Love in a box

Yesterday my latest purchase arrived.  

From the money I have earned teaching dressmaking I have treated myself to a sewing machine I can take to classes.  Also as a spare one when my computerised Bernina has to go in for servicing (of which it desperately needs).

I have no excuses now to delay any of my sewing or to get my computerised one serviced.

I've been busy, but not sew you would know!

Over the summer I have been unable to sew.

This is the reason why

Her name is Neve and she is a German Shepherd.  She belongs to our local police force and we are fostering her until May/June next year.

With a puppy around I was unable to lay out any material, or sit still for any length of time.  But she is growing fast, just take a look:-

This is her during a camping trip to Wales in July, aged 2 months

Enjoying playing with our dog Red, aged 3 months

Getting her to sit still for a couple of minutes

At 5 months she is growing fast

She has now calmed down enough for me to do some sewing, and will gladly go to sleep under my sewing table with Red.  Well, actually, I think she is sleeping, but she is pinching things and chewing them - like cotton reels, shuttles and I even caught her with a pair of scissors!

But we are persevering and last week I completed 2 items of clothing.  I will post these soon.

Bloomin Steps Scrappy Blue Quilt

Today I finished the scrappy quilt I have been making for the last couple of years.

Over the last couple of months I have been working hard at getting it finished, hence no postings on this blog.

I can't believe this is now over, I feel both elated but sad at the same time.  Now it is finished it doesn't show the amount of work that has gone into it, because (even if I say so myself), it has gone together so well, you can only see the whole and not the individual squares that have gone into it. 

The blues are mainly scraps, from my own garment and quilt making, or shirts bought from charity shops with the odd fat quarter thrown in.  The white squares are scraps, bought white shirts or packs of fat quarters with a wide backing fabric bought for the border and the back.

The pattern is from "Cut the scraps" by Joan Ford.  In total 1328 squares went into making it, 1008 2" squares (yes 2"!) and 320 3.5" squares and the final quilt measures 75" x 87", just big enough to throw over a king size bed for a topping.  

You could say that I have scrap quilts out of my system now! But what to do with all my other scraps!

A Perfect Day

Do you ever get the feeling of total satisfaction and a sense of peace?  Yesterday I did, it was ten past eight in the evening and I was feeling relaxed, fulfilled and at peace with myself.  So I got to thinking about what had made my day like that.

As usual my day started with walking my dog, Red is his name.  Always happy to see you and eager to go out for a walk.  The ground was damp from overnight rain making everything look new and washed.  The spring flowers, including the late daffodils in my front garden, were nodding their heads in the breeze.  The air was fresh and clean and with no traffic noise I could almost believe I was on holiday.

My morning coffee tasted especially good, warm and full and satisfying.  It's deep rich aroma filling my nostrils with memories of eating breakfast with my friend in Germany.  Breakfast in Germany being a leisurely affair, with fresh baked bread and tantalising cheeses and succulent cold meats.  Laughter filled the air as we talked of things done and dreams to fulfil.

Once my breakfast had settled, it was time to get down to things more serious.  The laundry was sorted and started whilst I got on my exercise bike.  With a body tingling and feeling alive I showered and let my hair dry naturally.  

Time for my mid morning coffee.

Knitting was my next past time and I duly sat down, with my coffee at my side and started my next mammoth knitting project.  It is a coat by Kate Davies called Westering Home.  I am making it in a teal blue and now can't wait to finish it.  But for now I have made a start and the cable pattern is now set.

The postman arrived with my 72 plug plants, and in the beautiful sunshine I potted them up.  Red laid on the decking in his usual spot to sunbathe.

The laundry now washed and dried it was time for some more knitting.

As it was Wednesday I was teaching in the evening.  A lovely, lively class of 11 women all learning to dress make.  I set off one of my students on drafting a skirt pattern and then one by one taught four of them how to put in zips.  The pleasure on their faces, when they performed the simple task of opening and closing a zip that had been sewn in correctly, never ceases to surprise me.  Until teaching, I hadn't realised that putting in zips was so daunting to so many people and that when taught correctly, how relaxed people became.  It was at this time (8:10pm), that I vowed to get myself a bottle of wine and when I got home, finish of my perfect day with a crisp cold glass of white wine.

Perfect.

Lace Shawl

Although my sewing has slowed to a snail's pace, my knitting is going at break neck speeds.  Funny how we crafters love to have more than one item on the go at any one time.

This is the lace shawl I have just finished:

Made with 100% 2ply Lambswool from Texere Yarns it is the Rachel Lace Shawl by Evelyn A Clark.

Things I have made since last writing

I know I've been quiet on here, but I have been busy elsewhere.

I have been knitting a lace shawl (now finished and will get photos to you soon), but whilst knitting it I got bored, so made a pair of socks:-

Socks I always knit two at a time and these were super quick to knit taking me only two weeks to knit.  That is two weeks when I am not working or teaching or walking the dog etc. Since then I have finished my lace shawl and all I need to do is wash and block it and I will post some pictures.

The Bloomin' Steps Scrappy quilt now has a border and the back is cut out to size, just waiting for a suitable day to pin it all together.  But whilst the sun is out I have been out in the garden.

In a couple of weeks it is my mum's birthday and she said she wanted some bunting for her summer house, so I have made her some of that and here it is:-

I have even been cheeking and put a "Made by Claire" label on it.  She is having a birthday party next week and I shall be taking it to her then, just hope she likes it.

