Summer Holiday Catch Up!

I've not been getting much done because #summerholidays ! I'm loving spending time with the boys though! In fact we are *hopefully* going camping tomorrow [I've said no to camping in wet weather but Rikki still seems to think it will be "fun". I think hes forgetting who gets to dry the tent and wash all the muddy clothes afterwards.] So I thought I might do a catch up of whats been happening! 

Well first lets talk about this little fella!!!!! I was given this beauty a few days ago by a friend and I am BUZZING about fixing it up. Its very similar to my other hand crank but this one is basically in tact. So far as I can tell there's nothing missing but it does need a lot of TLC. The machine itself just has some rust but the decals seem to be fairly intact. I've been dosing it with machine oil and its easier to crank now. Next Ill work on getting rid of the rest of the rust and trying to open up the shuttle compartment.

The box was covered in paint and dust. The above picture is actually after I'd wiped all the dust off, I couldn't wait to get started! Luckily for me the paint must have been water based because I've gotten most of it off with a damp cloth. I've started removing the rust from the handle and then hopefully the box will go off to Rikki's Grandad to be glued back together.

Its going to take a long time but I'm hoping to get it working enough that its usable. And by the laws of sewing machine gifting if he ever needs curtains hemming or trousers taking up I'll do them with no grumbling.

The day after I got the sewing machine we spent a day at the Crocky Trail with Lil man and our neighbours. I've never been and I absolutely loved it!!!!!! I'd say its well worth a visit if your in the Cheshire area and even if your not I'd still make the trip.

I've sewn up a stella hoodie. I got the pattern in the #greatbigpatternswap I ended up cutting out one day and sewing it up a few days later when time allowed. Hopefully next I'll be able to find some time to take some pictures of it on!

But just because I'm taking a break from my sewing machine doesn't mean I've been sat on my backside. Well I have but you have to for hand sewing there's really no other option!

I've started another blanket. This one I'm called my crap scrap hexy quilt because its going to be made from just scraps!!! It's probably going to look like an awful mess because of all the random fabrics but its going to be the project I take camping and then hopefully it'll be the quilt I take camping. Ideally I want it to cover me but who knows how big I'll go!!!!!!

And that's it really. I had a quick visit to the fabric shop with another friend so he could pick out a background for the quilt I'm making him but we were very quick and I made sure not to look at other fabrics!!!

And here's a pupdate!

- Polly has continued to settle in nicely and definitely looks more at home
-shes currently in possession of 5 handmade blankets. Two knitted and 3 quilts.
- Shes very nearly stopped growling at Rikki
- We happily go for a mile long walk [I mean she takes a big nap afterwards but hopefully we can build on this until shes trotting around no bother]
- We've changed her food from wet and dry to just wet. It made sense because she was always leaving the wet food and scoffing down the dry.
- she's learnt to sit [For treats, no seriously if you ask her without a treat in your hand she looks at you as if you have two heads!]

Right so that's me all caught up!

I best go and finish packing for our camping trip!

Wish me good weather!!!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Machine Stitch Sampler

I ran this out on one of those days where I needed to sew but I had no inspiration so I just sewed.

I did every stitch my machine has to offer, I sewed one straight line and then moved along to the next.

I used the recommended stitch settings for each one [which luckily my machine tells me]  

and put it all on a scrap piece of calico I had,

and then when it was finished I put it in a frame.

It definitely got me out of my funk but weirdly I want to make another using a brighter colour and a nicer fabric. 

I think its a great little project for getting into your sewing machine groove, In fact I might see if my sister wants to do one to try and build up her confidence.

Its a bit wonky though so that's something I'll have to watch for next time!

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

You don't need three sewing machines! You can't use them all at once! X

I realised I never gave you all a good look at my latest sewing machine that I got for Christmas! 

It's already had some TLC! Grandad shipped it off because he wasn't happy with the cable situation! He used to be an electrician so I trusted his opinion! And he said he'd put me at the top of his to do list so I was happy to let him take it! 

It came with the booklet and the little box of attachments.

And some oil screw drivers and bobbins as well as the key to get the box off! 

That's the original wire! 

That lil lever is how you alter the stitch length. 

And that's the tension dial! 

It's a top loading bobbin which still throws me! I've only ever used bottom loading! 

It's such a beautiful machine! And I can see why so many people still use them! 

This is my third sewing machine to date (well technically there's four but ones strictly for display!) 

And ones in the loft and only comes out for specific projects due to the needle only sewing nicely when it's off center, although I did fix this by measuring from the side needle position and taping a new 5/8 seam allowance using electrical tape! So I'm sure that will be coming out when me and my sister are sewing coats side by side! 

