Searching For An Extra Inch

I should probably start of by warning you that I am absolutely exhausted. This is not an exaggeration, I didn't get to sleep until about 2am and Little Knitwit decided to wake me up at 5.45am, little swine  cherub. Sadly though little knitwit is just like his momma and likes his sleep, I cannot stress enough that if he wakes up any time after 7.30 my son is an angel, polite, well mannered, plays nicely , eats nicely and well if he gets up before 7.30? He just isn't.

But either way I do have some good news I finished my simplicity 4070 dress! Woop, Yay! Zip is in, trims are stitched down. It's lovely! And It fits thank god!

These are the second set of photographs that I have taken of this dress today, it turns out that taking a picture of a white dress against a white wall doesn't exactly work perfectly.

Still love this pattern, so easy to sew, fairly quick and their are so many skirt variations I can try. Here I just opted for a simple gathered skirt. Mainly because I had to sew two pieces of fabric together to get enough so there is a large seam down the middle. The gathers hide this seam quite nicely.

I added lace around the collar and arm holes after I had hemmed them but next time I might just opt for some bias binding.

I had to add the lace down either side of my very first zip because I hadn't left enough room on one side and one of the gathers got rucked up and almost pleated? The zip works fine and looked stunning on one side, so instead of redoing the zip and the skirt I just added the lace to cover it up.

The key hole detail at the back is so flattering!

My next step with this pattern is to work out how little fabric I can get away with using, I mainly draft my own skirts so the pattern packet is of no use to me . I've found an amazing site online called fabric rehab and it has so many beautiful and fun fabric choices, so I just need to work out how much fabric I will actually need and then I might just have to spoil myself!

The only other thing going on is me trying to finish off my knitting, I'm very close to the end I've just got a few inches to go and they keep eluding me! It doesn't matter how long I knit for, whenever I re measure I never seem any closer! Its pretty soul destroying work so I'm hoping it will be finished tonight! Although feeling how I feel I might just down a glass of wine and go straight to bed!

Much Love

A very sleepy

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

Bad Day

Does anyone else have bad crafting days? The kind of days where you read the pattern wrong and drop stiches? Where your threads knotted and your sewing machine decided it's tension is all wrong?

 

I'm having one of those , I miscounted stitches on my knitting and ran out of fabric for a dress I was going to make, (I should have measured properly, apparently my winging it approach doesn't always work!)

 

So not much has been done to be honest, but I did manage to have a nice relaxing time doing some embroidery , although the day I'm having I'll probably spill an entire cup of tea over it just as I've finished (and yes I have done that before, 3 hours work down the drain!)

 

 

It's a bit different to what I usually do, but I'm loving it so far.

 

 

Standard embroidery procedure , Grandmothers embroidery hoop, various threads, needle, comfy chair and a brew . If this is what heavens like, take me out back and shoot me.

 

 

It definitely relaxed me after what was briskly turning into a day of failures mixed in with a large cup of self pity.

 

 

I used chain stitch on the centre of the flowers , it was the first posh embroidery stitch I ever learned and I remember my textiles teacher showing me very patiently how to do it, I was going to do French knots but they STILL elude me!

 

 

All I need to do is the branch and then I think I might be done aside from a few small extra stitches I might add.

 

Ever had a super sucky crafting day?

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Vintage Vibes

It's such a beautiful day! So I've got to confess I haven't actually made anything today! Well apart from Lil Knitwits new sandpit!

 

 

Well by made, I mean I attached legs. He had loads of fun playing with it though, which surprised me he's not really a child who likes to get dirty.

 

In other new I was lucky enough to win the Dragonfly Fabrics Giveaway on HandmadeJanes Blog! I might have squealed with joy when this happened and refreshed to page five or six times just to make sure It was actually me that won!

 

For anybody who doesn't know HandmadeJane  is a dressmaking blog with a definite vintage feel. Its been a favourite blog of mine for a while but I've only just started following because I now have blogger! (Before it was bookmarked on my phone! So behind with the times!)  It's a really beautiful honest blog ( I love a good honest blog, no one is perfect all the time) With lovely fabrics and patterns! And she often does tutorials and information on the more difficult parts of dressing making! And she knows how to do a full bust adjustment! And coming from a family of BUSTY (And I mean BUSTY) ladies I appreciate the worth of a good full bust adjustment!

 

Anyway as soon as I've decided what I'm getting I'll let you have a little looksee! Although looking at the dragonfly website I will be spoilt for choice! And as soon as I've actually made something with it you'll be the first to know! 

