Ooops, I did it again!

Every time I make things in production line fashion, I tell myself "Next time, do them 2 at a time at the most". Why don't I ever listen to myself??

Yesterday I decided to make some of the bags I cut out months ago. So, I piled them on the sewing table and selected a few to make. Did I say "a few"?? When I counted them, there were 12 of them altogether. Did I put 10 of them back? Of course I didn't! *sigh* Here they are in progress.

I hope to get all 12 of them finished tomorrow. It should be a wee bit easier to get them done as we don't look after Tilly on a Wednesday. What did she do this week that I laughed out loud at? She only dragged a beautifully rolled up piece of wadding (batting) off the shelf and started chewing it.

Luckily she let go of it quite quickly. It's now safely re-rolled and on top of the shelf unit. About 7 feet off the ground so she shouldn't be able to get it! Hopefully! :oD

Tilly & the pompom and my second Cressida skirt

Joanna started a new job yesterday so we're now looking after Tilly for a few hours when she's at work. Mostly, Tilly lets you do what you want to do as long as you pay her some attention and give her hugs and cuddles and a few doggy treats.

This afternoon I was in the sewing room and had just stopped her diving into the bin (again) to get out some fabric to chew when she ran off. I (stupidly) assumed she'd gone downstairs to annoy/play with Douglas. I thought nothing of it when she reappeared within minutes to try the bin-diving thing again.

I then decided to take the dressmaking dummy into our bedroom to take a photo of my new Cressida skirt which I'd made at the weekend. I walked in carrying the dummy and burst out laughing when I saw this on the carpet.

Then I saw this on the bed and laughed some more.

What is it? A chewed up silver pompom. this is what it once looked like!

Tilly tried to assure me it hadn't been her who had chewed the pompom. Butter wouldn't melt and all that!

Then she started trying to chew me.

Nothing like a good chew on a cardigan sleeve to make your day fabulous! :oD

I did finally manage to get the photo of my new Cressida skirt.

It's in black corduroy and I love it! I have another couple on the go - one for me and one for Joanna. I'm making them both at the same time which is making it seem like they're taking twice as long but I hope to get them both finished tomorrow. Unless, of course, the pompom-chewer has other ideas! :oD

Brontë, bow ties and zebra problems

I wore my new Brontë top today and I'm really pleased with it. It fits me really well - yay!! The quality of the photo isn't great but you get the idea, I'm sure!

I had to make 3 more bow ties for the choir I sing in. I have very detailed instructions in my notebook of how I make these so it didn't take me long at all to get them done.

Remember the zebra fabric I dyed during the summer? Well, I admitted to myself that I probably wouldn't wear it so I offered to make Joanna a dress with it and she cheerily accepted. I finally started pinning the pattern on to the fabric this afternoon.

I didn't get far before I came across a "problem" with the fabric. The pattern I was going to use was McCall's 6696, view B - the short-sleeved version shown as a line-drawing on the left side of the pattern.

The "problem" is that the zebra pattern is quite big so, on the bodice, where do I put the zebras? There are 2 darts - a bust dart and a waist dart. So, the chances are, a zebra would be pinched in the bust dart - ouch :oD - or in the waist dart - more ouches! Or he/she would be looking at the nippular area or his/her backend would be right on the tip of the nippular area.

Joanna and I have discussed the zebra-nippular problems and are now thinking that a skirt would be a better option for this fabric. I think that will be a lot less problematic - for zebras and nippular areas alike! :oD

Cressida and Brontë

I've been doing some dressmaking in the last few days. First of all I made the Cressida skirt pattern from Jennifer Lauren on Etsy here. I was worried that it wouldn't fit me but it does. And I love it!

Now, I never, ever wear my tops tucked into my skirts or trousers but I did with this skirt. It sits beautifully with or without a belt. And, another favourite thing for me ... it has pockets!

I can see myself making a few more Cressida skirts in the not too distant future!

I'd seen the Brontë top on a few blogs in the past few months and, whilst I admired it, I wasn't sure it was something I'd wear. I saw it again when I was buying the Cressida skirt pattern and, after a few days thinking about it, went back and got it - here. I picked up a remnant of knitted fabric from my local fabric shop for £4 so I decided to have a go. I finished it this afternoon after it got too dark to take any decent photos so this is the best I could do.

I'm not overly fond of sewing with knitted fabrics but this went together really quickly and I didn't have any problems with it. I might have to go and buy some more knitted fabrics to have a few more of these on hand. I bet they'd go perfectly with my new skirts! :oD

Remembrance Sunday

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

from the poem, For the Fallen, by Robert Laurence Binyon.

lots and lots of pinnies

Last time I said I'd show you what I made with this pile of fabrics. Pinnies!

First of all, I overlocked the edges and sewed them with a narrow hem.

Then, in a moment of complete madness, I decided, instead of using twill tape for the neck and waist ties, I'd make the ties from the same fabrics. Aaaaargh!!

Then came the job of sewing them all on.

But, it was worth the effort. I want to keep them all for myself! LOL

There wasn't enough spare fabric to make matching ties for this one so I had to use the red twill tape. I still love it! :oD

This one has gone back into the pile to get its neck tie sorted. I must have been on automatic pilot by the time I got to this one as I've left the tapes at 27" instead of trimming them to 24". This means the neck of the pinny is sitting at about waist level. (A slight exaggeration but it definitely needs shortened!)

I haven't finished all of the pinnies yet but I should get the rest of them done this week.

Yesterday, I was sewing more pinnies. This was a special request from one of Debbie's customers who wanted matching/contrasting pinnies for herself and her 4 year old daughter to wear when they bake together. She chose the colours - I love them! I bet they'll have great fun baking together after Santa brings them these pinnies! :oD