{quilt} while you're ahead

76**2013 - Portfolio Tunic -

I understand I'm a bit late in jumping on this bandwagon... 

but what a great pattern!!

The pocket design is genius (I'm not... it took me a while to work out how to put it together!) and it's very comfortable to wear.

Of course I've made a mistake somewhere in copying the pattern and messed up the band around the neck (I need a lesson in tracing... ) and had to do without but I've already worn it and it wasn't an issue.  I also changed the sleeves; because of the simpler neckline I felt the sleeves needed to be simpler too.

The fabric is a gorgeous shot linen bought very cheaply at the Malvern quilt fair a few weeks back.  The problem was... that it was soooooo damn slippery.  Is it the nature of shot fabric? of linen? I don't know, what I know is that the thing moved whichever way it fancied it and that cutting a straight line was a nightmare, never mind curves!

A lot of expletive were uttered.

The clouds are moving really fast today and the light keeps changing so the colour of the first image is the most accurate.  Isn't it just perfect?

And it fits too!

(ok, I know it's June, but it's not warm out there and I hate cold feet!)

68** - cap-sleeved top -

So.... next week is half-term... the kids will be home, Mr M will be away and the school year is almost over...how did that happen?  Didn't I just put away the Christmas decorations? (almost true.  There's a roll of wrapping paper behind my door).  I still have some Easter chocolate (true) and I'm still wearing woolly jumpers (true!! blasted weather).

And now they're telling me the summer holidays are just around the corner.  

No way.

I'm not buying it.

I have so many things to tell you I don't know where to start.

 

- Let's enjoy these tulips I found in a tucked away corner of the park first.

- I finished two items of clothing, a crochet shawl (awaiting blocking) and a mini quilt.  Yes, I know my windows needs cleaning, but my kids are fed and are wearing clean clothes so that's ok, right?

- I read "Il Postino" by Antonio Skarmeta.  Really cute story.  Can you believe I've never seen the movie?

- No 1 has been abducted by aliens and replaced with another 12yr old who showers everyday without being reminded, does his homework as soon as he comes through the door and has been known to volunteer to clear the table after dinner.  It's kind of scary. (And I know it won't last, he'll be returned to me very soon).

- But first things first.

The cap-sleeved top from Simple Modern Sewing.

It promised to be a quick project and buoyed by my success with the Tova pattern I was full of good expectations.... only it turned out to be slightly more work than I thought.  Thank you Ali for responding with such patience to my many frantic text messages!

I started off with on wrong foot when I traced the wrong pattern.  Doh.  Far too long in the body it was.  Attempt no 2 was slightly better but still too long in the body:

I felt frumpy in it.

I even tried to disguise the problem with my magic cardigan (it makes everything better, it does!) but still.... meh!

So back I went upstairs and chopped another two inches from the top part and added some Liberty bias binding to the high waist to give it some visual umph.

Of course I didn't have enough of the binding to make the ties as the book suggested so I made a loop on one side instead.

What could have taken a day ... dragged on for dayS instead and I almost binned the whole lot a few times.  The book has lovely ideas but it's very economical with directions.  "Now make sleeves" is just an example, and if I hadn't 'learnt the ropes' with my Tovas I would have been well and truly up **** creek.

I haven't even been able to wear the thing as the weather here has u-turned to winter mode... so I can't comment on the wearability factor.  Stay tuned.

63**2013 - Nani Iro / Tova dress -

Neither the dress or the fabric need any introduction so I'm going to let the photos do all the talking.

The only modification I did was in the collar.  I used the directions for the Wiksten tank collar and I'm really happy.  So happy that I've already worn it once and can't wait for this nasty weather to go away to wear it again.

Sewing with double gauze was a bit tricky (actually I found the hardest part was accurately cutting the pattern pieces...) but it feels wonderful on and drapes just the right amount.

My two new wardrobe additions... any other pattern you can recommend?

56**2013 - Tova top -

The pattern has been sat on my shelf for what...two years? and then last week I finally took the plunge...

I cut the pattern pieces, studied the instructions, and over the course of a few days...

the ubiquitous and fabulous TOVA top emerged.

I used a light cotton fabric I bought in Italy during the Easter break.  I think it's French... but don't quote me on it, it's just something the guy in the shop said.  The selvedge was blank.

I'm very pleased with it!  I did it in a medium size and it fits perfectly even if it's not perfect... my gathering isn't brilliant (must practice 'gathering') and I'm not in love with the collar.  I think I'll try a simple bias binding doo-dah next time.  I also made it much shorter than the pattern suggested because it originally sat right on my hips and between you and me highlighting the widest part of one's body it is never a good thing.

(obligatory awkward self-portrait)

I will sew more Tovas, they're very wearable..  I have a Liberty fabric and an unknown voile that should be  just the ticket... stay tuned.

