Simple sew kimono dress

Hi Everyone!

I have really been getting back into my dressmaking really after teaching beginners sewing classes it has inspired me to get back into it myself. Don't get my wrong I love my homewares and bag making but being able to sew your own clothes is very rewarding but i'll still be sewing and blogging about everything just expect to see more dressmaking.

So I must have over 100 sewing patterns in my stash lots of them being vintage patterns and I have been sorting through these recently as I will soon be moving into my new sewing room so get ready for lots of blog posts about organising.

I came across across a simple sew pattern that I got free with Love sewing magazine quite some time ago. I remember wanting to make this as soon as i got it but life takes over and I never got round to it. I knew this would be my next make I just needed the right fabric.

The biggest issue I had with this pattern is that it takes 4.3 metres of fabric at 45" wide meaning I would have to buy 4.5 metres. But as I was in my local market the other day I decided to look at fabric and saw this gorgeous print that really reminded me of holidays. When I felt it, it had a lovely silky feel to it and thought this would be perfect for the drapey-ness of this pattern. It was even 60" wide which meant I only needed 2.7 metres so bought 3 and at only £5 a metre I was more than happy.

This fabric is very tropical it has a gorgeous purple background and flowers in different shades of pink and green palm leaves and to top it all off, pink flamingos!

The dress itself is so easy to sew and from cutting out to finishing only took me about an hour and half. I want to make more now. If theres any beginners out there just getting into dressmaking then this pattern is for you.

The sleeves are joined in with the front and back pattern pieces giving it the lovely drape.

I can't wait to feel all summery on my holiday in September although i'm sure I will be wearing it before if we get the weather.

Has anyone else made this dress, let me know i'd love to see your take on it.

My First ever quilt

Today I am going to share with you my progress on my first ever quilt!

Working in a fabric shop where a lot of the customers are quilters I thought I better have a crack at a quilt myself. I didn't want to just make one for the sake of it either I wanted to make one for a purpose and wait for the perfect fabric.

A couple of weeks ago now some lovely charm packs got delivered to the shop. I knew this was the fabric for my first quilt when I saw it. The fabric is from Moda and the collection is poetry. The prints in this remind me a bit of Cath kinston but more traditional and softer.

The lovely People I work with helped me pick out the quilt pattern I was going to use. They chose a lovely one called Parade. These patter cards are brilliant they show you a picture of the finished quilt on the front and then what fabrics you need on the back and the instructions. This particular pattern required 5 inch squares which is why we chose it as my charm pack was perfect for it I also needed a plain border fabric I chose a pink fabric to contrast which was a makower Linea fabric.

This is how far I have got so far, there is an option to add another border around the edge to make it bigger which is what I am going to do I am going to use a patterned fabric, possibly a spotty fabric, nothing that will distract away from the rest of the quilt.

I also need to choose my backing fabric and binding fabric. I am thinking of a white fabric for the backing and picking out the lovely blue colour in my quilt for my binding.

The finished size of my quilt will be 49" by 63" not big enough to be a bed quilt but I am going to put it on the bottom of my quilt as a bed runner.

I will keep you posted on how I get on with the rest of my quilt.

All fabric and pattern card was bought from www.ohsewsweetshop.co.uk  Not everything is available to buy online but if you don't live far it is definitely worth a visit and you never know it might be a day I am working!

What I bought from Fabworks

Yesterday I received my order from Fabworks. I have placed quite a number of orders from Fabworks before and visited the shop several times as its only about 40 mins in the car from my house.

This time I purchased some of their scuba fabric which I haven't had before. I am really pleased with what I bought.

I love how when you place an order they put in a little sample of what the next fabric of the week will be, that way if you love what you see you can grab it as soon as it is available at the special price. I won't show you the fabric of the week as it may spoil the surprise!

So I bought three different scuba fabrics. The first being Graffiti Rose plaid. I bought 1 metre of this. I love this print and think it looks even better in the flesh. Here is the link for this one.
https://www.fabworks.co.uk/collections/scuba/products/graffiti-rose-plaid

Next I bought Polynesian Paradise, again just a metre. I loved that there was so many different colours on this and they really stand out on the black background. This fabric just reminded me of holidays.
https://www.fabworks.co.uk/collections/scuba/products/polynesian-paradise

Finally, I saved my favourite till last. Island blooms. I love love love the colours of this fabric a beautiful lilac background and large flowers in pinks and purples. I think I want to make a jumpsuit with this one. Possibly culotte style bottoms. I'm sure I will be sharing what I make with you all.
https://www.fabworks.co.uk/collections/scuba/products/island-blooms

Have you bought from fabworls before? I love all their jersey fabrics and think I may need to buy more scuba fabric soon!

