Personalising My Cross Stitch With The Folklore Company

I love cross stitch and to have my own unique kit arrive in the post was so exciting. I designed it using software from The Folklore Company . I opened the kit and there it was everything I needed; aida fabric, embroidery threads, needle and a pattern. This blogpost is a review of the kit.

I decided to use a quote from Jackie O so I can hang up my finished piece in my little girl Pearl's room. Pearls are always appropriate aren't they? I used an embroidery hoop to stretch out my cross stitch (aida) fabric, found the centre of the fabric and off I went. 

The process to create my own design was really easy on The Folklore Company's website. I chose my colours and had a series of templates to choose from to get started, I created my design in about half an hour, pressed OK and within two weeks I had the kit on my doorstep.

I liked that I had two cross stitch charts  (colour and symbols) in the kit plus a web link to my design too. I decided to flip the colours when I received the kit and have the dark pink as the border motif. I really like this.

The kit took six evenings to finish and I found it so relaxing. It was something to look forward to at the end of the day. I sat down with a cuppa and got my stitching out and watched it grow.

I really loved this design, it looked very Nordic. Stitching with just two colours is perfect for beginners or if you want a simple project. The threads were DMC, which are beautiful and shiny. I still have over three quarters of my skein of threads so I could easily make the kit again if I bought some more fabric.

I want say a big thank-you to The Folklore Company for sending me my own personalise kit to stitch in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed the whole process and now the piece is now waiting for a frame when I can get to the shops!

Let's Make VE Day Bunting

In these very unique times, let's make some bunting and celebrate VE day at home...

At the moment, I'm home with both my girls and we are looking at crafts that are easy and fun to do in a few hours. Today I'm sharing a easy child friendly craft which you can do with materials in the home and a bottle of textile glue.

Making the bunting flags

·    Make a template. To do this, get a piece of paper and fold in half. Then draw a triangle from the top unfolded edge of the paper to the bottom folded corner. Unfold your paper to get a flag. 

     To cut out your flag, line up the top edge of your flag to the edge of the fabric. You want your flag to hang straight, if you cut your flag on the diagonal or ‘on the cross’ your flag will hang with a twist! You can trace around your template with a pencil.

     Cut out your flags using your template, ideally with pinking shears so the flags won’t fray.

You can attach your flags to a ribbon or string with textile glue or thread them using a sewn channel.

If you want to create a channel and thread your flags, stitch the channel at the top of the flag turn over once to give a 2cm channel and stitch. Thread in the loose threads and trim off excess fabric and threads.  

You can stitch the channel with a sewing machine or if you don't have a sewing machine you can use a hand stitch. Make sure you fold the edges in to stop it fraying. You can then thread your bunting flags onto a ribbon or string. If you thread your flags on, you can rearrange these when you fancy.

You can make and decorate your flags using old pieces of fabric in the home. Use up old tea towels and duvets. if you don't like the pattern but like the colour, cut up the fabric to make letters, shapes and dates. Use your textile glue to glue the shapes onto your flags.

I really enjoyed making this bunting and I hope you can to. Share your makes with the hashtag #crafternoonteas on social media.

Stay safe,

Sam x

Deer And Doe Aubepine Review

Hello Friends,

I hope you are well? After a crazy few months with a house reno and a young family, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite sewing makes from the last few months on the blog.

This is the Deer and Doe Aubepine  that I reviewed for Minerva in October. I haven't taken this dress off, it's so comfy with leggings and boots this Christmas and Spring.

The original blog post is here

It was such a joy to stitch and now four months down the line, my Aubepine has washed so well and so easy to wear.

I loved the cute pleated detail on the bodice and sleeves.

The skirt length, originally I thought I'd rock Autumn coloured tights but jeggings are more Mama friendly. But it's a dress up or dress down pattern and that it's charm.

Here's a few photos...

Happy Monday and happy dressmaking,

Love, Samantha x

My #thebigstitch Floaty Gypsy Top

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

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...

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

Hello Banksia

Hello Banksia - Pattern Review

Banksia Woven Fabric Top

I have days when all I want to do is throw on a comfy top and a pair of jeans. These days as I work at home, I want to get dressed, dress my daughter and go! But I still want to look like I've made an effort and here is wear my pretty fabric Banksia Top by Megan Nielsen Patterns comes in.

