The Bea Blouse

Having successfully completed my pinny I was straight on to the next thing. This time following a free pattern from Simply Sewing magazine, the Bea Blouse. After a post-Christmas fabric splurge, I was determined to use some of my fabric stash and the only piece large enough to fit the pattern was this rather ‘Pat Butcher’ fabric, not really me, but anyway! What a fantastic pattern, not only was it printed onto proper paper that you can use again, but the instructions came with pictures! Why on earth don’t other patterns do this? That terrible ‘right sides together’ moment photographed for you to see exactly where you should be stitching. I’m so proud of myself for following it to the letter. It is the first time I’ve tried a complicated (well, for me) neckline and sleeves. I handstitched the hems to give it that luxury finish.  Just have to wear it now! What would I do differently next time? Go for a lighter fabric, perhaps, so the tie will be more bow-like, but actually this fabric, a thicker, slightly stretchy cotton, was so stable to cut and work with that it was great for a first time project.

Skirt number 2

I’m very pleased with myself.  I have to thank YouTube for helping me through the more tricky bits, but actually the logic side of my brain has worked well to get this skirt to completion. It may seem simple to some of you, but for me its an achievement.  So I have a new skirt, which cost less than £6.00 and was made in just a couple of days – pattern to wearing. Now back to embroidery…

Love is Enough

I decided to use my unplanned trip to an exhibition of work by William Morris and Andy Warhol as a starting point for these 2 small pieces of embroidery.  The exhibition, Love is Enough, at Modern Art Oxford seemed at first an odd mix, but on looking more deeply there are similarities between the working methods of Warhol and Morris, e.g. in producing work via a factory system.  You can read more about this on Modern Art Oxford‘s website or you can go and see the exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery over the summer.  I used a similar process to the previous two pieces, using a patched and pieced frame, appliqué, machine and hand embroidery techniques.  Instead of the free hand stitching, I decided to incorporate some weaving over the flowers.  It’s a satisfying process and adds texture in a different way.

Love is Enough: Shades of Morris

Love is Enough: Shades of Warhol