February look at Seamstar

Over half way through February all ready, valentines day has been and gone. Mother's Day and Easter are on the way- time is giddying along.  Time for my monthly look at Seamstar.  Courtney puts some lovely projects and kits together, starting with these drawstring bags kits:

Everything you need to make a useful bag for a child or for yourself- to store knitting supplies, fabrics etc!  When Lula was little I made a few like this for various school and after school activities and it certainly made getting the right equipment to the right activity a lot easier.

Three colourways available, blue, pink and yellow and even eyelets and an eyelet tool is included for a professional finish.  The detailed instructions are free, cover all you need to know about adding the eyelets along with everything else and can be found here on Courtney's blog.

You may want to embroider a name, you can find embroidery supplies including the thread colours below and many more, plus hoops, needles etc.

If you are looking for a little fabric for yourself, I can thoroughly recommend the lawns.  I know I have mentioned these before but I recently ordered one of the designs to use as a coat lining (planning to start this in the next month) and it really is good.

See what I mean!   This is Seashell, so pretty without being floral (although I love a floral) and such fantastic colours, plus it feels smooth just like a Liberty lawn.  I was thrilled to bits with this, its going to make the most fabulous lining to flash about (navy gabardine for the exterior coat) and will be luxurious next to the skin.  Other lawns can be seen here. 

These 1930s repros from Chloe's Closet caught my eye- all on sale at under £2/FQ

There are some cute gifts dotted around the website, useful sewing related items that you could use or give to like minded sewing friends.  Such as these little polka dot scissors (you can state a colour preference if you wish when ordering):

I also found this cute little notebook,  with a glossy cover plus a polka dot lining inside and lined pages within.  It's a bargain too at £2.25.

I've bought this tape measure as a little swap gift, the tape measure is coloured rather than the usual white and if you are anything like me, you can never have enough tape measure- like seam rippers and scissors, I lose them all the time.

There are still some specials on sale too, like this camera case cover kit.

Enjoy your look around. K x

Flowers

Are you still there?  You haven't been blown away/drowned by rain/disappeared into 3 foot of snow?  A week of crazy weather here in the UK and elsewhere in the rain.  Some prettiness and fabrics to distract from the rain.  I received month 9 of Amitie Bring Me Flowers BOM recently and despite having at least 3 months worth of packages unmade, I dived straight in to make this block and get the ball rolling again.

This may remind you of the economy block .  A versatile little block that can be rotary cut or foundation pieced. I did the latter and it came together quickly.  I did change a lot of the fabrics.  I have found this block of the month an up and down experience. On the plus side, I receive fabrics that I love that I never see anywhere else and this includes Japanese cottons and Liberty lawn.  I learn techniques that I don't usually go in for and become a better sewer.  The down side is some of the fabric choices leave me a little cold: these are my current rejects, and the hand sewing is hard going at times.

Lisa wrote about this aspect of BOMs recently, although I loved the print that she couldn't bring herself to use: one quilter's trash is another quilter's treasure.  I find a lot of hand sewing brings on a bit of RSI so I can only do it in small bursts which means putting everything away and then not quite knowing where I am when I get it out again.  Each block has the stalks to be sewn on and sometimes there are multiple layers to each flower head and six of them to make (2 blocks worth).  I machine sew when I can but this BOM was designed with hand sewing in mind and machining is not always an option.

 There are twenty five flower blocks in all and each is surrounded by these spacer blocks (above).  These are paced in the BOM so there are 1-3 to finish each month and they are rather tedious.  They come with photos so you can match the fabrics to what has been sent.  I am in round two so sometimes the pics don't match the fabrics and I have made some substitutions which you can see taped to the pic; there was a lot of olive green which is not my favourite and I didn't want it to dominate.  I keep each stage of the BOM in zip locks to help keep tracks.  The preparation for each block does seem to be quite long, especially when I make fabric changes- I am my own worst enemy.

I do like these flowers (month 6) despite the lengthy process that will go into making them.  These are multi-layered so the central diamonds are english paper pieced, then the circle is hand appliquéd to the background (leaving space for the stem) and the diamond then appliquéd on top.  The whole quilt is going to be a labour of love.  I think it might end up as a door curtain but really I am undecided and the finishing it is some time off.  Would I do another Amitie BOM?  I am undecided about that too.  It is expensive.  I could only afford it when I came into some money, but the packages are fun to receive, Jen Kingwell's designs are truly beautiful and unlike anything else so never say never.  I just need to pull my finger out and get more of this done before I think ahead.

