Sew Grateful Week - Day 4: Project

Hello again :) Yesterday's post (share a tutorial, pattern etc...) didn't quite happen, I'm afraid, so here's a bit of a token effort:

• If you ever need to de-mystify bound buttonholes, The Little Tailoress's tutorial is beyond wonderful.

• I've downloaded this but haven't yet made it up so can't personally vouch for it, but SBCC's (Skinny Bitch, Curvy Chick) Tonic T-shirt looks like a really promising basic fitted top pattern. And the PDF is free :)

Onto the Sew Grateful Project:

Thursday the 27th February: Sew Grateful Sewing Project Day.  Showcase your latest sewing project. Whether it's a project using up that pattern that was a present from someone or that you won in a giveaway or using a tutorial someone has prepared, or even a project inspired by someone in the sewing community... the possibilities are nearly endless!

My project is made using fabric I won in a giveaway by Fabric Tragic last year. It's a drapey wine-coloured knit with a bit of a crushed finish to it. I almost made it up as a top, then a skirt, then another top, but wasn't quite sold on any of the patterns I'd planned so it's been sitting on the desk since September. A week ago I was wearing my kimono/jacket/shruggy thing and it struck me that it could work in a knit. This one, while drapey and reasonably light-weight, is pretty stable, so it ended up working pretty well:

The indoor photos make it look quite purple, but the outdoor ones are a pretty good match. The construction was the same as last time (link is above if you're interested), except that since the last one was chiffon I used french seams. This time I did the whole thing on my overlocker, which is a first for me. I usually just use the overlocker for finishing.

Some very quick photos before we lost the light - just remembered in time!

 This one is little bit warmer than my chiffon one, so I'm hoping it'll work well during winter, given a few long-sleeved layers underneath :)

The only change I made to the pattern this time around was to sew bands onto the end of the sleeves. Last time I folded the raw edge under twice and sewed it down, but I like this as a finish for knit garments. They look quite nice folded up (half the width below) too. (Is that the way the Renfrew top is finished? I really must buy that this year.) You can see the crumpled look of the fabric here - it's not just my ironing aversion... ;)

Judging by the amount of wear my last version has has, I think this is going to be a very useful addition to my me-made wardrobe. Expect to see it in May quite a bit! 

Thanks, Sarah, for a fantastic giveaway! 

Sew Grateful Week 2014 - Day Two: Reflections

I think this is actually my favourite topic of the Sew Grateful Week. I mean, giveaways are great (have you seen some of them??), and projects are always wonderful, but I just love hearing people's stories and being allowed a little glimpse into other sewists' worlds. I'll let the Hostess explain:

Tuesday the 25th February: Reflections Day. This is the day to reflect on the role sewing has played in our lives, reflecting on those who have been supportive in our journey and reflecting on what the online community means to us!  What are you sew grateful for? 

When I started musing over this a week or two ago, a rant by one of my favourite comedians, Dylan Moran, on his Yeah, Yeah DVD came to mind:

"Now I'm not a feminist - I don't qualify. And neither do most women. If you women were serious about feminism you could have everything that feminists want you to have. Equal pay? You could have that tomorrow....IF women would stop bitching about each other for FIVE MINUTES. Which doesn't seem to be possible..."

That may not be verbatim (I have too many Sew Grateful posts to visit and read to spend time transcribing right now...), but that was the gist of it. And it's one of those laugh-and-wince-in-recognition things, isn't it? I can't imagine there'd be a woman alive and breathing who hasn't experienced the painful end of female cattiness.

And yet... In the hundreds of blog posts and thousands of comments I've read over the last year-and-a-bit, I've yet to read a single comment that's snide, belittling or snarky.

Posting photos for the world to see of your created work is a vulnerable thing. Actually wearing your created work is even more so. But this community understands that. Even more importantly, this community respects that.

Women championing women is one of the most beautiful, inspiring and empowering sights imaginable. And as women we have the capacity to do that so naturally and so very, very well. THAT'S what I see every time I click on a blogger's post, and that's what keeps me coming back for more of this amazing community.

This community brings out the best in women. That's what I'm Sew Grateful for :)

Sew Grateful Week 2014 - Day One: Giveaway

It's that time of year again, folks! Debi from My Happy Sewing Place is hosting the Sew Grateful Week, as an opportunity to give back to the online sewing community. Last year's Week was the first bloggy "event" I ever participated in as a brand new sewing blogger and I loved it. I met some wonderful people through taking part, and I was thrilled to see it was going to happen again.

Day One is Giveaway Day:
 
Monday the 24th February: Giveaway Day.  Host a giveaway on your blog or other social media platform to give something back to the sewing community.

Alrighty then!

I actually have two giveaways on offer, a sewing one and a knitting one. I had planned to buy something sewing-related, but since this year I'm really trying to cut down on consumption I hope you won't mind that it's actually out of my stash instead - I promise it's completely unused!

Sewing Giveaway:

The By Hand London Victoria Blazer pattern. I really love this pattern. But as I've been musing over the Wardrobe Architect series I've realised it's a style/silhouette I really love on other people. So rather than hoard it, I've decided that it can contribute to some other sewist's general fabulousness. :)



Knitting Giveaway:

A set of six Swarovski crystal stitch markers. I have a dear friend who makes beautiful crystal, pearl and beaded jewellery, and she's fashioned up these little lovelies for me, or rather, for you! I adore my set; bling really doesn't get more glorious than Swarovski! These comfortably fit on needles up to about 6.5mm or US 10 1/2.

If you're interested in either of these, leave a comment below specifying which. Both giveaways are open until Sunday 2nd March 2014. Good luck!