WIP – THORNBERRY

family, miscellaneous, WIP, work in progress

bits and pieces…

Wow, that weekend flew by quickly! We had a “home” weekend, which was needed after a busy week full of play-dates for the kids. With Stella starting school, I thought that it was important to foster her new friendships with playdates that she can’t easily have during term time (after school care two afternoons per week and other activities on another two). She is making friends with the sweetest little girls – but it also means that I am spending time getting to know new school parents. Although I am often quite social, I am actually a person who really needs her alone time to recharge and reconnect. So all this socialising and being nice to people was wearing me out! The weekend was a welcome respite. So, what did we get up to? The kids watched an inordinate number of movies on TV. They prefer DVDs to going out to the cinema, and there was a huge DVD sale on at the local supermarket. They also spent a lot of time out in the backyard on the swing set and trampoline, so it wasn’t all about screens! The Uno set also got a fair workout. My husband repaired my bike carrier (broken when I fell off almost a year ago), mowed the lawn and started repainting around our deck. We both managed to get to the gym for a decent workout. Had coffee at a local cafe. Read the newspapers. I began work on getting through the mending pile (some achieved by putting the garment in the bin). And I did other bits and pieces.

Some hooking while watching Downton Abbey last night.

Made some yo-yos for a quilt top while watching Doctor Who with the family (even little Stella who is possibly much too young to be watching it but isn’t scared as long as she is snuggled up to Daddy).

Inserted twist locks for the very first time (beautifully, if I do say so myself) while doing some secret pattern-testing.

Nothing finished, but lots in progress! And spent a little time on Ravelry finding a jacket pattern to crochet for the twin baby girls that a friend gave birth to during the week. Now to make a final decision on what to make for the SewcieTea coming up this Sunday – and getting it done! But had better dash off – the week has started again, and we’re off to swimming lessons every day this week. With some more playdates thrown in for both children. Oh, to be a primary school aged child – my girls have a pretty good time of it!

Monday, 8 April, 2013 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing, WIP, work in progress

McCalls 8238 begins

My pre-Sewjourn cutting out frenzy has commenced. I’ve started turning piles of metreage and patterns into piles of cut out pieces of garments and patterns. Oh, what fun! One of the items I’ve been planning on making myself is a bias cut dress for summer. Enter McCalls 8238, which has been in my stash for many, many years and was originally used for making a plain black dress. I wore that dress once – the fabric shredded everywhere that there was any strain put onto it! Not just at the seams – it must have been rotten. I remember where I was working at the time, so it was back in 2000, and I possibly bought the pattern before then. Just dashed upstairs to check the copyright date on the pattern – it was 1996. Time to give it another whirl!

Now it’s decision making time. I remember that this pattern had a very high round neck. I don’t find them comfortable or terribly flattering on me, so also pulled out McCalls 7587 (copyright 1995). I still have the dress that I made from this pattern – I wore it to the first family Christmas that I took my husband to, back in 1996. Isn’t that sweet? Although it’s also a simple round neck, I didn’t remember it as being quite as high. Here’s a comparison of the facing pieces, with McCalls 7587 on top.

The facings for the second pattern are narrower. When I lined them up around the bottom edge, it seems that the neckline is scooped lower. The shoulder seam angles aren’t much different. Here’s the back facings:

I was tossing up whether to try to combine the two patterns through the shoulder and neckline, or just to cut the original neckline of the bias dress about 5/8″ deeper all around. I think that is what I will end up doing.

Because it is a bias cut dress, the front pattern piece is whole rather than to be cut on the fold. Hooray! I’ve already made the same petite adjustments for the body length as last time, but think that I will add back on the length that I cut off when I made the shorter version of the dress last time so that I make the calf length dress this time. I’ll use the short sleeves as well. I’m making it from the fabric that you can see in the photos – it’s from June’s stash so is probably even older than the pattern, and I have no idea what the fabric composition is. It should work nicely in a bias cut. I’m looking forward to getting it all cut out and sewing it up!

Sunday, 28 October, 2012 by thornberry

crochet, family, miscellaneous, musings, planned projects, sewing, WIP

sharing

There’s been a little sharing going on. My husband shared his cold with me, and for the past four days or so I’ve been feeling very blah. But I’m finally on the improve, so shall blog a little more often again soon!

See that empty space beside my overlocker on my gorgeous especially-made-for-me patchwork machine runner? Mum had been sharing her fancy-schmancy sewing machine with me for the last month, but now it’s gone back to her. I’m still trying to decide whether to get my machine serviced yet again, or save the money to put toward a new machine. My Pinnock was given to me for my 21st birthday, so it’s not as though it hasn’t done a huge amount of work over the years. But I’m still loathe to say goodbye to it. In the meantime, not one but three lovely friends of mine have offered to lend me one of their spare machines! What generous sharing!

Another lovely friend recently shared information about these irons being on sale. Having it used it for a month or so now, I have to say that I LOVE IT! It irons beautifully, and presses (for dressmaking) well too. You should see how much steam it can churn out! I do feel as though I refill the water tank just as often as I used to refill my old iron, but it’s so worth it for how well it irons. I know that there are huge number of people out there that don’t iron, but I have to admit that as much as I don’t enjoy the ironing process, I do like my clothes to be ironed, and a good iron is absolutely indispensable to anyone who sews.

The Perfect Nose just shared information about a website that sells Vogue, McCalls, Butterick, Burda and New Look patterns for $4 each with free shipping within Australia! I almost fainted with excitement. The patterns in the above photo came from the last BMV sale, but Vogue charge a fortune for postage from the USA (it’s all that handling needed to put patterns into an envelope) so they still work out to around $7.50 per pattern if your order seven. Pattern Plus seem to have a mixture of patterns, from out of print, to quite old, to current – well worth a look at $4 per pattern plus 80c handling for the entire order. Huge thanks to The Perfect Nose from putting me on to them!

We shared Grand Final Day with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and their young adult sons yesterday. My girls adore their “big boy cousins”. Our niece came over with her beautiful two-month-old daughter as well. My girls are rather enamoured with their new baby girl cousin (second cousin? first cousin once removed?) too. As a family we’re not much interested in football – my nephews weren’t even certain about which teams were in the final – but it was a close game, which is always a good game. And I got plenty of crochet done! Five hours worth, to be exact!

I’ve been meaning to share a couple of new blogs with you too. Blogless Anna is blogless no more, and is sharing her beautiful sewing with us. I’m very keen to make a Tessuti Lily dress after seeing Anna’s (and quite fancy the shoes that Anna is wearing as well).

This divine blood orange cake and compote was made by Anna of the Red Cat Food Store. We ate it at book group just over a week ago, and I have to say that it was SUPERB! Anna has just started up her business, and has also started a lovely blog where she writes about her cooking and baking experiences. Anna is one of my “school mums” and her daughter and Stella are mates and will both be in prep together next year. I have been the fortunate beneficiary of her skills at many a coffee morning where she has shared her baking with me. Yummmmmmm.

Many of you shared comforting and encouraging words on my last blog post when I was unhappy with the fit/photos of my dress. Recently there have been a number of discussions on different blogs that I read sharing opinions about giving feedback and criticism, fit and photography, and such like. It has all made for interesting internal debate for me. When it comes to blog photos, I take whatever I can get! As you can tell, mine aren’t terribly styled, and they are taken quickly by my husband or Clare. I crop them (sometimes), but that is about it! No photo-shopping, no other editing. No fancy backgrounds – you know that you generally get “the wall” or “the deck railing, the lemon tree and clothes line”. I just don’t have the time to get to other locations! Maybe it’s just the stage I’m at – with primary school and pre school aged children and a two day per week job and a husband who travels with his work, my chances of getting makeup on and my outfit styled and an interesting background are pretty much nil. At least you know that what you see in the photos is real life – but it doesn’t make for the beautiful visuals that you find on some blogs. Then again, this isn’t a photography blog. And it isn’t a competition. Must keep on reminding myself about the reasons why I blog!