So what do I want next?

An overlocker - lidl did a great deal on overlockers before Christmas but sadly I missed out due to not being speedy enough , the customer care lady said some stores sold out that day and that they were completely sold out after three days! 

A singer treadle! - you know the one with the pedal underneath? Like she uses in "war bride" , Brillant film by the way! 

A Potters wheel, - mr Knitwit said he could probably make one of these for me but then realised if need a kiln , so this has been shelved until we win the lottery (and Patrick swayze turns up)

A loom - not like a huge Victorian child labor one, but I'd like a small one. So I can weave little things, my nan and grand had a cigarette tray made from an old shuttle and I found it fascinating! 

So yeah that's my current wish list

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

Cos she thinks shes made of candy...

Ever get a song stuck in your head? Well I think it influences my crafting, I had candy by Robbie Williams in my head making this and it came out sweeter than sweet.

 

 

Here's an action shot of the little lady holding my door open.

 

 

I used wood effect buttons for the details, I think it stops it becoming too much! All those bright colours needed something to tone them down. 

 

 

I'm loving the multi coloured pompoms at the moment!

 

 

This piece will bee arriving in my Etsy shop shortly as soon as I've finished my brew!

 

 

It all seems to be owls at the moment, Its either owls or cowls with me at the moment! Basically anything that doesn't make me want to cry if Lil Knitwit unravels it!

 

But I do have some interesting things on the go at the moment!

 

- Making some PJs for little Knitwit

- Finishing my simplicity 4070 dress, I'm hoping to get the zip in today although my aunties coming over tomorrow and she is an excellent dress maker so I'm tempted to leave it and ask her to show me.

- Starting a cat doorstop , Yes a cat! Not an owl or a cowl!!!!

- Two clothing alterations both on vintage pieces.

- And I am determined to add those last two flaming triangles to my English paper piece quilt all it needs two triangles and then that's it! I just have to baste and quilt! But I do think I've worked out why I'm putting it off, I'm not quite in love with it. But I've decided that's okay its main job (once fully finished) will be as a poorly quilt for the boys so when their ill they wont be dragging nice quilts downstairs. No yucky germs on clean bedding!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

XXX

 

Finally Finished!!!

I'm doing my happy dance. Well not right now, right now I'm sat typing, but I was doing my happy dance. All because I finished my pyjama robe! I've actually made a full set (minus top but give me a break!) of pyjamas! Bottoms and a robe! Without adult supervision! (I don't count as an adult, I am mearly I child confined to an adults body!) I'm giddy with excitement! There not perfect but they are mine! And I made them!

 

This is the robe I made, it's based on one of my other robes.  I just copied the design and style using the old one, actually this taught me a lot about fabric and how it can change the look of a design. The original robe was made in some sort of see through crepe, in black with a lace coller and a very small ruffle around all the edges. It is VERY saucy (as far as robes go anyway).

 

 

Mine as you can see is cotton flannel in pale pink and is a little less saucy, it's more on the side of Marks and Sparks to be honest. (The nice end! The I want to sip my cocoa in peace and not look like a 1950's vixen end of the shop. I like the think of the look as 1950s housewife aka Bree Vanderkamp). It's roughly mid thigh length and has pockets unlike the original, is anybody else obsessed with pockets? Maybe it is because of all of the junk I carry around all day. But I feel lost without pockets! 

 

 

The only major hiccup I had was with the belt, stupidly used my needle set to the left, thought oh it will be fine, couldn't turn the blooming thing inside out and had to unpick the entire thing. Upon unpicking the entire thing I also realised I had my machine set to the shortest stitch length possible. Nightmare does not quite describe it!

 

 

 In general the robe features raglan sleeves with a gathered front , pockets and belt loops!

 

Please expect some much better pictures as soon as I have time to play model! And as Tyra would say "SMIZE!"

 

The only thing I'm considering is adding is a monogram of the front of one side? My Initials maybe? or Mrs Knitwit?

 

Much Love

 

And yippee I did it!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Bottoms Up

I finished my pyjama bottoms!!! I actually couldn't be more proud of myself! Especially after I had accidently sewn up completely the wrong seams and had to start over, I'd like to say I unpicked them, but I just cut them off because I'm a teensy bit lazy! But either way they are done! And there pretty neat too! I reinforced the edges? (I think that's what you call it? I basically picked the most complicated looking stitch on my machine and re-sewed every edge to make sure they don't come apart, and then trimmed it down, kind of like over-locking but without the posh machine! ) Anyway without further ado here they are!

 

 

This is how they started out, I used an old pair of PJ bottoms as a template and just drew around them , and I cut all four layers at once (I didn't use separate piece for the front and back, I probably should have done to get a really good fit. But you live you learn)

 

 

Here they are finished. Now I completely understand that these are not going to win any sort of award in the pyjama bottom department, but I love them. And to be honest the fit is just as good if not better than some other pairs I have. (And they don't have a missive rip in the bum so there already have one up of some of my other pairs!)

 

 

I did an elasticated waistband because I couldn't actually think of any other way to fasten jammies, until I remembered about tie fastenings! Doh!

 

  

The bow is purely for show! The ribbon I used for it was my grandmothers! She had a lot of the stuff and its never been my favourite thing but it actually works pretty well on this.

 

 

And then I added some of the ribbon to each cuff to give it more of a vintage feel!

 

And I've nearly finished part two of this project, the robe! It was going to be a pyjama jacket but I mulled it over for a while (in bed, with a brew of course) and realised I prefer to sleep in vest tops, its very rare I wear anything long sleeved to bed unless I have the flu! So I've opted for a robe, which I'm making using my old one as a pattern but more on that later.

 

As soon as both pieces are finished, I will be giving them a model! Prepare yourself for some awkward posing and possibly my teddy bear! (you think I'm joking) So keep your eyes peeled!

 

And um did I mention I made them myself? Couldn't be more thrilled if I tried, I've actually made a wearable garment, dreading when the postman comes and I'm wearing them, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from telling him!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx   

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste.....

It's not very often my dad asks something of me. In fact I can't really think of many times he's asked me to do something crafty for him. Most of his repairs are usually done by my mum, so I was quite surprised when he asked me to do this project for him.

 

because I tell you about the project, let me tell you a few things about my dad.

• He's incredibly hardworking, and always made sure me and my siblings had everything we wanted or needed (and bearing in mind one of us is musical, one of us is engineery and one of us is crafty. that must have been quite a lot of wants and needs)
• He loves music, I've you tubed music videos for him, and watched him listen to music on his HUGE headphones many times.
• he is the sole reason I know all the words to perfect day (its originally by Lou Reed, but he used to play a charity version with lots of different artists)
• he's very sentimental, but probably wouldn't admit it. he still has things I've made for him, and I think that why he asked me to do this project for him.

When I was very young, my Dad and Sister went to see the Rolling Stones with some of their friends. And my dad came back with a t-shirt. 15 years later It's finally give up the ghost, it was stained and stretched from years of wear. But Dad wasn't ready to give up on Mick and the boys just yet.

 

 

So he brought a new t-shirt and asked me to sew the design of the old t-shirt onto the new one so he could keep it! T o be honest it probably reminds him of a lovely day with my sister, but he wouldn't admit that. He'll probably just say its because he really loves that top.

 

Now there's very few things I don't like doing, but one of them is repairs and the other is sewing stretch fabrics! But after years of him giving me everything I wanted how could I refuse this little favour.

 

I used more pins than I have ever done in my life and actually tested my stitch length before I started sewing which I hardly ever do. I basically appliqued the entire panel and then stitched around each box to give it some stability. And I'm pleased with the results, its fairly flats and their are not any huge puckers or pleats! Even though I had to cut and re stitch the side seams to get the panel flat. 

 

 

Here's me with mick and the boys but it definitely looks better on Daddy! I wonder if I'll be reapplying it in another 15 years?

 

On the plus side its also provided me with some more t-shirt yarn!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

Pretty In Pink

Its refashion time again! I was reading a lovely little blog called eat sleep breathe fashion which happens to be written by my lovely and talented cousin Miss Sadie K, and she was talking about the amount of co-ordinating trends this summer.

 

Photo Credit eat sleep breathe fashion

 This is a style I love! But I've always been terrified of looking like something out of an eighties movie. You know what I mean , flowered skirt, flowered skirt, big hair, bubble gum, Molly Ringwald. I digress.

 

But anyway I decided to have a quick look in my wardrobe to see if their was anything I could tweak.

And I found this.

 

 

I'm not sure when I brought this, or what drugs I had been given, but all I can say is, it makes me look about 6 months pregnant, apparently the puffy under the bust skirt is not my friend!

 

 

The dress was originally from miso, and although I love the fabric and the fully lined skirt, I was not loving how it looked on me. So I changed it up a little bit.

