Rash guard

 

 

Summer is hopefully on its way. I swim both in the sea and in a pool ( which is often not warm!) so I decided its time to finally get round to replacing my old rash guard which I made years ago. When I made the first one it was on a whim because I bought a new book on how to make active wear but I never actually expected to wear that one out. As it turns out its now all stretched and pilly from wear. Well on the good side I  have actually made use of it. It was not time and fabric wasted. Its been worn weekly for yonks.

So I made a new one anyway out of scuba. The first one is made from swimwear fabric so is quite thin. I decided to go all out and see how this pattern works with scuba. Its now been worn twice for swimming and works wonderfully as well as being warmer than my old one.Because I had only 1m of this fabric I had to piece one sleeve but it does not seem to matter. It looks fine and works. No one seems to notice the arm seam and its a "design feature" I quite like. I did worry I had stretched the seam too much. I never actually stretched it but the machine stretched the fabric as I top stitched it with a twin needle. It seems to wear ok and is now flatter than on these photos having been worn in water the last 2 weeks.

The pattern is the one I made from the Make Your Own Activewear book by Melissa Feyr. I used my original pattern tracing but made a smaller seam allowance on the front and it fits better than the first one did. The fabric has been in my stash years and I have no idea where I bought it from. 

 

Have a great week and thanks for visiting. 

See you soon,

Bracken

Magic mushroom dress

 

 

 

Well I say "magic mushrooms" but really they are Fly Agarics I think. Or cartoons of anyway. The classic faery mushrooms. I just could not resist the fabric. So I chose a pointy hoodied pixie dress which has turned out lovely and I enjoyed wearing twice so far.

 

I have a small amount left after this so will make childrens trousers or shorts I think from that. Its a french terry fabric ( oekotex) and I just love it, but having bought the fabric I decided I would need a TNT pattern to make something from it so I do not wreck the fabric but also so that I feel happy wearing this print.

Its the perfect fabric for spring and will work when it warms up a bit with ankle socks and trainers as well. Right now its strictly winter weight leggings I am wearing it with under a coat but its April now so it should start to warm up. May is usually hot in the UK. Or the end of May is hot anyway. Mayday is usually cold ad rainy, so hopefully I can store my leggings away soon and go bare legged. We will see.

I toyed with having raw hems on this one but in the end played it safe and hemmed this dress as the previous ones.  

And at last I feel like I am actually making things and not just thinking of making things.  If I could make what I think about, well I would make so much more than I really manage to do.

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a great week,

Bracken

Glittery Lekala Sports Trousers - 2 pairs.

 
 I decided to replace my old grey glittery sweatshirts and trousers. 

 

I have two tracksuits sets of hoody tops and trousers each in glittery grey sweatshirting.  I made them years ago and they are pretty much worn out now, so when I saw a bolt of 12m of grey glittery sweatshirting for sale I bought one and so far I have made two pairs of the Lekala sports trousers to replace my old ones. I intend to also make the hoodies again, then recycle the old worn ones. 

12m is far more than I had previously so I am not yet sure what I will do with the rest but I intend to use at least 6m this summer. Its just too big a piece of fabric to keep in storage for much longer than I need to so best I wear it and get it out of my stash.

These trousers are not at all an original make ( and I made a camo pair the other week)  and this is a pattern I have used so many times now I have lost count of the number of pairs of these I have made, but they are soft warm and snuggly, and I am very much enjoying them despite the weather warming up a bit now. They will still be needed for summer in the UK I am sure, and will be still warm and cosy for next autumn.

They are basic straight legged sports trousers with an elastic waist and two front inset pockets.

 

There is not really much I can say about these. They are a darker grey than my previous ones. Not sure if thats good or bad just yet - it just IS. 

