Pendlestitches, Author at Purl and Seam

Pillar of the community tee – FO 12/2013

June 10, 2013

I’ve mentioned before how much I use my local library to access sewing, knitting and cookery books. It’s a win-win situation. I get my grubby little mitts on all the latest books for 60p a go. They have another regular customer, which can only help to keep the library open for the whole community. Use it or lose it, no?

I find the fact of my community spirit faintly hilarious. Before I met The Husband I worked in Soho in London and between commuting, working and spending far too much time in bars with colleagues and the odd glass of Jack Daniels or several! I wouldn’t have given two hoots for keeping the library open for the community.

Now…I’m an active member of the PTFA at Button and The Boy’s school and I sit on Adoption Panel every month. So when I was recently by our village library to put together a little display about sewing I was happy to oblige. After much thinking I decided to talk a little bit about how simple it is to start sewing, using the Beachy Boat Neck Tee as an example, and upcycling a t-shirt donated by Ma SIL. Three birds with one stone…or t-shirt!

Of course I left it rather to the last minute. I suspect no one is surprised by this.

Thankfully the Beachy Boat Neck comes together in no time whatsoever.

He looks like he’s about to board a clipper for adventures on the high seas!

I used Photoshop to make a load of speech bubbles which lead the reader through a simple “how to” upcycle a shirt. That was the hardest part as I’m not particularly technically minded and have never done anything remotely graphical. On Monday I pinned everything in place, added a selection of available and relevant library books to complete the display, et voila!

I don’t think it turned out to badly and the ladies at the library were pleased. I suppose if just one person decides to have a go at sewing, or to come back to it, or even to try something new, like upcycling, then I’ll be able to consider this a real achievement.

That The Boy got a new t-shirt is not to be sniffed at, either!

Little Red Riding Hood – FO 11/2013

June 5, 2013

The Boy’s nursery recently asked me if I’d be willing to make a Red Riding Hood cape for an activity pack they were putting together for the children.

Of course I said yes. They are an amazing nursery and have been fabulous with both our kids.

I used a really great tutorial I found over at Make it and Mend It and although I only grapped a quick snap as I hustled everyone out to school/nursery yesterday, I think you get the idea.

I suspect I may have to make one of these for the home dressing up box as Button was rather doleful when she realised it was for nursery. If I do I think I’ll add a little elastic in the front of the hood, sewn into the seam allowance, just to add a bit more shape.

And maybe Miss Button should have her fringe cut this week! 😉

Got the blues – Made by Ma!

May 19, 2013

Oh, could my post titles be any cornier?

Ma has been busy with the needles again, so here are the last couple of knits for the kids for a while. They are all set up for the summer…it being England, and all! Not renowned for it’s glorious sunshine and soaring temperatures! You’ll see what I mean with these pictures…it was grey and rainy yesterday…and it shows!

You’ll probably recognise this pattern from last year. It’s Little Montoya from Kate Jackson Knits. Button had rapidly outgrown her cream version and it’s too pretty a pattern not to revisit.

The Boy also has a sweater in the same yarn, Hayfield Bonus Aran.

I suspect this pattern is from the Jolly Beachcomber book. I suspect Ma will comment if it’s not.

I had the Devil’s own job getting these photos yesterday…they were both full of beans.

And I’m not pointing fingers, but Daddy was stood behind me at the time…. 😉

Goodbye Kitty

May 17, 2013

Oh yes…having sat up till half past midnight the other night in a Revenge fuelled frenzy of determination to finish…the last Kitty has been stitched.

I’m really rather pleased with how they turned out.

And there are definitely enough of them! This will be a really good sized quilt when its pieced with the patchwork blocks.

It’s over to Ma now… 😮

Book Review – Sewing Machine Secrets

May 15, 2013

I don’t know about you but I use my local village library a lot. As well as a great resource for novels so that avoid adding to our already overcrowded book shelves, I use the online ordering service to get my mitts on books that I’d like to take a look at before deciding whether or not to buy. These are usually sewing, knitting or cooking related.

Big surprise there!

The latest book to come my way is Sewing Machine Secrets by Nicole Vasbinder.

I’m always pretty dubious about new sewing books as I often find they tend towards a younger, less experienced seamstress. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for anything that encourages new sewists, but they don’t really have much to offer me.

This one, however took me, quite nicely, by surprise.

It’s broken down into two main sections. Section 1 is “Choosing Machines and Accessories”. I found the chapter about sewing machine needles to be really informative and useful.

I didn’t know, for example, that there are specific needles for machine quilting. As I’m about to embark on the quilting of the Gardener’s Journal quilt ( *cough* finally *cough*), this was a timely piece of information!

But, for me, it’s in Section 2 that this book really shines. “Sewing Machine Feet and How to Use Them”.

I love this section! It’s eminently practical without being too basic. Perfect for newbies as well as gals like myself who’ve sewn a stitch or two but still have much to learn.

