Simple Scarf Change

Who doesn't love a scarf or a snood? I have so many of the things. But lately I have been preferring a snood. They just go on, hardly move and there is no annoying trying not to get them stuck in your coat zip moments. So I looked at my stack of scarves and wondered which I could improve after finding the most simple tutorial on how to make a snood. I thought, why have I not done this? This amounted in me making 3 snoods in just over an hour. Crazy. But also dangerous!!

So, how do you turn a scarf into a snood you ask? It is so simple...

1. Take your scarf...

2. Trim off the tasseled ends...

3. Then work out which will be your right side, then right side together pin the two raw ends together and sew and zig zag the edges. (Or overlock if you have a fancy machine.)

4. You could then leave it at that but to make mine a little neater I then folded that seam down and pressed it and sewed  it parallel to the fold seam to make it a flat seam. Like so...

5. That's you done. Grab and go for a fast paced lady!

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Fabric Baskets

One of my most favourite rooms in our house is my craft room. It was just our spare room, but it is now a great place for me to have as a space to do all my various bits and pieces. Sewing, knitting, whatever!

As anyone who does these kinds of things knows, there are lots of little bits and pieces that you accumulate over time, which you need to do various things, and these things need storage. So, for my haberdashery section I purchased three of Ikea's lovely CD racks and then I have made some of my own little fabric baskets to keep all my little bits in them.

So what do you need?
*Some Fabric of your choice, I just used Calico as its plain and quite thick
*Corresponding Threads
*Sewing Machine, or if you don't have one a strong will to sew by hand so many baskets
*Scissors or cutting device!

Recipe:
1. These are so easy to make, you just need to measure the space that you want to fill. Make a pattern for the base by measuring the width and depth of your space and adding a seam allowance all the way around the outside. This is your base. Then the outside of the basket, I just had one large rectangle of fabric which started at one corner and goes all the way around the base and back around to that corner. Add your seam allowance for the two adjoining sides and the base adjourning side, and then at the top I folded mine over by an inch and a half to make a kind of handle to pull the basket out easily, plus a small seam to stop it fraying. When you have made your pattern cut out your fabric.

2. Take your big long rectangle, and with the wrong side facing down fold over and seam the one long edge towards the right side. If you have picked a fabric that is only one sided then be aware that the fold will show the back of the pattern which is why I picked such a basic fabric. You could however back the fabric to have a snazzy fold.

3. Next you will need to put the two short sides together with the original fold seam for the top edge facing the opposite way. Then sew all down that seam.

4. Then take a corner of your bottom piece and pin it inside the corner of the bottom of your rectangle (which now looks more like a hoop of fabric) The seam on the bottom should be on the same side as the side seam. Then pin your bottom to your rectangle all the way around the bottom. The corners wont be perfect, but they will look about right on the other side. Then sew all together.

5. When you have done, tie off your ends and turn your basket inside out. Fold over your top flap and you are done! So simple really when you think about it.

Then you can put whatever you want into your basket and store, store, store!!

I would love to see anything that you guys have made, if you would be so lovely as to share with me. Please comment with a link!

Thank you
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Meditation Cushion

Recently I have been looking into meditation and mindfulness. After a very tough year I am looking into ways to help myself and this seems to be a great way. Now I am not going to tell you all about it, but I do like to be fully prepared when I try new things. So.. I thought I should fashion myself a comfortable cushion to be able to sit and spend a good amount of time on.

I have seen many around but they are so expensive. So I dived into my stash and spent some time working out the maths and got my large fabric scissors out. Excitingly it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I received a new sewing machine, so I got to try that out on this, it was very good!

I used yellows, oranges, blacks and greens and when I had patched together my top I used a pom pom edging between the top and the sides. To make it more comfy and less like a bean bag I used a 1 inch thick wadding under the top and embroidered basic stitches to give it a more ethnic and colourful look. I even found some mirrors to sew on which had a beautiful gold embroidered edge.

I filled the cushion with both cushion filling and bean bag beans to give stability and comfort. It has worked out well even if I say so myself! I think I may make a few more.

