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.

London on a budget (Day 3 and 4)

On day three, we decided that we should just chill out a bit and have a day of window shopping. So we spent the day ambling down Oxford street. It was fun to play the game of, if I had this budget what would I get.

Then in the evening we had our (fancy) meal out for our final full day in London. For this meal we went to pizza hut on Leicester square.

Finally we finished up the day by going to Shakespeare's globe to where we had standing tickets (£5). It did hurt to stand up so long but was well worth it. The actors where amazing and we got to see an iconic tourist attraction for a super cheap price.

For our final day in London we went to Camden market, where we got some good (and not so good) deals.

The Joys of Productivity

It's almost Easter! In fact it's good Friday tomorrow, which means that there are lots of events going on at my local church.During the week before Easter the church that I go to team up with other local churches to create a series of out reach events. One of these events was a craft evening that I went to with my Mum.
 Although I may have seemed a bit anti-social with my sewing machine in the far corner, I still found the fellowship amazing. Being surrounded by not only people who share the same hobby but also the same passion for Christ is truly wonderful.
During this time I was also able to finish two sewing projects that had been on my 'needs to be finished' pile for a year or two (or maybe even 3). Yes, you heard that right, I finished a top about 3 years after I first started it!
But at the end of the evening I was so joyful, that not only had I been productive, when it came to my 'needs to be finished' pile but I'd also been productive in finding out more about Jesus (thanks to the amazing speaker).
So this got me wondering, what are your traditions at Easter? Do you follow lent and if so how's that going for you?

And as always,

I hope this has inspired you!

10 Random Questions

Hey Guys, I realise that you probably don't now that much about me, so I thought I'd share some random facts that you may not know.
1. Do you like your hand writing?
Not really, I think it's a little too functional and not elegant enough.
2. What is your favourite lunch meal?
Probably something quick and easy like pasta or sandwiches, as I'm usually in a bit of a rush.
3. Would you bungee jump?
No way! I'm absolutely terrified of heights.
4. What is your favourite ice cream?
Definitely anything with chocolate in it.
5. Red or pink?
Red
6. Favourite sports to watch?
Gymnastics, the gymnasts are always so graceful and elegant.
7. Any Tattoos?
No, sorry not my cup of tea.
8. Where were you 3 hours ago?
In my room.
9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?
Yes, I went to watch Star Wars again!
10. When was the last time you went for a run?
A couple of days ago, I struggle to stay on top of exercise in the winter. I mean who wants to go for a run outside when the temperatures at 1 to -1 degrees? Although now the weather is starting to pick up again.

The plan

So I know I haven't posted in a while but I've been busy balancing my work and my sewing. This week was also the week where I finally decided what I would make for Christmas.
I was having a little noisy at some Christmas vlogs on-line, when I noticed that a lot of them seemed to feature family members all receiving matching pyjamas. I couldn't help but think how cheesily (I'm not sure if that's a word) cute this ritual was, when it dawned on me that I could make pyjama bottoms for the whole family.

So here's the plan (which I'm half way there to completing).

I'm going to make pyjama bottoms for each family member that I will be spending Christmas with. The bottoms will be made out of either the same fabric or matching fabric. Each person will have a different style of pyjama, as that way each person will still be an individual and the pyjamas won't become some kind of weird uniform.

As I'm already half way through this project, I've already sourced the fabric.

I had to also share with you where I got the fabric for this project from, as it's probably one of the best finds I've had in a long while. I've found bedding sets at my local charity shop (the equivalent of a thrift store). This means that the fabric is cheap and pre-washed, which saves me a job and makes the whole process quicker. Out of each double bed sheet I can get 2 to 3 bottoms and for every single sheet, I make 1 to 2 bottoms. Finally, I've bought several matching tops, in every ones sizes at Primark, as I don't think these pyjamas will be worn more than once, but hey, they'll make great pictures.

You may be asking how many bottoms I need to make.

Well I've got to make bottoms for six people and I'm making a night dress for my cousin to send off in the post, as she won't be spending Christmas with us this year and I didn't want her to miss out. However I've made two options for my sister, one long and one short, so that she will have an option. Another reason for this is because I think the long ones may be a little too long (I'm sure she'll grow into them at some point, right.)

I'm going to give out these pyjamas on Christmas eve!

My blog post won't just be on Sundays and Thursdays now in the run up to Christmas. so stay tuned, as you never know when a post may appear.

As always, I hope this has inspired you!

Let's talk: What I plan on sewing next!

Do you ever find that you have lots of ideas and very little time? Well that's me at the moment. My heads buzzing with ideas but I'm pretty sure I won't get round to completing half of them for at least another year. Scary or what!

Either way I've got a list which I thought I would share with you today and see if you have any suggestions, or if you think that maybe one of these ideas is just a repeat of the others. Also if there's anything you would like to see on this blog, then let me know and I'll see if I can get around to it.

Currently I'm working on the following:

A quilt (yes that's right, me with all my limited time decided to start a quilt about 2 months ago)

A present for my cousins birthday, which I'm seriously close to finishing.

What I would like to make:

A winter coat.

Pyjama bottoms for both me and my sister.

Find something to do with my ever growing pile of scrap fabric.

Some house shoes.

A Christmas present for my cousin.

Christmas presents for my friends.

I think that's everything! It doesn't seem like a lot when I write it down like that, so maybe it is achievable. Who knows! Do you have a list of things you want to make or are you the one project at a  time person?

I hope this has inspired you!

Let's talk: How I choose and buy fabric

So I may have mentioned before, that I live in a bit of a fabric store free zone. My nearest craft store is half an hours drive away (and has a very limited range) but the fabric shop that I usually go to is about an hour and a halves drive away. I know for some of you out there, that will seem like no distance at all but for me this limits me to weekends and usually I have other stuff on at the weekend. This means that often I will only go to the fabric shop once a year. This is probably not a bad thing as I already have enough fabric. Before you ask, I choose not to buy fabric on-line, as you can't see the fabric in person (obviously) and so you don't know exactly what you're going to get.

Please ignore the strange orange tinge to the photos. The store lighting had an interesting effect on my camera and I didn't have the time or patience to change my white balance. 

Recently I went to the craft store I mentioned to pick up some small amounts of fabric for I quick project that I hope to show you soon but this trip got me thinking that maybe I should evaluate how I shop for fabric. Note that this is a personal reflection and nothing more.
1. I always have a budget.
I'm a student with a "weekend job" so I'm not exactly going to spend lots of cash on fabric. I have a budget and stick to it.

2. My list is the most important thing to me when shopping!
Before I leave I create a list of everything I want to get for up coming projects and roughly how much money I'm thinking of spending on each item.
3. I leave a little money spare.
I often leave a little money spare in my budget for those pieces of fabric that just grab your attention and you don't have a plan for but hey it looks cute!
4. Every piece of fabric has to pass the test.
Every piece of fabric I think about buying has to pass the "would I wear this if I bought it from a shop?" test. If I wouldn't wear it normally then just because it's cheap, doesn't mean I should get it, after all I have to wear the item of clothing later.

5. Go with an open mind and understanding you may not get what you where looking for.
Often when I go to the fabric shop, I'm looking for a particular type of fabric, with a particular print. I always go knowing I may not get what  want, that doesn't mean I compromise, it just means that I put that project idea aside for another year.However if I find something that would work just as well and I'm super passionate about it and it would work for the project I had in mind, then that's a different matter.
So there you have it, a quick break down of my thought process when I'm buying fabric.

I hope this has inspired you!