Repurposing a jumper

Take one 'too small' jumper which belonged to DD.

and one cushion pad,

Sew up the neck, the armholes and the bottom with the pad inside ...

and voila - a cushion with two pockets which can hold remotes easily.

Small things!

xx

PS Dani, I'll write about pruning in another post.

Fashion following or leading

It's getting colder so the summer frocks have been taken out of the wardrobe and put away to make way for my 'Autumn Wardrobe'. I've been watching too many Ewe Toob videos talking about capsule wardrobes and basic essentials! Apparently I should have things that will mix and match, ones that will dress up or down and flat, medium and high shoes. (Forget the high ones - I totter enough as it is.) So here is my first 'basic' for Autumn. It's a denim skirt from, guess where? The CS of course but being a person who is vertically challenged, (I like the word 'petite' better), a large part has to be cut off so I don't look a complete dumpling. 

Careful cutting and then I turn up the hem by hand - much more therapeutic than hauling out the sewing machine.

The finished result will be paired with black or brown boots and a *Tee  or blouse. I may *layer at the top with both!

Wad der yer think?

*(note the fashion jargon)

Problem?

Problem:-

One dressing gown, bought at the CS, with no belt. (That's why it was only £1.) It looked awful with a different coloured belt so - what to do?

Solution:-

Cut off the hem at the bottom, herringbone stitch a new hem, and use the old hem as a belt.

Sorted.

Problem solved.

xx

PS My number of followers has been going up and down like a yo yo recently.

What do you do with left overs?

And what do I do with the left over bits?

Make leg warmers or a pair of mitts?

I chose mits.

They are not identical and certainly not perfect but are warm and cosy.

I just traced round my hand for the pattern and sewed them up on the machine - muttering and mumbling as I wrestled with the furry fabric.

Turning them right side out was also a mammoth task especially the thumb. They were supposed to be reversible but it's too much trouble to turn them the other way.

xx

Success and failure

Success - cutting out squares from a friend's thrown out clothing.

Aren't I good - lots of squares for patch-working. I don't know what I'm going to make yet.

Failure - not the best of patterns to make for your first block!

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 3, Days Left 22

My friend was having a de-clutter and passed on some dressing up clothes for me to 'deal with'. This home-made flapper dress was sparkly enough to make Christmas wrappings so out came the scissors and quick unpick.

The black sparkle has already been used for DD's birthday pressie.

The sequin number is now a reusable pressie bag complete with zip opening.

Methinks it needs a fairly large present inside it!

Next out of the bag came a padded silver jacket. This made some smaller padded pressie bags and with the left over fabric I made a bow tie for teddie.

Making a bow tie - Two rectangles were folded in half and sewn round leaving a gap for turning.

The gaps were sewn together with ladder stitch so the stitches wouldn't show.

Does anyone else have difficulty threading the machine? I can't even see the thread to poke it through the threader helper.

Make sure you give the corners a good poking to push them out.

Smartsville!

Hey, man, what's happening there!

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 12, Days Left 13

Christmas Coaster Tutorial

Cut out 2 squares of Christmas fabric and one square of batting - mine was a bit thick but squashed down with some persuasion. Put right sides of fabric together with the batting on top. Starting on one side sew round all sides leaving a small gap on the first side for turning.

Cut the corners and turn right sides out.

Hand sew the turning hole closed with small slip stitches.

Quilt the top by sewing consecutive squares.

Put your favourite mug on top, containing your drink of choice.

Hot lemon for me please.

The tree is there - look very closely.

xx

Move

"Move off the table runner while I take a picture, please."

"Nope."

"At last, thank you."

Finally finished. Padding a little too thick, stitching a little too wonky, binding not wide enough and too thick so I had a bit of a wrestling bout sewing it into place - but made from scrap materials (except wadding). It will certainly protect the table from hot dishes ...

... and provide a suitable resting place for puss cats!

xx

Pour moi?

Oui! Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Smells good!

A beautiful re-purposed (was a vintage towelling curtain) hand towel from angleseyallsorts. (Very neat stitching.)

with an added bonus of sweet smelling lavender.

Thank you so much for this giveaway.

xx

Snowflakes 8, days left 17

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Christmas cards arrive every day now.

Some decorations have to be put up no matter how old they are.

These two people are going to have a fantastic Christmas.

The veggie man is going to deliver our Christmas tree tonight and then it will even smell a lot like Christmas.

We have this record on our juke box ...

... so now it's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas.

The mince pies have been bought (Tut, tut, I should have made them.) and the decorations and presents are still taking priority. I think there's a taste and touch in here somewhere.

This is definitely the last Nativity set I'm making (this year). The holly is from Attic 24's new tutorial. Thank you, Lucy.

Hello to my new follower. You're correct 'You're never too old'.  I hope you enjoy your visits.

Are you keeping up with these snowflakes?

What I did Today

I was the one who made the morning tea today aswell as the toast.

Tidied away the supper things from the front room.

Wiped the kitchen work surfaces and tidied up the kitchen.

Took the cats a walk in the garden.

Put out the recycling and emptied the kitchen bin.

Ironed and put away a small pile of clothes.

Swept and wiped the kitchen floor.

Made morning coffee and lemon.

Hoovered downstairs and dusted the front room.

Walked to the doctor's to collect a prescription and while out also popped in on the Charity Shop!

Sorted out soup and fruit for lunch.

Made teas and lemon drinks at regular intervals to keep us going.

Prepared veg for this evening's roast chicken dinner.

Entertained an unexpected guest - more brewing up!

Continued making covers for 2 Freegled chairs.

I'm sewing slip covers so they can be washed if needed.

The material came from this haul at the Charity Shop.



I've still the hem to sew and then give them a final iron.

Now here I am blogging a bit.

Just got to eat a roast dinner, have a bath then it's computer, crocheting and reading time followed by TV then a little bit of supper - oh and a little bit of wine to round off the day, (purely for medicinal purposes of course).