And as for fit, feedback, criticism and similar – that is VERY interesting. Flat photographs don’t always tell the story. I usually go with the maxim of “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything” UNLESS the blogger is asking for an opinion. We all have the opportunity to learn and grow through constructive criticism, but not everyone wants or necessarily needs that constructive criticism right at that time. I suppose that I usually point out the faults in my garments to get in first before someone else does! Care to share your thoughts on these things? (Oh, and for how these paragraphs relates to the above photo? They don’t really – just sharing one of my next planned projects.)

Clare is off sharing the next four days with other 5-9 year old Girl Guides from around the state at Wonderland Jamborella. I dropped her off there this morning and felt very proud of her as she dashed off through the rain to a building full of people she’d never met before with barely a backward glance. None of the other Guides from her Unit are attending, and I think that she’s so brave to be willing to go on camp “on her own”. I definitely didn’t have the confidence to do that at her age! It is certainly a fun-filled schedule, and I’m sure that she’ll have a ball, but I’ll miss her. Although she spent last week with her grandparents, we can’t telephone her on camp so somehow she feels further away. I’ll be looking forward to picking her up again on Wednesday afternoon! (And the above photo? I made that dress during the early 90s. I loved it, and I’m considering making it again for this summer).

Well, now I’m off to share some cuddles with my vivacious little five year old, whose current favourite book is “Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild!“. Maybe while thinking of what I might crochet from this crowd-sourced, hand-dyed cormo yarn. Anyone care to share your thoughts on any of the above topics (or any other) with me?

Sunday, 30 September, 2012 by thornberry

adult's clothing, crochet, WIP, work in progress

nearly done

Shannon Jacket, from Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan, crocheted in Cleckheaton Vintage Hues (now discontinued) with a 6mm hook. It has progressed further since this photo – I am now working on the belt, then to seam the cuffs and weave in the ends. Nearly done – and there is still plenty of winter to go!

Sunday, 15 July, 2012 by thornberry

crochet, patchwork, sewing, WIP, work in progress

loving Fridays

Friday evening again! The pizza delivery guy will be here any moment, the kids are watching “Rio”, and I’ve got a glass of wine and have exhaled. Where are those weeks going to? I thought that it was about time that I shared a little of what I’m up to craft-wise at the moment. It’s all about works in progress. Well, mostly.

When I was up in Sydney for Sew It Together last year I bought a Dresden Plate template set. Yes, that was almost a year ago. And I’ve only just got around to doing something with it. I pulled out a set of charm squares and have begun turning them into this:

I’ve got enough squares to make four dresden plates, and I’m planning on using yo-yos in the centre of each one. Then I’ll applique them onto some backing fabric and turn them into…well, something. Just a little project to learn something new with!

I’ve also been doing some softie test-sewing. It is MUCH further along than this photo suggests – just needs stuffing! I love soft toys, but as a general rule I really don’t enjoy making them. So it needs to be a really special toy or person to entice me into making a doll – and this one is both.

I’ve started a shawl in my leftover Wollmeisse Campari Orange yarn. This is meant to be my commuting project, but it’s still at such an early stage that it requires more concentration than the train/tram allows.

So in the meantime I’m still working on this Cap Sleeved Top for myself. It was much further along than in this photo, until I realised that I had somehow missed a stitch somewhere and I have now unravelled it back to not much more than this. Dammit.

This test crochet cardigan for Clare is almost done. I just need to weave in the ends, check the yardage used and the final measurements. It was fun doing a test crochet after having done quite a bit of test sewing in the past. Same same but different!

And then there is the Parfait dress that I started some months ago. It’s finally being put together, but my machine is making very clunky noises. It is in desperate need of a service, however the servicing day at my local sewing machine shop is Thursday. That is forever away! I strongly suspect that much of this dress will end up being constructed on Clare’s sewing machine.

Pizza is here! Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Friday, 24 February, 2012 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing, WIP, work in progress

I sewed up a muslin

Can you believe it? I’ve actually muslined/toiled the bodice of a Parfait. Now that you’ve picked yourself up from the floor, you can take a look at it!

Hmmm, that photo shows my very white and doughlike middle. Luckily the dress will have a skirt attached. Anyway, based on my measurements I cut a size 8 for most of the top pieces but a size 12 width for the raised waist/midriff panel and the edge of the bust pieces.

Once I tried it on I discovered that I needed to pin out most of the extra I’d added, just gradually grading out to a 12 in the midriff panel but keeping the bust pieces as an 8. And the straps needed to be shortened. My 8 year old assistant helped me with that part.

I reckon that this will now be fine! Especially once it is made properly and lined. I’d love your feedback too though – especially if you’ve made this dress. Apparently Colette patterns are drafted for a C bust, so that was a bonus. Her sizing is very different to the standard Vogue/Simplicity/McCalls/New Look/Butterick pattern sizing, so you really do need to measure yourself and check the finished measurements before deciding what size to make. This dress is designed to be very fitted around the waist. It’s different to my usual style, but I’m trying to break out of the mould a little more and not stagnate. I really hope that this is a success – it could be a great Christmas Day dress (and yes, Christmas is less than five weeks away). That reminds me, I must make a start on the girls’ Christmas dresses too.

Tuesday, 22 November, 2011 by thornberry

my creative space, WIP, work in progress

My creative space…

Although our delightful host is away on holidays, I reckon there are many delightful creative spaces out there to see. Today in my creative space we are selecting buttons to go on Clare’s new cardigan.

There is also a large pile of stretch fabric. Thank you all so much for your input on which fabric I should use to make a dress to wear to my niece’s wedding! There appears to be an overwhelming preference for one of the grey fabrics, although I have one reader who says a solid would be more appropriate. My husband prefers the one in the top left of the first photo. Most of the fabrics have one vote, and I still haven’t quite decided. The grey with blue/white/lemon flowers is a border print, so that makes it a bit more of a challenging option – but I like a challenge! I’m planning on cutting into one of the fabrics today, so will let you know my final decision soon (and it won’t be a solid – I’m a print/pattern/colour sort of gal).

How’s your creative space looking this week?

Thursday, 23 September, 2010 by thornberry

my creative space, WIP

My creative space…

There are lots of projects that are waiting in my creative space. A jacket waiting to be cut out and sewn before there is no hint of winter remaining – I’d better hurry up!

A wedding quilt, back pieced, quilt basted, reading for quilting and binding. Wedding deadline – 16th October.

And yarn! Lovely big Bendi balls of squishy yarn! What shall they all become? I have some ideas already, as does Clare. Check out all the pink-toned ones!

What’s in your creative space? Visit the host with the most to see more – and check out that Faker Crochet Cushion and divine embroidered doll quilt! Sigh! Kirsty, they’re gorgeous!

Thursday, 9 September, 2010 by thornberry

crochet, my creative space, WIP, work in progress

My creative space…

I’m joining in with Kirsty and many others with my creative space this week.

On the little table beside my chair we have a pile of craft magazines. Homespun, Crochet Today, Interweave Crochet, Quilter’s Companion, Stitches, Threads.

The sunnyboy pouch comes from Buttontree Lane. I love the fabric; it’s a Pippijoe print.

On the hook is the beginning of a South Bay Shawlette (and snap! look who else is making one). The yarn is from One Fat Slug – I treated myself to it at Stitches.

Sew It Together starts tomorrow! Yay!

