Me-made -May week 1

Day 1 was already posted.

Day 2, wearing this cardi and a tee, the weather was nice so I just put on some shorts and a tee-shirt, it was a little cold so a cardigan too!

Day 3, wearing this top underneath a jumper. Was too cold for just the top so I threw on the jumper too.

Day 4, wearing this skirt. Out on the town so a slightly more put together look.

Afraid, I forgot to take photos for that day, even forgot what I wore… sorry.

Day 6, wearing this jumper and this top. Wanted just a lazy day so wore jeans and a jumper.

Day 7, wearing some trousers that have yet to be blogged. They’re linen and comfy.

Week one, sorry to be, I have exams this week so no promises but this Friday I have holidays! and my birthday! and the Irish summer has finally begun! Sorry, seriously excited for too many things. I’ll try post a summer to-do-list as I have three long months with only a two-week portfolio course in the middle. Onto summer!

April Photography

I know these photos all look like bad instagram ones, but they’re the real deal. 120mm film taken on this camera, they’re even square! I love getting these photos back, I know they’re a bit blurry and so on but I love them still. The top one was taken by my granddad (the same one who gave me fabric for this dress). The next two down were taken in Cambridge on my recent trip there. The one after those two was taken in St.Pancras station in London, an amazing old Victorian building used as an international train station. And last but not least is a shot of a place that I always go to for little walks. There’s an amazing view with minimal effort and a super cute little café on the hill too!

Please excuse my horrific scanning skills too, thanks!

If you’re curious as to some digital photography of mine (not on the blog, all photos here are mine) I did work experience in A.Rubanesque and took some photos for their pinterest page. Their laces are just to die for so photographing them was so much fun!

Lined Mittens

New mittens! Or rather new photos of mittens. These were made back in February and got a lot of wear (hence why there are photos only now!) I was originally inspired to knit these when I did work experience in this is knit,  (I also got a mention on their blog) I was working with this lady (her makes are stunning, seriously check it out, even more beautiful in real life!)  and she showed me these stunning lined gloves she’d made for a friend. At the same time I was looking through my stash when I saw this handmade Swedish wool I’d gotten last summer. The weight and ply was perfect. So as to make not not the exact same I added in some stripes in a different colour of the same wool.  I lined them in a malebrigo sock yarn that went on sale (none left in the shop I’m afraid).

I used my mom as my model today. She’s also a really good knitter and thinking of starting a blog too! I didn’t use a pattern for these mittens. I made them based on my swatches. I used size 3 mm DPN needles for the outside and size 2mm DPN needles for the lining. The basic idea of the gloves is really simple. You cast on the amount of stitches your swatch suggests, then knits into the front and back of every stitch or so, then transfer the newly created stitches onto a circular needle. Leave these stitchs on the circular needles, knit the outside, then knit the lining as you knit the outside, baring in mind that when you finish the inside is sealed off. Sorry for the terrible description, the pattern I used is similair to this one.

A view of the snuggly soft lining. Best decision ever to make these. Since it was so cold every where in Europe till April (snow storm in London on 4th April) these were well worth the weight. I imagine these will get lots of wear next winter too, and it’s Ireland so I’ll probably start using them again next September!

Me-made-May update will be soon, I’m putting together the photos so the post should be soon!

Oldness is Goodness

I have a new skirt! Or rather new photos of a skirt. This skirt is actually two years old! And still looking as good as it did when it came off the sewing machine. I made it during the summer before I started this blog. And wow has it gotten a lot of wear. It’s small, comfy and cute. Works in summer with sandals and winter with tights.

I made the skirt at my beloved grafton academy and the fabric is from, of course murphy sheehys! So predicable I know, but if its not broke don’t fix it! The skirt is also V1247, made previously in denim (check out this version) and maroon. I just can’t get enough! This is actually version number 1. I’ve meant to get this up for a year but just havn’t managed to get photos up until now.

A back view. The only change is there is a lapped zipper. This being because this was before I knew the amazingness of metal zips and chose a hideous plastic one. The teachers was like “No, this will not do, you can’t show this hideousness to the world! We shall make it lapped!” She didn’t really, but that was what her face said!

I haven’t done this in ages but still, to end here’s some Haim. They’re a new American band that I’ve become obsessed with! This song is called ”Don’t Save Me”.

Me-Made-May

‘I, Niamh of Bluesewncat, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’13. I endeavour to wear at least one me-made item each day for the duration of May 2013′                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Wearing this tank.

Up for the challenge! Don’t worry, I won’t post a photo for every day. Happy May and welcome Summer! Be back soon!

London notions

Some of the notions that I got on my trip, I listed my fabrics but now I thought i’d show a list of some places that I found good for notions, ribbons and other sewing related things.

The Buttons (in tubes) I got in market stall in Camden markets. I’m afraid I’m kind of vague as to where it is but it is the horse market (if that makes sense to any Londoners?) The guy there was really helpful and some cool sewing stuff like old crochet wool, sewing techniques book from early 1900′s and some old lace, that’s right old lace!

I’m still confused as to that it’s in my possession, and that it wasn’t sky-high prices! That plus the buttons for £20! He threw in the black lace. Now all feel the jealousy! I always stare at your pretty fabrics so now you stare at mine!

Back to normality….

 This ribbon is one of my purchases at Gouldhawk road. There were quite a few cool ribbons in the shop but most of them were quite sparkly or too bright. I thought this one was quite cool and interesting plus not too pricey either.

The ribbon (giant rick-rack) and buttons (ceramic) are from CallyCo. This shop is in Cambridge (address on the website)

The other decorative ribbon is from an outdoor market on GouldHawlk road, in between the station and the fabric shops.

Last but not least, the navy grosgrain and the studs are from Lyndon’s Stitch and Beads in South Kensington markets.

Hope you guys find this helpful! Back soon!

London Fabrics

A post! Sorry for the absence… I was away and then had study so this has ended up being put off for too long! These fabrics

are the ones that I got in  London. This first one is a raw silk  fabric.

Its blue with a really interesting corded texture. This is the shop that I got it from. Universal Textiles on Goldhawk road. There’s an address attached to the link. My piece was, sadly the last of the roll. The rest of the shop contained some interesting stuff but I’m really trying to cut back on what I buy.

This is another piece. A wool that’s heavy enough to be a jacket. I’ve seen many kind of ethnic looking jackets plus I have a really simple pattern that I’ve made before. I’m even thinking some cool liberty cotton lining?? I got this piece at UK textiles. This place had some of my favourite stuff!  I was restricted by both suitcase size and weight so I couldn’t get any more. This place was also nice becasuse it was one of the only places where you weren’t followed around the shop. They were also willing to make some deals too, *hint hint!

This piece is striped cotton. It’s one of the prettiest stripes i’ve personaly seen. The cotton is so soft that I first I thought it was a silk. It was also really cheap. It was £4 a meter but I got three meters for £10!

Orya Textiles. This place was one of the most interesting shops on the street. the guy was really nice too. The shop was filled with the most beautiful leathers *I sheepishly have too much leather so I didn’t allow myself to buy any…..  All of his stuff was very different. Since many of the shops are on the same street alot of the stock can sometimes look similair. I overheard this guy talk to other customers about how his stock is one off, as in when it’s gone…it’s gone. This was my favourite place on the street.

My last piece of fabric (actually the one I bought first!) This a rayon fabric. I never really buy synthetic fabrics but I really liked the print of this and it was pretty cheap too. I got the fabric at John Lewis. I’ve had previous success there. The one we went to was in Cambridge. The fabric section was actually pretty good and the knitting section as I expected really good as well I also chose this fabric because of the drape. I may or may not have gotten a certain book which is for my birthday but I can’t say any more….. it’s to do with draping…..

Sorry for the crypticness, I’ll tell you on my birthday! (24th May) There’ll be another post for notions as well but this is it for now.