Tilly and the buttons checked Indigo Dress

Taking pictures is difficult at the minute!! Normally I use my mums living room , or go outside but LOL LOCKDOWN! So can’t visit mum and well honey its cold outside!

So instead I spent half a day lugging my tripod round the house desperately trying to find somewhere suitable to take a picture.

And as I live with a small child this was not easy, most backgrounds seemed to be filled with rubbish or toys or pants.............

Anyway this is my Tilly and the buttons indigo dress. Typically I don’t buy the individual Tilly and the buttons patterns because I’m a cheapskate. But a few months ago my phone pinged and I was forced to self isolate. 

And thus started a week where I had no lil man {I elected to send him to his dads so he could continue to go to school] no work and no boyfriend. I was lonely and pretty miserable. 

And on one of the MANY FaceTimes I made to my mum and sister one of them suggested that I treat myself to a new pattern and some fabric and well they didn’t have to suggest it twice!!!! [I also brought a second guitar but that’s another story]

I ordered the indigo dress from Tilly and the buttons because it has zero fastenings and looked like a nice easy make. Then I ordered two fabrics from Minerva.com and a whole heap of fabrics from pound fabrics. 

A word on pound fabrics, So far everything Ive ordered has been of excellent quality, however there is a minimum amount you can order and they do really sting you on the postage. I don’t even think they have a free postage option for if you spend an extortionate amount. 

I cut the dress out during isolation and sewed maybe two seemed then got sucked into watching “outlander” on prime and decided to focus on knitting my socks. 

And since then the pieces have been laying unloved and unfinished, until last week where I decided I needed and easy and uplifting sew, pulled my finger out and finished it off. And I LOVE it.

So it’s basically a bit of a tent but its so comfy and easy to pop on with leggings and tights. Plus it looks really cool with my doc martens boots. , Plus the fabric is part polyester so it doesn’t really need ironing! Which is a complete winner in my eyes. 

I’ve already made a second one and plan on wearing them lots. I’m trying to step away from wearing my pjs all day this lockdown as I don’t think it helps with my mental health.

And yeah that’s it really pattern by TATB and fabric from Minerva. Very easy and took barely any time, I did most of the construction on my overlocker which made things super speedy. 

IN OTHER NEWS!!! 

- homeschooling still sucks but we are managing

- I’m still not sleeping properly, probably because I’m not really doing anything apart from stay at home. 

- Ive been slowly adding rows to the crochet blanket I’m making for john. Currently I’ve reached the point where it doesn’t feel like its getting any bigger. It looks cute though I’m just hoping that I will actually finish it one day and it won’t end up withering under a pile of other things I want to make. 

And well that’s it really, its hard to have an other news when you can’t go out and make news? 

Oh wait actually one thing I have an iPad! John had one that he hardly used so he wiped it for me and I brought a keyboard so I can still blog whilst little dude is using my laptop for home schooling. It’s pretty cool and I think I’m in danger of becoming one of “those” apple people. 

I also brought these for the cats. Having three cats means that they can go through a bowl of biscuits in half an hour and then whinge for more. 

 Also I can’t wait to see all the cats gathered around it and imagine that they’ve just come out of a meeting that could have been an email. 

Much Love 

Frankie 

Xxxx

 

Round Up of my Latest Minerva Crafts Posts

Hey folks! 

Still enjoying the heat wave?

Well naturally with all the blasted heat and the summer holidays I haven't actually had much time for sewing and whilst I've really enjoyed spending time with the kid I am starting to miss my sewing machine! 

So here's a few links to some blog posts I wrote way back when for minerva crafts! [Also note to self : get a haircut] 

First up we have butterick 6318 in luxury crepe! Which some of you may have seen on my instagram feed. There's actually one of these on my sewing table right now I just don't have the time to sew it! 

Next we have my review of the habico mini iron! Which I now use for both sewing and travelling! 

Then we have my review of wendy wards new book sewing with knits! I have a lot of projects coming up from this book! Including tee shirt dresses and hopefully some sweat pants! some of you may also remember this cardigan because I wore it all the dammed time during me made may!

and lastly we have this pleated stretch velvet dress. Which is actually making me sweat a little bit just looking at it but it was lovely and warm during winter! In fact I wore this for my sons nativity so it has some nice memories attached to it too! 

