New Year - New Beginnings

The sewing machines arrived as promised . . . 

. . . but only on Monday.  So hastily put them in the bags, quick test and took them to classes yesterday.

So far only one person turned up to my teens class, but I know the word will spread.

As for the adults, lots got done last night.  One lady learnt how to put in an invisible zip.  On lady brought in her finished jacket 

This is the back of the jacket

Here is the detail of the bound buttonholes and covered button.  Both techniques she hadn't done before and were perfect for the style of jacket.  Last night I got her to use the overlocker, she was terrified at first, but soon loved it.  She noticed how quick it was.

One of my novices finished a summer top.

This was her first attempt at doing gathers, and she was very pleased (as she should have been) with herself for getting them so neat.

Community Spirit

Starting my sewing classes at Penistone has led me to get a grant for equipment from the local town council.

I have put the money towards getting an overlocker for the group.  It came with plenty of freebies and was also on sale.  So lots of value for the money.

One great feature of this overlocker is that it has a free arm, perfect for doing cuffs and hems on trousers.  I got it out and tried the stitches, and wrote on the material what stitch it was.

When I finished playing with the new machine and put it away, I finished this dress.  It is s free pattern from Threadcount and is the dress from pattern number 1607.  I have made it slightly smaller than I normally make as I am at the moment losing weight.

The fabric is a cotton lawn and the collar and cuffs are made using tailoring techniques.  I really enjoyed going back to more technical techniques and my new machine made me proud with the precise buttonholes it made.  I even cheated and sewed the buttons on with my machine.

Phew - Assignments Completed

In May of this year I thought it would be a great idea to learn more about using my overlocker, so I enrolled on the Martha Pullen Serger II Licensing Agreement internet course.  This course would not only be teaching me new skills but giving me a license (if I pass) to teach the lessons they have on the course.

In May the deadline of the 30th September seemed so far away.  Then I started the course and panicked.  There were videos to watch, new feet for my overlocker to buy and lots of supplies to get - most of them not available in this country.  Oops.

But on Sunday I finished the last piece and I have today submitted the assignment.  All I need to do now is wait for my accreditation.

Martha Pullen is mainly known for her Heirloom Sewing and the intricate and delicate nature of that style of sewing.  Tiny stitches and delicate fabrics spring to mind.  This course was mainly to do Heirloom Sewing on an overlocker!  How?  Was my first question.  But as the months went by and the number of practise pieces you have to do were completed, I soon understood how delicate sewing was achievable on an overlocker.

As well as inserting lace and bridging, I have learnt how to insert zips with an overlocker.  Not as strange as it sounds, and really very easy - just different.

We even had to complete some patchwork using an overlocker.  For me, though, this technique is superfluous and uses far too much thread.

One of the first things was to attach bridging and lace to fabric and to make pin tucks.  I got the bridging wrong, so had to resubmit it.

This was resubmitted and I got it right this time.

 Patchwork with an overlocker, not only that, but 1/4" seams and a bowtie patch as well

Then making a small zipped bag.  With lace and ribbon insertions.

Two placemats that are bound in two different ways.  I thought this was a waste of thread as all the seams are flat-locked.

Now for something more associated with an overlocker and that is jersey.  So next came a cotton jersey camisole, but just to make it a little bit more difficult, we had to add a ribbon trim.

Now for the last piece using some heirloom techniques.  This is an underneath slip for a 4 year old girl.  Frills and skirt gathered and attached by overlocker.  My sewing machine didn't feel left out on this project because there are 4 tiny buttons and buttonholes on the back.

Lets hope I have done enough, and I can't wait to do some sewing lessons on these techniques.

There are other lessons as well and I hope to do some of these and show you pictures in time, but please do not hold your breath.  I have endless dog cushions to make at the moment. 

Busy Week

Time to reflect on how busy I have been this week and all in all I think it has been a very successful week.

Again I have been struggling to sleep, so have found myself in my work room at 6am in the morning (it is 6:30am as I am writing this blog).  I have found this a great time to finish off things.

The first thing to be finished was my Seamstar Lucky Elephant Hanging.  It now takes pride of place above my sewing machine.

This table runner was the next thing to be finished and is now posted to Germany.  It was a piece of material that came with the December 2014 issue of Love Sewing Magazine.

Thursday afternoon saw me glueing and sewing the rings onto my IMA Double Wedding Ring Quilt.  I have omitted the small segments, as I am fed up of making the applique pieces.  As I have already said it is something that I have enjoyed learning, but don't wish to do again.  Obviously, I may need to use the technique for other items, but the rings were not my favourite.  I now can't wait to quilt it, but first I need to buy a small amount of material for the sashing on the border.  I am thinking of trying to get a yellow close to the centre ring colour.  It's sort of mustard/greenish/yellow.  The border and back will be made in the dark grey, which has lovely butterflies on it.

When I finished the top of the quilt (that has now been put away), I cut out the lining for my grey and purple tartan pinafore.  This has now been sewn together waiting for a zip, which has been ordered.  Hopefully I will have it finished for the 10th of December.  This date is very significant.

