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

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

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