Each chapter covers a particular type of foot in detail giving:

clear photos or illustrations of different foot designs in each category, for example, zipper feet,
a brief description of the foot and what you will use it for,
step by step instructions of how to use the foot,
a great photo of the finished product,
and extra tidbits of information in “insider secrets” such as:

You can use the rolled hem foot as a guide for sewing on narrow trims…slip the trim through the scroll…it will feed through…making it easy for you to stitch it on straight

And whilst it covers all the basics, such as zipper feet and buttonhole feet, it also looks at some of the more unusual ones too.

Circle attachment anyone?

Who knew?

I am seriously covetous of this little beauty.

But not entirely convinced I can justify it!

Especially when I fess up a little guilty secret!

You see, my current sewing machine and overlocker were replacements for my original machines which were lost when my house flooded years and years ago. They came with several boxes of feet and attachments that have been tucked away in the sewing loft for forever without being used. Every now and again I’ll think something along the lines of “I could really use a 1/4″ foot”, which will lead me to rummage though the boxes to see if I have said 1/4″ foot or if I need to buy one.

It’s a ridiculous waste of specialist feet and accessories so yesterday, armed with this book, I pulled them all out.

Good grief!

Half of them are overlocker accessories, which aren’t covered by this book, but the other half are sewing machine feet and ALL of them I could use on a regular basis.

Sadly there isn’t a circle attachment hiding amongst them. But they are all nice and tidy now and ready to play with. I think there is a side project of trying out all the overlocker feet, too, and finding out exactly what each of them do.

But in the meantime, I can heartily recommend Sewing Machine Secrets. I certainly learned something new from it…I suspect you might too!

l’ecole

May 13, 2013

The Boy starts school in September. He’s so very excited.

We’ve secured his place at the same school Button attends. It’s a very, very good school.

We are thrilled!

Little Boy Red – Made by Ma

May 11, 2013

First up can I say a big thank you for all the lovely comments on the last post about The Boy’s surgery. I cannot tell you how much they all mean to us and we’re hugely grateful for all the good wishes.

Thursday night he was more than a little miserable and he didn’t sleep much. I got a lot of cuddles!

On Friday morning he was really freaked out by the fact that he could see two mummies, so we just stayed in our jammies and had a very lazy day. At 8 o’clock he couldn’t even walk down the stairs. By 3.30pm when we picked Button up from school, he was jumping off benches and balancing on kerbs!

I’m astonished at his resilience.

Today…he’s his normal ebullient self and is off visiting Grandma!

In his new red sweater knitted by her.

Pattern: Jolly Beachcomber Knits, pattern number 2337.

Yarn: Hayfield bonus Aran

Bless him…he looks like he’s gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson! It’s hard to see from the photo but he has bruising on his forehead and cheek from the retractors, and the makings of a cracking shiner!

At the moment the eye looks a little “over corrected” too, but I’m assured that as the swelling goes down this will settle into place. And he tells me that it’s a “little bit hurty but its ok because it will get better soon”. I love that boy!

I simply cannot get enough of red garments for these kids…it’s a great colour on both of them! And the Jolly Beachcombers pattern book is fabulous. We go back to it again and again.

I am reliably informed that this is a “very nice sweater indeed”.

High praise from Mr Pickypants!

The eyes have it

May 9, 2013

Although it’s not always obvious in photographs, The Boy has quite a significant divergent squint. In layman’s terms…his eyes wander outwards and he can’t control it.

Today he had surgery to correct the squint, and despite having to wait 5 hours in the hospital before going down to theatre, he has been a little hero. He played nicely with the toys, watched a bit of a movie, and gave his daddy a run for his money at Angry Birds, all without complaining once about being hungry, thirsty or bored.

We finally got him home late afternoon, at which point he curled up on the sofa to snooze, wearing his sunglasses like a complete dude!

He is sore and tired but being very, very brave.

He’s now tucked up in bed and we’re hoping a good nights sleep will put him back on form tomorrow. We’ve got a quiet day at home together just in case.

Either way, I’m so relieved he came through this again with flying colours, and hopeful that the surgery is a success. Time will tell…fingers crossed.

Little Red – FO 9/2013

May 7, 2013

Crikey, I’m late posting this final outfit for KCW, but I do think I saved the best for last!

Oh those bruises…she’s such a tomboy!

The stripy red Beachy Boatneck and red Bubble Pocket Shorts. So far, so nothing new for this week.

But…this time I made the sailor version of the shorts.

They are cute beyond all words. I love them!

I found these fabulous buttons at The Buttonhole in Chorley. They really pop against the red.

And the Beachy Boatneck refashion is great with them.

Where did that baby of mine go? I’m still getting used to this big girl.

Although I kept to a very simple plan for KCW it was a huge success for me. Miss Button has cute new weekend wear that, with the RTW she already has in her wardrobe, will do nicely until the summer holidays, and KCW summer!

4 years

May 6, 2013

4 years ago today was a Wednesday…and a day that changed our lives forever.

It was the day we met Button for the very first time.

It was the day we lost Pa.

It seems so long ago and yet, only days.

Pa is still terribly missed but never far from our hearts. The kids know who he is and that he is in heaven. They talk to and about him on a daily basis.

Today Button sent a balloon to heaven for him.

It breaks my heart that they never met him in person. They would have adored him and been adored.

But I know that he still has a place in our family. And that is a wonderful thing.

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