shop" target="_blank">Tessuti Mandy Boat Tee</a> are the ones I like best.</p><p style="text-align: center;">-------------------------------------------</p><p>Update. I felt swamped by this top, so I removed the godets and recut the side seams using my Mandy Boat Tee pattern (which also resulted in the sleeves being slightly shorter, though not as short as this image as I had rolled them up). I am now happy wearing it and it has joined my regular garment rotation.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rSV30bdGZo/YRI_2FPVoII/AAAAAAAAJzw/BH1JJC3YSHkYUWUeAowyZBN4M5hpHD_pgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2311/2021-07-31%2B17.26.57-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2311" data-original-width="894" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rSV30bdGZo/YRI_2FPVoII/AAAAAAAAJzw/BH1JJC3YSHkYUWUeAowyZBN4M5hpHD_pgCNcBGAsYHQ/w248-h640/2021-07-31%2B17.26.57-1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-64985090223272567372021-05-29T14:07:00.040+01:002021-07-04T15:53:57.098+01:00Remake, Remodel<p>That tunic I made for Christmas and didn't wear. After posting about it here, I decided I should actually wear the thing, but when I put it on I decided I didn't like the stripe with beige and green so close to my face, and also the tunic length bothered me. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVo8Z08-ce0/YKuuvIKHVnI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/EfpFSVAgPtAzTX7ByCGo6A0KgSSOJlfSACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2021-05-06%2B14.00.03-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1360" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVo8Z08-ce0/YKuuvIKHVnI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/EfpFSVAgPtAzTX7ByCGo6A0KgSSOJlfSACNcBGAsYHQ/w424-h640/2021-05-06%2B14.00.03-1.jpg" width="424" /></a></div></div><br />I played around with the garment a bit, and decided I would like it better if I had the pink and turquoise stripes more centred, and the fabric was wide enough to recut the body to achieve this. <p></p><p>I made a really simple rectangular body retaining one of the existing side seams, and recut the shoulders and neckline a little lower. (There are multiple images over the internet that have diagrams for making this type of top, I am sure that <a href="https://moldesdicasmoda.com/" target="_blank">Moldes Dicas Moda</a> must have something of this type, and Pinterest links must abound, but I just winged it.) I was able to reuse one of the sleeves by cutting it into the old shoulder area, but the other sleeve was not long enough. I got round this by piecing a strip of fabric cut from the side of the original garment to the top of it. You might just be able to see the extra bump from this seam on the left sleeve (i.e. on the right of the image above).</p><p>I'm happier with the new placement of colour stripes, however I may redo the neckline as it now seems a little too tight/high. I'll decide after wearing it a few times. It would be easy to redo as I have fabric left that I could use to make a new neckband.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tXyskVdWLM/YKuuXcsgSvI/AAAAAAAAJpA/dnhAKppQ56wMHUBzyU0WDjZqbPGOBwINACNcBGAsYHQ/s1095/2021-05-07%2B09.12.11-1%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tXyskVdWLM/YKuuXcsgSvI/AAAAAAAAJpA/dnhAKppQ56wMHUBzyU0WDjZqbPGOBwINACNcBGAsYHQ/w290-h400/2021-05-07%2B09.12.11-1%2Bcopy.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-25233939615793450072021-05-24T14:06:00.002+01:002021-07-04T15:53:38.386+01:00Hexagon quilt finally finished<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ1Lx0IBCKA/YKui8MXmFlI/AAAAAAAAJno/hE-IsQWcF_QaemdCq5_sI8BQX59cG7IVQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B05.22.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ1Lx0IBCKA/YKui8MXmFlI/AAAAAAAAJno/hE-IsQWcF_QaemdCq5_sI8BQX59cG7IVQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/2020-10-13%2B05.22.22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> I finished this quilt some time last year then didn't get around to blogging it. The I completed the quilt top some time at the end of the 20th Century (I can't remember exactly when but probably in the late 1980s or early 1990s), then I layered it with the backing and batting, made a start on hand quilting it, then put it aside. Since I successfully completed 3 other quilting projects, I decided this one also needed to be finished.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raypMjdr7Xg/YKuitTL-_jI/AAAAAAAAJnk/t-dmwZuJ8k8_aR-LQo8P5bFc__t1vSq3gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B05.21.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raypMjdr7Xg/YKuitTL-_jI/AAAAAAAAJnk/t-dmwZuJ8k8_aR-LQo8P5bFc__t1vSq3gCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B05.21.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The hand quilting was very obviously not going to happen, so I unpicked the hand stitches and threaded up my sewing machine with Gutermann cotton in a peach colour to match the backing colour, and stitched around the inside of all the hexagons, and also along the length of the border strips. I looked for a toning colour to make the binding, but peach seems not to be a fashionable colour for quilting fabric at the moment so I resorted to a beige/brown instead. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AUFEYqz7kY/YKujrfFB7xI/AAAAAAAAJn8/QecP7-BqfnsmP1_IB_eDXq6PjqqxtnxeQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-08%2B13.12.23-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4AUFEYqz7kY/YKujrfFB7xI/AAAAAAAAJn8/QecP7-BqfnsmP1_IB_eDXq6PjqqxtnxeQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/2020-09-08%2B13.12.23-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I am pleased to have the thing finished, and have used it on the bed in the colder months on top of the log cabin quilt I rebound earlier in 2020. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_swAte6ux0/YKui8ebeDvI/AAAAAAAAJns/FqkVprB7NFsoLvYjjDAgmwjmU26tR9ehgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B22.48.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_swAte6ux0/YKui8ebeDvI/AAAAAAAAJns/FqkVprB7NFsoLvYjjDAgmwjmU26tR9ehgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/2020-10-13%2B22.48.58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was reminded of it recently when I decided that the duvet on its own is sufficient covering now the weather is warming up - though having done this I wonder if I was perhaps a little optimistic as things have become colder again in the past couple of weeks! </p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-12700930339620130222021-03-02T07:29:00.004+00:002021-07-04T15:53:23.439+01:00To go with the Amore sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtfFG0Px0pw/YD3lzC4JIkI/AAAAAAAAJlc/OcdvWy5QuR4We_DWr5NRUheFk1falt-ZACNcBGAsYHQ/s1266/2020-10-26%2B15.14.39-1-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="946" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtfFG0Px0pw/YD3lzC4JIkI/AAAAAAAAJlc/OcdvWy5QuR4We_DWr5NRUheFk1falt-ZACNcBGAsYHQ/w299-h400/2020-10-26%2B15.14.39-1-2.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p>I posted earlier about the striped sweater I made using Amore plus other (mystery) yarns. This sweater has 3/4 sleeves and the yarn has a tendency to tickle at the neck. In any case, I don't wear knitted sweaters next to my skin. I therefore needed to have something to wear underneath it. I do have a salmon-pink t-shirt I made some time ago, but fancied something else to give me more options.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4XnxnT00Fk/YD3l9xW3W6I/AAAAAAAAJlk/C6xCTcBbGRkT2EJgcno6Vr9rkE14FWsKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-26%2B19.30.03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4XnxnT00Fk/YD3l9xW3W6I/AAAAAAAAJlk/C6xCTcBbGRkT2EJgcno6Vr9rkE14FWsKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-26%2B19.30.03.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I looked in my stash of t-shirts and tops purchased from charity shops, and re-discovered a turtleneck and a fleece top in very nearly the same pink colour. The fleece was several sizes too small, but the turtleneck was the right size on the shoulders, and just needed some extra ease in the body and hips.<p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M839onW5VHU/YD3lykfkjFI/AAAAAAAAJlY/jw0KVo1aUlwgM-23rcxa2W04o3cMHIfnACNcBGAsYHQ/s1416/2020-10-26%2B19.28.07-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="949" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M839onW5VHU/YD3lykfkjFI/AAAAAAAAJlY/jw0KVo1aUlwgM-23rcxa2W04o3cMHIfnACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-26%2B19.28.07-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I just went with the simplest option, cutting gores from the fleece to add to the side seams of the turtleneck. This garment has already been incredibly useful, under the Amore sweater, the brown Noro sweater I made about 3 years ago, and several other sweaters and cardigans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnakLc0EKA/YD3o2sNPBCI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/7GNios-7Kdo_kMm53NkaQ2emwth8hEVWACNcBGAsYHQ/s2452/2020-10-27%2B13.18.20-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2452" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnakLc0EKA/YD3o2sNPBCI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/7GNios-7Kdo_kMm53NkaQ2emwth8hEVWACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-27%2B13.18.20-1.jpg" /></a></div><p>I may go ahead and make more tops with this neckline in different colours, as it is very practical.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABNutpIIU10/YD3pOE9ShaI/AAAAAAAAJmY/2NVzG0ofX0UDml8UedKWqph3iQa4G8DBwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2553/2020-12-29%2B21.06.53-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2553" data-original-width="1187" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABNutpIIU10/YD3pOE9ShaI/AAAAAAAAJmY/2NVzG0ofX0UDml8UedKWqph3iQa4G8DBwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-12-29%2B21.06.53-1.jpg" /></a></div><p>The leftover fleece went towards making a roll-neck dickey. It remains to be seen if this gets worn - the current lockdown situation reduces the need for this type of garment, and things are warming up for the spring now, so I'll wait for next winter to assess its usefulness.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MocS1yrQGg/YD3l4vyZ6xI/AAAAAAAAJlg/KczVJJdTwnQzfYl11ISTNezDZTb16Au9gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-26%2B19.29.19-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MocS1yrQGg/YD3l4vyZ6xI/AAAAAAAAJlg/KczVJJdTwnQzfYl11ISTNezDZTb16Au9gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-26%2B19.29.19-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I also made some arm-warmers in another mystery yarn (I think it is an acrylic, in DK weight) with the idea I can wear them under the Amore sweater for arm coverage. I used a free pattern called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/layover-mitts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Layover Mitts by Amanda Jarvis</a>, modified to knit from the cuff upwards, and in the round. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82DNiTnT7IQ/YD3nEDYSQKI/AAAAAAAAJl0/6QZ2YGDYc18KmPQu6xDNFuoxtlwf8Vt4QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-17%2B18.16.53.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82DNiTnT7IQ/YD3nEDYSQKI/AAAAAAAAJl0/6QZ2YGDYc18KmPQu6xDNFuoxtlwf8Vt4QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-17%2B18.16.53.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I also made the picot edging at the cuff rather than the body end, and I made them a lot longer, which meant I needed to make increases to account for the way an arm tapers towards the wrist. I made a chart for the lace section using Pattern Genius, and set the pattern up with my customisations in Knit Companion.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDEwjZGqPlM/YD3nEBQWhDI/AAAAAAAAJl4/G_U2gO7poYAZuPsBH4_9FJ42qrbxCoZEgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-17%2B15.47.51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDEwjZGqPlM/YD3nEBQWhDI/AAAAAAAAJl4/G_U2gO7poYAZuPsBH4_9FJ42qrbxCoZEgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-17%2B15.47.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Someone in one of my knitting groups informed me that this type of garment is an Opera Mitt, so that is what I'm calling these.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoUBHKU46rs/YD3nEXZiNSI/AAAAAAAAJl8/VsrXKrKCFfI32XL_zVYn8BIze4H9S3V5ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-28%2B12.40.29-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoUBHKU46rs/YD3nEXZiNSI/AAAAAAAAJl8/VsrXKrKCFfI32XL_zVYn8BIze4H9S3V5ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-28%2B12.40.29-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There was something about the yarn that made the lace pattern spiral, and there was nothing I could do to make the 2nd mitt spiral in the opposite direction, however I'm happy with the way these look.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf_wFgtHcKE/YD3nFSEmJmI/AAAAAAAAJmA/b2GZx_uh2L8gRPKHf3U9jCAkLKeBAr8KACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-28%2B12.44.21-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf_wFgtHcKE/YD3nFSEmJmI/AAAAAAAAJmA/b2GZx_uh2L8gRPKHf3U9jCAkLKeBAr8KACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-10-28%2B12.44.21-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are good to wear on cold days at the computer keyboard.</div><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-80747099917110355432021-02-19T14:12:00.001+00:002021-07-04T15:53:06.562+01:00It was supposed to be my Christmas outfit!<p> It has been SO DIFFICULT to get any motivation to make garments these days. I was actually looking forward to seeing someone other than my husband at Christmas and this motivated me to dig out some wildly colourful stripy fabric that I bought from Rosenberg's in late 2020. I decided it did not need much in the way of styling as it was so exuberant, so I revisited the tunic I made a few years earlier - again with fabric from Rosenberg's, bought in person that time from the Knitting and Stitching Show.</p><p>It is pretty similar to the style of tunic you see in some Japanese sewing books, and also on the Nani Iro fabric site, but I just copied a RTW garment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJvP4OZfxjs/YC-8id1EevI/AAAAAAAAJkc/2S_BrG43vkYNABliUPt-8LkD4V3ZATtzQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-03%2B12.36.23-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJvP4OZfxjs/YC-8id1EevI/AAAAAAAAJkc/2S_BrG43vkYNABliUPt-8LkD4V3ZATtzQCNcBGAsYHQ/w346-h640/2020-12-03%2B12.36.23-1.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then things changed again, and I still haven't worn this (other than to try on) 2 months later. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr2jyQR9XHQ/YC_G6ZqbskI/AAAAAAAAJlA/RyEzYZgsV8c-v8_L8s_JbzC4a4v5L0TxgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2382/2020-12-03%2B12.40.28-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2382" data-original-width="1025" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr2jyQR9XHQ/YC_G6ZqbskI/AAAAAAAAJlA/RyEzYZgsV8c-v8_L8s_JbzC4a4v5L0TxgCNcBGAsYHQ/w173-h400/2020-12-03%2B12.40.28-1.jpg" width="173" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm totally on board with why things are as they are, but as I said, what is the point of making anything when you have no occasions to wear it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As an aside, there was sufficient leftover fabric to make a cap-sleeved t-shirt also, I needed to sew a small amount to the lower edges to go around my hips, but this is such busy fabric it does not show. I think that might get quite a lot of wear once the weather warms up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1H7oyum8w0/YC_FwuqN1RI/AAAAAAAAJks/GcujEbwPYX4ASARmnDt9n0Ugzqp7sBYKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-12-03%2B12.37.29-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1413" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1H7oyum8w0/YC_FwuqN1RI/AAAAAAAAJks/GcujEbwPYX4ASARmnDt9n0Ugzqp7sBYKQCNcBGAsYHQ/w442-h640/2020-12-03%2B12.37.29-1.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws2Rq96jOGo/YC_HJpnUiZI/AAAAAAAAJlE/v5sYS9kqRz0GaVUi2RqWcHR8jTqFtxiYgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2440/2020-12-03%2B12.39.04-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="1096" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws2Rq96jOGo/YC_HJpnUiZI/AAAAAAAAJlE/v5sYS9kqRz0GaVUi2RqWcHR8jTqFtxiYgCNcBGAsYHQ/w288-h640/2020-12-03%2B12.39.04-1.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><br />Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-76493278504297292442020-10-14T10:05:00.001+01:002021-07-04T15:52:47.723+01:00Back to the Harris Garden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBfwfnHVyU4/X4a-_h8ydUI/AAAAAAAAJhs/0FBJ7UQW3Js_XDZrkrd-cjs_lMKzPPf9ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.57.32%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBfwfnHVyU4/X4a-_h8ydUI/AAAAAAAAJhs/0FBJ7UQW3Js_XDZrkrd-cjs_lMKzPPf9ACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B10.57.32%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We went on a walk on Tuesday, for the first time on a long time due to holiday and foot pain and just the lockdown (which is no excuse really I know). We went to the Reading University campus, to the <a href="http://www.friendsoftheharrisgarden.org.uk/garden.html" target="_blank">Harris Garden</a> <a href="http://www.friendsoftheharrisgarden.org.uk/The_Harris_Garden_Leaflet%20(new)%20May%202017.pdf" target="_blank">again</a>. While it must have had little in the way of maintenance over the summer, it has been closed two days a week since the beginning of September to allow the volunteers to do maintenance uninterrupted, and I must say they have done a fantastic job, the garden is looking great even this late in the season.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kq22z538Q4o/X4a82sY83kI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/u03kzfEOBEwX9Q14RB258wHotpC9roSVQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.38.42.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kq22z538Q4o/X4a82sY83kI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/u03kzfEOBEwX9Q14RB258wHotpC9roSVQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B10.38.42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We walked past the pond and the Autumn Border to the Cherry Bowl, around the edge by Wilderness Road, into the Late Flowering Perennial area, then down the edge of the Mixed Border before going out again.<br /></p><p>The bananas have not been wrapped up for the winter yet, adding an exotic touch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRIQL65MJig/X4a73AlIeII/AAAAAAAAJgw/7PCMYk4IqLkpCOnd_qEHvEN1Bf10avD6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B11.00.13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRIQL65MJig/X4a73AlIeII/AAAAAAAAJgw/7PCMYk4IqLkpCOnd_qEHvEN1Bf10avD6ACNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-13%2B11.00.13.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some autumn colour amongst the cherries.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Irsaw1S_lc8/X4a7ubb5euI/AAAAAAAAJgY/Y9D875ELTQs-mFOQTtfETi_dxXxeZkOJgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.44.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Irsaw1S_lc8/X4a7ubb5euI/AAAAAAAAJgY/Y9D875ELTQs-mFOQTtfETi_dxXxeZkOJgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B10.44.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the first time I've noticed a Millennium bench at the end of the Mixed Border, though it must have been there for 20 years now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnKnaBqBmfo/X4a7uhCmorI/AAAAAAAAJgc/5g0hTVAcMlAO7kEC1XJvjVuZfterPkYWwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.56.10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnKnaBqBmfo/X4a7uhCmorI/AAAAAAAAJgc/5g0hTVAcMlAO7kEC1XJvjVuZfterPkYWwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B10.56.10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The border is looking so well maintained.</div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3sHn-mTmjg/X4a72WBKncI/AAAAAAAAJgo/GDMtio2gSVMo_LUNRYxm78SSK1wwPdk4gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.56.45.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3sHn-mTmjg/X4a72WBKncI/AAAAAAAAJgo/GDMtio2gSVMo_LUNRYxm78SSK1wwPdk4gCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-13%2B10.56.45.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Michaelmas daisies provide a bright splash of colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Fi8hgG1wM/X4a9U-04r7I/AAAAAAAAJhY/rwbgVPgJPN00f91peU4bcjAuq3DHAm-ngCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B10.58.49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Fi8hgG1wM/X4a9U-04r7I/AAAAAAAAJhY/rwbgVPgJPN00f91peU4bcjAuq3DHAm-ngCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B10.58.49.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are interesting plants elsewhere on campus too. We passed this clump of Pampas Grass looking dramatic against the sky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLNwhddmDmU/X4a739VOF7I/AAAAAAAAJg0/wGOtzk3IuxMGe271xyd7dlZ1lmBI7RPZgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B11.03.55%2Bcopy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLNwhddmDmU/X4a739VOF7I/AAAAAAAAJg0/wGOtzk3IuxMGe271xyd7dlZ1lmBI7RPZgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h394/2020-10-13%2B11.03.55%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Further on we noticed how many conkers there are on the ground. Maybe it has been a bumper year for them the way it has for acorns?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgfJzF69tVY/X4a90VawpZI/AAAAAAAAJhg/UkpXOwBml30rbJP24eSsaxH3fZAfMfAEQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-13%2B11.07.30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgfJzF69tVY/X4a90VawpZI/AAAAAAAAJhg/UkpXOwBml30rbJP24eSsaxH3fZAfMfAEQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-13%2B11.07.30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-39548487033465392302020-10-10T13:04:00.001+01:002021-07-04T15:49:02.943+01:00Reversible Quilt<p> I was browsing through entries here, and discovered I never posted about the Reversible Quilt I finished a while back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--noW5rsW-_I/X3xfuBMb5SI/AAAAAAAAJfg/WSVLIqJwsQcx7m38E_fD9GEEJnTR9gNqgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-03-28%2B14.26.54.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--noW5rsW-_I/X3xfuBMb5SI/AAAAAAAAJfg/WSVLIqJwsQcx7m38E_fD9GEEJnTR9gNqgCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-03-28%2B14.26.54.png" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>It is based on Sharon Pederson's book <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversible-Quilts-Sharon-Pederson/dp/1564774104" target="_blank">Reversible Quilts: Two At A Time</a>. She came to the UK (a long time ago now!) and taught a workshop based on this book that I attended. Back then I thought I would use the resulting quilt to make a reversible Bog Coat (like one I made at an earlier workshop based on the papercut artworks by Matisse - Maybe I will create a post about this sometime). </p><p>The quilt got started but not finished, and over time I came to the conclusion that I would not wear the jacket even if I finished it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtbbEuu8lZw/X3xhzgGWuuI/AAAAAAAAJf0/6m6Dhxr51SsoEujSMkxUJhA6xTjKrMUWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2013-09-22%2B17.33.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtbbEuu8lZw/X3xhzgGWuuI/AAAAAAAAJf0/6m6Dhxr51SsoEujSMkxUJhA6xTjKrMUWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2013-09-22%2B17.33.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sporadically I worked on the individual squares, and then got around to making a layout, then adding the sashing to join them together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNW9vYbteUQ/X3xhzl4JCRI/AAAAAAAAJf4/fRuG4nzMr5Etd4xi2pOmjYl0Iog314gHwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2013-09-23%2B13.07.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNW9vYbteUQ/X3xhzl4JCRI/AAAAAAAAJf4/fRuG4nzMr5Etd4xi2pOmjYl0Iog314gHwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2013-09-23%2B13.07.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Finally I dug the quilt out, finished joining the squares without leaving the gaps needed to turn it into a jacket, and put the binding on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KKhfwFvvhA/X3xh0qZheNI/AAAAAAAAJf8/uqCuS3Iq2L8b3WcStS1fXC6extPuwQEUACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2013-12-02%2B15.09.25%2Bstraightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1665" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KKhfwFvvhA/X3xh0qZheNI/AAAAAAAAJf8/uqCuS3Iq2L8b3WcStS1fXC6extPuwQEUACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2013-12-02%2B15.09.25%2Bstraightened.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Currently it is acting as the background to my Zoom meetings, hiding some of the mess in my studio that would otherwise be confusing behind my head.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mI--qvn0MbY/X3xftnqWVMI/AAAAAAAAJfc/aVlf0TEBUVsOS_HLwzkQQLtcoOaLAUBdgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-03-28%2B14.26.46.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mI--qvn0MbY/X3xftnqWVMI/AAAAAAAAJfc/aVlf0TEBUVsOS_HLwzkQQLtcoOaLAUBdgCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-03-28%2B14.26.46.png" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-36575693018775035902020-10-06T12:09:00.000+01:002021-07-04T15:50:22.494+01:00Striped Sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzGrg2NglgU/X3xLYk5Y15I/AAAAAAAAJeU/_gOwxxW6l9Ic18XLxXXYvNEg3Y6_XIpewCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-05%2B18.35.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzGrg2NglgU/X3xLYk5Y15I/AAAAAAAAJeU/_gOwxxW6l9Ic18XLxXXYvNEg3Y6_XIpewCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h394/2020-10-05%2B18.35.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Several years ago, I purchased some Rowan Kidsilk Amore yarn from John Lewis during their sale, from the Clearance Bargains. I managed to get 10 50g skeins in a pink/fuchsia/orange/red colourway (shade 508).</p><p>I first tried to make a waistcoat in the yarn, but it soon became obvious that there was not enough to make the complete garment. Instead, I made use of some of the yarn to make a hat/cowl/mittens set. This proved to be not very practical, so eventually I ripped the garments apart and tucked the yarn away, waiting for inspiration to strike.</p><p>Roll on 2020 and lockdown, and a lot of Zoom meetings (coffee mornings and knit nights, etc). I finished the cowl set I covered in a previous post, and started a fair isle hat and cowl. However I found this required more concentration to work on than was forthcoming in Zoom sessions. So I cast around to come up with something I could do while chatting.</p><p>On looking through the yarn in my stash, I came across the Kidsilk Amore. I also found 2 different red yarns in a similar weight that seemed to go really well with it. One was 100g of Sirdar Softy, the other 100g of a mystery yarn without a label.