... Stitched Sewing Organizers by Annela Hoey Now Annela is a very good designer. Not only are her patterns interesting and clever, they are also very well explained with plenty of detail and helpful diagrams. So far I've made a few of these lovely little pouches.
The bigger one went straight off in the post to my daughter and I forgot to take a photo but here's the little one I kept for myself.
The tools with it are also new purchases. The little measuring gauge is very useful for checking seam allowances and folds when making small projects; I can guess quarter and half inches by eye but not the rest. The white thing is a point-turner-outer (not entirely sure that's it's official name but you know what I mean). After years of using knitting needles and pencils to push the corners out, this little thing has been a revelation. It's so much easier and also less likely to poke through the corners.
I've also been making various sizes of Aneela's fabric boxes; here are a few square ones.
She gives the measurements for two sizes of rectangular boxes in the book but, being me, I had to see if I could make stacking square boxes. Having done that, I think her boxes are actually a more useful size. The secret behind these boxes is the really heavy interfacing that she uses; I've learnt a lot about interfacing from this book and managed to find what I needed at Cotton Patch.
There are lots of wonderful patterns in this book but I was excited to find that there are more to buy from Aneela's blog. There's a pencil case that unzips into a tray - Zip-Up Tray Pouch, a Booklet Pouch and lots more. Her designs are really new and refreshing and I want to make them all! Do go and have a look at what she does. Where you see individual patterns that are in the book, I think you get more sizes by buying them separately.
So, what else have I been sewing? I've been trying my hand at making I Spy Bags. Have you heard of these? They're small fabric bags with a clear plastic window. You fill the bags with plastic pellets and tiny treasures - beads, buttons, whatever you can find. They're a portable, fun toy as children (or me) try to spot all the little things.
I bought the materials and instructions to make one of these bags from Tactile Treasures who sell all sorts of exciting bits and bobs to add to your nursery projects - squeakers, teethers, that sort of thing. I opted for a pack without the fabric as I have mountains of that and, very importantly, I bought a small roll of the plastic so that I'd be able to make more bags.
There were 20 little treasures in my pack and, considering I'd picked it at random, they were quite appropriate for me.
There's a cat, music notes and even a little 'F'. Now, I had a couple of problems making my first bag. Firstly, the instructions suggest that the circle is the easiest shape to make your window but I can sew a square much more accurately so, after a wonky attempt at a circle, I made my window square. I also found that, when sewing the plastic to the fabric, you need to have the plastic on top. I tried it underneath to start with and it slid all over the place.
Apart from that, it was an easy make - here's the finished bag.
This would be ideal for a young child but this 58 year old found a bit too easy to see all the treasures so I changed things a bit for the next bag. This time I made the window smaller and added more plastic pellets.
I'm happier with this one and shall definitely be making more of these. It's fun looking out for little things to put in these bags; you could have a theme for your treasures or, for a real challenge, how about using all white treasures so they blend in with the pellets.
I've also done a bit of dressmaking and have plans (and patterns) to do more. I finally got round to making this tunic dress, having bought the pattern and fabric ages ago.
I used a green cord from Royal Fabrics and Haberdashery in Leamington Spa which is a proper, old fashioned shop with lots crammed in to quite a small shop. As well as the fabric, they have yarn, buttons and a huge range of ribbon and braid. The pattern is this one from Grainline Studio; it's called the Willow Tank and Dress.
This was a quick and easy make - no zips, no buttons - and I'm pleased with it. I wear this sort of dress a lot in the winter, with a cotton polo neck underneath and boots. The only thing missing is POCKETS! Don't get me started about the lack of pockets in women's clothes .... To be fair though, I realised after making it that pockets wouldn't have worked on this design. There's a big fold at about hip level which is a nice feature of the dress so patch pockets would have to be below that (and would look odd, I think). The fold also covers the side seam so you can't insert pockets there either.
I think I'll adapt the pattern next time to take the fold out and then I can add in some pockets. I've bought some black drill to make another one. I know that sounds dull but I'm planning to brighten it up with some colourful appliqué or embroidery.
While I was at the fabric shop, I also bought this lovely fabric to make a skirt.
I'll use it with the stripes running vertically; the plain red is what I' going to use for the inset pockets.
My other completed sewing project is a kit that I've had for years but had felt a bit daunted by. I told myself just to get on with it so I did and, after two long days of sewing, this is the result.
This is the Vintage Flower Bag by Button Angel which I bought from Bobbin Patch. There are lots of intricate details on this bag, like the hand appliquéd and embroidered flowers and these little decorative tongues on the side pockets.
The back is the same as the front so everything has to be done twice over but the finished bag is really quite stunning. I especially like the pieced lining to the strap (simple things) and I can't wait to take it to next year's Festival of Quilts - lots of room for purchases in there. It was a long two days of sewing but I learnt a lot from making this and it's given me the confidence to tackle other complex projects.
Unfortunately, I can't show you the rest of the things I've been sewing as they're all intended for Christmas presents. Yes, that's right, this is the year that everyone will be getting lots of homemade tat / treasures from me. The present drawer is filling up nicely.
We've had a lovely Indian summer here, sadly now replaced by rain but I made the most of it while it lasted and had some lovely walks.
This was Hazelborough Woods looking beautiful in the sunshine and unusually free from mud too. I saw an interesting animal on that walk. I only saw its body and tail as it disappeared off the path ahead of me but it was too orange and fluffy to be a fox. Think Crookshanks, Hermione's cat in the Harry Potter books. Given that these woods are quite a way from the nearest village, it was either a lost domestic cat, a wild cat or some magical creature ...
On a more mundane note, I've also been blackberrying; between us, my son and I managed to pick 9lb on one walk.
Some of his are going to be turned into Blackberry Whisky, mine are now common or garden Blackberry and Apple Jam and Bramble Chutney. While the kitchen floor was still sticky (why does this always happen when making preserves?) and the house smelt of vinegar, I thought I might as well do the rest so I made my normal Christmas Chutney and Pickled Onions. I've been making these two for years and both recipes came from Delia Smith's Christmas book, the original one with the green cover.
And now I must get back to work. I've finally finished my big Granny Square blanket so I should get that written up and published soon. It's the biggest blanket I've ever made I think.
