My Family and other Jerseys

My love of sewing with jerseys, pontes and sweats hasn't just been confined to sewing for me. Nope, I've kitted out my family too. 

This week my lovely Millie turned 16, which I guess is fairly obvious in this photo. I'd been doing a bit of secret sewing for her birthday and then the night before she asked for a birthday badge to wear to school. Out came the felt and pretty quickly a birthday badge was born.

For months before I'd been showing her endless fabric photos to find out her favourites as I'd already pinned down the clothes she liked best. I'd already made her a Tilly and the Buttons Cleo for Christmas, in a grey denim, which she loved so I knew another one would be a winner.

As the corduroy chosen from Textile Express was a lightweight one I decided to fully line it to give it more structure. Baggy bums in dresses aren't a top look are they. I simply cut another dress out of the cloth I chose for the lining. There was only just enough of the cactus print for half of the lining so I cut the top half of the lining from this with a seam allowance and then added a polka dot with seam allowance to the bottom half of the lining.

 The T-shirt underneath I made in a gloriously soft jersey from Art Gallery Fabrics bought from Sew Me Sunshine as was the cactus cotton. Millie doesn't like tight fitting clothes so I altered the Fitted Sweater from Gertie Does Vintage Casual by going up a size and grading the sides of the top.

Next I made her an Astoria Jumper from Seamworks which I found at Colette Patterns. When I was making one for myself Millie said she'd love a pink version so this was added to the list of birthday makes. I also made her a tea cup pincushion after seeing them on Sew Me Sunshine.

Now going back in time, to just before Christmas, I knitted my love a bobble hat and stitched him a Metro T-shirt from Oliver and S as anniversary gifts. 

Back when we were first together as teenagers, he played American Football, in fact he played it for many more years than that. His player number was 22 so rather than leave the top plain, which looks wrong to my eyes, I appliquéd silver jersey numbers on it.

 

 Now we're in the Christmas pressies part of this post. For my mum I whipped up a Tilly and the Buttons Coco. I've never seen her wear it which reminds me I must ask her if she actually has worn it.

For my man I made the Burda 6718 Men's Hoodie. When I went to buy the cloth this super soft sweatshirt from Paul Smith had just come into Anglian Fashion Fabrics. I buy a lot of my cloth from here as it's ram packed with more than you could even realise you needed. 

I also thought I know what I'm going to use that shiny skull patch I'd already bought for now. He wears silver skull rings and loves shiny stuff just like a Magpie so how perfect was this skull. 

 I also made my Rosey some sweatpants from the same Paul Smith sweatshirt and blinged them with a silver jersey R. I adapted these from the Trouser part of Tilly and the Buttons Marigold Jumpsuit. I'd already made the jumpsuit for Rosey so I knew these were a good fit for her. 

That's the issue with secret sewing, you have to know the fit is already a good one on your victim and not choose anything that requires an actual fitting with alterations or the secrets blown.

Well everyone was thrilled with their gifts and they've all been worn lots, apart from the Coco, who knows????

My mum did ask me to make her something for her recent golfing holiday though. She wanted a hoodie, the same as the one I'd made for Jason, so we went to choose cloth. She loved this silver sweatshirt I pulled out and asked if she could have a silver heart on hers. She's since bought silver converse too as I said they'd look great with it, plus the silver handbag Rosey bought her for Christmas and she's one cool granny. 

 

My last make for this lot, for now at least, is this 70's style Metro T-shirt for my man.  I kept looking at this jersey and loved it but couldn't think how I'd wear it, then suddenly I thought I know a man who would.  

It makes me think of MASH and all those lovely colours our parents decorated with back then. It's childhood and fun and luckily he loves it.

I absolutely love to make clothes for myself so I have something new to wear, but to be honest I just love the whole process of sewing and gifting it is an especially good feeling to be sure.

Waving not Drowning!

Hellooooo. 

Well - a far longer blog absence than I'd anticipated.

Yes, there's been a lot of real life stuff happening. I'll fill you in on the more interesting edited bits of that another day. The main reason I've not been able to blog is my daft decision to change phones. 

