Workshop prep is going overboard

Hello, hello!

With just under 2 weeks to go, my next workshop prep is well underway!

I have cut way more fabric than is needed. I was just enjoying the process so I kept on cutting until I had no fabric left.

It was very satisfying to see the rotary cutter slice through the fabric in clean cuts ( I put a new blade on😂) and see all the colours piling up.

I still have a couple more fabrics I want to cut, primarily black, then I need to cut all the wadding and get the pattern printed for each person.

I also got some more webbing options for the handles, ric rac and ribbons to aid creativity for the day. You can make a 2 tone bag or multi-colour, add trimmings or not, add handles or not - you will be in charge of your design making it as crazy or as subtle as you want! 😀

There are only 3 spaces available if you would like to join us for a day of just letting your creative juices flow:

Click here to book

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I have also locked in a venue for a weekend sewing retreat. 🎉

I am just waiting for their response in relation to the dates I have chosen (November) and I hope they don’t take much longer, I’ve already been waiting for 6 days. 🫠

I am so excited about this!

A weekend away with sewing friends, plus lots of sewing and relaxing, sounds like a weekend well spent! I wish I could do this every month!

As soon as I get confirmation of the dates I will let you know!

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This week, 1-2-1 sewing sessions have kept me busy and I have continued helping people bring their projects to life. 

In one session we made 4 boxed corner pouches for family members, in another we are making flared leggings with the intention of wearing them to school and in another, we are making a cosplay outfit that needs to be finished soon because it’s going to be a birthday outfit.

I have really been enjoying these sessions, helping everyone make their projects real and also getting to know each person a little bit more every time. ♥️

In running news, I made it to 10K again!

You will be surprised by the strength you have when you convince your mind that you can do it!

I feel like giving up multiple times when I run. My thoughts on this have become less and less each time, but when I try to reach new limits, they come creeping back.

When I was at 6K this time my legs were telling me they were going to give in, I could feel my feet becoming heavier, but I convinced myself that I was going to reach that 10K.

Plus I was too far away from home (again) and stopping to walk would just take me forever to get back.

I ran the exact same route and made it back in 3 minutes less than the last time meaning I went a little bit faster, but this was not intentional or planned at all.

But there is always a bit of (healthy) competitiveness going on, even just with myself. I always want to outdo the last time, no matter what it is really, running or something else.

Does this happen to you as well? 🤔

I feel this is the way we grow and become better at the things we enjoy doing.

 

Stitches of the Week

 

Waves and Wild - Sandcastle Bucket Hat

During our little heatwave last week, I rushed to make a couple of bucket hats for my daughters.

They were in serious need of new ones! The last ones I made for them must have been 3 or 4 years ago and of course they no longer fit.

They each joined me in my sewing room and chose which fabrics they wanted. Since it’s a reversible hat, they chose 2 fabrics each.

They both went for the same fabric, but paired them with different ones.

I feel it kind of reflects who they are as mini people. My eldest chose to pair her pink fabric with a leopard print and I’m not saying she is wild, but she is a fire cracker!😂

On the other hand, my youngest went with a delicate floral print. She is such a softy, very empathetic and lovable.

So their fabric choices do show a bit of their personalities.

I interfaced every single piece with Vlieseline F220 which is a medium weight interfacing to give them structure. I wanted the hat to have some body to it and not be completely floppy.

They have since worn their hats for a total of 5 minutes because the sun disappeared and the wind kept on blowing it off their heads.

I’m thinking of adding grommets to the side to thread some type of cord so there is something to hold the hat down.

Let’s see if I get to it. 😂

Materials: Vlieseline F220 and all cotton poplin fabric. The pink unicorn I bought in Portugal, the others are from UK Fabrics Online.

Size: For my 4-year-old, I made a size 4-7. For my 7-year-old, I made a size 7-12.

The Win: These should last for another 3 or 4 years before I need to make new ones.😂

 

Jamie Dorfman - Lily Cardigan from Fast and Fabulous Knits book

I haven’t picked this up since before the gala!

And when I did, I was surprised how much of it was done. I couldn’t remember I had gotten so far with it - both sleeves were done! One just needed to be cast off.

So I did that and then moved onto the ribbing for the front.

The pattern has the ribbing in 3 parts: one left front, one right front and neckline. 

I don’t quite like how it looks because the neck ribbing ends in a corner at the top front and it just sits there. No button closure.

So I decided to do my own thing and just do it all in one piece.

There was a moment when I thought about not adding buttons just to make life easier and get it finished, but when I showed it to my partner he said he would prefer to see it with buttons.

I guess that swayed me in the direction of the buttons so I watched a couple of videos on how to knit them.

I must say I watched the video for every buttonhole I made to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. That was at least 5 times. 😂

The button band is nearly finished now, I need to knit another row and bind it off.

The difficult part comes next - trying to find 5 buttons that I like, in the tone I want and in the size I need!

Yarn: So Crafty Aran Yarn in Plum, but looks more like burnt orange.

Size: XS. Still tight🫠

Needle Size: 5.5 mm ribbing and 6.5 mm for the main body.

The Win: I was more ahead than I remembered!

 

Skill Builder of the Week

 

Flat Felled Seam

A flat felled seam is when one side of the seam overlaps the other and is sewn flat.

This is normally used in jeans or jackets because it is very strong and durable.

A flat felled seam is typically done on the right side of the fabric, but can also be done on the wrong side.

1- To sew a flat felled seam, pin your fabric wrong sides together and sew with the specified amount of seam allowance. Then press open.

2- Trim one side of the seam allowance to half the width of the other seam allowance.

3- Fold the wider seam allowance over and under the narrower one, enclosing the raw edge to make a folded edge. Press it flat.

4- Lastly, edgestitch the seam allowance in place along the folded edge from the right side. (This is to make sure you capture the whole edge.)

From the right side, you will have two rows stitched side by side, and from the wrong side you can only see one, which is the edgestitch that was just created.

 

Maker Spotlight

 

This week’s spotlight goes to @winter.salt!

This is a stunning dress!

The deep orange/terracotta background with the small cream details really makes it stand out!

Jane made this NH Patterns Lucia Dress in an African wax print cotton she bought on a trip to Kenya and she has definitely made it justice. It is beautiful!

Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make and a little about it, I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍

 

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Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx