Batman and the Bird Dress

This is the week, the week I will make the bird dress. I'm still not quite convinced that it's going to look good plus I am concerned over the wiseness of making a dress with white as the main colour. Am I too messy for this to be sensible? Probably. It might look stupid but I think I should just go for it. After two successful makes, I'm probably due another disaster. This is the pattern I'm using:A charity shop number, picked up for a whole 50 pence. And how could you resist the temptation to make a '3 Way Nifty Skimmer'?This is the birdy fabric from Ikea that I'll be using.

Other purchase; some spotty fabric from a local charity shop that often sells off the ends of fabric, very cheaply. I though I could use it for a blouse, but when I got it home I wasn't so sure about the texture of the fabric as it's a bit coarse. Still, I think it could make great lining fabric, perhaps for a skirt.

And finally, recent finds in the fantastic Mandors Sale, where much Liberty goodness was to be found. First the fabric;It's destined for some kind of bag project. No idea what yet, but I've just signed up for a Vintage Accessory making course in September, so I might be able to use it then.

And then, the leather. Mandors had a cart full of leather off cuts, also from Liberty, in all shapes, sizes and colours. I bought a few bits, again thinking they'd be useful for a small project like a brooch or maybe a purse.


However, star find has got to go to this beauty;

It was lurking amongst the basket of leather scraps. It looks like the skin of a ray or similar fish,, as you can see where the eyes would have been, as well as the shape of the tail. The rough skin has been smoothed and it's been dyed. I wonder what Liberty would have used it for? Or what on earth I'm going to do with it?! It almost seems a shame to cut it up. I had to buy it, as it was so fascinating, however I actually got it for free. My friend and I had a conversation with the shop owner about what on earth this was, and he kindly offered it to me for free, as it was such a bizarre object!

K x

Finished Senchas

I finished making the Sencha blouse I blogged about in my last post. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and the fit is really good, I think. It's a very useful, 'wearable' item and it's really boosted my sewing confidence to have now made two items I really like and will wear.

After making the toile for the first one, I showed it to a friend from work, who used to work as a pattern cutter. She suggested some changes to the fit - adding a centimetre to the top of the shoulders and bringing it in slightly at the sides. The back was also a bit loose, so I made adjustments there too, as well as adding an inch in length.

Sencha 1 - fabric is from John Lewis

Sencha 2 - Fabric from a charity shop. The hem looks a bit wonky here, but it isn't - just the way I'm standing, I think
So...next project....I've got a very simple patten for a shift dress which I'm planning to make in some Ikea fabric. I've started the toile already and as it's a summery kind of dress, am hoping to get it made soon, making the most of any sunny weather we might possibly be getting in the near future....

Cecilia Fabric from Ikea

More on the dress next time, and a nicer photo of the fabric!

K x

A couple more finds, and some sewing

Thought I'd post a couple of pictures of some recent purchases. One is a lockable metal box, picked up in a charity shop.


I don't know who Daniel Sharpe is, but the label attached to the key says 'Cash Box'. However inside there are no sections, which makes me wonder if it really was originally designed as a cash box. My own interpretation/imagining is that it's a tuck box, which would have been taken by a boy to boarding school, to keep his sweets in, locked away! I don't know how old it is either. The name is nicely hand painted in gold but it's in good condition so can't be too old I think.


The other recent purchase is from the fantastic Che Camille in Glasgow. Their website with online shop is worth checking out. This cute bracelet uses vintage, hand painted buttons. I loved how unusual it was, and a great, simple idea. In fact, it's one of those things I'd think "I can make that" but in fact I probably would never get round to it. I've resolved to support more craftspeople and makers - and that was exactly how I justified the purchase to myself!!


I've nearly finished my Sencha blouse. Above is the fabric, ready for cutting. The fabric was a charity shop purchase too! It's the second version of Sencha I've made, and I really love the pattern. I think I will make a further one, using a different variation of the pattern - it comes with three variations.

I've nearly finished my Audrey in Unst cardigan too. However, I think it's a bit large - either through my choosing too large a size or through me getting the gauge wrong. I'll post some pictures soon. Let's hope it's still going to be wearable!

K x

Back after a break!

Well, I'm back after an enforced break, due to our laptop stopping working. It had to be sent away for repair, which curtailed my fledgling blog!

However in that time I have not been idle, and have some new finds to show...

Vintage buttons on their original card ( being investigated by a curious cat!)

A lovely knitting book - Fairisle Knitting by Sarah Don. I hope this will inspire some new knitting projects!

A book on embroidering with binka and a leaflet of embroidery transfers, complete with original transfers. I'm not planning to do any embroidery but am hoping the designs will inspire some knitting designs. The Binca book is from 1961, and I just love to look through it to see the interior set-ups, complete with beautiful period furniture from Heals and Peter Jones. Gorgeous!

All of these finds are craft-related, and are intended to inspire me to create new things. I've also got a few other new finds which I will post soon, which are non craft-related but just as good.

Plus our apparent devotion to sideboards (the furniture, not the facial hair) continues unabated! We purchased a fab 1960s sideboard last week which is waiting in our hall to be ensconced in the living room, once the horrible old gas fire is removed and we have got a new carpet. It's a beauty and was a bargain. However 2 sideboards for one room is excessive I admit. We only have a 1 bedroom flat after all!!

K x