Hopefully I'll get some proper sewing sessions in soon! Maybe I'll banish the boys off for a day of golf? Although saying that I'll only miss him when hes back at school!!!! 

But for now I'm going to live vicariously through you all! So whats every one working on? 

Much Love 

Frankie 

disclaimer - the items reviews were sent to me for free however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Minerva Crafts Padded Jersey Review

So this is just a quick post because it dawned on me that I haven't shared the latest review I did for Minerva Crafts!

 

The fabric used was padded jersey which also comes in black and camel. Which was like a super soft snuggly quilted jersey!

And the pattern is an old one by prima. but I loved how it went together! 

Anyway if you want to read my whole post you can find it here.

Also rememeber to check out my Black Friday Deals post for some great deals! Treat Yo Self!!!

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx

Grainline Lakeside Pjs

This post is pretty picture heavy, sorry guys but on the rare occasions that I take pictures of myself that I don't hate I can't bear to throw them away! 

There are few things in life I like more than pjs. Give me a pair of pjs, a good book and a cuddly duvet and I'm the happiest pumpkin in the world! And I think this might be my favourite Pj pattern. This is the Grainline Lakeside Pj set and was given to me as an early wedding present last year by my lovely friend Jeanette.

This is my third version, so I think we can quite safely assume that I like it! My previous versions can be found here and here  .

Now strictly speaking I don't need any more pyjamas and by not need any more I mean I have two drawers full. BUT! This fabric came in a bundle Minerva crafts sent me to review for their blog and its not really my style for day wear [something Rikki said about looking like one of screech's shirts from saved by the bell cemented this!] And here at knitwits owls we operate a strict "no fabric left behind" policy so it was destined for pjs! Because well nobody really sees what you wear in bed do they? Well Rikki sees it but he once saw me in a backless hospital gown so ya know............................

Now I made a size 12 because that's the size that was already cut but I checked and I still measure at an 8. Which I think would be far too small and tight so bare that in mind if your making your own version!

As before I stayed pretty true to the pattern including the split back which I still love! And I used all that dammed bias binding again! This time I recycled a pillowcase to make bias binding and I think it worked nicely! The colour changes are because the pillowcase had flowers on! 

Construction wise they went together a lot easier than the first two times [practise makes perfect eh?] But I still stumbled on binding the side seam of the shorts. The instructions make as much sense to me as sugar free cake. Every time I feel like I'm just working an a wing and a prayer. But it was all alright in the end!

The pattern placement was a pain in the backside though. The fabric is a cotton printed with flowers and hearts by Rose and Hubble. BUT the flowers and the hearts are printed in both directions. In the end I just cut it out and decided to sack off any concept of pattern matching or placement. It didn't turn out too badly considering my wing and a prayer attitude. 

So yeah I huge success and I'm always glad to have a new pair of pjs to lounge about it!  

In other news! 

- I still have a cold... It sucks and I'm being a complete baby about it!

- I've been reading loads! Honestly I can't get enough of books at the minute! Luckily our local charity shop does four for £1 so its not an expensive habit! Although the man behind the till has told me I'm in danger of "becoming rather well read!"  [I might do a post on what I've read recently if anyone's interested?]

- I'm still chugging on with my jumper project! Luckily its being done in a chunky wool so its making fast progress! Which is lucky! With the weather getting so chilly all I want to do is wear it!

Much Love

Frankie 

x

My Minerva Crafts Lucky Dip Bag Review!

Just in case you missed it I recently reviewed minerva crafts lucky dip bags for their blog and you can read it here! 

The fabric came in my lucky dip bag and the pattern is my dress hack of the Cami top from the 3rd GBSB book! 

Much Love

Frankie 

x

Disclaimer - whilst the lucky bag was provided for free all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Coco Dress Hoodie Hack

I love a pattern hack as you may of gathered and I really love a stash busting pattern hack! 

Okay so the pattern is the Tilly and the buttons coco dress pattern but the short top version, with the long sleeves and the cuffs [but not turned up] and then for some extra jazzyness I added a hood by copying the one off my dressing gown and a pocket I copied off one of Rikkis hoodies.  

Now due to this being a stash busting project I had to do some colour blocking because I didn't have a enough of one fabric. So the body and the bottom of the sleeves and the trim around the hood are all done in a poly knit that I found in a bargain bin at abakhans .

