madebyloulabelle

How to: make a sweater cushion

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 21:29:00 +0000

Now, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but as much as I appreciate Mr Loulabelle's laundry enthusiasm, he does have a knack of shrinking and felting my wooly friends. My cosy charity shop shetland survived two washes before giving in to the Mr L treatment. What to do? Stick on the cupboard-under-the-stairs pile, leave for a few months, then make a cushion cover on a random whim. Of course! Here's how.

What you need:
1 jumper (slightly felted is good, but not essential!)
1 cushion, slightly smaller than the width of your jumper

What to do:

Step 1: Dissect your jumper! Enjoy this moment. Remove the sleeves and collar, then cut along side and shoulder seams. I've kept the sleeves for potential leg warmer tinkeridge (back on the under-stair-cupboard pile).

Step 2: Square off the neck edge of the back and front peices to create two approximate square shapes.

Step 3: Place right sides of the front and back peices together, lining up the top (neck end) edges. Sew together - I used my overlocker for this, but handsewing or machine sewing would be fine.

You should now have one long rectangular peice with a central seam - like so:

Front view:

Back view:

Step 4: Wrap this rectangle around your cushion pad, positioning the seam where you prefer and making sure that the ribbed edges overlap to create a nice deep envelope effect.

Step 5: Place pins at each side edge marking the top and bottom edge of the cushion pad (4 pins in total).

Step 6: Unwrap your cushion pad, then with right sides together, fold up the bottom edge of the rectangle, using the pin markers as a guide for where to position the fold.

Step 7: Using tapestry needle and matching yarn, hand sew along one side edge of the folded section. I used back stitch (instructions here). Next, sew along the second side edge, making sure that the central space inbetween your side seams is a little smaller than the width of your cushion pad (this will create a nice, snug fitting cushion cover).

Step 8: Now fold down the top edge of your soon-to-be-fabulous cushion cover - again, using your remaining pins as guide - and stitch the side seams as in step 7.

Step 9: Turn your cushion cover right side out. Insert your cushion pad and give your snuggly cushion a big hug. Hurrah, your favourite shrunked jumper lives on.

Step 10: If you fancy adding a little extra embellishment try stitching pom pom tape along the seam line. Or, make a giant tassle and attach to one top edge.

Making up for lost time

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:10:00 +0000

Elder Stubbs alottment festival this weekend...

Before that, lovely Noirmoutier, France...

Guilty feeling...

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:12:00 +0000

Uh-oh... I've just discovered another place to spend my money. The newest member to the Oxford indie gang is Gilt & Grain - purveryers of lovely vintage and antique furniture. Perilously close to my house, full of very lovely stuff, and with some of the best prices I've seen inside bricks and mortar.

Last week saw two visits, and now three items are nestling comfortably with me at home. A cute little 50s coffee table, a cool posy vase, and this awesome planter...

Wonder fabric Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:39:00 +0000

A nice bit of vintage fabric eye-candy from this weekend's bric-a-brac shop rummage...

How to: Make a Lunch Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 20:00:00 +0000

Here's a quick and easy project to make your summer lunch hour feel sunny - even when it's raining. A lunch bag that will be the envy of your work colleagues!

I went for an understated-&-cool-outside/fun-&-flirty-inside approach – but choose the fabric to match your style. The point is to remind yourself that it's not all about work work work!

What you need:

1 fat quarter of outer fabric (needle weight corduroy, lightweight denim or canvas)
1 fat quarter of inner fabric (quilting weight cotton)
1 fat quarter of firm sew –in interfacing
1 kilt strap (or you could also use an old belt)
Small strip of bias binding (optional)
Matching thread

What to do:

Step 1: Cut 2 rectangles 26cm wide x 42cm tall out of the outer fabric, inner fabric and interfacing.

Step 2: Pin the sew-in interfacing pieces on to the wrong sides of each outer fabric piece. Sew around the edges of each piece with a tacking/basting stitch, to secure the interfacing in place.

Step 3: Place the lining pieces on top of the outer fabric pieces, right sides together, and pin along the top edge. Sew in place with a 5mm seam allowance.

Step 4: Fold the lining pieces back over to the wrong side of the outer fabric sections. Press the seam along the top edge, and then top-stitch close to the finished edge.

Step 5: Secure the lining in position by pinning in place around the remaining 3 sides of each bag section.

Step 6: Mark 6cm in from both sides and the bottom, of each bag section. Then, sew along these lines, sewing through all thicknesses of fabric.

Step 7: Using the stitching lines as a guide, trim off the bottom corners of each bag section, about 2.5mm below the stitching.

Step 8: On the outer fabric side of one bag section, position the buckle part of the kilt strap, about 16cm down from the top edge, and carefully stitch in place.

Step 9: Place the bag sections on top of each other, with insides together. Sew together down each side, and across the bottom section with a 5mm seam allowance, leaving the cut-out corners unstitched.

Step 10: Trim the seam allowances to approx 3mm.

Step 11: Turn the bag inside out. Fold the bag flat and then press along each folded seam.

Step 12: Still with lining side out, sew down each side, and across the bottom folded seams with a 5mm seam allowance.

Step 13: To create the flat bottom of the bag, take one of the bottom corners and fold the cut edges together so that the side seam meets the bottom seam. Pin and stitch together using a 5mm seam allowance.

Step 14: Neaten the raw edge of this gusset seam with a zig zag or overlocking stitch, or for a smarter finish, encase it in bias binding.

Step 15: Turn the bag right side out. Bringing the side seams into the middle, fold the bag along the stitching lines and press down each side to create the side creases.

Step 16: Sew down each folded edge, stitching close to the crease.

Step 17: Nearly there! Roll over the top of the bag to work out where to place the last half of the kilt strap. Position and then stitch the strap in place – and voila! You now have a lovely bag ready to fill with your fella’s favourite lunchtime snack!

And another thing.... If you're making this for your fella or a little person - and have time on your side - embroider a secret message on the inside of the bag lining so that Mr Right or Little Miss Perfect will read your love-note every time they eat lunch.

Big, billowy blouson

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:00:00 +0000

This is my latest Burda Style make. Big and billowy and easy to wear.

There's a yoke and pleats in the back - perfect for spontaneous outbursts of kitchen dancing...

... and the sleeves are as big as the wings of a bat.

There's a story behind these sleeves, which are made from 3 orange-like segments (for extra volume, of course). For one hairy moment I thought I'd run out of material, but thank goodness for highly patterned vintage fabric. What you can't see in these photos is that each sleeve now 'features' an impromptu patchwork section. Gotta love a 'feature'!

How to: Make a Terrarium

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

I love plants, I really do, but they just don't seem to know it. The plants in our house are a tough crew - the survivors. So, I've decided to play to my strengths, putting something pretty in a pot and then forgetting about it for a while. Cactus and succulents - they're the plants for me. And I get to say the word 'terrarium' a lot. Which is good.

So here's my quick guide to making a terrarium. It's all very obvious really!

You will need:

Catcus & succulent compost
Gravel - finding this was the tricky bit! I took the girls to our local aquarium one rainy afternoon and bought aqua gravel for fish tanks.
selection of succulents and cacti (none of those I bought cost more than £1.99)
An open or closed glass container - large kilner jars work well
Spoon
Small handed helpers (optional)

Step 1: Spoon the compost into the jar - you can also put a layer of gravel and charcoal at the bottom first for extra drainage if you are using plants that need more water than cacti

Step 2: Position your plants, starting with the largest. Settle them in nicely with a little more compost.

Step 3: Spoon a little gravel over the potting soil. You can stop here, or if your helpers have happened to gather moss for you...

Step 4: Add a little moss, spritz with a little water, and your gorgeous terrarium is now complete!

