Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series run by Nat over at Threads & Bobbins – click on the link to find out more and how you can join in.
1. The moment that Charlotte was announced as the winner in series four of the Great British Sewing Bee. So close this year, it could have been any one of the three finalists.
2. N0.1 Son treated us to a pub lunch as a belated Father’s Day treat.
3. Being a very rural school, each classroom has its own set of oft-worn wellies stored upside down on racks outside. I thought they made a pleasing picture.
4. Inspired by my cross body bags, a student made her own version. Isn’t it pretty?
5. Woody Bay steam trains – a must, if you have boys and are ever in the Barnstaple area.
6. We bought First Class tickets and travelled in relative luxury compared to the wooden benches in cattle class!
7. The plush buttoned head rests were even adorned with individual cut-work panels, which were lovely.
8. After looking at another b+b, we walked down to the local beach. Just a twelve minute stroll from the building is this secluded bay. Perfect for an evening barbecue for potential guests staying with us on a residential sewing retreat?
9. No.3 Son was straight in the sea.
10. Sunday was Sports Day in our house. Watching two Brits win the men’s single and mixed doubles finals was a nice way to spend the day with visiting tennis-mad family. I laid on a cream tea spread to enjoy, with plenty of strawberries and cream. Well, it was Wimbledon, after all.
I went to bed and left them watching the Euro football final. I think Portugal may have won?
Even though they were half price, they still cost quite a lot, so it meant No.3 Son would only have one present to open on his birthday.
Don’t get me wrong, I know one present is adequate but it’s always nice to see a little pile of gifts wrapped up with your name on. I managed to buy three secondhand children’s novels and wondered if I could make something for him as well.
He finished these long shorts earlier in the week and decided that the best T-shirt to go with it was this red one with a picture of a camper van on the front.
Hmm, two different shades of red do not an outfit make.
Rummaging through my fabrics, I found a length of turquoise jersey left over from making this sample Coco for my stand at the school fair.
There was just enough for a boy’s T-shirt using this pattern from issue 27 of Love Sewing magazine.
I wouldn’t download and print off a pattern for anything larger, but this was just nine sheets of paper which taped together very quickly.
My French curve came in handy for grading the pattern up to Age 9.
Just three pattern pieces meant this promised to be a quick enough make to complete in the couple of hours before he came home from school.
Some remnants of blind fabric provided the perfect motif to add to the front of the T-shirt and I picked the red one to echo the colour of the shorts they were to go with.
After stabilising with some interfacing, the free motion foot made short work of the appliqué – I sewed two rounds of stitching.
Embroidery scissors were used to cut close to the stitching and remove the excess fabric to reveal the motif.
The finished appliqué.
Maybe it would have been better to place it a little higher on the chest?
Full construction details, and the free pattern, can be found in issue 27 of Love Sewing, so I won’t repeat them here.
Suffice to say that it was quick, easy and fun to make and the finish was faultless, though I say so myself!
The overlocker (all four threads) was used exclusively for the construction, with top stitching done on the sewing machine.
Apart from the white overlock thread. It was all I had.
I also didn’t have the requisite ribbed jersey for the neckband, but more of the fabric that I used for the body of the T-shirt worked just as well.
A slight zig zag stitch was used for the top stitching around the neckline, both for decoration and to keep the neckline lying flat.
A straightforward one centimetre hem on the bottom and sleeve hems was the final touch to bring the project in under two hours.
All wrapped up and ready to open – a free extra present for one little nine year old boy!
At precisely 4.51am, a very excited little boy bounded into our bedroom….and was sent back to bed for an hour and a half. I know. We’re mean parents.
At 6.30, Take Two. He woke up everyone in the house (No.1 Son ended up going into work early!) and we all went down to watch him unwrap his presents.
First, his T-shirt….
….then Star Wars masks and light sabres from his oldest brother….
As for the T-shirt….well, it stayed clean for all of five minutes….
Better late than never, here is this week’s Sunday Sevens!
1. Is Summer ever going to come to England? Eleven degrees centigrade and it felt chilly enough to light the fire. I haven’t abandoned the flip flops just yet though.
2. Working on prototypes for a commercial commission and my table looks like this. Why can’t I be a tidy sewer?
3. We walked to the pub in the rain – again.
4. This gorgeous yarn arrived from the USA.
5. It’s going to be a laceweight, circular baby shawl – if I can ever work it out. I’ve frogged it twice already.
6. A nightshirt and pyjamas were completed in classes this week.
7. Remember the shop window with the cardboard city from a couple of weeks ago? Cardboard bird boxes have replaced them, complete with Astro turf and garden birds helping themselves to the top of the milk.
9. I started making some crochet daisies. Just because.
10. No.3 Son won Manager’s Player of the Year for his outstanding goalkeeping this season.
11. No.3 Son posing for a photo at Hauser and Wirth Gallery in Bruton.
14. At the bar inside, I just HAD to try their homemade Dill Gin.
15. My daughter in her new car. It suits her, don’t you think?
If you fancy joining in Sunday Sevens, visit Nat at Threads & Bobbins where you can find out how to take part. As you can see, it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday or seven photos…..
No, the expectant parents are not American, they are as English as can be and yet they are having this oddly-titled premature celebration in advance of the birth.
I’m not sure what I think about this transatlantic tradition which has wheedled its way onto British soil. Is it an alternative to a Christening, or in addition to?
My initial instincts were to consider the concept rather grasping and a rather diluted (and very un-British!) attempt to ask for presents for the not-yet born. However, knowing the family well, we know this is not the case and it appears to be a great excuse for a gathering of family and friends all of whom are eager to wish them well.
What are your thoughts about ‘showers’ in general, as I have recently heard of Bridal Showers over here as well? Are any of our friends in the USA able to enlighten us on the point of them?
Anyway, this is what I had already decided to make for the baby, Baby Shower or not; a simple,hard-wearing, easy-to-wash, granny square blanket in 20% wool.
It’s pram-blanket sized, so only took a few evenings to whip up. About a third of the way in, I thought it needed something to break up the pink, so added in some grey-beige matching yarn.
A pom pom border livens it up a bit and makes the granny clusters a little less utilitarian-looking.
When finished, it was crying out for a flower in the centre, but I didn’t want anything raised so searched for a flat version.
I came across this flower coaster pattern in a language I didn’t recognise but, as luck would have it, a chart was included and I was able to work solely from this.
Perfect – just what I was looking for!
The crochet flower was simply stitched into the centre with matching yarn.
And that’s it – simple!
I hope she likes it and, yes – she is having a girl:)
Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series whereby you share seven photos of your week outside the blog. Invented by Nat at Threads & Bobbins, follow the link to find out more.
1. A member of the family was hosting an Open Garden at her farm. Typically, it poured down all day but didn’t spoil anyone’s enjoyment – over £1200 was raised for a local hospice!
2. A farmyard twist on planting!
3. This old GWR sign has found a new home on the door to the outside toilet.
4. I was given a posy of flowers to take home which are still brightening my mantelpiece a week later.
5. Spurred on by fellow Instagrammers, I had a clear out of my wardrobe. I decided to donate a recent make (the keyhole top from Love Sewing) due to its immodest cleavage reveal!
6. A crochet blanket was started. Just a simple granny square one this time.
7. No.3 Son was part of a team that won the Gold medal at an inter schools championship mid-week.
8. The following day, they went on to win Silver in the area finals. District finals at Millfield School are next!
9. The owners of this field very kindly mowed a wide path through the middle of the field for dog walkers. It would appear that, instead of cattle grazing, they are encouraging a wildflower meadow to grow.
10. After a midnight emergency trip to the vet, Fifi had a tumour removed and is NOT happy that she has to wear the Cone Of Shame for ten days.
11. More crochet, this time a flat flower to embellish the centre of the aforementioned blanket.
12. After being quoted £5,200 to fit out the other end of our kitchen, I sought a cheaper alternative. This solid oak dresser cost just £96 on eBay and will be painted later in the week. Sacrilege, some might say, but there is more than enough wood in our kitchen, so Bleu Clair by Autentico has been ordered to add a splash of colour.
A quieter week than last, I had chance to catch my breath and relax a bit before family came for the weekend. They’ve just begun the journey home – right in the middle of the Glastonbury traffic, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how long it will take them!
Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series thought up by Nat at Threads & Bobbins – click on the link to find out more and how YOU can join in.
1. Back from Spain in the early hours of Wednesday morning (7th June – I’m still catching up), I had to get organised pretty instantly. The school fair was in four days time and I still had loads to do as, not only was I making things for the school, but was also having a stand for The Stitch Academy AND running a fashion show for my students.
I started by making samples for the Summer workshops which I would be advertising on my stand – Pyjamas and Sleep Mask, and an Owl Cushion/PJ Case.
2. Next, I made the Miette skirt by Tilly and the Buttons, also a future workshop or maybe weekly lessons. Raspberry coloured linen which hangs really well for this style.
3. The woman who loved my cross-body bags but wanted one in grey with a star on it had her wish granted! Luckily, she turned up at the fair wearing a grey T-shirt with a star on the front and snapped this bag up straight away.
4. The Elderflower cordial that had been brewing while we were on holiday was bottled and labelled. Here they are on the stall at the back on the far left. They all sold. Two one-litre bottles at £4 each and four 75cl bottles at £3 each, for anyone who is wondering how to price things at a school fair. It cost £2.74 for the sugar and lemons (the bottles were old lemonade ones) and sold for £20 – a nice little profit for their funds and SO easy to make.
The bunting I made for our wedding is hanging at the back of the tent:)
5. Mr. H-L actually made the marmalade this year as I was busy sewing. They’re the jars on the tray with the blue fabric ‘hats’. Ten small jars (half normal size) all sold for £1.50 each. They cost about £3 in total make and, again, the jars were recycled.
I also made forty scones on the morning of the fair so they were nice and fresh.
6. Oh, I almost forgot – after making the scones, I quickly traced off and made a Coco top as the fair wasn’t until one o’clock!!
7. My stand at the fair which was a huge success, enrolling more students and premiering my new adult classes to the villagers. A Tilly and the Buttons Margot Pyjamas workshop is almost booked up! (Thurs 14th July if anyone is interested).
8. A dozen of my students took part in a fashion show at the fair which they absolutely loved, showing off the things they had made over the past nine months since The Stitch Academy started.
9. No.3 Son stole the show with his antics!
10. He certainly made the most of his moment in the spotlight!
11. In other news….this cardboard city is a window display in a boarded up solicitor’s premises. Random, but brilliant.
13. N0.3 Son wanted to make the butter this time.
Here he is squeezing out all that lovely buttermilk which made some scones later in the day.
14. My Victorian butter paddles do their job nicely.
15. There, finished!
16. Perfect spread thickly on some Date and Walnut bread still warm from the oven!
17. ‘Chalky’, our Chalkhill Blue hen, laid her first blue egg!
18. The next day she laid her second, both of which were massive for such a small hen and this is the reason why – both were double yolkers!
19. Teaching pattern drafting to a student, this week, a basic trouser block.
20. I had almost finished a cardigan as a Christmas present from leftover yarn (thrifty, as ever) but ran out only to discover that it had been discontinued – oh s**t!
I ended up unravelling four inches of a scarf in order to scavenge enough yarn to complete the cardigan. Luckily, the scarf was a) for me and b) REALLY long in the first place so no harm was done.
21. I got out all the components of my July make for the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network – but never got around to starting it. Next week, maybe.
22. Three homemade cards amongst those sent from our six (between us) children to Mr H-L on Father’s Day.
23. A pair of Star Wars flip flops, bottle of malt whisky, a coffee cake, homemade brandy truffles and, from his girls in Brighton, a dozen rock oysters!
This month’s make for the Minerva Crafts Blogger’s Network is an interesting one. I started off with a commercial pattern but had to drastically alter it after I realised that the white fabric revealed my underwear!
This week’s Sunday Sevens comes from Spain again, although we are actually back in Luke warm and soggy England once more now which means…….
1. ……no more cups of hot water and lemon on the roof terrace overlooking the pool and this mountain view.
2. Lemons freshly picked off a tree in the garden.
3. The entrance to the weekly market in Albox.
4. A relaxed way of displaying lengths of fabric for sale.
5. I bought a couple of linen shirts from this stall.
6. I couldn’t resist joining The Boys on their second hack through the mountains – no broken ribs this year, thankfully!
7. We took The Boys for a day out to Mini Hollywood, way out in the desert region of Southern Spain, where the spaghetti westerns were filmed.
8. Twice daily live mini westerns are put on for visitors and, although The Boys have been here before and watched it several times, they still loved it!
9. The actors were very friendly (despite the dead pan expressions put on for the photos!) and encouraged visitors to join them on the wagons or horses for a photo.
10. We all loved the Can Can dancers in the Saloon.
11. Mr H-L didn’t need to be asked twice to pose for a photo with one of the dancers after the show had finished.
12. After a few hours in the blistering heat, The Boys were desperate to get to the swimming pool which was also part of Mini Hollywood.
13. A good hour was spent on the water slides.
14. It was a bit weird to see all this water in such a dry region.
15. A welcome beer on the porch outside the Saloon Bar.
16. The Boys went riding again the next day, while Mr H-L and I explored Partaloa village.
17. Two very hungry boys were more than happy to go for tapas after riding.
18. This little lot didn’t last long!
19. Back ‘home’ for an afternoon relaxing and I managed to block all four panels of my lace cardigan. They dried in no time in the dappled shade.
20. The world famous Desert Springs was our destination the next day.
21. A leisurely family lunch was enjoyed in the welcome shade of the porch dining area.
22. View from the dining complex over the golf course – the only places in Southern Spain to have real grass!
23. Back at the villa, The Boys played in the pool whilst we downed Summer wine by the jug full.
24. I started joining the cardigan panels together but, even though I finished all the knitting before our holiday, I still hadn’t stitched it together by the end of the fortnight!
25. The Boys climbed onto the plane tired but happy at 9.30pm. They crawled into bed at 1.30am UK time…..and we had to wake them up for school at 8.30 the following morning, poor things!
Thanks to Nat at Threads & Bobbins for organising Sunday Sevens; a weekly blog series in photo format.
This week’s Sunday Sevens comes to you from Andalucia, Spain, where we are staying with my Auntie in her villa for two weeks. Was it really a year ago since I posted about this place?
1. At the foot of the mountains about forty minutes inland, the pool is a welcome feature and one they installed as soon as they moved in ten years ago. As Brits, it’s also the main source of enjoyment and the kids love it, spending all the time we’re at ‘home’ splashing around merrily.
2. A day trip to the coast at Mojacar where The Boys played on the beach for the morning.
3. We wandered the streets and ate lunch in a little restaurant in neighbouring Mojacar Pueblo.
4. A typical square in this pretty hilltop village. The Boys posed for all of ten seconds before running off to explore.
5. The views were amazing – this panorama shows how dry and desert-like Southern Spain is.
6. A meal with cocktails was part of a Flamenco evening at a local bar. Long term readers of the blog may recognise the dancer from last year.
7. The Boys went riding at Rancho Luz Del Sol in Partaloa again. This is where I broke my ribs last year when galloping through the mountains and falling off.
8. We played it safe and had tapas in the local bar while they were riding.
9. A family meal out at La Casita where No.3 Son’s dinner is bigger than his head!
10. Bombing in the pool never seems to get boring when you’re only eight and who needs trunks?
11. Another lunch, this time in El Rincon.
12. You’ll have to trust me when I say the paella was gorgeous, only I forgot to take a photo before it was all eaten.
13. The front garden is typically Spanish.
14. An old cortijo at the end of the road on our usual route to the bar needing a little t&c – the kind of property I’d love to have if we lived in Spain.
15. Back to the villa and No.1 Son’s girlfriend is asleep in the pool.
16. It’s a hammock in the shade for me, while I muster up the energy for a second week of more of the same. It’s a hard life!
We’re still in Spain, but I took some photos of some bags I made a couple of weeks ago on the off chance that I might find time in my sunbathing busy schedule to do a quick blog post.
I was lucky enough to be given this brilliant book by someone (so sorry, but I can’t remember who!) which has some great designs in it.
A student of mine, who is just eleven years old, asked if she could make a bag as her next project and who am I to refuse? I gave her some books to look through and she chose a cross-body bag (as opposed to a body bag – totally different connotation!) from one of my books aimed at adults.
After having a quick scan of the instructions, I agreed that it was doable for a beginner, with a little help, and sent her off to go and buy all the supplies in time for the next lesson.
In the meantime, I thought it would be a good idea to just whip one up myself, so that I knew what I was looking at. After all, with four kids in each class, I have to split my time between them all and would be unable to give her one-to-one attention for the duration.
I found some canvas-like fabric in my stash that I bought on a whim ages ago that was waiting for the right project. The bold pattern was crying out for a contrasting lining, so I used up the last of my fuchsia linen and chose a matching zip.
Just over an hour later, this is what I ended up with: –
I just love the bright surprise when you open the zip.
I had everything in stock already, except the something suitable for the strap, so popped out quickly to buy a few metres of webbing which was stitched on securely in the usual way.
The back is just as attractive as the front.
I was so pleased with how it turned out that I carried straight on and made some more!
The next was made of a pale lime fabric with a cream fruit motif which I paired with……
….a vibrant turquoise lining, leftover linen from my stash.
This is probably my favourite, though – made from a butterfly print fabric that I bought from Kirstie’s Handmade Fair in Hampton last September.
I chose a cotton in various shades of blue for the lining.
Of course, I don’t need a cross-body bag, so these are destined for sale either in my Folksy shop or the school fair next weekend.
Have you found a pattern that you couldn’t resist making again and again just for the fun of it?
Previously Boys and Chickens, I have created a new blog to share my sewing adventure as 2018 is they year I plan to teach myself to sew! There will also be bits of crochet and cooking too.
My challenge: One year - I will not buy clothes - I will upcycle to make what I need - everything from underwear to evening wear! Join me for tips, exclusive BrawHem makes, and inevitably some hilarious disasters...
Sewchet 