Crafters Companion February Project- Friendship Bracelet

I have been a little behind on my blog lately so today I thought I would catch you up on some of my recent Crafters Companion projects.

In February ( I know this is some time ago now!) I was asked to make  project for National make a friend day. I'm not going to lie I scratched my head for a while trying to think of something to make. My first thought was a keyring which I did end up making but I will show you that in a different post.

I ended up making a friendship bracelet. This must have been the easiest project I have done for Crafters Companion so I wasn't sure if to make it or not but then I thought its not about making something really complicated but showing you all the different ways in which you could use your products, this is exactly what I did.

I used Debbie Shore's button factory to make my bracelet and love birds fat quarter bundle. It used very little fabric as you can imagine but there is loads left for other projects.

I used the ribbon that tied my fat quarter bundle together to make my bracelet made enough buttons to go around my wrist and then threaded these onto the ribbon and there you have it. If you are more experienced in jewellery making you could make a proper closure unfortunately I'm not so I simply tied a not but made it so i could adjust the size.

Click on the links below to buy everything I used for this project.

Happy sewing!

Button Factory

The fat quarters I used are out of stock but what about these.

Nesting makeup bag tutorial

Today I am sharing my second tutorial with you that I did for the crafters Companion Blog. Hope you like it and feel inspired to make these yourself!

Materials Required:

• Fat quarter bundle
• Heat n bond Vinyl
• Seeded Cotton
• Fusible interfacing
• Debbie Shore button factory kit
• Debbie shore English paper piecing Tumblr shapes
• Zips on a roll

Measurements for cutting outer front and back

Large: x2 11x8 inchs

x2 11x3 inchs

Medium: x2 9x10 inches

Small: x2 7x9 inches

Step 1: Cut out all outer front and back pieces for the Large and medium size bags Using the measurements above.

Step 2: Using the english paper piecing template cut out 5 of each of your 2 chosen fabrics, I use the prym glue marker to fold the fabric around shape. Then hand some 5 of those together alternating the fabric. You should now have two rows with 5 tumblers in each.

Step 3: Cut out the remaining pieces for the front and back of the smallest makeup bag. You shoud now have the the pieces like the picture below.

Step 4 Piece together the sections for the large bag and the small bag like shown in the picture below. This is also the time to add any embelishments to your oter pieces I used the riibon that tied the fat quarters together as a trim and my button factory kit to add a fabric button to the middle of my medium sized bag.

Step 5: Now cut out all the front and back lining pieces so they are the same sizes as the outer pieces.

Step 6: Now it's time for the vinyl. Cut out a piece the same size of each front and back. (so you should have 6 piees) Follow the instruction on the heat and bond to make your fabric washable!

Step 7: You now need to cut out your fusible interfacing for each piece of lining and adhere them on to the lining pices using no steam and on a medium heat.

Step 8: Cut the zips off your zips on a roll so they are slighty wider than the fabric, this makes is easier to sew so the slider doesn't get in the way.

Step 9: To attatch your zip get the outer front of your makeup bag, and place the zip tape right side down onto the right side of your fabric and sew, Repeat with the back piece sewing the right side of the zip to the right side of the fabric.

Step 10: This is where it may get tricky. Hold the zip in your hand so that both outer pieces are facing down and right side together, Now place one piece of the linig over the zip so the right side is facing the wrong side of the zip and sew across ( you will notice that your sewing over where you have already sewn the outer piece) Now repeat for the other side of the zip tape right side of the lining facing the wrong side of the zipper.

And when it's flipped the right way it should look like the photo above.

Step 11: Bring your outer front and back pieces so they are right side facing and the lining pieces so they are right side facing. Sew all way around the four sides leaving a gap in the bootom of the lining for turning through.

Step 12: On all four corners pinch the material so that the side and bottom seams meet to form a triangle and measure 1.5 inches from the top point and sew along that line. You can cut away the excess material above the seems when you have finished.

