Infinity scarf

I loved this top when I bought it, but I knew it wouldn't be a top for very long!  

The pattern sold it to me.

I couldn't quite figure out what it was going to be, so I had a play and a think.

It looks as though there was lots of fabric in the main body, so why not cut off the bottom and top, make a tube and turn it into an infinity scarf?

So that's what I did:

It's so easy to make, too!

I do so love the pattern and wear it with anything (although, it would probably have been better if I'd had a different top on in this photo!)

Next...

Tie-dye messenger bag - with a twist(y lock)

A seamstress walks into a charity shop - and lo and behold, discovers a beautiful denim tie-dye skirt in a size large (more fabric that way), thinks, hmmm, I already have a top that would go perfectly with that...

And so begins the tale of another creation.  I was right.  The skirt DID match the top.  So I decided to make a small messenger bag from the blue and purple combination.

I'm really happy with the result, too!

I added a side pocket for pens and other bits and bobs.

It's the first time I've used twist locks on a bag - I've now perfected cutting out the hole so that the fabric doesn't show!

This was the original tie-dye skirt and the matching top:



You can see why I paired them now, can't you?

It has a zip fastening and a pocket underneath the flap for all those receipts that tend to accumulate:

If I were to make this one again I would add some padding to the strap as the top I used was very floaty.  I did top-stitch it though to give it some extra strength. 

This was the first time I have added an internal zipped pocket.  I learned something here too - make sure when adding the pocket lining that you sew it onto the back with wrong sides together!

Another view:

The internal seams were bound with fabric from the top.  It was so light and airy that it was really easy to work with when making binding.  Something I'll remember for next time!

So all in all, a very satisfying project!

Next...

More journal covers!

I'm loving making journal covers right now!

The covers are designed to fit the Radiant Recovery Your Body Speaks journal (or a book of a similar size). All of the covers are softly padded to protect its precious cargo. And every single one is unique. I never make two the same.

The vast majority of the covers are created from preloved fabric - I love using preloved fabric as it not only gives new life to a piece of fabric that might otherwise not have a home, but the fabric tends to have more unusual patterns than you can generally get from a fabric shop. Texture, pattern and heritage are important to me!

I've even made some journal covers from faux fur too for a bit of fun!

Some journal covers have one magnetic snap fastening while others have two to allow for two books to be covered - you may like to have a diary or notebook in there too to keep the journal company!

Here are the latest creations...

Poppies Journal Cover:
I fell in love with the fabric for the Poppies journal cover as soon as I saw it.  It was created from a skirt that was refashioned into a child's swing top for a while.  It has also been used as a bucket bag.

It's one of those fabrics that always brightens my day whenever I see it.

Razzmatazz:
Created from a preloved skirt (which was also used for a bag and the appliqued 'Joy' journal cover) and some satin. The sense of connection is important to me - how one piece of fabric is connected to another, maybe across the world.

Madras:
Created from a fabulous pair of two-tone curtains that shimmer in the sunlight. This fabric was also used to create a tunic top that is sitting in my wardrobe.

Oranges and Lemons:
I discovered a beautifully lacy top that was begging me to take it home.  There was such a pretty pattern on it!  Whilst the lace was used to trim my apron, the remainder was refashioned into this adorable journal cover.

 

Patchwork:
I found a gorgeous preloved patchwork skirt on one of my forays into a charity shop.  This was one of the first journal covers I'd made as I was still perfecting my technique back then!  After much tinkering and unpicking it became the Patchwork journal cover! 

The patchwork itself was from an a-line skirt which flared softly giving the resulting journal cover its characteristically quirky asymmetrical appearance.

Pink butterfly:
I just adore butterflies! They are so symbolic, aren't they?  This Pink Butterfly cover was created from a preloved top and some satin. 

Joy:
I hadn't appliqued anything before - but decided to put the fabric from the Razzmatazz bag (and now journal cover) to good use again.  Created from two skirts discovered in the same shop on the same day, these colours were meant to be together!