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Autumn Notebooks

Autumn is my most favourite time of the year. We can pull all those chunky knits, thick socks, boots and snugly coats out of the wardrobe and start preparing to hibernate over the chilly months. Today I went for a walk with my big scarf on (Yes I know it's warmer today than it has been, but I don't care!) and collected some leaves and acorns and things associated with Autumn.

I have decided that I want to document this coming autumn, keeping my leaves and essentially making an art journal of things that I find. I have many note books in my flat and most are very plain, but I love notebooks that are close-able so I have decided (as I have been banned from buying anymore) that I will adapt some ones that I already have.

You will need:
* Notebooks with firm but not too firm covers (you need to get a needle through there, but not flimsy enough for it to rip easily)
* Needle and Thread
* A button
* String or leather or whatever binding materials you would like.

How to do it:
1. Sew the button onto the notebook, not too close to the edge but wherever you want really.

2. Tie the string around the button into a knot and then wrap it around the notebook and back around the button to fasten.

You are done, simple!

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My Mathilde Blouse

So you may have noticed that recently I have been on a bit of a sewing kick. No? Where have you been? It is amazing what you can do with only a basic sewing machine. People spend hundreds of pounds on them, but mine is only a little Mini one (here).

Anyway, I decided to throw myself in at the deep end and see what I could actually do. So I decided on Tilly's Mathilde Blouse. What does worry me about sewing is that when I go shopping I try things on and it looks awful, so I would hate to spend hours on something only to find it looks terrible on. But this is fabulous, and looking at photos of other people creations it seems to fit all different shapes and sizes, so it's one to recommend.

I picked a lovely red cotton fabric that has a little stretch in it, who doesn't love a bit of stretch, and it has a cute little floral pattern on it. I was worried that the florals would hide the pleats but they don't at all :)

The cuffs were my main worry, I have never done a sleeve before, and these didn't look easy sleeves with all the gathers, but they really were!

My only real issue was that my sewing machine doesn't do buttons. Now really this isn't a big worry as when you think about it you can't do the buttons up when you are wearing it yourself, well I can't anyway, haha. So I just sewed the buttons on holding the top together. My idea is that when I get a sewing machine that does do button holes then I will unpick the buttons and do the holes properly.

So what does my finished garment look like?
Ta Da!!

I am so proud of myself for completing this and loving it! I say thank you to Tilly for creating such an easy to follow pattern, great for all shapes and sizes!

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The Year-Round Skirt

I love an item that you can wear all year round. Jeans, t-shirts, layering up in the winter, and down in the summer. This skirt is one of those items! It would look great with a t-shirt or a vest in the summer, in the winter a chunky knit and some boots!

I made this skirt after seeing the pattern on Tilly's website here. It was so easy to make, much easier than the Sorbetto top. I put pockets in mine and made smaller gingham fabric buttons for the front. But as my sewing machine does not have a button hole stitch I was a bit sneaky and I actually used poppers down the front on the inside. I love how Tilly used gingham too, I actually purchased the fabric before I found the pattern! Great minds hey!

I suggest you all should have as many of these skirts in your wardrobe in as many different colours and patterns that you can. It is also a great skirt to fit all shapes and sizes! :)

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Sorbetto Blouse

Okay, so yesterday I got all excited purchasing my gingham fabric and printing my pattern out that I just plain forgot this is my first attempt at a proper garment. I still think I did pretty darn good, but there are a few obvious mistakes looking at it. But here it is!

With all this hot weather I wanted a looser top, which didn't quite go to plan, it meant extra darts which misshaped the arm holes, but not too badly! It does flare out a little at the bottom too, which is okay.

I finished it with a white trim around the collar and a little white button detail at the top of the pleat.

Look at my pleat, its a pretty straight one! Proud of that :)

Now what shall I make with my large gingham fabric? Any ideas?!

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The Simple Things

These days life gets too busy and now, more than ever, we need to focus on the simple things, take time for ourselves and do what we want to do! One of the things I love each month is getting my copy of The Simple Things magazine. It means I can sit down and take a good hour or so to myself, reading it cover to cover. It gives me such inspiration and ideas of things that I would love to do! Living the simple life sounds pretty good, and so I am promising myself that I will do something every week that is simple and gives me some 'Me' time!

This week I decided to have a go at some sewing. I love sewing by hand, having thrown things together before but never a proper garment. I found this beautiful free pattern and went on a fabric shopping spree! I don't have many fabric stores near me, and many fabrics are just replicated from store to store. But I did come across these beautiful gingham cottons and I got so excited. I couldn't just buy the one I had to have both and they are beautiful!

Now my brain is flowing with so many ideas and I am searching the net for more patterns. The small check I think would look lovely in this top with a white trim. The bigger check would look great as a skirt maybe, or a prom style summer dress. How exciting :) Happy Zoe!

What simple things make you happy? 

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Pin-ups

Lately I have had a real crush on all things woven, Navajo, western, Aztec whatever you want to call it. I love the natural fibres used and I really want to know all about Peruvian weaving and the natural dies that they use.
Here are some crafts, makes and ideas of different degrees of skill for you all to peruse. Some beautiful things...

Arrows

 Clutch Bag

Wall Hanging

Dip Dyed Baskets

Dream Catchers

Hope you like them too! 

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Net Curtain

I have been useless with this blog lately. But I have managed to take some time to fill you in on some things that I have been doing lately. Most recently I have produced a net curtain to hide the outside world without making my room dark. It was so simple and I found the most beautiful net fabric from Ikea and it is only £1.50 a meter! Magic! I also got myself a tension rod and all you need is to hem the edges and make a loop at the top and voila! Simple, but very effective!

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Purse

I don't know why I have never made a purse before, but honestly, it is so easy and I am addicted! I want to make one for every hour of everyday! Bags... ooooh a big one as a clutch. Ahhhhh ideas are flowing! This is just a small floral pattern with a green interior which I decorated with a few buttons.

Purse frames are quite easy to come by. But haberdasheries tend to only have the odd couple of sizes. Online is where I got mine. These places are all pretty good for clasps: me, me and me! So get making quick!

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Wedding Presents

Today one of my oldest friends has got married to a really lovely lady. He was always a really lovely guy to me and I have very fond memories of him in my life. So I didn't want to get the usual toaster or vouchers so I decided on something a little more special. Something that I could make to bring lovely memories in the future. So here they are...

I made two of these knitted dolls and just made up patterns to make their clothes. Hopefully they will stay apart of their family forever more!

I wish them every bit of luck for the future in everything that they do!!

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Tilly's Bow Belt

After watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I of course had to buy the book and learn more about all the sewing things that I am missing (like millions of others)! I found Tilly's blog (from the show) and looked into her makes and found this cute little belt. I have wanted a black belt for ages and never even thought of making my own. But here it is! My own belt :)

My only tweak will be to make it slightly smaller, I think I overplanned. Usually my items turn out too small, this time too big, ahh deary me! Anyway, I used a basic black cotton fabric, and followed her instructions here. I am thinking of making many different colours and combinations. Maybe even a plain strip with embroidery, ooooh embroidery!!

I am working my way up to something more serious in the sewing region... but if it's like my grand knitted jumper, I am not sure anything will come of it! We shall see...

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Envelope Clutch

Two makes in a week that I planned and actually completed, wow, I am on a roll! This pattern is by See Kate Sew. I found it while mooching for ideas and it is fabulous! Recently I have seen lots of envelope clutches around, some casual and others smarter, but now I know I can make them any which way I want to, I am never going to buy another one again!

This time I took a navy fabric for the outside and a floral blue pattern for the inside, the button is navy and gold and fits perfectly for a smarter occasion. I dressed it up with one of the crochet bows I made previously. Pretty.

Take a looksie...

Next I want to make one like this here (but more envelopey), like this and add a cross body strap... or a felt one like this! So many ideas. What would you make?

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