Bookshelf completed

This is Bookshelf by LHN.

I put the last few stitches in it this afternoon.

The photo doesn't quite do the finished item justice, the colours are much brighter.

It has been a treat to stitch, and using small lengths of the metallic thread certainly helped with smooth stitching.

A new toy

Style 1646


I am now the proud owner of a Toyota SL3314 overlocker. A welcome addition to my sewing family. As with all new "toys" I thought I ought to test its' capabilities...so this is what I made this weekend. The PJ bottoms are certainly on the generous side, (and no I don't need them to be THAT roomy) but they will be just the thing for warm nights! The material I have had since the dawn of time, I think it once belonged to a great Aunt!

A safe arrival!

Heritage Stitchcraft - Silhouettes - Hikers

As you can see my hikers have finally arrived at their destination! I completed the cross stitching last night and the back stitch this morning. A bit of a wash and brush up before the photo call - hey presto.

Back to my roots

McCalls 2818

I remember the first timeI ever made anything was way way back when I was 5 or 6, I cut out and stitched a dress for my doll. I do believe that the whole thing fell apart.

Over the years, and especially during my teenage phase I made just about everything I wore - I left home and studied Dressmaking at City and Guilds level, continuing all the while to make the majority of my wardrobe.

When I had my daughter and our family circumstances altered dramatically I found myself with less and less time to "sew". Sadly over the last 12 years, I have only made a handful of garments for myself, my DD and DS.

The sewing machine was out to repair yet another bust pocket, and the muse struck, so with a piece of silk I have had in my stash for at least 20 years (I know I bought it when studying for my C & G) I have rediscovered my dressmaking mojo!

I did find that the pattern required some alteration - gone are the days when there was little alteration required - and it has taken me very nearly a week to get to this stage, when previously I would have had it licked in a day, but the satisfaction that I now feel is reward in itself. Here's to future projects.

Boxing clever

I made this little boxette yesterday. It is a degign by Susan Greening Davis, and I received it as part of my stash programme from Tradtional stitches. Now all I have to do is figure out what ort stands for!