Tuesday 28 February 2012

The Next Quilt................

My niece Kelly and her baby Sophie loved the quilt I made for them and have asked me to make a larger one.  I have just bought these pre-cut squares which Kelly likes so will be using them to make the quilt, Kelly loves Cath Kidston and this will fit very well in Sophies bedroom.



I have also decided to have a go at making a little dress for Sophie, I haven't attempted to make any items of clothing for about twenty years!  I've found this pattern which I though was really sweet (and doesn't look too difficult) I can read a pattern so should be able to manage it.............I hope.


I have chosen this fabric as I though it would suit Sophie quite well, the dress has a contrast yolk..


I will be using this fabric for the main body of the dress...


I hope it will turn out ok, I'm a bit apprehensive but will take it slowly and do my best, she won't be needing it until the summer so I have time.

I will post pictures along the way of both of these projects.

See you again soon.....



Sunday 26 February 2012

New Project................

I decided to embark on my next project and as my boys are in Italy visiting my in law's I have a bit of time to myself in the evenings. I'm still learning but thought I would make a small quilt either for Sophie's pushchair or for her to play with. It's not perfect and next time I will do things slightly differently, but all in all I am very pleased with the result.







It was made with a kit I bought from Ebay made up of various Cath Kidston fabrics. I hope that Kelly and Sophie like it. As a first attempt I don't think it's too bad.


A Weekend with Cath !!


It all started 30 something years ago when I got my first sewing machine a Novum 5000...


She was a lovely machine and I did use her quite a bit. I'm not that great at sewing and would certainly never attempt to make anything whatsoever for anyone to wear at the moment, but I'm ok at making curtains and that sort of thing. Well sometime ago after a couple of repairs the old girl gave up the ghost, (I do still have her in the garage as buying her was one of the last things I did with my Dad before he died and I will never throw her away). I decided to buy just a cheap sewing machine to replace her, but the old saying 'you get what you pay for' was most definitely the case here, and as a result I haven't made very much since.

Three or four years ago I bought the Cath Kidston SEW book with the little bag to make, yes you've guessed it, I never had the courage to attempt it so the fabric has been sitting in my cupboard all this time.


I was most fortunate in January to get a bit of a bonus from work so I decided to buy myself a new sewing machine, and after much research I purchased this little poppet .................


My husband and son thought a Toyota sewing machine was quite amusing ! I have to say I am really pleased with it, it's quiet, smooth, easy to control and a joy to use, and very much like using my old Novum.

As I didn't have any plans this weekend and my son's rugby was cancelled I thought it was about time I had a go at making something with the new machine and here are the results...........


I even decided to add lining to the bag too.......brave eh!


I am very proud of my efforts, and do actually feel that I will be able to use the bag without being embarrassed.


I decided not to do the buttonholes but to attach the strap to the bag and make it the length I wanted it.



Turned out it was much easier than I though it would be, although there are a couple of little things that I would do differently next time overall I'm very pleased, what do you think ?