Curtain tie backs and beach bags!

My husband had bought me some rope tie-backs.  As you do.  They were really chunky and were perfect for a bag handle especially as they were made out of cotton rather than a synthetic material - so much softer on the hands!

I knew I wanted to make a beach bag, so I did a little research and stumbled upon the perfect pattern.  I even had some stripy IKEA fabric with which to make it!

I love all things navy and white; the nautical look is one I adore!

I even added a gold anchor button to the pocket.

As for those chunky rope handles, I had fun and games trying to figure out how they were going to stay on the fabric.  I ended up dismantling the end of the rope which had a funny little wooden acorn thingy at the bottom.  I then sewed the loop (which dangled from the bottom of the tie-back) onto some fabric over and over.  It wasn't going anywhere, I can tell you! 

Only then did I sew this fabric into a pocket which was attached to the bag.

You'd be surprised how much weight those handles can now take!  Mind you, towels and sun cream don't weigh that much, do they?!

Next...

Grease is the word

...is the word, is the word...

Inspired by the musical Grease, my daughter asked for a red and white polka dot circular skirt.

Why, of course I'll make one, I cried!

I could have just hemmed the bottom of the skirt but wanted to add white bias binding to make it stand out more.  I'm in two minds whether or not to add some gathered net to the bottom too - time will tell!

I initially wanted to make the skirt from one piece of fabric but I didn't have enough.  So, ever the creative sewist, I made the skirt from 3 separate sections - 1 front and 2 backs.  This made it really easy to insert a zip in the centre back!

I elasticated the waistband for a more flexible fit.

When I cut out the fabric circles, I used the selvage as the edge of the fabric.  This meant that I didn't have to finish off the inner seams as it had already been done for me. 

It also meant that the polka dot pattern matched across the seam beautifully!  I meant that to happen (ahem!)

 I love making these skirts - they look so effective!

 

Next...

 

 



Patching up a purse

You have a much loved purse which has seen better days.  The tab on the front is breaking.

Do you...

a) throw it away and buy another one or
b) see if you can mend it?

Guess which one I chose?!

You got it!  I wasn't about to say goodbye to it yet!

So when I spotted some Velcro dots, I had an idea.

What if I cut off the broken tab, added a Velcro dot and see where that took me?

And that is what I did.







It worked!

And my purse lives to see another day.

 

Next...

 

 



 

 

 

Sewing for cats

So you decide to get a cat and realise you haven't got anything for him to sleep on (other than the sofa, which isn't always practical!)

I had a preloved fleece blanket.  I had some toy stuffing.  And I was not afraid to use it!

It was soon occupied - looks like fluffy approves!

And this is how the bed turned out before it was discovered LOL!

Until next time...

School memories and big steps!

My daughter has just left primary school.  It's a huge step.  For her too LOL!

I wanted a way to remember her times at school without having a sweatshirt hanging up in a wardrobe.

So I decided to make a cushion from it.

I stuffed it and fluffed it and piped it and appliqued it.  I used as much of the sweatshirt as I could possibly muster!

And as the headteacher is moving on to another school, I gave it to him.  But I will make another one for my daughter to keep - we do have another one after all!

Next...

Rose-print summer dress (was curtains!)

I love curtains.  There's always loads of fabric with which to create whatever you desire!

So I saw some rose-print curtains in a charity shop and bought them there and then.  Well, you would, wouldn't you?!  The roses were not too big and not too small.

It's summer.  So I knew that a summer dress was the order of the day.  It is loosely based on an existing dress that I adore, but I tweaked it here and there.  I added a waistband to lengthen the dress somewhat - I seem to have a long body!

And because it's cotton, it's very cool to wear.

 

 

I also shortened the shoulder straps because there's nothing worse than having to tame a wayward strap every so often.  It was either that or employ paperclips!

 

 

But after I was happy with the straps, the front of the dress rode up a bit higher than I liked.  So I tamed it with a bit of ruching and a piece of leftover strap.  It gives it more shape too.

As I said - gotta love those curtains!

 

 

 

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You gotta go to Goldhawk Road, London

Go to Goldhawk Road, they said.  You must visit if you're in London.

So last weekend, when I was up in London, I decided to go and have a saunter along Goldhawk Road and see what all the fuss was about.

You see, it's supposed to be THE fabric shopping area in London.

I did my research.  I discovered that there were 6 fabric shops along one small stretch of high street.  And that they were reasonably priced.  And chock a block full of sumptuous fabric.

With a spring in my step, I took the tube to Goldhawk Road and then had a mosey.

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

Talk about heaven!!

I discovered not 6 but THIRTEEN fabric shops along the same small part of road.

I walked from one shop to the next oohing and ahhing at the different colours, textures and patterns.  Each shop had a distinct flavour - one smelled of incense, the next smelled of leather.  There were spots, stripes, silks, ethnic prints, lace (the like of which I've never seen), heavily embroidered velvet and fabric of all colours, varieties and shades of the rainbow.  The fabric bolts were virtually stacked on top of one another.

And there were basements full too.  And upstairs rooms jam-packed with yet more fabric.  I have never seen so much in all my life.

I only bought 4 different fabrics while I was there.  All very distinct.  All inspiring.

 

My favourite shop by far was Classic Textiles.  It wasn't so much the range of fabric (although that was pretty darned special too), but the staff were wonderful.  As soon as I entered the shop I was greeted and made to feel welcome.  As I looked around I was seemingly assigned my own personal shopper whose job it was to help me find whatever it was I was looking for (I had no idea at this point, but it became clearer when I found the printed cottons).  He was just lovely - ever pointing me in the direction of yet more fabric.  Well, I'd come this far, I may as well look round the entire shop!!

I bumped into a textiles student while I was in there.  We were both amazed at the selection and quality of the fabric available and the prices too.

So, yeah.  I'd say you gotta go to Goldhawk Road!!