Made with a woven cotton fabric in  just one metre, the Banksia top was launched last Autumn. I was lucky to be a pattern tester last year and I have worn this top again and again. It's so relaxed with a soft drape, no buttons and easy to pull on and go with a lovely fitted sleeve.

 I choose to hack mine and put a contrast bias binding on the collar and a pretty bow to a little vintage style touch. The rounded neck fits so perfectly and doesn't gape.

The top flairs slightly at the waist so it's doesn't need any darts and looks great with shiny jeans to balance the tunic style waist and give a slimming effect. It would look great as a maternity top in the early stages of pregnancy and it's bump perfect!

The PDF pattern was so easy to stick together and the waste paper after piecing up so so minimal. I would really recommend this pattern if (like me) you don't like putting PDF patterns together.

I now want to make a Spring version with longer sleeves. Follow me on Instagram @crafternoonteas for more sewing chat on my stories.

I have made it my new years resolution to blog more and make more. What's yours?

Have a great weekend!

Sam x

This Christmas Sew A Gold Cork Fabric Make

 

Hello,

This Summer I designed and stitched these two lovely bags for Minerva Crafts using gold cork fabric. I'm writing this in November as I haven't put this lovely shopper down since! It would make a fab-u-lous gift to make for a friend for Christmas or buy the fabric for your sewing friend!

 

I used the purse bag for holiday but it's too Summery for the Autumn but the shopper is now a must have for my college books, Mummy days and days when I go into town. I can fit so much in it and with the double stitching it pretty strong. You can read my tutorials over on the Minerva Crafts blog.

 

Here are the best three reasons to sew/gift gold cork fabric - 

 

 

It cut just like cotton fabric, no way! And you can use your  everyday sewing scissors on it.

 

 

You can see it with your regular sewing machine and a 100 needle.

 

 

The fabric has a soft handle and you can fold it, pin it and stitch just like a cotton twill.

 

So grab a cuppa and read how to put some sparkle into your Christmas with this pretty gold fabric.

 

Have a great Wednesday,

 

Samantha

 

 

My Handmade Holiday Bag 3 months on

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

 

Welcome to my first post under my new blog name 'Crafternoon Teas', I wanted to re-name my blog with what I love and crafting and tea sounds the best way forward. More on my new blog soon...

 

This post, after my blogging break is a look back a my gorgeous holiday bag I made in April. I was over the moon with this bag as it ticked all the boxes of being contemporary, unisex and very practical for family trips. Here's how I got on with it three month later...

 

 

In the last three months we have taken the bag on long weekends, it's been thrown in the back of the car for days out and Mr. Crafternoon has taken it on a cycling trip away. It now lives at the bottom of his wardrobe (his choice).

 

 

I love the fabric as it's so easy to wash and the large handles are perfect so you can pop it on your shoulder.  The deep side pockets made without the zip are great for maps and tablets. Being able to make something that works like this is what I love about being able to sew.

 

If I was to make it again I would make it with a heavy duty zip. The pattern didn't specify a heavy duty version but the amount of use it's been getting I would sew one in when I made this again.

 

 

I want to thank Minerva Crafts for supplying the materials and publishing the review on their site. Have you made a bag or want to for you holiday?

 

Happy Sewing,

 

Samantha x

 

 

Fabric Meet Birmingham #fmbham Are you there?

 

 

 

Hello,

I'm popping by today to invite you to our super-duper fabric meet a week on Saturday. As the seasons are changing (very rapidly), we thought it would be lovely to get together in the middle of the UK and shop for Spring fabrics!

The meet is open to anyone, so you don't need a blog or a huge social media following to come. It's about getting to know other sewing and stitching people, sharing advice and having a very relaxed day out.

If you are interested in coming, please message me at createitsamantha  (at) gmail.com and I can give you all the details. We are looking to go to about 5/6 fabric shops, the event is free but we have some lovely goodie bags so we do need to know numbers before the day.

Have a lovely sunny Monday,

See you at #fmbham,

Samantha x