And then the cuffs, the pocket and the hood + the hood extension [because guess who cut their hood too small!] are done in a marl grey ponte de roma from Minerva Crafts . I also used the marl grey to make the tops of the sleeves because I didn't have enough of the poly knit to do the whole sleeve. Funnily enough this ended up being one of my favourite features and I'll definitely be doing it again. 

It took about 2 1/2 hours to make from cutting out the finishing. I Sewed all of the seams on my over locker including stetting in the sleeves and adding the cuffs. I used my regular machine for all the top stitching on the pocket and the hems.

All in all I love how it turned out, Its slim fitting enough to wear under my coat for the school run but warm enough to keep me toasty!

I love the kangaroo pocket at the front, Its not exactly functional but I think it add a ready to wear feel to it and I've been using it to carry my phone around in!

Mainly I just love how beautifully it all came together! I'm definitely going to make another one although this time I think I'd like to make one in this striped ponte de roma from girl charlee  but using this aztec print from girl charlee for the accents like the hood and pocket.

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

P.s Happy 1st of December! SANTA'S ON HIS WAY!!!!! 

Latest Fabricgasms

Okay so it dawned on me that its been a long time since my last Fabricgasms post!

And seen as the weathers been pretty grotty I decided to theme this one around summer!!!!!

Apart from this one! Plain black babylon stretch liquid velvet dress fabric! 

How perfect would this be for a coco dress!!! I mean a velvet coco dress, I might die!

London underground Poly cotton print! 

This is all of the adorable, I have very found memories of travelling around London on the tube with my Mum so a dress in this print would be pretty fabulous!!! 

Tape Measure cotton poplin

It has tape measures on nuff said. I especially like the pink colourway.

Psychedelic Skulls cotton poplin

This has rainbows and skulls and flowers and its pinks. It might be the best print in the world. EVER!!! 

Tiny Bows Poly cotton

These are little tiny bows, its literally the most adorably twee print I've ever seen! It would make the cutest full skirt!

Stars print polycotton

Yet another awesome print, can you imagine strutting around in a star print dress? this comes in 19 colour ways! And I love about 80% of them!

Sewing Machine cotton poplin

It has sewing machines in it....... Do i really need to say anymore?

Floral border print stretch cotton sateen

I think I might have fallen in love with border prints, I love the cutting challenge and this one gives me all the vintage vibes!!!

Hand Printed Floral Batik Cotton

I love the hippy style this has and I just think the Batik looks so pretty! This comes in a few colourways but I think this one might be my favourite!

Bright Floral cotton poplin

This reminds me of some of the beautiful prints that high street fashion brands use. I love the 90's style and the colours are just AWESOME!

So that's my latest fabricgasms! What fabrics are you loving at the moment!!!

Much Love

Frankie

xx

Latest Fabricgasms!

I love fabric...... that's really all I need to say! So here's a collection of fabrics I'm lusting after at the moment!

From http://fabricrehab.co.uk/

Mr Bones - silver and black skulls!

quite simply I like skulls!

In Flight - Cobalt 

I think this would make the worlds prettiest shift dress! simple shape, belt it up and a pair of boots and your good to go!

From http://www.plushaddict.co.uk/

Scandi Love Birds - Festive Red

This would make an awesome Christmas dress!

Michael Miller - Halloween - Bone Head charcoal!

These are the cutest skulls in the entire world!

From https://www.minervacrafts.com

Herringbone weave suiting

I love my wool suit that I made and I think this would make an excellent second version!

Gothic Skulls Nylon Lace Dress Fabric

I love the idea of making a very simple tunic from this fabric and then layering it up with vest tops and jeans!

And that's all for today folks!

What fabrics are you lusting after?

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Knitting magazines and some good news!

 

Luckily for me Mr Knitwit nan has been having a clear-out again! and this time she found some old knitting magazines!

 

 

this was the first magazine and these are the two patterns I found most interesting!

 

this appears to be a slipper pattern that ISNT written in the round! 

And this jacket just looks stupidly cosy and cuddly!

The second magazine contained this gorgeous pattern for a lil girls cardigan with embroidery! So if one of my friends could impregnate themselves with a lil girl that would be awesome!!!!

 

Now I just have to get round to knitting them all!

In other good news the lovely folks at Minerva crafts have featured my navy megan dress on their blog!!  

https://www.minervacrafts.com/blog/projects/navy-bengaline-megan-dress

I feel rather proud of myself to be honest! 

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx