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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Apron

Yes! I have actually made one of my sewing makes. Okay it is basic, and it doesn't look like it will last forever, but it was handmade by myself!!

I used a heavy navy cotton, some red ribbon and a patch pocket of red and white stripe fabric that I had in my stash. It is such an simple make. I got the idea here, the Purl Bee are great at simple and easy designs that can be made even by beginners.

Have you made anything lately? X

Pin-ups

I, like many, am really enjoying watching the Great British Sewing Bee! I have known how to sew since my mum taught me when I was little, and have made a few bits and pieces. But this program has made me unafraid of a pattern and the possibilities are opening up on making so many things. Here are some of my latest pins, using basic sewing stills these are all on my list of makes!

Apron

Envelope Bag

Rose Wreath

Picnic skirt from Tilly from Great British Sewing Bee

Cloud cushion

Hopefully you will see more sewing from me! At the moment I have so many projects on the go it is silly. Not enough time, and too many ideas I think. Which of these should I make first?

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Pea and Roasted Garlic Soup

I first had this soup at a friends. She made it for me, telling me how lovely it was, and it certainly is, but I will also say it is a Friday night soup. It is a Friday night soup because of how garlicy it is, and how garlicy you will be after eating it. People won't want to kiss you after eating it, that's for sure haha. But it really is gorgeous with some nice crusty bread. Yum!!

What you need to make this gorgeous soup:
* 1kg frozen peas
* 4 heads of garlic
* 50g butter
* 1tbsp olive oil
* 1litre good vegetable stock
* 2 onions peeled and roughly chopped
* Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

How to make:
1. Wrap the garlic in foil and roast at 180°C for 40 mins or until soft.
2. Fry the onion in butter and oil for approx 3 mins until soft. Add the frozen peas and coat in the oil and butter mixture. Add the stock and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 mins.
3. Bring the garlic out of the oven and leave to cool for 5 mins. Cut the tops off and squeeze the soft roasted garlic into the pea soup then puree roughly.
4. Serve with a dollop of crème fraiche and chopped chives.

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Knitted Doll

Say "Hello" to my little knitted friend! Her name is Sarah. I am making her for a special little project that I am really excited about :)
I want to share the pattern with you because everyone should have a little knitted person in their lives! It would be a great gift for a little girl, for her to practise making clothes! Getting a bit carried away probably with my dreams!
Sarah (using 3.25mm needles) comes up at around 22cm tall and 24cm from fingers to fingers.

So what do you need to make one of these lovely ladies?
* Yarn (I used Sirdar's Country Style wool blend DK in shade Palest Pink 0391) - you need less than one ball
* Needles - 3.25mm in this case but obviously the bigger the yarn the bigger the doll
* Stuffing
* Sewing needle

How do I make Sarah?

Body (make 2)
Cast on 16 stitches.
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K14, M1, K1 (18sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K16, M1, K1 (20sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work in Stockinette stitch for a further 12 rows, finishing with a WS row.
Row 19: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K14, K2Tog, K1 (18sts)
Work next 3 rows in Stockinette stitch
Row 23: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K12, K2Tog, K1 (16sts)
Row 24: P1, P2Tog, P10, P2Tog, P1 (14sts)
Row 25: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K8, K2Tog, K1 (12sts)
Row 26: Purl to end
Cast off.

Head (make 2)
Cast on 12 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K10, M1, K1 (14sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K12, M1, K1 (16sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work in Stockinette stitch for a further 10 rows ending on a WS row
Row 17: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K10, K2Tog, K1 (14sts)
Row 18: Purl to end
Row 19: K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, K8, K2Tog, K1 (12sts)
Row 20: Purl to end
Cast off

Leg (make 2)
Cast on 11 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Repeat rows 1-2 14 more times (28 rows in total)
Row 31: K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 (13 sts)
Work 3 more rows in stockinette stitch
Row 35: K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 (15sts)
Row 36: Purl to end
Cast off

Arm (make 2)
Cast on 7 stitches
Row 1: Knit to end
Row 2: Purl to end
Row 3: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 (9sts)
Row 4: Purl to end
Row 5: K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 (11sts)
Row 6: Purl to end
Work a further 26 rows in stockinette stitch
Row 33: K2, SL1, K1, PSSO, K3, K2Tog, K2 (9 sts)
Row 34: Purl to end
Cast off

When you have finished all your pieces, trim and weave in all loose ends, press and block to the correct size. I sewed all my pieces inside out and turned the right way around before stuffing them, then sewed up the open side and stitched all the pieces together. Head onto body, arms and legs onto body. Then all she needs is a face. Sometimes this can be easier to do before you sew the two head pieces together, but it depends on the detail of the face.

I have used this pattern before to make a memory for a friend from her wedding day and made a little knitted and crocheted couple. It took some work but it was well worth it!

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Pouffe!

This week I turned my hand to some sewing. After purchasing a new sofa, we needed somewhere to put our feet up after a long day. So I researched some footstools and pouffes and came across this pattern which was so easy to make. I purchased my fabric from Ikea, a great linen/cotton mix in a stone colour with amazing boat sketches on it. But next I might make a floral number.

To make it you need:
* for the main fabric, use a piece of hard wearing a durable fabric (or just pretty, this is a replaceable cover)
* for base fabric, use a strong calico
* for lining fabric, use a piece of lightweight cotton fabric or calico, make it lighter than the outer layer so it doesn't show through
* pattern paper
* 40cm (16inch) zip
* polystyrene beads
* some kind of funnel
* sewing machine and cottons

What you need to do:
1. Using the pattern paper, draw out a circle with a diameter of 42cm. You will also need a rectangle sized 90 x 136cm (36 x 53 1/2inches).

2. Using your pattern, take your circle and cut out one circle in your main fabric, two in your base fabric, and two in your liner fabric. Then using the rectangle cut out one of each of the main fabric and lining fabric.

3. Making the base: take your two circles in the base fabric and your zip. Fold each circle in half down the middle and pin the folded edge to the long edge of the zip. Then machine stitch around 3mm from the zip teeth to fix the zip to the fabric.

4. Side pieces: taking the rectangle, put the two short sides right side together and pin. Then, with the sewing machine, stitch together leaving a 1cm seam allowance. Do this for both the lining and the main fabric.

5. Stitching the top pieces to the side piece: with the fabric inside out pin the top to the side all the way around leaving a 1cm seam allowance. When this is done, machine sew along the pin line and if needed make some tiny pleats along the way.

6. Do as above for the base too. There will be more fabric on the base as there is a zip in the centre so it may take a little more work when pinning to get the circle in the correct location.

7. Making the liner: machine stitch the top and bottom to the side pieces as in number 5, but with one circle leave a 15cm gap un-stitched.

8. When all sewing is done turn all the pieces the right side out. Put the liner into the cover piece (makes life much easier later on!) then take your beans and without getting them in every nook and crevice in the room get them into the lining. When the lining is as full as it can get stop filling and sew up the hole in the liner. Zip up the base of the bean bag and turn the right side up.

I then suggest that you make a cup of tea, put on a film and then put your feet up!

Alternatives
Other things you can do is make the bean bag any size, bigger or smaller, taller or shorter. Mine is just the right size for me to put my feet up at the sofa, but a child would probably find it a little tall. You could put handles or a pocket on the outside of it to keep remote controls or toys in it. But what I like about this is that if the bag splits, your not going to get a snow scene on the living room floor! The liner keeps it contained, and if you get bored you can make a new cover! Fabulous!

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