A Sewing Lesson of Sorts

Sometimes when we make things we love them, sometimes we are very critical and don’t like them and other times we learn from them.

This Patricia Tunic from Sis Boom has been a great example of the latter. I decided at the end to take some pictures so that I could see it on and really critique the sewing and style.

First up I did NOT follow the layout guide and I cut it out and only realised later that I was missing the two side panels. I substituted the blue fabric and continued sewing. I knew by now this was going to be a “wear at home” tester so I tried the contrast facing and cuffs and the button loop this time.

At the end of it all it was a good learning experience. Here are some of the things I learnt and I can work on for the next one.

1. The size is wrong. Too tight across the bust and butt.

2. The larger print does nothing for me and makes me look bigger.

3. I am not sure I like the contrasting the collar and cuff, the jury is still out on that one.

4. The neck line does not suit my body type. I need to see if I could adjust the pattern (and that would be a first for me) and make it a V shape.

5. The contrast on the back draws attention to my thick neck and shoulders.

6. Too much fabric around the shoulder bust area, could a dart be the solution?

7. The shoulders are just a tad wide would need to adjust it.

8. I think this style might be accentuating my butt, should I not wear long shirts? Might have to look this one up on Trinny and Susannah.

Taking pictures of yourself is a very frightening and honest wake up call to your body shape, features etc and it allows you to critique your sewing at the same time.

Let me know if you have any other helpful feedback.

Thanks for stopping by …

Cloth Guide

Today I took the time to read the instruction manual for my Janome 1600P (I know, shock horror LOL).

Do you have a cloth guide (CG) for your machine and if you do have you used it?

I have had my other Janome for well over 1 year and I have never once attached the cloth guide! Today I thought I would give it a try as I was making a tunic top that required a 1/4” seam allowance.

I set the CG for a 1/4” and ta-da I had a nice strong guide for my fabric and a perfect 1/4” seam. When I don’t need it but I want to feed larger fabric through then I just loosen the screw and turn the guide the opposite direction. Takes no more time than it would to put on a 1/4” foot. The only thing is you need to make sure pins are not to the edge like you can see mine are in the above photo or they might just catch on the guide and push your fabric. As I don’t sew over my pins anymore I simply just pinned vertically instead. This will be very useful when quilting.

This is the first project on my J1600P and she was wonderful. Man she is gutsy and strong and really not that much noisier than my QC6260.

I will post about the tunic tomorrow when I can get some daylight shots.

So happy to be sewing! Thanks for stopping by …

Down Under Quilts

The latest edition of Down Under Quilts is out now. Here is a link to the contents page.

I like the "blokes quilt" named Fractured on page 20.

This is a free online magazine and if you don't already subscribe you can see a link down the bottom of the page for subscriptions. Also look at the tab on the side, it allows you to read through back issues.

If you find a project you like you can print it out.

Happy reading ...

Chatty Crafters make a Softie

Oh we had such a wonderful morning today! A huge thank you to my sis, Sharon, who was our “teacher” for this session.

We made “Polly” from the Softies (22 friends for you to sew, knit and crochet) book.

Can you imagine a bunch of gaggling gals trying to sew and chat and listen at the same time. Sharon was very patient and after one and half hours we were happy to leave our machines behind and display our new pals.

Now try getting these gals to all be quiet and smile at the same time, yet another achievement I think!

But here is the before picture. Please let me know what you think they are saying …

Introducing the four Polly’s (yet to be named by their owners).

Up close and personal. (click on the picture for a larger image)

“Polly” is a lovely softie to make. The one I made with Sharon is for Laith so we will let him give him a suitable name. (since the photo was taken we have added a mouth LOL).

Thanks for stopping by …

Sewing Room Makeover

It was time to have a makeover, for my sewing room that is. I am very lucky to have a room that I share with my husband. Hmmm I say share but honesty the poor man has been elbowed over to one side now, bless him he is a wonderful man!

So here was the start of the clean out. We have constant construction going on around us so I have a major battle with dust. Everything has to be put away and cleaned very regularly.

I have tried to find a picture of the sewing room as it was but no luck. Lets just say cluttered and a little disorganised ;-)

After removing everything from the room it was time to get cleaning and sorting. Oh the pain of it all.

I wanted a desk that would accommodate all my machines and also be quilting friendly and I found the perfect solution at IKEA. The desk arrived and I spent a fair while assembling it while muttering things about a group of Swedish IKEA employees forgetting to complete half of the instructions ;-)

All done.

