The Cutting Marathon
Bianca SilvaHello, hello!
What fantastic weather we had this week!
Not too cold and some lovely days of sunshine!
We took advantage of this during the week and went for bicycle rides and to the park with the kids.
Actually, while my partner and kids did this, I went running.
I’ve always put off running since I a was teenager because I never managed to control my breathing and I used to get a lot of stitches.
But I wanted to challenge myself.
I came across the ‘Couch to 5K’ app and that gave me the push, so I started running in January.
It has helped me build up my stamina over weeks starting with short periods of running and gradually building up.
This week was the first time ever in my life that I ran continuously for 25 minutes. Twice!
Never thought I would get to this point and the build up didn’t feel as bad as I thought it would. It’s a really well planned running schedule to get you going.
Hopefully I can build up my running enough to participate in a half marathon sometime this year. 💪
Over the weekend, we also went out to Pendle Hill and climbed to the top! It was a really good hike up that we managed in one hour with the girls.
It was a little challenging but we took water and snacks with and did a pitstop halfway up.
Something else that tested my strength this week was cutting fabric.
I’m not lying when I say my triceps in my right arm are sore.
For 3 whole days (plus a couple of hours here and there), I’ve been cutting out fabric for the 2 Lisbon Organiser workshops that I’m running at Janome.
Each bag needs 38 pieces (24 fabric + 14 interfacing).
So 38 x 16 kits equals to 608 pieces, but I’ve cut so many extra pieces of fabric to make sure I definitely have enough to match.
And since taste is very personal, I want to take a few extra pieces in case someone wants to swap a piece or 2 out.
Having said this, each kit has been put together with what I would want to sew. I won’t and can’t sew that many organisers for myself, so I will be very happy to see others put them all together.
Stitches of the Week
Mood Designer Fabrics Sewciety - The Indigo Skirt (MDF192)
I finished this early in the week and I’ve already worn it.
It was very comfortable and easy to wear. I also feel like it fits really well with the rest of my wardrobe.
I wore it with all black this week, but I’m picturing wearing it with a solid coloured jumper like pink or green with trainers.
I ended up just straightening the hems, not removing any length from the main and finishing both main and lining with a rolled hem on the overlocker.
I used white thread for it because I didn’t have enough cream and it works well. I couldn’t see that much of a difference and it didn’t bother me at all when wearing it.
The instructions said to make a waistband but I didn’t think that would look nice so I just sewed elastic to the top and folded it in twice. This was to account for the allowance of the original waistband.
For the next version I will probably remove the waistband allowance so I don’t have to fold it down twice.
I definitely want to make a silky version next and I like the thought of one in the lilac fabric I have, or a bright pink or lime/chartreuse one. 🤔
Fabric: Both main and lining are polyester. The cream and black was from Leon’s Fabrics and the lining is a Crepe de Chine I got from Karen at Sew&Bond - originally from Minerva.
Size: 8-10. The pattern came with sizes paired.
The Win: I am super happy I’ve added a bottom garment to my wardrobe because I have very little that fits me. Just so you can get an idea of how much weight I’ve lost in these last few months, I weigh less now than what I did before my kids were born. The last time I was this weight was probably when I was around 23 years old, I’m now 36.
The Drama: I need another one!
Summer Lee - Surf Wax Socks from The Sock Project book
Of course I’ve knit this up a bit more and now I can see the colour gradient in real life, not through a computer screen.
I wish I would have started further down in the colour chain. I don’t like how all the colours with the green and black are at the leg. I would have preferred this part to be more in the foot and the lower part to be nearer the cuff. 🫠
There’s no going back now anyway, just thought I would fill you in on my discovery.
The whole heel and the decreases are done now, but not without a mistake. Not a dramatic one though.
In one of the decrease rounds I forgot to do one, so afterwards, instead of doing two decreases a row on either side of the heel, I did one decrease a row alternating sides.
Just to make my life difficult. 😂
What’s left to knit now is the length of my foot and then the toes.
The more I knit this chevron print, the more I think that I do not want to repeat it, so it’s very likely this is going to be my last pair of socks with this design feature.
I am so ready to be knitting my next pair with some more me colours now too. The colours make such a difference in how much I enjoy projects and I highly believe that’s the same for you too.
Yarn: Drops Fabel, yarn I got from Portugal and Hobbii Silly Socks Flower Pop in colour 10 (Forget-Me-Not)
Size: L for the leg and reduced to an M for the foot.
Needle Size: I cast on with a 2.5mm and then transferred to 2.25mm.
The Win: I like the colour gradient in the bit I knit this week!
The Drama: A little mistake in the heel decreases, nothing too serious.
Skill Builder of the Week
Seam Ripper
This is a small one, but it’s one of the most useful tools in your tool kit!
I’m sure you’ve noticed most seam rippers have a red ball on one of its ends.
This is designed to help prevent accidentally cutting through your fabric. The red ball slides along the fabric guiding the thread into the blade.
But it’s not just for unpicking stitched mistakes.
You can also use the seam ripper to open buttonholes!
I place a pin across one of the short ends of a buttonhole to serve as a stop for the seam ripper not to cut right through the stitches.
As with all blades, a seam ripper can become dull over time. Plus mine often disappears after I place it down, so I would suggest having about 2-3 around, at least one in your tool kit, and one in your sewing machine storage box.
A seam ripper might mean something went wrong, but every sewist knows it’s simply part of the process! 💪
Makers Spotlight
This week’s spotlight goes to @big.fat.fashion!
Melissa made this fun pink jumpsuit that just puts a smile on one’s face!😍
She hacked the Cashmerette Roslindale Jumpsuit by adding the Cashmerette Vernon Shirt on top instead for a different sleeve option.
I love the pink and red together and Melissa brought out the bits of red in the fabric by adding red buttons! Beautiful!
Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make. I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍
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Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx