Red Instead BLOG

Archive for August, 2007

Burda 7866 done

Monday, August 27, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Filed under clothes I have made, sewing, studio / workroom

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Here’s what happened last week - Sam was off school with a bad cough/cold on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday I showed my mum how to do a Full Bust Alteration (FBA) on a shirt for her, Thursday Jack was off sick with a tummy bug and on Friday I hosted our new weekly craft session Craft n Laugh. I made a bunch more button choker necklaces on Friday which are now up in the shop. It was good value again, lots of chatting while making things.

I am sad to miss this Friday’s session, but SUPER excited because instead I will be flying to Melbourne to hang out with my very best friend Yvie (and her Dan) all weekend!!! Any Melbournites want to meet up?

On Thursday night (in preparation for my visitors the next day for the Craft n Laugh) I tidied up the fabric and mess in my studio and organised all my knit fabrics that I am hoping to make up into great tops soon.

I have been buying patterns online heaps lately (oops) because they keep sending me email newsletters telling me of their super discounted prices. Not to mention that I can buy all the patterns I see being made up on the sewing blogs way before they are available here in Australia.

I don’t that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this top but I think it’s not bad. You can’t see it in the photo but the silver stripe has sparkly sparkles all through it so that is fun. I am not sure about the kimono sleeve style but at least now I know how it looks on me.

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button love!

Monday, August 27, 2007 @ 11:27 am
Filed under beading, site updates

brand new button chokers made from both vintage and new buttons now available at RED INSTEAD handmade.

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craft n laugh

Friday, August 17, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Filed under beading, stuff n nonsense

Today I spent all day crafting with some friends at the inaugural session of Craft n Laugh - I wish I had thought up that name, I really do, but it was Rachel. I love it! There were four of us mums (Rachel, Ruth, Jess and me) and our various children and we all sat around Rachel’s dining table and talked up a storm while our fingers worked away. We are hoping to do this every Friday - what a great idea!

I wasn’t sure what to bring at first as it had to be light and portable, conducive to chatting and something that didn’t require a lot of contemplation or concentration. In the end, I grabbed a bag of buttons and some jewellery findings and a few other bits and pieces and spent the day making pretty things from buttons.

I threaded buttons as we chatted - easy peasy. The necklace above is made by stringing buttons onto round leather thonging. Cute and colourful.

I ended up making five of these ribbon necklaces for all the kids - they are so quick to make and they loved them. You can also see a button cuff that I made. I cut a piece of beige felt and sewed three rows of buttons onto it and then one huge button to act as the closure. I then grabbed a scrap piece of fabric that from the pile that I had brought along and backed the felt with it, sewing little handstitches all around the edge.

The choker and drop earrings above are made by stringing a large button layered with a small button onto craft wire and using jewellery findings to close. Simple, colourful and fun! I had such a great time making all of these and it was a great way to eat into the large button stash.

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finished M5408

Thursday, August 16, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Filed under clothes I have made, sewing

YAY! I finished sewing up the knit top from McCalls 5408 today.

I have taken a new photo of this top after a small alteration (see below) and I’d love to know what you think.

Here is the pattern envelope again - I made View A, the one in pink and purple, but chopped 4″ off the bottom:

Yes, call me vain but I took another photo of me in this top (the new photo is above, and another below) as the other photo really didn’t do this top (or me) justice! Not only did I stand up straighter but I sewed some elastic into the back of the top so that it hugs my back now. The pattern actually called for a drawstring tie at the back (which I omitted) but I can see now that snugging the back in really helps with the way the front sits. The whole thing sits properly now and actually feels better too.

Now I am totally happy with this top! While a little involved (all that slipstitching and all those gathers) this is a great pattern and easy to sew up.