December Projects

This month I was really busy, this included a trip away with work that included a Christmas dinner, I went on a few shopping trips to find a top to wear and didn't manage it. On the Saturday evening before the trip on Wednesday, I rifled through my patterns and fabric to make something. I chose an evening dress pattern and decided to use the top section, I spent the evening scaling up the pattern as it was several sizes too small. I managed to get the pieces cut from some sheeting ready to make a toile the following day. I stitched the toile together, and made a few alterations, it needed some extra on the side seam and a bust dart. I didn't have too much time to fiddle so I cut out the fabric I had decided to use, a green shot polyester I'd had stashed away for years, I bought it for a wedding outfit but never used it. I stitched the pieces together and the sides under the arms were baggy so I took that area in a little. I made some bias binding for the armholes and neck, I added the straps and stitched the bias on. It took me a couple of evenings to do all the hand stitching, it fitted pretty well but I did add a little modesty panel as it was quite low cut. I managed to get it finished for the do, it got pretty creased during the evening but it was comfortable and a little glitzy.

Christmas top front

Christmas top 2

Dress pattern used

I have been working on some crochet hooks for one of my friends, she has taken up crochet this year and I had a look at some special hooks online for her birthday a few months back, I saw some with steampunk style handles and thought I could make something similar. I ordered a selection of fimo off Ebay, I chose some metallics, a luminous one, a blue gem one and some basic black, green and brown. I planned to do a couple of steampunk inspired ones and and a couple of Harry Potter inspired ones. I got my crochet hooks from charity shops, harder to find than you would have thought, I was restricted to metal ones that could go in the oven and they had to be different sizes.

I used one of my steampunk design books for reference and a few tools I had knocking about, a craft knife, some moulding tools, scissors, a deodorant can for rolling. I used most of the colours as they were but I made wood effect mixes for the Harry Potter ones. I mixed brown and black for one and brown black and gold for the other. The gold one was cool, but the shiny speckles did cover the surface.

Each one was done in an evening and left for a couple of days before baking. I basically formed a base out of one colour or the wood mix and built the design with pieces cut from rolled out fimo, formed balls that were squashed and a couple of things that were cut out with cutters. I was really pleased with how they came out, the gem one was really cool going quite translucent in the oven. I hate to crochet but I really liked these so I shall have to think of something to make for myself.

Crochet hooks 1

crochet hooks 2

Close up 1

Close up 2

The second gift I made was a garden kneeling pad for another friend. I had some foam left over from the one I made for my mum earlier this year and my mum was so pleased with it, she has had less pain in her hips after using it than her old pad and she can stay out for longer. I used the same basic design as I had for the last one but used a purple fabric on the top. I hope my friend likes it as much as my mum likes hers.

Kneeling pad

Christmas sewing gifts

I didn't manage to get all the gifts made that I wanted to but I will hopefully be able to do those at a later date, I have all the bits to make them. I have more plans for 2019. I'm still working on my other project which should be done in a few months. I got some great sewing patterns and instructional books for Christmas/birthday so I will have a go at making some interesting new garments. I have already rooted out some nice fabric I got cheap to have a go at one of the dresses. One of my friends wants to take a trip to a fabric place in Nottinghamshire and I still want to go to Fabworks in Yorkshire. I have more money to spend on lovely supplies now but I doubt I will ever lose my love of rooting through charity shops and sale bins. I think next year will be less productive but creatively more interesting.