Christmas Sewing

Over the years I have done little bits of sewing for Christmas. I always leave it to the last minute (surprise, surprise!!) so every year it it just one thing. Here are a few of my favourites:

Mini teddy bear christmas ornaments, made of little circles of material gathered together and lightly filled to make a body, limbs and head. Eyes and nose embroidered on with black thread. Topped off with a little Santa hat and bell. I have about 10 on my tree, I made many more but have given them away over the years:

Fall Essentials Sew Along Wrap Up.

I started this challenge with so much enthusiasm and in fact am still enthusiastic, however I only finished about half of what I planned. I do have excuses...... new role at work, family visiting from overseas, very busy at work etc etc etc. And now Christmas is just around the corner. So I have decided to give a quick summary and my thanks to the organizers!

This was my initial list:

Black Jalie Jeans
Black/grey coat (probably Colette patterns lady Grey) or, Black and white plaid shawl (probably self draft the pattern)
Grey skirt and top (Vogue Easy Options)
Brown skirt (probably Colette pattern's Beignet)
Burnt orange sweater (I am going to attempt to knit!!)
Blue scarf (Made with wool, threads etc and sewn onto a water soluble stabilizer)
Undies
Knitted socks!

Cadence completed!

Finished my Cadence sweater and love it. Once I had got past the lace pattern it was plain sailing. I can't really sew while watching TV so knitting is what keeps me awake while watching my shows!

The finished article!

Closer view of the lace section

Sewing and Knitting Update

Well it's been over a month since I last posted. Life has been very hectic as often happens. My parents were visiting from overseas, plus my role at work changed, so major learning curve there. All in all sewing took a bit of a back burner for a while. But I am back!!

At the weekend I cut out a pair of black stretch denim jeans (Jalie pattern) and the muslin for the Colette Patterns Lady Grey coat. Spent the last half an hour making some adjustments to the muslin which I plan to transfer to the pattern pieces tomorrow and then cut out the shell and lining. the lapels gaped, as did the back. I have also reshaped the lapels as t=I felt they were a little big for my frame.

The Lady Grey muslin

SSS The Final Stretch

The last four days.

On Tuesday (Day 27) I wore the black and white pinafore dress. As the weather is cooling down here, a great time to start with stockings.

Wednesday (Day 28) I wore my black cropped pants again, this really was a good make. Very easy to wear. Also very comfortable.

Thursday (Day 29) and I wore my Pendrell blouse with my grey suit.

Friday (Day 30) and I wore my hand made scarf. My first effort as part of the Fall Sewing Essentials and Fall Pallette challenges.

And that is that, another self stitched month has come to an end. I really enjoyed this one and found it is getting easier, which is obvious the more I sew!! I think challenges like this make me see where the gaps in my wardrobe are and I sew more what I need.

Thats so much Zoe for another great challenge!

SSS DAYS 21 - 26 and a Knit Along!

A few days off work. Wonderful!

Day 21 and it was time to catch up on some shopping. Jalie Jeans are perfect for running around in. I am about to cut out a black pair as part of the Fall Colors Palette challenge and the Fall Sewing Essentials challenge (I am combining them).

Day 22 and I took my parents into Toronto and played the tourist, great fun. Bus tour, boat trip around the Toronto islands. Self Stitched denim skirt.

Day 23 (Friday) just a lazy day and I am wearing an up-cycled sweater. I replace the ugly black plastic buttons with 12 different buttons from my collection. Two of which I made myself, back many years ago when I did a pottery course.

When I looked at the photo, I realized that it segues nicely into my latest project. If you look carefully you can see the pattern I have printed off. I am going to try my had at knitting after many, many years. I found this knit along on the Rhinestones and Telephones Blog, Sarah is teaming up with Kristen from Kristen Makes. So I was on the computer printing out the pattern so that I can go an look at yarn later.

Day 24 (Saturday) and it was the Pendrell blouse with black pants for dinner at friends.

Sunday (day 25) was Jalie jeans at Niagara Falls and then finally back-to-work Monday (day 26) and it was the purple dress. Not worn since Me Made March!

SSS Days 14 - 20

So nothing exciting Wednesday to Friday, just work! Wednesday I wore a Mandarin style top (McCalls 7444) made many years ago and left at the back of the closet until I was desperate during Me Made March!! Now it gets worn a fair bit.

Oh yes, on Thursday I had a new item to wear. I made a pair of black cropped pants. Simplicity 5259. I have made a skirt from this pattern as well as beige cropped pants, but they are a bit baggy so don't really wear them. This time I fitted and took in as necessary, also underlined for more body. I can see me wearing these a lot to work!

Friday I wore my second Pendrell blouse with jeans.

Saturday, Day 17 was such a busy day. My younger son's 18th Birthday, my parents flying in from overseas, plus the usual Saturday busy-ness that it was only as I collapsed into bed exhausted that I realized that I had worn nothing me-made today. Sunday, Day 18 wasn't much better but I did throw on my Vogue apron to make dinner.

Monday, Day 19 and I wore my black and white Pendrell blouse, teamed with a grey suit.

Tuesday, Day 20 and I wore the black simplicity cropped pants again, this time with a black blouse and green jacket (both RTW). Now I am on vacation for a few days, so I should have more time........

SSS Days 10 - 13

Day 10, Saturday and this was a usual Saturday day, early morning run and then hot yoga. Then a trip to the local local rugby club to watch my youngest in action (well played Honey!) but in the evening  we relaxed at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto as we had free tickets to see Paul Rodgers and Bachman Tuner in concert. Great show.

I wore my Burda denim halter neck top made a million years ago and buttonholes finished in June of this year!! Teamed with my favorite RTW jeans. I also wore a me made necklace, one of my favourites and the teardrop bag made as part of the Style Stitches Sew Along. Note the CN Tower in the background!!

Sunday, day 11 and it was the first South African game of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Being the other side of the world from New Zealand where the games are taking place, we pre-recorded the 4 am game and had friends round at 8 am to watch the game and have breakfast.

I ended up wearing self stitched undies, that's all I could come up with today!! I found a pair, tucked away in my undies draw, that I must have made over 12 years ago, in South Africa with a company called Stitch Witch. Not sure if this was ever in Canada or the US. It was all stretch fabric sewing. Anyway, I got motivated later in the day and have cut out more a matching bra and panties set using these old patterns, and have other ready to cut out!! I can use this as part of the Fall Essentials Sewing. There is a category for underpinnings!

Back to work Monday, day 12, I wore my Burda Shirt dress (Burda 7827). This is one of my favorite dresses that I have made.

Tuesday, day 13 and I wore a self drafted A-line skirt made as part of the Spring Palette Challenge earlier this year.

Fall Palette Inspiration

Fall Palette Inspiration by debbiej510 featuring flared jeans

Freda gray dress
£359 - matchesfashion.com

Knit top


At long last I figured out both the ColourLovers website and Polyvore and have been able to upload my inspiration to my blog. Yeah!!


After seeing the first few days of Self Stitched September, I wear far too much black. Yes I know there is black in my inspiration colours, but there are other colours as well.


I am going to combine the Colette Patterns Fall Palette Challenge with the Fall Essentials Sew Along. So we will see how this goes!!


My initial list is as follows: 
Black Jalie Jeans
Black/grey coat (probably Colette patterns lady Grey) or, Black and white plaid shawl (probably self draft the pattern)
Grey skirt and top (Vogue Easy Options)
Brown skirt (probably Colette pattern's Beignet)
Burnt orange sweater (I am going to attempt to knit!!)
Blue scarf (Made with wool, threads etc and sewn onto a water soluble stabilizer)
Undies
Knitted socks!
Will update when I have more time!!!!

SSS Days 6 – 9

Just another busy week at work, but a short week as Monday was Labour day.

Tuesday (day 6) and I wore a self made black and white dress with a little RTW black jacket over the top. Nice and easy for work. Although looking at this pic, my jacket looks rumpled!

Can't see the dress!!

Headless looks weird!!

