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

Refashioned Skirt From A Handmade Dress

There is nothing I hate more than when I spend time making something only for it to languish in the back of my wardrobe. It's bound to happen its not like you can try it on before you've made it is it? And we've all stood in a shop before trying to work out why the dress that seemed so perfect in theory actually looks like a potato sack.

Anyway I loved this dress when I first finished it but I just never wore it. The back is cut in a low v and due to a fit issue the straps fell down quite a lot exposing the old bosom, plus you have to go braless which is never a day to day wear pleaser. 

Anyway I did LOVE the fabric which I think is a Singapore printed cotton so I decided to try and fix it and make something more wearable. 

First of all I ripped out the zip then I just cut off the skirt part and threw the bodice away. This meant I got to keep the pockets!!! Although I had completely forgotten that this dress had pockets so ya know!

Next I cut a new waistband from some stash fabric and put it on with a zip and a hook and eye at the top.

And bish bash bosh done! I actually think I like it a lot more now and it should be easier to wear it day to day.

PLUS POCKETS! 

In other news!

- I'm freezing, seriously when did it get so cold? I'm absolutely dreading this winter I'm finding it hard to get out of bed as it is.

- I've just finished Gone Girl and boy what a book!!!! I literally couldn't put it down!

- I'm currently watching 'Allied' with Brad Pitt and I have high hopes that he'll take all his clothes off......... Filth Absolute filth

- I'm feeling a bit perkier this week, the hills aren't alive with the sound of music just yet but I think I'm heading to a good place emotionally. I've even had motivation to do stuff!

Much Love

Frankie 

x

Nannies Apron

My Nan turned 80 in September and naturally I couldn't let the occasion pass without giving her a lil bit of handmade!

I went for an apron because being that she was born 80 years ago I'd have to assume that she's part of the apron wearing generation. Plus they are just a bit useful really aren't they? I wear aprons all the time, for cooking for cleaning and sometimes just for fun I like to forget I'm wearing an apron and do the school run!

I put a big pocket on because shes got 5 grandchildren and 10 [god I hope that's right] great grandchildren so I thought she could keep illicit sweets in the pocket, you know the kind of sweets your Nan gives you after dinner even though you haven't finished all your food. 

I also made the ties long enough to tie at the front or the back. Please ignore those hanging threads I did snip them off but apparently not for these pictures! 

I'm not sure where the fabric came from I just found it in the fabric cupboard and thought its the sort of thing that might appeal to Nan. Its a well established fact that Nan's like flowers! 

In other news:

Rikki starts a new job this month and they sent him biscuits to welcome him to the family! I have never been so excited in my life, I MEAN BISCUITS PEOPLE BISCUITS!!!!!

So yeah I'm off to eat biscuits!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Vendula London Sewing Shop Handbag

Birthdays are the best! I mean boo to getting older but YAY for presents [I realise as an adult I;m suppose to be like "oh yeah I don't need presents, its just another day..." But no......]

This was my birthday present from my Mum and Dad! I'd actually mentioned wanting one a few weeks ago on here but I had no idea they were taking notes! [ I'D ALSO LIKE A PONY!]

Anyway I thought it might be nice to do a lil blog post looking at the bag after which I would naturally pop it back into its protective outer bag because well I don't want to ruin it now do I !? 

So the front closes with a twisty catch thing, I have no idea what this is called but it stops it popping open and your phone falling out , which yes has happened to me before. 

This is the box bag which is the second largest size they do and pretty much perfect for day to day use. Its got a zip pocket on the back and a zip pocket on the inside. Funny story, for years I thought the inside pocket on a handbag was officially called the tampon pocket because that's what my mum called it........ Bit embarrassing when I realised other people keep other things in it. The inside is also lined with a cute london print!

The bag is made from faux leather and some of the details on the front are sewn on by hand. The details on this bag are crazy guys, there's a sewing machine, a shop front sign that swings, rolls of fabric which are made from ACTUAL fabric and a little mannequin! 

I mean guys as far as handbags go this is pretty freaking adorable! I could look at it all day and still find something new! 

The back has a bicycle and a cat on because lets face it you can never have too much twee! 

It comes with a shoulder strap but I'd say you could use it as a clutch bad as well as the strap detaches. 

You can view the whole sewing range here!

But I would definitely recommend taking a look at the whole website! I'm now lusting after the music shop bag, the diner and the bookshop as well as the whole of the cinema line!

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 

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