It has been a fabulous year all round and for that I am truly thankful. In terms of sewing, 2014 was the year I bought a machine, discovered that there is such a thing as an online sewing community and even wrote my first blog post. I attended workshops, participated in a sewing bee and became aware of lots of Indie designers. In terms of reflection, I guess the most incredible thing is that my year ends with my head full of exciting plans linked to an interest/passion I hadn’t even discovered at the start of the year. I even wore my Francoise on Christmas Day! So, not really five reflections there but a general ponder on my sewing year. 
In terms of goals, here they are: 1. Make a coat – whilst this is an incredible challenge at least I am confident I will accomplish it because my Christmas present from my other half was a place on Sew Over It’s coat making workshop which means I will have lots of help and guidance from the wonderful Julie. I have already chosen my fabric too. I am going for the black and white – although probably the reverse of the view shown on this swatch. 
2. Complete my Craftsy course on Beginner Serging – I did lessons 1&2 yesterday. This course was the only thing I bought on Black Friday – a rather odd purchase I guess but if it gets me more comfortable with my overlocker (which I am sort of scared of) then it will have been worth every penny. 3. An important goal for me this year is to be a little more organised. I was given a pretty pink diary as a present so I am going to use this as a sewing journal. Having been reading other people’s round ups I’ve realised that some fellow sewing bloggers are very organised and have produced pie charts by garment, fabric etc – Yes, I am looking at you Elizabeth. so my objective is to jot down my ideas, note what fabric I have in my little stash and record what fabric I need for various patterns I intend to make so that I am prepared should a fabric buying opportunity present itself. 
4. The Monthly Stitch Collective is something I would like to join – I am going to sign up and try and commit to at least six of the challenges. The January one is for denim which I don’t feel very confident about tackling so maybe a February start for me. 5. OWOP14 was the first challenge I participated in. During that week I won three patterns as part of a giveaway and at that time I pledged to make my three patterns; to date that hasn’t happened so I am adding those on my goals for 2015: By Hand London Anna, Colette Hawthorn and Sewaholic Gabriola I am coming to get you. 
Whilst mentioning OWOP14, for which I used Sorbetto, I just want to sneak in a quick pic of my last make of the year – surprise surprise it’s a …Sorbetto. I do realise now that comfort sewing exists and this is it for me. I used the leftover fabric from my Dahlia and added some buttons from the Button jar my running/sewing friend Ali gave me for my birthday. 
Thanks again to Crafting a Rainbow for the hosting the Top Five and as my Nana used to say, I will close now but send you my very best wishes for a Happy New Year! Toodle pip, Clarinda
Tag Archives: Sewing
Round up of the year – Top five misses
It’s a real shame when something doesn’t work out because the start of every project begins with gleeful anticipation as you decide upon pattern and amass fabric and notions. To be honest, I think that, with the exception of my Sorbettos, almost all of my makes have included an element of disappointment. No doubt this is due to the combination of being a relatively new sewista and a sort of perfectionist. I say sort of because, rather annoyingly, I get despondent, then cross and don’t really have the patience to sort matters out so abandon projects to my ever-growing WIP pile. I salute those of you who regularly unpick, re-draft, make four toiles etc. so, here they are – my top five misses:
What possessed me? I don’t know why I thought I would look ok wearing a dress covered in black cats playing with red balls of wool. I made this for the fun Crazy Cat Lady Challenge and I did enjoy participating but, on reflection, perhaps a pair of PJs would have been better. I nonchantly wore my creation to work and hardly anyone made a comment – which I took as a bad sign. The one person who did refer to my frock asked if I was wearing my Halloween outfit which sort of says it all.
My Dahlia neckline was a Disaster Dahling – it would have fitted my hips with room to spare. I have now put a four inch inverted pleat into the back but the updated version has yet to be worn. Really disappointing because I love the fabric and the design – as it looks on other people.
I feel a bit mean including my lace dress as a Miss because I really enjoyed the workshops where I made it but I just don’t like it on me. It is too big and just a bit too conservative – a sort of frumpy mother of the bride type garment.
And finally, this beanie – photo taken just now on yet another gorgeously sunny December day in the UK. An incredibly frustrating Miss because I do love a hat (you may have noticed) and the shape and feel of this are very me. I like the effect created by using two different wool weights/needle size to create the bands but dearie me, why did I pick an apricot coloured mix? Is there anyone who could wear this colourway or have anything that vaguely would go with it? If only I had gone for a bluey plummy palette this would never be off my head.
