More Handmade knickers - bikini brief

I loved the last knicker making kit so much that I ordered a second kit, this time I ordered the bikini brief instead of the shorts from Emma Kidd. If you want to order a kit yourself you can find Emma's email address and more details of the knicker styles on Emma's website.

This time I think I made a better job of the stitching. I decreased my presser foot pressure down to 2 from 4.6 and it was so much easier to sew neatly without puckering the lace. I have also made a pattern from the pieces sent in the kit so I can make more, so watch this space!

Matilda Blouse

After watching the sewing bee tv series I wanted to make the blouse that Tilly made on the show. I found you could purchase the pattern from her website Tilly and the buttons. So here is my version in pink floral viscose. I think I need to work on my fitting technique as the bust does not fit perfectly, but Tilly's instructions on her website were very helpful! I learned a lot making this blouse with the help of Tilly.

http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com

Cathedral Window folding techniques

My friend tricia (thepiedpedlar.blogspot.co.uk) introduced me to cathedral window and a range of similar folding techniques published by Lynn Edwards. I loved them so much I bought a couple of Lynn's books which are absolutely wonderful. I have photographed them below.

The cathedral window and other folded blocks used in my wall hanging were from the book on the left. I made 9 blocks in a cream floral fabric and calico. I joined the blocks together with strips of the floral cream fabric. I used the same fabric to make a border around the 9 blocks. I then layered the top with thin batting and calico for the backing. I used straight quilt stitch to enhance the windmill blocks and free motion quilting to frame the trumpets block (bear in mind that this is my first real go at free motion quilting). Finally I bound the quilt  with a 2.5 inch strip of calico, attachment to the quilt was achieved by machine stitch, folding over to the back of the quilt and sewing in place by hand. I hand stitched tabs to the top of the quilt for hanging.

I really love this method of quilting, I hope to make more! Anyway here it is.  

Some close ups.....

Cathedral window

Windmill

Trumpets

Pencil case for Grace

Grace is my niece and as she is going to start junior school next September so I decided to make her a personalised pencil case. I started with a rectangle of linen/viscose furniture material which I overlooked before doing anything else as it frayed really badly. I cut two rectangles of calico the same size as the linen. I used one of the calico rectangles to stabilise the linen while I added rows of elephants and Grace's full name, using my new pfaff sewing machine. I folded the rectangle right sides together and joined a zip along the shorter edges on both sides. Then with right sides together I joined the side seams and turned the case the right way out. To create a lining the remaining rectangle of calico was folded in the same orientation and sewn along the edges (quarter inch more on each side than the linen section), then I folded over a half inch of material on the open edge and sewed in place by hand. Unfortunately the yellow in the multicoloured thread does not show up very well in the photo. I hope Grace likes it!

TV Tray removable pressing cover

I saw this post by Elizabeth Hartman showing how to make your own pressing table from a TV table: http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/01/a-woman-a-plan-an-inexpensive-tv-tray-new-pressing-board.html

I don't have much space in my craft room and thought this was a great alternative to having a massive ironing board in the way!

I had a tv table myself but did not want to transform it permanently into a pressing table, 

so I decided to make a removable one with ties on each corner.

 I layered calico, foil, thin batting, two layers of heat proof batting and a top layer of calico.

I bound the section in calico adding ties before sewing on the binding. 

I have tried it out and even with the iron on steam the table still feels cool underneath! 

Thanks for giving me the idea Elizabeth! 

Stitch Markers

I desperately needed some more stitch markers as I am knitting a massive shawl with lots of marked repeats. I used 6mm split rings, silver headpins and a selection of beads and charms. I got the charms from the Norwich bead and textile fair in April. To make the beaded stitch markers I threaded the beads onto the headpins, made a loop with the end wire with round nosed pliers and threaded them onto the split rings. The split rings fit up to 5mm needles once the headpins were threaded on. You can never have too many stitch markers for knitting!

Handmade Camisole and knickers

I have always been apprehensive about sewing on stretchy fabric. So I decided to bite the bullet and do a course that involved sewing stretch fabric, a Camisole making course at makeplace Norwich (http://www.makeplacenorwich.co.uk/workshops). 

The course was run by Emma Kidd, she was an amazing teacher and I learnt so much! I loved making the camisole so much I have made a few more since!

Emma also sells kits to make your own knickers and as I loved making the camisole so much I bought a kit to make shorts style knickers. If you want to order one of these kits contact Emma via this website:  www.emilianaunderwear.wordpress.com. You can order kits for skimpy shorts and bikini briefs as well. I am thinking of ordering one of the other styles too! Here is a sneak peak at the ones I made. They are so comfortable. Emma advises that you trace out the pattern so you can make more from up cycled fabric, so I can make loads more!