Details

There are no two ways about it - when I sew I often make two or three garments at the same time, perfecting the seams/buttons/hems/other details and making the most of fabric that uses the same colour thread in my serger!  This last weekend was no different.  I decided to make three linen jackets based up the Tina Givens pattern, Phoebe.  I have made up some plain versions of this and they are very wearable, so although I do not have photos of the complete garments (maybe tomorrow!) I do have some close ups of the details that I am particularly pleased with, and wanted to share.

Firstly, I noticed that one of the features of many layered looks is to have fabric patches attached inside the garment and outside.  For some designers it is a place for them to add their logos or brand names . . . . And I thought that I can do that!  So I sewed my 'Spotty Dog' clothing labels onto some coordinated fabric and made 'inside' patches on my jackets:

As you can see, I zigzagged near to the edge and (gasp!) left the edges raw.  I'm really getting into the raw edges . . . . . and I kinda like it!

I didn't want there to be a random rectangle of stitches showing on the right side of the fabric . . . so I added a patch in the same fabric as the main fabric:

Yeah, I know, the last photo is a little boring!!!  I like the look of these inside/outside patches so much that I have 'retro-fitted' a couple of slip dresses that I have made/worn/washed and added patches to them as well.  I have found that the patches do fray a little - I trim any stray threads, and that leaves a soft edging to the patches which is similar to the bias binding edges that I have been adding to necklines and hems.

I've also had some fun with button and button band facings:

These buttons are plain silver metal - the pattern on them looked a bit like the weave that you can get on leather buttons that are often sewn on woolly cardigans.

These are just ordinary self covered buttons . . . . . and I used a co-ordinating 1" lime green ribbon for the button band.  I have started using smaller plain buttons on the wrong side of fabric when attaching heavier buttons to the right side.  I find that this gives the buttons more stability and I think that it makes the wrong side (the side that you can see below) look much tidier.

Again I used some metal buttons - but oh boy, what a find - there are greyhounds on the buttons!  As I am the happy Mom to two greyhounds, I am thrilled with these!  I sewed them onto an off-white jacket as I knew I would be wearing this a lot.  I will now be chasing up my other local fabric shops to try and find more of these buttons!

And on the wrong side I used a plain cream ribbon for the button band and some small off white buttons to back the larger metal buttons on the front.

Do you have some 'patented' details or trims that you use that really 'make' your garments?

Photobombed by a Greyhound

Not sure about you, but I like to photograph my makes as a reminder of when/how I made something. You have noticed that there are plenty of posts with pics of my sewing makes, and a few of my knitting. Like this one. This morning I wanted to take a few photos of a pair of socks that I had just completed - nothing special about them other than they were made out of yarn that was very soft - and the colour of the yarns is very pretty (Knit Picks Felici):

Then along came a greyhound who wanted to be in on the action!!

Thank-you Hobbes.  I guess it is time to play!

More Unselfish Work - And a Sewing Course Coming Up!

It has been a while since I have made any clothes for myself, and I am a little sad about that. The reason that nothing has come out of my sewing room (clothing wise) is that I have lost weight recently (26 lbs and counting!) and although this is the ideal time to make some new (smaller) garments - I don't want to use my lovely, lovely fabrics for clothes that will only last a couple of months. I know that some of you go through your wardrobes with gusto each season, clearing out the old to make place for the new, but I tend to keep hold of clothes for a little longer.  So, no clothes sewing for now . . . . however, I am booked on a bra-making course on July 14th (here in Canada!!) and I can't wait!  I have booked a week long course - if I have to travel halfway across the country, I really need to spend a few days there!  I plan to travel a little whilst I am there - Niagara Falls is relatively close, and I understand that Burlington is worth a visit as well.  Oh, and then there is Lake Ontario, I think that I will be dipping my tootsies in the sea.  Has anyone taken a course like this?  Do you make your own bras?

Source

Sadly, if my bras could speak right now, I am sure that this is what they would be saying - but in a couple of weeks, I should have some much happier underwears!!

But here is what I have been making.  A few baby hats and wallets to raise money for charity.

Pretty cute hats - very quick and easy to make.

The fabric for the aboe wallet is from a designer called Laurel Burch - probably very well known amongst the quilters out there.  Her colour combinations are gorgeous.

And finally, the last two greyhound fabrics are from Spoonflower - they are not my designs, but you can buy other peoples designs,and this is what I made.  The fabric is pretty expensive, but I have been very pleased with the quality and service.  Definitely worth a look if you are after something specific - or want to have your own design printed up.

Have you ever had your fabric design printed up?  And what about weight loss/gain - how does that affect your sewing?

Summer Garden

We plan to sell our house in the New Year - we have already put down the money to build a new bungalow - and as the house will be on MLS during the winter - the external photos will show a snow covered garden - not very indicative of the loveliness that we have :o)  So I set about last weekend taking some pics . . . .

OK, so I got some great pics of the incoming storm.  I do think that the dark sky casts a fabulous light over the garden . . . . ohh, and then I saw the lilies . . . .

And then this bizarre bud on one of the dogwoods . . . .

And then I had to get a couple of pics of Rocky, one of our greyhounds, who really was enjoying the garden . . . . .

And that was it really.  I'm not sure any of these are suitable for listing our house, but I kinda like them anyway!

A Hound in Need

I was saddened to read about poor Giles, a lovely old greyhound that had been dumped by his owners in a terrible state - covered in fleas, anaemic, underweight.  Terrible. 

 
However, the greyhound community is very committed to looking after these lovely retired racers, and as a result, this page has been set up on Facebook - it is an auction to raise money for Giles's treatment.

My contribution is to offer a 'snood' or three, as modelled by the lovely Hobbes (above).  The pattern was designed by Erssie Major and she donates all the proceeds of the sales of the pattern to her local greyhound agency in the UK.

So drop by, take a look at Hobbes, and maybe put a little bid in on something that catches your eye!!

Get well soon Giles xx

Almost an Angel

Hubby's birthday is fast approaching (June 19th) and each year it seems to be waaaaay in the future, then all of a sudden it is tomorrow.  Somehow I remembered a few weeks early this year and that meant that I was able to order him a lovely present.

Whilst trawling through Etsy I came across the shop of Almost an Angel and her lovely prints - in particular, the greyhounds.  Now we are greyhound freaks.  When we came over to Canada we brought with us our lovely Freddy (Corelish Lisa).  She used to race at Perry Barr in Birmingham.  Unfortunately she left us in March 2009 at the age of 12 - and this print reminded me of her:

We then adopted (or do they adopt you I wonder?) two boys.  First of all we got Rocky (Am Rocky) from SAGAA, our local greyhound adoption group.  Rocky (aka Rockstar, Rocky Horror etc) is our first male hound - we have always had bitches before, but he is a sweetheart.  He ran at the Flagler Stadium in Miami - and I use the word in the loosest sense of the word.  You see Rocky really doesn't have the smarts.  He is a cute looking boy, but chase something round a track - that is not his style . . . . . . so he now lives with us.  He eats, sleeps and drinks.  Sounds like a great life to me!  And as it happens - the Rockstar and I were born on the same day - October 9th (same as John Lennon in fact!)  This print is a typical Rocky pose.

And then Hobbes (AH's Angelo) came into our life.  He was also off the same tracks as Rocky.  If you check out his stats he was quite the racer, winning quite a few races.  You can even see some of his races as they were recorded.  He is the black streak coming up from behind - amazing to see him run.  Now he is quite the 'ninja' dog.  He almost seems to retract his nails and then sneak across the kitchen floor to pinch food off counters/tables/plates etc.  But we love him so - and here is his likeness.

  

I am sure that hubby will be thrilled with these prints and look forward to gifting them to him next month.

Inspiration

Every now and then I go through a bit of a drought.  I think that the problem is that I love too many crafts.  And I can get a bit obsessive.  I love knitting socks - they are quick (ish), easy and transportable.  They one take about 100gms (or one skein), can be knit up on a circular needle and fit in a ziplock bag I am going to rectify that last comment in the near future and turn some of my fabric into chic knitting bags - watch this space!

I have recently moved into shawls and knit these two:

Grains of Salt

Magarathea

And with the yarn I bought in Tofino, I predict a lot more in the future!

But this is only one hobby - I also enjoy beading, cardmaking, cross-stitch, sewing - you get the picture.  So, I think that I may have to close down one of these hobbies.  At least for the time being.  This will give me more space in my craft room, removing clutter from both the room and my head.  I have been obsessively following the blogs of Male Pattern Boldness, the Diary of a Sewing Fanatic and Frocks and Frou Frou.  The first two are written by two of the most talented sewers I have 'read', and the last two by fashionistas.  And boy are they inspiring.  The two ladies would fit into plus sized styling and are pure inspirations - I would encourage all fashion conscious, vintage inspired, sewing/non-sewing personages to check out their blogs.

So, cardmaking - I am afraid that you will be boxed up and put into the garage for a while while I concentrate on some dressmaking.  I am very excited having recently cataloged my patterns and fabric using a very nifty application on my iPad (hey, I mentioned that I was obsessive).  So this weekend I plan to get my craft room in shape and start planning my new wardrobe!

Just to finish off, I picked our two greyhounds up from the kennels where they had been holidaying whilst we were in BC, and this cartoon sprang to mind . . . . .