A basic autumnal top

I'm still working away at the forest green wool jacket I started a few weeks ago but...the clocks have gone back one hour so by the time I get home it's dark. Dark green thread is almost as difficult to see by artificial light as black thread! I also don't want to make a silly mistake by rushing things with the jacket just because I don't want to wait for daylight to see things properly.

So, what better thing to sew than a light coloured jersey top! See what I did there...a subtle segway! This is another favourite New Look 6216 in view A. Basically, I add as much length to the sleeves when I'm pinning the pattern pieces onto the fabric, as I can. I think the pattern has three quarter length sleeves but getting full length sleeves just depends on the width of your fabric. Some you win, some you don't.

I bought the fabric from Edinburgh Fabrics a few weeks ago and pre-washed it before it lay in 'The Heap' in my (self-proclaimed) sewing corner of the living room. I think it's a viscose jersey and I can't remember if it has any lycra in it but it is good and stretchy. I like how the pattern looks like it has autumnal flowers and leaves on it, probably due to the colours. It's got a bit colder here in Edinburgh so I feel the need for long sleeves and this top is a perfect quick make and yay! eligible for the Fall Essentials Sew-Along. I used my overlocker throughout but used a twin needle for the hem and sleeve hems. I didn't use it around the neck band, it just didn't need it.

Booooo! With the clocks going back an hour, it's drastically reduced the time when I can take photos outside and benefit from daylight...so all photos are inside *sigh*.

Participating in Gillian's Better pictures Project has made me think more about background and lighting though so let's hope you can see some thought in these photos! And I've accessorised it with a co-ordinating scarf...standards are being dragged up ever so slowly!

...and a fun shot showing the batwing/kimono sleeves...whatever the difference is between the two! Any ideas?

Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge top

Taa dah!!! This is the third garment I said I'd sew for my Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge 2015. My pledge was for 3 garments so I'm ahead of time, yay! There could be another one simmering away in the darkest recesses of my brain but that's a place we don't really want to go!

The fabric is totally man-made. No natural fibres here. At. All. The pattern is Butterick 6693 (links to an Etsy listing so when someone buys it, it's gone). There isn't any copyright year printed on this sewing pattern but it looks more likely to be from the second half of the eighties as the pattern envelope artwork looks quite stylish and tasteful. Not something you often find yourself saying about the early eighties!

I made view A. It's a round necked top with off the shoulder sleeve seams. Because of that quite high up neckline I even muslined the pattern! Then there is a front wrap and a back wrap which tie at the side. I added 2" to the body length but that's it for any alterations and I left the neckline alone.

The front and back overwraps all combine to make this quite a heavy top. Surprisingly heavy! It's definitely an autumn top rather than a summer one so it's also an ideal candidate for the Fall Essentials Sew-Along. As you can see I've cunningly accessorised my autumn top with autumnal trees and carefully arranged the fallen leaves in the background. We haven't had a puff of wind or more to the point, downright gale force winds that characterise Edinburgh from October onwards. It was a bit chilly taking these photos though.

This pattern was a little challenging, more challenging than it looks. There's quite a lot going on at the neckline with a complicated facing to sew and a button closure. If I make this again I'll just make the neckline larger so I can do away with this complication. The sleeves were also a bit 'Aaarrrghhh!' to sew. You have to sew up the side seam to the arm. Sew the arm seam and then do a kind-of set in sleeve. Except it's not that easy and involves clipping the body seam allowances to the point where the body stitching ends. There must be another way to do that better and if I make it again, I will modify the arm/sleeve thing. And yes, I think I will make it again in the future.

So, what do I remember from the late-eighties? I was at art college and studying away as you have to with these things. My musical taste veered away from the Top Twenty etc and our art college discos every Friday night played a hefty wallop of soul music - I was introduced and grew to love James Brown  Louis Jordan , The Mohawks The Jackson 5 and even this from Louis Prima ...it was all about the beat (man!), if it had a good beat, we'd dance to it!

I seem to have 'discovered' 1980s vintage patterns! What's that all about? I've really surprised myself with this and if anyone had asked me at the start of the year I'd have said 'No chance' to 1980s clothing and patterns but I seem to be drawn to the bat-wing sleeves and unusual styles. I quite like 1950s clothing but I'm not really a dresses person, as you've probably gathered by the rest of my blog. I've really enjoyed the Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge and I'll be looking out for more vintage patterns from now on...and here's a quick 'flash' of the wraps unwrapped!

A new top and some silly photos

Hello everyone and how is October doing for you? It seems to be the time for me to 'courie-in' (pronounced 'koo-ray in', with emphasis on the first syllable - meaning to get cosy or snuggle). It's getting darker earlier in the evening and as I'm writing this, it's 7pm, I've just shut the blinds and put the heating on for a bit. You'll see by the photos coming up that the leaves are changing colour and falling off the trees.

So I've been making some cooler weather basic tops with longer sleeves and some cosy pyjamas for Rhinestones and Telephones Fall Essentials Sew Along #FESA2015. I've still to blog the pjs but I'm wearing them now. 

I've made another New Look 6216  Well, it must be a good few months since I last made anything with it! I used some lovely jersey fabric I bought last month in Mandors in Glasgow. It's a really lovely weight and the more I worked with it the more I liked it. Does that happen to you too? 

This has lovely colours, a teal, putty and dull lime coloured blobs on a black background. Here's a closer view. The fabric is viscose and perhaps a little pinch of lycra. I rescued it from the remnants bin and cost £7 for the piece, which was at least 2 metres and I think is a good price for the quality. 

I also tried taking some photos outside as my October challenge for The better pictures project from Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow. Now, the challenge is to take some photos of 'movement' so...you're warned....they're coming up!

Again, the location is the communal garden for the block of flats where I live. It's beside a main road with buses passing so plenty of potential for embarrassment! Especially when you're jumping around and then decide to kick the leaves on the grass...well, it would be rude not to! Couldn't resist! I know we're probably supposed to do ladylike poses to show off our clothes but...there were just so many leaves lying around...anyway, have a look for yourselves at the photographic evidence!

Now, I was trying to kick the leaves but these photos just make me think of The Monty Python sketch 'The Ministry of Silly Walks'

One thing led to another and I remembered the classic 'Four candles' sketch by the Two Ronnies so I absolutely had to watch that. Then it was a couple of classic howl out loud clips from Only Fools and Horses, the chandelier clip and the bar clip. Finally, Blackadder and the Dr Johnson's dictionary sketch.

Writing this post took much longer than it should have but I've really enjoyed it and it's certainly made me laugh out loud, hope you did too...and not just at my 'Ministry of Silly Walks' photos in my garden!

UFO now finished!

So, saga of the UFO (or UnFinshed Object). This was a cream top I'd cut out and started sewing together in the summer. I bought the fabric in my first raid on Mandors in Glasgow in April. It has viscose in it and quite a bit of lycra plus something else too that I can't remember. The pattern was my old favourite Simplicity 1364. There's 50% off Simplicity patterns just now, by the way.

I got as far as sewing in the zip then ignored it. For a couple of months. The problem was with the stretchy fabric, when I sewed the zip I just sewed in a whole load of tiny tucks. Unintentionally. Yes, I'd basted the zip in position and whip stitched the two edges together as I always do. You see, I actually like sewing in zips and take a good bit of satisfaction in a well sewn zip. There! I've said it!

So, a couple of weeks ago I decided to unpick the machine stitching and try sewing it again. Slightly better result but still more tiny tucks than I could ever live with. Out with the seam ripper. Again. This time I also unpicked my basting and ironed on some interfacing strips along the zip stitching lines. I'll show it who's boss! Then I basted the zip in again and sewed it for the third time. See! I do have patience. When I'm determined a pesky zip won't get the better of me! This time it worked.

If this hadn't worked, Plan D involved me unpicking all the basting and hand sewing the b***** zip in! Then of course the only thing I had to do were the hems. Never my favourite job it was another week or so before I finally hemmed and finished it yesterday. Yay!

I didn't feel too well yesterday so I have taken some photos of the top on a hanger. I like this top on and I'll get good use of it in the winter, worn with a cardigan or jumper. It looks much better on than it does on the hanger but I just wasn't up to going outside to take photographs.

Preparations for the green wool jacket are continuing. It never ceases to amaze me just how much time and preparation goes into getting everything ready before you even sit down at the sewing machine. I've bought some 100% cupro lining fabric from John Lewis at the weekend but I've still to pre-wash it. I'm not going to wash the jacket but wanted some kind of treatment before I cut it out and it should also be a safeguard for when I get it dry cleaned.

Saturday was a better day for me and I cut out and sewed up a simple jersey top using a £7 remnant I bought in my second raid on Mandors a couple of weeks ago. Still to be photographed and blogged. Why does it feel so good sewing up something from a remnant? Making use of an end of the roll or off cut of fabric? It was cheap and wearable? Whatever the reason, it feels good!

The raid on Mandors

Well, I promised a post about my recent visit to Mandors in Glasgow so here it is. I'll also mix in some rough ideas about what I'm going to sew with the fabrics I bought. Yes, it's fabric with an 's' at the end. Plural. Lots of fabrics! So many they gave me a free reusable fabric bag plus a big carrier bag with all my purchases. Maybe I bought too much? Too much fabric...*does not understand the concept*

 The top fabric is a green polyester fabric with a little bit of lycra in it. I'm sure I've used the merlot version of it in one of my many versions of Ultimate trousers. It's cheap fabric at £3.99 a metre and it's polyester...but they're so comfy! It's also a lovely forest green colour. Me and green, eh? This fabric is destined to be another pair of Ultimate trousers.

I also made the mistake of rummaging in the jersey remnants bin and found this wildly patterned tropical jersey fabric. It was £7 for 2 metres which also had three holes cut out of it when presumably it was used on a display mannequin. I can cope with that. I think the fabric is a viscose with a little bit of lycra. It has a slubby surface texture.

The top fabric is another rescue from the jersey remnants bin again at £7 for the piece. This is a nicer quality and again I'd say it's a viscose. The background is black and the bluey spots are more of a teal colour in real life.

The bottom fabric is a taupe/grey version of the forest green polyester fabric above and is also destined to be a pair of Ultimate trousers.


  This rather nice fabric was in their sale area, which had lots of jersey fabrics so I was right in there! I think its sale price was about £4.99 a metre so I took 2 metres. I'd like to make a jersey top for work with this but I haven't decided on a pattern yet. Again I think it's a viscose jersey.

Now we're getting to the really nice, not in the sale or remnants bin stuff! The top fabric is a 50% wool 48% polyester 2% lycra and it's a lovely weight. Destined for trousers I've not decided on a pattern yet but obviously Ultimate trousers are a good fall-back if I don't find anything else I like.

The bottom fabric is gorgeous! It's a thicker viscose twill. Maybe there's something else in it as it has quite a bit of stretch to it but I can't remember. This is destined for a top of some sort but again I don't know which pattern to use. I've seen some lovely patterns recently so I might have to try a new one.

And last but not least, the most expensive fabric purchased in this raid. The top fabric is just the tropical jersey again, so you can see the full range of colours it has!

The fabric on the bottom is a lovely 100% wool (twill?) which is destined to be a jacket. More forest green, yay! I bought Vogue pattern 9136 when their patterns were recently half price. I've already made a muslin and yesterday I pre-shrunk the fabric. That's an afternoon of my life gone! I also cut out the fabric so I'm ready to start cutting out and applying the interfacings.

You can also see the glorious green buttons I found in Mandors too. Not cheap at 99p each and I bought 6 or 7 but I think the jacket is plain so it needs statement buttons. I also know that if I didn't buy them I'd seriously be kicking myself when I got home to Edinburgh. They're the perfect colour for the fabric and I love the shape and design of them. I might even challenge myself to make bound button holes. *Gulp*. Anyone else planning to make a jacket or coat for the cooler weather?

Fall Essentials Sew Along #FESA2015 - cosy pyjamas

At the end of last winter I threw out all 3 pairs of my winter pyjamas. They were done and I'd certainly got my money's worth out of them. So as August came to a close and the 5th annual Fall Essentials Sew Along was announced by Sarah at Rhinestones and Telephones, I knew what my first 'make' would be!

I found and bought some lovely brushed cotton from Minerva fabrics in Black Watch tartan and another checked fabric for a soon-to-be-started second pair of pyjamas.

I used Kwik Sew 2811 which I've used before here. I also used buttons from my button tin, which is very satisfying! I love piping in pyjamas so I had to do it for these and also I felt it would lighten up the tartan, which can be a bit dark. Anyway, I used No.1 piping cord and some green satin bias binding and used the piping foot on my sewing machine. It definitely takes longer to do piping but it's well worth the effort. I used the overlocker for as many of the inside seams as I could.

I cut the cuff sleeve cuffs on the bias, I love the contrast! I needed to add a good few inches onto the pyjamas as the pattern states the finished inside leg length is 29" which is way too short for me. I just  cut more cuffs on the bias to add the length, as you can see in the photo above. It just seemed to be a neat way to add the length I need using the bias cut cuffs I love. And of course it's another opportunity to add more satin piping!

