Purl and Seam

Made by Ma – wedding shrugs

December 7, 2010

You’ll no doubt have noticed that AWIAC and the baby girls sported beautiful handknit shrugs at the wedding.

I can’t claim them. They are the handiwork of Ma. Clever girl.

First up is Eleonora by Dawn Matkovic.

image courtesy of http://knittingnonstop.blogspot.com/

Ma knitted the 4ply version (more about the yarn later) and even though she was unfamiliar with knitting on circular needles and the American knitting terminology, she whipped this up in no time. Kudos to Dawn for such a well drafted pattern.

The babies wore Cotton & Cloud’s Snowdrop Flower Girl Bolero

image courtesy of http://cottonandcloud.com

knitted in dk with long sleeves thanks to additional instructions supplied by the wonderfully helpful Kyoko at C&C. I found them such lovely people to buy from.

So that’s the patterns, what about the yarn.

Well, don’t hate me, but I do have some super talented friends. I can’t decide whether “super talented” should or shouldn’t be hyphenated. I do believe that in the case of my friends, both versions apply.

I digress.

I’m lucky to count Gemma of Krafty Koala among this group. And she very kindly custom dyed some super-wash merino in both dk and 4ply specially for these shrugs.

Just how cool is that?

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PS – If you’re wondering why I’m still banging on about TBW…well it’s because since we came back from honeymoon we’ve all been sick in various guises and the most creative thing I’ve done is clean out the sewing room ready for the next project. Even though I have no idea what the next project is going to be.

There’s been some sporadic knitting and embroidery, just nothing much to show for it at the moment.

It seems that my mojo packed up and is lying on a beach somewhere drinking dirty Martinis and reading trashy novels. I hope it’s wearing sunscreen and a hat!

Anyway, as soon as it gets back I’ll confiscate it’s passport and crack on.

Comments

December 1, 2010

I love getting comments from you guys. I really do. It’s so kind of you to take time out of your busy days to read my ramblings and hearing from you simply makes my day.

I’ve had lots of comments and emails about the wedding, so would you all forgive me if, just this once, I do a very tardy but very heartfelt thank you to you all here. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful and thoughtful friends.

I shall, of course, revert back to individual replies going forward. And for those very generous people who ignored all my instructions and sent gifts….official thank you’s are to follow very shortly.

The Dress – The Details

December 1, 2010

Just in case you’re interested, here are some details about the dress.

The pattern is Vintage Vogue 2903. The pattern is very easy to put together but doesn’t include a pattern for a petticoat or a lining, which I think is remiss. You need the petticoat to complete the line of the dress and frankly, I wouldn’t make an occasion dress like this without a lining, so I drafted my own by removing the pleat sections and the facings from the main pattern pieces. In my opinion the Big 4 patterns are really lazy about details like this and need to sort their act out. Just my opinion.

The fabric is a polyester duchesse satin from John Lewis (where else!). I was going to use silk duchesse from James Hare, but baulked at the cost for a dress I will only wear once. Oh, and this satin totally matches the colour of my engagement and eternity rings, so it was a no-brainer.

The dress is interlined with cotton lawn purchased from Fabric Imports Direct on eBay. I would definitely buy from them again.

I also used dress net to interline the dress. This and the lining (a simple poly lining) were both bought from my local sewing shop, The Buttonhole in Chorley.

If I were making this dress again I wouldn’t interline the sleeves as this adds a bit too much bulk for easing the sleeves into the bodice. I would also perhaps change the armhole to give myself a little more hugging room around the armsyce. But the restriction enabled me to be very ladylike for the day…most unusual!

Oh, and I wouldn’t scorch my dress two days before the wedding either! We weren’t sure whether it was a scorch or a smudge so the dress went to the cleaners, which accounts for slight puckering where the cotton lawn has slightly shrunk! Thankfully we could hide it in the side pleat.

I’m going with the adage that only God creates perfection!

But I do love this dress and when you compare it to the Pastel Outfit of Shame, it just goes to show what a difference careful fabric choices and taking your time over the construction makes.

The shoes are this season’s LK Bennett. The stockings are from Touchable….I would buy a size smaller next time.

The garter (you can see it in the wedding photos…I’m not doing an action shot!) is from Rigby and Peller, a gift from my extravagant and naughty friends Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat and Kelly (who has just the chicest bob ever!)

The pearls are vintage….they were my maternal grandmother’s.

The earrings were borrowed from Black Purl (she of the spectacular feathered hat)

The hat is John Lewis too, although everyone was amazed that it too wasn’t vintage.

The last word….possibly…and FO 20/2010

November 23, 2010

Ok, I guess that after all this time you’re glad the wedding is over!!!! I know I am, but if I was ever to be stuck in Groundhog Day, that would be my day of choice. It was just the most amazing day.

I can’t tell you just how wonderful it was….why don’t you mosey on over to Lawsons and check it out for yourself. I can see a bajillion things I’d have done differently with the dress but it was much admired and I loved it, as did Mr S, so that’s all that counts really.

And yes, everybody did spend the whole day laughing and smiling.

Married life…

November 21, 2010

…is wonderful.

We are currently ensconced in a cosy flat in Wigtown on the South West coast of Scotland. The weather is seasonal (read torrential rain and gale force winds) so we are glad for hand knitted socks.

After the bustle and business of the last 3 years this is a very welcome time for doing nothing, and we’re making the most of it. Although yesterday we did have lovely weather and hastened to the beach to blow off the cobwebs.