Many months later and I still can't work out how to download the photos to my pooter. 

I'm on it, so fingers crossed. 

Oh and yes that is me up top. Not a lookie likey. I wanted a hairchop last year, but to avoid all that crass new life new hair stuff I waited. Who the hell wants to be predictable. Certainly not me. 

In a quick roundup, if you've not been following our adventures over on Instagram, then the girls and I have moved house to an in-between home; new wheels have been bought and we've been on a few travels in it already where we met a few blogger friends; job and house searching is happening, plus plans for getting proper creative again (not as easy when your life is in storage, but I'll find a way) oh and there is a man in my life too. 

Just thought I'd sneak that one in at the end. 

So - whilst my life might not have the exact shapes I want it to have just yet, I'm happy, the girls are happy and we can wait because it will all come to us in the end. 

Not long after we moved we popped down to Dorset for a weeks holiday. 

A girly affair which did us all very good. 

Either they've grown, or I've shrunk since I last posted.

Hopefully I'll have the photos downloaded before we all have grey hair.

Back very soon I hope. 

Change can be ok

This week all sorts of stuff has been thrown at me.

The most interesting being the loss of the fabulous course I've run for the past three years. I'd hoped to stay employed until July at least so I'd have money to get through until September, but other than the possibility of cover teaching work it just isn't to be. Lots of politics and shenanigins so tight lipped and affecting a devil may care attitude that I'm sure you all know to be nonsense.

Our home has also gone on the market, so now we have strangers visiting deciding if it's good enough for them or not.

With all of this going on my daughters, friends and mum are blinking stars. Keeping me sane, happy and laughing.

Do you know, I really didn't realise what fabulous people I knew. Each and everyone of them has shown themselves to be the best kind of friend someone could ask for when distractions and company are badly needed.

In the midst of this I contacted my mate in Oz who was the closest thing to family I'd ever known. We didn't speak for over a year after a thing that happened. Then you wake up and realise it's just not worth losing some people. Right now it turns out she needs a bloody good mate too. I even wonder if might use some of our house sale money to go on a long plane trip.

There are people I've met through blogging and now through Instagram who have become real mates, others who I can't wait to meet up with and know I will one day soon.

For a girl who was a real outsider and a quiet loner once she seems to have grown into a woman who has found where she fits and who actually enjoys all this sociable stuff a whole lot.

I'm also wondering if I should finally send that letter to the lady who gave birth to me. I've a few brothers and sisters I'd love to get to know, plus all that wider family I've never bad.

Next week I'm joining the W.I. I'm thrilled you know as I've fancied this for a bit, but couldn't find the one for me.

Through vintage markets I've met quite a few of my mates. Everyone knows everyone else. For a couple of years I've known my W.I. mate, but just recently we've started to get to know each other better. I like her a lot.

To be honest, my marriage ending has meant I've got to know a lot of people better. Not because I wasn't allowed to, but it's a time thing isn't it. I gave my time to my family life. Now I share it out more and that's a really positive thing to come from all of this.

I'm a firm believer in trying to find the good, the positive, the upbeat and what I might learn from something.

At a low moment this week I gathered a small bit of my fabric stash together and took a few happy photos. My own therapy which worked.

Now I have a few irons in the fire still. Two friends have given me heads up on possible jobs so I'm meeting up with them next week. I'm taking some bits to sell from a shop in Southwold. Then, excitingly three ladies and I will be getting together to put together the Do You Mind if I Knit Blanket?

All the squares are in so it's time to get stitching ready for the raffle to raise funds for MIND in memory of Vanessa.

Fabric, friends and family are what make my life tick. My head has a few ideas for our future, one a blinking big idea that requires a leap of faith and courage.

I keep telling myself over and over, you have far more courage than you have fear.

For now I'm thinking, researching and keeping as sane as a woman can do who is watching her world dissolve before her eyes.

I intend to find the best I can from all of this and use it.

That's where all these wonderful people I know and that's you included come in.

