Slowly But Steady

Hello!👋

Hope you have been keeping well!

I am super excited about the project I am currently working on! 🤩

The Fabric Godmother Fleur dress! 👗

This is one of those projects that I cannot wait to finish and wear. 🤭

Last week I was undecided on which version of the Fleur to make and what fabric to make it in. So I asked you which was your favourite and you gave me some answers! 🤗

I decided to be persuaded by you and went for the white fabric and I have come to realise I have nothing white in my wardrobe besides a t-shirt, and not even that is all white, it’s colour blocked. 😂

I  want to make this dress not only because I love the style of it, the sleeves, bows and gathers, but I need some more options of clothing to wear on the warmer days. And as I said last week, as soon as I would decide to make something for the warm weather, the weather would change.

In my area this week, it has been very windy and we have had a few more cloudy days than last week. I get cold very quickly, so I have literally been outside in a jacket most days.

It did get warm over the weekend so I hope I can still finish the dress in time for the good weather! 😎

I am glad I chose to do the dress with the sleeves option to give a bit more coverage from the cold and I can also wear it with a vest over the top if the weather gets cooler.

One little oopsy daisy moment I had when cutting out the pattern pieces is that I wanted the stripes on the skirt pieces to go vertically, but I was distracted and ended up cutting it so the lines are horizontal. 😑

I did try and see what tetris I could do, but there just wasn’t enough fabric to recut 2 skirt pieces, never mind cutting the bodice and sleeves.

So I had to just go with it. 😐

I cut the second skirt piece with the stripes on the vertical and that left me with enough for the rest.

What also pushed me more to do a sleeved version of the dress is that there was enough fabric for it, and if I didn’t use the fabric for the sleeves, I don’t think I would have enough to use it for any other project. 

The fabric I have left is enough to make a couple of scrunchies and little else.

Currently, I have made both sleeves and the bodice. I now need to sew the sleeves to the bodice and make the skirt.

If this Fleur works out and fits how I want it to(I sized down one), I feel like I want to make another straight away, but need to consider that I still need to make a present for my daughter’s best friend’s birthday party. 😅😂

I brought my daughter into my sewing room to shop for some fabric for her friend and of course, half the things she picked out just wouldn’t do. 😵‍

In the end, she chose this, what I would call, vintage looking floral print on a deep blue background. 

There ain’t much of it, but I think there is enough there to make the Piper dress by Violette Field Threads.

I want to make the flutter sleeve version with the plain front and back bow. I think this way she can choose to wear it in summer and in winter with a long sleeve top underneath.

I also want to make her a little bag to go with the dress, something like a small version of a tote bag but that closes with a zip and has a boxed bottom.

I see the way my daughter likes to use my handbags around the house putting all her sacred things inside, so I am assuming her friend may have the same tendencies, so I would like to make her a bag of her own.

It may be a good idea that I get these projects out the way first before starting on something else for myself, and let's not talk about my partner's jacket. 🫣 🤕

Also just an update on the trousers I was working on last week, the Safiya trousers by Tilly and The Buttons. Those are now finished and I love the finished look! 😍

Although I forgot to lengthen them before cutting them out, I made a smaller hem and I think the length worked out really well.

There has been good progress on the Evie Cardigan I am testing for Knit Stitch Repeat but I don’t have enough yarn to finish it.

Well, I do, but it won’t look how I want it to. 🫤

I had enough of the Yarnsmiths Freespirit Aran in the Apollo colourway to finish the bodice and still a little ball left. So that was 2 skeins and a bit of yarn.

I then used the Yarnsmiths Create Aran in the Parchment colourway to do the sleeves, but I definitely don’t have enough left to do the neck ribbing. 😩

I tried to get onto the Wool Warehouse website the whole weekend to order some more of the Parchment colour, but it appeared to be down. Somehow I feel this is a sign. 😂

I have thought about using both the leftover Apollo colourway together with the Parchment to do the ribbing. I am itching just thinking about it not matching the other ribbings, but at least like this I don’t have to buy more yarn for just 6 rows of ribbing. 😅

Just a side note, I had filled my basket on the Wool Warehouse website with the yarn I needed and some more, so in reality, I am glad the website was down. 😂

I have already started thinking about the next knitting project I want to start, the Jasmine Sweater, which is still in the testing phase. 