 

It's been to hot to do anything! so I've been doing some knitting! Yes its another cowl BUT its a different pattern and has a distinctly vintage vibe about it!

 

 

I'm loving the contrast between the chunky wool and the fluffy wool! Incidentally these wools are both from my goody bag given to me by Mr.Knitwits Nanny! Feeling a bit spoilt this week, Beautiful weather, Knitting patterns, Wool and Fabric!

 

 

Also loving the pearly buttons! In between the two knitted strips is a piece of lace which I applied by hand!

 

We also have a new twitter button! I'm pretty new to twitter so feel free to tweet me!

 

Much Love

 

And Sunshine!

 

Frankie

 

xxx  

We Are Gathered Here Today.....

It's Day 14 of Pinterest Fortnight! This is the end! It's the last day! And I cannot wait to relax and recover! I've found knitting needles in every room of the house and I have threads stuck to me constantly!

So the last day, now I have to say I was a bit stuck on this one. It needed to be grand and special! After all this is the Grand Finale! Which got me thinking to a Pinterest board that I haven't covered yet, yes its the secret wedding Pinterest board! Yes I have one, you have one! Everyone has one! You just have to admit it!

 

 

Now I am engaged so I feel I am perfectly justified in having a wedding Pinterest board, however I know that there is not one thing on that board that Mr Knitwit will like. At all. Not one darn thing! the problem is I'm a dreamer/hippie/punk/crafter/crazy and he's well not? He's very stable and sensible. Well they do say opposites attract!

 

For example I thought todays make inspired by my love of pinning weddings on Pinterest is adorable! He ummmm doesn't?

 

Without further ado here it is the Grand Finale!

 

 

I made a Bride and Groom owls! Yes I am that person and I had so much fun doing it! I took most of my inspiration from the eighties if I'm perfectly honest! ( gotta love the eighties weddings! all that lace!)

 

 

Mr Owl has his very own tux and top hat, as well as a knitted flower and a slightly worried expression, appropriate don't you think?

 

 

And of course his own little bow tie!

 

 

And well Mrs Owl? She has it all! Feathers, lace, tulle, a veil , beads!

 

 

No tacky wedding stone was left unturned!

 

 

And she has the wide eyed look of a women that doesn't realise how annoying living with men can be!!!!! Bless her! She'll learn!

 

Well I suppose that's the end? I've been trying to decide when to do this again and I'm thinking when I reach 1000 pins on my inspiration board. So I'll see you next week (oh I really hope its not reached 1000 by next week!)

 

Thank you everyone who's been reading and commenting , either on here or privately on Facebook. and for all the people who have retweeted me on twitter! I've had a blast!

 

Now what am I going to do with all this free time? I'm actually starting to feel naked without a needle of some sort in my hand! Eeeek!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Here's To Looking At You Kid

Its Day 8 of Pinterest fortnight and we have our first fashion make! Well I say fashion its more of an accessory.

 

So today we are looking at scarves, or to give them their new name, Cowls? Yeah I'd never heard of it either. I think it basically means a scarf in a loop? Which I personally think is a brilliant idea , having a small child, anything that reduces my risk of strangulation should he want "UP" is a winner in my book!

 

Here's my Pinterest inspiration.

 

 

I think this is cabled but either way I'm in love! Its actually still available here on Etsy.

 

 

 

I think this is plaited not cabled? And I think it can be found at bnnbcrafts.blogspot.com

 

Now I obviously made my own version! But I decided to use blue purely because as a mummy a darker colour is much more wearable than a pale one. No one looks good with [Insert food stuff here] stains.

I would also like to apologise for the photos they are not posed, that's my I'm going to throw the camera out the window face!

 

 

  Wonky photos, so they look arty of course! Not because I'm cack handed.

 

 

I used four different shades if blue, to add texture!

 

 

I quite like this one! it makes me look like I know what I'm doing!

 

 

And some nice on the floor shots! I used a three strand plait , I was tempted to do a six strand, but even I knew that wasn't going to go well!

 

 

I actually think the buttons might be my favourite bit? the blue one is the only one I had and the two beige ones were re-purposed!

 

Its really lovely to wear and perfect for brightening up a dull day like today!

 

 

The blue button reads Casablank, hence the post title! SO glad I saved it, I think it really makes this project!

 

So that's Day 8 of Pinterest fortnight and I guess it counts as me made may as well!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx