Sew many presents!

A week ago it was my 28th birthday. It feels like much longer now because I have been ill and then very busy catching up at work.

My sister bought me some gorgeous ditsy floral fabric from CallyCo in Cambridge. The rest are big favourites from the Cath Kidston sewing collection and a black sewing machine necklace from my friend in Aberdeen. I have earmarked the blue fabric for a dress. I just need to find the right beginners pattern, any suggestions?

Here are my lovely sewing themed presents, there were even more so this is a big thank you to my friends and family who were so thoughtful. It is funny, you would think I go on about sewing all the time...

Happy sewing, Emma x

Pinterest

Have you used Pinterest yet? If not you should! This online pinboard enables you to bookmark your favourite things in a visual way. My pin board includes tutorials, fashion, images, celebrities and products I love!

The best feature is being able to browse by area e.g. Fashion, Books, Art, Geekery to find some really interesting and fun links to webpages you never would have come across.

My pinboard can be found here. I will be updating it with more of my favourites soon.

Like Ravelry you have to be invited to take part and register an account, but it is absolutely worth the wait. Feel free to post a link to your pinboard below, enjoy!

Trims and things project: Simplicity 2599

Yes that's right, it's a new sewing project that isn't green! I'm loving this mustard yellow for Autumn. I have decided to make the bottom right version with a cute bow embellishment. I want to wear this top with my favourite navy Zara trousers to work.

The great thing about this pattern is that the front section is printed in three cup sizes for a good fit. This also means that I won't be adjusting the bust area. I think this is a good thing judging by my Anna tunic saga!

The fabric was very good value, a plain poly cotton bought from a new haberdashers in Plymouth at £3.50 per metre. The fabric is a little rough at the moment but will soften after a couple of machine washes.

Are they any patterns you would recommend for beginners?

Emma x

Trims and things ♥s Mollie Makes

I finally succumbed to the nasty bug going around at work. Despite feeling really rubbish and being unable to sew I have been catching up on my favourite blogs and sewing magazines.

Mollie Makes Issue 6 has some fantastic Autumn projects, including how to make some good enough to eat (almost) apple and pear pin cushions! The ethos of Mollie Makes is making, thrifting, collecting and crafting, all of which inspire me. I realised that my coffee table alone has something representing each of these. My home made Amy Butler tissue box cover, my retro inspired bowl, my turquoise trim phone by Wild and Wolf and a copy of The Knitting Pocket Bible I borrowed from the library.

The magazine also came with a free Coin Purse Kit. I'm really excited to make some coin purses for friend's Christmas presents now I have the pattern and equipment list.

I decided it would be a good idea to start a notebook of supplies I need for future sewing projects so that I can take it with me on shopping trips. So often I end up buying the wrong size or thickness haberdashery because I didn't write it down! Maybe, the key to success in sewing is better organisation. I will keep you posted on my progress...

Thanks for reading,
Emma x

Trims and things project: Multi Fabric Skirt

I have a brand new project to share with you! I must first confess that the Amy Butler Anna tunic was an epic fail :( I realised after two second opinions and attempting to make some desperate alterations to the pattern, that I had been way too ambitious in making the tunic my first dressmaking project.

And then one day the answer came in the form of Kay Whitt's book Sew Serendipity, which contains some gorgeous retro inspired patterns and great illustrations and step-by-step instructions. So far I have cut out the pattern, put together the skirt facings and I am about to attach the ruffled hems and Ric-Rac to the front and back panels.

You'll see I've used fabric leftover from other projects like the tunic and my knitting needle roll to piece together the skirt. I had no idea I was mentally coordinating my fabrics! One of these days I will attempt a project that isn't in the green spectrum... (honest).


I'm really excited to be wearing a me-made item soon!

Emma x

A beautiful leaf garland

I am an avid reader of Elsie's A Beautiful Mess blog. One of her recent Autumnal projects Fall Leaves Garland really inspired me to get back to some hand stitching. Here's my version at the window in my favourite colours, I had the felt and mustard coloured wool in my stash waiting to be used! I'm really pleased with the finished look.





I finished the project this Friday evening and this weekend has been the hottest October on record in England!!! I'm making the most of it by getting my Vitamin D while I can!

What new projects are you working on this Autumn?

Emma x