7 Tips For taking Blog Photos

It does occur to me that I should have written this post for me made may when everyone was taking 100million selfies a day for instagram but hey ho! 

Personally I hate having my picture taken, I'm very awkward in front of a camera and have a pretty gawky smile. I especially hate candid pictures where people take them and I don't know because 60% of the time I'm talking and the other 40% I'm eating and neither of those things are flattering in picture form. 

But writing this blog and uploading to instagram has meant that I've had to get over my fear pretty quickly. So here's some of the tips I use to help me take pictures that I don't fell like deleting straight after!

1. Use Natural Light

I don't know what kind of magic it has behind it. But natural light is your best friend, we're not talking sunshine here just regular day time light preferably without a cloud in the sky! Even for bog standard selfies natural light can really help.

2. Have Someone Take It/ Don't 

This is completely up to you, but for me I hate having other people take my picture because Its too off putting so I do it myself. However I know a lot of bloggers who prefer to have a family member or friend take their pictures because they think it puts them at ease. 

3. Use a Tripod

I use a tripod because I take my own photos so Its an easy way of getting the camera at the right height. But even if a friends taking them for you a tripod can be useful to make sure the image doesn't blur so it comes out pin sharp. I got mine as an aldi special buy [but they also have cheap ones on amazon] and and the base plate is standard so it fits both of my cameras and I got a mount for my phone too.

4. Remote Control shutter

I have two of these now, a posh one that I use with my slr and a small one that will link to basically any phone or digital camera in the world and they are invaluable! Not only do I use them for my blog photos so I can take them by myself, but I also set up the camera on the tripod and the remote control at Christmas/birthdays. Basically I set up the camera in a corner of the room where it can see all three of us and then every now and again I'll click the remote to take a picture. Which means we get nice candid shots of us all opening our presents without one of us having to be behind the camera! 

5. Use Props

Sometimes just having something to hold in your hands can make you feel 100% more comfortable infront of the camera. And if your don't have a prop try placing one hand on your hip or waist.

6. Play Music

I always play music when I take pictures. I put on one of my favourite songs and try and move around a bit whilst clicking. Yes I get a lot of unusable shots but I also get some really nice ones. Plus its always nice to have a bit of a dance isn't it?

7. Put your weight on one foot

This is some advice my wedding photographer gave me on the big day. Putting your weight on one foot can instantly make your look thinner and more relaxed , You can also try holding your body on a slight angle rather than straight on because that's more flattering as well! 

Good Luck and happy picture taking!!! 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Thoughts we all have when we are fitting ourselves.....

Okay so fitting is the bane if every dressmakers life. I mean it's all well and good if you've got a handy second person to help you but what if your alone? Or what if the second person doesn't know what their doing? 

So here's a post about all the thoughts that go through my head when I'm fitting........

It's time to fit.........

• I should have basted the seams.... Why didn't I baste the seams. If I have to unlock them I'll scream.

• am I wearing the right pants for this dress? (I can guarantee that I am not wearing the right pants) 

• changes knickers 

 • how on earth do I pin the back seam? 

• folds self like a pretzel 

• where's the mirror? I need a mirror?

• whys it so loose? Is it meant to be this loose? 

• checks pattern.........HOW MUCH EASE???????? 

• Takes a few inches off the seams

• puts dress back on....

.• can't breathe...... CANNOT BREATHE 

• Maybe it's my pants......

• puts on big scary stomach sucking in pants and bra that makes Pamela Anderson jealous

• are the darts in the right place? Surely my boobs don't look like that?

• dress fits

• why did I choose this fabric? Do I like this fabric? Oh it was on sale.....what a nice fabric!!

• that hems quite long? I'll take off an inch or two

• hems dress...

• oh hello pants! Gosh that's a bit short... Maybe I shouldn't have cut it? I'll have to do a smaller hem..

• finishes dress, shows husband "it's alright" 

• necks a bottle of rose 

Who else hates fitting projects to themselves? 

Much love 

Frankie 

X

7 Responses to "Will You Make This For Me?"

We've all been there. After telling someone with pride that we made our skirt/dress/jumper/quilt they immediately ask if we can make one for them? Sometimes they follow it up with an offer of payment [Although I'm not sure they ever really know how much these things cost to make!] And then you have to scramble for a response whilst trying to work out if you actually want to make this person an item..... Well here's some ways to say yes or no to their request.

