Me Made May 2013 Part 1

I've been debating with myself how best to go about documenting my Me Made May 2013 endeavours and I've finally settled on two posts; part 1 and part 2.  So welcome to part one.

In all honesty, I've not taken pictures of my outfits everyday, my schedule lately hasn't really allowed it.  Instead I've been posting highlights, new, unusual or just simply my favourite garments that I've been wearing.

1. Unblogged Gratacos Brocade Dress  2. Geometric Print Skirt

3. Jersey Shore Skirt  4. Mahalo Girls Laurel

5. Unblogged Cow Print Hazel Dress  6. Liberty Tokyo Print Silk Top

7. Unblogged Galaxy Elisalex  8. Unblogged Choir Elisalex

See a lot of just finished garments that I've still to blog.  Stay tuned guys!

Finally...The Long Awaited Post About My Digi-Print Anita's

This post really should have been up a while ago, but I've not really been in the mood for outfit photos lately.  I don't even really know why I haven't been taking them.  Anyway, here's my long awaited full post about my new favourite trousers, my Tessuti Anita's!

I've worn these trousers twice now; once to work and once to The Big Reunion Concert at the SECC a couple of weeks ago which was when I took the photos.

I previously used a poly-mix jersey to make leggings with this pattern, but I made a couple of versions for my mum in stretchy wovens that worked out well so I figured that I could extend the use of this pattern beyond ponti-roma jersey's.  I'd been eyeing up this cotton/elastane mix in work for weeks, not knowing what I would like to make with it and then my non-ponti revelation made up my mind for me!  I tried ,y best to work with the print and get the most out of it and I've got to admit I love how these look!

I'm kind of tempted to make a matching top for these trousers.  I'm not sure if it would be too much, or just the right amount of quirk that it would work?  Who knows, if a remnant shows up in the shop I might just have to!

In other news, the lovely Emily over at Emily's Vintage Visions has nominated me for another Liebster Award!  Thank you lovely!  I've already been awarded a Liebster, so I won't be passing this on one, however I will answer the questions Emily set me:

1. What is your favorite movie to watch or music to listen to when your are sewing?

I always have my iTunes on shuffle in the background when I'm sewing so there's not really anything specific that I can say I always listen to.
2. What compels you to create something and where do you get your inspiration for projects?

I'm one of those impulse sewers.  Working in an amazing fabric shop, I near daily bring a bag of fabric home with me so it usually starts there.  I have quite a few go-to patterns so I can generally gauge meterages of what to buy.  I do buy patterns regularly during sales and usually have to wait to find suitable fabric, although there have been a few occasions where I've had the perfect fabric already in my stash and just not known it!
3. What is your favorite medium to create with? (e.g. sewing, knitting, painting, writing, etc)

Sewing, by a long shot!
4. What is your favorite finished project or favorite kind of project to work on?

Pretty much every project I work on is my favourite project at that given time.  There are some garments I more proud of than others and there are some that I'm glad are over.
5. Is there a time period or style that you enjoy more than any other?

Initially when I started sewing, I was really into Vintage styling but I've shifted to being a bit more fashion focused as my own personal style has evolved
6. What do you find most satisfying about sewing/crafting?

I kind of use sewing as therapy, which is a bit vague to say without going into too much detail.  I have a constant pain in my lower back but when I'm concentrating on something, the pain doesn't seem as bad.  This makes sewing perfect (oh and driving is good too).  Other than that, I love that what I make is unique to me and that I'll never meet someone with the same garment on as me.  Not only are my clothes unique but they fit me well and it's made me appreciate my shape more.
7. Do you have any insecurities regarding sewing/crafting/etc?

Not as many as I used to, although I'm always paranoid that things look stupid and really homemade rather than handmade!
8. If you make vintage inspired or period clothing, how often do you wear it?

As I mentioned above, I don't really sew vintage that much anymore, but I normally wear it either on its own, or simply with a belt.
9. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Cheesy as it is, stay inside and sew.  Or watch all my Sky+ recordings!  I don't understand people who venture out on rainy days unless they have to.
10.What is your favorite food?

Marks and Spencer Honey Roast Ham!  Honestly peeps, try it if you're UK based, best dinner ever!  Or pizza from my local take-out.
11. If you could give any piece of advice to someone that you've learned about anything, what would it be?

That if you can sew a straight line, you can sew anything.  That's how I started, and I've never looked back!  

Head on over and have a nosey round Emily's blog for some vintage inspiration :)

My Sewing Space...

Lately, I've been noticing quite a few blogs have been featuring and insight into their sewing spaces (reminds me the good old days on Cribs on MTV) and I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon!

Still living at home with my parents, my sewing space is my window desk in my room plus some desk space beside our my desktop for my overlocker.  It's small and I have no real space to cut out fabric but I can't complain as I kind of like everything being in my room, I don't have to go far to sew.  So here it is, my lovely little sewing corner:

Can you tell that I tidied for these photos?  Ha!  My sewing space is never this neat, I have fabric and patterns that look as though I've tossed them up in the air and let them land where they like!  What you can only just see under the desk is my stash.  I got my dad to build shelves that could move in and out so I could see everything, both shelves are full and on the ground is two back-up sewing boxes filled with suppliers that will take me a life-time to get through (esp if I keep adding to them like I seem to do!).  Let's take a closer look at my desk:

 If I was neat and tidy all the time, this is how I would want it to look.  My sewing machine - a Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116 - is my pride and joy.  I bought it back in 2010 when I wanted a 'proper' sewing machine and realised that this hobby wasn't just a fleeting venture.  I'm glad I bought this machine as I know it will last me forever.  We bought it from Pembertons in Stirling who are the Scottish sewing machine experts.  I stated my requirements and this was the best for me, they didn't try to up-sell or convince me I needed anything else.  At the time it was £249.99 which I think is reasonable for such a machine.  We sell these machines in my work at a bargainous £199.99 and use them for our quilting and dressmaking classes - they've lasted 5 years of abuse with both beginner and seasoned sewers and are still going strong, if that isn't a selling point I don't know what is!

My Cath Kidston sewing box was my leaving gift from my summer spent at Selfridges - I was overwhelmed at this.  I was in no way expecting a gift and the fact it was so thoughtful made it perfect!  My tools and gadgets inside have been built up over the few years I've been sewing.  Apart from the essentials, I love my pattern weights (they have tiny pins on the bottom to keep the pattern and fabric in place whilst tracing) and my Fiskars scissors.  We advise customers on a daily basis to go for Fiskars - they're pretty much guaranteed for life and honestly felt like a hot knife through butter when I first got them.  I use my old scissors for patterns, paper and plastic-y notions.

I keep my threads on this handy holder so that they're easy to see, although I've ran out of space and I'm trying to convince my dad he wants to build me a new one that I can hang on the wall!  I also keep my elastic and bias tape out at all times since I use them often.  I keep quite a stash of each of these, I bought them in bulk from a local haberdashery for literally pennies!  In the corner is my vintage haberdashery bits and pieces, some inherited from my Gran and others I've picked up at fairs and charity shops.  Beside these are my 3 over-spilling button jars and boxes.  The large tobacco tin at the bottom was my dad's mothers which I can't bring myself to use to it's full potential!  You should see some of the buttons in it, they're a post on their own!

Lastly, on my wall is my to-do list (I took the pic a couple of weeks ago) so I can try and focus!  Since it was written, I've scored off about half of the items!  Go Me!  Next to it are some fabric swatches that I love and images that either inspire me or of things I'd like to make.

Next up is my pattern stash...

 My friends would tell you I'm a bit OCD about certain things (my boss once even said I was anal about things, I'm not entirely sure whether or not that's a good thing?!) and my patterns definitetly fall into my OCD side!  They're stored alphabetically by manufacturer, then numerically (the rogue Vogue pattern at the from there is to remind me to cut it out!).  I have indies and vintage at the front and commercial behind.  I have a second box of discard patterns that I've gotten from work (these are ones the pattern companies have put out of print and that we have to get rid of so staff get dibs on them).  On either side of my patterns are my sewing books and magazines.  I'm a total hoarder of magazines so I'm gonna have to find a bigger space soon for them!  My go to sewing book is the Vogue Sewing Book which explains every technique imaginable.  If I can't do something, it's where I look for the solution and it's never failed me yet!

Below this shelf is my TV and my second pride and joy - my vintage Singer sewing machine.  I bought this for £9 on ebay and paid £11 to courier it to me, what a bargain.  It got bashed in transit, so my dad restored the wooden base and re-varnished it for me and it's as good as new.  I'm unaware what model it is or the year as the seller never listed it, so if any keen eyed sewing machine enthusiast could enlighten me I'd be delighted!

Over on the other side of my room is my pink dresser - it was a vintage dresser from my dad's family that my mum and dad were throwing out so I asked if I could have it.  I painted it the same pink as my walls and love it.  Under it is where my pressing tools live.  I have a simple ASDA value iron, tailors ham (bought in Fabricland, Canada) and a sleeve iron board that I got in Dunelm Mill (soo handy!).  Next to these are my cutting and measuring tools.  I have a cutting mat (also bought in Fabricland), a gridded fat & thin ruler, french curve and a dressmakers curve.  I had the notion to learn pattern drafting so got prepared and never got round to learning (I'm gonna try again this summer.).  Next to my dresser is my Diana Mannequin that I got from my work with some birthday money last year.  It's great as you can adjust it to your measurements.  Although she's not proportionately the same as me, it gives me a rough idea if things will fit.  It's also good for using to pin and alter things with. (She's currently wearing my un-blogged cow print Hazel dress).

 Finally is my third pride and joy - my overlocker.  My parents bought me this from my birthday/Christmas gift last year.  As I was so impressed by my sewing machine, I decided that I would go for a Husqvarna overlocker.  This model is the Viking Huskylock S21 that I bought via my work (we don't stock these) and is one step up from their basic overlocker.  It has both overlocking and the coverstitch hemming functionalilty.  I need to work out the coverstitch part but I'm overlocking up a treat - never knew I'd embrace jersey the way I have since I got this!  I've found the best place in Glasgow to get a vareity of overlocking threads in many colours is Fabric Bazaar at the Barras and they work out cheaper than buying online.