</p><p>I looked at patterns for bulky yarn, and looked at pictures of what others had made with Kidsilk Amore or similar yarns, and decided that <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/over-easy" target="_blank">Over Easy by Espace Tricot</a> available free on Ravelry looked like a good bet.</p><p> I can't claim to have actually 'made' the Over Easy pattern, I used it as inspiration for the garment shape, and as a starting point for calculations on stitch count and dimensions.</p><p>I made various test swatches, discovered the 3 yarns all had pretty much the same gauge, and weighed the samples to work out the proportions to use when striping - I came up with 6 rows of the Kidsilk Amore, 2 of Sirdar Softy and 3 of the mystery yarn should give a finished garment that used pretty much all of the yarn.</p><p>Then I cast on (a few times to get the garment width I wanted) and worked on the front, back and sleeves pretty much simultaneously, in an attempt to get as much garment length as I could while using up all the yarn. In the end, the bottom ribbing made use of the final scraps of the Softy and the mystery yarn, and I have only a small amount of the Softy left, plus the yarn ends trimmed after weaving them in.</p><p>All in all, I'm pretty happy with this project. The sleeves are bracelet length, so I am making some Opera Mitts in pink to wear under the garment to keep my arms warm. I'm also a little concerned about the overall length, it may be just a little short, so I'm considering making a 'top extender' out of a Shocking Pink linen top that I'm not totally happy with the neckline. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYYtNdLiWv0/X3xPSEs-1jI/AAAAAAAAJeo/uhAsGt_DCfcIgPAynHXyHjbxSTLtoBK2ACNcBGAsYHQ/s1430/2020-10-05%2B18.34.28%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1156" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYYtNdLiWv0/X3xPSEs-1jI/AAAAAAAAJeo/uhAsGt_DCfcIgPAynHXyHjbxSTLtoBK2ACNcBGAsYHQ/w324-h400/2020-10-05%2B18.34.28%2Bcopy.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-91634625449425849542020-09-08T08:13:00.003+01:002020-09-08T14:35:01.805+01:00More Bags<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RjqgjkrHhkE/X1cthWoHIzI/AAAAAAAAJcA/c3TqhXpkjIU9bs0HxZzNJNtNwlEZ0h93gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-08%2B07.47.25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="2048" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RjqgjkrHhkE/X1cthWoHIzI/AAAAAAAAJcA/c3TqhXpkjIU9bs0HxZzNJNtNwlEZ0h93gCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h632/2020-09-08%2B07.47.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It seems that bags are on my mind at the moment. I have just finished making two at different ends of the size spectrum. I used patterns from I Think Sew for both of them, this site has loads of bag patterns available. I also made a pouch for my husband's Kindle e-reader, which was improvised rather than from a pattern.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The first bag I made using<span face=""> a remnant of faux suede used in upholstery, so probably left over from a sofa or suite. The pattern I used is the</span><span face=""> <a href="https://ithinksew.com/Products/Details/2995" target="_blank">Elizabeth Zipper Bag from I Think Sew</a></span><span face="">. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoZYDg8Cb9Q/X1cuaWD3FSI/AAAAAAAAJco/JQyuimiNpl0Tvzw3BcNxaxrSUAE2F61oQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-08%2B07.48.00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2033" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QoZYDg8Cb9Q/X1cuaWD3FSI/AAAAAAAAJco/JQyuimiNpl0Tvzw3BcNxaxrSUAE2F61oQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-08%2B07.48.00.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="">Instad of using rivets, I stitched the straps in place, and I added a slider to allow the strap to be adjustable. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPwaG4rZ57Q/X1ctz9AddMI/AAAAAAAAJcI/X-sLQkZ5ycchzCXxoNTE14Kje_aj9ZcgQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-08%2B07.48.20.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I also made a recessed zipper instead of having a zipper at the top, as I thought the end of the zipper and the strap attachment would not look good. I also didn’t bother with the tassel as the backing of the fabric was a different colour. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkku17A-wyY/X1cwDAJ5TZI/AAAAAAAAJc0/15ynqJmcmwogxFmwQ2okgrx93OkGal9PgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-23%2B07.10.39-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mkku17A-wyY/X1cwDAJ5TZI/AAAAAAAAJc0/15ynqJmcmwogxFmwQ2okgrx93OkGal9PgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-08-23%2B07.10.39-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sewing through several layers was very very difficult as the fabric was rather thick, I needed to hand turn the wheel as the machine couldn’t cope with it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pya7g8LxfCw/X1cwV6km8pI/AAAAAAAAJc8/bzfnLJdwEcoWX1MCt-IcR55YEB863iomwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-23%2B07.08.48-1.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1373" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pya7g8LxfCw/X1cwV6km8pI/AAAAAAAAJc8/bzfnLJdwEcoWX1MCt-IcR55YEB863iomwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-08-23%2B07.08.48-1.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I used miscellaneous zips for the main opening and the zipper pocket, just what I had on hand. I had no need to go shopping for anything except the strap slider, as the ones I had already were too narrow. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The lining is in two fabrics, both left over from other projects.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gdfwl8lmcF0/X1ct0ub6xtI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/fLvFAiJ3uqcvPg6Pwm2OcT5-Kwmo6NM8ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-08%2B07.49.23.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyone in the UK needing bag hardware, I can recommend <a href="https://www.sewhot.co.uk" target="_blank">Sew Hot</a>, which stocks Emmaline bag findings from the USA. (This is where my other hardware came from, from previous bag making adventures including the ill fated Town & Country backpack in my previous post.)</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IndRJAjTCH0/X1eIceGCSnI/AAAAAAAAJdI/2QBTlBFKP381IfAElnuKfQwPYxqhvEx5ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-08%2B07.52.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IndRJAjTCH0/X1eIceGCSnI/AAAAAAAAJdI/2QBTlBFKP381IfAElnuKfQwPYxqhvEx5ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-08%2B07.52.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As well as a zipper pocket in the lin</span><span style="font-family: arial;">ing, I put a patch pocket with a detachable key strap to make finding my keys easy in such a large bag.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZOUW0EZE_Q/X1ct2EaGpeI/AAAAAAAAJcU/ckbRQLJMXNoC1ewnLbpRtM6cdDnrxfnTQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-08%2B07.50.03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZOUW0EZE_Q/X1ct2EaGpeI/AAAAAAAAJcU/ckbRQLJMXNoC1ewnLbpRtM6cdDnrxfnTQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-08%2B07.50.03.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The second bag was the <a href="https://ithinksew.com/Products/Details/1710" target="_blank">Autumn Phone Bag, also from I Think Sew</a></span><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87p_08NAenA/X1chzq1ebaI/AAAAAAAAJaw/eewilL-6L4M3RPgSo5tD-k8M5cW5QST1wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-07%2B11.57.50-1.jpg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87p_08NAenA/X1chzq1ebaI/AAAAAAAAJaw/eewilL-6L4M3RPgSo5tD-k8M5cW5QST1wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.57.50-1.jpg" /></a></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to try this bag out to see if it is worth making again in other fabrics. I like having small bags and phone pouches for those times when I don't want to carry the "kitchen sink". For this reason I used all one fabric instead of making it with the contrast sides and trim on the flap.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I used some denim rescued from a pair of jeans that my husband had just discarded because of an unfortunate rip in the fabric right in the front. I was able to get all the pieces for this bag and the kindle pouch (below) from one leg of the jeans, so I have another leg available for something else. (Maybe a pouch for my husband's headphones?)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1549" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NABOyESLcCk/X1chzwMtMFI/AAAAAAAAJa0/K3nU6bnMrJwN7Z73Ogb0JSx73v9OP5gyQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.58.03-1.jpg" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These jeans were made from a stretch denim, which maybe was not the best fabric for a bag, but since this is a trial I did't worry too much. One unfortunate result of this was the way the flap became somewhat lopsided. (I have to admit I may have been a little slapdash in the installation of this given the trial nature of the bag, but there was definitely some difficulty in getting things even given the fabric's stretchy properties.) Also the top of the front pocket is somewhat rippled, as it stretched somewhat while being hemmed.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I decided to skip interfacing. With denim I don't think this was too bad an omission; a thinner fabric would definitely have needed some reinforcement.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The most difficult part of making this bag was understanding how the sides attach to the outer pieces. I found the best way to tackle this was to sew the bottom of the sides to the joined front and back pieces just between the position of the seams along the edges of the sides. I then clipped the main pieces to that point before pinning the sides in place. I was then able to sew down the first side, pivot to sew across the bottom, then pivot again to complete sewing up the other side.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The lining is blue poly-cotton poplin leftover from making my sewing machine covers.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1408" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qPug40B4uM/X1ch2knx8jI/AAAAAAAAJa8/B7lNU0RA6aQJdItjOl5sir1o6AjtTMtVQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.58.44-1.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My main issue with this bag is that the inner pocket without the zip tends to get caught up on anything larger that you try to put into the bag.It would be better if it were taller and therefore easier to slip things to one side or other of it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1416" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PcIqMoDe77A/X1ch2TA6XII/AAAAAAAAJa4/6bXJvP5bfX8CyHMrDjVgbIzZh13ll2qHwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.59.09-1.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also feel the inner zippered pocket is a bit too small to be useful for me. If I make this again I will probably omit both pockets.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fYS-aftQWWo/X1ch7C-LQcI/AAAAAAAAJbE/bY3Iz_FYT5YYK0H1X2ds3bxigAr7OByVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.59.16.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead of the magnetic snap or velcro closure suggested in the pattern, I used a plain old metal sew on snap. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1929" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVN5T2EcnT0/X1chzmKpPuI/AAAAAAAAJas/BTYRd2deiSsXoFhBeuoEtaTw5-C24oHJACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B11.58.14-1.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I pieced together a strap from leftover denim as there was not a strip long enough to make one otherwise. I had to use what was available so the width was a bit variable. I may make a new one if I ever use the other jeans leg at some future time. At the moment it is sewn in place to the D rings, as I only had one swivel clasp in the right size and colour.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final item is a pouch for my husband's Kindle e-reader. This is a simple pouch that was based on measuring the device and cutting the bottom of the leg the correct size, utilising one existing jeans leg seam on one side and making another on the opposite side. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1615" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQqJBpb94Bc/X1ck2ucGH1I/AAAAAAAAJbo/btaHwXDZzoIuHQydRrDTxL_e24_e113QQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B10.38.01-1.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I removed one of the back pockets from the jeans and put it on one side of the pouch, then cut the end of the waistband with the buttonhole off to act as the closure. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1745" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51dPDAtwlqo/X1ck2CMZR2I/AAAAAAAAJbg/gi4Mjlk_d_YXcS5-uYR2ZVP_vNzmphsagCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B10.38.17.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></span></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I found a suitable button in my stash and sewed it at the correct spot. This bag will allow him to put the Kindle in his shoulder bag without worrying about it getting scratched or dirty.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfSWSCMJdok/X1ck2kWiyqI/AAAAAAAAJbk/ZpU23RLON-kof6j_FctwIOqnv0pUu_kJgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-09-07%2B10.37.50-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1402" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfSWSCMJdok/X1ck2kWiyqI/AAAAAAAAJbk/ZpU23RLON-kof6j_FctwIOqnv0pUu_kJgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-09-07%2B10.37.50-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0Reading UK51.4369008 -0.9499061999999999251.436231990622943 -0.950979083605957 51.43756960937705 -0.94883331639404289tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-82797641269648204452020-08-26T10:29:00.001+01:002021-07-04T15:52:25.800+01:00Town and Country Backpack - what a disappointment<p>I bought the Town and Country Backpack pattern last year to make myself a bag to take on holiday. I find backpack/handbags are just the thing to carry on the plane or around when sightseeing, paired with a small neck pouch for the things that are needed quickly, e.g. passport, tickets, a small amount of cash, hotel room key, phone, and other miscellaneous small things. Such a small pouch can be tucked into the backpack when necessary to make it just one 'personal' bag you are taking on board a plane.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBl56wuDcgw/X0EGHQvqAjI/AAAAAAAAJZU/_PKo4K0mryUNJG_IgpTGrB8NP63q9gvKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-22%2B10.34.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBl56wuDcgw/X0EGHQvqAjI/AAAAAAAAJZU/_PKo4K0mryUNJG_IgpTGrB8NP63q9gvKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-08-22%2B10.34.52.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBvZoc4_H6E/X0EGHixYGRI/AAAAAAAAJZY/fHYjhDffHhsyYmzY08IklAGCOpj3cxx-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-22%2B10.35.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBvZoc4_H6E/X0EGHixYGRI/AAAAAAAAJZY/fHYjhDffHhsyYmzY08IklAGCOpj3cxx-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-08-22%2B10.35.17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>It looked like a practical design with several pockets to stash stuff in. I made it from the same black denim I used for another bag, (blogged earlier), 2 pairs of jeans for myself, and a pair of shorts for my husband.</p><p>I'm glad I took this bag on a test run before leaving on holiday because I have to report it is not at all practical.</p><p>The front pockets are fastened with velcro, not my favourite type of fastening, but OK. There are 2 outer pockets fastened with zips, one a vertical zip which is on the back, and the other horizontal near the top of the front concealed by the main flap. The straps are fastened below the top of the bag on a seam which also is where the main flap is attached. The top opening is wider than the flap, which means the opening is fairly large. So far this is fairly standard for a backpack. The wide opening is brought in to the width of the flap by using magnetic bag closures. This seems like a clever idea, but this is where the problems arise. </p><p>When you fill the bag with items (in my experiments, my purse, my iPad and a collapsible umbrella in the main body, and my phone in the pocket under the flap, when I closed the bag and put it on my back, it hangs so the weight of the items inside push against the front of the bag, and force the magnetic snaps open. </p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__6FEJat_UM/X0EDl3-btHI/AAAAAAAAJYs/q6rwbV4dmbMrT1OnqTxdLo8KnuXpbc_vwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-22%2B10.37.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__6FEJat_UM/X0EDl3-btHI/AAAAAAAAJYs/q6rwbV4dmbMrT1OnqTxdLo8KnuXpbc_vwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-08-22%2B10.37.04.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMYkPKSHrE/X0EDpLJlfHI/AAAAAAAAJY0/B0p157ijzH04b33eSN-LCt_Fl2jnLJSjACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-22%2B10.37.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMYkPKSHrE/X0EDpLJlfHI/AAAAAAAAJY0/B0p157ijzH04b33eSN-LCt_Fl2jnLJSjACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-08-22%2B10.37.24.jpg" /></a></p><p>With sufficient movement the main flap also pulls open, leaving the whole contents exposed and ripe for someone to help themselves.</p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-159ZMkDmeFk/X0EDq-khJwI/AAAAAAAAJZA/cOh4ivStzQwrG8gomiUCl35Mhijz802LgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-08-22%2B10.38.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-159ZMkDmeFk/X0EDq-khJwI/AAAAAAAAJZA/cOh4ivStzQwrG8gomiUCl35Mhijz802LgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-08-22%2B10.38.48.jpg" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;">I put the bag in the cupboard for some time-out until I decided what to do with it. I was never tempted to take it out and use it because of its impracticality. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally I decided to take a look to see if I could do something with it. I tried various experiments to make this bag more secure (and more balanced to carry).</div><p>Large snaps in place of the magnetic closures were equally prone to opening up with a little jiggling, maybe even more so. </p><p>D-rings spaced in different locations around the top of the opening, laced together with a tie, did manage to hold the bag together, however the flap and zip fastening interfered with how well the tie was able to be fastened. </p><p>I tried sewing some of the top together to assist the magnetic snaps, but that made the top opening too small to be practical.</p><p>I eventually decided this bag is a waste of perfectly good bag hardware, and will be deconstructing it to save them for other bags in the future. I may be able to use the fabric for something else, but the pieces are probably too small for this to be a realistic goal.</p><p><br /></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-51951758327398312262020-08-22T06:36:00.000+01:002021-07-04T15:52:11.102+01:00Origami Market Bag in upholstery fabric<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2Qh78a_9gE/XzTRmyeTv3I/AAAAAAAAJWA/TNUcCzLhzaEN4tZExhp01rmHCElp_0GagCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-02-04%2B15.22.34%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1337" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2Qh78a_9gE/XzTRmyeTv3I/AAAAAAAAJWA/TNUcCzLhzaEN4tZExhp01rmHCElp_0GagCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B15.22.34%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a></p><p>The Japanese origami market bag is a popular make, there are several tutorials in verious places on blogs and YouTube videos. There is also a version available from the designer Martin Margiela.</p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp2OLTtFw-M/XzTRnqQjvHI/AAAAAAAAJWE/NovqKeLXW0UVCj1mmTU0UR986rqFOOF1gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1574/2020-02-04%2B16.30.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1226" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp2OLTtFw-M/XzTRnqQjvHI/AAAAAAAAJWE/NovqKeLXW0UVCj1mmTU0UR986rqFOOF1gCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B16.30.12.jpg" /></a></p><p>When I bought a remnant of vivid upholstery fabric from the SARA charity watehouse on Richfield Avenue I immediately thought about this pattern. (I had gone in to find fabric to recover my dining chairs, which I eventually had professionally done, so no blog post about this i'm afraid.) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETAcb3-PT-w/XzTRo5KW4OI/AAAAAAAAJWU/a3ETaAFu6iYMOUz5PXv4IxaDu9BU5Qn4QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1173/2020-02-04%2B16.31.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="954" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETAcb3-PT-w/XzTRo5KW4OI/AAAAAAAAJWU/a3ETaAFu6iYMOUz5PXv4IxaDu9BU5Qn4QCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B16.31.08.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I managed to make the bag using french seams so there are no raw edges inside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBmiEApvT3w/XzTRoYYHOjI/AAAAAAAAJWI/wH_YzUkzJdoiAdc_E6R-kg1u9l0WWP_UgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1308/2020-02-04%2B16.30.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="988" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBmiEApvT3w/XzTRoYYHOjI/AAAAAAAAJWI/wH_YzUkzJdoiAdc_E6R-kg1u9l0WWP_UgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B16.30.26.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I tried the bag on, I felt the V opening was rather low down, and I had some small offcuts. I therefore dug out a toning cotton fat quarter and constructed some pockets to fill in the openings, a bit like a modesty panel for a dress or top. This is useful for putting things like phone, headphones or bus pass that might otherwise get lost in the bottom of the main part of the bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7c87X8T5xw/XzTRhCwFXDI/AAAAAAAAJVw/gjZ5aewYMSQBhmABaOObM_lPcYftniWNQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-02-04%2B15.19.16%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1897" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7c87X8T5xw/XzTRhCwFXDI/AAAAAAAAJVw/gjZ5aewYMSQBhmABaOObM_lPcYftniWNQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B15.19.16%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I added a small D ring for hanging my key ring on, again to stop it getting lost under other things in the main part of the bag.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4ztNqN5m9I/XzTRmMi7M-I/AAAAAAAAJV0/_7O-Ah7wyw0gEixnYT74TvXLZhnLICulQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-02-04%2B15.19.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4ztNqN5m9I/XzTRmMi7M-I/AAAAAAAAJV0/_7O-Ah7wyw0gEixnYT74TvXLZhnLICulQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-02-04%2B15.19.25.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a nice sized, practical bag, and I will use it a lot.</div><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35225228.post-53674197507287256852020-08-19T07:08:00.002+01:002021-07-14T09:29:43.631+01:00Quilt Rebind<p> In the late 1980s, the company I then worked for seconded me to a sister company in the USA to take part in an IT project. It says something about me that one of the first things I did when I went there was to get a basic sewing machine.</p><p>I also found a local fabric and quilting shop, and signed up for some quilting lessons, and one of the first i took was to make a log cabin quilt based on an Eleanor Burns Quilt In A Day booklet. The quilt was made with a turned edging rather than binding, and the main body of the quilt has the layers joined with ties of embroidery floss. The borders are, however quilted through all the layers by stitch in the ditch quilting.</p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTbM3rofTWg/XzTb2p1Ov9I/AAAAAAAAJXc/LIlz8hkjRcwtRrIQP70cl4rTWP5Rt-VlwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1725/199704%2B05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="1725" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTbM3rofTWg/XzTb2p1Ov9I/AAAAAAAAJXc/LIlz8hkjRcwtRrIQP70cl4rTWP5Rt-VlwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/199704%2B05.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Over the years this quilt has graced our bed in the colder months, and been machine washed many times. Eventually the edge of the quilt has become rather holey, so I decided to put some binding on it. First I unpicked the edge stitching, and trimmed the edges evenly to remove the damage while retaining as much width of border as possible. I found it necessary to add some extra padding to the edge in some places and found some scraps in my stash to do this.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T37E4_H5MpI/XzTZHFPHFiI/AAAAAAAAJXE/XCFxfS4cbLgBG51GM-_7EtjFYNTH1qSpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-04-21%2B15.17.20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T37E4_H5MpI/XzTZHFPHFiI/AAAAAAAAJXE/XCFxfS4cbLgBG51GM-_7EtjFYNTH1qSpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-04-21%2B15.17.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was difficult to find any fabric of a suitable colour for the binding, but a small amount of this green fabric taken from a charity shop blouse I had harvested a long time ago remained in my stash, and proved to be similar enough to work. It is very difficult to match greens I have found.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnKwrXmbjRU/XzTZGMnep4I/AAAAAAAAJW8/DRnp5wAEX30Qx6AurfyMe-oFt7DKtlSQACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-04-22%2B08.53.49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnKwrXmbjRU/XzTZGMnep4I/AAAAAAAAJW8/DRnp5wAEX30Qx6AurfyMe-oFt7DKtlSQACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-04-22%2B08.53.49.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I also needed to repair sone small rips where seams had split on the body of the quilt. I just used zig-zag stitching as this is a utility quilt, not intended as an art piece.<p></p><p>So now the quilt is useable again. (Though not at the moment with the heat wave!)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4476E-bNd0/XzTZId4xkGI/AAAAAAAAJXI/6V0aOy8ZlScDFKPz-Ec6yBZOkDwHjj0MACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-04-22%2B08.59.08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4476E-bNd0/XzTZId4xkGI/AAAAAAAAJXI/6V0aOy8ZlScDFKPz-Ec6yBZOkDwHjj0MACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/2020-04-22%2B08.59.08.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Gabrielle Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08434994723862479509noreply@blogger.com0