Rag Bag Rescue - Blokey Shirt to Birdy Smock

I might easily have called this post 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' as I made so many mistakes in its making, but in the end, I think it turned out okay!

A couple of weeks ago I rescued this man's shirt from the Rag Bag at the charity shop.  It had been consigned there due to its floppy, well-washed status, and a few pesky stains. But it was a nice large size in lovely chambray-type fabric, and I thought would be good for a re-make.

First I made a new pattern - well, actually a familiar pattern in a larger size. This was to be a 110cm size, aimed at a 4-5 year old.  It is from this Japanese book., which is now available, with a different front cover, in English.  (You can buy it on Amazon, but they aren't paying me for a plug!)

  

I have made loads of these smocks now.  Such a sweet and easy-to-wear design.

First I had to lay my pattern pieces out to see if I could get it all out of the decent parts of the fabric, going with the straight grain.  The front and the top part of the back fitted on the back section...

The two bottom back sections fitted on the front pieces, beneath the large breast pockets.  These pieces were meant to be one, cut on a fold, but I reckoned that a centre back seam was going to be okay.

It was a push to fit the two sleeve sections as the shirt sleeves were made of one wide and one narrow panel, reducing the available width.   It was just do-able though!  

My first mistake was that I had drafted the bottom sleeve section without adding the necessary seam allowances ( I normally add the seam allowances to my paper pattern pieces, otherwise I know I WILL cut something wrong!).  I merrily cut the pieces out before remembering the lack of seam allowance on that one piece!  There was no altenative but to go ahead with making the sleeves slightly shorter and less full than they should have been.

So, with all my pieces cut I stitched away.  The pin-tucks, which I messed up last time and had to press the wrong way and embellish...

...I got right this time!

But then I stitched the back to the front section right side to wrong side, ending up with the tuck on the back instead of the front.  But I decided that I quite liked this as an alternative, so left it.

I used some pretty 'Felicite' from Liberty as the binding and embellished with some weeny polkadot buttons.

My next problem was a hitherto unseen stain, right slap-bang in the middle of the front!  I knew it would be noticeable where it was.  There was nothing to be done but to find a decorative way to cover it up!

A bit more 'Felicite' and the design I used in my recent ATC swap...

...and the front acquired a trio of swooping birds!

Sleeve edges, hem and neckline were all 'Felicite' bound.  The button loop too...

Ta-dah!

Rag Bag Rescue - Liberty and linen bunting

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that around this time last year, Mr U-t-B and I had the pleasure of attending a very lovely, stylish and friendly wedding up in Yorkshire.

Well, we were delighted to hear just last week that the happy couple had just welcomed a bouncing baby boy into their lives.

Bunting was called for...

(Which necessitated a trip to the actual shop of one of my favourite online fabric stores - The Eternal Maker down in Chichester.  Talk about kiddie-in-a-sweet-shop excited!  It was definitely worth the trip (about an hour) but so hard to choose what to buy!  I got some sweet boy-ish print fat-quarters, as well as a couple of longer lengths of fabric for upcoming dress-making projects.)

Having enjoyed making the bunting for little Charlie, I then decided to make some for another newish baby in our midst which I hadn't made when she was born in January for one reason or another.

In contrast to the busy prints for Charlie's, I decided to cut the pennants from salvaged pieces of white linen and cotton, some embroidered or embellished with lace - old dressing table mats, anti-macassars and pieces of tablecloth that were too damaged to use as they were.  The letters were cut from Liberty 'Pepper' in pink.

You get a hint of the rose print seersucker I used for the back with this slightly sheer cotton guest towel...

I don't sew my pennants right side to right side and turn them out, as I like to pink the edges after sewing a double row of top-stitching using a double needle instead.

I deliberately didn't cut the pennants on the straight grain of the salvaged fabrics, as I wanted to see if they would hang okay that way.  Luckily they hang fine, and it means that you can choose the 'good' bits of the rescued fabrics(ie prettiest, or undamaged).

 

I'm happy with my salvaged bunting - in fact I've got some more on the go, ready to seek commissions at upcoming markets.  

Before I finish, a bit more applique.  AGES ago I appliqued a VW van notebook cover for my Secret Santa present, and some of you lovely blog-readers were interested in similar.  Then Christmas got in the way and so it has taken me till now to finish some more notebook covers.  They fit WH Smith A5 notebooks and I have these 4 available at the moment.

A Liberty print one...

Then three made with fabric from TheVintage Sheet Addict.

Pastel-y...

Purple and turquoise...

Purple, yellow and turquoise...

If anyone is still interested, 'bags' one now, for tomorrow they will be accompanying me to Tweseldown Artisan Market. Cover £14 including post and packing, or £17 with a notebook.

Last, but by no means least, my giveaway is still up and running - take a look here.

Here's to a sunny weekend!

What's-on-my-bookshelf Wednesday

Recently I have been dabbling in a bit of machine applique.

A bit of a well-known design idea perhaps, but it was so perfect for the two recipients I had in mind, both of whom have a passion for VW Campers...

It is a removeable notebook cover, by the way!

I enjoy using my machine for something other than seaming, but know I don't do it 'properly', so invested in this book...

(which you can buy from Poppy Treffry's website amongst other places)

...in order to learn.  Looking forward to diving into its pages very soon, and hopefully back with some amazing pictures!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and for taking the time to read my warblings!

A head full of butterflies

Golly gosh - it's been over a week since my last post...

In order to have a decent excuse, I'd like to be able to say that the computer exploded, or that the internet came a-cropper or Blogger decided to be monumentally unco-operative (which I know it has been doing for a lot of people), but I can't.  

I simply haven't had the right level of patience and concentration for the last eight days to sit down at our rather slow and ponderous computer and put up a post!  My head has been full of all sorts and I have been flitting from one thing to another like a fly with a blue bottom.

Mr U-t-B has finally been getting much better - just before his surgery is due, and he will therefore be limited in what he can do again! 

He is able to wander around the house and make crumbs (my kitchen worktops have been amazingly crumb-free for the last several weeks!) He can even sit up for reasonable periods of time, so we even managed to go for three short jaunts in the car, each time treating ourselves to a bite of lunch whilst we were out.  

I did a bit of impromptu decorating, inspired by my sister's talk of painting her ceiling.  I found the old tins of sage-y green and pale yellow and gave a fresh coat to the hall and up the stairs, and the tongue-and-groove in the kitchen.  Then I bought a bit of white and did all the rest of the woodwork in those two areas, plus the utility room.  It only took Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and it has made such a difference!  Well worth the effort.  And all it cost was £11.99 for a pot of white paint.

This has now been declared a clutter-free zone - I created an umbrella stand from a vase and have placed a little dish on the window sill to stop everyone leaving 'stuff' there!

The 'comfy corner' in the kitchen

The spindles are still awaiting the Nitromors treatment...

I also tried (somewhat in vain) to get going on the sewing front, to make some new, more summery things for last Saturday's market.  I did manage a few new creations...

...using some beach huts that I cut out from vintage fabrics last year and bravely trying my hand at using the machine for some of the stitching, which needless to say you can't see as our camera does NOT do close-up.  Grrr!

Last Wednesday (my work-in-progress day) I nearly finished the two dressmaking projects...

This is finished except for a hook and eye.  But I had made adjustments to the pattern based on the pattern's measurements and mine and now it is too big!  All right if I want to wear it on my hips, but until I have a washboard stomach (which of course is likely to happen oh-so soon!) I don't think this is a great idea.  Seam-ripper, anyone?

This needs the armholes binding and the hem stitching.  It looks kind-of okay artistically arranged on the floor.  Sadly, arranged on me it looks pretty much like I am about seven months pregnant.  I am considering adding some ties to the side seam to draw it in.  I think this is a pattern for ladies less busty than me...

What else?  

I have the bad back to prove I have been down at the allotment, hoeing and planting.  

These are the left-over sweetcorn that I am planning to give to our neighbours and some gone-leggy runner beans that I might plant in the garden just to have something edible close by.

The garden is a delight to step into at the moment, with the beautiful aroma of roses and honeysuckle.  I'm dead-heading like mad to try an keep the roses going...

This is our neighbour's rose, which always creates a fantastic show on our side of the fence too!

I also had a couple of blogging firsts - I was 'tagged' by  

Penny of 'The Hen House' 

(and will try to do the necessaries really soon!) 

and was given a 'Versatile Blogger' award by 

Sophie of 'Fading Grace'. 

(Again, I will do the necessaries asap)

As these are two blogs I love to read, I was really chuffed!  

Thanks Penny and Sophie!

And it is probably down to these two that I have quite a few new followers! This is great, not just because it's nice to know there are people out there reading 'the ramblings', but also because it leads me to new blogs to read, admire and be inspired by!

Going crazy

Apart from spending Wednesday in school with some delightful (no, honestly!) Year 4 and Year 6 children, I have spent most of the week sewing like mad to get as much as possible ready for this Saturday's Maltings Market.

A large part of this has been sewing of the variety that one wants NOT to mention when it is still September! So I'll just give you a tiny peek.

Crazy patchwork in reds and greens, with snowy themes...

...salvaged buttons, ribbon and lace...

...reclaimed fabrics and a bit of embroidery.

I'll show these items in their full glory when it seems a little more date-appropriate!


I have also been putting the finishing touches to some cushions.

With apologies for the rubbish photo!  The gremlins are still chucking their tools about it would seem, and so, as I sit here tapping away at gone 11.15, I have (after more than two hours trying!) jettisoned all attempts to upload photos from the good camera and have opted for the one that casts a yellow-hue and all round air of fuzziness to everything I snap!

For these cushions I have used mostly Tilda fabrics for the patchwork and applique, with some vintage fabric for the backing. They have an unusual continuation of the message on the back, embroidered in chain stitch.  The message was  Mr Used-to-Bees' idea, and one which I think will prove a hit!  I'm going to be mean and leave it shrouded in mystery so that it can be a surprise for anyone who might come to the Maltings and see them!

Well, much as I would like to continue, my bed is calling!   I've got a busy day tomorrow as I'm being sociable at lunchtime, helping with a Cake Sale in the afternoon to raise funds for my school's annual Shoebox Appeal and then I need to get everything ready for the Maltings on Saturday.  Eeek!  Don't expect a peep from me tomorrow!