One a Penny, Two a Penny

A lovely Easter Thursday squirreling away in the kitchen… Moussaka for dinner and homemade hotcross buns with custard for pudding! I managed to leave the dried fruit in the scales rather than kneading them into the dough… (DOH! being the operative word) but they were yummy nonetheless…

The recipe is from a very functional cookbook that I looked on with boredom and a bit of ‘meh’ when I was first given it three years ago. However, it’s a godsend: very straightforward and choc-full of every standard baking recipe you need to lay your hands on – the cake equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Cookbook…

As Paola has been complaining that she’s struggling to find a decent hot cross bun recipe stateside, I promised I’d share it with you – and lo and behold – the ‘look inside’ functionality at Amazon allows you to see the whole recipe in its entirety – simply search for Hot Cross Buns and it’s all there on p366…! Happy Easter and let me know how your baking goes!

It’s Official!

Birthday party preparations are well and truly underway… From 10-12noon, on Saturday 20 April, I will be here…

 

Come join us!

The joys of crochet

I’ve been getting around a bit recently, and thought you might like to see the chat!

Hotcourses Study Guide…

And having a lovely time getting prepared for the next few classes too with some patchwork preparation amongst other things…

 

How to choose a Sewing Machine…

I often get asked by interested crafters advice on which sewing machine to buy, or what features to look out for. So here goes…

I usually begin my advice by comparing sewing machines to cars: I'd be keen not to suggest one and only one model or even brand being the 'best' as there are so many factors to consider... There are many different styles or features that certain sewers prefer, or have got used to during their sewing life. So… my personal experiences have lead me to suggest the below – but please bear in mind this is very much my opinion…

I suggest that moderately heavy is usually better - you want the machine to stay in place on the table while the (possibly heavy curtain or large dress fabric?) project goes through the machine rather than drag the machine across the table. The 'lightweight' claim that a few make doesn't actually necessarily translate into a pleasureable sewing experience in my opinion, though it does potentially make storage marginally easier…

Also - you only really need a few functions. As long as the needle can go left and right (ie it can zig zag-and is also therefore able to insert zips) and it can maybe do a buttonhole or two, you will have plenty on there. Basic ‘feet’ options that you may find useful would be a zipper foot and a clear general sewing foot (so you can see where you’re going) as well as a button hole foot are good for starters. Extra options that you can purchase as they become of interest to your craft could include: overlocking, hemming, freeform embroidery and a walking quilting foot …You are unlikely to need computerised models that can embroider Shakespeare, so don't be readily convinced that you *may* need that in the future... It's unlikely and you will end up spending £100+ more than you need to!

Brands to look out for that I rate highly would be Janome, Brother and Toyota (the make that I have). Sewingmachinediscount.co.uk is based in Borehamwood and are very helpful on the phone and/or their website is very slick. I would suggest not choosing a non-branded machine – ie a cheap and cheerful own-brand model – as services and replacement or supplementary parts will be more tricky to come by and will not necessarily translate into a long term value-for-money price. The machine that I have now, I have owned for 10 years and is still going strong. Services can cost about £50, so be prepared to spend about £150-£200 initially in the understanding that, with maintenance and regular service, you should hopefully have a machine that works happily for 25+ years. 

Here at Homespun Living, one of our most popular classes is 'Learn to Love Your Sewing Machine' and I have them available for booking once a month for the forseeable future… I’m keen for people to learn how to use a sewing machine on their own model. They generally work on the same basic principles, but to new stitchers, the details that each model use are easier to comprehend (and replicate at home without a tutor) on your own machine. The course is 3 hours long at the Courtyard Cafe in St Albans with classes limited to 5 people. We cover threading the machine and the bobbin, as well as tension, stitching and trouble-shooting your machine, finally working towards making an appliquéd cushion.

 

Do get in touch to chat about your thoughts, but the best advice, really, is to get your hands on a few models and brands and see what you prefer. Don’t be afraid of your machine – once you’ve parted with your pennies… Get stitching and you will happily get used to working together with your sewing machine to make and amend many and various projects in the future!

Happy stitching!

Work in progress

My interpretation of this dress.

Source: hautelook.com via Helen on Pinterest

Captured by my three year old wielding an iPhone.

Colette Juniper Trouser Pattern

A few little ta-da's to do around these parts… All my classes have rather got me back on the saddle as it were and I’ve been enjoying foraying into knitting, crochet, sewing and patchwork, inspired by the enthusiasm I’ve had from the Homespun sessions.

First up, a pair of trousers that were finished just before Christmas and have had plenty of wear already. I have plans for a heavy denim/smart jeans pair for the spring, as well as maybe a linen pair or five too…

I’ve never really had a particularly satisfying relationship with trouser sewing, to be honest, and as Tilly & The Buttons found out when she did her statistical analysis last year, most home sewers agree with me. I find there are just too many factors to get just right, and too many margins for fitting errors to lend themselves well to make-it-yourself with all the time, money and effort that that entails. I’ve tried, goodness knows I’ve tried. As a 5’11” lady, I’ve tried plenty of times, but the length has always been a faff, the fittings are usually dodgy around the *ahem* crotch area and the waist-line has rarely sat where I’d like it too – the slightly dropped-waist-but-not-bumster level…

Anyway… Onto this project…

As with most of my inspiration, I saw a fabulous pair of wide-legged thick corduroy trousers in Toast and fell in love. I was not able or willing to pay the £179 price tag and initially, warded off by years of disastrous encounters between sewing machine and thighs, I hit the high street. What a failure! Will to pay up to £80, I could find NOTHING that wasn’t skinny in cut, flimsy in fabric or worst – high waisted, boot cut and too short in the leg! I attempted, for 24hours, to channel a bit of Chanel and wear a pair of men’s Joules cords, but the fit (shockingly!) just didn’t accommodate my hips and they had to go back.

And then Colette released their autumn patterns… And the Juniper Trouser pattern caught my eye…

And I just had to see if all the hype was worth it…

The pattern itself is a thing of beauty. Having been brought up on a diet of McCalls, Style, Simplicity and Butterick, with the odd Vogue thrown in on sale, I was happily and beautifully bowled over…

Gone are the architectural-drawing-scale instructions with their acres of uninspiring drawings and strange and wonderful suggestions for pattern piece construction of the major companies.

Gone are the almightily terrible illustrations and ugly fabrics of the major companies

Gone are the tissue-paper thin pattern pieces with unhelpful fits, measurements and sizings that bear no relation to my posterior…

If you forgive the happily-worn-for-two-days bagginess at the knees, I like to think that the trousers speak for themselves…

 

I was also inspired by a growing inheritance of seam binding and Laura Mae’s utterly gorgeous internal finishes, to bind all my seams in red, to coordinate to the Liberty print pockets. The red stitching of the waist-band hook and bar has been less successful and I’m going to try a bound buttonhole next time, but that’s a minor gripe.

The fit is just fabulous. The slightly dropped waist with rounded waistband is comfortable and modern without gaping. I took in about an inch at the centre back due to my hollow spine, but that’s always an issue for me so nothing wrong with the pattern at all! The fly front is beautifully instructed, but I would probably put an internal placket to prevent zipping in my knickers in the next pair. (I’ve learned on these ones to ‘suck in’ when doing up the fly!). The pockets are simple but shapely and a decent enough size to be useful. I had no issues with the length at all and had sufficient in the pattern pieces to make a generous hem and not end up with clamdiggers!

I can’t recommend Colette patterns enough. I’ve been dressmaking for over 15 years but still learned a few tips and tricks from the pattern instructions, while believing them to be detailed enough to be tackled by a confident beginner. The detail is helpful without being patronising and the images for the construction are clear and well illustrated.

I will without doubt be returning to their catalogue for my next few makes, not least of all as I’ve just bought their fabulous book and have my eye on the dress, top and skirt patterns contained within!

Top worn with the trousers above is my completed Jan Sweater which I’ll be blogging shortly too!

The Teacosy Pattern

As detailed here, an Oh-So-Simple Teacosy for beginners in the art of knitting. This would be a great ‘next steps’ project to get you from your garter stitch scarf to put a couple more stitches into your repertoire without over-complicating yourself too early on. Any terms that you’re not sure of can be looked up on knittinghelp.com. The pale green edge was a simple crochet round around the bottom edge to coordinate the rose in, but this was purely decorative and wasn’t required to make the cosy function!

Teacosy: Make two in DK yarn on 4mm needles

The cosy is made up of two rectangles which are sewn together with gaps for handle and spout. The top is then gathered using a piece of ribbon, either narrow ribbon through the stitches themselves or wider ribbon through a row made of ‘Yarn Over Eyelets’ to create the rounded cosy shape.

Cast on 52 stitches.

Knit all rows (this creates the ‘garter stitch’ bumps) until piece measures about 7” from the needle to the cast on edge.

[Optional row at 6” – Knit 1, YO, K2tog until one stitch remains, Knit 1, then continue knitting all rows until piece measures 7”]

Cast off all stitches and repeat for other side of cosy.

Seam sides, leaving room for spout and handle.

Weave length of ribbon approx 1” from upper edge (or through eyelet row) to gather top together. Tie into bow.

Flower adornment: Optional!

Cast on 40 stitches. 

Row 1: Knit across (40 stitches).

Row 2: KFB (knit through the front and back loop) across (80 stitches).

Row 3: Knit across (80 stitches).

Cast off, leaving a long tail to stitch to cosy.

Encourage the twirl and wind the rose up on itself into a loose spiral to create a flower. Secure with stitches using the leftover yarn and attach to teacosy at the side weaving in the cast on tail too in the same manner. Use buttons or beads, if desired to complete the fabulousness!

