Tutorial Time Again!

Gathered Skirts

I was making a very simple gathered skirt with an elastic waist yesterday, and I remembered that I already had a tutorial for that style.

The tutorial is over here, and you can also download a PDF version.
There are no pictures in the version on the blog (computer failure, oops), but there are pictures in the PDF.

I’ve also uploaded a PDF version of the elasticated skirt tutorial that I posted a while back.

Thanks to everyone for such positive feedback on my previous tutorials – I really appreciate it! Comments and questions help me to make them better for you in the future.

I’ve had several requests to write up a tutorial for the wheat pads and lavender bags, so that’s going on the To-Do list.

I’m also considering giving away the secret of how I draft my underbust corsets. One of the most common searches which leads to this blog is “how to draft a corset pattern”, and that information isn’t even here yet! (Although you can get some clues from looking at the pictures.) I think it’s about time I rectified that situation.

Three Blue Tote Bags

Three blue tote bags

I’ve been making a lot of tote bags recently, mostly from recycled pillowcases and duvet covers.

Now that supermarkets are starting to charge for their plastic bags, more and more people are getting back into the idea of using fabric shopping bags. They’re strong, they can fold up neatly into your handbag, and they can hold a heck of a lot of shopping!

I was planning to write up a tutorial for making a tote bag from a standard pillowcase, but I see that the first issue of the new Sew Hip Magazine has beaten me to it.

I’ve seen similar tutorials online, for bags made from pillowcases and pretty tea towels. My bags use only half of a pillowcase, and they’re not lined, but there’s no reason why you couldn’t go to town and make yours enormous, or as fancy as you like!

Squirrel & Pigeon

Squirrel

Pigeon

These were both taken on my walk back from the local Post Office this morning.

I had my little camera (a Pentax Optio A30) on its maximum zoom capacity, so I was able to take both of these from a distance, while I was being eyed suspiciously from the top of a tree!

I’ve been using this camera for just over a year, and I continue to be thrilled to bits with it.

Nuts!

 Hazelnut
 

I didn’t go foraging for hazelnuts or sloes this year. There didn’t seem to be any sloes growing at all (no sloe gin!), and by the time Sarah had gone to look for hazelnuts, the squirrels had eaten them all.

Except for this one, apparently, which I found on the edge of my lawn this morning.

One day earlier this year, I spent all afternoon watching a squirrel coming back and forth into my garden, hurriedly burying fistfuls of goodies in the lawn. As soon as he’d gone, a pair of magpies came along and dug them all up again.

Apparently they missed one!

Two Top Toiles.

Simplicity 3503

This is the toile for what will eventually be Simplicity 5303, the long beige version. Only not in beige.

Jenny’s coming over tomorrow, to bring the not-beige fabric that she’s chosen, and to try on the top.

I’ve only made the top half of the dress because the only part that needs fitting is to make sure that the underbust seam actually does sit under the bust, and not half way up. If it fits, Jenny can keep it; if it doesn’t, I’ve got a new top!

 

Top toile

This one’s a copy of Miss Alice‘s favourite work top.

It’s cut on the bias, and has really pretty sleeves. Hopefully I’ve managed to adjust the bust darts and the length for a better fit.

All I need to do now is bind the neckline, and finish the pair of trousers that I need to send off in the same parcel.

 

I also need to do something about the lighting in the Shed. I’ve got three halogen spotlights, a standard lamp and a net of LED fairy lights blazing out in there, and it’s still too dark to see properly.

Calming influence

Lavender bags

Here we go – matching lavender bags, to go with yesterday’s wheat pads.

These are half the size of the wheat pads, so approximately 10cm (that’s 4″) square. They’re made in the same way, with a recycled polycotton inner bag which contains the lavender. How I made these without spilling tons lavender and wheat into the guts of my overlocker, I’m not too sure! There’s approximately three ice-cream scoops of lavender in each little bag. Measured very scientifically, I can assure you.

As you can see, the little loop makes them easy to hang up wherever you like!

I’m thinking of making some cinnamon and clove bags to hang up at Christmas, for a seasonal scent. Some cedar or pine scented bags might be nice too, to keep the moths at bay from your wardrobe or knitting stash…

These are also on their way to the Art Market, but when I return I’ll be making some more. I’ve been asked to make a tutorial too, so I’ll make a new page for that when it’s done.

Winter Warmers

Basket of wheat pads

I swear by using these little wheat pads to relieve pain. You can pop them in the microwave to warm them up, or in the freezer to cool them down. These little ones are a perfect size to drape across your forehead or cuddle up to your stomach.

They’re made from milling grade organic wheat kernels, which I bought from Brow Farm. Each bag has an inner pouch made from recycled polycotton – this contains the wheat. The outer bag is made like a tiny pillowcase, and can be removed for washing. These are made from offcuts of quilting fabrics that I bought before I made the switch to using only organic and sustainable materials.

This basket full of goodies is on its way to the Rising Sun Art Market on the 22nd. All I need to do now is print out the instruction sheets, which read as follows:

to use hot:
remove the inner wheat pad from its cover, and place in the microwave. Half fill a mug with cold water, and place this inside the microwave with the wheat pad. Heat for one minute. Continue to heat in ten second bursts until the desired temperature has been reached. Once heated, replace the wheat pad inside its cover.

to use cold:
remove the inner wheat pad from its cover, and place inside a plastic bag. Place the wheat pad in the freezer until cooled. Once cool, remove the wheat pad from the plastic bag, and replace inside its cover.

Next up – making some matching lavender sachets from the leftover fabric.

More Near Sea Naturals

Thanks to a combination of my new medicine and the truly dreary weather we’ve been having lately, I’ve been finding it very difficult to feel inspired by anything much.

Suddenly, thanks to a little visit from the postman, I feel much better!

Near Sea Naturals

(Sorry about the terrible picture – it’s raining so hard that it’s been dark all day.)

Both of the large pieces of fabric are organic cotton pointelle. Three yards of each, in chestnut and natural. The natural piece won’t stay that way for long – I plan to chuck it in the washing machine and dye it Flamingo Pink! After that, I plan to transform it into a pair of leggings and a top.

(The chestnut piece is going to be transformed into a Christmas present, so I can’t elaborate on that any further.)

The swatches… oooh, where to start!

  • The one with the trees (top left) is Enchanted Forest, and it’s a wonderfully soft twill.
  • The one with the ladybirds is Tickled Pink, on the same twill base. I can imagine pretty skirts made from each of these.
  • The one with the aubergines is Eggplants, which is a hemp and cotton blend in a linen-type weave. I adore the colour and the little gold flecks in the fabric, so I think I might have to send off for a skirt’s-worth in my next order.
  • The plain black swatch is a wonderfully smooth sateen
The swatch packets are for the woven wool fabrics, and the wool knits.
I’m gradually collecting all of Near Sea Naturals’ swatch kits, so that I can show them at craft fairs, and encourage people to place orders.
All I need to do now is work out what I’m going to make…

Pintucks and pleats.

I’ve been away from the blog recently on account of a Dreaded Lurgy, so I haven’t had a great deal to show you. Fortunately I have managed to drag myself out of my sick bed *cough* for long enough to make this:

Pintucks and pleats

which is eventually going to be the front of a shirt, in organic cotton lawn.

I’ve been looking through a number of books about historical clothing, specifically men’s shirts. I’m making one from the simplest shapes possible (basically four big rectangles and a collar!), and using pleats and pintucks to create the fit and style that I’m after.

I have lots of different plans for variations on this simple shirt, and I’m hoping to find the time to make several incarnations over the next couple of months.

I’d probably better make a start by getting on with this one…