Last Wednesday the 26th of November, was the last lesson in my Beginner's Dressmaking Course and the ladies were so sad to see it finish that they have asked for a further lesson.  This will be on the 10th December.  I was so chuffed, that I couldn't say no.  They want to come every Wednesday, but alas, we are waiting for Lorrayne to confirm the dates of next year.

So to say thank you for my ladies who have stuck by me I have made them Christmas presents and here they are:

They are 5 needle cases and each one is slightly different.  The patchwork cotton was from Seamstar and part of one of their craft kits; the linen on the outside is also left over linen from one of their craft kits, as is the wool felt on the inside and the grosgrain ribbon; the lining is from an old pair of linen trousers.  I hope they like them and think of me when they are sewing in the future.  I know one of the girls will keep coming on the odd Wednesday, as she will want to make a dress for a wedding she is going to.  

I just hope next year will be more successful.

As for today, will I be sewing?  NO.  Not until the zip comes for my pinafore, I won't be sewing . . . . . . but I have fabric and buttons for a blouse . . .

Army Buttons

Whilst tidying my work room, (as you all know I am sorting my work room to make it better organised) I came across a set of battered army buttons.

From the back, they look like they have just not been looked after, but the fronts (especially the top left one) intrigued me.  On closer inspection, they were buttons from the uniform of someone in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (bomb disposal), and the marks looked like something shrapnel would have done.

They were the buttons from the army uniform of Great Uncle James Donald Bradley - Donald to his family.

This is Donald wearing his uniform with the buttons.  I am missing 3 small ones and two large ones.  At the time of his death Donald wasn't wearing the uniform, but a bomb did kill him.

On the 26th April 1939, Donald joined the RAOC, signing on for 4 years.  On the 20th March 1940 he was posted overseas with the Scottish 58th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment.  He was then plucked out of the water at Dunkirk on 2nd June 1940 and sent with the rest of his remaining comrades to Penhale Camp, Perranporth, Cornwall.

Donald had two passions, swimming and poker.  His strong swimming ability saved his life at Dunkirk, rumours are that he was in the water for a day and helped save the lives of many of his comrades.  Penhale Camp was (it has now been redeveloped) on the north shore of Cornwall with an enviable beach and surfing waters.

On 7th July 1940, the day he died, he was on his way to the beach when he stopped to watch a high stake poker game.  At the same time, a German bomber was on his way back to Germany and had some bombs still on board.  He dropped them over Penhale Camp, one of them near to the poker game.  Donald, unlike some of his comrades, didn't die straight away.  He later died of his wounds at Newquay and District Hospital.

As he was on his way to the beach, he would not have been wearing the uniform.  But was it in his locker?  Were the buttons given to his family and have been kept all this time?  I will never know. But they are buttons, they have a family history connection, I love buttons and I love family history, what a great way of connecting people to their long lost family?

This is me at Donald's Grave side

This is the field at Penhale Camp, where the bomb dropped.

Not doing as I should

Well today I should have been concentrating on doing a few UFO's.  But made a tutorial for my Miniature Teddy's instead.

Take a look at the side of this blog under Techniques and see what you think?

Soon the pattern with be available on eBay to buy as a kit.  

I will let you know when it is available.

Hopefully, the teddy I made today was the last Teddy I will make for a long time.

More Miniature Bears and Bunnies

Today I have been mainly getting lessons ready.

I started with finishing my two miniature samples and getting them photographed.

Christmas Bear

Spring Bunny

Grandma's button box came in handy, as when I opened it I found a packet of small plastic white buttons, ideal for their joints.

Once I had finished making and photographing these two, I then wrote the instructions for the Hipster Brief.  This has gone really well and is looking good.  

I am going to relax tonight and get some knitting done!!!!

Grandma's Button Box

I learnt to sew from my Grandma, but the one thing that always fascinated me was her button box.  I would play for hours with it, or just simply put my hands in and swish them around.

When my Grandma sadly passed away, it was the button box I wanted to keep as a memento.  I have her sewing box and tools as well, but they are not as tactile as her buttons.  I can spend hours with my hands in the tin, (yes it's a tin, not a box, but box scans better with button) sometimes getting them out, sorting them or just choosing one. I have tried to split them into categories, but they never seem the same, so I put them back together, just loose playing with their buddies, together in the tin.

In there are odd ones, or full sets.  The ones that I love the most are the ones that came from garments my Grandma made and wore.  At the end of the garment's usefulness the buttons came off and were put in the tin.  When I find a button the catches my eye, I remember my Grandma using it, or, if it is one I have never seen her wear, I image what garment it could have been on.
Some buttons have shouted at me and one set have really made an impression.  So much  so that I had to find the right material for them to make something to show them off.  They are 8 purple shanked hexagons and when I was given 3 metres of purple lining the hunt was on to find the right fabric.  
I eventually found it at Knit and Stitch and I knew I wanted to make a Navy Pea Coat Style jacket, and here it is -

A hip length jacket with double breasted front and slash pockets

The purple lining is a great splash of colour

With some scraps of purple silk I made bound buttonholes

Thanks to my Grandma's frugelness I have a jacket that is unique and not only because of the skills she passed on to me, but also because of the buttons, her memory lives on.