1. No but here's the number of someone who can.

This is my most used response. Since pretty much everyone I know on Facebook knows I sew, I do tend to get quite a few requests to make things / alter things. I now have to name of a brilliant crafter who can make all kinds of awesome bunting who I recommend. And one for a seamstress who can do alterations, the terrifying thing is that most of these requests are for wedding gowns and I am just not comfortable altering something that potentially cost upwards of a £1000 in my living room....Ya know where my messy 5 year old hangs out.

2. Yes but I charge XXXXXX

This is actually a good idea if you want a spare bit of cash and you don't actually mind making the thing. Just be sure to factor in the cost of ALL of the materials and the cost of your time. 

3. Yes but you will do XXXXX for me

I've never used this one but I've heard of people exchanging a sewn item for having their car washed, or their ironing done or their gardening. 

4. No but I can show you how to make your own

I use this a lot too! Sadly I've only ever had one person take me up on the offer and that sort of died out anyway. I'm always happy to teach people who are willing to learn. 

5. No I don't alter other peoples clothes in case I wreck them

I'm a fairly competent sewer now but I still live in fear that one day someone will ask me to do something and what I deliver won't be what they had in mind. So in my eyes its just safer to avoid it!

6. It would be cheaper to buy one

Some people are still under the impression that making clothes is cheaper than buying them! Which just goes to show that people don't understand how expensive fabric is! So in the case of a simple jersey top its far cheaper to buy one but in the case of a wedding dress it may well be cheaper to sew one. [Depending on whether or not you actually want to sew a wedding dress]

7. No bugger off!

I'll admit being a bit of a pansy I don't use this one very often but I do like to reserve it for certain types of people IE. People from high school who picked on me for years but now think its okay to ask me to hem their jeans or people who personally offended me......Yes I hold grudges and I hold onto then hard! My general rule is that I have to REALLY love someone if I'm going to make them something.

Most importantly remember that people are asking YOU to do something for THEM with YOUR free time so you are perfectly within your rights to say Yes or No as you see fit! 

How do you respond?

Much Love 

Frankie

xxx

5 Sewing Products I Couldn't Live Without!

Extra Long Pins

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I;m not sure why I love long pins so much but they just seem to make everything so much easier. Especially when pinning pattern so quilting they just really help to stop things from shifting around!

Magnetic Pin cushion

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Nothing makes me feel more like a Jedi knight than throwing some pins at this bad boy and them magically finding their way to the dish. It has changed my life! And its definitely changed the speed of my sewing, although word of warning don't accidentally decide to use another pin cushion after you've had one for a while because you will just throw pins across your table and you will have to pick them up......

Wrist Pin cushion

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Yes I know, I've just said I love one pincushion and now I'm saying I love another! But its true, you see this one comes with me. This one comes with me to my sewing machine in the dining room, or to my ironing board in the kitchen, or to the sofa where I do all of my hand sewing. Yet another word of warning though don't forget to take it off and wear it to Tesco you just end up looking a bit weird. 

Small Embroidery Scissors

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I keep mine of a piece of ribbon around my neck so they are always handy. They are very useful for snipping into seam allowances and getting rid of threads.

Tailors chalk

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Up until recently I thought tailors chalk was the work of the devil BUT as it turns out its actually pretty awesome not only does it draw on pretty much everything but it also comes off and its lasts ages. I've had mine for about a year and it honestly hasn't worn down much at all.

And that's it!

Those are my favourite products at the moment.

What sewing products are you loving

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Top Tips For Sewing For Others

I don't typically sew for other people. Mainly because I'm selfish, I don't get the same amount of joy making something for someone else as I do making it for myself. 

Which is a bit awkward really especially when people are like 

"Oh I like your dress!!!"

"Why thank you I made it myself!"

"Oh that's great! Will you make me one?"

"No"

"I'll pay you? I'll buy the fabric?"

"No"

In fact the only person I sew from scratch for is my mum and I've only ever done it twice [I'm not counting the various knitting and embroidery things I've done this is strictly clothes sewing!]. As I said I don't really like doing it but she has this whole carrying me for 9 months and being cut open thing over me.....Plus I used one as a gift when I had no other ideas! 

So here's some top tips if your entering the black hole of sewing for others!

1 - Be Clear!

Explain your own personal limitations, let them know how long you've been sewing, if your not confident with buttonholes let them know! That way no one is disappointed!

2 - Talk about the Design!

Then talk about it some more, then draw a picture, then talk about it some more! Iron out every detail of the design from where the zips going to how the inside will be finished! Make detailed notes and discuss every future change!

3 - Measure Accurately!

I find it helps to talk to someone as you measure them, you can't breathe in it your chatting. Make sure you take all the measurements, Do the under bust and the full bust, measure the circumference of the tops of their arms and how long their waist is, AND don't forget to measure how long a skirt needs to be on them! They might be a lot taller than you!! It also helps if you can measure them whilst they have on underwear they are planning on wearing, remember a decent bra can add an extra inch to a bust [two if its one of those wonder ones!!!] and a pair of spanx can help you loose an inch!   

4 - Make a Toile and Fit It!

Possible the most boring part of any dressmaking process but sadly a necessary one! A toile can give you a rough idea of how a garment will look and help you change any big fit or detail issues! For example when making the goodwood dress it became apparent during the toile stage that gathers under the bust were a lot more flattering than darts on my mum!

And if your in any doubt make a second toile! 

5- Approve all Fabric and Trims!

In fact better yet go shopping with them to buy them! [and pick yourself up a lil summin summin!] Bear in mind they might not know sewing like you do so to them a "cotton" might mean the stuff their husbands work shirts are made of rather than some of the beautiful cotton lawns that are around!

6 - Discuss your time frame and what payment is being received!

Okay so you might not be receiving actual money, but it's always nice if someone says thank you or appreciates what you do! I'm very lucky my mum actually paid me to make  her the check shirt and the dress was a gift, but mainly I just like it when someone wears and appreciates the thing I slaved over! Also let them know how long its actually going to take you!

7 - Be neat!

Remember its not just you whose going to be seeing the inside so make sure you finish your seams nicely and cut every stray thread! 

8 - Give it a Final Press!

Remember a good press can hide a multitude of sins, but a bad one can highlight a lot more! 

So do you make clothes for other people?

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Top Tips For English Paper Piecing

I know I know. Really I should be blogging my next instalment of the #ettaquiltproject but I've been really off my game recently what with Rikki being off so much and the passing of my friend [I really want to write a whole post about him but 1. I can't start writing it without crying and 2. I'm not sure you guys would want to read it? Maybe I'll just write it for me when I'm ready and you guys can skip it if you want]

Anyhoo with the #ettaquiltproject I'm pretty sure the only person playing along is my big sis so I figured I'd slow down the pace a bit because she doesn't have a lot of time to sew! 

But here's some English paper piecing tips of you are looking to start or your finding it hard! 

1. Use Card [cereal packet / Xmas cards] as your templates instead of using paper. Its a lot more durable so you get more wear out of them and they are easier to fold fabric over accurately so you end up with neater corners etc.

2. Use bulldog clips. This is one I recently discovered, I used to use pins but I just kept stabbing myself as I tried to tack bulldog clips are a much easier and safer way!

3. Woven Fabrics. I'm not saying you need to go all out and buy expensive quilting cottons I mean after all these quilts were typically made out of scraps and old clothes. But using a woven fabric over a stretch fabric is definitely the way to go.

4. Use at least 1cm seam allowance. Believe it or not but too much seam allowance can actually make piecing more of a faff! a 1cm seam allowance gives you enough to work with without swamping you in fabric. 

5. Use different colored threads for tacking and sewing! Mainly this just makes it easier to remove your tacking stitches because you just remove all the ******* coloured threads!

6. Good lighting. Did anyone else Mum used to tell them off for doing things in the dark and tell them they'd go blind? Just mine? Okay.... But in all seriousness threading a needle in poor lighting is enough to have you reaching for the wine, threading it in good light is a more more pleasant experience but you'll probably still want the wine!

7. And speaking of needles! Keep them sharp! For both tacking and piecing, the whole process is just a lot quicker with a sharp needle!

8. Make a vague plan. Think about what sort of style you want? Will it be scrappy? Are you doing a pattern repeat? Do you want to use a colour story? A lil bit of planning in the short term can save a lot of aggro in the long term!