The love and hate of dressmaking

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 10:30:00 +0000

This dress and I have a history. The fabric and I first met in a Margate bric-a-brac shop just after Christmas. We thought we'd get on well. Then I noticed the pattern in the February issue of Burda style. We introduced ourselves over a cup of tea and decided to give it a go. The dress progressed, friendship blossomed. All was going so well. Until, dress completed, we had a major argument during the first proper fitting when it became apparent that instead of being a lovely, low-fuss, 60s inspired shift, she was actually a big brown swirly sack. With pockets. And frilly sleeves.

Feet were stamped, nasty words were said, we decided to never speak to each other again.

Then, after a good night's sleep and a bit of perspective, I decided to be the bigger person (after all, I was actually the person in this relationship). We talked it out and realised that instead of making alterations, the only thing to do was to take the whole dress apart, cut it out in the next size down, and then, finally stitch it back together again.

Two nights later, dress finally finished, the relationship was well on its way to being mended. It's been hard work, but I feel I've grown as a person, while the dress has, well, become a smaller but better dress.

In the end, it was worth it.

Retro tunic

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:25:00 +0000

There's no denying it, Esther is most definitely not our baby anymore. Making this tunic reminded me how big and grown-up I felt Freya was when I made her a dress from the same pattern a couple of years ago. I'm starting to understand that thing they say about second children never really growing up in their parent's mind. It's something we've got to watch out for, I know - to see Esther as she really is, right now - not just in relation to her older sister or to our own sense of her as the "baby".

Anyway, the tunic looks looks nice too.

Grown up adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

February was a momentous month in the Loulabelle household, because the grown-up Loulabelle's got to go away on a little trip. All. By. Themselves.

Turns out sleeping in a gypsy caravan, with a view of a helicopter, a London bus and a groovy 70s caravan, is pretty awesome. Mice ate our bread, and the gypsy bed was half a foot too short for Mr Loulabelle, but I'm still glad we had this particular adventure and didn't just go for a luxury B&B. It's more wierd camping than glamping, but Blackberry Wood in Ditchling was just the right kind of odd-ball, slightly scruffy-round-the-edges place we were looking for.

Fuelled up on a bacon sandwich made from the bits of bread the mice didn't fancy, we spend an epic day in Brighton - vintage bric-a-brac browsing, pub dipping, movie watching and food eating for a wonderful 10 hour stretch.

Snoopers Paradise and To Be Worn Again did us proud. We left the South Downs on the Sunday several pounds (stirling) lighter, several pounds (in weight) heavier, and with a lot more holding of hands than when we got arrived.

Le weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:04:00 +0000

Good stuff happened this weekend, including this..

Ken Law print from 60s of Hampsted High Street via H is for Home. Our new favourite bit of wall candy.

Squidgy yarn, tiny little going-to-take-ages-to-knit yarn, and tortoise fabric. If I was a tortoise, I would join this tortoise gang. For real.

Happy feet, and quilted work in progress. Already getting use even though it's not finished. A good sign!

Four special words: snack in a den!

Seamless

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:12:00 +0000

The last 3 projects I've knitted have all been seamless.

And that my friends, may be the smuggest sounding sentence I've ever written! Of course, I mean seamless in the without-seams sense, rather than the "oh it went so terribly well" sense.

It all started with the experimental socks that I knitted for my brother - it was a last minute Christmas present dash, so no pics, but he tells me they stay up and do the things socks are supposed to, so that's good. I was pretty certain that of everyone I know, my brother is the most likely to be pleased by an experimental sock.

Then came this cardi for Esther. The pattern is the Seren Seamless cardigan from Katy Ferrall aka Ceradka. It was a super quick knit and had enough going on with thte yoke to keep things interseting. I used a cotton yarn which I think was probably a mistake as it's a bit more "hangy" that I'd like - especially the front hem. And the button bands are not my best work ever, but it looks nice on and whiled away a good few episodes of Masters of Sex. It's also (I have just noticed) in Made by Loulabelle corporate colours. Good stuff.

The current seamless knit is a tank-top for Freya. Seamless it seems, is the way to go!

Perennial Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 12:45:00 +0000

I've had the Sew Pony Perennial Dress pattern up my sleeve for a while now. It's nostalgic and pretty and just what my girls are drawn to.

The Heather Ross Briar Rose frog print fabric made me buy it before I had a project in mind. But, for once, instead of going for just a metre, I decided to do the sensible thing and get two so I actually have a decent amount to do something with. I toyed with the idea of making the girls matching dresses - for about 1 minute. I know they would love it, but I can't bring myself to go down that route, so Freya got the Perennual frog print dress, and Esther will get something else froggy but not samey later.

One word that makes me less than 100% happy: shirring... Oh little stretchy thread of elastic, why won't you be my friend?

We got there in the end, via a lot of tugging and a not so pretty wrong-side, but I just can't work out why it never quite goes to plan. All of the sewing people in the world of You Tube and blogland make shirring look so easy. I know it's easy, but, like my scones and yorkshire puddings, it never quite works for me. sigh.

There's a lot going on here - swimming frogs, gingham, pockets, mini pom pom trim, covered buttons, even (shudder) shirring. But I like to embrace the busy look! I guess, much as I love minimal, I'm just no good at it.

Kimono tunic

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 12:21:00 +0000

I'm cheating a bit really as I made this tunic a while ago, but I'm on a roll posting about things I've made for the girls, so thought I'd share this too. I first made a more traditional style baby kimono top just before Esther arrived. Since then, I've made a few different versions of the classic, straight wrap around version. This one is my latest kimono based creation. It uses the same basic kimono shape for the bodice, but fastens with buttons at the back and has a pleated 'skirt'. I was keeping my fingers crossed while I was making this - I wasn't sure if Esther would look a bit swamped, but it turned out just as I'd hoped. It has a nice relaxed feel - looks comfy but cool and works really well in the soft drapey brushed cotton.

I've got plans afoot to make a download patten for this style, so you'll probably be seeing a few more versions over the next few months!

Geranium dress

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:53:00 +0000

Oh I am so in love with this dress. I have been very tempted to scrunch up and squeeze myself into it, but the thought of being discovered wedged in a few hours later, panicked and shame-faced has held me back. Probably for the best.

The pattern is the Geranium Dress download from Made by Rae. I know I'll be making lots more - it's quick to make, with a simple unfussy design but a really a great shape. I really like the scoop of the neck and the curve of the faux cap sleeves - just right. It came up a little small around the chest, but that's more to do with me not paying proper attention to the seam allowance than any fault with the pattern.

The fabric is from Ikea (again) via my cupboard. Who could feel grumpy looking at that print of retro happiness? Freya wore her dress to dance class and 'Daddy's cafe' on Saturday and it got lots of comments - quite a few people recognised the print - and now we know that Freya's new dress matches an ironing board, some sofa cushions and a bed spread in East Oxford!

The properly drafted rough and tumble dress

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:32:00 +0000

People, I am taking a trip on the sewing train this month and it is going fast! woo woo! Sorry, don't know what came over me. In real English, I have found myself sewing a lot recently - more than usual that is - and am loving it.

This knockabout pull-over pinafore dress was inspired by a 70s book of sewing clothes for children that my buddy Emily gave me last year. I drafted the pattern from scratch (rather than my usual frankenstein's monster of changing existing patterns and tracing round clothes that fit), using Winifred Aldritch's Metric Pattern Cutting for Children Book and everything. The "being ever so proper" effect was slightly spoiled by having Flushed Away on tv at the time. But at least that stopped my little "helpers" from being too helpful.

Freya loves the print - it's an Ikea fabric- particularly as the rabbit at the top right looks like Totorro. Pockets are also a thumbs up - yay. But on the downside (in Freya's eyes) there is no twirl factor - boo.

The shape came out just as I'd hoped and I'm proud that I drafted it all properly with no shortcuts or fudging. On the downside, it's a little big at the moment, so looks better with a cardigan over the top to make it a little less "there". But, at least it will fit for a while - and so far, it's held up well to pre-school, playgrounds and woodland walks.

