The Great British Sewing Bee... An inspiration

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The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our screens!!! YAY FOR CRAFTY TV!!!!

I love watching the sewers every week, running around. I can't imagine how they cope with that sort of pressure - time constrained sewing?! Sounds like hell to me... I always like to take a break, eat a biscuit etc..

Of course, I've chosen my favourites already.

1) Neil. As a military child, of course I have to side with an army man. He uses military terminology (the word 'gopping' when describing the pattern he made his trousers from in week 1) and he is clearly a very skilled sewer. I found him instantly likable

2) Deborah. I love the way she dresses, and her personality is just so much like someone I'd want to be friends with. I love her. While at the moment her pieces have been a bit middling (apart from that beautiful dress from week 1) I really look forward to seeing more from her.

While I doubt I'll ever be good enough to try my hand at anything like the Sewing Bee, to me, it serves one, primary function of inspiring me to take up to my sewing machine and to attempt to sew myself  something that I could feasibly wear.

Now, I'm no beginner sewer, I've been sewing for eleven years. However, I am much more skilled at more, what I would deem 'simple' projects e.g. cushions and quilts. I always seem to get halfway through a pattern and then stop.

But not this time. I am determined. While digging through my stash, I found three uncompleted garments: a shirt that needs basic finishing (which I abandoned because I didn't have any bias binding), one skirt that was left with the pieces darted and tacked but never sewn (I was contemplating how to attach a zip), and another skirt that is basically just a gathered piece of fabric at this time...

I'm going to finish them.

Now that I have all of this time on my hands, and a huge stash of fabric, I thin it's high time that I did some selfish sewing. I'm always making gifts for other people: a quilt for the sister's birthday, a cushion for Mother's Day.... And that's just sewing! Admittedly, I have made myself cushions before, but I so very rarely knit something for myself - my Ravenclaw Scarf was quite an anomaly!!!

So I'm on a mission. To pay myself a little bit more attention. This year is going to be the year I actually make things for myself (I make this statement, because I actually have the time to do it... a novelty to any crafter, I'm sure!)

How about you? What do you think about this season's Great British Sewing Bee? Are you a 'selfish crafter'? I'd love to know.

Love, Rachel.

The Command Team

So.... It's been a while.... But I come bearing gifts!

My first ever embroidery pattern! (excuse the slightly dodgy stitching, it's been a while...)

As you could probably tell from my last post (which was admittedly ages ago), I've kind of got a small obsession over these two.

The Command Team. Captain Kathryn Janeway and her first officer Commander Chakotay from the USS Voyager. Star Trek, for anyone who is still ignorant.

This lovely pair has gotten me through my exams, which, although finished nearly a month ago, I have only really just  started to recover from. I've caught up on sleep, and I'm finally beginning to make things again. All in all, I think I'm well on my way to recovering from the traumatic experience that is A-Levels. I have more sewing to show you, as well as some knitting, some scrapbooking, and perhaps even some baking! My blog feels kind of neglected this year, so here I am, trying to make up for it. I may even post some of my fanfiction here, for archiving's sake! I hope to get this wagon rolling again, and I hope that you can come along for the ride!

This pattern is designed mainly for a 5 inch square, but can be increased or decreased in size if one would so wish. I also would like to submit it for the Fandom in Stitches Summer of Stitching, as Voyager is my favourite television show (at the moment at least...).

Get the Pattern Here

18

A Cushion

 

 

This is a cushion that I made for my sister's birthday, indeed complete with an embroidered TARDIS on the front of it. I co-ordinated the colours to match her room ( as well as, you know, TARDIS Blue) and it worked really well. It's just a simple envelope pillow in design, but then she doesn't really care about the back of it!

 

I found the pattern for the TARDIS over at the lovely people from Fandom in Stitches, and I'm so glad that they've started bringing in more embroidery projects, because paper-piecing terrifies me!!! To transfer the design, I merely pinned the paper to the top of the fabric and stitched around the lines.

 

And my sister loves it, so that's even better!

 

50 Things to Make



Secret Quilter (16)

I quilt.

And for some reason, I have ever posted them here. I have made a total of five quilts, of which I have three to show you.

 

  

 

This first one is actually my most recent one that I made for my sister for Christmas. It is a Cath Kidston inspired one, as she's obsessed. It's also great, as I hade loads of fabrics that matched her colour scheme. it's my most accurate quilt that I have completed to date, and she loves it.

This is my first quilt, that I made for my Mum, Christmas 2012. She was completely shocked and didn't expect it. The colours are red, with a patterned red and brown swirl fabric. It is backed with fleece and great to cuddle up with.

 



 

This last one is one I made for myself, and was made out of scraps that are used as fabric samples. It was great, as the squares were all the same size. I quilted this one by embroidering small crosses at intersections in coloured embroidery thread. It's lovely and colourful, and for that reason it will go with practically any colour scheme, which will be great for university next year (because who knows what colours the rooms will be?!?!).