9. Buy extra fabric! Not because your going to mess up [although that might happen] But because your going to love and cherish your quilt and hopefully use it lots which means holes or stains may happen and its always useful to have some extra fabric for repair work! 

10. Try and use plastic template for making your card templates. Basically I make my templates I draw around 1 "master" shape. In theory this means that every single card template will be the same size, however if you use a card template as your master the repeated drawing can actually make the sides wear down and you end up with a smaller template! I tend to use either plastic templates or metal ones! 

11. Iron fabric before cutting out. Mainly this just helps you to be more accurate and to limit fabric waste. Its also a huge help if your using recycled clothes to make your quilt. And be sure to iron your finished blocks so they sit flat! 

Hope these help! Do you have any top EPP tips?

Much Love 

Frankie 

xxx

10 Books I'd Recommend Reading

Okay so I know its a bit of a jump from my usual posts but we're all friends here right!? And if I saw you every day I'd be talking your ears off about what books I've been reading lately!

Plus a few of you said you'd like some recommendations and lets be honest with winter coming there is nothing better than snuggling up with a good book and a glass of wine!

1. The Handmaidens Tale - Margaret Attwood

Okay so when the telly series came out I couldn't stop talking about this book, and believe me when I say, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Its also a huge wake up call for how things can happen in the government without regular people knowing! 

2. The Girl On the Train - Paula Hawkins

If your like a bit of drama and mystery and a killer twist then this book is for you! And not only does it get the Frankie seal of approval but my Mum and Sister loved it too!

3. The Pink Suit - Nicole Mary Kelby

I've mentioned this book before but it documents the making of a "pink suit" for the "first lady" of the united states, and she happens to be wearing the suit when her "husband dies" [coughs,, Jackie O] Its a lovely story very easy to read with some great descriptions of how they made the suit!

4. The Casual Vacancy - J.K.Rowling

Its a huge step away from Jk Rowlings usual subject matter of witches and Wizards but boy is it good! It focuses on the election for a local council seat and how it affects the people standing for it and those around them! She writes the characters so brilliantly that I was hooked from beginning to end! Its also very funny!

5. The Other Boleyn Girl - Phillippa Gregory

Set during the reign of Henry the 8th the books tells the story of Anne Boleyn's sister "the other Boleyn girl" Its a great book if your a bit of a history nerd like me! But a word of advice? Don't watch the film its naff!

6. The Dressmaker - Rosalie Ham

This is another book about sewing! It's a dark comedy about a girl coming home as a successful seamstress and taking revenge on a whole town! The film of this isn't actually too awful once you get past the age difference between Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth.

7. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold 

This book is pretty dark and kind of heart breaking, but its beautifully written to say it deals with such a sad subject matter. It tells the story of a young girl who's just been murdered and now watches her family and how they try and cope with the aftermath WARNING: You may need tissues!

8. Chocolat - Joanne Harris

Its a book about chocolate what more can I say? Its a great story about a lady coming to town and winning them over with chocolate! BUT it will make you hungry definitely keep a bar or two of chocolate next to you reading this! 

p.s DEFINITELY watch the film!!!! Johnny Depp plays a lovable rogue and he is just all kinds of sexy!!!!!!! 

9. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

If you love fashion then this is a great book for giving you some insight into how the industry works! Its also funny and heartwarming! [The book is far better than the film!] To be honest I think its the book that made me realise I wouldn't be able to cut it in the fashion industry!

10. Atonement - Ian McEwan

This is by far one of my favourite books ever and makes me cry like a baby every dammed time! [So embarrassing when your on a long haul flight to America!!!] The book is all about how people actions have consequences and how not everything is always what it seems! The film has James McAvoy in it and I think he's a bit yummy so I;m biased but its a pretty decent film, Its got nowt on the book but James McAvoy is shirtless at one point so ya know every cloud! 

In other news:

Life's a bit crap at the moment, hence the slightly random post. One of our friends sadly passed away this week and its come as quite the shock and I think we are all still dealing with it. I don't really want to put too much because I'll just start crying again but he was a long time friend and a lovely bloke. 

Its made me really sad and I just sort of want to sit and be for a bit before I try and get back to "normal" not that I can see their ever being a proper "normal"again. 

Much Love 

Frankie