October 2010 – THORNBERRY

adult's clothing, sewing

Vogue 1179

If you are in need of a quick fix dress pattern that contains only three pattern pieces, then you can’t go past Vogue 1179, a DKNY (Donna Karan New York) pattern.

I squeezed the pattern pieces from a textured striped knit I bought at Clegs earlier in the year. I didn’t have enough fabric to match the stripes properly at the sides, but I hope that most people won’t notice (well, you will, because I just pointed it out).

I shortened the pattern pieces in two places to allow for my lack of height. It kept the proportions right so was worth doing. I also simplified the construction as per suggestions on Pattern Review – I just turned and twin needle stitched the armhole edges, and to attach the cowl I folded it in half wrong sides together, then overlocked it to the neckline. Even though this dress is super simple it’s beautifully drafted and the front pleats and cowl give it a bit of oomph. And it’s incredibly comfortable of course!

My favourite garments are always the ones that are loose around the waist and stomach. This will be a great layering piece – I’ve got some petrol blue wool jersey that is begging to be used with the same pattern.

My computer came back this week and we are finally starting to catch up on getting it all back up to date and making sure that it’s networked and everything operating as it should. My apologies to anyone who is still waiting for a response to an email – I will get to you, I promise! Things have been rather hectic here.

Sunday, 31 October, 2010 by thornberry

children's clothing, kids clothing, sewing

angelic

Clare joined Girl Guides this year, and yesterday they had an early Halloween celebration. The girls were all asked to come in costume, so Clare asked me to make her something. She rifled through the pattern stash and came up with Butterick 4116 (now out of print). Luckily I had the appropriate fabrics to make it in my stash and only had to buy the trim.

The wings are made from gold curtain fabric, with layers of interfacing and some batting in between. They attach to the dress with velcro.

When we arrived at the hall there were a number of witches, a robot, a zombie and a murder victim (!), and the leaders were dressed as a chef and a cowgirl. They had a wonderful evening bobbing for apples, decorating biscuits to look like spiders, making goo, and eating treats. And now she’s got a costume that will be appropriate for Christmas!

Friday, 29 October, 2010 by thornberry

my creative space, sewing room

My creative space…

A friend gave me her old big CRT television, set-top box and stand when she upgraded to a fancy new television. It took some rearranging to fit it all into my sewing room (I like to watch TV/DVDs – Buffy anyone? – when I’m ironing and sewing).

I’ve moved the sewing cabinet under the windows, which has improved the light enormously. They’re west and south facing windows, so it will probably get a bit hot in summer – thank goodness for the air conditioning. Eventually we’ll swap the current positions of the couch and the cutting table, but at the moment we consider it safer to keep the couch away from the stairwell (think 3 year old who likes to jump and climb on couches). There is still room behind the couch to access cupboards and drawers. I need to fix my pinboard to the wall somehow – it’s rather heavy and will need something heavy duty to keep it up there. It used to just rest on the sewing table but that’s not an option since I shifted things around. I’ve been on a cutting out frenzy again and have a number of garments ready to construct.

I really love my creative space. Visit Kirsty to see many more.

Thursday, 28 October, 2010 by thornberry

bags, crochet

Hexagon bag

Many months ago I came across this flickr photo of a brightly coloured bag made from crocheted hexagons. So I had a go at making something similar.

When I began crocheting the hexagons I was full of enthusiasm. I worked out how many I’d need to do, then added some more for some reason. When I went to put them all together with the vintage handles a friend had given me it just didn’t work as I had envisaged it. So the pile of hexagons sat in a pile. For months. I started crocheting in April – it wasn’t completed until last week.

Eventually I just rearranged all the hexes and sewed it together. It’s not the same as the original, but I think I’ll be quite happy with it nevertheless. I still have a small pile of hexes left over – no doubt to be combined into another bag.

I lined it with Michael Miller sprocket fabric, and used vintage doilies as inside pockets. The yarn is all 8 ply wool (Spotlight Moda Vera Basics) crocheted with a 4mm hook. There is a hexagon how-to over here.

Thanks to facile cecile for the inspiration and for crocheting so beautifully – her blog is full of divine crocheted items and superb photos. I adore the way she combines colours.

Monday, 25 October, 2010 by thornberry

crochet

Rainbow poncho

I have been attempting to finish off projects that have been languishing unloved and unfinished for a little while. I’d started this one off with great enthusiasm but slowed down when others took my interest. It was started in late August but not finished until mid October (just in time for warmer weather…hmmmm).

Clare went wild in the cheap yarn stash and chose nine colours to make up a rainbow. Three (or four) of the yarns are 8 ply wool, the rest are cheap acrylic (ick). But the overall result is quite effective!