 

My fabric stash is huge, but mainly consists of bits that are less than half a metre tall, and making quilts helps me to use all of these up. It's fantastic, and I hope to make many more.

 

Also, to contribute to my 50 Things to Make (which has now been extended to two years) This is counting as 'Something quilted'.



9

Something from an Alternate fandom

Aah, Doctor Who, how I do love thee....

 

 

This is a sleep mask that I made, which I embroidered with the phrase 'Don't Blink',  I really hope that there aren't any Weeping Angels around though, they're terrifying!

 

I also thought I'd do a few progress shots, as I haven't made anything in a while, and I wanted to make the most of it!

 

First I drew around one of my existing eye masks, and cut the template out of paper. I seem to be rather unlucky with the masks I use - the elastic always breaks, so perhaps if I can make them, it would be cheaper all around!

 

I then cut out, using the above template, 2 patterned cotton pieces for the front and back, and a fleecey one for the middle, so it doesn't let light in.

 

I then embroidered the front...

 

And promptly started sewing it all together. So much so that I forgot to take a picture of attaching the elastic. Basically, i measured the elastic around my ears, cut it and then attached it my sewing it into the seem as I sandwiched the fleece in the middle.

Turn it all out, hand stitch it closed, and tada!

But Matt Smith is leaving! *tears*

Night Night!

50 Things to Make

4

A Bag

This is a very plain tote bag that I made, to give as a gift to a friend. It was very haphazard... I measured nothing, but cut along folded edges and pinned things wonkily together. Well, that'sgenerally how I deal with projects if I have an idea and no paper pattern. I just go for it (non-advisable to anyone who wants to use it as a first project. Then I definitely recommend you measure first). You can't believe it up close; it looks pretty decent. Apart from the fact that the handles don't line up with each other.

The fabric is quite strong canvas material which I found when I got given some fabric. When I say some.... I mean 3 giant bin bags, overflowing with curtain remnants,allabout a metre long. It's gorgeous. I just now have to find projects to use them all for.

A few top tips about finishing the handles:

To prevent fraying of fabric ends, paint nail varnish on the ends. Either the colours or use a clear coat.
Instead of sewing repeatedly around the edges of the handles to hold in place, overstitch with strong thread by hand. It is more discrete,andworks just as well. It's just a bit more time consuming.

50 Things to Make


1

Something handsewn.

 

Inspiration

 

One that I can tick off of my 50 things to make! Woohoo! I've started many more, but this is the first I have finished.

 

It's a hand stitched felt decoration, of an octave on a piano, for my friend Robyn, who is incredibly good at Music. Practically everything I make her is music orientated.

I found the inspiration on Hellocotton a while back, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

 

I used wool for all of my stitching in order to emphasise that this piece is hand stitched, not machined. It gives the piece more character, more of a rustic look, with all of the stitches uneven. It makes me feel a bit disappointed sometimes, but then I think; isn't that the charm of handmade?



Craft Review: Week 36: Sunday 26th August - Saturday 1st September

This week has been very productive on the scarf front.... and lots and lots of wool!

I also made a fair few Christmas cards, and a card for my friend Elega's Birthday.I shall not post them here a) because they will clog up the works, and b) I have a sneaking suspicion that she reads this blog, so I'll only post the card AFTER her Birthday.

 

 

I found a gorgeously soft ball of wool in Hobby Craft, and knitted this scarf in about 3 hours (I love big needles...).It was knitted in the same pattern as this:

 

My finished scarf for my sister.Yes, her Scarf is bigger and longer, but two balls of this wool were the same amount as mine. And Mine's fuzzy.

 

This may look like a squid,but I promise it isn't. I started knitting my Sister a Weasley Jumper Christmas Decoration, and then lent Mum the needles. Not a good idea.

 

So I started making a Knitted poppy for Mum (upon request) from this book (20 to make Knitted Flowers, available on Amazon). I just have one petal, but I should most definitely finish by November, for when it is required.

 

I also started two needle cases: one for Mum, and one for Grandma.

 

I don't know who will have which yet, and I need to secure the pages inside, possibly with a blanket stitch spine. I got both of the patterns from here, and used the same technique as for my stitched cushions.

 

 

 And, of course, my Ravenclaw Scarf. Tada!

 

Lots of knitting this week.... I return to educationonTuesday,but in a different school. I'm getting very nervous.I hope that I can keep up even a small proportion of the work that I am doing now.



Craft Review: Weeks 32, 33, 34, 35 : Sunday 29th July -Saturday 25th August

Wow. It would appear that I haven't done a Review in 4 weeks... THAT'S BAD!

 

Although, I won't count the last two weeks. I've been entertaining friends, and I've been to Sicily. That deserves some slack, right?

 

But anyway, this is what I have done in my absence:

 

I knitted a hat and I'm just finishing the scarf, both for my sister for Christmas....

 

More of My Ravenclaw Scarf - Less than 100 rows to go!

 

Innocent Smoothie hats - Post to follow....

I did make a Birthday card, and knit a cherry blossom brooch and bracelet for a friend, but I forgot to take a picture of it....

 

A Weasley Jumper Christmas Ornament for Mum....
 

 

A Make-up bag for my sister for Christmas, which I will fill with some goodies from Boots most likely....

 

 

I also missed this blog's first anniversary... 15th August, as I was away in Sicily.... But, I'm nearing my 100th post, so I'll celebrate that instead....

 

Oh, and just in case anyone missed - I got an A in Art! All of that hard work paid off! Now it's just off to A-Level in September... Just over a week to go now.... Panic!

Craft Review: Week 31: Sunday 22nd July - Saturday 28th July

This week's been a good one in my opinion... I got rather a lot done!

I also participated in my first Creatives Unite, a brilliant idea that makes a crafter commit to at least one un-interrupted hour of craft between 9pm and 10pmon a Thursday Evening. Please, check out Anna's blog, she's amazing.
Above is what I made: two felt hearts. The grey one is a design I've used before, but the red and green one I created to represent a more contemporary Christmas feel. This is because I'm starting my Christmas stuff now. Call me crazy,but it's always worked before.

Speaking of Christmas, take a look at these two! My first Christmas Cards of the year... I want to give them to my Grandma to use,as I myself am not particularly religious person. I did, however,love painting the watercolour background to each. In a way, these cards sum up what I enjoy, and what I'm good at.

Here is a painting I did one afternoon when it was warm. It has no purpose, as of yet, but I'm fairly pleased with it, especially the light and the shadow across the body of the shoe.

This, you have already seen. For my mama, the tutorial is here.

And this is another thing I finished, which now features prominently, my blog logo. I am very pleased with it.

So, that's all for this week... Next weekend, I'm away watching the Olympics! So that should be fun... The craft review will most likely be a bit later,and then in a fortnight, I leave for Holiday.But,don't worry, I'm setting up a load of schedule posts to carry this blog through until I get back...

Toodle Pip!

DIY: Stitched Writing Cushion

A while back, someone asked for a tutorial on  stitched writing. This is one of my favourite ways to embellish a plain cushion; a simple word can say so much. This one here is for my Mum and her study. Sometimes she gets exasperated at others, and this will match it perfectly! Here's my method:

Equipment:
Either a pre-made cushion cover, or enough fabric to create one ( I used 50cm x 100cm for my Cushion)

Scissors

Wool

A Computer and access to fonts and a printer

Pins

A Tapestry Needle

If making cushion cover: a sewing machine

To make the cover, I first hemmed the two shorter sides. This makes a nice, clean envelope back. My cushion was 45cm square, so adjust the fabric requirements for your size of Cushion.

Then, right sides together, overlap the two sides centrally, so when flattened one side is beneath the other.

The Dashed line indicates the fabric beneath the top layer.

Run a seam across the two sides, turn right ways round, and you have a cushion cover!

Now, on the computer, type the word you want, and select a font/font size. Here, I used Comic Sans, and font size 216. Print this out and pin centrally onto your cushion cover.

Using the Tapestry Needle and the wool, using back stitch, run around the outside,and inside of all of the letters.

Other stitches could be used for a different effect.

After this, gently tear away all of the paper. Tearing is better than cutting, as it is best to avoid the possible slip and snipping away the stitches.

So, a few minutes later, and a huge pile of paper...

Tada! One word stitched cushion.

If you have any Tutorials you would like to see, please let me know, and I will make them.

Craft Review: Weeks 29 & 30: Sunday 8th July - Saturday 21st July

Well, the last two weeks have been a bit hectic.... But don't worry! I have a planned tutorial coming up, and I plan to start my Christmas cards, and making things for a Christmas fair... So, it should all be good!

But, here's what I've been up to over the last two weeks...

I made a simple envelope red cushion cover, I'm just adding the finishing touches now...

I made a card for corresponding with my friend up in Yorkshire... I far prefer sending post as opposed to sending e-mails... as it generally means that they have to reply using post as well. Which is good, as I like getting mail. Plus,this is actually a stamp that she gave me for my birthday,so I thought it would be a good idea to send her one of its products...

This is a very bad photo of another square for my Harry Potter blanket. It's the Sorting hat, or supposedly. It's a very dark brown, so it doesn't show up very well.... I hope to get some more squares done at some point...

Here is a ruffle flower brooch in teal... I found some glittery net, which I'd forgotten about, and I thought this was the perfect project.... a little bit of prettiness

I then started to make a Weasley jumper Decoration for my Mum..... I just need to sew on the other sleeve, and a loop to hang it from....This is hopefully for the beginning of advent, as a pre-Christmas present. I also plan to do one for my sister... Hers will be in a horrid shade of fuchsia pink...

Then over the last week, I had lots of fun painting my room... It's ok, but I thought it would be paler... But it's ok... Photos to follow at a later date when I have sorted out the carnage left behind...

And then, on Saturday, I took the train dressed as a Hermione Granger look-alike for the launch of the summer reading challenge at the library where I volunteer.

Always fun to watch the confused faces of other passengers..