Meanwhile colour from my window sill.  I know many folks are looking forward to sun tomorrow in the UK and it is half term too.  A week of sewing, cooking and family activities beckons and that sounds good.

Oakshott and Alice Apple: Squares

Sometimes I need to go back to basics.  Ignore the pretties on Instagram, blogs and elsewhere and just do something simple and let the fabric do the talking.  This quilt top was made from a stack of Oakshott fat eights of Italy (kindly sent by Michael), a charm pack of 37 squares bought from Alice Apple and a few random light and vintage squares from my scraps.  144 x 4" squares in all, 

Organising rows and 'randomness'.

Chain piecing.

Nesting seams.

No bells or whistles, just lovely shimmering colours.  The Italy bundle was a great match for the vintage style colours of the Alice Apple squares,  a very 1970s palette and the silvery grey warp thread that runs through this range has a subtle shimmer.

A quick flick through one of my older inspiration books whilst I was taking these photos confirmed the happy marriage of simple shapes and bold patterns and colours.  These are all from Patchwork Simplified by Alice Timmins- a great source of vintage patchwork eye candy with English paper pieced maxi skirts and slightly disturbing toys.

The 1970s with its rather variable aesthetic (note the green long shag pile in the bottom pic, urgh!) was very much my decade.  Combos like this make me feel so at home.

Eternal Maker: February fabrics and Offers

As promised, my second sponsor post of the day and another offer. Eternal Maker has a limited time discount for all European customers: 50% off postage for a week. I do like postage discounts, maybe its because more of the money I've spent has gone on fabric?  It always makes me feel like I've got extra value!  So for those of you in Europe looking to benefit (see end of post for discount details) and for everyone else, here's a look at what I've found at Eternal Maker this month.

This is an imaginatively curated textural bundle called 'Men in Black'.  Super mix of colours/substrates (cotton, linen, corduroy) and prints.

And here's another, Retro Techno

Great early 1960s vibe to this and I love the colours- reminds me of my kitchen which has a lot of red and turquoise with a dash of yellow.  This bundle cut up into large squares could make some lovely kitchen curtains.

For those of you with more delicate tendencies, this Shabby Patchwork bundle ticks all the boxes.

A very pretty French feel to these fabrics and the PB and Jelly prints (Raspberry Jam and Thermos) add a little edge.

I had to include this bundle as its such a beautiful picture, Up, Up and Away by Heather Moore.  

I think the key to this bundle is the addition of black.  I don't usually select bundles all from the same fabric range but I make an exception for this.

I have spotted some excellent dress making fabrics which have come into the shop in the last couple of months.  Firstly, this Chambray Union Spot from Robert Kaufmann.  

This reminds me of the finer Japanese dotted fabrics as the spots are woven in which gives it a delicate texture with the threads floating across the back.  Its lightweight- great for tops particularly.  I think a skirt would need lining unless you were dreaming of summer and wanting a slightly see through effect. I ordered a couple of metres straightaway and its 57"/145cm wide so that's enough to make a tunic or long skirt as well as long sleeved shirt.

Robert Kaufman Chambray Union range must have been a massive success for the company- I am seeing it all over blogs and social media- so wearable and unisex for those dipping their toes into menswear.  Another fabric from the same range is Chambray Union Denim.  

There are tiny flecks of colour with this chambray which breaks up the all over denim effect which could get a little Status Quo , although I confess I am a denim on denim fan but I know caution is needed.  I checked this fabric out on the RK website and it weighs a little bit more per ounce than the dotted fabric and is a standard weave so it would be a little more hard wearing and I am hoping will work without lining- I haven't seem it in person yet, but I have dress plans for this.

For those of you tempted to try knits by the recent free Plantain pattern download, there are some very wearable  cotton lycra Laguna jersey fabrics, again from Robert Kaufman and extra wide at 145cm in heather grey, heather pepper, onyx and aqua.

All such wearable colours.  I know we are drawn to picture prints and cuteness but these fabrics are the core of wardrobe basics and the basis of what I wear on a daily basis.  Well done to RK to offering such possibilities for dressmakers!

And just in case you need a fix of cute and a fabric that is catching the wet weather currently engulfing the UK, Bon Poche Rainy Days by Kiyohara

Here's the postage details for all you Euro customers.  Eternal Maker post worldwide too as well as in the UK.

Keep dry, especially the UK peeps x

Feb at Village Haberdashery

A couple of monthly sponsor posts back to back as there are a couple of offers at Village Haberdashery and Eternal Maker that are only applicable for a few days and I want to share!

Starting with Village Haberdashery.  Annie has posted details on a how to make an easy strip quilt Snow and Ice  and there are a big stack of strips left over (around 2 metres of fabric) up for grabs-click here- and visit the post to be in with a chance of winning.

Koi Canvas is in stock- great for bags, cushions- especially the back of a cushion with a pieced front and other items that need strength and a bit of structure.

For Anna Maria Horner fans there are two new ranges available.  My immediate favourite of these is Dowry and it looks like it has been popular.  Echoes of older collections with new elements added.

I love the Tangle print: great colours and I love the mix of illustration with the background print..  

Some of these prints have already gone so if you are keen, you may not want to leave it too long!  Build a bundle is here.

There is also a stash builder style range called True Colours

You can see how it co-ordinates beautifully with Dowry as well as her older ranges- Field Study etc but the patterns are more geometric and symmetrical and the prints stick to a smaller range of colours and tones.  Build a bundle is here.

New indie pattern companies are always of interest.  This is Mortmain by Gather, a London based pattern company.  It is a cute dress that is relatively simple especially the sleeveless option.  It uses an exposed zip as a design feature and these are a lot more forgiving to fit in a dress.  There is also a sleeve/cuff option included

I haven't seen many example of this dress made up but it is a cute style, I like the definition of the waistband and I think side seam pockets could easily be added.

My vintage antennae was alerted with these new Nancy Mahoney prints, Urban Classics. I haven't seen these elsewhere so nice choosing Annie! 

Great colours and I love the 1930s feel but without too much whimsy.  These two are my top picks.

'Sparkle Punch'- love the teal colour, love the drama of the design.

'Square Dot' in grey, a great basic for binding and background. 

Enjoy and I'll be back with more offers later!

Liberty: British Colour Pattern

I came across a beautiful book in our local cut price bookstore, Liberty: British Colour Pattern.  

A hardback book that comes with its own 'sleeve' and contains paper inserts and fold outs presented  in an archive style.  It was released Dec 2013 so I have no idea why it was at the bargain price of £14.99 but it ended up in my stocking and I was very pleased.

 It is the most beautiful picture book to go through, beautifully presented and the envelopes and fold outs are like little treats through out.  I have a push/pull relationship with Liberty.  I can remember some of the less glamourous days in the 1990s when it was all umbrellas and oilcloth tote bags in the darkest and most old fashioned of prints- badly thought out products and over use of beautiful patterns.  The brand seems to have repositioned itself since then and branched off into more original design briefs and artists whilst retaining the legacy of the past.

There is a particularly interesting sec ion later in the book covering the Liberty Art fabrics and the seasonal prints that come out for a limited period and can be exciting, original- at times a bit weird but always creatively interesting- success has to come with a little failure to create an energy and desire for new things in the next season.

Grayson Perry is my favourite artist so far in the new direction but each year there are quirky additions and wry choice of artists or creative people behind the new prints.

 These are scraps of the Grayson Perry Liberty lawn prints I have used, all for clothing over the past couple of years: Philippa, Cranford and Cissy

 The paper pull outs show his painted repeats for some of the designs.

 And finally the new addition, Liberty lifestyle- the quilting/craft fabric range which so far has drawn on the Liberty heritage with the Bloomsbury and Stile collections.

I thoroughly recommend it.  I find it such a delight to dip into.  If you have a branch of The Works near you, it is definitely worth popping into.  The craft/sewing section contains many familiar titles and there are some great bargains- this caught my eye, I remember it blog hopping about.  You can see sewing titles here and there are knitting and crochet too.  I do love a bargain, especially one that involves Liberty.