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

Thoughts on #MMMAY16

Its over! There will no longer be a constant stream of selfies taking over my instagram [lol there definitely will be] and I have the complete freedom to wear anything from my wardrobe!

But what have I learnt from a month of wearing me made everyday?

1- I have more stuff than I realised:

I didn't actually have too repeat too many outfits this month, and usually I only repeated them because I loved the outfit itself not just out of necessity.

2- I have a good mix of clothes:

In my head I only make impractical dresses, But after wearing them they are not impractical they're just pretty! I've got quite a few skirts which is good and lots of dresses, I'd like to make a few more casual tops like my Cami one and maybe a few long sleeve jersey tops.

3- I definitely chose the right colour for my Miette cardigan

Being that it was my first "real" knitting project and the first time I'd actually spent money of nice wool that didn't put my teeth on edge. I was having kittens when It came to making the colour decision. Originally I was going to knit it in grey but the purple just kept looking at me [hypothetically of course, I was on-line shopping] and I ended up with that! Luckily for me It goes with 60% of my wardrobe and the other 40% can be worn with one of my other cardis.

4- I need warmer tights

Its not so bad now but when the weather was really chilly my poor legs were frozen on the nursery run. I've heard good things about fleece lined tights so it might be time to invest.

5- I need to make doubles of some of my favourite items:

Ie, the Cami top and my lightweight kimono top, Which means I need some lightweight sarongs, I've been dropping hints to my mother [who has a very large collection] but she's either ignoring me or hasn't picked up on them......... [trust me the way I hint, she's definitely picked up on them] So I might have a charity shop peruse and see what I can find.

6- I don't need to make "basics"

Its take me a while to come to this conclusion. For a long time I thought I only wanted to wear me made items including things like basic black tops and skirts. But I already have these things, and I tend to get a lot of these types of things given to me. So I think I've finally decided that I'm just going to make fun things that I wouldn't be able to get in the shops or that are too expensive in the shops. 

I mix, me made, charity shop, hand me downs and new stuff.... and I'm okay with that. 

This skirt broke in  the wash, the zip split and the back seam came completely apart. So now I have to fix it [sad face]

7- It might be worth upping my finishing game on garments

I realised I'm put off wearing a garment because the inside finish isn't great. Which is bizarre because I don't usually take my clothes off in tesco so I'm not sure how anyone will see it?

My finish isn't awful but I can definitely see room for improvement. I want to start adding my own labels, finishing my seams nicely, and doing a finish on my zip seams. Hopefully one day Ill have a lovely little over locker to do all this for me! [Prays to Jesus for over locker]

8 - My face is okay....

It was on day four that I was struck down with an eye infection that meant I had to take a break from contacts and get some.......[use tense music] 

GLASSES!

After sulking and crying and generally being a bit of a child about it, I think I'm finally used to them.

I think part of that is the fact that I was taking daily selfies for me made may, which meant I had to get used to having a pair of glasses perched on my nose. And surprisingly I quite like them! To the point when my contact lens ban is finally up, I might go half and half and wear my glasses more. To be honest to only thing that's annoying me about my glasses at the moment is that they get wet in the rain [I mean seriously this isn't a problem we've fixed yet?] and that the steam up in the bathroom [Shaving without being able to see, now that's a party!]

8- Wearing me made makes me feel all kinds of SASSY!

This was sort of a weird one for me, to say I do worry about my seams popping whilst I'm wearing me made it does make me feel VERY VERY SASSY! I'm sure how to describe it, but its really nice to feel confidence in yourself because of something you've made! 

I think its the same as when you have your hair done and you step out of the chair and start walking like the love child of Heidi Klum and Beyonce because you are just all the fabulous!!!  

And that all of my thoughts on me made may!

Ive really enjoyed it this year and its really opened y eyes to what I'm wearing and what works!

If you want to read my weekly accounts you can find them here:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Thoughts on Two years of blogging.

I've been blogging for roughly two years now. I'm not sure if I ever thought it would last this long bt it has and I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself.

This is officially my 437th post which seems a long was from my first ever post.

Ive seen my sewing and knitting skills improve in the last two years and I've noticed a huge boost in my confidence. I no longer avoid difficult techniques in patterns instead I take my time, google it and do the best I can.

I've been lucky enough, to win competitions, review products and write tutorials. In fact If you'd have said to me in the beginning I'd have my own tutorial section on my blog I'd have told you to shut up.

My little blog has come a long way since I first set it up. Originally It was just going to be a platform to help me sell things in my etsy shop, and at craft fairs. Until I realised I didn't like selling stuff. I liked making things, and if I was going to sell something, I wanted it to be a custom order I could have fun with, not something I had to churn of 30 of. I like writing, I like writing about sewing and knitting, giving my opinions and sharing my inspiration!

Now this blog is my personal sewing diary. I like to imagine that when I'm 90, old and frail, with arthritis from knitting and terrible eyesight from unpicking seams I can sit and re-read this and remember everything I once did.

This blog gave me my own space when I was a new mum who felt like her identity was melting away, It gave me a creative outlet and introduced me to some of the nicest people I've ever known.

I sincerely hope that the future is just as bright as the past if not brighter! And if you've been reading, thank you. It really means a lot that you've sat an enjoyed my ramblings.

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Reviewing what I've made the good the bad and the ugly.....

Looking back at what I've made I think I'm a lot more comfortable in my sewing skin now and I know what I like and what suits me.

So here's the low down on what's ended up in the bin! (In this post I've just covered what been binned I have a few items that I've never really worn but to be honest I've never really had an occasion to wear them.)

