A Sunday on the sewing machine

There is something scary about the fact that I moved here without my fabric stash and yet I’ve managed to build up a big enough one to think that I want to make a handbag in bed one morning and have it done without leaving the house.

I made this on Sunday out of the fabric leftover from the ruffles on the reconstructed skirt, the black fabric in the flower is from the trousers cut up to make it as well. That trim I bought on the card at Totnes and the button is from deep in the stash.

The bag fits the book(s) that I carry about with me and the length of the straps means that it dangles above my bum without me having to worry. 

Small Progress

When I found this pattern on vintage transfer finds I had two thoughts in my head. One was oooooh mini quilt and the other was oooooh cute. So I printed it off and picked up some fat quarters in a British seasideish theme. It thought it fitted the boy bears stripy jacket and… well I live at the British seaside.

I’ve finally finished the embroidery. It’s mostly chain stitch with satin stitch for the jacket and seed stitch instead of flowers on girl bears dress. The flower in her hair is a wonky lazy daisy and some French knots. And yes that appalling handwriting is mine.

Now all that needs to be done is washing, ironing, cutting, patching, quilting and hanging. Check back in about… well you know what I’m like.

Garden Paths

Short skirts. Me. Me + short skirt = ?

Ordinarily I keep to above the knee. There are a few reasons why; one is that I really don’t like to wear anything I can’t bend over in and the other is that I can still remember that when I was ten my Mum said I had chicken legs.

There have been lapses in my above the knee rule. I remember trying to sneak out of Tom’s (remember him?) parent’s house without them seeing my dangerously short skirted lolita inspired dress. As I passed through the streets of London one man called me Cinderella but I remained self conscious the entire time. I simultaneously thought my legs looked ugly and was worried by the extra male attention. The dress was a work of art, I hadn’t the confidence for it.

It’s been two years since then and I don’t know what has changed. I actually wanted a short skirt. Shorter skirt, I’m not the type of person that would regularly wear something I couldn’t bend over in. I suppose I feel less ashamed of my appearance, not because it changed at all but because I’m working on the principal that I’d rather live than worry about it.

So when I saw this skirt on the Oxfam racks I was open to it. It is black, it’s slightly ruffley, it’s got lace and unfinished edges. Perfect skirt, even missing an inch or two. £7.99 from Oxfam, picture taken in the front garden by Stephen.