I’ve not exactly been on the ball with this, yes, I’ve taken some photos on my phone & others on my camera, but I’ve failed miserably to post anything in ages! So for those who’re even remotely interested in my “behind the scenes” sewing, here’s a recap from day 7!
Day 7 was Insides. At the time I was making a vintage Butterick jacket for Daughter No2 & this shop shows all the interfacing to support the fabric. Day 8 shows the plaid fabric & potential patterns for the skirt for Daughter no2 (again!). Day 9 – signature style… Well, I do like spots. For the inspiration pic I was a little stuck, until I realised I am more inspired by looking through and patting my fabrics than just about anything else, so my inspiration has to be a bag of fabric just begging to be made up! Day 10 – my earliest makes are not photographed, at least, not that I know of! I started sewing at 18, so 24 years later there are few, if no survivors. But I managed to find this Vogue blouse pattern in my stash, one I made 2-3 times in the early 90s, so it will have to do!
For day 12’s prompt, favourite finish, I knew exactly what to photograph! Hong Kong finish on the inside of an unlined vintage jacket, the coolest finish! Day 13 was a bit less exciting, it’s been dull and cloudy here for days, so the view from my window has been less than inspiring. Luckily for me, at the moment I have no UFOs apart from the project I’m working on at the moment! Last week I tackled a few projects I’ve been putting off for ages, so now the only unfinished projects are those I’ve yet to start, all those pieces of fabric lurking in the boxes in my cupboard. Day 16 brought out the book collectors amongst us! Here’s my little library of sewing related books. It’s missing a few, daughter No1 has some in her room at Uni and I’ve loaned a couple out, but these are the core. Organisation was next – I decided to show you my boxes that live under my sewing desk. In them are some goodies you’ll see in another photo. The brown cardboard boxes ont he left contain a good few years worth of BurdaStyle magazines, 2 years to a box, 4 boxes there… The older ones are in plastic boxes in the loft.
On the home stretch! I really don’t do much planning when it comes to sewing. I know what I want to make from my fabrics, to a certain extent, so I don’t feel the need to make a sketch detailing the fabric & garment. My sketches are for my pattern cutting, and if I keep them on my noticeboard, there is a hope I’ll get round to making the pattern in the right season. I have a little pile of fabrics & patterns on my sewing table, those are the ones I want to make first, but every now and then something will come along & jump the queue. I’m not all that fussed, it all needs to be made up at some point! 🙂
Day 18 was to be fun – well, Daughter No1 & I had fun nosing around the charity shops in town, & I found this book detailing the years 1915-1975 in British Vogue for £2.50! I couldn’t pay for it fast enough! For Fit on day 19 you get to see my vintage dress form. I’m not sure how old she is, but she’s adjustable from a 32 bust to a 39, so she’s perfect for testing the fit of the clothes I make for the girls.
Then we have notions, day 20. It looks like someone’s birthday presents erupted on my table! These are my boxes of zips, buttons, buckles,elastics, threads, ribbons, braids & bindings. I haven’t opened the embroidery threads boxes, nor the handbag findings & overlocker threads box. Sometimes it’s all just too much.
You may have guessed by now that I’m not massively into novelty fabrics and mad stuff. But I do have this. “This” is a piece of black silk from India, block printed by hand with these cute elephants. There is a border of elephants with drivers & passengers on the selvage edges and individual ellies alternating with little squares over the rest of the fabric. A student brought this from India for me about 6 or 7 years ago – or maybe more, I’ve completely lost track. I love it to bits and every year decide “this is the year I make this up”! But I have yet to find the perfect garment to make to really take advantage of the print and the border. One day.
Now I need to get back to some sewing, there’s a pair of trousers missing a waistband and a blouse all cut out & ready to be made up by the end of the weekend! But first we are off to Buxton on Saturday, one last Uni Open Day for Daughter No2, so Sunday is now officially a Sewing Day. Have a good one!
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
I love the elephant fabric – it’s just beautiful! I’d make it into a dress if it were mine 🙂