Burda Girls Harlem Trousers 05/2013

For those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that I have a younger cousin who lives quite a while away and whom I only get to see once or twice a year. Last weekend I was in her neck of the woods, so of course I had to drop of a gift. The pattern I decided to make for her was the burda Harlem trousers, which you can find here. 

This was such an easy pattern to make. It has only two pattern pieces (the front and the back). I then choose to add a yoga style waist band and cuffs around the ankles. As the pattern was so easy to follow, this piece took around two hours from start to finish.

For the fabric, I choose this light blue jersey that I've had in my stash for nearly 4 years now. The fabric originally came from a 60p and was perfect for this pattern.

 

Sadly I didn't get to see my cousin try on the trousers but I did get a call from my aunt, saying that my cousin really liked them.  

How I increase the cloth size of a pattern

In Full Bloom 06/2017 (A Burda Pattern)

So I used the same super easy pattern to make tops for all of my friends as presents for their birthdays. However I needed one top to be a size 20, which this pattern didn't accommodate for. In the past I have needed to increase the lengths of patterns however I have never personally needed to increase the size. So I thought I'd share with you how I went about this but in the knowledge that there maybe a better way to go about this. This being said, this method worked out perfectly for this pattern.

So starting on the side opposite the fold line, I measured the length of the pattern line for the smallest side. Then I measured the length of the pattern line for the next size up. I worked out the difference between the two. I did this for the difference between every pattern line and was glad to find out that the difference was the same for each size increase. Similarly the distance between each of the lines where the same.

Therefor the next step for me was to multiply these figures by the difference in size from the largest size on offer and the size I wanted. I used these figures to then draw out the new line.

I repeated this for each of the sides for the pattern. Like I said before, there is probably a better method for this, so if you have any hint and tips they would be greatly appreciated.

Book Review- A Guide to Sewing

A Guide to Sewing

By igloo

This was the very first sewing book I ever bought myself. I found it reduced at 'the works' and boy am I glad I did.
Although I originally bought it for it's projects, I actually found that the guides at the front where the most useful parts of the book. The book has a really detailed guide about types of fabric, types and sizes of needles and threads. As well as lots of hand drawn instructions on various had stitches. I think the aim of this book is to give a brief introduction to sewing for complete beginners but I think it goes well beyond that and gives beginners and wide range of information that comes in useful time and time again.

In terms of projects, I have successfully completed the infinity scarf, the coin purse, the Retro Cushion, the headscarf top, the pillow case dress and drawstring skirt.

I found that the project instructions lacked visual sources and relied far to heavily on text. Although the hand drawings that accompanied the instructions on occasion, where a pretty little touch in terms of the graphic appeal of the page, they did little to help explain the method being used.
Overall I'd recommend this book for beginners that want to get a deeper understanding of materials, threads and needles.

Burda New Collection: In full bloom 06/2017

I made this top as a birthday present for a friend. I bought a Burda Style magazine whilst on holiday. Although the instructions are in a different language, it's nothing that google translate and basic expectations of what the pattern was going to say, I was able to knock up this beauty.

Sadly I couldn't find this pattern anywhere else, nor could I find the official name for it. So for the title of this blog post I went for the name of the collection that was on show in the magazine.
As you can see I choose a sparkly and see through fabric. It wasn't an easy fabric to sew with but since it came from a £1 bundle, I can't really complain. I used the pattern as a basic template and then added my own embellishment (the lace). I used the lace to cover all the raw edges and for the straps. This made the pattern even easier. It also added to the fancy/ party feel of this top. With a vest underneath, this top will be perfect for a night out.
I can see myself making more tops with this pattern, due to how quickly I was able to make this one. It took less than an hour!

Sneak peak of the week

Post 1: Tuesday 20th June 18:00

Post 2: Thursday 20th June 18:00

Book Review- Learn to crochet

Learn to Crochet

By Coats

Edited By Sally Harding

This book was my very first crocheting book. My Mum bought it for me once I had mastered the basics of chaining, slip stitch and double crochet.
The books primary aim is to teach the reader how to crochet with a set of simple and clear diagrams. I found that although the diagrams helped, I did need the assistance of a few YouTube videos on occasion. As a result I feel that the book would have better achieved it's aim by coming with a DVD that had video tutorials that accompanied the diagrams. However I was able to teach myself the finer details of crochet through this book and have referred to it many times since.
I have also lent this book to a friend who was learning to crochet about a year or so ago and again the book was greatly appreciated for it's quick over view of crocheting techniques and terminology.

I have personally successfully completed several projects in this book. The include: the striped cushion, scallop cushion, cotton afghan, wool afghan and hand towel edging.

Sally Harding has also written Crochet Step by Step, which has an average of 4.9/5 and 4.3/5 ratings on the book people and goodreads respectively.  This seems to be a much more detailed book, with it explaining 100 different techniques and stitches compared to Learn to Crochet, which only explains 20.  However having not read this book myself, I can't comment on whether the book better addresses the staticness (for want of a better word) of the diagrams.

Finally... My First Block Quilt

It's been two years in the making! It's finally finished! I really can't contain my excitement.

Back in the summer of 2015 I really wanted to make a quilt. I think my words where "how hard can it be". Oh it was hard... Actually let me rephrase that. It wasn't hard, it just took a lot of time, patience and accuracy (not exactly traits I'm known for). As a result I returned to this project multiple times. In fact I mentioned this project in a post back in September 2015.

If I went back, would I start this project? No. But am I glad I made this quilt? Yes. The quilt feels like a personal achievement. It has proven to me that I can stick with and complete a project that lasts for more than a week. It is also another skill that I have tried, I wouldn't say I've mastered the art of quilt making but I have definitely tried new techniques. That being said, I don't think I'll be making another quilt in a hurry.