Here is a view from the door. The walls are very bare as my hubby has a thing about putting screws into walls. Hey I say let him have his “things” just looking at this picture and all the fabric I think I have bigger issues LOL.

This is the sewing table.

It has adjustable legs so now my machines are at the right level and I don’t get that hunched up feeling in my arms and shoulders. I am thrilled that I can have my sewing machine, coverstitch, overlocker and embroidery machine all out at the same time.

Here is the work area.

And my darling husbands office space.

My books, patterns and files are “almost” sorted outside.

And this is my RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) stash ready for the Chatty Crafters to rummage through and then it will be donated to my sons nursery and an Omani sewing group.

Oh and for any local ladies reading, check out this fabulous organiser I found at Ramez for RO 3.000. There is also a three layer one for RO 2.500. Perfect for all those notions etc.

Now that my room is back in order I have a zillion things to get on with. One thing I am hoping to start is the colour wheel quilt that my sister got for me. These are the fabrics that will make up the colour wheel. I read through the instructions last night and decided there and then that I need my sisters help to get started so I got the fabrics out today and washed them.

Sharon is here for only 5 more days so we have lots to fit in, I just don’t know where the past month has gone.

Thanks for stopping by …

Ramadan Greetings

Today is the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. This is a special month for Muslims where they fast from dawn until dusk. It is a month of reflection and prayer.

To all my Muslim friends and family I send wish you Ramadan blessings.

Sami’s 2nd Birthday

Last week was Sami’s 2nd birthday. It was the day after we returned from Dubai so there was a mad dash to Cold Stone for another ice-cream cake, yes we are hooked ;-)

He had a great time opening his gifts and of course Lujayne was there to carefully supervise and “assist”.

Cake time!

When I asked Sami to blow out the candle he put his fingers straight on the flame, I got such a shock but quickly burst out laughing so that he would not cry as it didn’t seem to phase him TG.

This was the look on the kids faces when I took the cake to the side to cut it, LOL you would swear we never feed them. But kids love cake, (and so does their Mumma I might add), especially chocolate ice-cream cake.

But then it all got too much for the birthday boy …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!

Thanks for stopping by and sorry for the delay in getting your birthday post up Samster! And thanks to Laith for calling from overseas to wish him a Happy Birthday :-)

Inseparable in Dubai

We had a great time in Dubai. My sister (bless her) was so wonderful with the kids and Lulu as usual was inseparable from her. She even managed to wangle a good sleeping arrangement with Auntie Sharon, she was a very happy princess. On our last day we managed to get back to Dubai Mall and the book shop for another browse while Sami had his nap.

The kids enjoyed a stroll though Hamleys toy shop too.

Dubai Mall is so huge that I believe we got our exercise for the day. Check out this great water feature. It was an early start to return home and by the time we got on the plane nerves were a little on edge. TG they had Night Garden playing on the in-flight entertainment so Sami was happy for at least 25 minutes.

The trip from Dubai to Muscat is very short, you are no sooner up in the air and you are coming down again. So tell me why is it that people want to fully recline their seats? The guy in front of my sister was trying to do just that but he didn’t count on having long legs Shaz to contend with, lets just say - Sharon 1, Chair Reclining Man 0!

When we arrived in Muscat Sharon realised that her Elizabeth Bradley tapestry she had been working on was not with her. After numerous phone calls, emails and trips to the airport she now has it back thank goodness! It rolled away when the stroller tipped over in Dubai airport as Lulu was having a “moment”. Sigh, the trials and tribulations ;-)

Thanks for stopping by …

Retail Therapy

 

A little retail therapy in between kiddie activities.  In the morning we went to Modesh World which is a children’s play area set up at the airport expo centre for the Dubai Festival.

  I have four words for you … Don’t Waste Your Money! No wait I have to add … Terrible, horrible and very disappointing. Enough said.

We then went to Dubai Mall. OMG it must be like the largest mall in the world??? We only covered a little but I am convinced I had my exercise for the day. The kids were fascinated with the aquarium wall.   The BEST find for the day was the Kinokuniya book store. WOW this place is awesome and for any crafters out there who have looked at those Japanese craft books and mags on-line well head over to Kinokuniya and knock yourself out. My sister got only two craft books which I think was very restrained for her. She fell in love with the quilt on the cover of this one …

It has some lovely blocks in it great for using up scraps.

The stitching detail is brilliant, if only I could read Japanese I would be in heaven!   It was kiddie feral time so I did not really get a good chance to browse probably just well for my wallet LOL.

Of course we did have time to stop for an ice-cream ;-)

And when not out and about you still need to keep the little munchkins busy in the hotel room …

Thanks for stopping by …