Nora refashion

Stupidly I have lost my "before" photo of this t shirt. It was a long sleeve

v-neck with a brown ribbon trim with buttons on it. I took off the trim and made the yoke using the Nora pattern from Ottobre Autumn 2010 blogged about here. I used one of Mr Minnado's worn out t-shirts for the yoke and added three buttons from the button box.

I am thinking this yoke would also look good on a jersey dress...also a striped yoke on a black or navy top for a nautical feel...the possibilities are endless.

Finished Nora

I finished the Nora top from Ottobre magazine on wednesday but it has been so gloomy and dark here I struggled to get a decent photo. I wonder if other bloggers find it amazing how different colours look in different photos and light conditions. The sun has come out today so here is Nora. I made it in a light grey jersey knit which I bought last year on ebay. I have resolved to stop buying knit fabrics on ebay without seeing a sample first as I like this fabric but it is quite clingy and reveals EVERY lump and bump. If I had had it in my hand before buying I would not have bought it! But such is the the Ebay madness and impulse. I was determined to use this fabric up and not waste it.

It is a top which is plain and not much by itself but I think it will be a really useful basic item. Due to the lump revealing quality of the fabric I think I will wear it with cardigans.

The pattern was quite straightforward to follow and the tracing was easier than I had imagined. I did find it a bit strange to follow a pattern entirely with text and no diagrams as I am quite a visual learner. While sewing the yoke I was thinking how great this pattern could be for refashioning and using with contrasting yokes, so you may guess what is currently on my ironing board awaiting finishing.

reading list and kids these days

Oooh, I have some new-to-me books. In the middle is "Green is the new black" by Tamsin Blanchard subtitled: "How to change the world with style". I will report back on this....And bottom of the pile is the great "How to be an explorer of the world" by Keri Smith (link to her blog, go on, check it out) - it is a book of things to do which can help reignite creativity and alter the way you look at the world around you. I bought it so I can do some of the projects in it with my kids but it is actually aimed at adults. What is everyone else reading?

So preschoool is not quite what it used to be....this is some of the work Little I bought home last week, her photoshopped pictures of her lego model.

Traditionalists out there be reassured, there is also a sandpit, climbing frame and home corner.

In sewing news:

I am hemming my Nora top from Ottobre this afternoon and working on another t shirt refashion from the box of clothes sent by Fabulous Emma. I hope to share pictures soon.

Refashioned T shirt

Before

After

So, you may have noticed in my last post that I mentioned receiving a box of clothes in the post. Well, after some inital confusion, it turned out they were from a friend who decided to donate to me and said some of them are for refashioning. (Thank you Emma, you are very lovely)

This was my first attempt. I am slightly obsessed about yokes and have been thinking about combining jersey knits with wovens. So I decided this long sleeved brown t-shirt gave me the perfect opportunity to have a play around. Here's the result. I used the shirt front pattern from the Built by Wendy Sew U book and traced a yoke adding my own curve. I then sewed it onto the shirt with a zigzag stitch and cut away the original neckband. I toyed with the idea of adding the apples fabric to the cuffs but decided that could push it into the realm of twee-ness.

Thank you to those who entered my giveaway. Bodthepod is getting the Sew magazine and Ali's name was picked out of the bowl (highly scientific method) to recieve the Burda mag.

Barbie Refashioned

A big retro A-line dress.

Most of the sewing here has been for these ladies this week. Bought from a series of charity shops most of them were naked. To give them some modesty, I have used scraps and some pieces of cut up jumble sale clothes. The blue flowery dress was the end of a sleeve and so came with the ready made frilled hem. The Barbies who have come with clothing seem to be dressed as either saccharine pink princess or are scantily dressed in well, a tarty way. These are only two pictures - there are more.

Making clothes for dolls is strangely addictive, it is so quick and uses up small pieces of fabric. It is also nostalgic, reminding me of my mum making doll's clothes for me and also of how much I loved dressing up my dolls. (No Barbie for me though, we had Sindy)

My nearly four year old is also a hard task master...sitting by the machine, "Can I help?" and "Come on Mum".

Giveaway - sewing magazines

Okay so here it is...my first giveaway. I thought I never win on giveaways but then I got lucky and won the shoes giveaway by the very lovely Ali.

Then, yesterday morning the postman delivered a mysterious box with no letter inside or return address. When we opened it T and I found it was full of clothes....after a few texts were sent I discovered they were from a very lovely friend who was having a clear out.

I was relieved as I had started to worry I had a clothing stalker. So with all these new-to-me gifts I feel I am due to make a giveaway myself.

I have been sorting out my sewing supplies and have a couple of sewing magazines up for grabs. I am not going to use them so would like them to go out there to good homes where they can be properly appreciated.

I will send them out separately and am happy to post them whereever in the world.

Above is Sew magazine from summer 2010. It comes with the unopened pattern envelope to make the halter neck dress, either a maxi style or kneee length, plus a little cotton knit shrug, Amy Butler baby hats, Alice inwonderland inspired embroidery, and lots of other projects, even a little patchwork in there. I bought it when overwhelmed in the supermarket last summer but it just isn't my taste. I am sure another sewer out there can do great things with these patterms.

Then I also have Burda Magazine from Summer 2010 on offer.

The Burda patterns are unused, the magazine just has some wear and tear on the spine.

It has summer clothes and also maternity and childrenswear in this issue. I esepcially love the little girl dress patterns in here but I have a little girl who doesn't like to wear dresses.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment by Wednesday 19th January telling me which magazine you would prefer and perhaps why (I am just a nosey parker) and if you do not have a link set up in your comments to a blog or email, then please add your email address to the comment. Good luck. Oh and keep reading, I feel another giveaway may be due next month with my increased clearouts...

My First Sewing Book (for ScruffyBadger)

Okay so when I say I will do something, it may take me several months, but I will do it. Back in September I posted about this book - My First Sewing Book- which I found at a National Trust second bookshop for the grand sum of not many pence. Scruffy Badger recognised it as a book from her childhood, perhaps even her First sewing book? I said I would post better, bigger images from it. so here they are. Don't get too nostalgic Ms Badger. I love the illustrations and the ideas divide between making things like a pencil case and a knitting needle tidy to making clothes and even some sandals. Yes, make your own shoes. Do you think anyone did? I am ever so tempted to try it out this summer.