The trousers are lovely and roomy and finished with a gathered elastic waistband. These are a real classic pair of PJs, there's nothing revolutionary about them but then again, I don't want them to be. They just have to be cosy and comfy.

One pair down, two more to go!

Stan Laurel, Glasgow Doors Open Day and a little bit of handicrafts

Bet that got your attention but they're all connected! We've just got back from a cheeky weekend over-nighter in Glasgow. We just thought why not? And in a stroke of genius we found out it was also Glasgow Doors Open weekend. For those of you who don't know what the 'Doors Open' events are, they do just exactly what they say and the doors of institutions and interesting places are thrown open to the public to come and have a look. There can be some very surprising places that are runaway successes, I remember the first time Mortonhall Crematorium participated in Doors Open Day and it was very popular.

So, the hitlist this weekend was all in the central Glasgow area and all within easy walking distance of each other, although my leg muscles are aching today because we did so much walking yesterday.

There are lots of photos in this post and I can't say they're the best quality either but I hope you'll enjoy hearing about the places we visited. There's fabric at the end for those who aren't interested in buildings. Here goes....

Glasgow School of Art, the Reid Building Visitors Centre. This is an ultra-modern newly opened in 2014 just before the beloved Mackintosh building went up in flames last year. This modern building faces 'the Mac' (designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh) and surprisingly the two sit very well together. There was a Visitors Centre you could look around and
I really enjoyed this. the displays were well laid out and even though it's a small space we stayed there for a good half hour. You can't get into The Mac as it's half covered in scaffolding for repair works.

There was also this lovely tea cosy displayed in a glass case. Can't imagine how long it took to sew that! I loved the stylised flowers, they seem full of life and movement. In another case was a hand printed skirt sewn during the Second World War. The noted beside it said that art supplies were difficult to get hold of in wartime so artists had to get by as best they could. Not a great photo but you get the idea!

Next on the list was St Vincents Street Church. This is on the World Monuments Watch as being in danger of falling into ruin but the Glasgow Doors Open Day brochure said you would be amazed at the interior. They were right! This was designed by Alexander'Greek'Thomson and it's a corker! It has a very exotic feel to the decoration inside but has been damaged due to water ingress. The building is now water-tight but the water damage hasn't been repaired. It's very interesting seeing a building that's been preserved rather than renovated.

After this, it was The Lighthouse which is now an arts venue but started life as The Glasgow Herald building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. No photos, you'll be pleased to hear!

The we went to my favourite building of the whole weekend. The Britannia Music Hall (also known as the Britannia Panopticon or the Panopticon). I absolutely loved this! It's not a big venue and it's on the first floor. It's also gloriously shabby inside! There were great exhibits on display and I learnt that Stan Laurel had his stage debut at the Panopticon. Cary Grant also danced on stage in tights in this theatre before he became super-smooth and cool. There were various programmes on display showing you the variety of weird and wonderful acts you could see. No telly!

 Music of the era was playing and there were some costumes on display too. You may be able to see the peeling paint in this photo! The stage has recently been restored as they do performances of the period. A wonderfully atmospheric place and the 1200 people who visited yesterday probably thought so too!

 Today it was the Synagogue. I have been to a synagogue before, the Florence Synagogue so I was interested in seeing how it compared. Florence seemed much older and this one was built in the nineteenth century so there's lots of beautiful stained glass. There were lovely helpers from the congregation who answered our questions and explained lots of things to us about the Jewish faith and how they worship.

We also went downstairs to the Scottish Jewish Archive. As we entered the building C was asked to cover his head and given a cap (sorry I don't know what the correct name is). There were lots of other people visiting and I think opening their doors was a big hit. There were people visiting from other faiths too, some you might not expect would enter a synagogue but it was good to see.

After the synagogue it was the Glasgow Art Club. The entrance doors, fireplaces and ventilation duct covers have recently been proved to have been designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Yes, it's that man again! But he was a world class architect and designer. You can see one of the fireplaces in the photo below. We were able to wander around the floors of this beautiful building.

Our last building was the Glasgow Film Theatre, a lovely Art Deco cinema. We missed the last tour so didn't get to go into a projection room but we went to three auditoriums and the cafe.

So, back home in Auld Reekie now and thinking of the amazing places we've seen. Such a variety of purposes and states of preservation. Have you been to any similar event? Maybe you also went to see some buildings in Glasgow this weekend. If so, which one was your favourite?

The next post will be about fabric...no trip to Glasgow is compete without a raid on Mandors!