Mistakes Happen
Bianca SilvaHello, hello!
Temperatures have dropped this week and I’ve been able to wear more of my cozy me made’s! 😂
I definitely struggle with my wardrobe when the sun comes out, I just don’t make enough clothes for a few days of sun.
And since I haven’t been on a sunny holiday for a while, I haven’t felt the need to make light, cooler clothes. Besides, I feel like we rarely experience the weather here in the UK for it either. Well, at least that’s what I feel here in the North West of England.
Anyway, I can’t be the only one that sews more for one season than the other.
Which season do you sew for most?🤔
Stitches of the Week
My Daughter Started Sewing!
She came into my sewing studio this week while I was busy working on my laptop and I asked her if she wanted to try doing something on the sewing machine.
Her face lit up and she screamed yes! 😂
I got some of the scraps from cutting out my Fiona Sundress and away she went.
She tried a straight stitch and lots of decorative stitches, including stitching her name. 🥰
After a couple of goes, I didn’t even need to tell to drop the presser foot or lower the needle into the fabric, she just knew how to do it all!
The drama - She is asking me every 5 minutes if she can sew something. She has plans to make a floor length skirt with various tiers of ruffles sewn onto it, curtains for her room and I can’t even remember what else! 😂
Plus, I need to share my machine and fabric with her now!
The win - Having her know that she can do anything she wants to when she puts her mind to it. And being able to share something that I love with her.
Paphos Pouch
The Paphos Pouch test is well underway and a few photos have already come in from a tester!
And it looks gorgeous! I love how black looks when quilted! 😍
But I think I actually like anything that’s quilted.
I have also finished the large version I was working on, and it looks so cute as a set with the small version I made.
Closet Core Patterns - Fiona Sundress
I had a strong feeling that I wasn’t going to finish this in time for #sewbloodpressure25, and that is exactly what happened!
The toile has taken me weeks to finish and I figured out the adjustments I need to make:
- Let out the waist side seam by ⅛ inch,
- Shorten the straps by ¾ inch,
- Extend the back skirt dart,
- Adjust for my height.
Guess what I did!?
I cut out my good fabric without making ANY of these adjustments to the pattern pieces before cutting them out!
I’m quite angry at myself, but I do this often, I get distracted by something and I just work on automatic.
Most of these adjustments will be easy to make even though the fabric is already cut out but it means I will be removing some of the shaping by doing these adjustments after.
Oh well, not much I can do now. And I know it will probably not be the last time I make a mistake like this!😅
The main parts of the top bodice are now sewn together and the fabric feels completely different on my body, so loose.
And remember I was supposed to let out the side seam at the waist? I forgot to do this for the first seam, so only let out the other side seam by ⅛ inch!
What am I like!?😂
This project is turning out to be one of those that just drive you crazy!
Fabric: Blue viscose linen from Sew Hayley Jane.
The drama: Cutting out my fabric without making fit adjustments, and then double forgetting to make the adjustments when sewing it together!
The win: At least I have finally cut out my pattern pieces and made somewhat of a start.😂
Size: 4 bust, 8 waist, 10 hips. My measurements in inches are 32.5/ 28.5/ 38.3.
Rita Made This - Ellie Sweater (hack)
So… last week I said I was going to embroider double stranded daisies on my sweater, but I have since changed my mind!😂
When I actually sat down to start, I thought the double strands were looking a bit messy.
I decided to make 4 single stranded ones to see what I thought and I really liked how they were turning out, so that’s what I continued with.
A few times the daisies haven’t come out how I wanted them to, so I redid them until I was happy.
The front bodice is looking so good now, so it’s onto the sleeves next.🤩
Yarn: So Crafty Aran Yarn(Cobalt)8575M. Contrast yarns: Yarnsmiths Create DK in Carrot; pink, green and yellow from CraftStash(now closed).
Size: S, but I have hacked the pattern to accommodate for a different yarn thickness, so it may not come out the intended size it was designed for.
Skill Builder of the Week
What can you use a zigzag stitch for? A zigzag stitch is one of the most handy stitches on a sewing machine.
These are some of the useful ways you can use it:
1. Finishing Raw Edges
If you don’t have an overlocker, you can use a zigzag stitch to prevent the raw edges of your fabric from fraying and you can use it for finishing seam allowances.
2. Sewing Stretch Fabrics
The zigzag allows the stitches to stretch with the fabric, this is perfect for sewing knits like jersey, swimwear, or leggings.
3. Attaching Elastic
You can use a zigzag stitch to stretch and sew elastic onto fabric on areas like waistbands, sleeves, underwear.
4. Appliqué
A zigzag stitch is commonly used to stitch around the edges of appliqué shapes to keep them from lifting or fraying, like I did with the egg on my Easter egg basket a while ago.
5. Decorative Stitching
Adjusting the width and length can create bold or small decorative effects on garments or crafts.
Maker Spotlight
This week’s spotlight goes to @selvedgedsews
How gorgeous is this panelled skirt that Kirah has sewn!
So much work has gone into this one with 15 panels of 3 different colours cut out, as well as 22 metres of self-made bias binding! Job well done! 😻
This is a hacked version of the Sylvie Skirt from Cinnamon Daisy Studio and Kirah has all the details on how she did it on her Instagram page.
Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make. I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍
Catch Up
I Knew This Was Going To Happen! | WEEKLYBEE EP21
Workshops:
Build Your Confidence in Sewing Workshop
My First Sewing Pattern:
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx