FO: Alessa Tee and 1st May

A little while ago I was lucky enough to win one of Alessa's fabric stash giveaways.  It was a piece of blue and white spotted jersey knit and a piece of stripey cotton.  I decided right away that I would try to make a tee shirt from the blue spotty fabric.  It has a lovely drapey quality that I liked. 

The piece was not very big so I thought of sleeveless and initially wanted to try an Ottobre pattern but  didn't have enough fabric.  Then I remembered a charity shop find from a couple of months ago - Butterick 3070.  Please take a moment to enjoy the full eighties splendour of the pattern illustration. S'great, isn't it?  

 I went for view A, it reminded me of current kimono sleeve tees I have seen patterns for.  I cut a medium but think I will go for a small next time. 

The more boxy shape is a departure for me and I like it with fitted trousers.  I am not sure I would like it with anything else.  I am still debating whether to run a piece of elastic round the hem to gather the fabric and play with the way it hangs.  What do you think?





Spot the baby...



A back view to show you the full drapey quality

So this was my 1st May wear: Me made tee shirt and rtw jeans which I dyed from beige to indigo. 

Thank you Alessa for your generosity.  I am planning on a stash giveaway here soon to spread the good fortune. 

Oh, and look who's walking...

Frilliest skirt

I asked Little I to pose for photos.  Look, straight away, no hesitancy at all, she stepped into a sewing blogger pose.  Is this the result of watching her mother take self made garment photos for the past few years??  Um, I guess it probably is. 

I love this tutu-style skirt.  It was a very simple make but the fabric is just fabulous.  Due to its unfinished frilly nature, I didn't bother hemming it.  I bought the fabric from a shop called Meme in Exeter.  They are in the process of closing down their 'real life' shop and transferring to being an online retailer. 

As a result there was a sale on in the shop. 

This fabulous textured fabric was £12 per metre, reduced from £24. The assistant said it was polyester.   I only needed half a metre.  I had ventured into the shop originally looking for denim with a bit of stretch in it, but it wasn't the type of fabric shop that sells stretch denim.  They seemed to specialise in feminine pretty prints and floaty chiffon types of fabric.  All very pretty.  All screaming out (in a discreet lady like way) to be made into partywear for almost six year olds.

I was tempted temporarily to make a frilly skirt for myself, but then sense prevailed, and I made the skirt for Little I.  I just wasn't sure I would wear such a frilly skirt as often as she will.  Plus she does go to a hell of a lot more parties than me!  Plus she has better shoes and tights to match it.

But I am compromising and planning a grown up ruffled skirt for myself!  I was swayed by seeing a woman walking along, in her forties wearing a 3 tiered light brown skirt, knee length, with a sequin trim on each tier.  It was a perfect mix of grown up and frills. 

Clock without hands top, new pattern love

I rarely buy new patterns but feeling fed up with my sewing and wanting to use my stash of fabrics for garments that I will actually wear, led me to do a spot of online shopping and so I bought two new patterns last week. I think I will get my money's worth from these. They are both Lisette for Simplicity. You may know the work of the designer Liesel Gibson through her childrens' clothing sewing patterns, Oliver and S, or through her blog disdressed. I read somewhere that these patterns are not super fashionable but then, a lesson I have learnt partly from doing Me Made months is that I don't actually want to be super fashionable nor do I want to be making clothes designed for a twenty year old or clothes that are more suitable for my almost four year old daughter than for me. These clothes look as if they are wearable in my life. (I will let you know if they are as I progress) But I have to say making this top was a pleasure, simple and straightforward, it has made me happier about my sewing again. (My needle jammed three times while sewing this top despite me giving the machine a clean and changing needles. So I am now planning to take it back to the shop where I bought it next week.)

I tried out the top view C as I didn' t have enough stash fabric to make the longer version. I also have quite a few long tunic type tops now and a shorter one will be good for summer.

I used cotton fabric from my Devon stash. I didn't have enough fabric to make the sleeve cuffs but just gave them a tiny hem instead. The fabric does crease a bit but apart from that I am happy with it.

The fabric is cotton and has a pattern that looks like a handless clock on it. This pattern is easy to make up and has clear instructions and diagrams. I didn't rush it at all (honestly) but made it within 24 hours from cutting out to finishing off. I may have also found it straightforward because the top used similar methods to other patterns I have already sewn. It is also a quick top to make because it uses no buttonholes or zips. The neck facing is sewn in a "stitch in the ditch" so I have none of the problems I have had before with facings flapping around.

Back view - buttons came from my grey cardigan. I thought they looked frumpy on the cardigan but I like how they are with this fabric AND I like to re-use. I used ribbon to make the button loops instead of self fabric.

Okay, so I now have new pattern love for this pattern. I really liked wearing this top yesterday, and I want to make the other versions too now. The View B longer top and the View A dress have big pockets created from the centre front piece. Regular readers will know my love of pockets. If you are squingting at the pattern cover photo trying to see the pockets, I apologise, it is not clear to see them in the picture.

I would like to make the dress in a denim-ish blue as an everyday dress, maybe with some piping? However I don't have that in my stash, but I do have some liberty cotton in a reddish woven check. I am off to measure how much there is now.

Me Made May

4th May outfit Clothkits car print skirt, brrrmm, brrrrmmmm - it was sunny but cold so I am having to think how to wear my skirts without freezing. Look at me - doing my housewifely duties!

5th May outfit - me-made t shirt with ruffle trim. My first t shirt attempt. It now boasts chocolate icing stains and paint stains so I am considering applique to cover these or dyeing it a darker colour. I thought the stains were very faint till I glanced in the mirror in the M& S toilets ( very exciting life I lead) and saw them,

Here is 6th May outfit. Amy Butler tunic in grey with added pockets - it's cold here so I am wearing it with leggings, long sleeve t shirt and cardigan. I really like it but think it's a tad too short - am going to try and let down the hem after today.

An unexpected benefit of this challenge is it is making me get out of my "jeans with everything" rut. It's very easy for me to just wear jeans especially with a little kid to chase after. I am starting to feel more like my old self which is odd as I hadn't realised how far I had travelled away from that person. Check out the Flickr Me-Made group - there are some amazing creative people out there - it's great fun to see what they have come up with and inspiring too!

Me Made May

Over on Flickr there are some great pictures in the Me-Made-May group pool. I am in awe of the wonderful garments people are making.

So anyway, the first day of May and I was sooo tired...it was a very long and unusually busy week and I was tempted to wear pyjamas all day but insteadpulled myself together and wore this ruffle top (Simplicity 2599) with charity shop Gap jeans and an old cardigan. We had some little friends round to play in the morning for a belated brithday get together as Little I was three on thursday. Then I spent part of the afternoon digging up nettles in the garden. Aaahh, the unrelenting glamour...

Then day two I wore my much loved dress from Simplicity 3835 (Built by Wendy) Too cold to wear it on its own so I added my skinny jeans from Gap (Gap again, is this a pattern?) via Ebay. I realised I need to do something about my photography if I am going to carry on with this challenge. Hopefully it will improve by the end of the month. I hope to manage to brush my hair too.

Made by me May and sewing challenges

Zoe has posted more detailed info onher Made by Me May challenge which I have signed up for. She writes that whatever rules you set for the challenge the defining tenet (as I understand it) is that it needs to be challenging yourself - so if you already wear one homemade item most days you could raise the bar by trying two.


I have realised that in participating in this and in preparing for it I can tackle some of my personal sewing goals for this year. These involve me in improving my existing skills and learning some new ones, as well as hopefully creating some new clothes that fit me and that I want to wear!

1. To try sewing stretch fabrics


2. To start putting in more sleeves - and to try out different sleeve shapes


3. Linked to number 2 - to make what I call a "proper shirt" ie with collar, sleeves and buttons.


4. To make trousers with a button and zip and not just simple drawstrings


5. To gain confidence in altering patterns and making my own patterns.


6. To try and use recycled fabrics, not spending vast amounts of maney on new fabric

And finally, as I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to try and improve my basic sewing skills and attitude. To stop taking short cuts and rushing things and to try and enjoy the process of making more. The rushing is partly due to the fact that I mainly sew when my kids are asleep or if my daughter naps. I am so aware of this limited time that I tend to rush things - and I am not sure how to tackle this. I read in that great philosophical guide to life that is called "Sainsbury's Magazine" that trying to slow down and enjoy whatever you are doing, valuing processes, and taking it calmly is called MINDFULNESS. There you go, enlightenment from the supermarket.

I have started making my first t shirt from some cotton jersey and will write more about it once I have some pics. I hope it works so I can start to put two me-made items together in May. At the moment the t shirt is a bit huge round the waist but fits round the bust, Hmmmm....

Everyone's a winner

This was such a quick pattern to sew up. It is Simplicity 3835 a Built by Wendy pattern. I didn't realise till last week that this pattern has its own flickr group.

I planned to make the dress from the 3835 pattern using my Amy Butler fabric that has been stashed away but first made the top from this Charity shop fabric. I was not sure when sewing it if I would like the end product but I really do now. Unfortunately it is too cold to wear it today, but I plan to wear it as soon as the weather warms up. It seems winter is having one last (I hope) try here today.

There is an identical piece of this fabric up for grabs this week on Zoe's fabric swap. I was lucky enough to be the chosen swapee (is there such a word?) for this week.

You see there were two pieces in the charity shop and I have used one and offered the other on the fabric swap , they were hemmed and I am not sure if they were supposed to be curtains or sheets, but I like the new lease of life this piece has as a top.

Amy butler tunic in grey

I have been toying with the idea of making the Amy Butler "Anna" tunic in a plain fabric for a while - since I made it last summer in a print really. I used some wool mix suiting fabric from ebay and lined it in bright pink which you can just see. I added two front pockets but I can see now they are slightly skew-iff - I am going to try wearing it for now and if the wonkyness drive me mad I will alter them. (But I suspect I won't)

I found it quite tricky working in a plain fabric as I felt that any little mistakes or wobbly bits would be more visible.

I am looking forward to wearing this over a longsleeve t shirt. It is part way to the idea of a daily uniform which I am keen on - I do like these tunic style tops/ dresses. I cannot wear it yet however as my Little One is ill and I am waiting till she stops being sick before wearing a new top! The painting visible here is one of a pair my son did when aged three. A Polish friend of mine when first visiting my house thought they may be my paintings and was Very Polite about them. I felt this tunic is what you might wear in an art gallery, looking intelligent and perhaps accessorised with an Interesting Art Teacher Necklace?

Cat in Bag

It was my children's little friend's 5th birthday and it snowed last week. I didn't want to drive to the shops so I made a toy cat using the "Pointy Kitty" free pattern download from Wee Wonderfuls .

It was very quick to do, I started it on monday night and finished it friday night but I only get odd bits of time for sewing. As stated in the pattern, the legs and ears and tail are a bit fiddly at turning out. I then made a bag for the cat so she can be carried around. I made the bag at 7am on saturday in a slightly insane sleep deprived state....we were due to visit the friends at 9.30 that morning. It was still quite dark when I finished it as it was another gloomy day so most of my photos were too dark to use. I had some lovely thick denim fabric that I bought at a market a couple of years ago and used that to make a simple bag with two handles. I sewed on some yo-yos made before christmas. It was a success, the only problem came when my daughter tried to take it back from her friend when it was time to leave. She has a way to go to learn about present giving.

It took so long....Simplicity 2599

This top has taken me almost two months to sew - not because it is esepcially tricky but because it was so hard to find the time. I made it as a birthday gift for my friend and so worked to a higher standard of finish than I probably would have done if it was for me!
I bought the Amy Butler fabric at the Quilts UK expo at the NEC in August. All I can say now is."Phew..."

Next challenge is to post it before the postal strike. This is more of a challenge as my daughter currently refuses her pram and insists on walking to the local post office. She also refuses hand holding. Problem is we have a major building site at the end of our road and a burgeoning tesco store with heavy traffic. I have to bribe her into the pram with food. She can (and does) climb out once strapped in - when the food runs out!

The surrounding dragonflies were made by the kids at Apple Day(http://greenwoodcentre.org.uk/). More on that later.

A bad pic of a good cushion

I made this initial cushion for my friend's daughter's 2nd birthday. I used Bondaweb and zig-zagged the cushion onto a blue cotton. Very simple to do. I am planning on some more for Christmas presents... but have been very busy making two tunic tops recently and must finish them before anything else is started. I haven't blogged recently with the return to school. My son has started at a new school and I now have to drive down country lanes, avoiding tractors. I am finding it very tiring, especially as my two year old keeps starting the day at 4 or 5am.

Amy Butler Anna Tunic

Hurray! I have finished my Amy Butler Anna Tunic. It has taken ages - mainly as I can only do a tiny bit of sewing at a time while children sleep and I keep getting sidetracked by other projects. I really like this tunic - it is very comfortable to wear and covers a multitude of cake eating. I am not sure if I look like a demented 1960s housewife in it though. I want to make it again but have a hankering to make it in white or a tiny weeny stripe.

I feel proud because I learnt several new skills using this pattern - making and fitting button loops, and gathering the fabric to fit the yoke. I am now in the middle of making applique cushion covers for presents..but thinking about sewing clothes!

traffic jam/car park skirt

I love this new skirt! I made it from a kit by Clothkits.(http://www.clothkits.co.uk/) I remember my mum making clothkits toys and clothesin the '70s and now they have been relaunched by a new owner. This skirt was designed by People Need Plates - I was calling it a traffic jam skirt but my son pointed out it is a car park pictured on the skirt. I proudly wore it last friday while driving on the M6 - felt very apt.
It was really easy to make as the skirt pattern comes ready printed on the fabric and the kit contains thread and zip. You just select your size and get going!
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fairy dress

I made my daughter this fairy dress for her 2nd birthday - I knitted the bodice with circular needles and then kind of cobbled together the skirt with some gauzy fabric and elastic. I used some polka dot ribbon for straps. You can't see in this phot but the skirt fabric is shot through with gold. It is very very pink but looks cute. The original pattern was in a knittingbook from the library but I lost the pattern after I did the bodice and so I made the rest up! She still seems to prefer wearign her firefighter outfit though!