So, there you have it – my misses of 2014 and it turns out, I could only muster four so … Happy Days! Wishing you all a Missless new year and thanks again to Crafting a Rainbow for hosting the Sewing Top 5.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
Merry Christmas from Francoise and Clarinda
I made it – literally and metaphorically!
I rushed to buy Francoise by Tilly and the Buttons as soon as it came out and initially planned to take part in the competition. However, the end of term is so mad that I just never finished in time. However, I loved looking at everyone else’s dresses and it gave me lots of ideas. I decide to add contrast cuffs to match my collar – now this might not seem very adventurous to you but this was my first time off piste so to speak and I have to say how chuffed I am with how it turned out.
I bought the fabric from Clothkits – it is some sort of wool blend, gorgeously soft to the touch. It is a delicate herringbone pattern and I still can’t quite decide if the contrast if black or dark brown. Bits of fluff were coming off all over the place and I am sure I will regret not having made friends with my overlocker yet. I bought one a couple of months ago and am still waiting for a chuck of time to devote to us getting better acquainted. So edges which would really benefit from being overlocked are just pinked – however, I do sort of like pinking – it somehow seems very 1960s.
Having missed the deadline for the competition I decided I would have Francoise as my Christmas Day dress – even this looked in doubt but after a final push yesterday and some last minute hand sewing this morning I finally finished it on Christmas Eve. Although, you could well be forgiven for not realising it was 24th December from these photos – it is gloriously sunny here in Arundel – the tide is very high (the river always looks prettier) and I thought that the cathedral would make a festive backdrop to my photos in the absence of snow – although I am sure the neighbours thought I was bonkers traipsing up the garden in a pair of high heeled patent shoes. On reflection I think the dress will look better with my suede boots.
In terms of fitting, I cut a size three on the top and graduated out to a four at the hips – I probably didn’t need to do this as there seems to be lots of spare fabric at the back. I’d be really happy to hear from anyone else who has made a Francoise as to how their collar went. I THINK I have messed mine up – it doesn’t go the whole way round the back – I wasn’t sure if it was a design feature but suspect not. You can just see where it ends in my back view shot.
I am super pleased with my dress – it’s my most adventurous make to date (by myself – no workshop hand-holding) and so I feel fairly confident about tackling more challenging projects in 2015: it has been a great first year of sewing. So, from sunny Arundel, very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
Round up of the year – My five top hits of 2014
I really enjoy the community events, most recently Bimble and Pimble’s Sewvember which introduced me not only to Instgram but to some wonderful, inspirational ideas. Now it’s approaching the end of the year and I see that Crafting a a Rainbow is again promoting a Top 5 of the year. As I only bought my Janome at Easter, my round ups will be from the last eight months and here is my first one: The Top Five Hits of 2014
Moneta and Marilyn
This was my first ever knit and I was particularly proud of myself when I had completed the bodice. I followed instructions from The Colette Guide to Sewing Knits having bought myself a walking foot and a twin needle. This post could have made it into the Misses of the year due to my failure with the twin needle and the clear elastic – both of which have still eluded me and will be goals for 2015. However, the sheer fun to be had from the fabric and the pleasure of completing my first knit puts in firmly in the Top Five Hits post.
Sorbetto and One Week One Pattern
Having only been sewing since Easter I did not really have much of a choice for my One Week One Pattern – it had to be the Sorbetto – which I love. The skill I most enjoyed learning from this make was bias binding. It was through this that I discovered The Little Tailoress and her super helpful tutorials. Here are three of my five Sorbettos from that week, including a running top I made from some of the leftover Marilyn knit – as you can see I take my race preparation very seriously. My participation in this event was a HIT for another reason. I entered a giveaway competition by Handmade Jane who organised this year’s OWOP and won my choice of three patterns. Having this announced on her blog gave me by biggest number of hits in one day – 99 – the likes of which have never been seen since so as a new blogger this was very exciting for me in addition to the delight of wining three patterns – which will feature in a future post.
Sureau
How I love my Sureau. I adore the button placket at the front and the easy comfortable styling. I would say this is the make I wear the most. It is super comfortable and always gets favourable comments. I plan to make more, many more. This could be the garment for OWOP15.
Lacy beanie
I do enjoy knitting – I was a knitter long before I could sew but like many other hobbies of the past it was long forgotten but my interest has been reawakened and I now knit regularly on my commute. This little beanie was my first time of using both circular and double ended needles. I really enjoyed making it up and knitting is such a useful thing to have in your handbag for a spare ten minutes – imminently more portable than a sewing machine.
Bees shirt
This shirt is a favourite because I have worn it a lot and I love the funky fabric. It teams well with a grey skirt for work and looks equally at home with denin for a more casual look. I also have fond memories of making this shirt. Six colleagues and I held our own sewing bee at work and afterwards we decided to take a workshop at Sew Pretty together to further improve our skills. Only three of us actually made it to the workshop but we all made a version of this shirt and none of us finished it during the three weeks worth of classes because we were laughing and chatting so much. By the way, as we’re getting to know each other a little more through this series of posts, I’d like to point out that these two photos were taken at the end of my garden
So, four more posts to come. I am looking forward to pondering about what to include and then writing them; I hope you are looking forward to reading about my Misses, Highlights, Reflections and Goals!
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
Workshop junkie and my first attempt at manly sewing
Oh I do love a workshop – I love having an expert on hand to help and give guidance; I love the seemingly endless supply of drink, cake/biscuits and I love meeting other people who sew. Rather last minute I decided to book myself onto Saturday morning’s workshop at Clothkits, Chichester to make a tie.
There were four others on the course. The first task was to choose the Liberty Lawn fabric which we were to use. I had already brought my fabric with me; a gorgeous wool mix I brought from Ghani and Guthrie and for the lining I wanted to use some Liberty Tana Lawn, Queue for the Zoo , which I had bought ages ago to make a blouse and remains untouched. The tutor, Maria Pulley thought that my fabric may be a little too thick but I had my recipient in mind and knew that the grey/blue floral combo was perfect and was not to be swayed!
A tie has lots of funny little fiddly bits associated with attaching the lining and getting a good point. I was really pleased to have someone there to show me precisely how to do it but apart from that, I found it relatively straight forward. The most interesting thing for me was the ….silence! Once you have the fiddly bits out of the way, the tie has to be hand sewn. There was a period of about forty five minutes where you literally could hear a pin drop, no-one said a single word whilst we concentrated intently on trying to sew invisible stitches. So, not quite as social as other classes.
Here is my sewing concentration face.
Here are the finished ties – quite impressive for a morning don’t you think. I do love the Liberty prints so will be making more I am sure.
In the afternoon I cut out my fabric for Tilly and the Buttons Francoise – there is a contest and photos have to be uploaded by midnight tonight. I don’t think I’ll manage that as today is ear-marked as Christmas card writing day etc but I will give it a go.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
Dahlia: done
I had so wanted to enjoy making Colette Pattern’s Dahlia and had visions of frolicking around the Peaks showing it off – it took much longer than I anticipated so I didn’t get it finished during my week away; I became incredibly disheartened with it. Well, after a burst of hand sewing this morning (sleeve and neck bindings and hem) it is finished and I was able to wear it for a little frolic around in the local park. The weather today has been unbelievable – Remembrance Sunday and I was out in just a cotton dress and a cardi.
My issues with the Dahlia are many and I hasten to add – are all my fault (just making it clear I am not blaming the pattern). I messed up the yoke so that both seams are not enclosed; I made my bias binding too thin; I clearly did not gather the neck sufficiently so that the dress can actually be worn off the shoulder. I have just read Sew South London’s blog and she has inserted darts at the back of the neck. If I were a patient person, I could attempt this remedy but I cannot, I’ll be honest, be arsed to remove the bias binding so I think it is doomed forever to be worn under a cardi.
That said, I do think it is a great dress for layering. I bought the fabric at Sew Over it with the intention of making another Sureau but then the Dahlia came out and I thought it would make a perfect Autumn dress. To be honest, as it is only cotton it is too thin for Autumn. I do have a lovely blue and red check wool and will probably make my next Dahlia with that.
You are probably wondering why I am already planning on making another Dahlia when I am clearly so disgruntled. Well . . . before I encountered my difficulties, I proposed it as a pattern for the next Sewing Bee at work (first one blogged here)and everyone has now agreed to do the Dahlia. The plan is that we will wear it for the last day of school when we go to the Carol Concert – might be a bit chilly for the half a dozen of us sporting bare shoulders.
I have read a few blogs lately where people make reference to the need for more intermediate patterns/ books. I do think the Dahlia is intermediate. All of the gathering, the enclosed yoke etc. The only thing I am pleased with is the invisible zip – perhaps whilst people are looking for the invisible zip they will not notice the gaping neckline.
For my little photo shoot I used plum coloured accessories as I do love plum – only ever wear plum lipstick. However, there isn’t any plum in the multi coloured fabric at all and I think that a cardi in teal would be better. So, guess what dear reader? I am making one! Bought this wool yesterday in a little nearby haberdashery along with the patternbook Rowan Easy Winter Knits – the yarn is 100% merino and called “Big Wool”. It is beautifully soft although I must say it feels/looks a bit synthetic to me. The designer for all the knits is Martin Storey whose patchwork blanket I am currently making squares for on my daily commute – the intention being that it will be a Christmas present for my daughter 2015.
