Craft projects on the go....

This week I have learnt a new craft! (I'm not sure what you call someone who collects crafts skills, maybe a craftoholic but that sounds really unappealing!). I learnt how to crochet which is fab. I joined in the workshop led by Laura last weekend making 'Crochet Granny Squares' and I actually got to grips with it. Once I got home I manically tried to find a crochet cushion cover pattern published in a Magazine a few months ago and after about an hour I found it. Then things got slightly confusing as I'm not sure that it was an 'English' pattern but in true Running With Scissors style I launched myself into it without worrying to much and now I'm the proud owner of 4 crochet squares (the pattern calls for 36 squares, so only 32 to go.....) I am very impressed with myself!

To add to all things woolly I have put aside my current kitting project (despite promising myself to finish a project before I start another one) and started on a winter top which is all silver and sequins - sparkly and seasonal - I will be a walking glitter ball once completed. Its a good job its on 10mm needles so it will be quite quick to knit. I've started this project as I have been naughty and ordered some wool online which arrived yesterday (it was in the sale!) for a winter top pattern which I've had since last year - its going to be purple and pink!. I have never really understood why 'winter colours' are black, brown and grey when what you really need on English winter days is a strong blast of tropical shades to lift your mood and make you feel better!

The Sewing Projects I have on the go include:
Green linen print top
Reversible skirt
Curtains for our bay window (fabric stored for over a year!)
Purses
Christmas Stocking
Wall hanger with pockets
...and those are just the ones I can remember.

Laura has recently been to the 'Knitting and Stitching Show' in London and its coming to Harrogate this month 22nd - 25th November, I went a few years go and its fantastic, all the stalls have lots of offers and discounts and there are workshops, exhibitions and shows too. Apparently one of the exhibitions is called 'The Unfinsihables' - I think this may be one for me! Here's a link to the show if your interested in all things knitty and stitchy!  http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=39

Vintage Patterns and other musings...

Today I met a lovely lady who has passed onto me some fantastic vintage dress patterns. She has always made clothes for herself, her mother, her children and now her grandchildren and great grandchildren - what a wonderful woman! I love chatting to people who have this sort of knowledge and enthusaim for sewing and crafting, she reminded me so much of my dear Gran, who taught me to sew, and knit and crochet and other crafty things. The lady had heard my interview on Radio Sheffield and gave me a call about her patterns as she has loads and loads and they would only end up in a skip, or thrown out in the end (perish the thought!) - some of them even date back to the 1940's and the images on some of them as so fabulous - a whole different era (Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Eve-Marie Saint et al)

Here's a picture of just a couple of them, I'm going to go through the two bags tonight. If you are lucky enough to be booked on the workshop tomorrow I'm planning to bring them along for our tutor Sharon and everyone to have alook at. I am very tempted to make the 'dust coat' pictured here.

In keeping with the vintage theme I finally finished a little hat which I started at a Millinery class (which must be a year ago now.... - I have a long 'to do' list). It was created from scratch from steaming the buckram pieces over mould to create the curved body and then covering it and lining it and adding the hair comb. The only problem is that it keeps slipping out of my hair, so some industrial strength hairspray may be in order!

Dress in a Day photos

On Saturday we had our 'Dress in a day' workshop. As always I am seriously impressed with the dresses everyone makes at the workshop, they are always so different. The dress is such a flattering style, easy to make up and you get to take home the pattern which is made to your measurements! I was very inspired after the workshop that I decided to start making a linen top which has been on my 'to-do' pile for some time. Here are some of the dresses from the workshop modelled by their smiley creators!

Lisa's lovely check fabric which matched up on the side seams perfectly + some bias binding  + two patch pockets = fab dress

Joanne's 'Liquorice Allsorts' dress (very Sheffield!), a short and very sweet version!

Sara's black and white chic number, which I think is very Mary Quant! Sara bought 2m of the check fabric fabric in the John Lewis sale, before realising we need 2.5 metres to make the dress, so we added a strip of black fabric at the bottom of the dress to extend the length and made some black bias binding for the neckline in the same plain fabric.

Our next 'Dress in a Day' workshop is on Saturday 27th October!

Fab Patchwork Cushion Covers

Last Saturday was our Patchwork Cushion workshop with our fab tutor Janet Bottomley. For once, I had the opportunity to join the workshop and managed to whip up a coaster, as a sample, and the actual cushion cover. I'm very impressed with it - and now I can strip piece (which sounds a bit racy but isn't) and do some simple quilting. I went for some contrasting fabric which kind of co-ordinates with our bright blue sofa.

 

Here's a couple of other cushions made at the workshop, which would look fab on any sofa!, (including a skulls and owls combination) 

More patchwork workshops will be coming in the autumn where you can learn some simple projects which you can make as Christmas presents (or other gifts), sign up for our mailing list on our homepage www.rwssheffield.co.uk so you can find out when they are ready for booking.

'Dress in a Day' for Summer

After last weekend's 'Dress in a Day' workshop I was so impressed with what everyone had achieved in the day that I decided to make another dress for myself, using the same bias cut pattern. So this is a lovely Summer dress in printed linen (from Direct Fabric warehouse on London Road), I didn't have any bias binding to match so I did double hems on the neckline, hem and sleeves. I opted for cap sleeves and gathered them slightly to make them runch a little. As the dress pattern is designed to be quite loose fitting instead of putting darts in etc I just sewed some lengths of ribbon into the side seams and tied them at the back. I think it worked out really well and I've been wearing it for the last few days because its so cool and lose fitting in this warm weather.

At the workshop everyone created different dresses, some were plain fabric with contrast or coordinating bias binding, some were patterned, others altered necklines, added darts or sewed hems in contrast coloured thread, and everyone put in some sleeves which were long, short, flared or runched! It was a really busy day for me, our tutor Sharon and everyone at the workshop!

Next 'Dress in a Day' workshop on Saturday 4th August @ Meersbrook Park United Reformed Church!