This is the one I made a couple of weeks ago and although I haven’t had the chance to wear it yet, I just love the bubble effect so much I want to make another version.

I put a poll up on my Instagram stories to help me choose what colour I should make it in and, at the time of writing this, there are still a few hours left to go until it ends.

I asked for help between 2 colours, Pistachio and Pink, as currently Pistachio is in the lead. You will soon find out which one wins! 🥇

😎Confidence Corner:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” - Steve Jobs

This is to  remind us that life is too short to spend it following in someone else’s footsteps or trying to meet others' expectations.

There are many times we get caught up in what society, friends, or family think we should do.

We might go after careers, relationships, or lifestyles that don’t truly make us happy, just because we feel like it’s what we’re supposed to do. But when we do this, we miss out on living a life that truly reflects who we are.

Instead of living by someone else’s rules or dreams, we should focus on what we love and what makes us feel fulfilled.

In the end, the greatest satisfaction comes from living a life that’s true to who we are. So, take this as a reminder to follow your own path and make the most of your time by doing what truly makes you happy. 💛

🧵Today's Sewing Tip:

Sewing Corners

Many times our sewing projects don’t just include sewing in a straight line, they also include sewing corners.

Here are a few tips on how to stitch corners and turn them out:

1- Clip/pin your fabric with the right sides together.

2- Stitch the required seam allowance, I am using a ½ inch seam allowance.

When you reach the corner, make sure the needle is down in the fabric and lift the presser foot. Pivot the fabric 90 degrees so that the (new) raw edge aligns with the same seam allowance you are using. Lower the presser foot and continue sewing.

There are various methods to then turn out a corner that will give you a nice sharp one.

This has become my favourite method lately and it is to fold the fabric.

3- Without cutting anything, fold one seam down at the stitch line. Fold the other seam over to the same side.

Hold the seams firmly where they are folded over each other in the corner and with your thumb (or whichever finger is most comfortable for you) push that corner in while the other hand pulls the fabric right side out.

Lastly, give the corner a little wiggle.

4- Another method I have used many times is to cut the corner.

Cut a triangle of fabric off at the corner and cut a little more excess at each side of the corner.

If your fabric frays badly, you could stitch above your original stitch line about 2 cm to each side of the corner in one continuous stitch line from one side to the other.

Turn your corner right side out and give it a little wiggle.

You could also use a needle to help pull the corner out, but be careful not to pull too much as you may pull the fabric out of the stitches (I have done this before 😣).

⭐My Favourite Things This Week:

• Finishing my Burberry inspired trousers! 👖
• Working steadily on my the Evie Cardigan test knit (not so nice that I am running out of yarn)
• Starting and being nearly halfway done with the Fleur dress! 😍

🗓️Upcoming Plans

• Continue knitting the test knit - Evie Cardigan.
• Continue with the Fleur Dress.
• If I have time, start my next knitting project - the Jasmine (bubble) sweater.
• Get back to my partner’s jacket - I am leaving this here as I feel if I remove it, I will definitely never get back to it. 😂

🎬What I have been Watching/Reading:

Watching

• Love Is Blind: Mexico (Series)

Singles talk to each other behind a wall and without ever seeing each other, they need to decide if they want to marry the person on the other side. If they accept, they can see their partner for the first time.

This series focuses on helping people fall in love with each other based on their personalities rather than their physical appearance.

• Meet Marry Murder (Series)

This chilling series explores the true stories of people who murdered their partners.

This week I finished watching season 2 and it is so shocking to see the lengths some partners go to to take their partners out of their lives.

🎉Upcoming Events

24th of August 2024 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester, 10:15 - 15:45.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND08
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond08/

21st of September 2024 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester, 11:45 - 17:15.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND09
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond09/

26th of October 2024 - Sew&Bond - Sewing Social Event - in Gatley Hill House, South Manchester, 10:15 - 15:45.
(5hr30m, an extra 30min than usual)
Email bianca@beesilva.co.uk and quote reference: SEWBOND010
For more information: https://www.beesilva.co.uk/sewbond010/

Question of the Week:

What type of sewing content do you enjoy watching most on YouTube?

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