So I have added to the number of WIP – also on the go is the lace dress I started on Wednesday (I have been given a mounting task to do for homework!) and Lauren’s yoke top which I thought might have seen the light of day by now but no.
On a non-sewing related matter I saw Gone Girl at the cinema this afternoon. I was wringing my hands so much that I actually wrung my ring off and had to go hunting for it at the end (and this is from someone who has read the book and knew what was coming). It’s been out a few weeks now so my closing salutation is to encourage you to go.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
Dahlia in disgrace and the joys of being part of sewing communities
I have been feeling a little down. I proudly boasted in my last post how I was going to make a Dahlia whilst on half term and had visions of elegant poses of me in the Peaks looking suitably smug showing off my autumnal sewing success. I did not finish the dress in the week; I have not finished it since; it is currently looking at me from where I have tossed it on the sofa – this particular Dahlia is in deep disgrace. Its misfortune would have remained private but I have been encouraged to move on and blog, regardless of having anything to share/show, by Sew South London who has blogged today of her own frustrations and an unfinished Dahlia.
Just look at that renegade seam – it is supposed to be on the inside. How did that happen?
So, once my patience has been replenished (the store is currently closed) I will complete the last bit of hand sewing and post photos of my finished dress. The sewalong started today so I might well have another attempt – I did have some nice navy and red plaid lined up but my confidence is currently depleted.
However, what I did want to share was some of the fun things that are going on at the moment linked to various sewing communities.
1. Tomorrow I am starting a course at Sew Over It for four consecutive Wednesdays to make a lace dress – hopefully it will look like this:
photo courtesy of Sew Over It
The tutor is the brilliant Julie who guided me through my first (only) pair of trousers. It will be tiring going to a workshop after work but I am excited about having expert help with my sewing and learning some new techniques. I am also looking forward to meeting some fellow sewistas.
2. By complete chance I read about Bimble and Pimble’s Sewvember on the day it started
I have been diligently uploading my photos to Instagram (quite a new experience for me) but the really fun thing is all the sticky beaking you can do. I have been truly over-awed with the sheer size of some people’s stash and the sewing space pictures on Day One are really making me think about how I can pretty up my own space. I guess that’s what Instagram is about for us – caring, sharing, inspiring and I have been inspired!
Finally, 3. the wonderful Katya Essery of Sew Pretty is starting a Sewing Club at her gorgeous studio in Wimbledon on a twice monthly basis where you can drop in and get help with your projects – no doubt I will be turning up with my Dahlia!
Photo courtesy of Sew Pretty
Katya has also introduced some new workshops including a winter coat, a tie and Christmas stockings. If you can get to Wimbledon, do consider taking a class at Sew Pretty – I have done a couple now and love Katya’s relaxed approach which combines really skilful instruction with wine and friendly banter.
Hopefully, I will be able to share a garment, of some description, soon – you can guarantee I will not be saying “this came together really easily”.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda
Half term sewcation
It’s rather odd to be packing the car up for a week in the Peaks: mountain bike – tick; walking boots – tick; sewing machine – TICK! It’s been a good week on the sewing front. I celebrated my birthday and a lovely sewing friend gave me a jar of buttons, a pair of stork scissors and a vintage apron.
Button jar with two of my favourite cards
A hurried photo and inappropriate undergarments have not done justice to this gorgeous vintage apron
I have spent the week tinkering about with Lauren’s yoke top – not for me the garment in a day type blogger – a week seems almost the minimum time in which I could actually make something. I also discovered a new haberdashery in Worthing where I bought all the various notions I need for forthcoming projects – get me – NOTIONS – six months ago I wouldn’t even have known what that meant.
This week ‘s episodes of The Great British Sewing Bee have been a delight – how fabulous that sewing is so mainstream we now have celebrity specials for charity. But ….. my oh my there were some frock shocks! I sympathised hugely with some of the efforts and the time pressures. For me, sewing is leisurely pleasure – if I had to do something to time it would kill the enjoyment of it for me.
So, here I am now in Hartington, in a gorgeous little cottage I have stayed in, apparently, seven times before according to the Visitors Book. Being a walker and an anxious cyclist, it is the perfect place. There are brilliant walks and lots of disused railway lines which have been converted into off-road cycle paths.
Manifold Cottage, Hartington – a cosy home from home
So, when I am not walking, cycling, marking, I plan to finally finish my silk yoke top and, big claim dear readers, start and finish my new Dahlia! What a gorgeous pattern – I bought it as soon as it was released. I have decided to use some fabric I had bought to make another Sureau. I did have some sumptuous wool plaid (navy and red) but I think I am going to save that and do it with the Sew-a-long as I will definitely need some help matching those checks.
Have a FAB half term everyone – happy sewing,
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
My yoke top WIP – if Rachel can take her sewing machine to Brazil I can certainly manage to take mine to the Peaks
First trousers and a lovely day at Sew Over It
I had a really fun day yesterday at Sew Over It sewing cafe in Clapham where under the expert guidance of a lovely lady called Julie, I managed to make a pair of Ultimate Trousers which I have worn today, are comfortable and fit me!
The studio is great and I would highly recommend taking a class there if you can get to Clapham. Tea was available throughout the day and elevenses included gorgeous handmade cupcakes. The studio was super girly, bright pink stairs, pin cushions in China cups and saucers etc. There was also a wonderful selection of fabric.
I had bought my fabric the week before, black cotton twill, but when I saw all the lovely fabrics on display I changed my mind. I made my trousers up in a moss green polka dot cotton (and bought more fabric for two future projects – I really am beginning to see how sewistas can easily build up a significant stash.
I thought it was brilliant that they already had a number of toiles to try on to check your fit. We double checked the fit after we had cut out – I needed a slight alteration at the back. Rather annoyingly I didn’t mark it on my pattern at the time and now I can’t remember it.
The best thing of all was that I finally got to use an overlocker. I loved it. I’ve looked at EBAY but there doesn’t seem to be many floating about. I do have a birthday later this month so perhaps I could go for the combined birthday/Christmas gift approach. What do you think – do the benefits justify the cost?
So it’s been a really satisfying weekend on the sewing front – made and wore my trousers (photos taken at Elmer beach – what an absolutely glorious day it’s been) and this afternoon I have been busy making a rather bonkers dress but that is for next time.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda
Me? Blog Hop? Yes please!
For the last few weeks I have been reading, with interest, various sewing blog hops where people answer a varying range of questions about their sewing/blogging/inspiration etc. It was therefore incredibly surprising, that this fledgling blogger (with only eleven posts to her name and an even fewer number of followers) was nominated. So huge thanks to Rachel from Is it fitting for thinking that I might have something of interest to say – Here goes . . . . . Why do I write?
I have always liked writing. I like the permanence of the written word – particularly from a social and historical contextual point of view. I find writings from women of the past fascinating. I have been both a diary keeper and a letter writer – I guess that I am just moving with the times, albeit a little after everyone else, and now blogging. Years ago Virginia Woolf wrote about the importance of A Room of One’s Own – the desire is just as important today and it is with great interest and pleasure I have read about various bloggers’ sewing spaces and how precious they are to them.
My first Sorbetto
What am I working on at the moment? I am still in the September return to school flurry and have not completed any projects this month but I have started loads! I tend to sew at weekends and knit during the week which is more manageable on my commute. I have started knitting a patchwork blanket designed by Martin Storey as a knit-along for Rowan. On the sewing table is a dress from Love at First Stitch (cut out and ready to sew), a yoke top from Learn to Sew with Lauren (cut out from the most gorgeous silk I bought in China this summer) and I am determined to make Fehrtrade’s VNA top for the Chichester Half Marathon which I am running on October 12th.
Chinese silk
How does your blog differ from other blogs? It’s obvious isn’t it? I’m new, don’t really know what I am doing, can’t easily add buttons, icons, etc. take rubbish photos (or rather my willing students take them) and haven’t really established my own style yet. I am working on that and hopefully by the time I celebrate my first blogiversary I will look back fondly (and with some embarrassment) at these early, juvenile posts.
Bluebell woods on a run
How does my writing process work? I am a runner. Whilst I am out I go through all sorts of things in my head: letters of complaint; job applications; blog posts. I can assure you that somewhere on the South Downs are crafted the most amazing, original and entertaining blogposts. Bizarrely, by the time I have got home, showered, done a million and one other things, all the little gems have vanished and what remains is what you can read here.
Post race ice cream
Nominations No pressure at all if not your sort of thing but I would like to nominate Lazy Daisy Jones whose blog I discovered with this post on Day Three of OWOP and saw immediately that I would love her style – her description of herself as a “mid-century …..mama who will forever be a girl at heart” had me cheering “Me too!” My other nominee is Sew South London who has been a kind and generous supporter of my blog and sewing efforts. Toodle pip Clarinda x
A brief foray into kidswear enabled me to use this wonderfully nostalgic fabric called Making Paper Planes
clarinda kaleidoscope 