knitwise

A Summer jacket

I had many sewing plans of Summer dresses and tops... Alas, the weather has been so awful here that I had little motivation to go ahead.  Instead I settled for a lightweight jacket to keep me warm!...

The pattern is New Look 6028. It says Easy on the cover and  it is indeed that. I would recommend it even for novice seamstresses. I didn't change anything. I am very pleased with the fit and will certainly use this pattern again, maybe as part of a more formal suit with a pencil skirt.

I chose the version with the ruffle all around the edges as illustrated by the model. The ruffle was time consuming but well worth the effort in my opinion.

A cheap top for Summer...

At last we had some sunshine this week-end and I can show you now the top I made a week ago !... I am really pleased with it and I am pretty sure I will make another one for the Summer. This one cost me virtually nothing: the polka dot fabric was bought ages ago as a remnant for £1 and the collar was made out of an old bed sheet! 

 
The pattern is New Look 6808. I love the different collars. The pattern was indeed easy but I made a few modifications such as no waist darts and no side zip. I just wanted a no fuss top. Somehow, I find the idea of a side zip on a blouse a bit weird... However I fell in love with the bow collar version.

Close-up of the bow

Pyjamas revealed...

 

My new pyjamas are ready for bed!

The reason why I didn't use my pink fabric at the end is that I had a major argument with my overlocker! I have just bought one, never used one and, I guess, it takes time to know each other...

Overall, I am happy with the way they turned out. They are roomy and very comfortable to wear and I will definitely make some Wintery ones in a soft flanelette fabric when the chilly days return. It is pity that I didn't have enough fabric left to make the top from the pattern. I might make a vest type top instead.

Dancing in the wind

PS: The book on my bedside table is "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth Von Arnim. Read it many times, love it!

Pyjamas?...

I am old enough to remember that sewing was once part of the curriculum. My teacher was very "old school" and the highlights of her lessons was to teach us how to hem handkerchiefs nicely with neat tiny stitches. We were unmotivated and bored to tears.... Then, one term, a new teacher came along to replace the old one and she said to us: "Sewing is not all about neat hems and cute needle cases. It is also about making clothes you can wear. We are going to use sewing machines and make pyjamas!..." Those few words were enough to wake the whole class up!...  To this day, I can still remember the excitement of going out shopping for a pattern and fabric and  seeing what the other girls had chosen for their project. Sewing had become fun!

All this came back to my head when I read Karen's post about hosting a Pyjamas Party Sewalong. 

I don't wear them anymore, prefering the tee-shirt style nightdress,  but the inspiring pictures above changed my mind and I quite fancy the idea of lounging in a pair of pyjamas...

Pyjamas can be anything you want: chic and silky "A la Coco Chanel", cosy and warm for Winter, jazzy and bright for Summer.   Elegant, vintage, cute, romantic or fun...  the possibilities are endless.

At the moment, I am thinking Summer pyjamas, bright and cheerful.

 

 I have got the pattern and the fabric. Let's see if I can produce some loud, cheery, summery pyjamas with it....

 

Not idle...

I do realise that sometimes there are large gaps between my posts and I do apologize, but I am not completely idle during these silences.  Sometimes, there is not much to show apart from work in progress (I can be slow!...) or I am waiting for the opportunity to have a picture taken (I have finished one knitted top but the weather hasn't be too good to wear short sleeves lately...) or (yes, I confess...) I have spent too much time on Pinterest to gather inspiration instead of actually making something!... So I will have to shake myself awake and I promise I will try to post religiously on a regular basis.

I am still in my "Let's tidy the home" mood,  and I finally bought a frame for this print I bought in Paris last year.  Better late than never!... I put it up in the dining area in the kitchen, bought a lovely red polka dot oilcloth for the table, in the hope of giving this corner a cheerful French atmosphere. More photos will follow when I am finally happy with the look...

Having bought a new sofa for the living-room and Spring (surely?) not far away, I thought a bright and colourful cushion would be welcome. It am proud to say that I only used left over yarns from previous projects  and an old sheet for the backing. It is an envelope style cushion, super easy to make with minimum sewing.  I need to refine my technique by practising on more cushions using my fabric stash.

The sun has just come out as I am writing this. Spring MUST be in the air... Have a lovely week!...

 

 

Things to do in 2012...

I wish you all a very happy New Year 2012!

