Epic Pom-Pom Fail

Oh dear. I had great plans of recreating the lovely faux-fur collar as per the tutorial from the Coletterie, which I featured on an earlier Tuesday’s Tutorial Treat:

But this is how my pom-pom turned out:

It’s the same size as the pattern circle and I even stuffed it a bit…but it’s tiddly compared to Sarai’s version…why is this?n My faux fur is very fine so perhaps that might be a reason for it. Anyone got any good tips on making fur pom-poms?

I’m so disappointed because we have finally finished decorating the ‘sewing room’ and I was expecting the rattle out this as a little instant gratification project. But once I was faced with my sorry excuse for a pom-pom I lost the motivation/urge/determination/will to live…

On the plus side, my kittens have a new toy!

Tuesday’s Tutorial Treat: DIY Pearl Collar

I’ve just spotted this brilliant tutorial on how to make your own Pearl Collar on Pintrest. It’s from the blog Because I’m Addicted, which I hadn’t heard of before…but I’m off to investigate because it looks brilliant!

Link HERE

Any Overlocker Buying Tips?

Hi there folks. I have a favour to ask of you all today. It’s my birthday this month, and my parents have very generously offered to buy me an overlocker/serger! I am absolutely thrilled about this (especially after THIS event!), but I’m also feeling rather daunted. I don’t really know anything about overlockers and trying to search on the internet for advice has proved rather fruitless unfortunately.

I have read Karen’s posts about her new Brother 1034D and all the really useful comments from everyone, all singing the praises of the Brother 1034D, which certainly makes me very tempted to follow suit. AND I have just seen that Jane is getting one of the Brothers too!

Except Karen, being based London, has the fortune to be near overlocker classes, which I’m afraid Belfast does not offer (although, if anyone knows of any, please do share!). And because I know so little about using an overlocker I would really prefer to buy the machine from a person, rather than over the internet.

The shop which my sewing machine came from (Sewing Machines NI), also does overlockers, and the sales people are really lovely, so I would be more than happy to give them my business again. I would also be able to schedule a ‘get to know your overlocker’ session with them, which would be very helpful!. However, they only appear to have 4 within my price range (under £300!), none being the Brother 1034D.

The 4 that they have on offer are:
Elna 664

Pfaff Hobbylock 2.0

Singer 14sh754

Bernina 700D







So my questions are:

• Does anyone have these machines?
• if so, how do you find it, do you have any tips?
• Does anyone have any reviews on these machines, or heard any feedback on them?
• If you have an overlocker, what one do you have and would you recommend it?
• Does anyone have any tips on buying an overlocker in general?

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In sewing news – I have been back on the machine…woohoo!

• I’ve perfected the fit on my Jenny skirt (wow, the sizing was so out on that pattern for some reason!) and I’ve cut out the ‘good’ fabric and lining fabric for it. I’m making a vent as per Sunni’s tutorial, which I’m rather nervous about (more nervous about attaching the lining than anything else!), so I’m procrastinating on that a little!
• I’ve made a muslin of my Sorbetto (pretty good fit so I think I will just make it as is!), I just need to buy some bias binding to match my fabrics (I don’t have enough to make self-bias binding)
• I’ve been production-line sewing up bags for my shop. I hope I can have it up and running in the next month or so (EXCITING!!!)
• I’ve finished the muslin for my Burda 8155 skirt, looks good, just need to cut out fabric now!

Hopefully I’ll have something finished soon so that I can get some photos up on here!

My Giveaway Winnings!

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway recently from the lovely Liz of Zilredloh and since the package was so nice I thought I’d share it with you all:

Everything neatly wrapped in tissue and a very sweet note from Liz

Let’s see what was inside….

I was lucky enough to win:

• Vintage buttons and matching buckle in a gorgeous butter yellow
• A length of grosgrain ribbon in baby pink
• A packet of vintage seam binding (which I’ve always been curious about as I haven’t seen it in the shops over here) in cornflower blue
• A beautiful vintage Simplicity pattern (4782). It’s a bust size 32, which might be a little snug on me but hopefully I’ll be able to adapt it because I really love the dress, and the cute bolero jacket that goes with it!

And I got a little surprise with my package as well – Liz had slipped in a gorgeous vintage hankie too!

I’m not sure what I shall use this for…but to be honest, It’s so cute I’m tempted to frame it and put it on the wall in my sewing room!
Thanks again Liz for the wonderful gifts!!!

P.S. I photographed these items using fabric from Ikea as the background. I’m planning on making pillow covers with this for my ‘new’ bedroom. I’ll post pics when it’s done (may be awhile…we still have to plaster the room, wallpaper, paint the walls, paint the furniture and make curtains…I’m tired just thinking about it – but excited!).

Tuesday's Tutorial Treat: Faux Fur Peter Pan Collar

This is an old tutorial from the Colette Patterns blog, now called The Coletterie, which most of you will no doubt have seen before. But it's that time of year again when thoughts turn to warm cozy things, so I thought there would be no harm in sharing this one anyway (plus I'm seriously considering buying some faux fur to make a collar for myself!). Has anyone made this collar? Do share the link if you have.

Link HERE