Tokyo Train Ride Tank Top

Sooo..... I did it y'all!!

I completed the first garment on my list for #selfishsewingweek.

Well... Technically I don't know whether it qualifies for the above hashtag, because, well, the first garment on my list is for my mum. 

It is Mother's Day on Sunday and I like to make my mum something each year when I can. When I showed my mum my new stash of Cotton and Steel from my favourite collection (Tokyo Train ride - by Sarah Watts) she loved the Train Ride print as much as I do and mentioned she would like to make a top from it. I knew she would never buy the fabric for herself though. 

So I ordered extra yardage of the print, from the wonderful The Village Haberdashery and set to making her a top.

The pattern is a vintage Simplicity pattern that has been tweaked beyond recognition and in no way resembles it's former self, so I have no pattern info for you. As you can see it is a basic tank top pattern with just two bust darts at the side seams, and it is my mums tried and tested, go to pattern for the summer.

Unfortunately I didn't have enough fabric to pattern match the side seams, but I think it can handle it due to the amount of awesome pattern going on!!!

I kept it simple with a super fine binding finish for the armholes and neckline. The pattern calls for facings usually, but this fabric is quite a thick linen blend and I think it would have been just too bulky. 

I love this print soooo much, and am super jealous of this top, good job it isn't my size or my mum might never see it ha ha!

As ever I would love to hear any comments you have. 

Is this your favourite fabric collection too?

Thanks for stopping by, next up will be will be my Emery Dress, so don't wander too far!

~HJF~

Motivational Banner

Today I would like to share with you a project I have been working on for a couple of weeks.

I haven't done much embroidery in my time, I have done a lot of free machine embroidery, but not much by hand. I think it such a skill and something I have admired for some time, but, alas, I am really not very patient. My mum and grandma have made a wonderful variety of embroidered tablecloths with a fantastic array of delicate stitches on them, that really are beautiful. 

For my first real piece I decided to keep it simple, with a back stitch. 

Here it is, finally finished. My motivational banner.....

I would just like to say this project was a little out of my comfort zone, I am not usually very fond of using "quotes" but I really like this one. I know quotes and slogans are very in right now, but I don't think it is something I will be indulging in too often. 

I typed up my quote, printed it and transferred it to calico using my lightbox.

I then used my watercolours to create a background so my banner wouldn't seem to plain. In hindsight I think using a patterned fabric might have been a better idea, but I will learn.

(Would you just look at those pom poms!!!! They are easily my most favourite part of this project)

After I had stitched my design i marked my banner and cut it to size. I stitched my pom pom trim into place and I then cut a back piece from some mint linen, this would enable me to 'bag out' my banner.

After I had finished my machine sewing to neaten all of my raw edges I hand stitched the top edge down to create a channel for my dowel to go through. (My dad helped me cut, shape and drill the dowel....it was too cold in the garage for me today ;)

I threaded a few lengths of grey thread through the dowel to give my banner something to hang from and I was done!

I really love the overall look of my banner, I am still slightly unsure about my use of a quote, but maybe if I let it hang a while I will get over it.

On another note, I ironed my fabric pre embroidery and after embroidery - twice! And would you just look, the creases are worse since I finished my embroidery, I was hopeful they may drop out while hanging, but now I am not so sure. I think I will have to live with it. 

Thanks for popping in, if you have any thoughts on the fabric banner trend or use of quotes I would love to hear them. 

~HJF~

Yoga bag prototype

Hi all, today I wanted to share with you my new yoga bag design.

I recently started going to a yoga class and I thought I only needed to take my mat with me, turns out you need a few bits of kit if you don't want to borrow from the studio. This led me to need a new kit bag, I just didn't have anything big enough to hold all my gear.

I wanted to design something simple, that was lightweight, but that had a place for everything.

I started sketching out my design and got onto drafting the pattern.

 And here it is, it is my first attempt, so there are a couple of things I would do differently next time. 

I bought my fabric after I decided to make my bag, I got it from a printing company that sells fabrics with slight faults on the rolls, but i got lucky and mine is fault free! 

(After I bought this fabric, I showed it to Mr.F and asked him if he liked it, he said hmm well, it's very yoga isn't it, ha ha! ) Good to know my fabric choice is on point. 

The bag comprises of ;

one main compartment with an outside zipper pocket, 

two elasticated pockets,

And one square pocket.

My bag is fully lined, with grey cotton and the exterior is a aubergine printed linen mix.

I don't carry a lot of things with me to yoga, so It didn't need to be an over complicated make.

The main body of my bag holds two foam blocks and my mat, but there is room to spare for a towel, extra jumper etc. There are two elasticated pleated pockets, on one side which hold my water bottle and strap. The other end has one square pocket to hold my foam brick.

There is an outer zipper pocket that has just enough room for my phone keys, etc. 

I am pretty happy with my bag, but I need to improve my pleated pockets, mainly just tighten the elastic slightly. 

I would love to hear if you guys make your own kit bags, and if you use any specific pattern? Do you draft your own?

Do you all think there is a market for yoga bag sewing patterns? I would love to hear your thoughts!

That's all for now. 

~HJF~