My #thebigstitch Floaty Gypsy Top

Tuesday, 30 July 2019

I wanted to take part in #thebigstitch this year as I watched from Instagram a year ago and saw all the fabulous makes. Whilst Miss P was growing into quiet a little bump, I decided that 2019 was the year I was going to take part.

#thebigstitch is a garment recycling challenge from the charity The British Heart Foundation
www.bhf.org.uk . It was easy to take part -
 Purchase a garment from one of their stores and upcycle it into a garment you would wear  and share in the month of July.



I took myself to one of the stores just on the outskirts of Nottingham, I always seem to be lucky in charity shops located in the suburbs. I was looking for a dress or a suit that I could change into an everyday top.


My purchase for only £2.99 was a NEXT gypsy floaty dress in a size 14. I bought a bigger size so that I had more fabric.
The first thing I did was to remove the raglan sleeves (which made a cute baby bonnet btw!) and cut off the gathered lace detail on the bottom of the dress.



Using a piece of cream bias binding I gathered the dress flounce onto the bodice using the bias. After under stitching, I had made a floaty lace neck detail which was so flattering.


I loved the way it draped.



I then added bust darts to make the top more fitted under my arms. The top was way too long so I took it up to hip length and hemmed both top and lining.



Personally, I love this top. It feels so comfy on hot Summer days and a little more dressed up than a jersey top. A good £2.99 and lots of hacking fun!

Best Wishes,

Sam



My Love Sewing Reader Review

Wednesday, 24 July 2019
The Most Pretty, Comfy Vintage Dress Pattern...

And it's free in this month's Love Sewing magazine.


It's me, looking super fancy in my me-made Summer dress by Gertie for Buttericks. When Amy the editor of Love Sewing asked me to sew this gorgeous pattern to review in the magazine, I jumped at the chance. Why? Because the pattern has some great details and I love sewing dresses above anything else.


I really enjoyed making this dress in a floaty floral from Minerva Crafts and having my hair and make up done in the Love Sewing studio was a lovely treat.  For me, I loved that I had the opportunity to share my opinions in such a fab sewing title. I do love a Butterick pattern and Gertie's dresses are to die for - aren't they? I learnt to sew with Butterick patterns so this was extra special for me.


You can read my review and get this lovely pattern in Love |Sewing 70 on the newsstands tomorrow (25th July 2019)

I want to thank my wonderful husband Harvey for taking time off to drive to the Love Sewing studios with me and Baby Miss P. Having a partner who believes in your craft is something I am so grateful for. 

Do comment if you make this pattern and let me know what fabric you made it in?

Happy Sewing,

Samantha x

It's Been A While...

Monday, 22 July 2019


Hello,

It's been a while. I think the last time I posted on the blog was the week before this little cherub started to make me feel like 'I might be pregnant'. And I'm delighted to post a picture of my gorgeous little Miss P, my Pearl at 8 months. Our family is complete and she's adorable.

I decided after a little bit of a stormy pregnancy (sickness and tiredness that I didn't experience with my first) I decided to keep on sewing, blogging for Minerva Crafts and just looking after myself. Something had to give and that something was this hobby blog that I'd been writing since 2012.

This was me a year ago in my home office wearing my Derwent trousers and Banksia top which I wore throughout my pregnancy. I stopped working at the business in September 2018 and worked very part time from June to September due to my sickness.


One of the best things about being a Mummy for the second time is to be able to make for your little one all over again. I can't deny the fact that it's been harder with two little girls than one and with Harvey working away for weeks on end, my creative time has been very small. But I took a ten minute sewing challenge back in February and it changed how I used my creative time.


I challenged myself with just ten minutes of creative time which sometimes was longer and sometimes if Miss P was awake didn't happen at all. But it worked for me and at the end of February I'd made two dresses!

Now I have a little more time, I'm going to publish all my makes over the last 18 months on this blog with a review of how I wore them. Plus I have been secret sewing an amazing pattern I cannot wait to share with you this week.

Currently, we're in the process of completing on a new house. Hopefully a forever home for our new family. Life is exciting and I can't wait to start decorating this new home for a family of four and a cat.

Thank-you for your support and it's good to be back,

Love,

Sam x