2019 Wk 41 - Working with Jackie

Working (ie sewing) with Jackie . . . and shopping with Jackie at the Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching show makes for a pretty fab weekend!

We made a couple of 'Fold Up Sewing Folio's from Aneela Hoey's Stitched Sewing Organisers book (we had to put an elastic strap on as we didn't have enough fabric for the fastening strap)

And these Stash and Go drawstring bags

(the mint zippie was a repair for oldest daughter)

The lovely Kathy sent us instructions on how to make her Japanese Eco market tote bag and we made these

These pouches came from this blog and although they took more than the promised ten minutes, they were really quick to make

These Handy Fold-up pouches also came from Aneela's book

and prompted this larger i-pad sized version

And finally we made Emmaline's retreat bag (just one got photographed!)

Not bag for really just a day and a half of sewing as we also spent a day at the Knitting and Stitching show!

I bought some great iron on plastic from Happy Fabric (this is my first test piece)

and some felted sheets to line some tube mittens

Some additional shades of pearle quilting threads, and some Advent calendar ribbons, together with some felt that is a bit more 'gingerbread man' coloured

And a skein of sari scraps with should allow me to make a scarf like this one

2019 Wk 5 - Off to Ireland

Chertsey Museum class was on last Friday and we made triangular purses.  Mostly these were made from leather, pleather / faux leather and fleece so no sewing although some ladies did use fabric.  We used Kam poppers which are really sturdy, and we had fun!

The next day I was up at 3:30am!!!  And off to the airport for the first flight to Ireland.  By the time I would normally be waking up I had been driven to Heathrow, flown to Dublin, been picked up and delivered to Jackie's and we were in the sewing room deciding what to make first!!!

These were the winners - pink penguin's cover lunch bag aka a very useful bag

We then made the first of 4 pay-it-forward gifts I have committed to on facebook.  This is for a niece who had sent a link to an infinity scarf with a zipped pocket for phone or keys.  I took the sent link to be a subtle hint so we made one and it will go in the post tomorrow

 We then made a pair of hobo / project bags fussy cutting some bold Ikea flowers (thank you Sharon)

Jackie has made a few Sew Together pouches, and this time we thought we'd have a go at the mini one.  It was a bit fiddly as were had to use the original instructions with the 'mini' adjustments but we got there in the end

 We made (started!) some storage pods

 and some larger-than-we-expected bowls

And then we went to have cuddles with little Miss Gorgeous

And the slightly boisterous big brothers (I am sooo jealous - isn't Jackie greedy having 3 grandchildren while I have none!  I am lucky that she shares though!!!)

we did our usual gift exchange but most of the goodies I brought home have been put into use (love the mug!) or put away before being photographed, but this has stayed on my wrist - so far it's decorative but who knows when I will need to measure something and will be able to!!!

Bits and Pieces

I've been clearing a few things from my work bench:

I had a boring black and a very right red rose printed pashmina -

but scarves annoy me as they come unwrapped from my neck, so a bit of cutting and a bit of sewing later . . .

I have a black and rose infinity scarf

I don't think I've shown one of my more detailed machine embroideries - a customer asked for a traction engine (!!!)  It took a fair amount of research to find an image I felt I could trace and he felt represented a traction engine - but we finally got there, and he got these

 

And I bought a small portable charger for my phone, but the leads kept hiding in the depths of my hand bag, so I made it its own little case

(annoyingly there is too little fabric at the bottom and you can see the stitching, but it's for me, and for a first attempt just one mistake is acceptable!)

Super Quick Scarf

At the moment the mornings are cold, but the days warm up quickly.  I wanted an infinity scarf that I could wear on my way to work, but not a knitted one as I tend to wear long earrings, and they get caught up in the holes of a knitted scarf!

I had a loud t-shirt that I love but haven't worn for years that I thought would make a fun scarf.  So I cut off the hem and the arms & neck section

I cut the body section into two 

And now I have two very colourful infinity scarves!!!

Indi's Art

My favourite favourite niece lives in Australia and is 7 years old.  She drew me a lovely picture and her dad emailed it to me:

and with the magic that is PEDesign and my Brother embroidery machine ... I have converted it to a machine embroidery!

 Hope you like it Indi!

Other catch ups - Harry and Niki as Ash and Misty (with Mario!!)

And I had a great afternoon at Chertsey Museum yesterday: the ladies made Infinity Scarves:

As usual, individual pictures, and Show and Tell pictures are on the Fun With Fabric blog

Super Soft Seasonal Scarves

Tomorrow is the last day at school, and I suddenly realised I hadn't made anything for the 4 colleagues I spend most of my time with.

So I cut strips of fabric 8 inches x width of fabric from Christmassy fabric and some velvet, and some pashminas that could be sacrificed.

I used a strip and a half (so a length appx 8 x 60 inches) of a plain fabric and a Christmassy fabric, and stitched them along the long sides, right sides together, all but the end 3 inches of each edge
   

Then I turned the scarf right way round, and stitched the two ends of one fabric together

 

I then folded back two ends of the second fabric to where where they should meet, and pressed them


 

I stitch the ends of the second fabric together, and machine stitched the opening along one long side, finally closing  the final opening with hand sewing, and I now have four Christmassy, super soft, infinity scarves

Late Night Sewing

I had two fun evening sewing sessions last week: my friend Linda came round and we spent an evening putting the world to rights, and cutting into this pile of pashminas
 

and this pile of woven (some slightly scratch) scarves

and a short time later had this collection of mostly infinity scarves

 

 Not on any list, but some Christmas presents sorted all the same (is it OK to add to a to-do list and then straight away cross off as completed?)

I've now found a whole load more scarves - when are you coming back Linda?

The second evening was at Chertsey Museum: Chertsey Chicks!  Using the lovely Plum's 'recipe' again the ladies made chicks and a strawberry (there is always one who cant do as she's told!)

Pretty cute aren't they