My New Corduroy Bag!

Hello!👋

Hope you have been keeping well!

I am still living in my Mikal Fleece Jacket!

It is by far the most comfortable and warmest garment I have ever sewn!

There definitely needs to be another on the horizon!

If you watched my latest Youtube video I mentioned that I wanted to make another in a colourful polka dot fleece with a black background and use pink as the accent colour.

Not sure when I will get started on it though as I have a few other plans I would like to get done first.

I also mentioned in my video that I wanted to get started on a Lyra dress from Tilly and The Buttons in a blue leopard print fabric.

I showed you this fabric months ago that my partner bought me from Leon’s Fabrics in Manchester. The original plan was a Lyra, so I am glad that I have finally cut it out!

The first version I made, I just graded from a 2 bust to a 3 waist and everything else remained the same. For this one, I will be making a lot more changes.

I am making a midi version with just one tier and extending the button placket to the hem of the skirt.

I have shortened the bodice by ½ inch, shortened the waist ties but added ½ inch to the width. Lastly, I added ½ inch to the width of the sleeves because the first one I made is a little tight around my biceps now.

I like the idea of adding side slits and sewing the ties into the seam too, so hopefully I don’t forget these while sewing like I usually do. 😅

Lately I have really been enjoying the process of sewing and taking my time with my projects, I even took 2 days to just cut out the Lyra dress. What’s the rush anyway, right?

Something I couldn’t get out of my head since last week was making another Roma Necessaire in a corduroy fabric, the same fabric I used for my Fabric Godmother Fleur Dress.

So I managed to cut it out and finish it too! 😀

I cut both outer panels from the cord fabric and quilted it to a layer of foam because I really love the look of a puffy surface.

I didn’t make the quilted stitches intentional, but they worked out really well at the sides making the bag really boxy.

On the inside, I added only one side pocket and left off the binding because I couldn’t decide on what fabric to use and just wanted to get it finished! 

My socks have come a long way since last week!

The gusset is finished and I moved onto the foot of the sock, I think I am about a third of the way on the foot.

I did have a bit of a brain fart shaping the gusset on circular needles! 😂

I got carried away and didn’t knit them at the same time, so I finished one and then the other and they were not in position to continue knitting in the round.

I watched a couple of YouTube videos and found that the only way I was going to get them back in position was to remove all stitches and put them in the correct order myself. 😣

I will know for next time where I need to pay more attention.

And I have done something that has gone against my beliefs! 😱

I cast on another project without finishing my current one! 😂

It was just constantly in my head so I needed to get it out.

I can’t get over how soft the pairing of these yarns are! It feels like I am touching a cloud!

There is still no definitive design for the colours, but I just know that I want to make them look as tartan print as I can.

The yarns I am using were gifted to me by Wool Warehouse from their latest releases, Yarnsmiths Merino DK Superwash and Yarnsmiths Kid Mohair Silk.

I am using the Gumdrops Sweater from Rita Made This as a base and I will not be adding the ‘gumdrops’.

To finish this week off, we had our monthly Sew & Bond get-together! (I may have forgotten to take a group photo! 😢)

It was lovely to catch up with everyone, especially those that hadn’t been in a while!

If you would like to join one in the near future, please scroll to the end to check the next available dates. 🤗

You can watch last week’s video here:

Alternatively, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already so you can be notified when a video comes out. 

😎Confidence Corner:

If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. - Dale Carnegie

Fear often grows stronger when we do nothing.

The more we sit and overthink our doubts, the bigger they seem. But the best way to overcome fear isn’t to overthink, it is to take action.

It could be starting a new project, learning a new skill or tackling something outside of our comfort zone, progress happens when we take steps forward. Even small steps can build confidence and progress.

So instead of waiting to feel ready, just start. Taking action will quieten the fear far more than thinking ever will.

🧵This Week's Tip:

Has it ever happened where you cut out a piece of viscose fabric along with its interfacing only to find they don’t match?

It’s happened to me many times!

Here a few steps I take to avoid this from happening:

1. Cut out the interfacing piece first (these pieces are from a collar).

2. Then place it glue side down on the wrong side of the fabric. Fuse it in place following the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Now cut out the fabric with interfacing already fused it! No more squiggly pieces.

⭐My Favourite Things This Week:

• Making a cord Roma Necessaire.
• Casting on the Gumdrops Sweater for my collaboration with Wool Warehouse.
• Making steady progress on my socks.
• Cuttting out a Lyra dress.

🗓️Upcoming Plans

• Continue knitting my socks.
• Continue knitting the Gumdrops Sweater.
• Continue working on the Lyra dress.
• Make one quilt block 🤔 (Is this ever going to happen? 😂)

🎉Upcoming Events

22nd of March 2025 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester, 10:45h - 16:15h
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND015
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond015/

More 2025 Dates!

26th of April 2025 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event
24th of May 2025 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event
28th of June 2025 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event
26th of July 2025 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event

Thank you so much for reading it! And if you enjoyed it, please tell a friend about it to allow me to reach more people. 🥰

Bye for now,
B! xx