As a rule, I never make New Year resolutions for the simple reason that I know for a fact that I am unlikely to stick to them...  All I allow myself to do instead is to make a  "To do" list with the hope to tick at least a few items off that list before the new year is over... (No promises that I won't be able to keep, just a few things I would like to achieve).

• Finish my WIPs, or at least finish one BEFORE starting a new project. I have currently 3 ufo's : two vintage knits and one crochet blanket.
• Eat healthily and take some exercise to regain my lost waistline... (This might mean more time spent in the kitchen!)
• Have a go at sewing tops and dresses for myself (can only be done  if the above is achieved).
• Try to use as much from my stash as possible (wool and fabric)
• Have a critical look at my current wardrobe: get rid of the unwearable, recycle or revamp the acceptable. I would love to adopt the "make do and mend" attitude this year.
• Be more creative.

As you can see, this is quite a short list. The hardest might be the "healthy" bit!...

My 1953 Vintage blouse...

It took me longer than expected with work, holidays and family life, but I got there eventually!...  The explanations were quite clear even for a novice like me (It took me two days  to work out how to do the collar though! ...). It is not as perfect as I would like it to be (I have so much to learn!...) but I really enjoyed this project and am looking forward to tackle something else.

A week off...

Next week I won't be posting because we are going to Paris. It will be a little break between exams for the children, a chance to see my family again and catch up with all the news back home. It will not be a restful week as there will be lots of talking, visiting and walking through our favourite places but I am looking forward to our trip as it has been such a long time since we were there...

My 1953 blouse pattern has arrived! The pattern was already cut by the previous owner and it makes me quite emotional to think that at least once, sometimes in the 50's maybe, someone else used this very pattern to make the blouse.  I feel as if I am holding a precious antique piece of paper and I am nervous about damaging it. Sadly it is too late now for me to start before we go away. I want to take my time over it to make sure I do things right. The pattern states that it is an easy one  but,  glancing quickly at the instructions, I am in doubt...

Now that I am in my 50's mood, a pile of Miss Read novels is awaiting me. It has become a ritual every Summer. I love re-reading those books at this time of year and dream of simpler times....

 

Wips...

 
I have been very good lately at restraining myself at one project at a time...  BUT, the approaching Summer with all this sunshine (going to my head) and the constant inspiration from Blogland have changed all that!!! I feel like a butterly flying from one flower to the next. So I have to keep my head cool and get organised!

Christina is growing nicely on my needles and is reserved for evenings in front of the TV. The back is done, so is one sleeve. I love the constant changes in stitches, the work  progresses  in stages, I am happy...

The beginning of Christina's left front

Everytime I go to the bedroom, the sight of my granny stripes blanket feels my heart with a sense of warm happiness. I have decided to give her a twin sister to go on the other bed. It won't be an identical one but the colours will be more or less the same. This project will be for the long Sunday afternoons I will be spending watching the children cricket matches this Summer.

 

The very first stiches on the Twin...

Finally (I hope), I have been literally dizzy with all the sewing achieved by all the talented ladies on Sew Retro. Through these posts, I have discovered some truly inspiring blogs. I have been bitten by the sewing bug and must do something about it!... I am a bit of a novice in this subject so I have to start by something not too ambitious. I have bought a pattern for a blouse from the 50's era. Strangely enough, I have seen a similar blouse in a shop recently. Is the fashion turning into a retro mood?...

 

The pattern. Note: it says "Simple to make"

I am waiting for the pattern to be brought to me by the postman. I have already got the fabric which I think will do just nicely.  When will I have the time for this project??? Well, I am sure I will find it...

Pink gingham for a retro look. What do you think?... 

make do and mend...

My ironboard is about 30 years, not quite an antique but almost...  Over the years, I have bought countless new covers (which never fitted properly) and recently the foam pad has desintegrated to dust! There was nothing wrong with the ironboard itself and, in the spirit of "make do and mend", I thought I might have a go at restoring it myself rather than buy a new one.

I had a large piece of quilt wadding which I intended to use for a quilt which I never came around to make and a lovely Cath Kidston fabric which I thought would be perfect for the project. Ironing  is boring so I might as well have something pretty to look at when I press...

I know it is a bit sad to be excited about an ironing board, but I am so pleased to have achieved this result by myself.  There is something very satisfying in giving a new life to something very ordinary and old...