Notions Of Fabric

Hey guys! It's been another rather long break, unfortunately. I should really have typed up a post about the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show! In short, I loved it, I bought fabric and a pattern from Lauren of Guthrie & Ghani (she was super lovely, despite my slight fangirling), I bought a new sewing machine (and I LOVE IT!), and the Husband and I decided to sponsor a cat. Apparently Cat Protection is at almost every show and exhibition. Anyway, since getting my new machine I've already finished one garment, despite the crazy time I've been having at work. I'm super excited to start the project I bought from Lauren and make my first ever knit garment! But this post is not about that. This is further back, from Christmas and other presents which I gifted my family late last year. I didn't do as many handmade gifts as 2015 (I knitted 6 scarves that year), but I did make a few, also taking advantage of a new obsession of mine - knitting socks. I took ...

Hey all! I said in my very last post that I would aim to post twice a month... As you can see, not so much so far. I have projects lined up, which have been photographed. I'm just waiting on my photographer (the husband) to fix and upload them for me before I can write a blog post. Hopefully soon. Since my last post, so many things have happened though. I live in LONDON now! We stayed with friends in a small town for about 2 weeks, while we found our own place, and now we've moved in! We have a view of most of the London Eye from our flat window... It's very cool.  So I'm not sewing (except to mend things by hand), due to my lack of, well, practically everything sewing. I am knitting, and I am hoping to buy a shiny newmachine at the beginning of March. I am lining up a few nice things to do that are sewing-related, though. I have the Sewing Machine Museum on my list, as well as the Knitting and Stitching show at the beginning of March. TMOS (The Man Outside Sainsb...

Hello again all! I feel like I say this a lot, but I'm back, and it's been a little while. This time, I was off planning a wedding, getting married, having a honeymoon, getting fully accredited at work, and dealing with the Christmas craziness of school. Oh, and the new Hubby and I are moving to London in less than a month. So that's insane. But this is a sewing blog, so let's get to that, yeah? I just wanted to talk a little about my sewing last year (2016) and how I'm moving into 2017, with crafty resolutions and goals. 2016 for me personally was a pretty great year (YOU GUYS, I GOT MARRIED!), and that is true also about my sewing. I feel like I sewed quite a few things that were out of my comfort zone, made some items I absolutely love to wear, and I began to find myself truly a part of a sewing community (thanks Sydney Spoolettes!). In terms of actual items I've made, I haven't kept a true count, but it's definitely not reflected in my blogging. ...

Hey all! Hope you're having a lovely week. Despite being on holidays, I am keeping busy - between school prep, wedding prep, my TAFE course, learning to ride a motorcycle, and generally being an adult who does adult things... I have been busy! Getting a little knitting done (mostly when I'm on public transport), but not a whole lot of sewing, unfortunately. So I have dredged the photo archives for some more which were taken way back in July to show you today. I wear this top all the time (I have 4 incarnations of this pattern), and yet it has never made it to the blog! I really need to work on that, actually. This is the Deer and Doe Datura top, and I love it. In fact, out of all the ones that I've made, this is my favourite. I've got this pattern down to a fine art now, and can whip one out in a few hours. I make a size 44, with a slight tweaking to the side seams to decrease the flare a little. As this was my first version, the length is as per the patte...

Happy Monday everyone! And an especially happy Monday to my lovely friends in the ACT - lucky things, they have a public holiday today. But I don't feel that bad, because I'm on holidays anyway. Today I have my latest version of one of my TNT patterns - Deer and Doe's Chardon skirt . I ADORE this skirt, and have made it 5 times so far (although only 1 other has made it to the blog - I need to fix that!). Find my first version in black twill  here ! As well as this, I have one in navy with red trim, denim (the ultimate skirt in my wardrobe), and grey cordouroy (which is in the mending pile due to a small hole). So definitely a TNT pattern then! I made my usual size for this one (44), with no alterations except raising the hemline slightly. I love the autumnal vibe this one has, and it goes equally well with stockings or bare legs. This shade of brown is practically a neutral, right? I went for contrast with the pockets, using a dark green fat quarter from my sta...

Evening all! It will be a short post tonight, and I also want to apologise for my face in these photos. I had to get these photos done and up today, but I'm ridiculously sick at the moment (and mostly still working, thanks to my profession). I got greeted three times today with 'Wow, you look unwell!' - which is just what you want when you feel like death warmed up. Anyway, this is coming under the wire, really, but is my entry into the Gingham-Along hosted by Karen of Did You Make That? How it came about is a slightly complex story.... When the Ginghamalong was first announced, I was like 'YES! MAKE ALL THE GINGHAM THINGS!', but then I realised I'm trying to save money as well as sew my stash, so my plans went by the wayside. I still have an amazing mental image of black and white gingham shorts (so if anyone knows where to find gingham sateen, let me know!). Except, on Friday (the 9th), I saw an ad for 40% off at Lincraft, where they have a decent...

Hello lovely people! It's finally getting nice here in Sydney (although I believe it will rain again later in the week), and I have another dress to show you! I think we've allworked out how this works by now. I love to wear dresses, pretty much no matter how cold (well, in Sydney, anyway). And sorry, but this is a quick post - I'm swamped with work today, but wanted to share this one with you anyway! This lovely is another Deer and Doe Belladone . I've already made this gorgeous pattern a few times, but this one has a few small alterations to the previous one (and I have one in the 'to-take-in' pile as well!). I've gone down a size from my first (to a 42), a pleasant side effect of running, but I have also added little darts on the upper back overlap pieces. I find that the back can gape otherwise, which is a problem I have with a few patterns. Maybe I have narrow shoulders? Anyway, other than those few changes, this is exactly as is. I l...