 

NOTE;  Please give yourself some time to prepare yourself for some VERY awkwardly posed pictures taken by momma Knitwit. (Who only just learnt how to use an SLR camera today) (and kept making me giggle)

 

 

 I basically cut the skirt away from the lining but left it attached to the top. Sewed some lace around all the over locked edges on the top, and turned the skirt piece into an actual skirt using elastic! Oh elastic that's very eighties isn't it!

 

 (I know I am rubbish at explaining what I do, it's basically, cut, swear, pray, sew, cheer)

 

 

 Here's the back, (still working on that focus with momma) it originally had straight straps but I decided to cross them because one had broken anyway!

 

 

Wack on a belt and heels and I'm good to go.

 

 

Here's just the top, and yes I do know it looks like a nightie untucked but if Madonna can rock it so can I! The shorts are also a refashion, they used to be my sisters jeans and were cut down the summer my mum decided my sister needed to get her legs out more.

 

 

And this is the skirt as a separate, paired with my very old Ethel Austin top. I actually think I like it best styled like this, but either way its definitely more wearable now it doesn't make me look like I'm expecting baby number two!

 

 

But what have this project taught me:

1. Current fashion trends, can be achieved at home , without the hefty price tag.
2. If I could crop my legs at the knee in real life I'd be much happier
3. My mother should not be let near technology
4. Don't bin anything
5. And as much as it pains me to admit it, I would not win Americas next top model with my dazzling modelling talents!.

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

You Never Forget Your First!

It's National Sewing Machine Day everybody! Yay! So I thought I'd spare you another picture of a cowl! And tell you about the sewing machines I've used in the past!

 

I'll start with the first (See you read the blog title and thought this was gonna be rude didn't you? Saucy!) The first sewing machine I ever sewed on belonged to my Mother and I'm fairly sure this sewing machine ladies and gentlemen was/is EVIL!

 

Artwork by HarmoniousJosh 

 

Now my Mother will tell you, that it is and always was a perfectly reliable piece of sewing equipment. She's either wrong or lying because that sewing machine couldn't do three stiches without skipping another six, couldn't feed a piece of fabric through without rucking it up and couldn't run for more than two minutes before the machine belt came whirling off ready to impale someone!

God knows I despised that machine. Sadly I don't have an image of my Mums actual machine but I managed to find one pretty similar.

 

 

It's a pretty close match from what I can remember, apart from my mums was cream with brown flowers. Oh those flowers, how I hated that flowered case! If the machine was bad the case was a ruddy nightmare! My mum is still the only person I know that can get the case onto the machine base without wanting to throw the entire thing at the wall! And of course if the case isn't properly attached you can't carry it without losing a toe.

 

My next experience of a sewing machine wasn't much better to be honest (It's a wonder I kept sewing really isn't it) My next experience was at high school. Now we were very lucky to have a group of very talented textiles teachers who were wonderful at maintaining the machines and to say they were being used by an entire school they weren't doing too badly at all. The only problem with textiles class was...... Other people. This is the moment I realised I don't share well. You could guarantee that as soon as you stood up to get a pair of scissors some one had parked their backside on your machine and was using up your bobbin.

 

 

 Which is why when I wanted to get serious about sewing my mum and dad brought me my very own machine as a present.

 

 

It was a Delta and it was treated like a workhorse. This bad boy went over everything, fabric, paper, tissue, wax and many more things besides. Not only did it have to put up with my attempts at dress making it also had to contend with my artistic textiles class. It was a great first machine (of my very own) But boy was it loud! it genuinely sounded like a jackhammer when ever I sewed! However I am happy to report that after a good clean its gone to live with my big sister who I'm sure will give it an easier life than I ever did!

 

Which brings me to my last and current machine. My baby. My pride and joy. The second thing out of the house in case of fire ( Little Knitwit first, Mr.Knitwit can look after himself , and to be honest he'd probably be sobbing trying to work out which games console to save!)

My new machine was a present off my Mum and Dad (again) for my 21st birthday. They came up with some options after listening to what I wanted, a general good all rounder machine. And gave me a choice, Janome or Singer? Now to be perfectly honest my heart said Singer. But I'd never used one before so I went Janome, because that was the type machine we had at school and on the rare occasion I could have some quiet sewing time I really loved to way they worked! (Testament again to the wonderful textile teachers and sewing room support staff of Sandbach Girls School)

 

    

And this is what I got! It's so lovely it makes me want to squeal with joy and I haven't had a problem with it yet.

 

What was your first sewing machine?

 

Much Love

 

And Happy National Sewing Machine Day!

 

Frankie

 

xxx