Showing posts with label Minerva crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minerva crafts. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Jumpin'

Just the heads up on a fantastic fabric and a perfect pattern. 


I sometimes fall into the trap of using the same patterns over and over again but with different fabric - nothing wrong there - but I really wanted to try making a jumpsuit which suited my body shape. It was time to switch things round a bit.


This is Burda 6516. I looked at an awful lot of patterns looking for just the right one. The features that lured me towards this one were full bra strap coverage, wide legs, enormous pockets and a clear waistline so that I could adjust body length. I don't normally buy Burda patterns because they are always too long for me but I knew I could make it work. In this one, I had to take 2" off the lengthen shorten line on the legs.




This fabric from Minerva is by John Kaldor. There is only the purple colourway left but I really liked it with my charity shop Clarks purple shoes. I cut a size 12 top grading to a 14 on the waist knowing I had a waist tie to nip it in a bit while feeling certain it would be easy to get on and off. I cut a 12 lower leg but graded out to a 14 on my hips. You can get a feel for these kind of alterations the more clothes you make for yourself.



The crepe, which is a really good weight for this garment, was perfect for the soft pleats in the front and back. These are also quite adjustable during fitting in tandem with the darts on the trousers. Brilliantly, the pattern allows you to get a cracking fit depending on your body shape.


If I made it again, I would carve out a little more for the armholes; it must be my builders arms! I am saying 'again' because this was a test run for my nephews wedding (whenever that will be now). It is still totally wearable, but if I wanted perfection then that is what I would do next time.

Are you a jumpsuit fan? People either seem to love them or loathe them.

I may be off the radar for a while, I have volunteered to work full time until the end of term so that all year groups of children at our school can return and be in smaller classes. Just four weeks...and breathe. Jo xxxx

Sunday, 26 January 2020

Cutting Paper Once

I was excited to get my hands on this pattern. It seemed so versatile and I thought a pattern that made lots of different tops without having to keep cutting out paper pieces all the time would be a good idea. It was...



The first version I made last year has been worn a lot. The photo on the front of the packet was what really drew me in to get it in the first place. My first blouse looked very similar, made in cotton dobby.





I chose a Ponte Roma to make a short sleeved version next but the sleeves were a little stiff and made an unsavory silhouette so I made a box pleat and added a button. It is a good top to wear tucked in with a skirt or worn out more casually over trousers. I think there are a lot more opportunities with this pattern to use up some of my left overs to make the peplum version or the gathered sleeves. 

This pattern is a winner. Thanks for dropping by. Jo xxx

Tuesday, 30 April 2019

A Little Bit of Something Does You Good.

While working on the hard dusty graft of house building it is good to keep myself motivated with a little interior decor. I know it is really too soon to be thinking about this kind of thing but sewing for the new house keeps me painting rooms and grouting tiles. If I am honest, although I love sewing, doing all that kind of thing in one massive slog at the end would feel too tedious anyway.



This year, one of my crafting resolutions was to learn to make roman blinds...properly. I have made some bodged up ones in the past which ended up in our weekend cabin because when let down, they didn't actually reach the bottoms of the windows! Roman blinds are not hard to sew but don't be fooled; the maths is critical. These are from the first Great British Sewing Bee book. 


These fit and were very precise. My motivation to continue to learn how to make these blinds did waiver because on a toile I got the fabric the wrong way round. I nearly gave up but when I saw how much they were to be made professionally, I soldiered on.


These are for the office. The only modification I will do after this initial first hang is to put a tiny hand stitch in the centres between the lining and the spot fabric to stop the slight sag - but I am being picky.


I had originally chose this house/cat fabric from Minerva but it had a screen print error running through it so I was unable to make the blinds. They contacted the supplier, however there was a bigger problem than just the piece I had. Luckily, I was able to keep the piece and was sent the spotty fabric instead. I wanted to use the house fabric so I ordered a sewing bin kit from Dannells.


This will go in the window for pens, notebooks etc. They are really easy to cover and very reasonably priced. I also had a waste paper bin kit and a table lampshade which I will cover with the last of the spotty fabric.


The fabrics work well together and stop it looking too much the same.

I have removed the blind and packed the whole lot up in a dust sheet to keep it clean. It will probably be another 18 months before I actually get to put them out in the room. I have had a fantastic time making these interior accessories and now my attention will turn to making for another room. I am pleased I have accomplished one of my 2019 resolutions - two more blinds to go.

Jo xxxx

Saturday, 24 November 2018

Best Dress Tunic

 Hello! Well, here is Burda 9380 take two. This version has a few little alterations which makes for the most comfy best dress tunic.
  

I have made my older girl this pattern in jersey here. Little M wanted one too, in fact it was her I chose the pattern for in the first place but I got side-tracked experimenting with knit fabric.


 My youngest girl will wear virtually anything colour wise so long as it is modest and comfortable. I don't know why. She hates wearing sleeveless or strappy tops or having bare legs - it may stem from  always being very slim, maybe she is trying to pad herself out a bit - who knows. Anyway, I knew this dress had to be lined so that she would find it comfortable with leggings as a tunic.


I also predicted that she would not like cotton sleeves which got stuck inside her cardigan sleeves so I made them in jersey and the main dress in cotton. This red fabric is a light cotton weave ideal for hard wearing children's clothes matched with a coordinating jersey.


I turned the raw edge of the jersey hem over once and ironed it down with hem tape then used a decorative stitch to 'overlock' the raw edge on the inside and leave a nice finish on the outside. I have used this technique a lot lately because my overlocker has been playing up. The hem tape stops the hem stretching and rippling so it looks sharp.


We added the iron on motif just because we had it and it matched the colours. Minerva have lots. I have a selection at home for ironing over holes in jeans.


She loved it and said it was soooo slippy on the inside. 
That is a good thing!





A great pattern with so much potential for using up bits and pieces.


Thanks for looking. Bye for now. Jo xxx

Monday, 29 October 2018

Chambray Fabric Review

I love chambray fabric, it is so versatile. It always looks so stylish and gets a lot of everyday wear when I make something in it. However, I know not everyone is confident enough to sew clothes to wear so this review showcases a wonderful fabric for indulging your sewing mojo; but not as clothes, as homeware.




This cotton Chambray fabric made a laundry basket liner and matching peg bag. This liner is also useful if you store yarn in a basket so that the balls don't catch on the wicker sides.

You can line any basket with a tape measure and a bit of maths. This technique doesn't require any pi calculations and relies on the power of gathering to make a forgiving basket base. Here's how:



Measure the depth of your basket plus 6" for the fold over. Then measure the circumference of your basket plus 1" for seam allowance. Fold the fabric right sides together and sew the side seam making a tube.

Measure the width of your handles. Mine are 8 1/2" wide. You need to make a slit so that your handles fit through the fabric. Look out folks, here is the maths!

STEP 1: Folded fabric width - handle hole = X (60" - 8 1/2" = 21 1/2")
        
STEP 2: X divided by two = the fabric either side of the handle.
        (21 1/2" / 2 = 10 3/4")



Mark a handle slit in the centre with your surplus calculation either side. Repeat for the other handle on the other side of the fabric. Turn back the edges and stitch.



Draw around the base of your basket. Cut out a circle. Make two rows of gathering stitches around the bottom of the basket liner and draw it to the size of the circle. Pin and sew with a wide seam allowance.


 Put your liner in your basket.



I had some fabric left over to make a peg bag too. I used a pattern similar to this. It was quick and easy and would make a great gift.



This fabric is good quality and would make great clothes but if sewing clothes isn't your thing you can always enjoy sewing in different ways.

Jo xx

Thursday, 25 October 2018

Jersey Tunic Mash Up

 This month I have worked a little magic with some John Kaldor Cadiz jersey fabric from Minerva. 


I had some red Cadiz jersey left over from my Walkley summer T-shirt and Minerva sent me some navy in the same fabric to complete this tunic. She already had the leggings I made a last year and there were a few scraps left to make the pockets. 


The pattern is Burda 9380. It is a bit deceiving because you would think the pattern is for a little girl but with the right fabric choices it works well for this pre-teenager outfit. 


I modified the pattern by using a jersey knit and omitting the zip in the back. I cut the back and front on the fold making two pieces without a zip opening. I added a neck binding instead of facings and it worked a treat.


She had new chelsea boots the very next day so she was jolly excited. She has worn it to two Christenings and it was a triumph. Warm but smart; she had a lot of compliments.




The John Kaldor fabric is really fine quality with good stretch recovery. I made the sleeves longer than required and hand sewed them up so that I can turn them down when her arms get longer - as they tend to do!


It is a lovely pattern for younger and older girls. I think you may have guessed that I need to make another one for my other girl now.

Jo xx

Monday, 8 October 2018

Quick Knit Yarn Review


Today I am reviewing a yarn by Erika Knight called Studio Linen. It is made from recycled fibres and creates a summer weight fabric.


I am lured by yarn on a skein, are you? but this was a pig to roll into balls. It is slinky and smooth therefore my yarn winder was hopeless because the ball didn't have any purchase and just kept slipping and unraveling. Andy spent 2 hours one evening unknotting one ball that I had made a hash of. That said, knitting with it was sublime.




The pattern is free from Ravelry called The Summer Vacation top. You knit it with two strands held together on 7mm needles, this creates a very free flowing fabric. It is a quick knit and ideal for taking on holiday or knitting in the garden because it is simply two squares with no shaping. Great for a beginner too.


 

I used six skeins comfortably. Six would enable you to make the S, M or L sizes available on this pattern. The linen based yarn is so cool to wear on hot days and I love that it is made from recycled fibres - 85% viscose and 15% linen giving it a beautiful silky feel.



It is a very versatile pattern: you could change the length, width, mesh section to suit by using more or less of the lovely yarn. If I was to knit another, and I surely will, I will lengthen the stocking stitch and make a more shallow mesh section. Mine seems to have a larger section than others on ravelry which gave a bit too much bra to the general public. 



Thinking ahead though, I am currently wearing it with a white shirt underneath for work. The drape means it does not stick to the cotton shirt. Perfect for Autumn!


Thanks for dropping by. Jo xxx