But I know that what you’re really waiting for are pictures of The Day and The Dress. I, for obvious reasons, didn’t take any on the day, and I’ve no iPhone and am not on my computer so my email access is very limited for getting photos sent to me. But do not despair….on my return I shall post properly about the day (it was truly magical for Mr S and me and I think the guests had fun too).

Until then, if you keep an eye on our lovely photographers’ website, http://www.lawsonphotography.co.uk/Blog/, and check out “Yvonne and Dave’s wedding”, there’s a taster up now with more pics to follow.

I’m the one in the blue hat! Enjoy!

“That bloody wedding”

November 13, 2010

It’s just gone 7am here in Lancashire and the kettle is on the stove to boil for tea.

Button and I are alone in the house for now….it’s a very odd feeling without the two men in my life here.

In two hours my friends and family will arrive for breakfast, then off to the salon to start the preparations for our wedding ceremony.

At 2.30pm I will marry Mr Stitches.

I am breathless with excitement. No nerves. I’ve never been more sure of anything or anyone in my life.

He is the funniest, kindest, gentlest man you could ever wish to meet. He is my best friend, my cheerleader, my love.

Today he is making me the happiest woman alive.

I’ll be gone from this little blog for a couple of weeks whilst the four of us holiday in Scotland, but I promise pictures when we return.

Have fun….and I’ll be back soon.

Evie

8 days…

November 5, 2010

…and I’m losing my mind! LOL!!!

Seriously though….I’m fine. Just a wee bit tired. It’s a very busy week here Chez Stitches

Today I’m autumn cleaning the upstairs of the house. Including shampooing the carpets.

This weekend I’ve got a cake to make for a party, the party to attend, a date with the kid’s elder sisters, a cinema date with Mr S, to take the dog to Himmelbjerget’s for a holiday, the order of service to print, the favours to wrap, my dress to finish (nearly there, just a couple or so hours of handstitching and a very good press), the baby bridesmaids dresses to hem, and The Boy’s suit to hem and press. Monday I’m autumn cleaning downstairs and ironing. Tuesday I’m shoe shopping for the littlest bridesmaids.

Then I’m done.

Finished.

Ready for a week tomorrow.

I hope!

12 days and counting

November 1, 2010

Greetings from the House of Crazy.

The last week has been a blur of activity. The dress shell is finished…I’ll be working on the lining tomorrow. The hall, stairs and landing have been painted. As has the porch. And we threw a supper party for Pa Stitches’ birthday yesterday.

We have finally finalised the menu with Northcote. I’m so excited about the food choices….and Lisa is cooking for us.

: Image courtesy of www.northcote.com

She’s cooked for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. We’re thrilled that she’ll be cooking for our friends and family.

Today I met with our photographers. Pete and Laura are just the nicest people you could hope to have, and their photos are simply amazing. They’ve been with us all the way on our journey to get to this wedding and have been gracious and patient with our constantly changing plans. So, once the dress has been revealed to our family and friends, I’ll have lovely pictures to show you guys. I’ll just keep you in suspense until then.

All in all, we are in very safe hands and by the end of this week everything will be in place….done and dusted. Just in time for my niece and her family to arrive. And for me (and the beleaguered Stitch parents who have been fabulous and caring for the kids whilst I’ve been sewing) to relax.

I’ve some other things to share with you just as soon as I get a few minutes to take pictures. I’ll get to it this week, I promise.

The moment of truth

October 26, 2010

Today I basted the dress together.

Each stitch taking me closer and closer to the realisation that I really need to give up dressmaking and high tail it to the Trafford Centre to find something to wear for my wedding.

At just after 6 pm tonight I tied off the final stitch on the final seam.

The moment of truth had arrived.

Remembering what the dress looked like at the toile stage, I slipped it on.

Filled with trepidation I turned to the mirror.

…

My eyes filled with tears.

…

IT FITS.

It is (if I can toot my own horn a little here) just a little bit beautiful.

The only thing I need from the Trafford Centre are shoes for the baby girls.

I’ve just finished sewing all the seams. Tomorrow I shall remove the basting and press the seams to crisp loveliness.

I am a very happy, if slightly tired, girl.

19 days…

October 25, 2010

…and we’re making progress.

Yesterday I spent a glorious autumn afternoon in the car listening to podcasts of Desert Island Discs and driving to the Midlands to meet Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat at a motorway service station for coffee and a fitting session.

The coffee raised no eyebrows. I can’t say the same for the fitting session in the rather unpleasant ladies loos.

Thankfully the dress fits perfectly so we could escape very quickly. But the sight of a tall brunette in a half finished satin frock and matching shoes was more than some of the other occupants could quite get to grips with.

Unfortunately, the visit was not without problems.

I discovered a stain on the front bodice.

WTF!!!!!

Sewing gods, why do you try me so?

I’ve no idea what it is.

I’ve no idea where it came from.

So today I removed the bodice (again) and cut another bodice front. By lunchtime the dress was ready for hemming (I just need some ribbon and I can get that done), and I’d had the opportunity to add one more little “couture” touch to make it all look just that little bit better.

Instead of under-stitching the lining on the machine, I did it by hand, with a toning thread. I love this detail!

And my dress?

I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week hand-stitching net and cotton lawn to 14 pieces of face fabric. Today I machined my first seam. This feels like a corner turned.

I love how the layers of interlining give you a beautiful seam with no seam allowance “show through” on the right side.

I’m using a contrast zip just for an unexpected pop of colour. It shouldn’t work, but it does!

And I just love a hand picked zip….so easy to do and you have absolute control over the thing. Goodbye wiggly zipper. And you can hardly see the stitches on this duchesse.

Tomorrow I put all the dress shell pieces together.

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