Real life

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:05:00 +0000

2013 was a tough one. There were some great moments - one day, when they're all grown up, I hope to be able to thank the girls for the cuddles, the giggles and the busy-ness that kept the cogs turning, albeit a bit wobbly at times. Keeping the glass half full was a struggle, but I think we got there. I've only just realised how much my thinking was on pause. So, while everything else was going at warp speed - multiple jobs, family crisis, house floods, more family crisis... there were areas of thought that were shut down for a while. Now I'm trying to let myself be honest. I miss Dad -of course I do - it's only been 2 and a bit months, but really, I've been missing him for two years now.

Dad’s illness took parts of him away. The silver lining during the first 2 weeks after he died were the messages from people who knew him. Reading touching words about his silliness – fancy dressed as a tall skinny caterpillar and catching a floating sombrero in the sea – or messages recognising his kindness, his consideration for others, his polite gentle nature, went some way to put the special pieces of him back together.

There was a release in finally facing the worst thing that could happen, but after that initial release has faded, there's a lot of rebuilding and relearning to do. Re-learning how to be the daughter of a grieving single parent, re-learning how to be your own frame of reference. So, I guess this stuff is what really being a grown up is all about.

Old Pill Factory

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 09:00:00 +0000

One of my favourite places for vintage homeware is The Old Pill Factory in Witney. Sometimes I imagine I live there. Here are two of my recent finds - vintage Mothercare and an amazing, outsized 70s fabric cushion by Emma Boyne. The cushion was a dilemma, but in my eyes, there's always room for one more 70s textile in the house. For once, Mr Loulabelle agreed!

My new cushion as a Work in Progress! Source: Emma Boyne Designs

Fruits of the forage

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Alongside perpetually sunny summers and white Christmas', the stained fingers and slightly gritty teeth of a blackberry forage are abiding memories of my Norfolk childhood. But somehow, over the years, I stopped picking berries - maybe too much time spent in cities with folk vaguely suspicious about edible wildlife.

But this past fortnight, I've started to look at hedgerows properly again thanks to a wonderful day of foraging and jam making with the lovely people of Abundance Oxford. Based at Hogacre Common, an old college cricket ground, Abundance is run by volunteers passionate about urban fruit harvesting. Our guide Joe, was particularly interested in medicinal properties of plants - while quite a lot of the things he uncovered for us tasted of "green" my favourite plant finds were horseradish (never knew that the leaves are tasty too) and mustard. But it's definitley the fruit that got me all fired up - plums, apples, hoar berries, rosehips, and sloes to name just a few of our fabulous finds.

We've since been exploring the fields and hedgerows near us, and have been amazed at just how many sloes, elderberries, damsons and blackberries there are. On our foraging day, we learnt how to make jam and jellies - I'll definitely be attempting to achieve a good "gel matrix" again at home, thanks to our Science of Jam lesson from the incredibly knowledable Andy. However, it has to be acknowledged that so far, pretty much everything I've foraged has been put into gin!

Colour block

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Our four walls have been through a tough time this summer. Well actually, it's the floor that had the worst of it. Way back in June a burst water mains pipe flooded our little row of houses resulting in all sorts of house-based shenanigans. Thankfully, the water was clean, and the damage was fairly minimal compared to what many others have had to contend with in the winter floods this year. We were working an "industrial chic" look for most of the summer, but finally, we have carpets, newly painted walls and a kitchen floor again.

Anyhoo, as a result of all this kerfuffle our little house has felt somewhat neglected, and now that we have cosy toes and pretty paint again, it's been great to fluff the cushions and titivate.

Some may call this a titivation too far... but, inspired by the shelves of my lovely friend Jo (recently featured in Crafty Magazine), I've been shuffling our books into colour theme. Mr Loulabelle, was somewhat disturbed at first, but has since grown to accept that he just has to remember the spine colour to find his books - easy peasy if you ask me!

Dressmaking for Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Pinworks Autumn term of stitching began this week and we are off to a flying start with a new batch of beginner dressmakers.

I always get a little flutter of nerves when I haven't taught for a while, but as soon as the "My name is Verity and I'll be your teacher" patter begins, the butterflies are replaced by the buzz that only the smell of new fabric and eight eager faces can bring!