So that's my sewing space tour.  If I could, there are changes I would make - like a proper cutting table etc - but I really can't complain that my parents have allowed my this freedom of space to use my creativity in a good way!

I'm sorry I haven't done a true cribs style post, I promise you there's nothing exciting in our fridge that you'd want to see!

Beginner Sewing Project - Wranglers Tote Bag

Following on for my Mahalo Girls excitement, I got to work on my (measly) half metre of Alexander Henry Wranglers print.  This cut was always destined to be a tote bag as a full garment in this in Glasgow probably wouldn't go down well.  But now I'm beginning to think maybe I should have just done it?!  Anyway back to my tote.  When I was sitting cutting it out, I thought, 'Oh, this could make a good blog tutorial' so I snapped some pictures as I went along.  So for anyone who wants a super simple project, this is for youuuu!

First of, you need to choose some amazing fabric for this project.  No plain calico allowed!  Just kidding, go for calico if that's your thing.  A tote bag is one project where you can afford to use an 'out-there' print and totally get away with it which is why I suggest something extra special!

Supplies:

0.5m fabric (doesn't matter the width)

Matching thread (I used contrasting so it would show)

You'll need to cut two rectangles that are roughly 30cm x 45cm for the main panels and two long panels about 7cm wide by the length you would like the straps.

Fold your two strap rectangles in half matching the raw edges and sew the raw edges together using a 1cm seam allowance.  Turn these through and press along the fold to make the tube flat.  Tuck the raw ends of the tubes inside themselves and press in place.  Pop these aside for later.

Take your other two rectangles and keep them wrong sides together - wait, why wrong sides together?  I'm gonna show y'all how to do french seams.  In a tote bag you don't want raw edges in case the contents of the bag affect these.  I was tempted just to overlock them but this could still catch so I went for french seams.

So, on we go.  Sew the two sides and bottom together, wrong sides together using a narrow seam allowance of no more than 0.5cm.  

Turn the bag inside out so right sides are now together.  Sew these same seams again using a 1cm seam allowance, totally encasing those raw edges.  Simple as that.

Turn the bag back through and press into shape giving crisp corners.  At the top open edges, fold a 1cm hem over and stitch this in place.

Turn another hem over, this time about 2.5cm and press this in place.  Now grab those straps you popped aside earlier.  Place the folded edges in line with the stitched top hem about 7.5cm in from each side seam creating an arch shape strap.  Do this on both sides of the top opening.  Pin these in place, open the pressed hem out and secure these in place with a line of stitches.

Fold the hem back over and stitch this in place, catching the straps again, further securing them and that's you done!

See simple as that and you even managed to fit in a french seam technique!  French seams come in really useful when trying more complicated projects so getting practice in easier projects is always a good thing!

Once you've all sewn up you tote bags, I'm expecting to see lots of links below...happy sewing!!

Mahalo Girls Dress - I promise this will be the last Laurel for a while :)

You would think that I only owned one pattern these days so since this is my 5th version I figure I should refrain from making another Laurel dress for the for-see-able (I don't know how you type that?) future!

This is my Alexander Henry Mahalo Girls version (Have a look at my others here).

.  I mentioned in my last post that we had taken delivery of these in work a couple of weekends ago.  Well this print has now pretty much sold out and the others aren't far behind.  I absolutely love it!

I wore this dress for day 7 of MeMadeMay '13 as it was lovely and sunny in Glasgow, which makes a change.  We had rain yesterday on the bank holiday and it's been rather grey lately so today's sunshine was an excuse to wear this dress.  Apparently it's not to last and the weather is to be bad again tomorrow so I'm making the most of this dress today.

I made few alterations to the pattern, too about 4cm out of the front and used a 2cm seam allowance which I feel makes it fit me better.  Again I had to play about with the back neckline and put in darts to shape it more neatly.

hoping this picture kind of shows what I mean by back neckline dart!

Since it was pretty straight forward it only took me a couple of hours to get it sewn up.  I'm all for quick patterns these days :)

In other news, I've been much better this week, thanks to those who wished me well.  I'm hoping not to get floored by back pain again any time soon! Ha!  Now that I'm officially finished uni until the 23rd September I'm getting excited for my holiday to Canada in less than a month!  So that means lots of summer sewing, I'm making up easy cotton and jersey dresses to keep me comfortable.  I'm also making a mental sewing shopping list as I know I can pick up bits and pieces much cheaper over there than I can here.  Any fabric shopping tips would me most welcome, I'll be in the 'Golden Horseshoe' area.  We go every other year as I have a ton of family over there so I know I'll be hitting up Fabricland Niagara and a few Toronto places but I'd love some recommendations!

I've got a few other projects to get photo's taken of and they'll be up here ASAP!  I've also been getting on well with MMM13.  I've not been documenting daily, but posting my favourites on Instagram.  How are y'all getting on with the challenge?