It’s basically like a granny square but with a hole in the centre and only two corners. The border is a few rows of hdc. Add a couple of pom-poms to the front and voila! Doesn’t that take you back to the 70s?

Sunday, 24 October, 2010 by thornberry

crochet

Is your apple cosy?

Is your apple cosy? Our apple is!

I hooked this up when I was away with my book group the weekend before last. I’d taught them to crochet when we were away last year. Although most hadn’t picked up the hook again since, they were all keen to give it another go. Sally wanted to make an apple cosy, so I crocheted one alongside her. It’s based on a pattern in a recent issue of Crochet Today! The other women were very sceptical about the reception that an apple cosy would get from any of Sally’s three sons (aged between 8 and 12) but guess what? They love it, have been taking it in turns to use it, and now she has to crochet another two. Clare loves hers as well. Who’d have thought it.

Saturday, 23 October, 2010 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

Simplicity 3678 view C

Simplicity 3678 was one of Pattern Review‘s “best patterns of 2008” (so clearly I’m behind the times again since it is now late 2010 and I’ve only just made it for the first time). It deserves kudos – it’s straightforward to make, comfortable and I think flattering.

Okay, that’s not the best photo of the back view; it actually hangs quite nicely if I don’t have my hands on my hips. Once again, I can’t remember where I bought the fabric, but I suspect Darn Cheap Fabrics for this one (although it could have been Spotlight). It it quite light and almost has a crepe-like feel. I’m planning to use this pattern a couple of times for summer dresses as well.

It doesn’t take much to figure out what I’ll be sewing when I head to Sewjourn again in a couple of weeks time – summer frocks in stretch fabrics!

Friday, 22 October, 2010 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

Simplicity 3775

A few weeks ago when I was procrastinating about finishing the wedding quilt I made three dresses – the one I wore to the wedding, one that I’ll show you tomorrow, and this one.

The pattern is Simplicity 3775 and I can promise you that you will be seeing it on me over and over again. It has been around for a number of years now (yes, I’m behind the times) and it was a “best pattern of 2007” and “hall of fame 2009” pattern over on Pattern Review.

I’ve worn this dress to work twice so far and have had compliments on it both times.

I’m not certain but suspect that I bought the fabric at Spotlight – it’s a fairly slinky but firm stretch fabric that seems to hold me in quite nicely and flows well. I’m planning at least two more of these in summery fabrics and shorter sleeve lengths, with variations to the midriff treatment. Highly recommended!

Thursday, 21 October, 2010 by thornberry

crochet, Uncategorized

Red Curacao

Because Michelle suggested I wear red accessories with the dress I wore to the wedding and because I suspected that it would be very cold and because I am aiming to crochet 10 shawls in 2010, I made this.

The pattern is Blue Curacao (Ravelry link) by Doris Chan, and can be found in her book Amazing Crochet Lace. It took two balls of Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Bamboo Ewe yarn, which I found at Spotlight, of all places! I used a 5.5mm hook, but a 6mm hook would have been better.

I crocheted this shawl in under a week – yay!

So, that’s six shawls crocheted so far this year (but number seven is already on the hook). I highly recommend this pattern – there are 332 versions of it on Ravelry so it’s clearly very popular. My shawl is ravelled here.

Wednesday, 20 October, 2010 by thornberry

patchwork, quilting

zigging and zagging

So yes, I did finish the wedding quilt in time! Ta-da!

Yes, it covers the top of a queen sized bed with enough length for a decent turn back.

I haven’t taken a full photo of the back! But you can see it at the top of the above photo. There’s a strip running down the length made up of a block of each of the fabrics from the front, and the rest is a coordinating print from the same range (designed by Carla Miller for Westminster/Rowan fabrics, but quite a few seasons old and very difficult to find now).

I quilted it either side of the zig zags. By the way, I based this quilt on Anna Maria Horner‘s Folk Dance Quilt (there’s a link to the pdf on her blog) but I adapted it with this fantastic tutorial by Amandajean of Crazy Mom Quilts so that I wouldn’t have to work with triangles.

The binding is pieced from all thirteen fabrics, and sewn on by machine with reference to Rita’s binding tutorial. I have to be honest and admit that I missed a few spots so still spent an hour or so sewing those in place by hand. But anyway, it’s finished and was delivered to the wedding! I told the mother of the bride that I’d have it back if the bride and groom don’t like it (is that cheeky?). I reckon it was at least 30 hours of work all up. Whew!

Tuesday, 19 October, 2010 by thornberry

Month: October 2010