patterns Archives - Page 6 of 10

Sewing for your girls….giveaway winners.

April 19, 2015

Classic Button…sassy as sassy can be!

But it’s time to pick the lucky winners of the Sewing for Your Girls giveaway. I used Random.org to select them.

So, Birdie and Katie Sinclair you each get a copy of this adorable book.

Ladies, please drop me an email with your postal address and I’ll get your copy out to you as quickly as I can.

Thank you to everyone who entered…I wish I had a copy for each of you. But I’ve another giveaway coming soon. This time it’s one for the grown ups, so do stay tuned.

Sewing for your girls – review and giveaway

April 10, 2015

Thanks to the lovely guys over at Tuttle Publishing I received a copy of their new title “Sewing for your girls” by Yoshiko Tsukiori, which is available in the UK from Amazon on the 15th April 2015.

I decided to road test this book and the blouse I’ve been teasing you with is Basic Pattern #7 (catchy, no?) made up in Liberty Tana Lawn purchased from Washable Fabrics on Preston Market for a tenner.

This book is delightful. There are 8 patterns in total, 7 of which has a basic and an applied version, which, as you’ve probably guessed, has a little more going on. You’ll see from the photo above, which is the blouse I made, that using pattern #7 you can make an adorable blouse or a lovely summer dress.

As well as the patterns the book also has a wealth of clearly photographed advice to give you the best chance of getting a great result.

The patterns traced from printed pattern sheets that are stored in the back of the book. A word to the wise….they don’t include seam allowances to do allow for that when tracing. Ask me how I know!!!

Given the chance I’d change a couple of things about this book, but they are only minor gripes.

So…to the blouse. I really enjoyed sewing this one. It’s beautifully drafted with facings to the front and armholes and bias binding to the back neckline. The front ruffles and round collar add a sweet touch without being overly twee. This is a good thing. I’m not mad on ruffles but these hit the mark.

Button didn’t want to do photos, so we decided that dancing was the only way forwards.

I cut a size 120 for my 116cm tall 7 year old, based not only on height but chest measurements.

I couldn’t be happier with the result.

Button loves it too!

The details on this top are really quite lovely.

Gorgeous, no?

Now, if you, like me, have a very pernickety small girl to sew for then I suspect that you’d like a copy of this book too. Good job I’ve got a couple of copies to give away, then! 😉

Edited to remove Rafflecopter and say…leave me a comment below to be entered into the draw!

Grainline Linden….relearning a sewing lesson.

March 14, 2015

Wadder alert!

Whilst I love sharing things that have gone swimmingly…I think it’s also good to share the stuff that doesn’t quite work.

I’ve learnt from this project…maybe someone else will too.

:: :: :: :: ::

I’ve had my eye on the Linden pattern since Grainline initially launched the pattern.

I love traditional sweatshirts but they don’t love me…I’m the wrong shape for them. Despite this I had high hopes of Linden opening up lots of opportunities for sweatshirt love.

Sadly…I don’t think it’s going to be the case. Be warned…this ain’t pretty!

Cue massively unflattering photos. Not helped by the sweater being dragged back by my hands…but you get the picture!

I’m going to start out by saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this pattern. It’s my first Grainline pattern and it’s immaculately drafted and the instructions are really clear.

This is a clear case of hope triumphing over experience.

I know that raglan sleeves aren’t the best for me because I have sloping shoulders that don’t support the top of the sleeve.

I know I need to be cautious of scooped necklines…if they’re loose then they tend to slip and slide.

I knew I needed to do a FBA and that would involve adding a bust dart. In this case it’s still a tiny bit long and a tiny bit low. Which would be hidden in a plain fabric but isn’t on this striped fabric.

The fabric comes from the “what the hell was I thinking pile”!

And I know I just need a bit more shape in a garment.

Whilst this is undoubtedly a trainwreck of a garment, it’s all good! This has been a great and worthwhile process for me.

Over the last year I’ve gained quite a bit of weight….you can hardly have missed it. Mostly this has been driven by medication impacting on appetite, quite a bit of it steroid based because of my repeated bouts of bronchitis and accompanying chest infections.

(Cue too many cakes and too much pasta!)

