I bet I'm not the only one who, despite loving Christmas, always feels like I've run a marathon!
We had a pretty quiet Christmas for us, only 7 for dinner, but we've been visiting friends and family, had family to stay and then rushed back to work. I'm tired, and missing the fact that I've got no crafting done at all, but we had a good time and I got some lovely presents, these are just the craft related ones.
And another from my son - I am very keen to get to grips with knits but I've been putting it off as I don't have an overlocker. Time to up my game I think, perhaps this is the best route to avoiding fit issues?
I know, spoilt rotten.
Despite this bountiful haul I might just have bought myself a little something from America ...
I have so many plans for the New Year, I'm really looking forward to getting going.
This is Plan No 1, totally inspired by Sam's coat I'm going to tackle a simpler project but my first outerwear. I loved this version over at Kestrel Finds and Makes, when I first saw it nearly a year ago. I'm planning on lining it, although it doesn't call for that in the instructions. Now I just need to figure out the best method for pre-shrinking/steaming the fabric which is 70% wool.
Realistically, nothing much is going to get created until all our visitors have gone and we're back to what passes as normal round here. In the meantime I've made a start, I've watched the first 4 episodes of the Project Runway dvd - small steps!
Right, I'm off to Brighton for a surprise lunch for a great friend who is celebrating A Birthday of Significance. I'll finish with an entirely gratuitous Christmas photo of my OH and my little niece - just when I was all puffed up with pride that she can say my name I discover she thinks he is Auntie Jacq!
Jacq
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I'm totally with you on Christmas being exhausting, but it looks like you had some wonderful gifts!
ReplyDeleteYou can totally sew stretch fabrics without an overlocker - I made a jersey top the other day with the zigzag stitch on my machine, and I spent years sewing skating costumes out of very stretchy lycra with a standard zigzag stitch.
Love the look of your cape pattern and fabric - and I've managed to find a link to that Colette blog post about pre-shrinking coating that I was rambling on about when we met. It's the London shrink, here: http://www.coletterie.com/sewalongs/anise-sew-along-fabric-and-supplies
Love, love, love the Valentino pattern. I've bought a couple of vintage patterns recently, but now I want a Valentino one too!
Thanks for the link, I'm keen to get going with the cape. I know I could take the wool to the dry cleaners but it's not my first choice - I rather stubbornly want to do it all myself! Hold that thought on the patterns - I am totally stalking Valentino, watch this space! X
DeleteWow, you totally lucked out with the sewing-related gifts! You have some very clever friends and family. Those dress and cape patterns are ace too! Happy New Year xxx
ReplyDeleteI was totally unsubtle on the Christmas gift list but you are right, my lot know me very well, although they all draw the line at thread or double sided tape (both of which I'd be thrilled with!) x
DeleteLove all your sewing gifts - it's good when family 'get the hint' early on! Off to have a peek around your blog...
ReplyDeleteHi Judith, I have saved links to your wonderful makes - when I started by making sorbetto tops I was so impressed by the details you added to make them different, my favourite is the one made from shirting material. How lovely to 'meet' you over here. :)
DeleteWhat marvelous sewing related gifts! I have the Sew U book and I just cracked it open - I'm excited to see what you make with it!
ReplyDeleteI'm building up to it! I've been to a sewing machine shop with my friend today - she bought her first machine, so exciting, you'd have thought it was for me (I am a little bit green but she really deserves it). Anyway, having had a chat with the saleswoman it's clear my machine needs a service so I figure I'll do that before I tackle knits for the first time :)
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