Happy Days:
Happy Days was created from a fabulously printed tea-towel.  Another one of those patterns that brightens my day just by looking at it!  Happy Days was teamed with a red cotton lining for yet more colour.

Baroque:
Baroque was created from a preloved throw which was love at first sight for me.  Its three stripes harmonise effortlessly and the gold lining is from the same throw.  Sometimes you just have to be a bit decadent, don't you?

Flocked journal cover:
Made from a flocked leatherette which was a planned-over from a previous project, this sturdy cover will protect your journal like no other!  It is lined with the same gold lining as the Baroque (above).

 














And a lot of fun was had with faux fur journal covers...

Big Cat:
This short furred journal cover is wonderful for all those moments when you want sleek design and something tactile.  Big Cat is lined with gold satin from the ubiquitous throw.

Caveman:
This chunky fur journal cover is lined with felt and sure to become a talking point!  Not a journal cover to be hidden away!

Brown Bear:
Another chunky journal cover - a good way to give your journal a hug.

And there are more in the pipeline too!

Next...

Poppies, poppies and more poppies

You may remember that I refashioned a ladies skirt into a child's swing top many moons ago.

Well, my daughter has now outgrown the sheer poppiness of the top.  So I have reclaimed it yet again!

It's got such a unique pattern that I had to use it for something delicious.

So I made a bucket bag from it!

And because I like to know where the pocket is in a bag, I added a poppy pocket too.

With a black and white polka dot lining!  Why be the same as everyone else!

The strap was interfaced to make it a little stronger and I've even figured out how to finish off the bias binding at the top without a flurry of 'oh my goodness, it's not working' LOL.

You see, I just love what I do. 

Next...

Seaside costumes

Some more dance costumes -

I was asked to make some old-fashioned seaside/bathing costumes - you know the ones, mop cap (actually, mob cap, but that's another story!), tie top and bloomers.  From the Victorian era or so my research showed me!

The most fun part was figuring out what sizes to make the costumes. They were to be designed for little ones and I was asked what measurements I would need in order to make them.  Now, if I have a pattern then that's easy peasy - all the hard work's done for me.  But I only had dimensions.  This was beginning to sound like a challenge!

I had a rough idea of what the costumes should look like so began with the easiest first - the mob cap. The inspiration and expertise behind the cap came from a book on how to sew clothes for your 5 year old. I added elastic to the hat in much the same way that elastic was added to the baby's bloomers in the book. 

Like everything - it's easy when you know how!

It's surprising how much fabric these caps take to make too!

 

Next I made some straight forward tie tops - again utilising the elastic and picoting at the bottom.

That's another thing I learned from this project - how to picot edges so that they don't fray. 

Again, easy when you know how!

And then came the bloomers.  I took a pair of kids shorts and resized them using baking parchment, made them slightly longer and then added the ubiquitous elastic and picoting at the bottom.

And this is what they looked like on!  I made 7 of them in total.



I loved working with pink gingham!

Were they fun to make? 

Absolutely!

Did I learn loads of new skills that I can use next time?

I sure did!

:D




Dancer photo reproduced with kind permission Kathryn Hurley Dance Academy
Copyright Rich McD

Leatherette handbags and all that

I had some leatherette leftover from covering the dining room chairs - it was too good to waste so I set about making something out of it.

I wanted to make a bag so I discovered a preloved silky top to use as a lining and put them together.
And I just knew that the leatherette was going to be super resilient.

I just went with the flow to make this one.  Small bag - check.  Handle - check.  Tab - check.  Lining - check.

Ta-dah!

I added a magnetic snap to the tab and used preloved O rings for the handles.

Ah, the handles LOL!  I had a go at making the handles with the leatherette.  But that meant sewing through maybe 8 layers of thick leatherette with my sewing machine.  My machine decided she wasn't having any of it so I opted to use the lining to add a smattering of colour to the outside of the bag instead.

I had loads of fun putting this together!

It's also got a bottom on it so that you can put more things into it.  My kind of bag!