Put the kettle on and smile smugly!

Garter stitch tea cosy

I've been enjoying putting together my summer programme for Homespun Living and also for Lavender Green, a homeware shop that's branching out into craft workshops.

Working out what's possible in the timeframe of a workshop is a tricky business. Too much to do and the student goes away feeling overwhelmed or worse, disappointed at not being able to achieve the class objectives. Too little to do, and the student may feel bored or that they have not had value for money. Also, as the classes are supposed to be fun, there is a fine line to tread in not filling up the class so much that there is no time for tea, cake, chat and laughter.

With all this in mind, I have abandoned my thoughts of producing a teacosy in an introduction to knitting workshop lasting three hours. The project is great for many reasons but perhaps not in a 3 hour session. It is perfect for consolidating garter stitch as well as learning seaming, yarn over eyelet rows and also the rose adornment includes knit front and backs too.

 

And so... I have decided to share this oh so basic pattern on here, in part so I can pass the link on to workshop participants and also to enable new stitches to have another idea of things to do with garter stitch squares

Watch this space for an uploaded pattern shortly… :-)

Fresh Modern and Fabulously Made!

Having been brought up on a rounded diet of dressmaking and quilts, I have a healthy respect for the traditions and stories behind patterns and structures of patchwork. Living around the corner from Bird in Hand, and having a quilting teacher for a mum ensured I am well versed in the Bear’s Paws, Ohio Stars and Double Weddings Rings abundant in textiles history.

The only resulting glitch is anxiety about stepping far from that well trod path and playing with the artform…

This lovely little number is in its final stages to be finished in time for a good friend’s 31st birthday, in lieu of an appropriately grand 30th present! I’m going to claim that the pressie is an embodiment of our relationship: eclectic, slightly wonky and made even more colourful with a glass of wine or three!

 

Others, however, seldom create such ‘organic’ stitches… either by time, by skills, or by design:

 

 Owl by Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle

White and Stripes by Patchwork Notes

Square Lawn by Sew Much To Do

Grey with Rick Rack by TwistedSister#5

And then a few ‘in progress’ ideas too…

Circles on Linen Baby quilt by Blooming Poppies

Trying out layouts by Stefanie Dean

On reflection, maybe these designs aren’t all that modern and unusual after all… Maybe it’s just a brightness to the prints… But then, if my textiles history knowledge is anything to go by, the Victorian quilts were just as vibrant (or garish, depending on your point of view) with the influx of new dyes. It’s just that those very same dyes are wont to fade. Quickly. And leave things looking old and dull.

Dutch Quilt Cat’s fabulous double-sided family quilt from 1610 – nearly 400 years old… Extraordinary.

And who said traditional would necessarily be dull anyway…?

s.o.t.a.k. handmade

Just a fabulous children’s room… Such great colours – bright and fun without being garish and over-stimulating. How gorgeous.

Pastels, Peaches and Cream

Loving the beginnings of the Reiss 2013 Spring Summer collections… As ever, all hidden details and elegant cutting…

Jolie drape-back top :: Rachel Red Gathered Dress :: Brio Printed Tie-Sided dress

Scrumptious…

Toast Spread the Style once more…

Utterly splendid Toast has unleashed its Spring 2013 collection and once again, the understated style, the elegant shapes and the timeless class that just exudes from every piece has blown me away again…

Sadly my pennies do not stretch to purchases, so it’ll be half-baked attempts at re-creation on my sewing machine that I’ll be offering you over the coming months…

These ones certainly piqued my interest and have led me diving into my stash and pattern drawers to discover more…

Silk/Linen Gena Coat :: Viscose Martha Top :: Silk Twill Ellen Dress

Cotton Lace Genevieve Top :: Straight Leg Jean :: Cyd Skirt

I’ve been having lots of fun exploring the Colette Sewing book and also trying out the Juniper trouser pattern (which I’ll be making in denim too to emulate the above pair of trou’s shortly)… So far have a gorgeous pair of corduroy slacks and a Pastille dress to share, as well as a Meringue skirt to start on too… Watch this space as normal blogging resumes after a slight holiday hiatus…

New Year New Recipes

I've been enjoying experimenting with recipes so far this year. Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's vegetarian collection and a Leith's Meat cooking guide came with Sunday papers and I'm working my way through... Successes include Kale and Mushroom lasagna, Lamb and butter bean stew and Aubergine and Quinoa salad.

Tilly also enjoyed making a apricot and raspberry bread and butter pudding which suited our wintry wonderland just perfectly!

Parties and preparations

Great fun baking and preparing for the party…

Great fun face painting and singing and drinking and making merry at the party…

 

Great fun baking up individual Christmas cakes… such a lovely little project, I’ll post the VERY BASIC details on a separate post…

Little snippets of Christmas around a crafty house…