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Monday 29 February 2016

Stitching shows, meet-ups and a Competition!

Hey there, I recently met with sewists and bloggers Charlotte (English Girl at Home), Rach (Rach Against the Sewing Machine) and Victoria (Thimble End) at the CHSI Stitch 2016 trade show. We'd been invited to a bloggers breakfast by ICHF who organise the event. There was so much to see at this trade show, so I've included some photo's I took on the day to get you in the mood for the up-coming sewing shows happening at the NEC and ExCel. There was also a demonstration by DMC of some of their forthcoming products. Thanks to both ICHF and DMC because breakfast was really good and I had such fun playing around with the new products ( which you can read more about in the photo's section below). 

It is so great to meet up with other sewists and chat about all things sewing, especially when you've been nattering on Instagram for a while! I've been to a few meet-ups in recent months and always meet such lovely people. If you're based in the Midlands (I'm more Leicester based than B'ham) then there are several more meets going on in March for any if you are interested. 

Charlotte has a regular Midlands Sewcialists meet-up once a month now, the next meet-up is 30th March. 

Rach is organising a meet-up at the Sewing For Pleasure, Fashion & Embroidery and Hobbycrafts show at the NEC on the 19th March. I'm gutted that I can't make it to that one. I went to the show last year, I purchased lots of lovely fabric and had a great time hanging out with my mum and sister! 

Competition Time!

If you are interested in attending this show or one of the up-coming shows at the ExCel or the NEC then you should enter my competition!! I'm hosting a ticket give-away in conjunction with ICHF Events who are offering FIVE of my readers a pair of tickets each for one of the following shows:
The five lucky winners will each get to pick which show they want to go to! 

How to enter:

  • Leave a comment below, along with your email address. 
And you can have an extra entry if you:
  • Follow me on Instagram and repost this picture using the hashtag #sewnintheatticcomp


Entries must be made by midnight on Monday 7th March.
I will pick the 5 winners at random and notify them the following day.
ICHF will fulfil the prize directly with the five winners.
Please note that the prize does not include travel or other related expenses.

Good luck to all who enter and I will leave you with some photos I took from the Stitch 2016 show to get you in the mood:


DMC 'Custom by me!' range allows you to transform, customise and upcycle your clothes and accessories instantly using a 'rinse away Magic sheet' . 
The self adhesive sheets, with pre-printed patterns can be repositioned before you stitch the design. Here I'm having ago at the customisable tote bag.
At the stitches show I tries the letter sample and this is me rinsing off the 'Magic sheet' to reveal the design!
I think these would be great for those wanting to try a new craft, children and those who are into customising.
DMC who have been around for 270 years(!), had a really cute stand. 
Creatures in boxes, I think these are the 'amigurumi' patterns - I bet my kids would love it if I made some for them! 
If only I could crochet!

Bloggers Hannah and Rosie from The New Craft House had some great looking sewing kits

Beautiful samples from Clothkits who also have sewing kits
Dashwood Studio's exhibit was absolutely beautiful. I definitely want to make a mini quilt now!
Look at those adorable baby booties! 
More from Dashwood

Friday 26 February 2016

Papercut Coppelia Cardy

Hi there, I'm playing catch up with my blog again! This was made in October last year, so I'm way behind. Decorating the living room, Christmas and illness have played a part, as well as bad light and pure laziness from me in the photo department! Blogging mojo has returned and this cardy is first up.

Pattern
Coppelia by Papercut is a ballet style wrap top. With raglan sleeves there are two variations to make - either a cropped cardy with wrap-around ties, or a full length top which is joined at the side seams. I have now made both variations. But I will start with the wrap-around cropped version first. The pattern instructions were simple yet clear.

Fabric
I bought this blue bamboo jersey from The Sewing Cafe, Hinckley. I bought it to match a circle skirt I was making (which did not work out - but that's another story!). It was a little expensive, I can't remember exactly how much, but it is lovely to touch, so soft! I do feel like a bit of a fool for using this fabric for my first attempt at a pattern. I really should have bought something cheaper to try it on as it's not perfect, but never mind. I'm getting wear out of it, so that's what counts!

Alterations
I didn't make any adjustments to the pattern - I just cut a medium size all over. I had read about other blogger's issues with the generous amount of ease along the seam of the front raglan and the underarm & indeed I did encounter a similar issue and just overlocked it out as I went. See these posts from Lauren of Lladybird who has made this top quite a few times and Diary of a Chain Stitcher's Fiona's post was super helpful too.

Construction 
The pattern was fairly straight forward to construct. However, my fabric was an issue in the construction process. It's like sewing a trampoline - so flippin' bouncy! The overlocker was useful, but I really wish I had sewed this using a walking foot. Alas, I didn't have one at the time, but have since upgraded my machine and a walking foot was included as a free accessory. It would have been particularly useful when topstitching the wrap tie to the bodice. I wanted so desperately to give up on this top at that point, because I was literally having to stop every few stitches to re-adjust the fabric so that it didn't creep out of line. But I persisted and it was then I declared I wanted a new machine for Christmas! Perhaps a slightly cheaper option might have been to use some stay tape, but I have only just thought of that (haha, best not tell my husband who purchased the new machine!)!

As I said above I removed excess ease out of the sleeve-underarm-side seam area as I went, and also at the raglan seam.  


I did also mess up a bit on my first attempt at sewing the neckband to the bodice. My second attempt I pulled the neckband a bit tighter as I sewed (again - this is recommended by quite a few other sewists) and worked nicely. There are a few small gathers, but when the top is worn it's less noticeable and the neckband sits flat against my neck.


Love
I do love the style of the top. And it goes really nicely with a dress/ fuller skirt. 

Changes
I'd alter the flat pattern to take some ease out of the lower back.
Amend the pattern to take out some of the ease along the side seams and sleeves.
The sleeves are a bit long, perhaps shorten by an inch. 


I'm pleased with this top despite it not being totally perfect, so I will make it again as a wrap top. It's quite a versatile piece to have in my wardrobe and I've worn it quite a lot over this Moneta (the third I've made) dress.