On Saturday 16th May 2015 I will be teaching how to sew a slip dress.  The pattern I have chosen is McCalls M6102 and it is a flattering A line with or without a dart.

I made the view with the darts and the shorter length, the pattern is unlined but I have lined mine with some fine muslin.  The material is part of the Makower Lime-twist collection and even though I say so myself, it is very flattering and has a 1960's look to it. The pattern says it is a 1 hour construction, but including cutting out the pattern and lining it, I took 4 hours.  Not bad for an Easter weekend.

For details on the course go to www.ohsewsweetshop.co.uk and look up it up in the course section.

Bloomin Steps Scrappy Quilt

Just thought I'd show you this picture

It is the finished centre section of my scrappy quilt.  With the border on, it will be a generous double or a top for a king size bed.  I started piecing it about 2 to 3 years ago, but have been buying and collecting old shirts and blouses for about 6 years.  The rest of the pieces have been left overs from previous projects.  Made with mainly 2" squares, and the outer border took over 300 of them, it took longer to cut the squares than it did to sew it all together.

Now all I need is enough pins and a large area to put the backing and batting on it.

Can't wait to quilt it.

I've been quiet

Sorry I have been quiet on here, but I have been sort of busy.  I will explain:

In January I didn't feel like doing much sewing, so didn't. Quite simple really.  In my day job I work twelve hour shifts and because of this I get to see very little sun, which makes me very tired and sad and lacking energy.  This usually continues until the end of February when we go skiing.  But this year, due to our days off, we went skiing at the end of January.

On returning from skiing my batteries were full and I couldn't wait to get back to sewing.

I have therefore spent the last couple of weeks finishing my invisible machine appliqué double wedding ring quilt and here is a picture.

For the backing I didn't have enough material, so blizzard pieced it and added some left over pieces from the front.

Out of all my quilts so far I have not added a label to the back.  But a piece of the selvedge shouted at me and using the embroidery feature on my machine I have created a perfect label.

To learn this really simple, but effective technique, I went to a class by Dawn Cameron-Dick.  She is truly inspirational and a great teacher.  Check out her website to see where she might be teaching near you - http://www.dawncamerondick.com

Now to get my scrappy king size quilt finished, now where did I put those 2.5" squares . . . . . . . . . 

New Years Resolution

This is the time when most people have given up on their new years resolutions.  Did you make one, have you given it up already?

I haven't made a resolution this year, only to carry on as I have been doing, by sewing whenever I can.  I have made a list of things I want to make and stick to the list.  

But this was very different in 2008.

In 2008 I made a resolution not to buy anymore material and to only make things with material in my stash.  I feverishly made loads of things and didn't buy any material until September 2009!  That was a full 21 months of sticking to my resolution.  I eventually came to the conclusion that my unselfish act was very selfish indeed.  How was the economy to pick up if I and many others didn't buy anything?  Needless to say, my fabric stash is once again taking over and I am very happy!

Happy sewing everyone.

New Classes Starting Soon

It's now official, starting on 14th January I will be teaching dressmaking.  This is a sceeen shot of the entry on Oh Sew Sweet Shops' website.  

These classes have now been postponed until the first week in February.

DRESSMAKING WITH CLAIRE JAKINS (WEEKLY)

Every Wednesday evening from 14th January 6.00pm – 9.00pm for 6 weekly blocks £80

A six-week modular course that takes you from the basics of how to sew using your machine to unraveling the mysteries of modern patterns. By the conclusion of the course you will have made a garment and built up your knowledge and theory. You will be able to go away and make your own garments with your very own portfolio of sewing techniques. This evening class is also for those who wish to work on a project at their own pace with help and advice. You will need to book the whole 6 weeks. Suitable for complete beginners or those wishing to brush up on skills

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Starts On:

January 14, 2015

6:00 PM

Ends On:

January 14, 2015

9:00 PM

More Dates

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Happy New Year

Funny how people make a fuss of New Years Day, for me it is like any other (I am sat here writing this before going to work).  Many people reflect on the past year and what is to come in the next.  So for once I am going to look back over the year.

It was great.

I got my PTTLS teaching certificate, then literally walked into a teaching job.  I had an operation I was really waiting for and my health has improved.  But on the negative side, I lost two people dear to me.  My husband's mum Joan Jakins passed away suddenly in June, then my Nannan Florence White passed away peacefully.  I am missing both of them very much.

But my confidence in my sewing is reaching new heights.  Teaching people has made me realise just how much I know and how skilled I am.  I also take the greatest pleasure in seeing just the minutest achievement of my students.  But I am wanting to learn more for myself as well.

What am I looking forward to this year?  Lots and everything, as I have achieved so much in one year I will not be surprised on how much I can achieve in the next.  I am putting studies to the back burner for now and hope to take my Cert Ed in 2016, but I will be going for day classes in sewing, trousers are my nemesis.  There will be lots more teaching.  A trip to India to organise (not for sewing, but I will buy lots of material there), this is to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and both of us reaching 50 years of age. Both of these, I think, are huge milestones.

Have I done any sewing in the last 2 weeks?  No.  But I will be getting back there in the next week.  

Thank you for reading my blog and hope to write more in the New Year.

Happy Sewing and a Happy New Year to you.