The trousers,because I have more fabric than my previous two pairs, have sweatshirting pockets rather than contrasting fabric lnings. I have yet to decide if this is better than the others or not. Its thicker but thats not necessarily good. I will wear for a few wearings and then make a decision as to weather I did right or not using the same fabric throughout. I do like my contrasting lining on my older pairs and its thinner so not so bulky but so far I have not found it annoying having thicker pockets anyway. My final choice of course makes no difference to these two pairs but will influence my next pair because its inevitable I will make more of this pattern because I still love it and its so easy and comfy to wear.

 
I left the hems unfinished and just sewed around the bottom to stop the side seams coming undone. Its exactly what I did with the last two pairs so I just copied them exactly really, because why change what you really loved?

And now some time over the next few days I hope to cut out my sweatshirt tops. I may do a new type of top for one pair but I need to check out my patterns first to decide which top to make. I definitely want one the same as my previous versions though.

Thanks for popping by to see my blog and see you again next week if you have the time,

Take care

Bracken

Unicorn Dress

 

 

When I came accross this fur backed sweatshirting with Unicorns on it, well, I could not resist. And its a very adult type of pattern despite the unicorns. It was expensive. But I bought 2m not knowing what I would make with it. I went through various patterns but decided it should be a TNT pattern because I really cannot afford to make a big mistake when something costs me lots of money. I also wanted a BIG top or dress or something I can throw over my other clothes if needed but also something nice enough to wear alone. So really thats quite a tall order. Oh and I wanted a hood!

 

This is the pattern I used for the red skulls top. Its my partners pattern really - or the one I use most for his tops anyway. But I knew it could possibly make me a nice dress to wear in spring, autumn winter and maybe even the colder days of summer but also I can wear this over my tracksuit trousers.Its a 2XL size which is huge on me but does mean I get a nice oversized baggy top. I "batwinged" the sleeves. Or tapered them severely to th extent I actually thought I had mess this up until I sewed them up. They are narrow on the wrists but really wide at the top. Still an inset sleeve but being a much larger size than I am work to look like batwings.

I have never before made a dress from this particular top pattern but its worked out well and would be wearable I think on a cold windy beach in August when its raining despite supposedly being summer just as well as it will work with tights por leggigs for winter so I am very happyhow this has turned out. And especially I am happy to have made it without it going wrong because whe I do spend on fabric thats expensive obviously its a real worry and thats likely to be when things go wrong. Partly its why I chose a TNT pattern thats really very easy and basic to make. Also I do want to wear this and not just leave it in my wardrobe so anything like a fitted dress or trousers had to be out of the question. This I think is very, very wearable.

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for popping by to visit my blog.

Bracken

Camo Lekala trousers

 

This was taken in Milton Keynes when we visited a relative near there. I never noticed the litter on the floor until writing this post. Still this photo is definitely "real".

 

The grey hoody worn with these trousers is one of my glitter hoodies that are pretty worn out so once I replace them I will be recycling this top. I really need some new sweatshirts for next winter and lets face it for summer in the UK.

 

I am not sure how often or if ever I will wear these together but the option for a outfit is there should I want to. 

I was meant to be cutting the hedge - hence the steps.

I quite like the look but all over camo can be a difficult pattern to wear on the street, in the supermarket etc.

LOVE my pointy hood and its such an easy pattern to make.

 

You can see the seaming here. The front wraps round to the back so theres a kind of princess seam going on, on the back only. Sleeves have to be set in because of this so you cannot do the sew-all-up-one-side-in-one-go thing I prefer with tops. But its still an easy pattern to make. I definitely recommend this top pattern. 

Anyway trousers: I got this pattern so long ago now. 2013 I think! I love this trousers pattern which is the Lekala sports trousers in a standard sizing version. I just put in my height back then but you can get them to create a pattern to fit you perfectly which is probably the better option for most people. These worked for me though so I have stuck with them. Mind you I joined the bottom pieces onto the leg permanently long ago and did away with the side splits, which actually are now back in again should you want that look, So, not an original pattern make, but a staple I know I will wear. And so cozy and warm.

Have a great Easter and eat loads of chocolate with zero guilt should you want to. 

I will be!

See you soon and thanks for visiting

Bracken

Camo pixie top

My sewing has had to slow up a bit this last week because my Mum, who is in her 80s, decided to be independent ad go up a ladder to change her shower curtains, and she fell from about 3ft or 1m up. Then she had to stay in hospital for a few days to recover and really I think she is very lucky nothing was broken or seriously damaged. Its just bruising. Anyway as you can imagine we have all (that is me, my brother, cousins etc) been telling her it was a stupid thing to do. Its not like there is no one who can do things for her. She just doesn't like asking. Trying to explain to someone their own pride has put them in hospital is not easy, or not if you do not want to upset that person. Anyway because of this I have not had time to blog and have only managed a small amount of sewing.

My coat is still "in progress" because I had so much trouble with the button hole, and had to unpick it twice, that I decided that the best way forward is hand stitching and that will take me a while. Really it will give me a nicer finish than machine stitching anyway so I intend to also do my hood lining and my hem in hand sewing - ah I did attach the hood, which I had not yet done last week, so I will show you the coat once that is done. For now its not exactly on hold but awaiting progress. I bought some black embroidery thread to make a decent button hole and the rest will just take time. The thread arrived a couple of days ago so it should start to happen now onwards. So for now the coat has to wait in the shadows while I clear the other stuff on my table. 

Well this camo fabric has been in my stash 3 years I think. I have another 2m piece to make a top for my partner as well. This bit was 4m. I am also making some tracksuit pants with some of this but hopefully more on that next week or even later this week since Mum has now finally come home. 

 

 I have made this top before in velvet. 

Generally, I make the dress version but decided this fabric could look good in camo. 

I love the pointy hood on this top. And its so wearable . Its actually a fancy dress pattern but works really nicely in normal fabric  with every day clothing.

Anyway, as I said earlier I have also cut out a pair of tracksuit pants so will show you them once I get them sewn up.

Have a great week and thanks for popping by,

Bracken

Coat in progress

 

These are terrible photos and taken in doors at night, in electric lighting, which never looks good for me but, I wanted to show you what I have been up to. I have made a bit of progress on my planned coat - cape coat. 

 

This is Burda style magazine 128, 12/2002 and its almost finished now. 

Its called a cape coat but does not seem so cape like on me as in the magazine. It will still make a nice coat though I think.

The outer layer is a wool mix tweed - well it feels woolley but I actually do not know the fibre. Its off a discount stall and they said it was wool mix so its debateble. I suspect its a polyester. The back is a shiny knit so its just the front is "wooley".

 

 I lined with velboa faux fur that I stupidly bought 7m of because its not often you see this so cheap - yes love a bargain me!

Not yet sure what to do with the rest of the velboa but I am thinking a plain hoody might be nice - you know, glam up my wardrobe with fake fur, but in a boring every day way that is easy to wear maybe? 

I have not worked out the hem as yet. Might need to hand stitch that to get a good finish. Previous coats have been proven to be faster finished by hand than machine so its probably what I will do. I should also get a neater edge that way I think.

I need to add the button hole at the neck. This style has just the one button as closure and the front completely overlaps, so I am intending to search out an antique button from my collection for it because I have boxes of old buttons from various great aunts including some that are huge 1960s ones. I think that would work on this.

 

No idea why I was pulling such a silly goofey face but you can see my neck here. The neck is still a raw edge and its just stay stitched.  I am going to add a hood because its practical in rainy UK, but this is meant to have a normal collar. I have yet to cut out the hood. I actually do nto yet know which hood pattern I will use but maybe just a basic one froma  sweatshirt that I have already made so I will know how big it will be. I prefer a larger hood.

You can also see the cuffs. The cuffs are not actually meant to turn back and I just did that to show you, but to be honest I quite like how it looks. Probably whether I turn back or not will depend on the weather but its nice to see they look good like that. 