After seasons of leaving it too late, I've actually managed to produce a sample of the dress - a semi-fitted, sleeveless shift with bust and waist darts, back slit and zip. It's a great pattern for beginners - lots of different skills involved, and a lovely flattering style that suits all shapes and sizes.

So, here's to the next 7 weeks of dressmaking fun - I'll share the wonderful results from the new cohort (LOVE that word!) as they emerge - and you could always pop over to the Pinworks facebook page to get breaking news as it comes!

Anyone seen that pin???

...you can even jump in it... hurrah!

Hello stranger!

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:17:00 +0000

Oops, where did those last two months go? Well, while these hands have not been so busy typing, they have certainly been busy stitching. Inbetween enjoying the sunshine and not enjoying some flooded house shenanigans, I've been working on a wonderful order of knitting and crochet needle rolls for two rather wonderful ladies.

I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say at the moment, so shall stop there, and switch to the medium of photo-visual delight....

Extra Quick 'N Easy - Butterick 3286

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 09:30:00 +0000

I found this pattern during a marvellous bit of box-rummaging at Oxford's Thursday market earlier in the year. I'd been thinking about drafting a simple top pattern, but not quite getting round to it, for ages. This pattern did the job, just at the right time. Who can resist a pattern that declares itself to be, not just Easy, but Extra Quick too - so much so that there's not even time for a proper "and". Don't you just love a 'n?

I decided to go for the scooped neck version to begin with, and true to the billing I was able to cut the fabric out in the amount of time it took my 3 year old to notice I was doing something else vaguely interesting while she was watching Dora the Explorer.

The sewing was simple too - easily completed in one evening, and best of all... I really do like the result. The bust darts are super low and long - they start at about waist height and go up sharply towards the bust apex. This gives that distinctive boxy shape of the mid 60s but with just the right amount of flattering shaping. I used some vintage lightweight fabric that was donated to me years ago by a teacher who'd discovered a sizable stash in an old school cupboard. Next tie I might try something with slightly more drape, but all in all - thumbs up to the Extra Quick 'N Easy. Lemon squeezy.

I decided to go with the garden reflection/drainpipe combo look - edgy stuff 'eh?

Clasp Clutch Purse Class

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:30:00 +0000

On the last Sunday of June, I had the pleasure of teaching a group of 6 lovely ladies how to make a clasp clutch purse. The last Pinworks workshop until Autumn. Having spent quite some time discussing this class over the past few weeks, I can confirm that it's easier to make one than say one.

I always enjoy teaching, but this class was particularly fun as the ladies were chatty- at times quite giddy (although that was probably the glue) - right from the start. A good thing for all involved as it meant less of the Verity Warne warm-up act. Anyone else go into verbal overdrive in the face of nervous silence? I once found myself being the only hopping bunny in a room of mums and toddlers. I was 8 months pregnant. But, that's another story... back to unpronounable bags...

We started off by looking at how to draft a clutch purse pattern (trace round your frame, add some to the sides, don't forget your seam allowance and after that, there's no wrong answer). Then, my group of friendly ladies decided to mix and match their chosen fabric prints to create contrasting linings. I'd initially planned to use plain white calico for the inner bag - so it worked out perfectly that most of the ladies had chosen complimentary fabrics. I'm a sucker for a pretty lining.

Everyone picked up the knack of using fleece interlining to help add structure, and the bag bodies were completed in perfect time. Gluing and applying the frame was clearly not the group's favourite step - it definitely takes some getting to used to and the trick is not to be too kind - you just have to go for it. Remember, baby wipes are our friend.

So, that's another season of classes completed. Now, it's on to making samples and gearing up for the Autumn timetable - aprons, lampshades and knickers a go go!

Fun in the sun

noreply@blogger.com (Made by Loulabelle) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 22:22:00 +0000

Splash park and drum making at the Cowley Road Carnival.

Nothing beats an impromptu family rock-out on the drive back home after a day in the sun.