Pin cushion jar

A non-dressmaking post...a make-do-and-mend one. My mum has a great portable pin cushion in a little fabric pot, so the pin cushion is inside the lid. It's cute but also really useful to have in the sewing box. I have a lovely pin cushion but it is too big to carry round so I wanted a sewing box pin jar, but I couldn't find a copycat version anywhere. Cue a bit of industrious DIY with leftovers to recycle- Pimms and Eurovision-watching optional ;)

Supplies: circle of scrap fabric, wadding, glue, jam/honey jar, circle of cardboard (slightly smaller than the jar lid, or it won't fit back on!).

Sew gathering stitches around the edge of a circle of fabric, gather and pack with a little wadding, glue to a circle of cardboard (i.e. cereal box card!) and then onto recycled jar lid and leave to dry. Ta da!

Create

Back to it....this blog hasn't been that consistent but it is still a record of things made and lessons learned last year, so worth returning to- complete with some resolutions made so far in 2015.

1. Try new patterns and extend skills. The year started with lovely gifts of new patterns like Grainline 'Archer' and Sew Over It '1940's Tea Party Dress' to spur me on. I am also trying to go through patterns bought and not attempted- the first one being the By Hand London 'Victoria'. Some focused fabric sale-shopping means I am ready to start; shirts and blazers here I come! Which brings me neatly to...
2. Shop carefully. I love all things fabric. But this year I am making a conscious effort to buy fabric with a specific project in mind and sew with a plan. Or more of a plan.
3. Learn more about adapting and even drafting patterns...So far this week I have been able to dress handmade every day but I want to be able to plan and create a handmade wardrobe...
4. Make some pattern blocks... trace pattern pieces from things I have made and grade them to get fit right. 

Resolutions aside, I love sewing clothes more and more. Case in point, tonight's rather simple cooking endeavours resulted in an unbelievable amount of mess with little output, and me flapping the door open to de-steam the kitchen. But neatening some facing on a dress and tidying my sewing supplies in from of Wolf Hall? Calm in the storm.

Knitting & Stitching Show | Kensington Olympia

Sewing and making inspiration on a large scale | my first Knitting & Stitching Show. I am now the proud owner of some lovely new fabric to play and a new dress pattern to try :)