You say the most incredibly supportive things that really hold me up through this time. Even though I'm getting worse at replying through blogger, I need you to know that your comments are so very appreciated, make me feel comforted and wish that I could say to you right there and then thankyou and for you to know I really do mean it.

I'd started off intending to waffle on about fabric and hide my thoughts, sometimes the writing just takes over. I've let it for today.

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These are the Days

Well I didn't plan to stay away for that long, it just kind of happened. 

Sorry about that if you've popped by here to see what's been going on. 

Well what has been going on?

We've been having a lovely summer, simply enjoying time together. Time off scarily means no pay packet until to November, such is the way with sessional teaching contracts. I'm putting that to the back of my mind though as these are precious days.

We've explored woods, piers and plenty of seasidey places.

Picnics, swimming and lazing by the seashore have all been most pleasant,

We always feel the need to go exploring afterwards and then reward ourselves later with a cream tea.

I've also spent a whole week re-decorating Miss Millie's bedroom after breaking my promise to do it last year. Miss Millie and Rosey did offer their painting services now and again too. 

I'll show you that handiwork another time. Miss Millie's thrilled with her more grown-up room which is what it's all about.

Around all this family and DIY time, I've made sure we visited a few Vintage fairs. 

I've thrilled with the beautiful fabrics I've collected together this summer. 

Some were added to this quilt I was commissioned to make just before the end of term.

I have a friend who collects and sells the most fabulous stuff, mainly 60's and 70's happiness. For a long while now she's made it plain she'd love me to make her a quilt and I always said no. I worried about fitting it in around everything else and the pressure of getting it just right for the price I was asking.

Somewhere along the line I said yes, we chatted a long while about how it would be and so off I went to plan, cut and sew. 

The fabrics and the design were the most important part, the snuggliness and warmth of the quilt came a close second.

To make sure it was cosy enough I used a Witney blanket instead of batting and then a soft as soft can be flannelette sheet for the backing. It made for a heavier than usual quilt, but boy was it cosy.

Early one morning, as soon as the hand embroidered label was sewn on the back Emmie arrived to collect.

She was beyond thrilled and so I was too. Phew the relief.

I had an extra surprise of a thank you pressie.
My favourite and much coveted Dolly Days china trio with lollies too.



No sooner than Emmie had left than I was back on my machine again doing some me sewing. It was a rainy yuk day and so I thought I'd brighten up the house a bit.

I'd bought a few CK teacloths, along with the fabulous blue modflower print from PommedeJour and they were just the thing to turn into some cheery cushions.



Since then I've made and done quite a few more things, but I think they can wait until next time don't you.

See you soon.

Happiness Is

Each evening, once theres a bit of quiet time to write a post, I fall asleep. Staying up late for days on end has finally caught up with me. Seems I just can't stay up until 2am knitting anymore and then get up at 7am to do a full days teaching. I do struggle so keeping the same hours as everyone else.

I was planning to write a post with a bit of a history show and tell about it. Being as it's something we got all excited about, I've decided it'll have to wait a few more days. It needs a head that's less fluffy than mine is tonight to get written properly.

 Instead I thought I'd share with you a few Happy Things from the last week or so. 

Well a parcel plopped  through the door one day, full of the most lovely things from Mrs Bertimus.

 We'd decided to send a wee parcel of bits and bobs to one another just because. What a lot of happy things there are in that.

 Our older rescue cat Pip sleeping at home more has made me very happy too. Pip really hates Lily our 1 year old cat. Lily endlessly trails after Pip when she's home so Pip avoids coming home so often. I just wish Pip would give her a wallop and then Lily would leave her alone. Aahhh well, you can't tell them anything.

 Third Happy thing was finding the delightful Daisy Bee Necklines on Instagram. Her place is full of the most delightful colour and felty makes. 

Now I loved a brooch of hers a lot. In fact her style is divine, colourful and kooky I'd say. It's been a while since I got out the felt for a play. I couldn't stop thinking about one of her brooches so I decided I'd make one for myself. In fact I had so much fun, I made a couple and I don't think I've finished with these two alone. I really hope she doesn't mind me making them just for me.

