Having a proud sewing moment

After each of our sewing group meetings there’s usually a photo or two shared on our Facebook group to showcase some of the projects undertaken at that meeting. It’s a great way to keep the group visible to all of our members, and to perhaps encourage more people to come along.

After the last meeting I spotted this photo of my table, and then I looked more closely and realised that I’d made pretty much everything that’s on show in this photo. So that’s my proud moment!

It’s a small thing really but it’s actually quite a big thing for me as I never really thought I’d get this ‘into’ sewing. I mean I’d sewn before, and was happy using a machine but it probably wouldn’t have been my ‘go to’ craft but in the two years we’ve been here in Nottinghamshire, that’s changed. Partly I think because the sewing group I first went to was one of the most welcoming craft groups I went to, and so I went back and have kept going back. I’ve also been to knitting groups and a mixed craft group once, and haven’t been back - so that tells you everything you need to know about them, doesn’t it?!

But anyway, back to that photo and my sewing projects:

1. The blue pouch (top left), black patterned pouch (bottom left) and gold pouch (bottom right) are recent makes on my new ‘take to’ machine.

2. The patchwork stars are the centre blocks in my next Quilt of the Month which I’m still working on and will share soon.

3. The dress I made, which I even wear out in public (and it hasn’t fallen to bits at all!)

4. It’s the corner of another pouch which is just showing in the bottom right corner - I’ll be sharing that one here soon(ish) too.

5. I made this bag back in 2016, when I really didn’t sew much at all. It was a collaborative post with the company providing the fabric, and I still use it today - and that hasn’t fallen to bits either, I should have more confidence in myself!

So yes, I’m having a proud sewing moment over here, it’s a good reminder of what I can do. And will hopefully spur me on to complete more of the projects on my “to sew” list!

I made a dress, finally!

Yes, it’s been a long time since I first shared my patterns and unexpected plans, a little over two years in fact - doesn’t time fly, when you’re enjoying yourself - we even moved house!

But in that time things were whirring slowly, especially since we moved house and got settled, but I got the fear. I had that gorgeous material, remember the embroidered chambray, and what if I messed it all up?

WHAT IF I MESSED THIS BEAUTIFUL MATERIAL UP?

Striking a chord

But then again I didn’t buy it to sit in a cupboard did I?

And something that Tracey Symonds, a semi-finalist in series 4 of the Great British Sewing Bee who led the Learning to Love your Overlocker workshop I went on in January last year, said struck a chord. At the end of the workshop we were all talking about projects we’d yet to start, and Tracey insisted that before starting anything, and cutting into expensive material, we should make a toile. And if that toile became wearable then that’s a double win.

A double win because you’ve practiced and learnt how to sew the pattern on material that’s most likely a lot cheaper than the material you’ve fallen in love with, and if it’s wearable you’ll have two outfits now that you’re confident enough to cut into the other piece that had been giving you the fear.

It’s not something I’d ever considered before, but I could see it had legs. And so I thought I’d go one better than that, as I was sure that I’d have fabric to make a version of the ‘Essential Denim Dress’ even if it wasn’t denim.

And I did.

Cue two old shirts of MOH’s (chambray and blue/white checked), and old sun dress of mine (green/white floral) and a larger piece of checked and floral Laura Ashley material, which I’d used to cover a headboard in my Croydon house - yes, of course I still had it!

Sew, sew, stop

Fired up I took the pattern and material along to my March 2024 sewing group and cut out the pattern and most of the fabric - I was surprised at how much time this took - I wish I’d had enough time to cut out all of the fabric pieces there, as that didn’t happen for another month or so.

But eventually I started sewing. And the pattern was as easy to use as I’d been promised - phew. Over the next few weeks I followed that and had the bones of the dress together. All that was left to do was finish the neck, sew the sides together and the bottom hem. I tried it on and wasn’t sure, so it hung in my craft room cupboard for longer than I care to remember.

Alterations for the win

At the end of April I saw the George Broderie Anglaise dress modelled by Jasmin Le Bon in a magazine (I forget which) and fell in love with it. It was the ‘hot’ dress of the season according to the article and so I ordered it almost on the spot - at £18 I thought I probably couldn’t go wrong.

It came, I collected it and tried it on and it swamped me - but I still loved it and realised with a few tweaks (shortening the sleeves, lowering the neck and possibly some darts) it would be fantastic. Which made me realise what I didn’t like about my half finished dress - the neck was too high.

And doh! Wasn’t that in my gift as I was making the dress? Of course it was, so I made a template from a dress that I’m more than happy with the neckline of and cut into my toile. Happy with the neckline, finishing it off was a breeze.

BTW I’ve yet to start the alterations on the Broderie Anglaise dress!

MY SEW DIFFERENT ‘ESSENTIAL DENIM DRESS’ - CLEARLY NOT DENIM

A CLOSE UP OF THE TOP HALF, AND THE PINK BIAS BINDING ON THE INSIDE OF THE NECK

A CLOSE UP OF THE POCKET - WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE IS THAT THE INSIDE IS THE PLAIN BLUE MATERIAL, BECAUSE THERE WASN’T ENOUGH WHITE/BLUE CHECK MATERIAL!

AND INSIDE OUT

My learnings

The biggest one was clearly that I could amend the pattern as I wanted to, there is no pattern police so it’s ok to go off piste if it means i) you’ll finish the item and ii) you’ll actually wear it!

More specifically for this pattern next time I’ll:

• use my overlocker instead of zigzaging the seams,

• cut the neck much lower - I have a template now,

• potentially adjust the shoulder seams so the neck doesn’t sag too much,

• take care with the pocket so it’s not too baggy - if this one is baggy when I’m wearing it I’ll add a popper, and

• leave larger gaps for the arms for a looser and more comfortable fit.

I’ve even worn my dress out, in public - and it didn’t fall to bits!

It seemed only right that its first outing was to a sewing group meeting, but I think there’ll be more - both outings and dresses! Which is just as well as I’ve a few more in mind for this style, including that embroidered chambray above.