So I have quite a bit to do to finish this, but its going on well, and so far its working out ok, despite my having to completely unpick on of the pockets. I ended up with one pocket flap/piping slightly wider than the other due to doing that but I reckon it will not be seen by anyone but me so I am sticking with it rather than unpicking the pocket that worked and trying to make them identical. Its literally 2mm different so being opposite sides I do not think anyone can actually tell. Close ups on them are on my last post. Anyway thats what I have been doing so far the past week. So far so good with this one and hopefully next week I can show you how it is once its finished. 

I have actually now started to believe in this coat so I really do not want another UFO. I should perhaps return to some of my other half finished coats after this and try to get at least one of them finished.

Have a great week, take care and thanks for visiting my blog,

Bracken

An Easter basket for Egg Hunting, Upcycles and my socks

 

I made an Easter egg hunt basket for a small person I know. Its made from synthetic and very cheap felt from Amazon. I bought the felt ages ago meaning to use it for finger pupperts. Well that never quite happened so its available in my stash and I decided this basket will be needed and why buy one when you can easily make one.

You do not get enough of any one colour in the packs I bought from Amazon to do for example a base from one colour so I did it as quarters and the sides as narrow strips.

 It kept me busy last Sunday morning but did not really take long at all. The base is lined with white cotton to give it a bit of strength and I glued a top layer over this with fabric glue after everythig else was constructed (see below). That makes the inside look nice but is not otherwise needed.

It was a bit tricky to sew the circle sides but with some twisting and slow sewing it worked.

The handle is two pieces of ribbon sewed on top of each other to make the handle reasonably strong. It only has to carry a few eggs though of course.

Top is edged with ribbon folded over and sewn down. That will stop it stretching.

Et Voila!

With glued base

Looking back at my last month's or so's posts I am so aware how rubbish is my new mobile. I use the camera to take the photos - or my other half does. But there is no clarity. They are just rubbish. Its a Samsung A14 and I have to say I would avoid and buy just about anything or just wait until you can afford better if I was you. Its an awful phone. Not at all like my previous Samsung. It often will not turn on - as in the screen stays black when someone rings meaning if they ask me to turn off the call I can't. Or not unless I actually login. The fingerprint recognition works once in 20-30 times - no I am not exagerating. Face recognition is slghtly better but still more times than not it will not work. Its the worst phone I have owned in 10+ years! 

I do not have a ton of money to spend on a mobile but this one is particularly bad. I have only had it a few months but it has to go. I usually keep my mobiles 3 years or so, usually until something vital stops working or I drop it once too often and the screen completely messes up. A small crack I will live with for a year or so. I do not upgrade very often because I prefer to be environmentally concious and I think its wasteful doing so. I do not go for contracts either unless its an amazing deal. I haven't found a good deal in a while, so just stick with Tesco Rocket packs which work well for me and I do not feel tied in because I am not. I just hate contracts. Anyway mobile phone rant over, but apologies for the really bad photos. I will sort this asap.

So this week I feel I have achieved something on the sewing/ crafting front. I actally made another pair of trousers 

I sewed up my trousers - these are new and were planned at New Year so at least I achieved something in sewing this week. I think they will be great for spring once the weather starts to warm up a bit. Its a polyester/lycra fabric so warmish but not warm enough for colder weather and probably far too warm for summer so spring/ autumn clothing, so perfect for making just now when the daffs are coming out. Hopefully it will stay around 10DegC for the next few weeks and I may even get to wear these to go somewhere.

They are worn with my top which is upcycled - kind of. Or at least "updated".

 

Its now a kind of long top/ mini dress:

Probably best right now with leggings but this has potential as a dress when it does evenyually warm up a bit. When I made this, I made it the same as several similar tops, but this one just did not work. The hems kept rolling over - wrists, hem etc, so I have now added ribbing to them and it does seem to have solved the problem. Since I love this fabric and the style its good to make it work at last. Though I do wish I had actually lined the hood. usually with this pattern I do but I decided the grey inside was OK. That was a mistake I think. Its kind of slippy which stops the hood working.  Does not matter too much and its too much hassle to completed take it to bits to add a lining, so we will see if I can live with that. Its much improved now I think anyway.

 

This top also had a pull cord in the neck which I decided I could not get on with so that went and was replaced with a proper hem. Sewn single stitched though so not with a stretch stitch, so I will see if it lasts. The original top before alteration is here:

 

You can even see the rolling hems in the original photo. It got so annoying when worn I just stopped wearing this top. I found I was constatly fiddling with the wrists and hems. Otherwise I think this is still a good top and hopefully now I will wear it. I like it much better now and it would be a shame to just recycle this because I like the fabric very much. So far I have worn it twice without problems so I am hoping I sorted this one out. 

AND I also nearly cleared the massive pile of repairs and upcycling that seems to build up on my sewing table. Much of which I have to say is not even my own mending. Its been this way since I was in my 20s. Girl has sewing machine, therefore she will fix everyone elses clothes for them. I do not mind as it goes, but recently the pile got so large I was really put off even doing any sewing at all. Except for my very much ongoing coat its all gone now so I am ready for a new challenge at last.  

I do feel I have not yet really got back into my sewing after Christmas and New Year and being nearly March thats not good.The Egg basket has helped me a little, but its like I just cannot quite get my mind into sewing.

Having got to the end of repairs on other peoples clothing, I upcycled my old red dress into a new skirt. I love this but my partner hates it so we will see how it goes with wearing it. Sometimes ( very occasionally!) he is right. 

 I thought the fur was a great idea but maybe it would be better on a heavier weighted fabric but the available upcycle was this stretch red skirt made from a dress that never worked out right -------Oh ages ago now. In fact you can see how much the blog has changed when you see those old photos!

This "skirt" is not new. I made a really badly fitting and rubbish dress back in 2016. Its sat in my wardrobe being hardly worn since. I suppose really I hung onto this because it was such an early make and at the start when I made this, it was worn, but as time passed its just been there taking up room. I could not bring myself to chuck this. I should have. Then about a year ago I cut the top off. I wore it with an unfinished waist several times as a skirt and so it had to remain taking up room.  Then a few days ago I got inspired to add the fur trim to the hem. And because I liked it I also actually added elastic to the waist and its become a proper skirt.

I think maybe I pulled the elastic slightly unevenly? 

Still it will not be seen and it does look ok when worn.

Its worn with my jumper. And I feel they go very well together.

The the other thing I got round to was I unpicked the first sock ------------here is what I have now...........

 

So sad!

But my second sock is coming along nicely and I will redo this one later once I finish that one. I actually cast on this sock again the other night but thats all so far. I will finish sock two first then redo sock one. 

It took me two evenings to get it undone because I never spread my yarn over more than a couple of stitches and I weave it in all the time. That makes it very neat on the reverse but it turns out to be absolute hell unpicking it like that. I never had to unpick so much before. Anyway now its just 3 balls of yarn.

But it will be remade!

Other than that I messed up the welt pockets on my coat. I sewed one onto the front of the pocket and the other onto the back! So useless at welt pockets! I cannot get away with leaving them as they are so have to take them appart again which inevitably means one will end up larger than the other. Or thats what happened the last time I did this!

I think I can sort them but we will see. I am really in need of a course actually on making welt pockets. I avoid them usually, but decided the challenge was good. Hopefully I will actually get the coat eventually and not just abandon this.  It would be such a waste of decent fabric to throw it away. Its going to have mismatched pockets as it is but I can live with that. I do need to do something about making welt pocket things though. I need to learn properly from someone and preferably in a proper class not on you tube etc. I need the face to face for this one. I might with a bit of luck get to show you the actual coat next week. Its my aim to get this one finished so I can wear it.

Otherwise, I have a now cleared sewing pile and I am inspired at last to get something made off my New Years list - and that does include the coat!

Have a great week and thanks for popping by and its really time to be visiting a few of other peoples blogs. Isn't the internet wonderful really that we are able to do this so easily. And to know and interact with people from all over our lovely planet. Amazing!

Take care lovelies,

Bracken