These chest problems have also severely limited my ability to exercise, as has a very frozen shoulder for the last 6 months.

My changed shape size has undoubtedly knocked my sewing mojo. I’m not overly inclined to sew for myself at this size as I’m determined that this isn’t a permanent state of affairs. Getting back to full health/fitness is a huge priority for me. It seems such a waste of fabric…which is frankly crazy. I still need stuff to wear…

My judgement as to what suits me is also off at the moment. The photos above evidence that.

However….I do know that I’m glad I tried this pattern. I bought it on sale and the fabric was very inexpensive too. So it was an experiment that cost me a little money, a little time, but has taught me to really trust my instincts.

If I listen to myself I know what suits me. It comes back to the work I did with Wardrobe Architect last year. I need to revisit this because, even with this fuller shape, the principles still apply.

So that’s what I’m going to do. I spent some time this past week sorting fabric and patterns in my stash. Some are to go into storage until I have my new sewing room up and running, hopefully by the end of the year. These are mainly lovely vintage winter fabrics…I see some beautiful jackets in my Winter 2015 wardrobe.

Others are patterns that I’m planning to build my Summer 2015 wardrobe around. I have a few fabrics that I’ve been hoarding for too long….and a pile of patterns that had me exclaiming over and over again “oh! I’d forgotten I had that!”.

It’s time to build a plan, I think. I’ll be back with that soon….and a much more successful make!

Caribbean socks

March 10, 2015

I remember the days when I swore I’d never knit socks ever again. They are long gone. The Mr loves a hand knit sock. So much so that you can’t let him near a yarn shop unaccompanied. We called into my LYS last week for a circular cable and a spool of sewing thread and spent £19. Two large balls of sock yarn had somehow found their way into the basket.

Apparently his concern was that a couple of nights previously I’d had no knitting to do until I’d acquired said cable. He couldn’t leave me without any knitting, could he. What sort of a husband would he be!?!?

Yeah…right! 😉

Thankfully, I did finish the Caribbean socks just in time for Valentine’s day. More good luck than good judgement I can assure you.

The yarn, you may recall, is Jawoll Magic. It’s a bit of a pest to knit. It’s kinda puffy, I suspect due to the nylon content, so I found it a bit snaggy on the needles. That said, I used bamboo needles that were a little past their sell-by date so they won’t have helped.

Why yes, those stripes are perfectly matched! How kind of you to notice!

I would knit this again, but only because I’ve treated myself to some KnitPro Karbonz for sock knitting.

Image: Meadow Yarn

I’m not usually a fan of anything other than wood as I like quiet knitting, but I think for socks, the dpns take too much of a bashing and I need smooth. I’ve got another pair of socks on theses needles as I speak. One that is equally puffy and pesky. It’s a joy. These needles are divine…and not overly clicky! I’m seriously contemplating replacing all my needles with them.

The colours are wonderful. The greys make the aqua and blue really pop!

The pattern, as always, is my favourite vanilla sock pattern from Regia. You can find it free on Ravelry here.

Apologies for the crinkles...I've been trying to get a photo of these for weeks but had to hide them from him when he went back to London. these are freshly dried but not blocked!

Apologies for the crinkles…these have been drying over a radiator. Sacrilege I know, but I’ve been trying to get a photo of these for weeks. He will insist on wearing them as often as I can get them washed and dried, so I had to hide them from him when he went back to London.

A very pink hat….Snowtracks Hat by Timothy Peters

February 25, 2015

I’ve been long overdue a new hat. In truth I’ve shivered at the school gate too many days this winter wishing I had a cosy covering for my head and ears. But like many other things, it’s been added to the bottom of the “to do” list and left to languish unattended.

So, when Himmelbjerget gifted me some exquisite pink yarn for Christmas, I knew immediately it would be a hat.

But still I procrastinated. Which hat would it be? I spent more time than is probably healthy scouring Ravelry for the perfect hat. In the end I plumped for Snowtracks Hat by Timothy Peters for Stitch Nation.

This pattern is lovely. The cable section is easily followed, especially as I put a stitch marker between each pattern repeat, which makes a world of difference. You can quickly see where in each repeat you are, and save a lot of time working backwards and forwards in your head counting stitches. Thanks to my friend Liz for that tip…it’s a gem!

The only problem I encountered was one that I couldn’t have foreseen. Although I used the same weight of yarn and the yardage told me I had plenty of yarn….I didn’t!

I ran out 3 rows into the crown shaping.

I tried the hat on….and looked like a Smurf in a pink hat. It was way too long. I like my hats snug not slouchy. So I did the happy dance, ripped it back to the right length, started the crown shaping about 10 rows earlier, took a few rows out of the crown shaping and ta dah! It fits perfectly, with just a yard or two of yarn to spare.

Simples! The pattern is very forgiving of tampering knitters.

I look tired…bronchitis and a chest infection will do that to you. Trust me…this is better than I looked yesterday!

And the yarn…, the yarn is oh, so wonderful. It’s Yarn Garden Aran in Purple Flowered Rock Rose, and it is sublime. Soft and squishy in the ball. Smooth to knit. The needles positively fly through it and the stitches dance through your fingers. Densely saturated colour flecked with speckled nuggets of tweedy contrast. And yes…it’s that pink in real life. I’ve had the devil with these photos as the yarn is blowing the colours out completely. It’s totally joyous, both to knit and to wear.

I was so sad to finish knitting, but am so happy every time I look at this or pop it on.

I want to knit this yarn again…now!

Children’s yoked sweaters – Made by Ma!

February 19, 2015

Oh this post is long overdue. These lovely sweaters were knitted by Ma before Christmas and it’s now February!

I don’t care how twee matching sweaters are, I simply can’t get enough of these munchkins in these sweaters. Too adorable for words!

Three colours of Drops yarn in each sweater purchased from Wool Warehouse. Drops is my new favourite brand of yarn for kids clothes. Great quality and great prices. And it washes up super soft. Which is important in this house because Boy will not wear a scratchy sweater. And, to be fair, who can blame him!

Maybe Ma will add a comment to let you know exactly which yarn she used. I, for the life of me, can’t remember.

Patterns are David and Starshine available for free on Ravelry.

I cannot tell you how much I want a yoked sweater for myself!

And a bit more sunshine. Our grey northern light doesn’t lend itself to midwinter photography. These have been fiddled with in iPhoto to make them vaguely presentable.

But still….cute sweaters and cute kids will shine through however lacking the skills of the photographer!

Alfredo Gloves

January 20, 2015

Finally my first finished project of the year. I’ve been holding off sharing these gloves hoping I’d get a chance to photograph them on my lovely hand model…but time has been against us, so flat photos it is.

It seems my love affair with colour work knitting continues.

The pattern, Alfredo Gloves by Suzanne Stellard, free on Ravelry, is lovely for newbies to colour work…just two colours and a very simple pattern repeat that I found easy to remember…and I have a brain like a sieve!

These were so simple, in fact, that I ended up knitting them with one strand of colour in each hand for the first time. I was thrilled to not only be able to practice knitting Fair Isle, but to also have the chance to build a new skill. Result!

The yarn was gifted to my by my friend Himmelbjerget, and has sat in my stash for far too long. But you know I’ve been obsessed with clearing stash over the last year and I’m much happier that I finally knitted this and have mitts rather than just very pretty yarn.

The yarn is Eskimimi Twingles in the Flutter colour-way, but sadly all links to it seem to be broken so I’m not sure if she’s still making it. Which would be a shame, because it’s a delight to knit and the colours are just slightly variegated and wonderfully saturated.

That said…these will knit up nicely in any number of pretty 4ply yarns, so what are you waiting for? 😉

Cafe au Lait mitts in Yarn Stories Merino

January 11, 2015

The first make of the new year and it’s not even one of mine!

These exquisite mitts were knitted by my friend Liz in the new merino DK from Yarn Stories.

I’ve seen this yarn popping up all over the web recently, and with good reason. Liz was kindly gifted a ball of this newly launched yarn at Yarndale last year and, I don’t mind admitting, I wouldn’t be as altruistic as her. These mitts are gifts. I’d be keeping them if they were mine!