I usually take the pics in the morning, but today I did it after work as my morning ones were weird (I tried to use the self time mode and a tripod. Need to work on the angle a bit!). After work, there was someone home to assist.

Wednesday was my Sewaholic Crescent  skirt, which I wore with a black blouse and a turquoise necklace which picks up the colours in the skirt very nicely.

Thursday was my Sewaholic Pendrell blouse. I think I wear this almost once a week. It is such a wardrobe staple. Teamed with black trousers, perfect for the office.

Friday (day 9) and as Fridays are casual days in the office I opted for my Jalie Jeans (my first repeat for SSS), worn with a black blouse. I really need to change up my colours a bit. I am signing up for the Colette Patterns Fall Palette challenge and the Fall Essentials Sew Along and will be combining them and endeavour to add some more colour to my wardrobe.

SSS The First Five Days

And we are off.......

Day one, and I started this challenge with skirt and top made earlier this year. Vogue Easy Options 2218. I really like this pattern and plan to make a long sleeved top and skirt for Fall / Winter.

As day two was a Friday, it was casual day at work. So I work a denim skirt sewn a couple of years ago from a 1990's 5 Hour Jeans/Skirt pattern. I also used my Amy Butler Hobo bag, stitched as part of the Style Stitches Sew Along.

Close up of the Hobo bag

Day three found me camping, so I was able to try out my jumpsuit / playsuit (whatever it is called!!), McCalls M6083. Very comfortable over my bathing suit for the beach.

Day four and although the weather was not as nice as the day before, it was shorts and t-shirt weather. The t-shirt is adapted from a dress pattern, Butterick 5247. Not a favourite, but perfect for camping.

Home again, and day 5 was the Jalie Jeans which I love. I have been meaning to make black and brown denim as well. Maybe as summer fades and it gets dark earlier, I will have more time to sew!!!

So all in all not a bad start to Self Stitched September!

The Hobo Bag

The Hobo bag is the August bag for the Style Stitches Sew-Along on the My Crafty Crap blog. I also discovered another blog (Jem Jam) doing the same sew-along, so will post my pics on both!

The Hobo bag is my favorite bag to date. In keeping with my idea of using this book to do some stash busting, all fabric used is left overs from other projects. The black and white for the main part of the bag was used first for a skirt. The inside handle ( 1" black and white check) was used in a Vogue dress. The small check is about to be a blouse, the Colette Pattern, Violet blouse. All cut out and ready to sew. The plain black is a pair of cropped pants, again all cut out!

Just hanging around!

I saw many finished Hobo bags on line without the tassel, but to me it makes the bag. I found this trim at Fabricland on sale (always a good thing!), I think it goes well with the black and white bag.

Close up of the tassles

This bag was easy to sew, easier than the Cosmo bag, even though the book says this is an intermediate level and the Cosmo is meant to be easy!

So I will be getting ready for next month's bag which is the Blossom bag, that one does look more difficult so I should start early!!

The Playsuit and the Cosmo Bag

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged that I had been at the beach (Turkey Point, Ontario) and had seen several playsuits and decided that I had to have one. I looked around a settled on a McCalls pattern  M6083, because it was easy and I haven't had much time to sew recently.

It was easy to sew. I chose a blue crinkle cotton (not sure the correct name!) and chose to underline the shorts as I thought they might be a bit see through. I also added a snap fastener as it gaped open a bit at the front.

My only problem is that it is not easy to get in to. The shorts are fine and then you really have to squeeze your arms and shoulders through for the top. But it will be fine as we are running out of summer and I can wear them on our camping trip next weekend. Which will also be a Self Stitched September opportunity!

So cute together!

Then my other sewing this past week has been another Amy Butler Cosmo bag. Exactly the same as my first one. A friend had admired mine, loved the colours and now she will her own as soon as I drop it off with her! The fabric was from the second of two curtains I bought in a charity shop on a trip to the UK a couple of years ago. They were going to be for blinds in the kitchen, but that never happened!! Mine is lined with green and my friend's is lined with mauve, so we will be able to tell them apart!