Thursday, 13 May, 2010 by thornberry

miscellaneous, musings, patchwork, quilting, Sue Ross Block of the Month, WIP, work in progress

Bits and pieces

I realised this morning that I haven’t posted about my day on Saturday helping out Nikki at Stitches. It was busy, busy, busy! There were three of us on the Nicole Mallalieu Design stand and we were all helping customers from the minute the show opened until about 4.15pm, when the crowd thinned out somewhat leaving each of us enough time for a quick shop around ourselves. I have a new respect for people who work in sales and are on their feet all of the time. I was exhausted by the end of one day! Hats off to all of you at the show who did such a great job for five days straight. I hope that you’re all taking a well deserved rest and putting those feet up. I did have a ball talking about bags and bag supplies, especially the importance of using decent interfacings and wadding when making bags. I also had a rather good time purchasing fabric from those Aussie designers I mentioned in a previous post – an early Mother’s Day present maybe? Thanks Nikki for the best fun that you can have working!

Many of you will have read Jodie’s “rant” about attending Stitches. Personally, I had a ball. If I’d had more child-free time there were many talks, craft bars, and studio workshops I’d have attended – many of those free. Yes, this year there weren’t as many exhibitors as in previous years, for a number of reasons. But you know what? More doesn’t necessarily equal better. Because I am “multi-craftual” there were lots of stands that interested me. I’m not interested in scrapbooking or beading or cross-stitch, but I’m glad that those stands were there for those who are. It all depends on what floats your boat, so to speak! I attend other craft/quilt shows as well, and they all have a place, but this one is definitely the best for showcasing new trends and future directions in crafting (while still having a more than healthy dose of traditionally presented crafts). Stitches and Craft are definitely thinking creatively and are moving with the times.

On the Anzac Day weekend I did a class on free-motion quilting at Patchwork Charm. It was great to start at the beginning, so to speak, and to practice a number of different free-motion quilting patterns in different scales.

As I discovered on the weekend workshop I did with Kellie back in February, learning something new is really exhausting! This time I made it a little easier by using my mother’s fancy Husqvarna Viking Sapphire. Oh, the joy of the automatic needle down feature! Oh, the bliss of tap of the foot pedal to change the needle position! Oh, how good was it to be able to adjust the machine speed at the machine as well as with the foot pedal! And those bobbins seem to hold way more than the ones for my machine.

One of the other great features of Mum’s machine was the blanket stitch. I have finally completed my Material Obsession Sue Ross BOM Block 5, which was meant to be needle-turn appliqued. I secretly knew that there was no way that would ever happen, so stopped deluding myself about learning needle-turn and simply raw edge appliqued and machine stitched it instead. The same stitch was used for all my previously made blocks that needed some applique, and to finish off Block 7.

None of these blocks have been made perfectly, but I am hoping that once it’s quilted you won’t notice too much (although you might, because I’ll be the one doing the quilting). You can see the blanket stitch better in this photo.

Mum and I had been arranging and rearranging the 7 blocks I’ve made so far trying to figure out how this quilt would eventually come together. Luckily we got a preview at the Material Obsession stand at the Australasian Quilt Convention, and it looks so much better than we could have imagined – and completely different to anything we’d come up with! I’m so pleased that I signed up for this BOM, even though it’s been fairly difficult. I’ve learned a great deal, and that’s what it is all about. Thanks Kathy for running such a beautiful and challenging (in a good way) program!

Enough from me for now. There hasn’t been much sewing or quilting going on since my father-in-law died – we’ve all been too exhausted to do much other than have early nights – so my usual sewing time has evaporated. I’m mentally planning what I want to sew when I go to Sewjourn soon. Hopefully it will be clothes for me – I’d like to make a couple of jackets, and maybe some tops from some beautiful modal. How much gets done will depend on how much I have cut out and prepared in advance. We’re going to put a curfew on ourselves this year so we don’t return from Sewjourn more tired than when we arrived! I’m also trying to decide what projects I’m going to take along to Sew It Together on Saturday – possibly crochet, because then I can focus more on talking than if I were sewing. I suspect that there will be a whole lot of talking going on…

Tuesday, 11 May, 2010 by thornberry