WARNING: picture heavy post .

I thought this turned out pretty cute but it turned out the fabric was really warm and sweaty so it got ditched.

There were so many flaws with this I just had to let it go!

It was short it was elasticated it was a bust! I'm not sure why I have such a proud look on my face in this picture I should have been ashamed! 

I loved this dress , but it had a nasty argument with a bottle of bleach, RIP comfy dress.

I loved this aswell! But countless washing and small hands playing with the buttons meant it retired last week! RIP Eiffel tower, Big A , rocket ship jumper.

The fit on these wasn't awful but the fabric choice was!

This is currently in the refashion pile! [note to self, I am not a catholic schoolgirl]

this print would have been better suited to pjs , I am not a pale flower kind of girl.

Bad fit, which is a shame because I really loved the bodice fabric. Although some of the left over scraps of this are in my hexy quilt and I think there's some in my god daughters quilt too.

Again this is in the refashion pile, I'm thinking I might pull off the sleeves and add a gathered skirt?

As I said when I made it I felt like a potato, and I just couldn't get that idea out of my head.

But Its not all doom and gloom! Here's some of things that have been a roaring success! Literally they are washed and back on my body within days!

Love having a pop of colour in my wardrobe!

Its just SOOOOOO flattering! and it goes with pretty much everything! Although I do worry that it might not work for summer because of the fabric.

This is just the best summer dress in the whole world! And now it has happy memories because I wore it too my best friends baby shower! 

I wear the skirt all the time but I've only worn the jacket like once? Still a success though! 

Wearing this today, Its still cute and I still love the Anne Marie Horner print! 

Its a big black cardigan what's not to love! 

Due to gaining a lil bit of weight this actually fits better now! Every cloud eh? 

So yeah I always think its worth taking a look back at what you've made in the past so you make the right decisions in the future! And so you can get a better idea of what styles really suit you!

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Shopping Thoughts

Today I went to the shops! And I drove! Which is a pretty big achievement for me, because I'm not the most confident of drivers, In fact the only reason I learnt was because my parents made it quite clear that lifts would be stopping and I wouldn't be able to get places. I've done the drive lots of times its only a 15/20 minute one but boy do I get stressed! I've always been a stressy driver, I remember sitting in my driving lessons sweating! And the situation is not helped by having a whiny four year old in the back!

But I did it! And I had to deal with some of my pet driving peeves!

- Pedestrians that cross anywhere! Cross safely or prepare to be run over!

- Cars that don't give you room, either they try and squeeze in the gap with you or they are right up your jaxi!

- Cars that Park on double yellows! The pretty lines are there for a reason you plonker.

- Cars that pip, yes I know I stalled, nobodies perfect stop beeping at me and sod off!

- Roundabouts , just in general

- Hills, and hill starts

-Parking

-One way carparks

-People who ignore the one way system in carparks

In fact maybe I like driving and just hate other people?

But yeah I survived! I mainly went out to prove to myself that I could and secondly so I could spend my new look voucher that I was given for my birthday, and decided to save for a rainy day.

I didn't buy anything groundbreaking, In fact they didnt really have anything groundbreaking in the shop. There was a nice velvet turtleneck with long sleeves I was tempted by....... Until it I realised it was a crop top..... ITS COLD PEOPLE! 

But mainly it was just lil party frocks [which I have plenty of] and tops that wouldn't really suit me. Actually its been a while since I've been shopping and I thought I was going to enjoy it more than I did. It probably didn't help having a small man in tow who takes the same view of shopping as the big man..... that it sucks. But still I saw some nice shirts, but I make my own now, and some nice dresses but I make my own. There was one cool jumper but it was like 30 quid and I was like "No Thank you Sir!" So instead I perused the accessories.

I've been wanting a nice satchel style bag that's big enough to put my tablet in but there's were too small, I like the floppy hats but they weren't quite floppy enough. I did check out the bikinis but they only had bottoms [Is this a new thing? to bare ones breast area on holiday?] I also looked at the jewellery but a lot of it was stuff I've already sort of got! In fact these were the only things I kept coming back to.

A round faced watch with a black strap, I got this for £6.00 and I've been looking for a day to day watch for a while now so that's a winner,

And this red and black print blanket scarf that I got for £4.00, and that Lil man kindly offered to model for me.

He actually looks pretty suave in this and wouldn't take it off so it might be lost to me now.

Look at that face!

   

So yeah I'm pleased with my purchases but they aren't very interesting!!! They are pretty basic wardrobe fillers and very sensible which got me thinking about my shopping habits.

It was weird to go shopping after so long, It felt really strange to walk into a shop and have people giving you the once over, especially seen as the online sewing community is so supportive. I also found myself looking at how the things were made and whether I'd wear it more than once, How would it fit into my wardrobe? What holes could I fill? In fact the main thing I wanted was a pair of smart grey/black trousers in a wool fabric but smart trousers rarely make the sale rail.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think my shopping ban, combined with the fact I've been receiving hand me downs and up cycling old clothes and making my own has changed me as a person. And its changed the way I dress. Instead of spending money on clothes for the weekend I'd rather I look halfway decent all the time. Lets face it I've probably got enough party frocks to last me a lifetime now I'm a momma. Plus I want my clothes to last or at least I want to love them so much I wear them to rags!

I think I have less of a throwaway mentality now. Oh I've grown up! About time!

That said having a new watch and scarf has cheered me up! 

Has sewing changed your shopping views?

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx