The Dewsbury Oslo #seamworks

I bought a lovely pile of fabrics during the recent Yorkshire Spoolettes meet-up. By far my favourite though was this beautiful light, wool (mix?) in a very pretty pale, moss green. So this had to be the first one I made up from the pile. And the pattern choice was obvious: the Seamworks Oslo Cardigan. I wore my original version a few times last week to check that the fit was right. I have no idea why I haven’t worn it much, as it was perfect and really comfortable to sew in 🙂 Maybe the somewhat drab colour just wasn’t calling to me from my wardrobe? But it’s actually a really useful neutral. Anyway I didn’t need to change anything, so cut it out exactly the same.

It sewed up really quickly and easily. This time I added the sleeve cuffs as I wanted to make it warmer and therefore more seasonably appropriate. I think I left these off last time as the sleeves already looked pretty narrow, but in this looser knit, they were just fine. There isn’t much to say about the pattern really other than I love it. I’m a bit incredulous I haven’t returned to this pattern before as it’s a perfect, casual layering piece for colder days. I will definitely be using it again. I love this and can see it getting an awful lot of wear. Although it’s lightweight, it’s warm and snuggly and the colour gives it just a hint of Spring 🙂

The only slight issue I had was with my over locker on this project. It worked fine but I’ve got that slightly gap-y look on the sleeves where I’d really prefer not to see any stitches at all (on the outside of the garment). Anyone have any advice on this? I checked all the threads were pulled in tightly to the dials, and had a fiddle around with the tightness, but I’ve no idea which dial feeds to this bit…. As always, any help would be much appreciated 🙂

Pattern: Seamworks magazine’s Oslo Cardigan

Adjustments: with sleeve cuffs

Soundtrack: Billy Bragg’s Greatest Hits

 

Advertisement

Holiday #sundaysevens

It’s been a strange half-term for me as I was out of synch with my own children: both lovely and annoying at the same time! I was determined to get rid of the still-lingering -from-Christmas and flu-enhanced podge making a fair few items in my wardrobe a little bit too snug around the waist… With the monkeys out of the way (in the nicest possible sense of course), I was also determined to get a fair few sorting jobs done too. Decluttering seems to be a constant in our household at the moment. And of course I wanted to do some nice things too: so catching up with friends and some quality time in the sewing room beckoned.

Sunday was one of our busiest days in a while and required military-style pick-up and drop-offs for both son and daughter. Inbetween the frenetic activities and taxi-ing back and too, I managed a flying visit to an old colleague’s joint 40th and her daughter’s 1st birthday party, where it was a real treat to catch up with friends from my previous school. The image above is her daughter’s lovely cake 🙂 On the sewing front, I put an old jumper to use making some plushies for my daughter.

Sorting: cleaned and de cluttered kitchen, hoovered entire house

Exercise: It was a Sunday! 😉 Does hoovering count?

On Monday I made a concerted effort to tidy and declutter the most annoying ‘dumping’ spot in our house: our sports cupboard which houses both mine and my husband’s exercise clothing, waterproofs, weekend bags, the ever-expanding ironing pile, Winter coats…… And pretty much anything else that doesn’t have a particular home. Four charity bags later order was restored 🙂 I can’t tell you how much simple joy opening this cupboard now gives me: sad but true… I also cleaned and tidied the kitchen, again!

Catching up: coffee with friend from school who also works part-time, but in a different department, consequently we rarely get chance during term time.

Sewing: made a start on a dress for daughter

Exercise: walked monkeys up to school and back, Rocket yoga class at gym

Tuesday was Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake day. Above was our attempt at some vaguely healthy toppings. On the sewing front, despite a daft cutting out error, I finished the Playtime Tunic for my daughter out of some of my leftovers which is always satisfying.

Sorting: tidied and cleaned kitchen (Groundhog day anyone?), decluttered lounge

Catching Up: coffee with another old friend and former colleague

Exercise: walking monkeys up to school and back

Wednesday was a bit of a staying snug in the sewing room day: my favourite 🙂 Here’s my #sewingselfie. Gazing out of the window I noticed a temporary lake popping up in the small copse just beyond our garden from the recent deluge. As a reward for all my cleaning and tidying, especially that dumping cupboard, I treated myself to some very pretty and fragrant flocks.

Catching Up: met up with some other mums at the bake and take after school

Exercise: walking monkeys up and down to school and Jivamukti yoga class at gym

Sorting: kitchen again…grrr!

On Thursday I spent a pretty frustrating morning attempting to convert this vintage skirt into something more wearable. I’m still not convinced it’s going to work, but at least I tried…

Sorting: popped to IKEA for some storage stuff and rearranged socks and underwear drawers, kitchen, again…

Exercise: walking monkeys up and down to school, Hot yoga class at gym

On Friday I volunteered to help out at my daughter’s biannual dance show, where she was performing in both ballet and tap routines, as well as singing. She had a fair few costume changes, but this gold tutu was my favourite. There were lots of other Mums I knew also helping out, so although exhausting keeping them entertained between dances and hunting down missing parts of costumes, it was pretty sociable too.

Exercise: I think I can count running up and down backstage at the above, walking monkeys up and down to school

Sewing: no actual sewing, but did tidy up as we had relatives coming to stay. And of course the kitchen…

Sorting: see above

And finally Saturday was totally consumed by the above show too. I volunteered to help out for the matinee performance and in the evening, along with both sets of grandparents, daddy and brother we all got to enjoy watching her. Above photo is of my son rehearsing his piano piece for a local musical festival. This was actually last week, but don’t like to celebrate one child without the other. We were delighted when he won third place in his category 🙂

To join in with #sundaysevens head over to Nat’s site at Threadsandbobbins.

And a final, bonus photo especially for Del, just because 😊

 

 

 

A Scrapbusting Playtime Tunic #oliver+s

This fabric (very cheap, last on the roll from Abakhan’s in Manchester) just keeps on giving! I already have a lovely, Ella Skater Dress (Love Sewing) and a much worn Papercut Coppelia Cardigan (despite my initial misgivings, it works just great as an extra layer between a dress and jacket at school), but there seemed just enough left to squeeze something small out of 🙂 Not sure when we’d wear them together, but we could…

I’d love to tell you that the flash of contrasting pink (yes, still going regular readers) on the back was intentional, but when I came to stitch the pockets in, I realised I’d only cut one skirt piece (honestly, one day I’ll feel more like an intermediate sewer rather than a beginner one). I had only smaller scrap bits left, enough for a facing or pocket maybe, but certainly not enough for a skirt. So I was forced to improvise, and actually it really is a bit of a happy accident as it matches the pink in the flowers perfectly and of course, she already has the matching leggings (and the matching butterfly necklace…).

It’s labelled as a two out of four scissors for difficulty and I’d say that’s about right. The only difficult bit is probably attaching the button placket at the back, although because I was using a knit, I omitted this. Gathering a skirt like this is still something fairly new to me(I think the Colette Moneta is my only time) and although it looks fine in terms of evenly spaced gathers, this is more by accident than skill! Looking at these photos it would appear to be a little lopsidedly attached too, but as it’s pretty big on her (I cut an age 10 to ensure it lasted a while), maybe it’s just hanging a little skew whiff? Either way, it was basically a freebie from my stash and a useful trial of this pattern before I break out the bunnies!

And even more importantly, she loves it 🙂

Pattern: Oliver + S Playtime Tunic

Size: age 10

Adjustmentments: omitted button detail at back

Lessons: check you’ve cut all the pieces before starting to sew and more practice at gathered waists (and attaching them) clearly needed…

Soundtrack: Tracy Chapman’s Tracy Chapman