The cafe au lait pattern (free on Ravelry) is just lovely, and, I’m assured, fun to knit too. But the yarn is the making of these mitts. It’s soft and springy and gives fabulous stitch definition, as you can see.

The colour is an intense, saturated cobalt. Like a kingfisher’s wing. Simply beautiful.

I’m sorely tempted to add this yarn to my knitting list for the year. In this colour, although there are plenty of other stunning colours to choose from. The French Navy and Fuschia would also work well with my wardrobe, for sure.

Hmmm…I’d best crack on with the stuff on the needles!

Just to be clear, I’ve received no incentive to write this review. Yarn Stories wouldn’t know me if I was stood in the centre of their office. And Liz didn’t even bribe me with her world famous shortbread. I’m just besotted by these mitts and thought you’d like them too.

Sewing for kids…Japanese pattern books reviewed

December 5, 2014

I’d like to lay money on the fact that you’re far more organised than I am as we look down the barrel of Christmas. Chez Stitches there is hardly a gift purchased, nor the handmade ones even started. Today the house lies under a layer of dust as the walls are chased out to fit the new patio door. The decorator is coming on Sunday to finish the last room.

And, although I’m not a gambling woman, I’m sure its safe to say that you’ve already written to Santa, explaining that it really wasn’t your fault and that you should actually be safely ensconced on the “nice” list!

So, whilst sewing is likely the last thing on your mind at the moment, don’t forget that this will all be over in a couple of weeks and normal service will be resumed. And with that in mind, if you’ve got small peeps in the household, drop everything, fire up the laptop, and send Santa photographic evidence of your innocence and ask, nay beg, him to pop a copy of any, or, indeed, all, of the following books into your Christmas stocking. Because once the glitter dust of Christmas has settled, you’re going to want to make the wee ones All. Of. The. Things!

First up…Sew Chic Kids by Ruriko Yamada:

Such cute, easy to sew casual clothes for boys and girls aged 2 to 8, with full sized pattern sheets in the back of the book.

Clear diagrams walk you through the construction, with top tips to help you get a great result.

Basically all the beautiful design and inspiration that we’ve come to expect from Japanese sewing books, but in English! Soooooo cool!

Sew Sweet HandMade Clothes for Girls by Yuri Araki is chock full of adorable outfits for your favourite girl aged 1 – 8.

This time the instructions have written sewing steps as well as detailed diagrams.

There’s even a couple of photographic sewing lessons that walk you through the construction of a little sleeveless dress, but which also shows you techniques that are used in other garments in the book. Genius!

And last, but not least, is Girls Style book by Yoshiko Tsukiori and H.H.

Aimed at little girls aged 4 – 10 the styling is a little more grown up but still very age appropriate. And again there are written sewing steps to make the whole process even simpler.

When Tuttle approached me to review Sew Sweet, I was really pleased to do so as I’d been contemplating purchasing my own copy of this having seen the beautiful clothes Sanae stitches for her daughter. To receive all three books was an unexpected and delightful bonus.

The patterns are all classic styles that can be sewn over and over again for your littlies without their wardrobes becoming tired or dull. They have clean lines that showcase gorgeous fabrics, and simple closures to make them quick and easy to sew and for small folk to put on and off.

For me this is the hallmark of a great sewing book. Inspirational styling with practical wearability, clear instructions to help you get a beautiful result, and a range of sizes that ensures you’ll get great value for money (I checked the price of these on Amazon UK today and they’ll set you back about £12. Less than the price of most indy sewing patterns and working out to as little as 50p per pattern dependent on the book!)

So…tell Santa to sort it! Or treat yourself so that you’ve got something to look forward to in the grey and dismal days of January. Either way…you’ll be glad you did!

Thanks to Tuttle Publishing for providing me with these books for review. (Guys…I’ve lost your emails in the transfer of laptops…apologies!) And to Sewing Princess for pointing them in my direction. As always all opinions are my own, but I can sleep easy knowing that if you’ve got small folk you’ll love these patterns. And expect to see my little Miss and Mr popping up in makes from them next year

The socks of love

November 26, 2014

If anything in this world proves that I love my hubby (other than his dream Sunday dinner of roast chicken followed by sticky toffee pudding) it is these socks.