I can't find a link to her in blogworld so if you want to see more of her fabulous makes then just have a peek on Instagram.

 

Another Happy Thing last week was having the most lovely day on my mum's birthday.

We found an old fashioned waterside pub for lunch, ate so much we though we'd burst and then went home to repeat it all for birthday tea.

Alongside all the half-term shenanigins I was as Happy as a Lark having lots of making time.

I was thrilled to stitch up a couple of custom Annual Top orders. While I was at it I cut out patterns for a few new things for me. 

The most amazing Happy thing though was to actually finish knitting the cardigan I started making last year. It's the first clothing thing I've knitted for myself as I usually get bored halfway through. I've always stuck to small stuff and things for the girls when they were younger. This time I made myself keep going because I loved the yarn and colour so much.

 

If you look back to the beginning of this post you'll see my Pink Stinks Regan cardi from the Soft knit Cotton collection by Rowan. This yarn is chain spun so there's no splitting at all and it lives up to it's name, being the softest yarn to knit with. I'll definately be getting more of this when the pennies are flowing once more. 

Next time I'll share Tales from the Grave with you. Ta Ta for now.

And so it Goes .....

I've missed writing my posts. It's only been a week and a half and yet it feels like an age since I last put words to pictures.

For some reason or other I couldn't think of one darned thing to say. That is apart from really really boring stuff, moany stuff, indiscreet stuff and what the hell is she on about stuff.

 

I've also been off fighting battles and they sure are tiring.

For crafty sanity I've been reaching for yarn type things. In my head are a few felty projects, quilts and clothes I plan to make. I'm slowly realising that that time of year is coming up and I need to get a wiggle on if I'm actually going to get my gifts done and dusted.

 First though it's all about me. I had an idea of a scarf troubling me so I just had to get on with it almost as soon as the idea had plopped out. I saw a selection of hooky scarves on Pinterest and I fell for a granny stripe one in reds. Somehow the colours changed by the time I got to the making part.

 I gathered up some cream, green and pink yarns before work one day and even managed to start the first few rows before the day got chugging along.

My scarf is really steaming ahead now. Just the final colour repeats and I think perhaps a fancy  border before it'll be snuggled around my neck all cosy cosy.

I also had a eureka moment the other night which was very exciting My man was snoring away as usual and when I couldn't take it any more I yelled SHUT UP, which I reckon is far kinder than caving his head in. He woke up a bit moany and then I lay there all chilled and in peace.

While it was quiet and I got more sleepy a storm of a new idea swirled in my head. I tried the idea out on my man the next day and he thought it perfect. I'm always searching for plans to keep me sane around my teaching and I think this one will keep me happy for a while.

 

Over the weekend I finished hat number two. It only needs a stitch together and a try-on to see if it's as lovely as I hope it'll be.

I do have a slight hat addiction at the moment because there are a couple in Inside Crochet that I can't stop looking at. One is easy peasy crochet and the other is a textural and trying out new things type of hat.

It's simply the time of year that draws me to the yarn more I know. Warm fires, good drama on the TV and a blanket to snuggle under while I hook another few rows.

Lily our tiniest cat is easing into the season by finding all the cosiest places to curl up. This was how she kept me company while I painted the landing outside the girls rooms.

It's also been a time of firsts recently as my man and I headed off to a Burlesque show. It was lovely to go to such a dressy vintage style event (and I mean the audience of course) where the humour was just plain saucy and rude. We had a blast as the MC was really entertaining.

I struggled to find something to wear as my going out clothes have seriously dwindled since being a mum. Now it's time to start being me again more and more as they grow up. The only thing I found that seemed just right was the top I wore on the night my man and I finally got it together after months of fannying around. I finished it off with my favourite velvet trousers that fit some winters and not others. Seems this is a leaner winter as they zipped up no problem.

The day after it was time to put on as many clothes as possible as we were going to a fireworks party.

My job was sparkler lighter. The season of sparkly lights and cosy times is well and truly upon us.