Monday 27 July 2015

Etsy sale

So today I'm back with something a little bit different.  I recently moved in with my boyfriend (yay!) and my obscene collection of fabric and patterns is taking up space which he feels is not a good use of our now shared space.  So I have set up an etsy store to get rid of some of the beauties which I now no longer have space for.

I have put some yarn, fabric and patterns on the etsy store.  Some of the great pieces that can now be found there are:
 3m of this gorgeous peach cotton.

 1m elephant print fabric

The patterns may be of most interest to those of you taking part in the Vintage Pattern Pledge:
 A McCalls 1940s child's bonnet, coat and leggings pattern.

 This awesome 1960s coat pattern

This 1950s shirtdress pattern.

All available in my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/almostahippy

This sale has a dual purpose of getting rid of some of my sewing stash and enabling all of you to get some great new additions to your stash!

Friday 17 July 2015

Vintage rose summer top

Hi guys, Happy Friday!  This week has been a very angry one for me for a number of rubbish reasons but I have made time for a little sewing to cheer myself up, also for a lovely evening out with friends when my friend Dominika kindly took all these photos and bossed me into what she thought were interesting enough poses! 

I've been a little obsessed with the idea of a double tie shoulder top recently and when I thought about it I realised I could hack my Simplicity 9742 pattern that I used to create this top.  This was an especially good idea for my comfort sewing week as it's a really easy pattern to sew.


I used a floral cotton which I had in my stash, it was left over from making this Nicola top which has since been relegated to the charity shop (looking back at the photos I really must give the Nicola top/dress another go, I really like how it looks on me, it's just that the fit was not good, so it was never that comfortable to wear).  Creating this top was was really quick and a real stash buster as I probably used less than a metre of fabric.  The hack was really easy but I was probably breaking all kinds of pattern drafting rules as I simply folded the pattern pieces (there are only 2) in half and cut the tie side out on the fold.  As the ties were going to make the top really annoying to wear with a cardigan or jacket, I decided to make a short sleeved summer version.

I feel like I'm mixing up vintage eras with this top, the pattern is from 1980 and therefore counts as another make towards my Vintage pattern pledge, however the print looks quite 1950s and the whole top is reminding me a bit of some 1950s ones I've seen.

Sorry about all the creases, these photos were taken at the end of a long and clammy day!  While this top has somewhat calmed my tie obsession, I think I would still like a tank top or similar that has tie straps, hmmm... I feel this might be a good refashion idea.   

And just to close here's a photo of me looking like a child in a deckchair! 


Thanks Dominika for the photos. 

Have a lovely weekend and happy sewing everyone! 


Tuesday 7 July 2015

Ultimate trousers

A couple of weeks ago I decided to take a sewing class. I've been wanting to make some trousers for ages. I see them as the ultimate reason to sew as I never wear trousers as I can't find a pair that fit properly due to my pear shape. However, until now I didn't really feel my skills were up to it and still I wanted some hand holding, even with what look like a fairly straightforward pair. I signed up to the 'Sew Over It' Ultimate trouser class in Islington.  I live not far from their original Clapham branch but had not visited this one before, needless to say, it's lovely.  They had loads of great samples of their patterns and gorgeous fabrics all round the shop, I really wish I had taken some more pictures, but I was too busy sewing and eating cake!  Instead here's a teaser shot!  

The class was led by Julie who was really lovely and straight forward and really knew her stuff. When we tried on the toiles she could give us really great specific fitting advice. I know that's why we were there and I shouldn't be surprised about this it its always really impressive to talk to someone who knows their stuff inside out. 

Actually I had very few adjustments to make to mine and probably could have managed them at home. It's not the only reason to take a class though and I had a really great time sewing in a group and having a drink afterwards with my cousin Letty who I had persuaded to join me at the class. 

These trousers are actually a really quick make and a real stash buster if you have an appropriate fabric in your stash. I was using this green cotton twill that I had ordered from Minerva crafts and I only used a metre of it. 

I have been wearing these trousers quite a bit and actually I think I have either made them a little bit too big or the fabric relaxes like crazy. I hope this will be resolved once I've washed them again although I will probably grade down a little at the waist though for the next pair. 

I wore these out at the weekend for a walk in Morden Hall Park on my sisters birthday. It was really beautiful and she was happy to act as my photographer. 

See what I mean about a little bit of excess now?  However they are super comfy and definitely the best trousers I have had in years, definitely living up to the 'Ultimate' claim!  If I decide they're a bit too big I actually have enough fabric left over to make another pair, so my legs are definitely staying green.

Usually I prefer trousers/skirts with a waistband but these hit at a really good place and I actually really like the no waistband, sometimes it's nice to have something a bit different.  My sister and I had a bottle green uniform when we were at school and you would think being dressed head to toe in a particular colour for 7 years is enough to put you off for life, however apparently it only put me off for the next 12 years, as these trousers are an almost identical colour to our uniform and I love them.

Morden Hall Park is really pretty National Trust property and has an old snuff mill in the grounds as well as a water wheel and glorious rose garden (and you can get there on the tube!)



A very happy belated birthday to my fantastic little sis and best wishes for the next year. 

Happy Tuesday to the rest of you.