51**2013 - crochet t-shirt -

1) I wanted a carry-with-me project for the Easter holidays

2) I wanted it to be a crochet project

3) Using yarn I had in my stash

4) Using a pattern I had in the collection

The pattern is called Flori T and I found it in an old copy (May last year) of Inside Crochet.  Sometimes my hoarding 'skills' are useful.

If you can see the Ravelry link you would have spotted the bright crochet flowers are missing from my version.  I'm afraid I'm not a 'bright crochet flower on my sweater' type person, plus I really like it as it is.

I used 7 or 8 (can't remember exactly as I lost the bands.... sorry) balls of Katia Linen, color 5.

3mm crochet.

It's slightly stiff at the moment but I'm sure that the linen will soften with a bit of wear.

The weather is shocking at the moment and I can't find a room in the house where taking decent photos.  Plus No 3 was not in a helpful mood and you have no idea how much dealing has been gone on for him to take the above shot.... I can't afford to have him taking more!

 

32**2013 - crochet hangers -

At first glance to begin a spring tidy up/clean by covering wooden hangers in crochet might seem a bit absurd... but there is method in my madness.

I was leafing through the latest edition of 3191q. (It's the first time I bought it and it's lovely, a bit expensive if you live this side of the Atlantic, but gorgeous nonetheless)

Serendipitously (is that even a word) there's an article about clearing out wardrobes, and I know from experience how 'freeing' an experience it is.... which got me thinking...

Wouldn't it be a shame to keep my favourite clothes on cheap plastic hangers? 

Of course it would.

So when I stumbled on a whole bunch of really cheap vintage wooden hangers I thought it was a sign from above.

It had to be done.

Sooner or later I'll get to the wardrobe too....

(I used left over yarns sent to me by the lovely Kristina and the pattern is from "Homemade" the book by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson) 

12**2013

The snow still covers the ground

but that's mainly on the pavements... the roads are clear.

I'm seriously beginning to worry about the mental state of my fellow citizens:

(wouldn't you notice if suddenly only one of your feet started to slip around??? is it me???)

- No 3 dropped his Kindle Fire in the bath (he wasn't in it, but only showing something to his brother who was).

Tragedy.

I'm glad to report that 4 days in a bag of rice cured the device and it's now as good as new.

- Lunch:

(bottom of the cupboard/fridge soup.  Always the best ones)

- I got my first pair of glasses today (a part from a short stint during No 3's pregnancy - that was weird)

Feels weird.  Kids think it's hilarious.

133//2012

And now for something a little bit different...

Mr M and I have got a date.  Actually it's more like a school function but calling it a date it's much more exciting! It is an evening of posh Christmas Carols at No 1's school: Christmas Carols, canapes and black tie dress code.  (The canapes ARE NOT part of the dress code...

This where the problems begin.  What to wear?  What was I thinking when I bought the tickets? Will I be able to squeeze into last year's cocktail dress? Mmmm maybe with the help of industrial strength spanx and no food between now and the rest of the week.

You see, No 1's school has a long and rich history.  It was started by Henry VIII (he of divorced beheaded died divorced beheaded survived- fame, if you're not following me, don't worry, it's something to do with the fate of his many wives) and more recently supplied some background sets for the Harry Potter movies (I know!!!).  The choice of outfit is vital.  Ok, in the grand scheme of things it's not 'vital', but I don't get out much, indulge me please.

Whilst I starve myself I'm going to take you on a 'dream shopping trip' to another British institution, the Tudor building is a perfect match after all.  The devil is in the details.

So come with me, I need help choosing from these designer dresses.

 Shall I dazzle people in a slinky Rouland Mouret number?

or play the Classic card in Armani...

This Alexander McQueen  might be better suited to an Oscar ceremony than a 'Schola Cantorum performance... but it's just perfect in so many ways!

A red Vivienne Westwood? can I be bold enough?

Maybe 'demure' Marc Jacobs is more me...

In the end my favourite is this:
by Stella McCartney, classy and sparkly and British... just perfect.

 

What do you think? Which one is your favourite?

 

71//2012

My dreamy new Birkenstock

(and totally fortuituous matching nail polish!)

67//2012 {{pjs trousers}}

Technically calling this a finished ufo is incorrect ... I hadn't even started it before the weekend BUT I've been meaning to make them for so long that they were 'on the list'.

I know you know what I mean.

The fabric was bought last May (2011) at the Malvern Three Counties Quilt Show and has been on the shelves since then.

As a template I used an un-stitched old pair of pjs pants that literally fell apart. It's a very clever construction of only two pieces (one for the left leg, one of the right) that came together in a ridiculously short time.

So quick I was that I had time for a spot of pedicure

and a slice of cake.