Sunday 26 May 2013

Making plans...

I'm happy with my slow progress of my 'clean up' list thus far:

Sewing:
Mathilde Blouse
Truffle Dress 
(I decided to scrap this project, I don't really think this dress is my style)
Baby Quilt
Robot Pyjama Pants x 2
Dr Who Pyjama Pants

Cross Stitch:
Giraffe
Yoda Snowflake

Knitting:
Coffee Cozy
Gap-tastic Cowl
Oversized supercomfy scarf


So now as soon as this blasted exam is over and done with I'm feeling that I can move onto bigger and better things!


A little bit of this... 


And maybe a bit of this...



: )

Friday 29 March 2013

I'm still here!

No, I haven't disappeared.. I'm still here... You can find me cramped in the small space I have made for myself in my cubby house of medical text books which are currently surrounding my desk.. 

In my regular procrastinating periods .. ah, I mean well-deserved study breaks .. I'm planning, scheming how I will spend my dedicated sewing time. 


So hopefully very soon there will be less of this..


And more of this : )

Lauren 
x

Sunday 3 March 2013

Progress Report

Unfortunately very soon after I posted 'The Clean Up', I received in the mail all the required reading and pre-course learning objectives I was expected to complete prior to beginning my schooling! As a result, things may be a little quiet on the sewing/knitting/general craftiness front for a little bit, whilst I try to squeeze the recommended 24 hours of personal study per week (She said WHAT?) into an already full schedule of attending lectures, full-time work, gym, housework, sleeping, eating, etc. 
But that does not mean that I won't get itchy hands from time to time.. And I've already crossed two things off my list : )

The coffee cozy
Woohoo! First buttonholes



And my oversized super comfy scarf
(haven't taken a photo of the completed work.. but I'm sure you get the idea)




Which, by the way, has led me to realise what an absolute delight it could be knitting in the winter (it's been disgustingly hot in Melbourne lately)

Lauren  x

Tuesday 19 February 2013

The Clean Up

Whilst trying to organise my desk for the beginning of the semester (going back to Uni this year :p) and looking at the insane mess of fabrics, threads, buttons all for different projects, I realised that I currently have 11 items sitting around waiting to be completed.

Sewing:
Mathilde Blouse
Truffle dress
Baby quilt
Robot Pyjama Pants x 2
Dr Who Pyjama Pants (for the geeky younger brother)




Cross stitch:
Giraffe (to be used for a pillow)
Yoda Snowflake (for next years christmas decorations - I know, getting ahead of myself here)




Knitting:
Coffee cozy
Gap-tastic Cowl
Oversized supercomfy scarf



I'm calling this my confessional post, as I'm hoping that by declaring it to the online community it will spur me on to actually finish at least several of these projects before school starts again... the countdown has begun.

Lauren x

Building the stash...

First of all .. Thank you Scoopon! Pay $30 for a $100 voucher for Rathdowne Fabrics? ... Don't mind if I do! 
It's the first time I've been and the staff were so lovely and obliging, particularly being a newbie and having no idea what I'm doing!
Being a budding sewer I'm still becoming familiar with all of the different types of fabrics, what works with what, etc. but I know what I like, and instead of blowing all that cash on fabrics that I may never use, I bought some very sought after patterns, that had been on my wish list since I started sewing.


Very, very excited to get cracking into some of these...


And some loooovely fabrics ... : )

So many ideas wooshing around and no idea where to start.
Anyone else feel like there aren't enough hours in the day?
Alright, better get cracking!

Lauren x

Monday 11 February 2013

Not just for Nanna's

So, I know that I said this blog would be all about my adventures with sewing, but on a recent hiatus when my machine was at the Doctors, I found myself with ridiculous amounts of creative energy and wanting to make something. So I learnt to knit. With the help of Craftsy, I undertook the 'Knit Lab' class (highly recommended if you've never picked up knitting needles in your life) with Stefanie Japel

I am officially converted.

 And so here it is, my first ever knitting project, complete! It's a free pattern called 'It's a cinch' which you can find here on Ravelry (if you're already on there, add me!! I love making friends!!) and it really is, incredibly idiot proof. I highly recommend it as a beginner pattern. It was such a pleasure to see a great result after a nice, small project, highly satisfying.





And because I can, I made one in red, cos.. well.. it goes faster.

And just to prove that knitting isn't just for Nanna's, check out this AMAZING video clip from New Zealand punk band Steriogram. You can thank me later...


Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man


Wednesday 6 February 2013

In my sewing corner

I love love LOVE checking up on what every one else is working on. I don't know if it's just me but I get some serious sewing jealousy happening whenever I see you all matching up your pretty fabrics with such lovely patterns!

So here is my contribution ...

Following on with my I <3 Tilly theme... (And yes, slight stalker tendencies have arisen in me since I discovered sewing blogs...)




I'm all ready to begin my Mathilde Blouse : )




The true fabric colour is better shown in this second picture.




So what's on your sewing table?

Lauren x

All I know...

Following on from the incredibly talented Debi from 'My Happy Sewing Place' showcasing her 'Sew Grateful' week I thought I would use this opportunity to let any and every sewing blogger know how amazing you are, and what the online sewing community has meant to me throughout my sewing journey thus far. 


All I have learnt about sewing I have learnt from sewing blogs. Granted I haven't been sewing very long, and at best I'd still consider myself a beginner. All of the informative, well structured and (best of all) incredibly entertaining to read tutorials have helped me become familiar with all the working bits and pieces of my machine, fabrics, darts, notches, buttonholes, pleats, basting, (the list goes on!) and generally the basic construction of garments.

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with the lovely Tilly of Tilly and the Buttons? Her amazing, thorough tutorial on the Picnic Blanket Skirt led me through my first garment ever! Prior to that I had never in my life sewn a single thing... with or without a machine. It took me bloody AGES given that I had to first learn how to thread my machine, work out what my measurements were, the proper way of taking measurements, every little thing a lot of you take for granted now, I relied on my old friend Google ... and he led me to you : ) 
And here it is! 


Aaaand a close up of the cute little cherry/flower/whatever the hell they are things...


So to all sewing bloggers...  THANK YOU!! 
I don't know anyone who sews and I see this as a great resource to receive/give positive feedback, constructive advice/commentary and basically help me blunder my way through into making something wearable! 
Well.. as long as it covers the important bits anyway! 

Lauren x

Wednesday 30 January 2013

And In The Beginning...


Oh well helloooo! My name is Lauren and here I'm planning (reasonably) regular updates on my very own battle to master my sewing machine! 
I have a lovely Janome Decor Excel 5018 which was given to me as a gift from dear ol' dad, in an effort to distract me from anything medical related (I work full time as well as study part time in the healthcare industry). And I must say so far it is working! 
Whilst it currently remains a bit of a love-hate relationship, filled with poring over beautiful images of everyone elses beautiful dresses, skirts, pretty little things, I sit in the corner, steam coming from my ears, curses pouring from my lips, coffee mugs thrown, fabric ripped in frustration ... okay, maybe I don't get that far. 
There's definitely a lot of cursing though.
But I'm getting there! With every project I learn another skill, and there really is nothing like wearing something you've made and have someone admire it
"Oh really? You like it? I made it. It's nothing really."
; ) If only that were the truth!