NIKKI-SHELL

Cauliflower soup, beetroot chips and no knead bread

Yum! That is all.

recipe from here

What's long, skinny and extremely pink?

A scarf of course! for my mate Jorthy's birthday.

• Empire Superwash Merino 2ply (2 strands held together) from Morris & Sons.
• Machine knit using card 3 on tuck
• Extra long and extra skinny
• Extremely pink! 

New York Cape

I've started working on my 'New York Cape'.  Originally i had been thinking of using a piece of wool/viscose from the stash but i couldn't help but think i'd look too Little Red Riding Hood.  There are a few other fabrics at Tessuti that i would have liked to make this from but i need to sew from the stash for this one and save some dough.  I bought a piece of checked wool from The Fabric Store a little while back with the intention of making a bomber jacket from it but that decision was changed when Colette showed me her version of the New York Cape. 

I spent an hour or so last week playing jigsaw puzzle with the fabric and the pattern pieces to be able to match the checks and use the 1.3m efficiently.  Yes, i managed to get it out of 1.3m of a large checked fabric!  I did need to chop off an inch from the bottom and add a seam down the centre back but i'm cool with that.

So, it's cut out and i have my seam binding tape.  I'm waiting until next week to decide on which colour of the wool binding i should use but in the meantime i'm going to bind and sew as much as i can.  Then i need to decide on buttons.......

Quilts to sew

I like to think i've made a pretty decent sized dent in my 'To Do' list over the past few months.  I've crossed off many unfinished projects but i've also added many more.  I've again got to the point where i have a number of projects on the go at once, i just can't help myself!  I get so distracted with all the pretty fabrics and patterns available and the customers at work inspire me so much (maybe working at Tessuti isn't so good for me! hehe).  

So, i am again trying to work on the unfinished projects.  I have many things part finished and many projects in the waiting pile and still i continue to add...and add....and add...and......

I started the 'Single Girl Quilt' way back in May when i went to Craft Camp.  My intention was to use up some of the random pieces of quilting cottons in my stash (which i did) but then i needed a sashing fabric and couldn't decide what to use.  Eventually i chose an orange linen from Tessuti.

I'd like to have this finished in time for Esme's birthday at the end of October.  

Of course I already have plans for my next quilt....

(photo borrowed from The Aftercraft)

I've wanted to make a Union Jack quilt for a long time and luckily for me Sarah has done all the hard work and created a pattern so i don't have to!  You can buy it here if you'd like to make one too.

For this one I'm going BRIGHT!  I've already started to stock up on fabrics and so far have yellow and pink linens.  I have my eye on a few other bright linens for the flags and may use a print or two as a contrast.

How Roy makes Jeans

So cool!

Roy's Jeans - Video by Self Edge from Self Edge on Vimeo.

 

Found via The Long & Winding Bobbin

Rock n Roll dressing gown

I was having a flick through my pattern stash yesterday afternoon after taking the girls swimming (the pool was FREEZING!).  I do this regularly, flick through the patterns, make a pile that catch my eye and i think i'd like to make.  Then they sit in a pile on my desk for a few weeks until i put them back in the stash.  Only yesterday i wasn't alone in my flicking.  A certain 7 year old got herself involved and found this pattern...

"I don't have a dressing gown that fits anymore Mammy" she tells me.  "I think you should make this one for me, in this fabric", she exclaims as she pulls a black and white striped ponte from my stash.  The last piece of black and white striped ponte bought aaaaaages ago from work with the intention of making myself something, maybe a jacket?  "Are you sure you want a black and white striped dressing gown?" i ask.  "Yeah!  It's rock n roll!" she replies.

Now, this 7 year old knows how to bug until she gets what she wants.  I had no intentions of sewing a dressing gown this weekend but there i am, on my knees cutting out the fabric before cooking dinner and bullied into getting back to work as soon as i'd put down my knife and fork.

Finished in a few hours and left hanging on her wardrobe for her to wear as soon as she jumped out of bed.

She hasn't taken it off all day! 

Twinkle Sews Take Manhattan Tunic

I was sent Twinkle Sews a while back from Crown Publishing|Random House.  I'm ashamed that it has taken so long for me to get around to making something from it! (So many things to sew, so little time!)

I came across the Take Manhattan Tunic on a blog recently and loved it then thought 'Hey! I have that pattern!'.  Googling will show a number of others too.

The book comes with a cd in the back which contains all the patterns in various sizes.

I chose size 8 after comparing my measurements to those in the book.  The amount of pages printed out was huge! At least 50.  It turns out that there are full front and back pattern pieces for the main fabric and lining which i find incredibly wasteful.  The front and back could be cut on the fold and the lining is only slightly shorter than the main pattern pieces therefore could use the main pattern pieces with markings for cutting the hem shorter.  I made a part muslin (body and sleeve) first because the pattern pieces seemed big and luckily it fit perfectly.

I was lucky enough to be able to choose some fabric for my birthday at work and decided on the Zin Ash as my main fabric and Pink Hyou for a contrasting lining.  The pattern takes up a fair amount of fabric, i ended up making a seam down the centre back of the lining to use the fabric efficiently.

I spent an evening working on it with many breaks to tweet and make tea.  I think i finally switched off the machine at 1am.  

The only unpicking i did was to reapply the pocket, i'd managed to sew it on slightly wonky the first time and it's far from perfect the second time but it's staying put!

My favourite detail?  The cowl neck of course (perfect for robbing banks) with the kangaroo pocket being a close second.  I used elastic in the cowl with linen ties attached to the ends and sewed the elastic in place at the back seam to stop it from being pulled out.

I used toggles from Tessuti on the ends of the ties, they really finish the tunic off and were a mere $1.40 each.

I added rivets to the pocket which i had in my stash.  The lining is hemmed separately from the main fabric so it hangs nicely.

The only downside...creasing of the linen but i'm not fussed about that so much.

I love this tunic, i've been needing more casual (out of work) clothes and this fits the bill.  It's incredibly comfortable and the cowl acts as a scarf.  I think made slightly longer it would be perfect as a dress.  I also wonder how it would look with longer sleeves, my arms are a little chilly but i'm thinking of fixing this problem by making a long sleeve black tee for underneath.

There are a number of other patterns in this book i'm interested in sewing and some i'm not keen on at all, overall it's a great book and i highly recommend it...

Oh and a big thanks to work for my birthday present, even if i did have to sew it myself ;)

Duffle coat

Details

• For Esme
• The main fabric is Ginger Pea wool/cashmere (now out of stock), the lining is Blue Printed Magenta Japanese cotton.  All from Tessuti Fabrics, including the trim inside and the loops. 
• The toggles are from Buttonmania
• The pattern is a vintage one, McCalls 4690 borrowed from the boss's stash.  
• I made version A and decided to line it (it's meant to be unlined).  I sort of stalled at this point, it hung on the picture rail for some time waiting for me to figure out the lining until Esme asked when i was going to finish it.  Once i did it i wondered why i'd taken so long!  
• She loves it and it's big enough that it should fit next winter too-bonus!