Step 13: turn the bag so they are right side out through the gap that you left. Making sure all the corners are nice and crisp. You can then sew the gap up that you left. Push the lining inside your bag and thats it ! Finished. Repeat these steps for sewing up on all of your makeup bags.

What i made my Nannan for Christmas

So i thoughy id just do a quick post today as i was scrolling through the photos on my phone I cam across the photos I had taken of my Nannans Christmas present that I made for her.

For her birthday which was in November i bought her the spectrum nois colourista pencils as she likes to colour and noticed she had started to do some colouring while she was watching tv and things.

I then had the idea to make her some sort of pencil case to keep her pencils in and knew that the pencil roll on Debbie Shores sew handy cd rom would be perfect and the flap pocket could maybe house her small colourista colouring book I bought her too.

I used these gorgeos floral fabrics. I also stitched the name Nannan on to the roll to  make it more personal.

As i say with most of Debbie's patterns it was a lovley and fairly easy make and I would deffinatly make more.

Debbie shore Bucket bags

Today i am sharing 2 bags that I made using the bucket bag pattern on Debbie Shores sew handy cd rom.

The first one i made was camper van fabrics. Riley blake keep on groovin. I love the vibrant colours, oranges and blues. The tie dye type fabric I have used for some of the inside pockets was fabric from my own stash and the plain blue fabric is a moda basic fabric. 

I used boast foam wadding inside my bags as this gives it the structure it needs. Normal wadding would be fine but it wouldn't stand up by itself. 

The instructions to this bag, like most of Debbie's patterns are well wrote so was easy enough to follow. The hardest part about constructing this bag was the fact that the basal foam is thick so some areas where quite tricky to sew.

The second bag i Made was using Riley black fabric again, this time some of the fabrics from the fancy and fabulous collection. I am not 100% sure on what collection or designer some of the fabrics are from.

I think this bag suits bright and bold colours which is why I like my camper van one the best but I do love the vintage feel from the softer colours I have used on the other bag. 

All the fabrics and wadding for these two bags I bought from a lovely little fabric shop in Doncaster called From rags to stitches. They had so many different fabrics to choose from it was hard to pick! 

If you want to use any of the fabrics I have used in these two particular bags the links are below. 

http://www.fromragstostitches.co.uk/product-category/fabrics/riley-blake/keep-on-groovin/

http://www.fromragstostitches.co.uk/product-category/fabrics/riley-blake/fancy-and-fabulous/page/2/

Tutorial: Cupcake applique Half Apron

This post is very exciting, the first ever step by step tutorial I have posted here on my blog.

Some of you might have already seen this as this was one of the tutorials that I did for Crafters Companions blog and it was posted at the beginning of January I believe.

So today we will be making this.

Materials Required:

• Seeded Cotton
• Fat quarter Bundle- I used the cotton craft co starts and bunting canvas fat quarters
• Stick and spray for fabric
• Free baking template from sew inspired issue 4

Dimensions to cut your fabric

Main apron Piece- 22 ¾ inches by 11.5 inches

Pocket Piece- 22 ¾ inches by 8 inches

Apron Ties- 22 ¾ inches by 4 inches ( You will need 3 of these)

Bias Binding- 2 metres (you can either buy some or make your own like I did)

Step 1:

Round the corners of the main apron piece and the pocket piece

Step 2:

Using your free stencil cut out your desired applique. I chose to do the cake stand with 3 cupcakes on top.

Step 3:

Using your stick and spray ashere these onto the pocket piece of the seeded cotton and then using your sewing machine, sew around to applique them on.

Step 4:

Apply Bias binding to the top edge of the pocket to neaten it (use your prefered method) Then attach the pocket piece to the main apron and sew all the way around attatching the pocket. Sew close to the edge.

Step 5:

You then need to sew 2 lines to create your pockets. This can be however you would like it but I sewed my 2 lines roughly about 16cm from each edge to make 2 smaller pockets on the outside and the middle pockets so it is the biggest.

Step 6:

Apply your Bias binding to the outer edges of the apron being careful around the curves. I usually open up my bias binding sew at ¼ inch and then flip the bias binding over to cover that seam on the back. You can then hand sew this for the neatest method but this can also be machine stitched if your confident enough.

Step 7:

With the three tie piece sew the together on the short ends and press open. Then press the long strip in half and open back up and press each outer edge into the middle. Finally press in half again so that all edges are concealed. Also press about ½ inch of each short end in to conceal those edges too.

Step 8:

 Find the middle of the apron and the middle of the long ties and match these notches up. Pinning the middle piece of the ties to the apron to secure. Starting from one end sew along one short end, all the way down the bottom of the tie until you get to the apron, carry on stitching the ties onto the apron but being a bit more careful and steady with your stitches. Carry on until you get to the opposite end and finish by sewing up the other short edge. And that's it one apron fit for a baker!

I hope you liked my first tutorial. Please bear with me as I am still new to making step by step tutorials. I also have one I am going to post on how to make nesting makeup bags so follow my blog to keep in the loop!

Crafters companion- January projects- Try a new technique.

Hi everyone

So as promised here is what I have been making for my January projects for Crafters companion.

This time we where asked to try a new technique. Now over the past year or so I have tried out many techniques that I hadn't before such as English paper piecing but the one thing I have never tried and always thought to be quite scary was free motion embroidery or free machine embroidery which ever one you want to call it. I thought it was about time I had a go so I lowered the feed dogs on my machine and off I went. I don't know why I found the thought of it so scary. Safe to say I can't stop now and want to add it into as many projects as possible.

I only did a small project as I wasn't sure how my free motion skills would be. So decided to make a fabric covered notebook. 

I used the threaders ditsy floral fat quarters these fat quarters work so well for many projects I always want to have these in my stash!

I then used Debbie Shores heart nesting die for the little hearts and free motioned these on along with free motioning my name on there too.

To finish it off I used Debbie Shores Rose flower applique and cut this out in white felt and popped a pink button in the middle to give it a bit of colour. 

I hope this inspires you to try a new technique this year. I'd love to know what it is you want to try.

See below for products I have used.

Threaders Ditsy floral fat quarter bundle 

Debbie Shore heart frame die

Debbie Shore rose flower die

Crafters Companion Chesterfield store. Review and what I bought

Hi everyone, so on Thursday we made a little trip down to Chesterfield to go to the Crafters Companion store. I have already been quite a few times already as it's only around a 40 minute drive from where I live.

I love being able to go to the shop, don't get me wrong I think the website is fabulous and has lots of things on there but when it comes to choosing fabric I must admit I do prefer to look and feel.

I also find I get really inspired when I go there. I look at literally everything in the shop. I know I sew and the majority of the shop is predominantly card making and other crafts but who's to say they can just be used for that.

I am on a bit of a mission at the moment for myself to try and think outside of the box when it comes to my sewing projects. I want to try and use different products in different ways and you will see from what I've bought where I'm going with this.

Now for a mini review of the store. The staff couldn't be any more friendly, they always greet you when you walk in and make sure your aware that they are there if you need any help and true to their word there is always someone around to help you. I like how they are always interested in what it is you might be making at the moment, it shows they too have an interest in sewing/crafting.

Don't forget whatever club inspire discount that you get online you also get in store they will just search for your account on the till.

Now for the good stuff, what did I buy? I always leave with a bag full because even though it isn't far it isn't like I go once a week so I like to be stocked up.

First I'll talk about the fabric that I bought. I bought red, black and navy supersoft faux leather. I bought these to make bags with my Debbie Shore build a bag templates. The navy geometric fabric, the heart fabric and the star fabric if you haven't noticed match my faux leather and I'm going to use these as linings.
I then got some of the adorn it fabrics as these where on sale and such a good deal but I didn't go mad and only got 2 different prints. Last but not least I bought the pink dog fabric, I have seen the yellow one before and loved it. I have made something with this already and I am in love with is so I'll be sure to show you that in another post.

Next I bought templates. First the Debbie shore fox template I have to Scotty dog one and wanted the fox one so I picked that up. Then I got some of the Sheena Douglas stencils, you may see where I'm going now with the thinking outside the box. I have used the camper van one on a few projects and love it.

Then I caved and bought 2 sets of the spectrum noir illustrator pens. I already have quite a few of the original spectrum noir pens and pencils and recently got the colourista marker range but I thought having a finer nib would be great. I then decided to get the trays to store them in. I have also put my colourista markers and sparkle pens in here. I only bought 1 set which is 6 trays and fits 72 pens and I have about 100 original spectrum noir pens so haven't stored those in here but I will definitely be investing in more trays.

So that's everything. Have you been to any of the Crafters companion shops yet? What did you think and what goodies did you get?